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Analisa Wisdom

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Aug 2, 2024, 1:19:21 AM8/2/24

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I just went to the Apple Store to buy an iPad (with a keyboard so I could type) for my upcoming trip to Europe, as I'm sure I don't want to haul my MacBook Air on this carry-on (+ handbag) 3 month trip

I already own/use an iPhone 12 mini which I did not think was "enough" however, now I'm re-thinking this.... "What will you use it for?" I got asked. Well, for data mostly. To use GPS or maps to get me places. To make/ check my lodging reservations. To purchase train tickets. And only a small amount of talk/text.

However, I wouldn't be able to type, say, a Facebook report or a note to a friend. However, if I don't want to compose "longer" things using my thumbs, I could instead dictate into notes and copy/paste the verbiage to where I want to put it (in Facebook, for example).

If I am only interested in checking my hotels, looking at Trenitalia, WhatsApp, reading the occasional webpage, monitoring my email and texting then I am happy having my phone only. On my most recent trip, I went to language school and I had to be available at times for my job so I took my Samsung Galaxy S8 tablet (11") with keyboard case. This made school work much easier as well as to ready/respond to work email and other tasks. Since I had it with me I also watched Netflix and Hulu - that was a nice to have, but I didn't miss them when I didn't take the tablet.
If I wasn't going to school or dealing with work obligations, I wouldn't bring the tablet - it's just 1 more thing and not an insignificant amount of weight when I am doing all carry-on

I find my Samsung tablet to be essential when traveling - especially for trip planning in the evening at the hotel. You get a much larger view when looking at maps [Google or otherwise], sometimes web sites are more effective than apps on the phone, plus reading e-books - especially an additional guidebook beyond Rick Steves. Not to mention reading e-mail. Plus it syncs with OneDrive, so my PC files are available as well if needed - and easy to read.

The phone is useful for travel-related apps while on the move - Trenitalia in Italy, Jakdojade last month for public transport in Poland, Bolt and or FreeNow, etc. Plus navigation when out and about, especially as favorites in Google Maps sync to the phone from the tablet. And WhatsApp. But I couldn't survive with just the phone.

Calls were made via WhatApp whenever possible, but via a normal mobile phone call sometimes. The compact phone was the perfect size for navigating on foot, as well as for navigating while my husband drove the rental car.

I take both my iPhone and my iPad. I use my iPad in the evenings at the hotel to: research things for the next day, browse the internet, read books using the kindle app and watch Netflix (if the local TV isn't in English). I also use my iPad on the plane to watch downloaded Netflix shows. My iPad stays in the hotel safe during the day.

When you say that you would buy an ipad "with keyboard" do you mean an external keyboard? If so, I believe you can get a lightweight external keyboard that will work with your iphone. If the keyboard is the only reason for buying and bringing the ipad, then maybe you don't need it.

I still travel with an old ipad mini as well as my iphone. As others have mentioned, I prefer the ipad for reading at night or on planes and trains, and for some internet searching, also as a backup if anything happened to my phone.

If you can, travel with someone who is taking an iPad or computer and then the answer is no. I do still prefer to read books on my "dedicated reading device", i.e. Kindle rather than my 12 Mini. Of course, in 2021 when I got stuck in London for a week by myself due to a positive Covid test, I was really glad I had brought my Mac Air(which I did knowing that the Covid thing would be a possibility).

I don't think there is a world of difference between the iPhone (iOS) and the iPad (iPadOS) other than the larger screen and a few items like the use of the Pencil. I generally only have my iPhone on vacation and rarely bring the iPad unless there is a specific book on it that I want to read which my Kindle doesn't have or won't show as well (ie RARE!).

However, I think of my trip to Amsterdam last year where I was making a reservation for dinner and my iPhone could not do it. For whatever reason, the restaurant site was not iPhone friendly. Luckily, I often travel with my laptop (despite rarely using it), and I fired that up, made the reservation, and had a great anniversary dinner that evening :)

So, iPad vs just iPhone? Probably winning just with the iPhone. To me, there does seem to be a case for the laptop option, but there are also workarounds. As I tell my wife often on vacation - particularly in Europe - "they're not in the Stone Age" meaning just because I don't do it the way the Euros do, they're firmly in the 21st century too, and it's more a matter of understanding how they do things. IOW, if the iPhone isn't cutting it, folks in the hotel or folks at restaurant/museum/store can usually help with how the "locals" do it.

