4 ways to stay entertained while you travel

Phones are now multi-functional entertainment devices - a far cry from just 20 years ago.

On road trips or when taking long haul flights to far-flung destinations like Southeast Asia, there’s always a stage of the journey when boredom well and truly kicks in. Solo travellers will know what I’m talking about, but even if you’re travelling in a group, there will often be long stretches of time when you’ve got to entertain yourself.

Travelling in the 21st century is so much more convenient than it was even just a couple of decades ago, and one of the biggest reasons why is technology - predominantly smartphones. They can provide hours and hours of entertainment from your pocket, even if you’re travelling with no internet connection or need to keep your device on airplane mode.

And there are plenty of ways you can have fun with your phone while travelling, and here are a few suggestions.

Learn a language

If you’re travelling to a foreign destination for the first time, you can always pick up a few key phrases and greetings on the way there. Phrasebooks and guidebooks will take up precious space in your luggage, so ditch the paperbacks and log on to one of many online language resources and apps.

Platforms like Babbel and Duolingo are free to use and download, and they provide a good introduction to the basics of many different languages. On the other hand, if you’re taking language learning seriously, apps like HelloTalk can be used to directly connect with native speakers.

Play some gaming classics

Classic board and card games are the staple source of quick and easy entertainment at home, and they can be just as fun on the road. Gaming houses like Hasbro have tapped into the trend for online gaming and released digital versions of popular games like Monopoly, Risk, Boggle and Trivial Pursuits. It’s even possible to download Scrabble for your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet.

Another classic game that's had a twenty-first-century makeover is Blackjack. This traditional card game is now available to play in a digital format, making getting to grips with its rules and nuances a breeze. Additionally, since it's such a staple of the online casino gaming world, there's plenty of variety when it comes to the online blackjack variants that are available at iGaming platforms 

Listen to a podcast

I started The Travelling Tom Podcast in 2018, and although I haven’t filmed an episode of it since last year, I’ve been meaning to start it back up.

If spending most of your journey starting at a screen doesn’t sound appealing, but you still want to broaden your horizons as you travel across the globe, podcasts are an ideal alternative. If I were to list all the podcasts that are currently available, I’d need to devote a whole post to it, so be assured that no matter how niche your interests are, there’s more than likely a podcast out there for you!

If you’re looking for a podcast, then why not check out mine? Head on over to The Travelling Tom Podcast on YouTube!

Entertainment streaming

Waiting for a plane, train or bus? Why not crack out the laptop for a Netflix sesh?

If you’re taking your phone or laptop on a trip with you, then you can still access the same streaming platforms that you’d watch at home, even if you don’t have an internet connection.

Everybody’s favourite procrastination tool, Netflix, has a download feature where you can download TV shows and movies to watch offline at a later date. Admittedly, this does require some preparation beforehand (and a Netflix subscription), but there’s always YouTube if you need some quick entertainment on the fly (although another subscription is required for offline videos).

For music lovers, free streaming radios like Sonza are a great alternative to mega corps like Spotify and Apple Music. It’s quick and easy to download and use, features fewer ads than Spotify’s free service, and you can choose from a wide selection of different playlists depending on your mood, your activity, or even what time of day it is.