These days most
of us travel with at least one, if not several gadgets. Be it a camera, tablet,
smartphone, laptop or all of them!
Compared to the
hassle of losing your gear, a little bit of preparation before you travel can
go a very long way.
Here are 10
simple precautions which could be a huge time saver later on.
1) Don’t forget to back up
Before you head
off, back up everything! Photos, contacts, documents and any other items you’d
miss if your phone, tablet or laptop went missing.
There are
plenty of online cloud storage options, meaning you can continue backing up as
you travel, which is particularly useful for longer trips. Storing lots of
items can incur a charge, but many providers offer space for free when you sign
up.
Google Drive is a great option that will provide 15 GB
of free storage space before you’ll need to pay, and Dropbox - another effective choice - gives 1 GB of complimentary
storage.
2) Hold onto your valuables
Depending on
where you travel to and the airline you travel with, valuables have been known
to go missing between the baggage drop and the baggage reclaim too, so it’s
safer to have most of your tech with you.
3) Turn on your tracking devices!
For support on
setting up Find My iPhone, visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2697
As long as the
device is switched on, you’ll be able to see where its GPS signal is coming
from and can set your device to make a loud noise to help alert you to its
whereabouts. You can also remotely erase personal data and display a customised
message, even after the device has been erased.
If you’re
rocking an Android phone, Device Manager
is its equivalent.
4) Log your electronics
Make a detailed
log of all your devices (including photos and serial numbers), in case of loss
or theft, as well as receipts confirming their value for an insurance claim.
You should also
note your phone’s IMEI number, a 15/16-digit number. Find out yours by dialling
*#06# on your device.
Loss, theft and
accidents are just as likely to happen when you’re on holiday and the more
proof you have that you owned these items, the better.
If you have any
further questions on insurance claims and proof of ownership, drop us an email
on: marketing@discountinsurance.co.uk
5) Don’t wash out
As we all know,
water and electronics aren’t a match made in heaven, so be sure to protect your
gadgets from all wet encounters.
Before you leave,
purchase a dry bag or waterproof case, if you don’t have time, at least tuck
your tech in plastic bags when they’re in your handbag, rucksack or luggage, to
protect them from rainstorms or spontaneous swimming pool encounters.
6) What a beach
Another enemy
for your gadgets is sand and dust, which can easily blow its way into the nooks
and crannies of electronics and cause faults. A good quality case from a brand
like Otterbox or Griffin
should help you avoid this.
However, if you
do get home and find sand in any of your devices, buy a can of compressed
air – a few puffs in the right spots should
help to remove any unwanted grains.
7) Your gadgets don’t tan
Although you
may be looking forward to baking in the sun, your gadgets can’t take the heat.
If you leave
your tech in the sunshine for too long they could shut down. Keep your
electronics in your bag or find a shady spot when using your devices and they’ll
be far more likely to survive the hot days.
8) Avoid cold calls
When your
gadget is subjected to a big chill it will ‘die’ until warmed up again.
If you’ve been
out in the cold for a while, warm up your electronics gradually, so they don’t
build up condensation; cameras in particular can suffer from this. Silica gel
sachets can be handy to pop in a bag with your device; this will ensure remaining
moisture doesn’t harm your items.
9) Strap up
Worried about
thieves and pickpockets? Or always dropping your device?
Consider
investing in anti-theft
straps with slash-proof wires. Handy for both cameras and phones, these
will help keep your items attached to you and safe from accidents like: hitting
the floor, falling into water or pickpocket thefts.
10) Keep charged
Long stretches
of beach, on a plane, trekking or even just poolside can leave your tech with
little battery power.
If you’re
likely to be away from a power source for long periods, then consider talking a
solar powered battery charger like Powermonkey
on your trip. Just plug in tech like your phone, camera, tablet or Kindle and
continue enjoying your electronics without fear of blackout!
Handy tip: Most TV’s now have USB ports, so rather
than fumbling with your overseas plug adapter. Simply plug in your lead and
charge away!
Protect your tech with travel insurance from Discount Insurance and see how much you could save!
Categories: bills, Camera, Chargers, Electronics, Gadgets, iCloud, iPhone, Laptop, Smartphone, Tablet, technology, UK
