You don’t have to be into tech in your everyday life to appreciate the convenience that it has to offer when you’re on vacation. The best travel tech gadgets can make travel easier, and help make the trip itself more fun. Here are some great tech ideas and gadgets to make your next trip to Las Vegas, or anywhere, better.
Mobile Device Charging
Charging mobile devices becomes more complicated as we become more dependent on them. I pack up to four devices when I'm going away. Add friends who are similar and there aren't enough outlets to go around. Mobile phones rarely last a full day if you’re using them while on vacation so I’ll go over a few options that should help just about any kind of traveler.
- USB cables - Just about every new bar and slot machine in Las Vegas is being built with a USB outlet so you can charge a mobile device while drinking or gambling. Many of the table games are being converted too. Just keep a small cable on hand when you're out and about and there should be plenty of places to find a little juice.
- Mobile device charger or charging case - Charging cases are great because you probably won’t need a cable or charger when you’re out and about. However, if you don’t like a case around your phone there are plenty of credit card or lipstick-sized chargers available. You may need a cable for these chargers.
- Mobile charging docks - These can charge multiple devices at once and are perfect for hotel rooms. A multi-device charger can help whether you’re with other people or just travel with multiple mobile devices.
Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
Noise canceling headphones of any kind can be useful getting to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, they may be necessary when you get to Las Vegas, too. These are great for flights to block out noise from other passengers. Unlike over the ear headphones, you can use these earbuds when you go to sleep to cancel out noise from a loud snoring friend or noise from other rooms. You may only sleep for a few hours a night in Vegas, so you might as well enjoy it.
Portable Coffee Maker
The days of a coffee maker in every hotel room are a thing of the past. Unfortunately, many of us need a cup to even function well enough to leave the room and walk to the elevator to head to the casino floor for a cup. Technology to the rescue! There are now plenty of slimline coffee making products to make travel easier.
Check out this Hey Joe coffee cup/brewer. You don’t even need hot water in order to use it so it can work anywhere. It will easily fit in any size travel bag. This is great for any kind of trip from a weekend camping to a weekend in Las Vegas.
Mini Steamer
A trip to Las Vegas often has at least one night reserved for a good dinner and a night out. This means at least one outfit for a night on the town. A mini steamer/iron is a great way to make sure your nice clothes aren’t wrinkled. This mini Steamfast travel iron fits in a travel bag and heats up in 15 seconds. If you’re going to bring nice clothes on vacation, they might as well look nice.
Wash Bag
Most of us don’t have room to pack extra clothes for a vacation so everything packed is going to be used. Since there are no extra clothes there aren't alternatives if a shirt or pants get dirty. The Wash Bag can save the day in case of emergency.
Pack a small bottle of laundry detergent and this Scrubba bag in case you rub on something or drop food or drink on yourself. You can head back to the room and wash your dirty clothes and reuse the item later in the trip or on the way home. Not only can this save a favorite shirt but it can save a few bucks since you won’t have to go buy a new one.
Mini Tablet
The smaller tablets are easier to pack and can be a handy device for traveling and once you reach your destination. Start with the airplane where you can download movies and TV shows before flying so you’re entertained during the flight. When you reach your destination you can use the tablet to watch TV, listen to music or play games while you're waiting around for your friends. We all have that one friend that's always late. There’s a lot more you can do with a tablet, of course, but we’re looking at this as an entertainment device.
Travel Speaker
There are songs that are tied to specific moments in almost every trip to Las Vegas I've taken. For example, I remember playing blackjack at Bellagio and hearing “White Flag” by Dido at about 10:30 in the morning. My crew already had too much to drink for the day and we were in a limo to the El Cortez about 30 minutes later. I always remember that exact moment and the amazing vodka/soda at the Bellagio every time I hear that song.
Music can set the mood and the tone for almost every day. Thanks to new technology, travel speakers are smaller and sound better than ever. Get the party started right with your favorite jams. The last thing you want to hear to start the day is Train or the hundreds of bands casinos play that sound like Train. Then again, maybe you like sitting at the hotel bar trying to figure out which fake Train band you're listening to.
