Pre-trip phone readiness: offline maps, power banks, paper numbers¶

Most phone emergencies on the road are not really about the phone. They are about having only one way to find your way, pay, call and prove who you are. A short session of preparation before you leave turns a dead battery, a lost handset or a missing signal from a crisis into a minor delay.

This guide is a calm checklist for the days and hours before a trip, whether you are heading across town for a long day out, taking a road trip, hiking, or travelling abroad. It covers offline maps, battery planning, power banks and cables, backups, a paper card of key numbers, phone settings that help in an emergency, and daily habits that keep your battery alive. If you are already stuck, read baterija telefona se izprazni, ko ste zunaj oz obtičal brez telefona, denarnice ali ključev.

Naredi to zdaj¶

1. Download offline maps for the area you will visit. Do it on Wi-Fi at home, so the map works without a signal or mobile data.
2. Pack a charged power bank and a short cable that fits your phone. Charge both the night before.
3. Write a paper card with key numbers. Include two family numbers, an out of area contact, your address, allergies and conditions, and your accommodation details.
4. Back up your phone and turn on Find My or Find Hub. A recent backup makes a lost or broken phone a smaller problem.
5. Shranite vstopnice, rezervacije in dokumente brez povezave. Posnemite posnetke zaslona ali prenesite PDF-je in natisnite najpomembnejše.
6. Learn the local emergency number. Check the številke za klic v sili page, and note that 911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union and 999 in the United Kingdom are not the same everywhere.

Why a single phone is a single point of failure¶

A modern phone does the work of a map, wallet, ticket, camera, torch, address book and alarm clock. That is convenient, and it also means that one problem can take away many functions at once. The most common problems are simple.

• The battery runs out. Navigation, photos, weak signal and cold weather drain a battery quickly.
• There is no signal. Rural roads, mountains, tunnels, ships, basements and crowded events can all lose coverage.
• The phone is lost, stolen or broken. Crowds, taxis, bags, beaches and pools are common places.
• The phone is in the wrong country. Roaming charges, a locked SIM or a wrong plug can leave you without service.
• Accounts lock you out. Two factor codes sent to a phone that is gone can block your email, banking and travel apps.

The point of preparation is to have a second way for each important job: a second way to find a route, a second way to charge, a second way to call, a second way to pay and a second way to prove who you are.

Maps and navigation without a signal¶

A map that works offline is the single most useful trick for travel. It saves data, saves battery and works in places with no coverage.

Download offline maps¶

1. Use an app that supports offline areas. Google Maps, Apple Maps and several other map apps let you download an area while you have Wi-Fi.
2. Download the whole region, not only the city centre. Include the airport, the station, the hotel, the roads in between and a margin around them.
3. Check the size and the expiry date. Offline maps can use hundreds of megabytes, and some expire after a period, so refresh them before you go.
4. Test them. Switch on airplane mode and open the map. Make sure it can show your location and a route.
5. Download the transit schedules if the app allows. Some apps keep offline timetables, though live updates need a connection.
6. Pin key places. Save your hotel, your meeting point, the nearest hospital, a pharmacy, a police station and the embassy if abroad.
7. Download languages. If you are going abroad, a translation app with offline language packs is very useful.

Paper backup¶

Carry a small paper map or print one from your hotel or a tourism website. Write the address of your accommodation in the local language, if different from yours, so that a taxi driver can read it. Draw your route in simple steps, with landmarks, for the first day.

GPS still works without a signal¶

Most phones have a satellite positioning chip that works without mobile data. An offline map plus GPS can show your position on a downloaded map even with no coverage. It uses battery, so turn the screen off between checks.

Hiking and remote areas¶

For a hike, use a dedicated offline map or a paper map and a compass, and know how to use them. Tell someone your route and return time. See izgubljen na prostem. If you will be far from coverage, think about a personal locator beacon or a satellite messenger, which can send a distress signal without a phone network.

Battery planning¶

Plan for the whole day, not only for the start.

