Travel Hacks/Tips

[RooFlyer]

Apologies from an old geezer, not up with the vocabulary. A 'hack' simply means a good idea, or a tip, yes?

So I could offer a travel hack of carrying NO USB plugs/adaptors and charge everything off my laptop (3x USB3 charging ports available), which in turn is plugged into the wall with a 'native' lead and socket?

I do have an iPad, but after getting an iPhone 6+ with the big screen, I find the iPad less useful now so on trips take the laptop and phone only (and with all the dramas over the AFF application, I think I'm in front .

 

[BettyB]

The only hacks people have are for power boards/adapters??????

 

[Warks]

"Wear slip-on shoes for ease of passage through USA security".

There's a non-power one!

 

[AviationNZ]

To save on ironing time, leave shirts hanging in the bathroom while having a very hot shower.

 

[Flying Fox]

To save on ironing time, leave shirts hanging in the bathroom while having a very hot shower.

Same works for getting folds out of suits too.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Yes apparently hack is the new term for being practical. Like how general managers are now executive chief junior vice operations stakeholder engagement officers.

 

[JessicaTam]

I make sure that my iPad, laptop and LAGS are all in the one compartment in my bag. So I only have one zip to undo to get them all out and put back to speed up the security screening process.

Edit: thread title tweaked

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I have a couple of small usb battery banks. Great for being able to have heavy use of phone + gps and google maps when exploring a new city, and in a hotel room I just use one of them for charging the phone if there's no convenient power point near the bed.

Usually have enough time in the morning to get the used power bank fully charged before heading out, or I just do a swap if i wake up and phone is full battery.

I like packing cells. makes life so easy in small hotel rooms where it's not possible to really unpack. That way i just have to get a cell at a time out to get what I want and the luggage is relatively tidy. It also helps me to limit what I take as I can only fit x number of y item in the cell.

My backpack has a padded compartment for laptop so I don't bother taking the case with me. easier at the security screenings.

 

[Warks]

"Raspberries make excellent afro wigs for mice".

 

[Pushka]

The only hacks people have are for power boards/adapters??????

Because on my recent os trip, charging of devices - phones, cameras, kindles etc was a major issue! PITA if you don't get it right. And yes, I have a power bank for my phone - that too needed charging. I found that many outlets did not provide enough juice to charge the iphone, but charging the iphone into the power bank, then the power bank into the wall plug worked when plugging the phone directly into it, didnt.

 

[Archphoto]

I just bought one of these here in TH - Belkin Mini Surge Protector; sadly they don't make for AU, but it was the size that grabbed me. 3 power sockets and 2 USBs (4 if I have my laptop charging) which is great.

The plug also rotates so I can use vertically or horizontally. 13cmx4cmx5cm (8cm if you include the plug)

I have several AU adaptors here (minus the ground) that fit this fine, so no problems with any AU cords at all.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I just bought one of these here in TH - Belkin Mini Surge Protector; sadly they don't make for AU, but it was the size that grabbed me. 3 power sockets and 2 USBs (4 if I have my laptop charging) which is great.

The plug also rotates so I can use vertically or horizontally. 13cmx4cmx5cm (8cm if you include the plug)

I have several AU adaptors here (minus the ground) that fit this fine, so no problems with any AU cords at all.

Belkin do make a very similar model with AU adapters, though only two power sockets I think.

P-BST201

Edit to Add: Ive tried to understand why the above Belkin product is called "International Travel adapter"..nothing seems to suggest you can change the socket plug, or that when you buy it contains adapters...anyone have this or know this product can enlighten?

 

[Cynicor]

Because on my recent os trip, charging of devices - phones, cameras, kindles etc was a major issue! PITA if you don't get it right. And yes, I have a power bank for my phone - that too needed charging. I found that many outlets did not provide enough juice to charge the iphone, but charging the iphone into the power bank, then the power bank into the wall plug worked when plugging the phone directly into it, didnt.

It's not the wall outlet, it's whatever you were using to charge the iphone. Probably too low Ampage, or too many devices plugged in. This is why it is essential to check how many amps total these usb chargers are, and how many they can deliver per port. You need more than 2.1 for an Ipad IIRC.
Wall outlets have more than enough juice to power a small 12v converter, unless they were specially configured to only run a low-watt lamp.

 

[Pushka]

It's not the wall outlet, it's whatever you were using to charge the iphone. Probably too low Ampage, or too many devices plugged in. This is why it is essential to check how many amps total these usb chargers are, and how many they can deliver per port. You need more than 2.1 for an Ipad IIRC.
Wall outlets have more than enough juice to power a small 12v converter, unless they were specially configured to only run a low-watt lamp.

Just one device. The USB charger wasn't the one I posted earlier, but a belkin 1 USB type one. Suspect the issue was a low watt one as everything took much longer to charge than normal (kindle and PC) and the iphone didnt even start.

 

[AlanC]

I have one of the Belkin AU adapters "International Travel Adapter" and it comes with interchangeable socket plugs. Adapter works fine but the only problem is quite often the adapter wont fit a lot of hotel room power points which are located just above a desk or too close to the floor as once plugged in it needs to be vertical. Caused me many a frustrating time and would have been such an easy design change to make when designed. The US one that has the rotating plug sounds great.

 

[rioter]

I have one of the Belkin AU adapters "International Travel Adapter" and it comes with interchangeable socket plugs. Adapter works fine but the only problem is quite often the adapter wont fit a lot of hotel room power points which are located just above a desk or too close to the floor as once plugged in it needs to be vertical. Caused me many a frustrating time and would have been such an easy design change to make when designed. The US one that has the rotating plug sounds great.

This is my only complaint with it. As you said a rotating plug would have solved these problems. Wish they did a bit of product research before finalising the design on an other wise great product.

 

[medhead]

I have one of the Belkin AU adapters "International Travel Adapter" and it comes with interchangeable socket plugs. Adapter works fine but the only problem is quite often the adapter wont fit a lot of hotel room power points which are located just above a desk or too close to the floor as once plugged in it needs to be vertical. Caused me many a frustrating time and would have been such an easy design change to make when designed. The US one that has the rotating plug sounds great.

This is my only complaint with it. As you said a rotating plug would have solved these problems. Wish they did a bit of product research before finalising the design on an other wise great product.

Hence a powerboard being of immense value.
Notwithstanding the risk of randomly garrotting people with the cord.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Hence a powerboard being of immense value.
Notwithstanding the risk of randomly garrotting people with the cord.

I could see one of those power cubes with a 1M cord being great if they had the socket connector changeable for global use and the the sockets on the cube being multi country compatible as well. That way you only need one adapter for everything

2 USB ports able to pump about 2.1A each.

Hmm. Sounds like a kickstater project

 

[TonyHancock]

I could see one of those power cubes with a 1M cord being great if they had the socket connector changeable for global use and the the sockets on the cube being multi country compatible as well. That way you only need one adapter for everything

2 USB ports able to pump about 2.1A each.

Hmm. Sounds like a kickstater project

Aldi sell one every now and again under the Bauhn brand...but only 3.1A on the USB output. Nevertheless it is a handy device.



Belkin used to have the rotatable plug. The model number was BZ102054auTVL - it had a single USB. I have one but it has just given up the ghost.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Aldi sell one every now and again under the Bauhn brand...but only 3.1A on the USB output. Nevertheless it is a handy device.

looks good. If only they could make the sockets multi country. Surprised they don't as it would mean less parts as they could sell all around the world.

Will have to start keeping an eye on the Aldi brochures and get my parents to buy one next time they have it.