March | The Travel Tech That's Actually Worth It

This is an original article by Phil Marsh, DECADES' Retiree in Residence and the writer behind Rookie Retiree. Phil explores retirement as an opportunity for adventure, learning and reinvention, with a practical, lived perspective on life after work.

To ignore or not to ignore?

One of the greatest joys of travel in retirement is finally slowing down and exploring at your own pace, with no deadlines and no pressure.

Which raises an interesting question…

Do we really need to stay plugged into technology while we're away?

After all, travel once meant paper maps, phrasebooks, and simply figuring things out as we went along. And in many ways, that was part of the adventure.

But times have changed.

Technology now has the potential to make travel smoother, safer, and far less stressful, especially when navigating unfamiliar places, languages, and systems.

So rather than ignore it completely, could a few simple tools actually help us get more out of our travels?

This definitely isn't my area of expertise, so I turned to someone who really knows his stuff…

Meet Paul

Paul is a Cyber Resilience Expert and author of How to Survive the Internet - someone who understands both the benefits and the risks of technology better than most.

Question time with Paul - travel edition

1. Why does technology matter when travelling?

When you're travelling, technology isn't just convenient, it can be a real support.

It helps with navigation, communication, bookings, and staying in touch with family. Used well, it reduces stress and gives you the confidence to explore a little further.

2. What are the biggest barriers?

The biggest barrier is simply not knowing what's available.

Many people assume it's complicated or expensive, but in reality, some of the most useful tools are either free or very low cost. The key is to keep things simple and only use what genuinely adds value.

3. What are the "must-haves"?

In my opinion, these are the essentials:

• Smartphone - your all-in-one travel companion: tickets, maps, bookings, and a way to call home.
• eSIM / Virtual SIM - avoid high roaming charges and stay connected from the moment you land.
• Maps (with offline access) - download maps in advance so you can still navigate even without Wi-Fi.
• Translation apps - no need to dust off old language books; apps can help with menus, signs, and even conversations.

4. What about "nice to haves"?

If you want to take things a step further:

• Smart luggage trackers (e.g. AirTags) - useful for keeping tabs on bags and valuables.
• Voice assistants (Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri) - handy for reminders, weather, and local info.
• Travel apps (e.g. TripIt) - keep bookings and itineraries organised in one place.
• Noise-cancelling headphones - create a quiet bubble for relaxing or sleeping.
• VPN apps (e.g. NordVPN) - help protect your data on public Wi-Fi.

5. What about AI when travelling?

AI can be surprisingly helpful on the road. It can:

• Suggest itineraries
• Recommend places to eat or visit
• Translate or summarise information quickly
• Help plan routes or day trips

Just remember, use it as a guide, not gospel, and always double-check anything important.

6. What should we watch for in the future?

Travel technology is evolving quickly, but the most useful developments are likely to be:

• Better real-time translation
• More seamless global connectivity
• Smarter travel planning tools
• Improved health and safety apps

All designed to make travel easier and more accessible.

7. What about security?

In many ways, it's no different to being at home:

• Use different passwords (a password manager helps)
• Enable two-factor authentication
• Be cautious on public Wi-Fi
• Consider a USB data blocker to reduce "juice jacking" risks
• If something feels urgent or too good to be true, pause and check

Rookie tips

Try any new travel tech at home before your trip - airports are not the place to be figuring things out for the first time.

And if you want a more natural translation experience, a Bluetooth speaker can make conversations feel a little more natural.

A couple of other suggestions

To make travel a little more comfortable:

• Download apps like Citymapper before you go (great for public transport)
• Download films or TV programmes for the journey
• Turn on 'Stolen Phone Protection' on your iPhone
• Back up your laptop before travelling - just in case

Summary

If you're travelling to truly "get away from it all", then yes, you can ignore technology.

But used selectively, it can:

• Reduce stress
• Increase confidence
• Help you stay connected
• Make navigating new places much easier

The golden rule? Keep it simple. A couple of well-chosen tools can genuinely enhance your trip; too many can simply add unnecessary stress.

Personal disclosure

I'm not as into tech as Paul.

I'm still part technology lover, part technophobe.

I use eSIMs and AI to explore ideas and possible experiences, but I still prefer to organise everything in my own way. If something doesn't feel intuitive, I quickly lose patience and revert to a more manual approach.

As always, there's no right or wrong answer - it's whatever works best for you.

Over to you

What's one piece of technology you now couldn't travel without?

And what's one thing you still prefer to do the old-fashioned way?

I'd love to hear, because I'm still figuring out the right balance myself.

More on Retirement, Travel and Reinvention

This is an original article by Phil Marsh, DECADES' Retiree in Residence and the writer behind Rookie Retiree.

Phil explores retirement as an opportunity for adventure, learning and reinvention, with a practical, lived perspective on life after work.

👉 Read more from Phil here.