Holiday essentials – Get the most from your gadgets

But while you won’t want to be checking your work e-mails from your pool lounger, adding a few gadgets into the equation and making the most of technological advancements can help enhance your trip and take an extra load of your mind.

Apps

Whether you have an iPhone or an iPad 2, there are plenty of useful apps designed to help you keep on top of your travel plans. The Flight Status app provides real-time updates on travel details including arrival and departure times, delays, gate numbers and baggage reclaim, so you needn’t spend hours in the airport checking overhead screens. Trips’ Travel Manager app brings together all aspects your trip – from flights and car rental to hotel and diner reservations so you can keep all your confirmation details in one place. And Lonely Planet’s downloadable phrasebooks include phonetically written and spoken versions of useful language to help you make yourself understood. Finally, don’t forget the obvious – Google Maps can be very useful when in an unknown destination.

Photography & data storage
There’s little point investing in a top-of-the-range SLR camera if you accidentally wipe your special shots or lose your favourite files. If you’re going to spend money on a good camera, be sure to invest in a portable hard drive so you can back-up your photos on the road. Download images from your memory card onto the device, which typically costs around £100, on your laptop or PC in internet cafes. If you have Flickr or Facebook accounts, it’s a good idea to upload images on the go – you don’t have to publish them until you’re back but at least you’ll have the peace of mind that they’re stored and safe for your return.

Travel-aid technology
Most airlines now allow you to check-in online and print out your own boarding pass. This will save you having to arrive early and queue up at the airport. How far in advance of your flight you can check in online varies by travel provider, so check with yours. Another device that can save you time at the airport is the self-service bag drop-off terminal, which allows you to scan your boarding pass, print out your baggage label and drop off your bag.

Insurance and emergency numbers
As most people now take a small fortune’s worth of gadgets with them on holiday – phones, ipods and laptops having become travel essentials – it’s important to ensure that you’re covered if anything was to happen to them. Make sure that luggage is included in your travel insurance package, and that it covers the costs of your possessions. In case of cash emergencies, save the international number for your bank in your phone. If you’re travelling within the UK, some banks now offer emergency access to up to £300 if your card is lost or stolen, so check with yours. And many reservations now require just a booking number to confirm, which can also be stored in your phone or brought up on an e-mail, to save you carrying around files of paper.