Tech Travel Tips: Travel Smart This Spring Break

Ramona
Sep 22, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Feb 5

Spring break is almost here, which means packed bags, out-of-office replies, and plans that may or may not involve sand, snow, or visiting family. Whether you’re heading across the country or just taking a well-earned break closer to home, your technology is coming with you, for better or worse.

A little prep goes a long way in making sure your devices support your trip instead of complicating it. Here are some smart, simple tech travel tips to help you relax and enjoy the break.

Tech Travel Tips

Back It Up Before You Take Off

Before you leave town, make sure your important data is backed up. Phones get lost. Laptops take spills. Accidents happen, especially while traveling.

A current backup means:

Photos aren’t gone forever
Work files are recoverable
You’re not stuck scrambling mid-trip

If you’re not sure whether your backups are actually running, now’s a great time to check.

Be Careful With Public Wi-Fi

Airport Wi-Fi, hotel networks, coffee shops, convenient, yes. Secure? Not always.

When using public Wi-Fi:

Avoid logging into financial accounts
Don’t access sensitive work systems
Watch for fake networks with familiar names

A VPN adds a layer of protection and helps keep your data private while you’re on the go.

Update Before You Go

That update notification you keep ignoring? This is the time to deal with it.

Before traveling:

Update your operating system
Update apps
Update antivirus or security tools

Updates often fix security holes and bugs, exactly the things you don’t want popping up mid-vacation.

Pack the Boring Stuff (You’ll Thank Yourself)

It’s easy to forget the small things until you really need them:

Charging cables (and extras)
Portable battery packs
Adapters if you’re traveling internationally

Nothing kills the vacation vibe faster than hunting for a charger in an unfamiliar place.

Separate Work and Personal When You Can

If you’re bringing a work device along “just in case,” be intentional about how you use it.

Log out of work apps when you’re done
Avoid mixing personal downloads on work machines
Keep sensitive files off shared or borrowed devices

Your future self, and your IT team, will appreciate it.

Protect Devices Like They’re Traveling Too

Travel is rough on electronics. A few simple habits help:

Use protective cases
Don’t leave devices unattended
Keep them out of extreme heat or cold

Treat your tech like a travel companion, not an afterthought.

Enjoy the Break (Your Tech Will Survive)

Spring break should feel like a pause, not a juggling act. A little preparation helps your technology stay quiet in the background, exactly where it belongs.

If you’d like help: