Isle of Skye, Scotland
Fresh off a trip to the breathtaking landscapes of Scotland, much like my colleague Dan, I’m eager to share some tech-centric reflections on modern international travel. While Dan covered many essential aspects for today’s global traveler, I have a few additional insights, specifically from the perspective of a self-proclaimed Travel Techie.
Digital Travel Planning: Apple Notes as My Central Hub
For this Scottish adventure, my most invaluable tool was surprisingly simple: Apple Notes. Months before our departure, back in February, I initiated a note, shared it with my wife, and began crafting potential itineraries. Rick Steves, the travel guru, provided some initial inspiration as I sketched out routes and points of interest within the note. Lauren and I collaborated, refining the itinerary until we had a solid day-by-day plan that resonated with both of us.
As our plans solidified, the note evolved into a comprehensive travel command center. Flight details were added, followed by hotel reservations neatly organized under each day’s itinerary. Even details like the payment preference of a charming cash-only B&B found their place. Rental car information was logged directly beneath our Inverness airport arrival details, ensuring all logistical pieces were in one easily accessible location.
Seeking expert hiking advice for our Isle of Skye exploration, I reached out to David Smith, a seasoned hiker with extensive experience in Scotland. His recommendations, delivered via Slack, were promptly copied into the note under the relevant day, enriching our planned activities with local insights.
When our tour operator dispatched Isle of Mull bus and ferry tickets as PDFs, they too were seamlessly integrated into the note, attached to the corresponding tour day. Dinner reservations made in advance by Lauren were also added, creating a single, unified repository for all critical travel information. The final touch before departure, and the first piece of information I accessed upon our return, was our San Francisco airport off-site parking space number.
To streamline access, I added a Notes widget to my iPhone home screen, specifically linked to our “2024 UK Trip” note. This provided instant, one-tap access to our entire itinerary and all associated details, eliminating the need to navigate through the Notes app itself. This simple yet effective setup transformed my iPhone into the ultimate travel techie companion.
Powering Up on the Go: Navigating USB-A in a USB-C World
Dan touched upon the ubiquitous need for USB charging while traveling, and my experience in Scotland mirrored his. USB ports were indeed prevalent – in hotels, rental cars, and even airplanes. However, a noticeable trend emerged: almost all were the older USB-A standard. This presented a minor inconvenience for a travel techie like myself, who has fully embraced the USB-C ecosystem. Fortunately, foresight prevailed, and I had packed a compact USB-A-to-C adapter. Similar to this model, these adapters are now essential additions to my travel kit. While my home has transitioned beyond the “dongle life,” the wider world, especially in travel infrastructure, clearly still operates within “Dongletown.”
Following a recommendation from our Isle of Mull tour company, I also brought a portable power bank. This proved useful on a couple of occasions when we were out and about late in the day with no immediate access to power outlets. However, a slight tech mismatch surfaced: my current power banks charge via micro-USB and deliver power via USB-A. Armed with a somewhat outdated micro-USB cable and my trusty USB-A-to-C adapter, I managed to make it work, but a modern USB-C based power bank is definitely on my travel tech upgrade list for future trips.
eSIM and Connectivity Conundrums: The iMessage Saga
I wholeheartedly echo Dan’s sentiments regarding the complexities of using international eSIMs with iMessage. eSIMs are undeniably a game-changer, offering affordable data access abroad. Our eSIM provided comprehensive data coverage for a mere $20, a stark contrast to the exorbitant $240 our US carrier would have charged for international roaming. However, the integration with iMessage was far from seamless. Contacts with phone numbers definitively linked in my Contacts app were repeatedly identified by their numerical phone numbers in message threads. The logic behind this remains baffling and frustrating, a minor glitch in an otherwise tech-forward travel experience.
Tech for Emotional Connection: FaceTime Across Borders
With our children now adults and living independently, Lauren and I embarked on this Scottish journey as a couple, a departure from family trips. Consequently, we didn’t rely on FaceTime as a makeshift baby monitor, as Dan’s family did. However, FaceTime played a different, yet profoundly important role on this trip. Around 4 a.m. in Glasgow, a FaceTime call from our daughter pierced the early morning quiet. Her elderly cat had suffered a sudden, serious injury, and Jamie and a friend were facing the heartbreaking decisions pet owners sometimes must make. Despite the distance and the early hour, FaceTime enabled us to offer immediate support and guidance during a difficult moment. Even thousands of miles away and still half-asleep, we were able to connect with our daughter and provide comfort in real-time. This poignant use of technology highlighted its capacity to bridge distances and offer emotional support, even amidst a travel adventure.
Contactless Payments and Seamless Navigation: Apple Pay and Maps Shine
For nearly all transactions (excluding the aforementioned cash-preferring B&B), I relied on Apple Pay via my Apple Watch. London’s public transportation system provided the perfect stage to experience Apple Pay Transit for the first time. The simple act of tapping my wrist to enter and exit Tube turnstiles felt remarkably futuristic and efficient. Navigating London itself was also effortlessly managed by Apple Maps. The app excelled at providing clear directions, including precise instructions on which lines to use, which trains to board, and even which station exits to take, making navigating a complex city remarkably straightforward for this travel techie.
Technology undeniably enhanced our Scottish journey, streamlining logistics, facilitating communication, and providing seamless navigation. While minor tech hiccups like USB-A dominance and eSIM/iMessage quirks surfaced, the overall experience underscored the immense value of being a travel techie in the modern world.