It just depends on your preferences. I always leave my MacBook Air at home, and inherited my mom's iPad which has stayed at home as well. I just take my phone and so far, that has always been more than adequate. I just hate to travel with any extra stuff.

I can do almost everything I need to on my phone. I don't have an iPhone but for my android phone I purchased a small folding bluetooth keyboard to use for just the things you mention (writing longer missives, working on my travel blog). It weighs 5 ounces and is very close to normal keyboard size (though I do have smaller hands so might not work for everyone).

I don't like reading books on my phone, so I also travel with an Amazon Fire tablet loaded with guidebooks and reading materials (it has the Kindle app reader embedded in the tablet). It is kind of slow though so surfing the web is painful so I hardly used it on my last trip. I am considering not taking it next time and going back to analog reading material and putting guidebooks on my phone (I use the Kindle app reader on my phone).

I have one of the later bigger iPhones and it's the only thing I bring on trips with me nowadays. If you don't have an iPad I wouldn't buy one just for the trip. I did everything on vacation on my iPhone and yes I even read on it.

I am a huge iPad user when travelling. You do not need an external keyboard. The iPad, IMO, is so much easier to use than a phone for many things. I keep a daily travel log on either notes or Pages. I keep track of spending on the app provided, Numbers. I find the keyboard on the phone just too small.

The other thing is the ability to get onto Netflix or other streaming when needed. The screen is also so much bigger. Also, I have an attachment that allows me to download my picture card from my camera to my iPad that then uploads to the cloud, especially useful where wifi is poor from a camera upload.

I'm one that also travels with an iPhone 14 and a iPad Mini 6. I can do everything on the iPhone but I prefer to read on my iPad Mini using the Kindle app. I read every night and sometimes if I am taking an easy day I'll just go to a park in Paris with a baguette for lunch, a bottle of water and my "book".

I was about to borrow my friend's iPad for my two week hiking trip to Portugal & Spain, I leave in 11 days. Then I realized I can do everything with my iPhone 14. I will get an eSim package from Airalo and shut off my AT&T as my Primary under Cellular. I can swipe it back on if I really need to. I have informed family and friends to not call me. They can send messages through WhatsApp, Messenger or Email me. All my files & info I need for my reservations are all on a file folder I created on my iPhone. One less thing to worry about and carry on my back.

Need? No. Phones will take care of the essentials.

For convenience or entertainment? Thats a personal choice.

Sometimes I do, sometimes I dont want to mess with it or have the distraction with me.

After looking that the price of new IPads I decided that I could do a lot of other things with the money I'd have to hand over for a new IPad, so I went with a cheap tablet of Amazon. I spent about 100 Euros (I live in Europe) on it and the package came with a mouse, keyboard and case.

I've had it about a year and it works just fine for me. Of course it is not as powerful as an IPad and it did take a little work to get my Google and Apple accounts syncing mail, appointments and contacts, but it is good enough. And bonus, I don't care it it is stolen or lost.

Lots of good ideas here... I would just add that it also depends upon how much you want to carry on your trip? We check a bag, gasp, so have the luxury of having more room in our carryon for one ipad each, which I find very useful for checking out restaurant reservations, etc. in the evening while traveling. I also use it to watch Youtube videos about our next day destinations, remind myself why and what I'm going to visit. You're not missing anything, it's just a personal choice!

Yes, you can easily travel with your phone only. At least I can. Sometimes I bring my kindle to read, but last time, and many times, I've traveled with just my phone or way back when with my iPod. I text with my family, upload to instagram, and handle my travels on my phone. However, I admit the larger screen on an iPad is less awkward. So you can, but it is up to your interests to determine if you want to do so.