Below, I walk through the gadgets and apps that I consider essential when
traveling (“Bring It”), along with those that I prefer to keep out of my suitcase
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possible while traveling. Looking back on the trips I’ve taken, it’s the memories
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beauty that stand out, not the cute puppy video I watched on the plane.
BRING IT: PHONE
There have been times when I’ve dared myself to leave my phone at home when
traveling, but let’s not be silly. While your phone has the potential to stress you
out while you’re on vacation, it can also enhance the experience. You can
download countless helpful apps to help you with directions, language barriers,
and booking last-minute tickets or hotels. (I have a friend who challenges
herself not to book any hotels before she leaves for a trip. She uses last-minute
hotel-deal apps like Hotel Tonight to book once she’s there.) You can also use
your phone to stream music to a Bluetooth speaker, watch movies and TV
shows, or...well, you know what you can do on your phone. Just be sure to
curate the apps on your device before you leave and ditch the ones that could
distract you from being in the moment—like, say, social media and email.