Though you might not be traveling as often these days, there is one hot new travel accessory to bring on every trip: the Google Chromecast.
My fiancé and I spent most of last month at his family’s house in Michigan. As we were there for so long, we had some items he was getting for work shipped directly to their house, one of which was a gift box including a new Google Chromecast. This little device proved to be a godsend for the three weeks we spent out in the suburbs with no cable or smart TV in our bedroom.
Upon our return, we set up the Chromecast in our apartment, and then promptly took it with us to an Airbnb for Labor Day weekend. It is the only accessory you need for lazy entertainment while away from home.
Many Airbnbs (or hotels) offer smart tv’s that allow you to log into Netflix or other streaming services. However, this means that you need to a) remember all your passwords, b) maneuver the remote to type in your very long username and password, c) get an email notification that there was a new login to your account, and d) make sure you log out before you leave. You do all of this, and the smart TV system may not even have all your preferred streaming services.
The Chromecast, by contrast, is tiny and easy to pack. It plugs into the TV’s HDMI port on one end and a power outlet on the other—just one cord. All you have to do it connect it to the wifi one time and then broadcast from your apps on your phone directly. That’s it! No login info, no passwords, and when you leave you just unplug it and take it home. As long as there is a TV with an HDMI port, you will never be bored on vacation again.