Know how long your phone lasts¶

A typical phone lasts from about 8 to 16 hours of mixed use. Map navigation, video, hotspot use and weak signal can cut that to a few hours. Cold weather also reduces capacity. An old battery may be much worse than the figure on the box.

Check your battery health¶

Both Apple and Android phones show a battery health or capacity figure in the settings. If it is below about 80 percent, or if the phone dies suddenly at 20 or 30 percent, consider a replacement before a long trip. Manufacturers and repair shops can test and swap the battery, often within a day.

Charge before you leave¶

Telefon priključite večer prej in ga napolnite zjutraj. Začnite dan s polno baterijo in polnite med odmorom za kosilo ali na vlaku, ko lahko. Malo in pogosto premaga čakanje, da je telefon skoraj prazen.

Uporabite nastavitve, ki varčujejo z energijo¶

• Vklopite način nizke porabe ali varčevanja z baterijo pri 50 odstotkih, ne pri 10.
• Zmanjšajte svetlost zaslona in nastavite kratko časovno omejitev zaslona.
• Turn off features you do not need, such as Bluetooth, hotspot and background app refresh.
• Turn off location for apps that do not need it.
• Download music, podcasts and videos rather than streaming.
• Put the phone in airplane mode in areas without coverage. Searching for a signal drains the battery fast.
• Use dark mode if your phone has an OLED screen.
• Close heavy apps you are not using.
• Keep the phone out of direct sun and out of a hot car.
• In winter, keep it in an inside pocket.

Power banks, cables and chargers¶

A power bank is the most useful travel accessory for a phone. It gives you power without needing a socket, a stranger's help or a cafe.

Choosing a power bank¶

The figures are rough, because each phone has a different battery size and some energy is lost in the process. Look for a model with a reputable brand name, the right ports for your phone and safety marks for your country. Avoid very cheap, unlabelled units, which can overheat or fail.

Flying with a power bank¶

Rules for lithium batteries are set by aviation authorities and airlines. In general, power banks must travel in carry on baggage, not in checked baggage, because of the fire risk. Most airlines allow units up to 100 watt hours (Wh) without approval, which covers nearly all phone power banks, and some allow up to 160 Wh with approval. Check your airline's rules before you fly, as they can change.

Cover the ports or put each bank in its own pocket so that it cannot short circuit.

Cables and adapters¶

• S seboj imejte kratek kabel, ki ustreza vašemu telefonu. Eden do dva rezervna kabla sta poceni zavarovanje.
• Prinesite stenski napajalnik s pravilnim vtičem za državo, ki jo obiskujete. Univerzalni potovalni napajalnik je primeren za večino primerov.
• Preverite napetost. Večina polnilnikov za telefone prenese napetost od 100 do 240 voltov, vendar preverite oznako, preden jih priključite v tujo vtičnico.
• Spakirajte avtomobilski polnilec, če ga boste najeli ali vozili.
• Svoj kabel in adapter imejte v torbi, da nikoli ne boste potrebovali javnih vrat USB. glej javni polnilni kioski in blokatorji podatkov.
• Consider a data blocker or a charge only cable.
• Označite svoj polnilnik, če ste v skupnem prostoru. Polnilnike pogosto pustimo za sabo.

Varno polnjenje¶

Uporabljajte kakovostne polnilce in kable. Ne polnite pod blazino ali v zaprti vrečki. Nehajte uporabljati polnilnik, ki se zelo segreje ali diši po zažganem, in zamenjajte poškodovan kabel. Ne puščajte telefona, ki se polni, brez nadzora čez noč na postelji ali kavču.

Varnostne kopije, računi in obnovitveni načrt¶

Če vaš telefon izgine, varnostno kopiranje in načrt za obnovitev spremenita katastrofo v neprijetnost.

