8) Retractable USB cables are awesome. So are splitters/hubs.
I feel the key to travelling with tech is to make it easy. This is why I don’t like USB adapters with attached wires. It gets really, really annoying dealing with tangled wires. Retractable USB cables are brilliant. The picture above says it all: No clutter, easily portable, yet you still have a few feet of length if you need it. Make sure you get one each for your different USB connections (i.e. one for micro and one for mini, if your devices aren’t all one type).
USB hubs are also useful, albeit slightly less so. If you and your traveling companions have your iPods, phones, and Kindles, all needing a charge, you’re going to be fighting for the cables and adapters. Don’t be tempted to bring an adapter and cable for each piece of gear. A portable mini USB hub isn’t expensive, and will at least allow you to double up on your charging. I found plugging in too much gear slows down charging way too much.
There are also wall warts with multiple USB connections, but these seem excessive to me.
Good advice! I just got back from 10 days in Italy myself. Bought an international SIM card for my iPad 3G for 20 euros at a photo kiosk in the Frankfurt Airport during my initial layover. Grazie, blau.de, else Wi-Fi access woulda been non sta accadendo. No 'buds, tho; brought my trusty Sennheiser HD 650s with me, and they were put to good use when I watched the Rolling Stones' Shine a Light. Took most of my trip pics on said iPad, even though it was truly scorching hot in my hands much of the time when I was snapping away at the wonderful Boboli Gardens in Florence. Photo evidence can be found on my FB page, amongst other social media outlets. —MM, S+V EIC
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Good advice! I just got back from 10 days in Italy myself. Bought an international SIM card for my iPad 3G for 20 euros at a photo kiosk in the Frankfurt Airport during my initial layover. Grazie, blau.de, else Wi-Fi access woulda been non sta accadendo. No 'buds, tho; brought my trusty Sennheiser HD 650s with me, and they were put to good use when I watched the Rolling Stones' Shine a Light. Took most of my trip pics on said iPad, even though it was truly scorching hot in my hands much of the time when I was snapping away at the wonderful Boboli Gardens in Florence. Photo evidence can be found on my FB page, amongst other social media outlets. —MM, S+V EIC