Expats and globetrotters know the best quality and most affordable technology products  are only available in the US. You can check out our recommendations for digital nomads, travelers, and expats here.

Table of Contents

Intro
Don’t Pack Your Worries
International SIM card
Portable Charger
Laptop or Tablet
Camera
Headphones
E-Reader
Virtual Mailbox

Traveling internationally – let alone moving to a foreign country – can be both the most stressful and thrilling time of your life. Before you put the US in your rearview for a while, take stock of the things you’ll miss. Things that, when longed for deeply in the solitary early morning hours, can make you so homesick you’ll want to abandon your adventure before its even begun. It should go without saying (but won’t): you’ll miss your family and friends. Familiar foods. The local library. Your pub. Sports played and presented in a language you comprehend. That’s totally normal.

If your mind is, indeed, made up, then allow us to share the benefits of our extensive expat experience with you. Specifically, the technology you’ll bring with you from America that will make a world of difference to you in your  newly adopted country.

Don’t Pack Your Worries

The best way to rid yourself of pangs of doubt and homesickness is to enthusiastically throw yourself into your travel plans and not leave a single iota to chance. When you’re ready to pack your bags, be mindful about what you take. Weight is a major issue. Trust me, you do not want to lug a bulky suitcase around a foreign capital. Space is also at a premium. You’ll also want tech that can fulfill more than one role simultaneously. For example: your mobile phone is also a camera and a flashlight (among other functions), your smart watch doubles as a blood pressure monitor, calendar, and even a compass! With those types of features top of mind, we put the products through their paces before culling the list down to the best of the best.

Here are some of the coolest, most versatile and reliable tech products that you should consider buying prior to endeavoring an international walkabout:

International SIM card

This will allow you access to data and let you make calls while you’re in Europe with your own smartphone. There are a number of different providers to choose from, so be sure to compare prices and plans before you buy.

Buying your SIM card at the airport of your new host country will only get you ripped off. The other option is to somehow navigate the new city to find a SIM card priced by someone without a grudge against tourists. Our advice is to go digital before you go overseas and bring a new SIM card with you that works in nearly every country.  Close your mouth. This is a thing. The days of being forced to spend hundreds of dollars on an unlocked phone or a bulky sat phone have gone the way of the Blackberry (device purgatory) and MySpace.com (wha?). Now you can simply insert your new SIM card into your phone and you are ready to connect with people internationally.

Recommendation: OneSimCard International SIM Card

OneSIMCard International has multiple solutions for traveling folks and adventurers, including SIM cards for specific regions and international phone rental. Here’s everything you need to know about the OneSimCard, which we highly recommend you purchase in advance of your departure. Features include:

• 3-in-1 SIM size – Mini, Micro and Nano Sizes
• Includes 2 numbers: Europe & USA, Canada, UK or Australia
• 4G services in 50+ countries; 5G available
• Direct dial in 50+ countries and callback dial in other countries.
• Add numbers in 60+ other countries
• Coverage in over 200 countries
• Discount packages available
• Voice mail service with free delivery to email
• Free incoming calls received on EU number in 120+ countries. Outgoing calls from 25c/min
• Live Technical Support
• *Free shipping to the U.S. on orders over $50
• *Free shipping to Canada on orders over $100
• International shipping from the U.S. from only $4.99

PRICE: $29.95 (not bad, right?!) 

Portable Charger 

This is a hands-down, must-have for any traveler, as it will help you keep your devices charged even when you’re on the go. There are several different portable chargers available, so be sure to choose one that’s the right size and power for your needs.

Recommendation: Jomfeen Travel Adapter

This ingenious power adapter can be used in the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and India! The website claims these babies work in 150 countries! Here’s what else you should know:

• Compatible with iPhones, Android, Nintendo, camera, laptop/PC and more
• You can charge your devices including your smartphones, laptops, GPS, wireless headphones, batteries, speakers, MP3 players, etc.
• Supports universal voltage 110 – 240 V. Designed with safety shutter, a protector, and power indicator light. Includes travel pouch for easy storage.
• Internal metal interfaces provide better Conductivity Grounded 3 Prong plug. Max Capacity Up to 3000 Watt (max 250 Volt, 13 A) Built in Protector, Safety shutter, and power indicator light.

Price: $11.99

Laptop or tablet

These are both great ways to stay connected to your world at home while you’re traveling. You can use either type of device to check email, browse the internet, watch movies or even check your virtual mail. If you’re doing the digital nomad thing, you’ll need something that you can rely on to complement your skills that is easily schlepable (light and portable). For me, a professional copywriter and amateur designer, there’s no substitute for the:

Recommendation: Macbook Air with the M2 chip

It’s the latest, greatest, fastest, and lightest Mac introduced to date with the most capabilities and storage. The Mac Air features:

• 6” Liquid Retina display
• Apple M2 chip
• 18-hour battery life
• Weighs 2.7 pounds.
• 8-core CPU (up to 10-core available)
• 1080p FaceTime camera
• Up to 24GB unified memory with 2TB maximum configurable storage

If you’re not planning to work while you travel, consider purchasing a tablet instead. Workaholics will still find a way to be busy on a tablet, but normal folks can use it to surf the net, watch a movie, read a book, order dinner, or get a wee bit artsy. In my humble opinion, the best laptop for traveling is…

Recommendation: iPad Air

This is not your Daddy’s iPad. This one allows multitasking between apps. The kind that allows you to mix music, edit video and so much more. Compatible with the Apple Pen, you can get truly creative using the design programs and tools you already know. It’s even cellular capable to relieve you of the worry over finding a decent wifi connection.

