Tech Tips for Traveling Abroad

Traveling internationally with your smartphone and laptop has become much easier over the past decade, but there are still a handful of practical tech considerations that can make a big difference in your experience. Getting these things sorted before you leave home saves time, money, and frustration once you are abroad.

The first and most important consideration is power. Different countries use different electrical outlet shapes and voltages. The United States uses 110 volts with flat two-prong or three-prong outlets. Most of Europe uses 220 volts with round two-prong plugs. Other regions use different configurations. If you plug a US appliance into a 220-volt outlet without the proper adapter, you could damage your device or cause a short circuit.

The good news is that most modern smartphones, laptops, and camera chargers are designed to work with any voltage between 100 and 240 volts — this is called dual-voltage or universal voltage. Check your device's charger for the voltage range printed on it (look for "100-240V"). If yours says that, you only need a plug adapter to change the physical shape of the plug — you do not need a bulky voltage converter. A set of universal plug adapters costs around $15 to $25 and covers outlets in most countries in the world.

Protecting your personal data while traveling is also worth thinking about. When you connect to hotel Wi-Fi networks, airport Wi-Fi, or coffee shop networks, your data travels over a shared connection that could potentially be monitored. Avoid logging into your bank account or entering credit card information on public Wi-Fi. Using your phone's cellular data connection for sensitive tasks is safer than using unknown Wi-Fi networks.

Before you leave, take a few minutes to make sure your important accounts are secured with two-factor authentication and that you know your account recovery options in case you lose your phone. Store your passport number, travel insurance information, and emergency contact numbers somewhere you can access offline — a notes app or a printed copy in your bag.