Your guide to essential travel gadgets for 2024

Traveling, even on vacation, can be pretty stressful. Especially if, like me, you carry a lot of tech with you. Thankfully, everything in modern devices has shifted toward USB-C. And while not all USB-C ports are created equal, the port’s versatility can mean fewer cables, adapters, and dongles. But we still need to be able to charge all of our devices, whether we’re at a hotel or on the go. Sometimes, we need to plug in things that simply aren’t compatible with the tech you’re carrying.

Here are our must-have travel accessories you should take with you on your next trip, which can reduce the amount of stuff you have to carry overall while ensuring you’re prepared for every situation and every plug.

Let’s start small, aka a USB-C to USB-A converter. No matter how fancy your hotel is, there’s still a very good chance that your wall ports will still be the old USB-A port. All the latest gadgets with USB-C ports simply won’t be able to connect to them. Here’s a UGreen adapter that takes any cable and makes it compatible with USB-A. This particular product comes in a pair that also includes a USB-A to USB-C converter. But that’s not an issue we usually encounter on our travels, so I left this device at home.

When I travel, I always go overboard, taking my laptop, phone, tablet, watch, headphones and camera, and these are just my devices. During my many trips, I also realized that more often than not, I wanted to charge 2 to 4 devices at the same time. Carrying a separate charger for each of these devices fills up my tech bag very, very quickly, and I like to travel light. UGreen Nexode Pro GaN chargers come to the rescue. I usually carry a 100W or 160W charger along with an extra 65W charger so my wife can have one by her bed. In total, these chargers can support 7 devices simultaneously, reducing the number of chargers you need to carry around without compromise. The chargers are also very small and relatively light, which is important when traveling.

The best part is that the charger does all of this without overwhelming the hotel circuits, even if you have to use an adapter. With 3 USB-C ports and 1 USB-A port, it gives me plenty of ports, and the 160W of power provides enough power to charge all my devices overnight. If I ever need to top up my phone at noon, I just plug it into the highest port and it gives me a maximum output of 140W. It usually charges my phone in a few minutes and lasts the rest of the day. This device is an absolute must-have for our trips.

The only downside is that even though the device is quite light, hotel ports are not always strong enough to support the weight. I usually have to strengthen the charger somehow so it doesn’t fall. For more information, read my full review of all chargers.

I charged my laptop, phone, headphones, and watch without any delays and was ready in time to start my day of adventures.

If you’re out and about all day, you’re likely going to need a portable power solution. That’s where I like to carry the UGreen Magnetic Wireless Power Bank. With this device, I can wirelessly charge my phone while also charging another phone via USB-C or USB-A. With a capacity of 10,000mAh, it has enough power to charge your phone three times without running out of juice. It even has a built-in kickstand that you can use on flights to watch movies on your phone. The power output is around 20W, which is plenty for one device, but can be a bit slow when switching between multiple devices. It’s probably best to only charge one device at a time, although it’s nice to have the option. The only downside is that this power bank is a bit bulky, but thankfully UGreen has other capacity options if you want something a bit lighter and more compact.

Last, but certainly not least, there’s a device that can further enhance your plane entertainment or late-night TV viewing. The UGreen Bluetooth Receiver and Transmitter is a Bluetooth adapter that can be plugged into any Aux port that you typically plug wired headphones into. I’ve previously worn my bulky over-ear headphones on planes because they have the ability to connect a wire to them. But with this device, I simply plug the transmitter into the Aux port and plug in my tiny wireless earbuds. This makes the entire experience wireless, so you don’t have to unplug or untangle the cable every time your neighbor wants to go to the bathroom. You also don’t have to carry around wired headphones (which usually don’t have noise cancellation) or bulky over-ear headphones that don’t fit in your pocket. You can see that I like to travel lightly.

Another advantage of this device is that if you rent a car that only has an aux cable as an input, this Bluetooth device can be converted into a receiver, so that your phone becomes a source and the car can play music without any cables. Similarly, if there are some old speakers in the hotel that do not support Bluetooth or simply do not connect to your phone, you can connect them and enjoy the music, since most of them have an aux port.

Finally, if you want to watch TV in the evening and your wife or travel companion is asleep, chances are the TV will have an AUX cable. Connect this device and you can enjoy your movie without disturbing anyone else.

You could say I’m a big fan of this incredibly discreet device. And guess what, it charges via USB-C.

These were some of the must-have devices for your next trip in 2024 or whatever you have planned for 2025. Which ones did you use? Do you have any devices that you consider essential travel companions? Let me know in the comments.