Price: From $599

Camera

This is a great way to capture memories of your trip. Of course, you might be wondering why you need a camera when you have one on your smart phone. Color me shocked to discover that our so-called smart phones aren’t the model of creative efficiency and portable movie studio that the Superbowl commercials led us to believe. The REAL reasons you might want to pack a camera include higher resolution, image sensor, and superior focal length. If you already know your way around a camera, chances are pretty good you have high expectations for your own photography. For most people, the camera on their smart phone will suffice for selfies, food pics, and capturing the ephemeral moments of your trip. For those with more photography experience, seeking to capture the moment more professional capabilities.

Recommendation: Canon Powershot SX740

Features Include:

• Takes digital photos and videos.
• AE / AF Tracking
• Auto Exposure Lock
• Auto Focus Lock
• Flash Exposure Lock
• Focus Peaking
• Histogram Display
• Manual Zoom Adjustment
• Mobile Device Remote Controlled
• Pop-up Flash
• Red Eye Reduction
• Remote Live View
• Time-lapse Recording
• Touch Screen
• USB Charging

Price: $399

P.S. If you’re a rugged individualist with a passion for exploring and or outdoor sports, you should consider a Go Pro camera to capture your POV in action. Price: $299 and up

Headphones

Never board a plane without protection. I’m talking about ear protection from all insidious forms of noise pollution including crying babies, chatty neighbors who can’t take a hint, obnoxiously drunks, and the video game vocalizations from the gaming kid sitting next to you. Headphones will go a long way not only in cancelling out the sounds of your surroundings, but also enhancing your experience listening to music and watching movies.

Recommendation: Sony WH-1000XM5

Check out the features and specs on what I hope will be the last headphones you’ll ever need to buy. Remember: you get what you pay for – and we’re only recommending the best. See what we mean here:

• Industry Leading noise cancellation-two processors control 8 microphones for unprecedented noise cancellation. With Auto NC Optimizer, noise canceling is automatically optimized based on your wearing conditions and environment.
• Magnificent Sound, engineered to perfection with the new Integrated Processor V1
• Crystal clear hands-free calling with 4 beamforming microphones, precise voice pickup, and advanced audio signal processing.
• Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging (3 min charge for 3 hours of playback).

Price: $398 

E-Reader

If you’ve ever attempted to read Tolstoy’s War and Peace on the subway, you know the kind of arm muscles you’ll eventually develop. But assuming that reading on the road is your goal, you can do better than weightlifting classic Russian authors. Sure, you can read magazines and the news on your phone, but if you really want to lose yourself in a story, consider these two options.

Recommendation 1: iPad Air (see above)

You can purchase and download all the books you want and read them on your tablet. If you purchase the iPad, you can download apps like Kindle that will allow you to read books in that format.

Price: $399

However, if you prefer to focus on a single task at a time, an actual kindle might be the best way to keep to your reading list. Sure, you can purchase Kindle’s that are basically little iPads, but that would defeat the purpose and ruin your reading experience.

Recommendation 2: Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle Paperwhite is purpose built for reading. With a flush-front design and 300 ppi glare-free display that reads like real paper, even in bright sunlight, hardcore readers won’t be disappointed. Other essential features include:

• 8” display
• Adjustable warm light
• 10 weeks of battery life
• 20% faster page turns
• Store thousands of books
• A single charge via USB-C last for weeks
• Adjustable warm light to shift screen shade from white to amber.

Price: $139

Virtual Mailbox

If you plan to stay overseas indefinitely or for at least six months, you should strongly consider a virtual mailbox account. Basically, you forward your mail to the company’s address and, as your mail arrives, they scan and upload it to the cloud where you can view, save, forward, delete or shred. You can view your mail on any device from whenever you happen to be on this spinning globe.

Recommendation: US Global Mail

Founded over twenty years ago by expats specifically to help other US expats when they were travelling, US Global Mail is truly expert at expat mail. This company comes highly recommended with umpteen pages of five-star reviews on Trustpilot, BBB, G2 and Site Jabber. They offer several monthly several different subscription plans that include:

• Exterior mail scans
• Check deposit
• Physical mail storage
• Digital scan storage
• Shred and recycle service
• Sort out junk mail
• 80% off international shipping

Price: starting at $9.95/month

Packing for Paradise

Hey, we get it. It wasn’t too long ago we had wanderlust ourselves. That’s why we know packing the right tech can mean the difference between catching up with family on FaceTime and belatedly mailing them a postcard. (Remember postcards?!) That’s also how we know that tech isn’t everything when it comes to life abroad. Plan your adventures carefully. You might consider packing a first aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen, and – don’t leave home without it – a swimsuit.

Enjoy your trip, amigos y amigas!