5 insider tech travel hacks you’ll use every single trip

Every summer, I get travel itch. Before stepping out, make sure your house is locked. The bad news is security cameras, from video doorbells to full security systems, aren’t always hack-proof out of the box.

Tap or click here for steps on making sure that only you can access your security and video doorbell camera’s feed. Whether you are traveling or not, this is an important step.

Speaking of cameras, check your rental best for any hidden camera. it happened to me. Tap or click here for steps on how to find the hidden camera.

Now, jump into the steps you need to take before you hit the road to save your time, money and a lot of stress.

1. Take pictures of all your important documents
Of course, you always need to carry identification when traveling, but it’s wise to have a digital backup as well. In the worst case, you lose your wallet. If you have photos of all your important documents, it will be much easier to reach home.

The easiest way to do this on the iPhone is to use the handy document scanner built into the native Notes app.

The Notes app for iPhone is surprisingly powerful. Tap or click here for more secrets to this pre-installed app, including using it as a full-fledged document scanner.

On Android, take a few photos and mark them as favorites in your picture gallery. This will make it easier to find your documents, no matter where you are.

Pro tip: I also recommend saving your recognizable documents as PDF files and sending a copy to your iOS Books, Android e-book app, or even your Kindle. This way, you can access them offline. If you feel safe doing so, send a copy to your travel companion as well.

2. Get Your Digital Driver’s License
The pictures are great, but what about an actual digital driver’s license? You can use the Digital Driver License for any transaction or situation where ID is required. Think of it as a complement to your physical ID as different jurisdictions figure out how to enforce its use.

A digital license can be updated quickly with new information, such as a change of address. If your phone is lost or stolen, you can remotely erase the digital ID before getting a new one.

what’s the catch? Right now, digital licenses are only available in a few states, including Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming.

Getting a digital version of your license varies from state to state. For example, Arizona launched its own version in March in partnership with identity management firm IDEMIA and its “Mobile ID” platform. That company also provides digital driver licenses to Oklahoma and Delaware residents. All you have to do is download a state-specific app on iOS or Android to get started.

For others on the list above, check your state’s official state government websites or do a search with your state’s name and “digital driver’s license” to learn more about how to apply.

staying close to home? Tap or click for the best apps for camping, RV travel and road trips.

3. Keep track of your belongings
Losing your belongings is terrifying at home and even worse when you are in a different state or country. Digital trackers can help you keep track of your valuables and track them down if you lose them.

You can use these neat little gadgets to find your phone, laptop, tablet, wallet, luggage, backpack and other essentials.

4. Don’t rely on paper boarding passes
If you’ve never availed of a digital boarding pass, you’re missing out. It’s easy to lose a slip of paper if you’re carrying a lot of bags and looking for your boarding gate.

To use the digital version, you can log in to the airline’s website and email them your boarding pass. You can also download your airline’s app to access it. From there, you can add it to your phone’s digital wallet.

If you receive your boarding pass via email, Apple Mail may automatically add it to your Wallet. Otherwise, open the email attachment and tap Add to Apple Wallet > Add.
Use an Android? You can sync your Google Pay and Gmail accounts to add an emailed boarding pass to the Pay app. Open Google Pay and three-tap, then Settings > General, then toggle on Gmail Import and tap Connect to Gmail.

5. Beware of Scammers
Scammers try to kill their weakest people. When you’re worried about your flight to the airport or moving to a new city, what better time to do it? Travel scams are on the rise as more and more people are leaving home again.

Here are some of the biggest scams going on:

Vacation rental scams: Use caution if you’re booking through Airbnb, VRBO or any other rental site.