Why Apple AirTags Are a Must-Have for Smart Travel

by Chris and Michael from ChartingOurCourse.com

There’s a unique anxiety that comes with travel—the moment you watch your checked bag disappear onto a conveyor belt, you send a little prayer to the universe that you’ll see it again at your destination. We’ve all been there. According to us, Chris and Michael, after years of extensive travel and now living full-time on a residential cruise ship, we’ve found a simple piece of tech that has completely erased that worry: the Apple AirTag. This tiny device has become as essential as our passports.

What Are Apple AirTags and How Do They Work for Travel?

An Apple AirTag is a small, coin-sized tracker that you can attach to virtually anything. It leverages Apple's vast "Find My" network, which is made up of hundreds of millions of iPhones, iPads, and Mac devices around the world. When your AirTag is near any of these devices, it securely and anonymously pings its location, which you can then see on a map in your "Find My" app.

For travelers, this is a game-changer. It means you can track your belongings far beyond the limited range of a typical Bluetooth tracker. Your luggage isn't just "somewhere in the airport"; you can see it moving from the tarmac to the baggage claim in real-time.

How Can AirTags Make Your Travels Stress-Free?

The most obvious use is, of course, luggage tracking. But we’ve discovered so many other ways these little gadgets can provide peace of mind on the road.

• Checked Luggage: This is the big one. Place an AirTag inside your checked suitcase. You’ll be able to confirm it made it onto the plane with you and see exactly when it arrives at the carousel. No more crowding the belt—just relax until your phone tells you your bag is near.
• Carry-On and Backpacks: We all have that momentary panic when we can't find our carry-on in a crowded overhead bin or forget where we placed our backpack in a cafe. An AirTag inside saves you the frantic search.
• Hotel Keys and Wallets: Ever misplace your hotel keycard? Attach it to a keychain with an AirTag. Some people even slip one into a special card slot in their wallet.
• Rental Car Keys: It's surprisingly easy to misplace rental car keys in an unfamiliar city. An AirTag on the keychain can help you locate them quickly, whether you dropped them at a restaurant or just forgot which pocket you used. For more tips on navigating new places, check out our post on exploring destinations on our blog.

What Are Some Creative Ways to Use AirTags While Traveling?

Beyond the basics, we've found some clever applications for our AirTags that have been incredibly helpful.

1. Create a "Meeting Point" Tag: If you're traveling with a group or family in a crowded area like a theme park or market, you can designate one person's backpack (with an AirTag inside) as the mobile meeting point. If you get separated, everyone can use their "Find My" app to navigate back to the group.
2. Track Your Camera Bag: For photographers and content creators like us, our camera gear is invaluable. An AirTag in the camera bag provides an extra layer of security against theft or loss. You can see some of the amazing places we film on our DC Hidden Gems YouTube channel.
3. Find Your Parked Car or Scooter: Exploring a new city by car or scooter is fun until you forget where you parked. Drop an AirTag in the glove compartment or under the seat, and you'll have a map straight back to your vehicle.
4. Secure Your Jacket or Coat: How many times have you left a jacket slung over a chair? Tucking an AirTag into an inside pocket means you’ll get a "left behind" notification on your iPhone if you walk away from it.
5. Pinpoint Your Cruise Ship's Dock: This is a big one for us. When you visit dozens of ports, it can be easy to forget exactly which pier your ship is docked at. We leave an AirTag in our cabin near a window. After a long day ashore, we can check its last known location to confirm we're heading back to the correct part of a large, and often confusing, port.

You can get a pack of Apple AirTags using our affiliate link here: https://amzn.to/3ICmo1Q. It's a small investment for a huge amount of peace of mind. (As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

Are AirTags Safe to Use?

Apple designed AirTags with privacy at its core. The communication with the "Find My" network is end-to-end encrypted, so only you can see the location of your AirTag. As a safety measure against unwanted tracking, if an AirTag that isn't yours is detected moving with you over time, your iPhone will alert you.

From our experience living on a ship and constantly being on the move, these trackers have proven to be reliable, safe, and indispensable. They take one of the biggest stresses out of travel, allowing you to focus on what really matters: enjoying the experience.

What's the most creative way you've used an Apple AirTag or a similar tracker during your travels? Let us know in the comments below!

Sources:

• Apple. (n.d.). AirTag. Apple. Retrieved from https://www.apple.com/airtag/