Kim Komando
Special to USA TODAY
Published 7:39 AM EDT Jun 27, 2019
Summer has arrived, and millions of people will take time off and fly to exotic destinations around the world. They will seek out beaches, lakes, hotels, rentals, cars, planes, trains, restaurants, museums – and badly needed Vitamin D.
As you book your vacation, put consumer tech to good use. For example, hidden cameras are a concern in hotel rooms and vacation rentals.
An unlocked smartphone lets you access websites and apps almost anywhere. This can be very empowering, whether you're a solo traveler, a family, or a tour group. (If youre feeling flexible and adventurous, you can also find trusted travel companions to help you split costs.)
So as you put together your jet-setting itinerary, here are some hacks to make your journey even smoother. While youre at it, you may want to see the new security document requirements that will go into effect in only a year or so.
1 – Mobile Passport
Nobody likes to wait in line. Especially at the airport. Worse with young children. Worst at an international border, where a stoic official scrutinizes your documents.
Mobile Passport was invented to expedite this process. After all, border security doesnt like long lines any more than we do, and the less time agents have to waste on good citizens going about their business, the more time they can dedicate to weeding out suspicious characters.
Just download the app, enter relevant information, and you'll end up with the special barcode. This app entitles you to skip the long lines; for families traveling together, you can enter all their data at once – including passport numbers and the length and purpose of your stay.
If this sounds too good to be true, dont worry: It was TSA that helped develop it.
2 – Google Flights
Finding online deals on airfare is an art form, and once youve mastered this sudoku-like skill, you may find yourself browsing flights just for the fun of it.
Google Flights has become the reigning champion of online booking, partly because its information is so comprehensive, and partly because its price tracker helps you land the right deal at the right time. Enter any destination in the world, plus a reasonable date range, and Google will keep you posted about price trends and dips. You can also use its digital map to spot bargains and get ideas.
Thats not all, of course. There are lots of ways to use Google to your vacation-planning advantage.
3 – Use a VPN and beware of public Wi-Fi
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: do not use public Wi-Fi for anything you don't want to be exposed on the internet, except in emergencies. Any free signal has the potential to be a cesspool of hackers and viruses, especially when you're globetrotting. Most of us seek out Wi-Fi in places like airports and hotels, but unless the signal is vetted and secure, you could be inviting trouble.
Still, you will probably have to log onto the internet somewhere, so your best defense is a virtual private network or VPN. Such networks are inexpensive and easy to use, and they fortify you against roving cyber-criminals.
Here are five other ways not to get hacked while en route.
Travel tips: 'The Amazing Race' cast and crew share some
Family vacation planning guide: For parents who hate to plan
4 – Scan important documents and save them to a cloud
For years, travelers photocopied their passports and stowed them away in special wallets, just in case their most important identification was filched. Now, you can just snap a digital photo of your passport and save it to a cloud; that way, you can easily prove to the local embassy that you are who you say you are. Replacing passports is a pain, but e
