Tech To-Do List Before Traveling
CTV Your Morning, June 19, 2026
There’s plenty to do before heading out on a summer trip. Packing, setting up your home for being away, arranging pet-sitters… it’s a lot! Don’t forget to spend a few minutes setting up your tech for your trip - it can save you money and stress when something goes sideways.
Here’s what to do before you leave.
1. Get an eSIM to save big on roaming fees
Canadian carriers can charge up to $20 a day for cell phone data while you’re out of the country. That adds up fast! You can save big by setting your smartphone up with an eSIM plan, and you can do it before you leave.
Popular eSIM companies include Airalo and Nomad. You go online, select a package for your destination, and follow the instructions to install the eSIM on your smartphone. It’s quite simple to do, and when you arrive in your destination country, you turn it on. Then you’re connected to local cellular data, and it costs a fraction of what roaming data costs.
A recent search for a European eSIM through Airalo was $38.50 for unlimited data for a week (compared with $140 if you’re paying $20/day to your Canadian carrier).
2. Save and share your important documents
One of the worst things that can happen on a trip is losing your passport or another important document.
Before you leave, photograph or screenshot your passport photo page, your flight confirmations, your hotel address, your travel insurance policy number, and any visas or vaccination records.
Then make sure you put them somewhere that can be accessed from your smartphone, from another device, and also without an internet connection.
I suggest using a secure cloud platform like Dropbox, a password manager like 1Password, or the Notes or Files app, with the lock turned on so it’s secure.
Also, share them with a trusted friend or family member. Either share an encrypted Note in a password manager, or send the documents via WhatsApp (which has end-to-end encryption). Then you can delete the message after the trip.
3. Turn on “Find My” before you actually need it
Speaking of the worst thing that could happen: you could lose your phone.
Turn on your phone’s tracking before you need it. On iPhone, it’s called “Find My” in Settings. On Android, it’s Find My Device. Both do the same thing - they show the location of your smartphone. Test it before you leave!
If worse comes to worse, you can remotely lock and wipe your phone from another device. On iPhone, go to iCloud.com from any browser. On Android, go to android.com/find. Try it once before you leave so you actually know the steps.
4. Download everything that you could need offline, before you leave
Download all your shows, movies, podcasts, and audiobooks from your favourite streaming services. Download your travel apps now, not at the airport. Some apps require account verification by SMS, which is harder once you're roaming.
Also, Google Maps lets you download an entire city or region. Open the app, search the city, tap the name, then tap Download Offline Map. You can navigate without internet!
5. The new power bank rule you might not know about
After a string of lithium battery fires, the UN's aviation body introduced new global rules in March 2026 that most travellers haven't caught up to yet.
Portable power banks have to be in your carry-on (never checked), and most airlines limit you to one or two per person. Some airlines say that power banks can’t be stored in the overhead bin (they have to be visible at your seat).
The takeaway: a power bank is still great for the airport and your destination, but charge up before you board and check your specific airline's rules before you go.