HACKER Q&A
📣 Nahuala

Tips to Travel with Electronics?


How do you travel internationally with many electronics? TIPS?


  👤 simonblack Accepted Answer ✓
Leave your data at home with a file server/web server/ftp/whatever.

Cross borders with practically nothing but what you need for the next few days. Download and use whatever data you need from home. Clean your devices before you cross back over the borders.

We shouldn't need to do any of this. But the problem is that you have no recourse at all if anybody takes your device and won't return it. It's not so much what information you're carrying that is the problem, it's the fact that it's such a lot of trouble replacing it.

It's in the same league as losing your wallet with all your credit cards. It's no big deal in itself, but it's just such a hassle until you manage to get everything back to where you were beforehand.

When it comes to devices, they should be cheap to replace and have a good battery life. Think about having light-weight devices that you only use while travelling and not your everyday devices. Ones that you would not mind about if they get lost or stolen.

Don't take too many items. You'll have to carry them everywhere you go. Every ounce/gram adds up.


👤 sys_64738
Assume all your electronic devices will be searched. Refusing to unlock isn't really an option at border crossings. They might detain you or confiscate the device so be willing to lose it. I generally avoid traveling with electronics or do a factory reset if I do. Don't underestimate the significance of this and don't assume you have nothing to hide. Don't assume you won't get stopped, searched and interrogated either.

👤 nicbou
USB-C for everything. One charger, two cables. It saves weight and space. Now every device is a power bank.

Avoid SMS-based 2FA whenever possible.

Noise cancelling earphones are great. The world is loud.

Podcasts and books are great when the internet is not.