The Coolest Gadgets & Gear for Family Travel

Traveling with or without kids can be challenging, but we live in an age when technology makes it easier than ever before.  From online airline booking to checking in and printing out boarding passes at home, the internet offers a wealth of systems to ease travel.  Aside from computer-driven technologies, what are some of the best family-friendly gadgets and gear for travel?  Here are a few of my favorites...

For families traveling with infants and toddlers, one of the biggest challenges is lugging the stroller, the Sit'n'Stroll combination stroller solves that problem with its unique, sturdy design that coverts from stroller to car seat with retractable wheels.  We used ours until our kid's feet dragged the ground.  One flight attendant called it our "James Bond stroller" because of its versatility. 

If you have a toddler who has outgrown the Sit'n'Stroll, check out the adorable Trunki Suitcase, a carry-on bag for kids that doubles as a little scooter car.   Kids can pack their favorite toys, lovey, and an extra set of clothes in the suitcase, and while away a long layover by riding around on it.  How cute is that?


Airlines seem to be cracking down on luggage weight, so a portable, digital luggage scale is a must-have for saving money and making sure you don't go over the limit.  It always seems as though my husband's suitcase is 10 pounds over limit, so we end up shifting some of his stuff into my suitcase or our sons to make it even out.  Some airlines let you get away with being a little over, if the average for your family is under the limit, but others are not so sympathetic.  Now, if only the scale would tell you what to leave at home, that would be a real break-through in technology.


I resisted the iPad at first, but ever since I got one last summer, I'm not a convert for its portability, versatility, and usefulness for travel.  I can download the latest trashy magazines and books for me and fun games for the kid for in-flight and on-the-road entertainment.  My favorite app for traveling is Trip It, where you can connect with friends who are traveling, store your travel information, and even keep all those airline and hotel frequent-user numbers so you don't have to carry around a bunch of cards. 

For travel guides, the venerable Lonely Planet  is now publishing a series of iPad apps for European destinations that include beautiful photos, travel tips, and interactive maps for select locations. 

Smartphones are also great for downloading travel apps, but the problem with most of them is the battery life.  Enter the Callpod Fueltank, back-up charging device.  The Callpod can charge your phone, portable game player,  and other small devices when you're away from an outlet.  I've used this for long flights, conferences, and other situations where outlets are nowhere to be found.  It's been a lifesaver.

[Disclosure: I received a Callpod FuelTank to review several years ago at no charge.]

Which travel gadgets, gear and apps have made your life easier on the road? What do you wish someone would invent?

See more from Clever Girls Collective:

How to Find Great Travel Deals Online
Turn Your Eye Toward iPhoneography
Creating Your Digital Camera Wishlist

========================================================================Clever Girls Collective is a social media marketing agency founded by women who wanted to use their deep marketing experience and broad social network relationships for good. We know that women who engage in social media are some of the most authentic, connected, trusted, and vocal influencers -- not only online, but "in real life." That's why we've developed The Clever 1000: an ever-growing, beautifully diverse network of professional, thoughtful social media-connected, natural networkers and influencers who want to engage with and enhance their favorite brands. Glennia Campbell is a lawyer, writer, photographer, traveler and mother from Palo Alto, California.  Her family has traveled the globe since her son (now 10) was six weeks old.  They have journied to twenty-five countries together, hitting such hotspots as Greenland, the Galapagos, Easter Island, and Libya.  She writes about her family's adventures, both foreign and domestic, at her blog, The Silent I.  She is a co-founder of the progressive women's blog, MOMocrats, and a contributor to the Korean-American parenting blog, Kimchi Mamas.  You can follow her on Twitter @glennia for random rants and insights on travel, politics, reality tv, and parenting.