The bags are half-packed, the passports are out, and somewhere in the house a charger has already gone missing. Whether you're heading for the sun, the campsite or a few days down the country, the right tech can be the difference between a smooth trip and a holiday spent hunting for a free plug socket. This guide runs through the ten travel gadgets worth making room for this summer — with a quick word on plugs, power and roaming so nothing catches you out at the airport, and a printable checklist at the end you can tick off as you pack.
First, the boring-but-important bit: plugs, power and roaming
Five minutes of planning here saves a lot of hassle later. A few things worth knowing before you head off:
- One cable now charges almost everything. Under the EU's common-charger rules, the phones, tablets, cameras and earbuds sold here since late 2024 nearly all use USB-C — so a single good-quality USB-C cable, plus a spare, will keep the whole family going.
- You'll still need an adapter for the Continent. Ireland and the UK use the three-pin Type G plug, while most of Europe runs on two-pin sockets. A simple travel adapter means you're not borrowing one at hotel reception.
- Roaming is sorted inside the EU. Thanks to “roam like at home” rules, using your Irish mobile plan across the EU and EEA costs the same as it does at home — just double-check the small print before travelling further afield, where charges can still apply.
- Power banks travel in your cabin bag. Airline safety rules mean spare batteries and power banks must go in the cabin, never in checked luggage, and most carriers cap them at 100Wh — comfortably above what a typical power bank holds.
Power: keep everything charged from gate to beach
There's nothing worse than 10% battery at the boarding gate with your tickets on your phone. Sort the power first.
- 1. A reliable power bank is the single most useful thing you can pack. Aim for 10,000–20,000mAh with USB-C fast charging — that's roughly two to four full phone charges, enough to see a family through a long travel day. Browse the power banks and chargers range to match capacity to your trip.
- 2. A multi-port USB-C charger lets everyone top up overnight from a single socket — a lifesaver in hotel rooms that seem to have exactly one free plug behind the bed.
- 3. A travel adapter for the Continent, ideally one with its own USB ports so it doubles as a second charger.
- 4. A portable power station if you're camping, road-tripping or off to a festival. Bigger units from the likes of Jackery and EcoFlow will run a cool-box, charge phones for days and keep the lights on well away from the nearest socket — see the backup power stations for the options.
Sound: headphones and earbuds for the journey
A long flight or a four-hour drive is a very different experience with the right audio.
- 5. Noise-cancelling headphones take the edge off engine drone and make travelling with kids far more bearable. Over-ear models give the best isolation for flights — have a look through the wireless headphones range.
- 6. Wireless earbuds are the better shout for the beach, the pool or a wander around town. Look for water resistance and a case that holds a few extra charges; the ONESONIC Noise Cancelling Earbuds are a tidy, affordable place to start.
Screens: tablets and e-readers to keep everyone happy
Downtime is part of any holiday — and a couple of screens can keep the whole family content on a delayed transfer or a rainy afternoon.
- 7. A tablet earns its place on any family trip: downloaded films, games and kids' shows turn dead travel time into quiet time. The golden rule is to download everything before you fly, while you're still on home Wi-Fi. The tablets range covers everything from budget kids' models to premium iPads.
- 8. An e-reader is the holiday hero for readers — weeks of battery, lighter than a stack of paperbacks, and waterproof models you can happily read by the pool. PocketBook e-readers are well worth a look if you've a few books to get through.
Capture & wearables: gadgets that survive the holiday
Finally, the bits that catch the memories and keep you on track while you're out and about.
- 9. An action camera is built for exactly the moments a phone shouldn't be near — the sea, the pool, the hike. Rugged and waterproof, something like the Kaiser Baas X450 4K action camera captures it all without you worrying about a splash.
- 10. A smartwatch handles navigation, step-counting and notifications on your wrist, so you can leave the phone in the bag at the beach. For walking and adventure holidays, the GPS and battery life on a Garmin are hard to beat — see the smart watches range.
- One for the bucket list: if you're chasing scenery, a drone captures coastlines and mountains like nothing else — just check the local flying rules at your destination before take-off.
Your printable summer travel tech checklist
Tick them off as you pack:
- ☐ Power bank (10,000mAh+) — in your cabin bag
- ☐ Multi-port USB-C charger
- ☐ Spare USB-C cables
- ☐ Travel adapter (for the Continent)
- ☐ Portable power station (camping / road trips)
- ☐ Noise-cancelling headphones
- ☐ Wireless earbuds
- ☐ Tablet — films & games downloaded
- ☐ E-reader — for the pool
- ☐ Action camera
- ☐ Smartwatch
Final thoughts
You don't need to pack all ten — but a dependable power bank, a set of headphones and one screen each will cover most families for most trips. Get the power and the cables sorted first, download what you need before you leave, and the rest is just deciding what makes the cut.
Need a hand before you go? Browse the full travel tech range online, or call into any of our 60+ stores nationwide — the team will happily help you pick the right gear for your trip.
