Whether you're on a family holiday or an intrepid adventure, no doubt you've come across situations where you've thought 'I wish I had something to help with this'. We've compiled a great list of some handy gadgets that might just fit the bill.
1. Anti-theft gear bag
It's time to hit the beach in a beautiful seaside town - so stash your valuables in something like the Loctote Flak Sack bag. According to their website, it's lightweight, slash-proof, waterproof, and has a scan-proof pocket. One of its best features is a lockable strap that can anchor your bag to anything. Simply lock the bag, then put the strap around a post, bench or even a tree. Then you can take a dip, knowing your gear is securely locked up.
An even better idea, however, is to leave your valuables in your hotel safe. But, if you need to take certain items with you, such as keys, cash, bank cards or a phone, this bag makes it a little safer.
2. Purifying pen
Tropical holidays can take you to places where water isn't always safe to drink from the tap. While it's always best to stick to bottled water (including brushing your teeth and avoiding ice cubes in drinks), the Steripen is handy if you can't avoid tap water or, maybe, you don't want to buy so many plastic bottles. It's a small, battery-powered device that uses UV light to attract and kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria, viruses and protozoa that cause water-borne illness.
3. Global luggage tracker
Trakdot is a compact tracker which fits in your luggage, so you can keep track of your bags. It sends a text or email about your bag's location as soon as you land. It gives you alerts that your bag is at the luggage carousel, so you can peruse duty free at leisure. If your luggage does happen to be somewhere else, you will need to report this to the airport's baggage services counter immediately and ask for a report. With Trakdot, you'll be able to tell them exactly where it is, which speeds up the recovery process, and track your bag while it's travelling back to you.
4. Flotation device
Not everyone is a good swimmer and not every beautiful holiday beach is a safe one. So it's good to know you've got a little bit of extra help on hand if you need it – like the Kingii, an inflatable device worn around the wrist. Compact and unobtrusive, it can be inflated in seconds to be a flotation aid. If you're not a confident swimmer, it's always a better idea to stick to the shallows or the hotel pool, but even seasoned swimmers, surfers or fishermen could benefit from this gadget.
5. Camera confidence
The Pacsafe camera-carrying range has equipment of all sizes, from a simple camera holster to complete backpacks with sections for spare lenses, battery packs, laptops and multiple camera bodies. According to their website, these bags all have the features of a quality camera bag, plus lockable zips, anti-slash mesh in the straps and body and anti-scan inserts – meaning you can carry your camera equipment without worrying about pickpockets. If you're carrying some high value equipment, remember to list them as specified items on your travel insurance policy, so you're covered if something does happen.
6. Keeping in touch
The bsafe app is a great way to keep your travel independence while making sure somebody back home knows where you are and if you're OK. It allows you to add friends to a network so they can be updated on your whereabouts and safety.
If you're heading out somewhere, you can set a timer so that if you're gone for too long, an alert will be sent to your friends. Or you can trigger an SOS alarm at any time that will alert them and sound an alarm on your phone. It can also start recording video and voice while broadcasting your location. It's still important to avoid unsafe areas but this app provides a great safety option if something unexpected does happen.
7. Water in the wild
If you're an adventurer embarking on a more intrepid kind of trip, like hiking to Machu Picchu or visiting the Amazon rainforest, you might not have access to tap water at all. This means you'll need something with a bit more filtration than the UV pen, especially if you're relying on streams or wells for water. You'll need something that filters and cleans water to make it safe to drink, like the Drinksafe Travel Tap. Bigger than a UV pen, it's well worth the extra space if there is no access to safe drinking water.
8. Valuables tracker
It's one of the biggest spoilers of any holiday – the lost wallet and/or phone. If you're prone to misplacing your stuff, it's worth investing in a small tracker device like the trackR or the tile. They can be attached to anything you want to keep track of – even in your children's clothing. Track your item with the proximity sensor and the tag will emit a noise so you can find it. If the item is moving, you can track it on a map on your phone.
For more great travel tips and advice, visit Southern Cross Travel Insurance
www.scti.co.nz/travel-advice
Please note that these products have not been tested by Southern Cross Travel Insurance and therefore it makes no recommendation and takes no responsibility for their suitability or otherwise for a particular purpose. Further, any website and content linked to this article is not owned or controlled by Southern Cross Travel and should only be used at your discretion.