Row 34. Six hours to go. A seatback screen with a headphone jack last seen in 2009. And your AirPods sat there useless in your pocket. We’ve all been there. The good news? The best travel tech doesn’t need to be flashy to be brilliant. It’s the low-key stuff that quietly fixes the annoying bits, smooths out the journey and lets you enjoy your trip. From clever gadgets that sort the flight, to gear that upgrades the holiday itself, here’s the kit that definitely earns its place in your bag.

Let’s start with the plane. Because that’s where travel either kicks off perfectly or immediately starts testing your patience.

First up, getting your earbuds talking to the screen in front of you. Most in-flight entertainment systems are still clinging to that old 3.5mm headphone jack, which your wireless earbuds obviously won’t work with. That’s where something like the Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 comes in. You plug it into the screen, pair your AirPods, and suddenly you’ve got wireless audio at 30,000 feet. Even better, it connects two pairs at once, so you and your travel buddy can watch the same film together without awkwardly sharing earbuds.

Next, power. A dead phone at the gate is a modern travel nightmare. Especially when your boarding pass lives on it now. A solid 20,000mAh power bank, like this Belkin model, will give you a couple of full charges, keeping you going from check-in to touching down on the tarmac. Just remember the golden rule. Power banks go in your hand luggage, never the hold. Stick to that and you’re good to go.

Then there’s the plug situation. Different countries, different sockets, and somehow you always pack the wrong adapter. A world travel plug adapter like this Maplin one saves you every time. There’s one plug, multiple configurations and a few USB ports thrown in as well. It means you can charge your phone, headphones and anything else without juggling sockets or buying overpriced adapters at the airport.

And finally, the big one. Luggage stress. Few things feel worse than watching the carousel go round and realising your suitcase isn’t on it. A simple Bluetooth tracker like an Apple AirTag can turn that panic into a shrug. Pop it in your bag, and you can check its location on your phone whenever you need to. If it’s still at the airport you just left, at least you’ll know what’s going on, instead of wondering about it.

Once you’ve arrived, your tech should shift from problem-solving to memory-making. This is where things get a bit more fun.

If your trip involves water, action or anything even slightly risky for your phone, an action camera earns its place. Something like the Insta360 X5 lets you shoot high-quality footage that puts you right back in the moment, without worrying about drops, splashes or sand. Because it captures everything around you, you don’t have to stress about framing up the perfect shot either. Enjoy what you’re doing and sort the edits out later! Plus, your phone isn’t needed at all, so it’ll stay safe (and dry) in your bag.

For slower moments (like lounging by the pool or chilling on the beach), a good eReader is hard to beat. Bright sunshine and phone screens don’t get along. And paperbacks aren’t exactly made to handle a soaking. A Kindle Paperwhite solves both! The glare-free display is easy to read even in direct sunlight. While it’s waterproof enough to survive the occasional dip or spill. Plus, with thousands of books on the one device, you won’t have to lug a stack of new reads on the plane with you.

None of these gadgets are overcomplicated or difficult to use. They’re just smart ways to sort things that regularly go wrong when you travel. Or a nice-to-have while you’re out and about or relaxing on the sun lounger.

And through all of it, your phone stays at the centre of everything. It’s your boarding pass, your map, your translator and way more. Keeping it charged, connected and safe makes everything else easier. Oh, and don’t forget with inclusive roaming across 50 destinations and data rollover, iD keeps you connected. All without a nasty bill when you land.

Got any gadgets you can’t go on your hols without? Tell us about them in the comments down below!