![\"\"](\"http:\/\/images.mobilefun.co.uk\/graphics\/300pixelp\/aukey-portable-10000mah-qualcomm-quick-charge-2-0-power-bank-p53005-300.jpg\")
1. Portable charger<\/h2>\nTravelling is fun, but it\u2019s also a bit of a challenge: you have to navigate strange landscapes, negotiate with strangers and even choose a place to eat every now and then. Thankfully, we have a useful companion in all of this: our trusty phones, tablets and computers\u2026 or at least we do until their batteries run dry. In this article, we\u2019ll show you the best accessory to keep your gadgets ticking, plus four more accessories that will make travelling in Europe easier.<\/p>\n
1. Portable charger<\/h2>\nThe number one accessory of choice has to be a power bank, also known as a portable charger \u2013 something you can rely on to keep your phone going for days at a time if power points are few and far between. The larger your charger (and the more you spend), the higher capacity you can expect and the longer you can go. Of course, you can also find portable chargers with other nice features, like integrated charging cables, LED lights, multiple outputs and more rapid charging. I recommend the\u00a0Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 power bank<\/a>\u00a0for micro USB phones and the LinearFlux LithiumCard<\/a>\u00a0for iPhones, but there are many other fine options. See our entire range of portable chargers here.<\/p>\n Travelling can be a noisy affair, particularly on packed trains or buses. A good set of noise cancelling headphones can be essential for blocking out the outside world, and letting you get on with your work (or the next level in Candy Crush). You can get wired or wireless versions, but for travelling I prefer the dependability of the wired option: nothing to charge, just a simple 3.5mm cable to your smartphone. I\u2019m a fan of Sony’s noise-cancelling in-ear headphones<\/a>, but there are many good alternatives\u00a0to consider. Choose a price point, and try to find a model from an established brand without too many unnecessary design flourishes or gimmicks.<\/p>\n Much of Western Europe utilises a power connector with two round prongs, and an optional ground between and above these two. Picking up a compact European mains to USB adapter is a better choice than trying to pair your existing adapter with a bulky plug converter. As well as being less to carry, it prevents awkward situations where you have the right plug but your adapter is too big to fit into the space available. This simple European USB adapter from Samsung<\/a>\u00a0is a good choice for micro USB phones, but there are many other options.<\/p>\n Another useful inclusion is a portable 3G hotspot. This little dongle sits in your bag or pocket, and turns a 3G or 4G cellular signal into a wireless network that you can easily connect to with all of your devices \u2013 phones, tablets and computers. Combined with a low-cost data SIM card for the country in which you\u2019re staying, and you\u2019ll have a dependable solution that is far cheaper than roaming internationally. It requires a little forward planning to find a suitable SIM deal \u2013 and often you\u2019ll have to buy it in your host country or ask a friend there to get it for you \u2013 but you\u2019ll be rewarded with a much cheaper deal. I quite like ZTE’s 4G dongle, but there are other good ones on the market. You can also sometimes have added features, like portable charging, that can lower the number of gadgets you\u2019re bringing with you. See our portable hotspots here.<\/p>\n Our final recommended accessory is the underappreciated desk stand. This tiny folding accessory props up your phone or tablet, letting you watch a video or read a book without holding it up yourself the entire time. There is a wide range of desk stands available, but I prefer options that fold down to a small size, work in portrait and landscape mode, and still offer a very sturdy and secure platform. One example of a desk stand that combines most of these attributes is the \u00a310 Funlounger<\/a>; for tablets the sturdier PadPivot<\/a> is also a long-time favourite of mine.\u00a0Have a look at our full range of desk stands here<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n But wait \u2013 there\u2019s one essential accessory that I haven\u2019t mentioned yet. That\u2019s a phone case. I\u2019m not going to recommend a specific model as there are different \u201cbest cases\u201d for different phones and different people. However, I will say that some particular abilities are handier than others when you\u2019re traveling in Europe.<\/p>\n For example, if you\u2019re often swapping between SIM cards, why not pick up a case with built-in SIM card storage? Or more generally, a wallet case that lets you keep important travel documents handy at all times?\u00a0Another strong choice is a battery case, letting you go longer without recharges without adding a wholly new accessory to your limited bag space. Finally, a really solid protective case can be a sound investment as well. Waterproof cases are more situational \u2013 some travels they make sense, others they\u2019d be a waste of money \u2013 but a durable case with a military rating to resist drops and falls will save you many times over if you\u2019re sometimes clumsy with your phone.<\/p>\n![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/images.mobilefun.co.uk\/graphics\/300pixelp\/sony-digital-noise-cancelling-headset-mdr-nc31em-white-p44448-300.jpg\")
2. Noise-cancelling headphones<\/h2>\n![\"Official](\"http:\/\/images.mobilefun.co.uk\/graphics\/300pixelp\/official-samsung-eu-charger-with-micro-usb-cable-black-p51883-300.jpg\")
3. European USB adapter (and your choice of USB cables)<\/h2>\n![\"zte-unveil-worlds-smallest-4g-dongle-1\"](\"https:\/\/www.mobilefun.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/zte-unveil-worlds-smallest-4g-dongle-1.jpg\")
<\/a>4. Portable 3G hotspot<\/h2>\n![\"PadPivot](\"http:\/\/images.mobilefun.co.uk\/graphics\/300pixelp\/padpivot-nst-ultra-portable-universal-tablet-stand-p36174-300.jpg\")
5. Desk stand<\/h2>\n![\"LifeProof](\"http:\/\/images.mobilefun.co.uk\/graphics\/240pixelp\/lifeproof-fre-iphone-6-waterproof-case-black-p48835-240.jpg\")
Bonus: Choosing a phone case<\/h2>\n