Check These 12 Phone Tips Before Going on Vacation This Summer

Summer is an exciting season filled with travel opportunities with loved ones. While you can enjoy a great trip without relying on technology, these phone tips will help ensure a hassle-free experience and make everything much more enjoyable.

1. Disable Always-on Display and High Refresh Rate for Battery Savings

When going on trips, conserving battery life is crucial since your phone is essential for tasks like navigation and payments. The high refresh rate, while nice, is secondary in these situations. Therefore, when you’re traveling, disable these features to extend your battery life and ensure your phone is available for essential tasks.

Most Android phones, from entry-level to top-end models, support high refresh rates, so you can easily disable this feature.

However, with iPhones, it’s a bit more complicated as only the iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models support always-on displays. You won’t find this feature on non-Pro and older models. Also, Apple doesn’t offer an official way to switch to 60Hz, so you’ll need to put your iPhone in Low Power Mode to avoid using 120Hz.

Also Read: 14 hot household gadgets for a cooler summer in 2024

2. Carry a Compatible Wall Plug for Charging Your Device

Different countries have various wall sockets, so your existing charger may not fit in the new country you visit. Each region, like the US, EU, UK, or Australia, has different plug types.

An all-in-one wall charger can be very convenient. The EPICKA All-in-One Charger is a good choice, with four different plugs suitable for over 150 countries and the ability to charge six devices simultaneously, including four USB-A devices, one USB-C, and one AC socket. This feature is particularly useful for charging multiple devices like cameras, phones, and smartwatches.

3. Set Hydration Reminders to Prevent Dehydration on Hot Summer Days

We often forget about drinking water and keeping ourselves hydrated because we aren’t in our usual setting. Setting reminders can significantly help you stay hydrated by sending periodic notifications.

Before your trip, set hydration reminders and goals using the default iOS Reminder app or apps like Google Keep on Android.

4. Use Protective Cases (With Lanyard Support) When Going on Adventures

Smartphones are expensive, so investing in a protective case is essential, especially when going on adventures where drops and accidents are likely.

Consider investing in cases that have slots to attach a lanyard. This way, your device can stay securely attached to you during activities such as mountain climbing or boating. Ideally, choose a case that is MIL-STD-810G drop and shock resistant for added peace of mind. 

Bonus Tip: Pair it with a high-quality tempered glass screen protector to avoid scratches and ensure extra safety.

5. Save Digital Copies of Your Important Documents on Your Phone

Carrying physical documents while traveling isn’t always practical, as they can be easily lost. Storing digital copies on your device ensures you have access to essential documents when needed.

For Android users, Google Wallet lets you add government-issued ID cards (in some US states) with biometric authentication for security. iPhone users can use a similar feature in the Wallet app.

6. Carry a Small Phone Tripod for Family Pictures

Have you ever been on a trip and wanted a family photo, but either had to ask a stranger to take it or someone had to miss out on the picture because they were taking it? Well, there’s an easy solution: bring a tripod that works with your phone!

This way, you can easily get everyone in the frame without cutting anyone off. And since most smartphones have built-in timers in the camera app, you can set one for 10 seconds and quickly snap a picture of yourself with everyone else. It’s a quick and easy fix for a problem that drives most vacationers crazy.

I found the EUCOS 62″ Phone Tripod, and believe it can help you with most such needs perfectly thanks to its compact nature.

7. Activate Car Crash Detection When Driving to Your Destination

Driving to a place is one of the most popular ways to travel, but it can be risky, especially if you’re in a remote area or on a highway. That’s where tech comes in and saves the day.

Apple and some Android phones now have a Car Crash detection feature that automatically calls your emergency contacts and services if it senses a crash. This feature has been a lifesaver for many iPhone users who have been in accidents. It even alerts the authorities if the people in the car are unconscious, and can’t respond themselves.

8. Update Your Health and Emergency Contact Information

Updating your health and emergency contact information can be vital in an emergency, ensuring services can access your medical information even if you’re unconscious.

On Apple devices, this is called Medical ID, and on Android 12 and later, it’s available through the Personal Safety App. Both allow you to add personal information like blood type, allergies, medications, and more.

9. Enable Find My Device

Losing your smartphone is a terrible experience, and it comes with a slew of security risks that can make your life even more miserable. After you lose it, you have to go through the annoying process of reporting it to the police and then just cross your fingers and hope for the best.

This can be prevented if you enable Find My Device on your iPhone or the equivalent feature in Android. So, if in any unfortunate circumstance you do lose the phone, you can easily track, and even remotely wipe it to safeguard your data.

Note: On iPhones, you can set it to be findable even when turned off, enhancing security. In the unfortunate event of losing your phone, you can track and remotely wipe it to protect your data.

10. Switch to 4G From 5G

Yes, I know—5G offers superior speed and connection stability, but it undeniably consumes more power, causing your battery to drain faster compared to 4G.

As mentioned earlier, when traveling, it’s crucial to prioritize essential tasks and extend your device’s battery life. Switching to 4G mode can save a considerable amount of battery life in such situations.

11. Download Translation and Currency Converter Apps

When traveling to a country where you don’t speak the language, communication can be challenging. Apps like Google Translate, with offline language downloads, provide a seamless experience.

Currency conversion is also essential for international travel. Pre-download a currency converter app to handle payments and avoid mix-ups.

Note: Many newer phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, offer instant translation using AI, which you can utilize if available.

12. Set Weather Widgets on Lock Screen to Quickly Glance at the Weather, UV Index

Summer travel comes with heat and high UV Index challenges. We often forget about the weather, but having a lock screen widget showing temperature and UV information can be a helpful reminder.

iOS devices natively support this feature with iOS 16, and some Android phones, like Samsung Galaxy and Motorola devices, offer similar capabilities.