Hi,
We are a few months out from a UK trip.
Have our phones. My laptop is too big/heavy to take.

Is it worthwhile to get a tablet ? What else is available for a cheap light travel device?

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jun 14^th, 2025 at 4:12am:

Hi, We are a few months out from a UK trip. Have our phones. My laptop is too big/heavy to take. Is it worthwhile to get a tablet ? What else is available for a cheap light travel device?

Weight is always an issue, electronics are something I like to either pack very well and padded in middle of suitcase for protection (we’ve all seen how rough some baggage handlers can be yeah?)
But I think an apple iPad or Samsung tablet is the way to go.
I only brought my iPhone. But next time we bring the iPad too.

Those electronics are something that are not too heavy, and you can bring with you in hand luggage when boarding plane.
I know in past, going through customs we had to open up laptops and umbrellas too!
Not sure if they require tablets to be out in open for inspection.

Chromebooks are fantastic - can't recommend them highly enough.

If you have a Gmail account, get a Chromebook - it's all I ever use (apart from my iPhone).

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jun 14^th, 2025 at 4:12am:

Hi, We are a few months out from a UK trip. Have our phones. My laptop is too big/heavy to take. Is it worthwhile to get a tablet ? What else is available for a cheap light travel device?

Take nothing else. You are going to be travelling, no need for an electronic device to look at for hours. All the interesting things will be happeni around you.
Make sure you have WiFi on your phone, you need nothing else.  Talk to the people around you, don't bother with watching YouTube or online crap.

I just had my iPhone and spent days sight seeing and taking photos and nights looking at photos, sharing with family/friends, and on here in this travel forum.
My goal was to travel light… each time I improve more.
We are allowed 20 kgs suitcase weight but I had ours at 18kg and 16kg.
I was annoyed coming home in past travels with unused clothing in luggage, so I brought minimal outfits. Did washing every 2nd or 3rd day as we were away for a month.
I didn’t even worry should luggage go astray as there was nothing important.
The only important stuff I had was on me always…with rfid back pack and rfid travel handbag with cut proof straps and locking tabs.
I never bring expensive jewellery etc just costume jewellery.
Anyway, I think I did a pretty good job with just an iPhone and putting photos up in this travel forum  :)
I also had a canon zoom lens camera … I let hubby take pics….
There are sone photo shots you can’t get with an ordinary iPhone (I don’t buy top end ones with all fancy photo lenses and dials etc) I get the cheapest one and… it does the job beautifully.
When overseas, taking into consideration the time differences, we did live yakking with kids back home so it’s a great connector. It’s marvellous how we can all do that nowadays. It’s what makes travel more comfortable for us, to be able to connect with family.
It’s reassuring.

DONT KEEP YOUR WIFI ON at all times.
That's how people can hack into your system and get your details.
They only have to walk past you closely to scan in and copy.
Only put it on for immediate use, then turn it off again.
SAME WITH BLUETOOTH.

We got an e-sim for my Wife’s phone - we only got data but you can get a number as well.  As I recall, the data plan was very cheap, but shop around online.  The plan she had allowed her to “tether” to her Ipad as well.    We had no problem with Messenger or Maps the time we were there.    

Coming to think of it, I did get an e-sim to cover Uk and Europe.
It was for data, and a phone number covering UK and Europe. In other words, to call each other while in Uk/eu if needed. But to call back home to Oz was with a Telstra thingy … I forget what it’s called, paying a little extra for calling back to Oz.
We never live called the kids back home… we managed via WhatsApp or messenger. I would make a video and send. As well as a million photos  :)