Level Up Your Travel Gaming With These Pro Tips

Turn airport delays and layovers into gaming sessions with these travel-tested tips for mobile gamers. From power management to VPN security, we’ve got you covered.
Travel gaming

Traveling provides one of the best times to experience different environments, cultures, and people, all in real time. At the same time, it often comes with long flights, bus rides, and layovers that can test even the most patient explorer.

And that’s where gaming comes in. If you are a casual or an enthusiastic gamer, you can turn the travel downtime into gaming time. But how can you do that without experiencing some frustrations? Below, we’ve compiled tips that you can use to level up your travel gaming.

Pack smart for gaming on the go

travel gaming tips

The first thing you need to do is to pack your gaming gear. That does not involve packing a heavy backpack full of gaming gear. Instead, it’s all about compact, lightweight, and multifunctional essentials. Below is a simple guide on how you can pack smart:

Choose the right device

Your travel gaming setup should start with choosing the right devices. And that can be a handheld console, like Nintendo Switch, Asus ROG Ally, or Stream Deck. If you prefer gaming on a laptop, choose a powerful one like the Razer Blade. You can also choose to play games on your smartphone or tablet.

Once you choose the device to pack, make it travel-ready. You can do that by updating your software and downloading games.

Power up

The last thing that any gamer wants to experience is their device running out of battery mid-game. So, to avoid that, make sure you have a high-capacity power bank of about 20,000mAh or more for your phone, tablet, or handheld console.

Also, pack a universal travel adapter with multiple USB ports and extra charging cables.

Pack a sturdy Case

When you travel, you need to ensure that all your gaming gear is protected. Therefore, make sure you have a hard-shell carrying case with extra compartments for your console or laptop. This will help protect your devices from bumps, spills, and sudden weather changes.

At the same time, you can use the extra space to place all your gaming accessories so everything will be in one place.

Pack noise-canceling headphones

Sometimes airports and buses can be noisy. So, if you want to maximize your gaming experience, consider packing noise-canceling headphones. They will help you to stay immersed in your gaming without annoying fellow travelers. 

At the same time, they will prevent noise from distracting you from gaming.

Stay connected anywhere

As you pack for your trip, don’t forget that you need to stay as connected as possible. This is more so if you are planning to engage in online gaming. And the best way to stay connected is through  Holafly. This eSIM eliminates the hassle of physical SIM swaps.

At the same time, it delivers the 5G internet speed needed for competitive gaming demands. Other incredible benefits of this eSIM for online gamers is that it provides unlimited data, low latency, no contract lock-ins, and it’s cheaper than roaming.

Also, you can hotspot its data to multiple devices, which can be your smartphone, gaming console, or laptop.

In addition to the eSIM, you can consider using free public wi-fi from airports and hotels. However, the free wi-fi can come at slow speeds, which may not promise you the best gaming experience, like how an eSIM can.

Optimize game settings for mobile play

When you travel, you need to adjust your gaming to meet the demands of different environments. That can be a bumpy train, a dimly lit airport lounge, or limited battery life. And that adjustment often involves optimizing game settings for mobile play. 

Do the following to optimize game settings:

  • Lower graphics settings to about 720P to reduce lag and save battery
  • Cap frame rate to 30 or 60FPS to prevent overheating and extend playtime
  • Disable fancy effects on your device, such as motion blur, shadows, and anti-aliasing. This can help reduce input lag and artificial frame drops.
  • Enable offline modes when possible.
  • Turn on battery-saver modes
  • Enable auto-run in shooter games to reduce finger fatigue.
  • Adjust sensitivity to suit your hand position as you travel and to prevent accidental swipes.
  • Activate 120Hz refresh rate for smoother visuals.
  • Adjust brightness, depending on the time of day or area you are in, to save battery.
  • Disable pop-ups to prevent distractions as you play.

Manage battery life efficiently

In addition to optimizing your gaming device settings, you also need to manage battery life efficiently. That is more so if you want to keep your device powered up during marathon gaming sessions. 

To do that, you need to use the right strategies that will ensure you can squeeze up the last bit of power from your device and keep playing for hours. That can be through:

  • Lowering screen brightness to about 30% to 40%
  • Activating dark mode
  • Switch your device to airplane mode when playing offline games. This can help to disable background apps and notifications, and search for signals that quietly drain your battery even when you’re not using them.
  • Disable unnecessary apps running in the background.
  • Employ smart charging practices, like charging up to 80 to 90%, to ensure long-term battery health.
  • Optimize game settings.
  • Avoid extreme temperatures, such as extreme heat and cold, that drain batteries fast.
  • Use wired headphones instead of Bluetooth, as they consume less energy.
  • Carry a charged power bank.

Secure your gaming accounts abroad

As mentioned earlier, you’ll need to stay connected as much as possible to access your online gaming accounts abroad. One of the options that we provided for staying connected was using public wi-fi.

Well, one of the best things about public wi-fi is that it’s free. However, that comes with the insecurity as hackers can intercept your gaming data, including your login details. So, to avoid that, use a reputable VPN, such as NordVPN to encrypt your connection. This can help to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. Also, it can hide your IP from lobby snoop.

Another thing that you can do is to fortify your gaming account using two-factor authentication and unique passwords. Also, check the recent activity tabs in accounts like Riot Games or Bettle.net for suspicious access.

Travel Gaming FAQs

What is the best device for gaming while traveling?

The best device depends on your play style. Handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck are great for versatility. For casual play, a smartphone or tablet works well. For serious gamers, a lightweight gaming laptop like the Razer Blade can deliver top performance.

How can I keep my gaming device charged during long trips?

Use a high-capacity power bank (20,000mAh or higher) and pack a universal travel adapter with multiple USB ports. Enable battery-saving modes, lower screen brightness, and disable background apps to extend playtime.

Is it safe to play online games using public Wi-Fi while traveling?

Public Wi-Fi is convenient but risky. Protect your accounts by using a reputable VPN, enabling two-factor authentication, and setting strong, unique passwords. For better security and performance, consider using a travel eSIM like Holafly.

Agatha Quickly

For over 4 years, Agatha Quickly dabbles in editing and hosting D&D matches. When she is not a dungeon master you find her writing about various nefarious topics.

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