Varnostno kopiraj¶

1. Vklopite samodejno varnostno kopiranje v oblak. iCloud za iPhone in Google varnostno kopiranje za Android lahko delujeta vsako noč prek omrežja Wi-Fi.
2. Preverite, ali so fotografije varnostno kopirane. Odprite aplikacijo za fotografije in potrdite, da je sinhronizacija v oblaku vklopljena.
3. Naredite dodatno kopijo ključnih datotek. Kopirajte dokumente, vstopnice in fotografije na prenosni računalnik ali zunanji disk.
4. Preverite prostor za varnostne kopije. Če je vaša shramba v oblaku polna, varnostne kopije ne uspejo.
5. Preizkusite obnovitev, če lahko. Preverite vsaj, ali ima varnostna kopija novejši datum.

Vklopite Find My ali Find Hub¶

Te storitve vam omogočajo, da poiščete, zaklenete in izbrišete izgubljeni telefon. Delujejo le, če jih vklopite, preden izgubite telefon. Naredi to zdaj. glej izgubili ali ukradli telefon, ko ste zdoma.

Pripravite svoje račune¶

• Nastavite močno zaklepanje zaslona. Uporabite dolgo geslo in biometrično odklepanje.
• Shranite rezervne kode za pomembne račune. Natisnite jih ali shranite na varno mesto.
• Uporabite upravitelja gesel in shranite podatke o obnovitvi drugje kot v telefonu.
• Dodajte drugo e-pošto ali stik za obnovitev.
• Nastavite kodo PIN za račun mobilnega operaterja. To pomaga preprečiti zamenjavo kartice SIM. Preberi Menjava kartice SIM.
• Note your IMEI. Photograph the box or the settings screen, and store the image in the cloud.
• Check your authenticator app. Make sure that you can move it to a new phone. See aplikacija za preverjanje pristnosti izgubljena med nadgradnjo telefona ali razbitjem zaslona.
• Know your carrier's lost phone number and have it on paper.

Make a lock screen message¶

Add a message to your lock screen with an email address or the number of a trusted person, so that an honest finder can reach you. Do not put your home address on it.

The paper numbers card¶

A paper card is the cheapest, most reliable backup for a phone. It does not need a battery, a signal or a password, and it works in your wallet, your bag or a shoe.

What to put on it¶

1. Your full name and, if you wish, your date of birth.
2. Two phone numbers of people who know your plans. Include the country code and the area code, written clearly.
3. One out of area contact. Someone who lives in another city or country, who family and friends can all reach.
4. Your home address and your accommodation address and phone. If abroad, add the address in the local language.
5. Medical information. Allergies, serious conditions, blood type if you know it, and any critical medicines.
6. Your insurance details and policy number. Add the insurer's emergency helpline.
7. Your bank's lost card number. Use the official number from the card issuer.
8. Lokalne številke za klic v sili. Na primer: 911 v Združenih državah in Kanadi, 112 po vsej Evropski uniji, 999 v Združenem kraljestvu.
9. Številka za klic v sili vašega veleposlaništva, če ste v tujini.
10. Vrstica v jeziku, ki ga ljudje tam lahko berejo. Na primer: "Prosim, pomagajte mi vzpostaviti stik z družino."

You can create a card with our generator kontaktnih kartic za nujne primere. Print two copies and keep one in a different place from the first.

Keep it safe and current¶

Laminate it or put it in a small plastic sleeve. Keep a copy in your wallet and one in a bag. Update it when numbers change. Do not put bank PINs, passwords or full card numbers on it.

Memorise at least two numbers¶

If you can recall two numbers from memory, you can call for help from any borrowed phone. Say them aloud several times a day for a week before you travel. Teach children their parents' numbers and their address. Read emergency call with a dead or low battery phone for more on this.

Documents, tickets and money¶

Keep copies of key documents¶

Take photos or scans of your passport, visa, driving licence, insurance cards and tickets. Save them in an encrypted cloud folder, and print a paper copy. Give a copy to a trusted person at home. Keep copies in a different bag from the originals.

Tickets and bookings¶

Download boarding passes and rail tickets to your phone's wallet or take a screenshot. For critical journeys, print a copy. Save hotel confirmations with the address and phone number.

Money¶

• Carry more than one way to pay. A card, a spare card and some cash in a separate place.
• Keep a small emergency note for a taxi or bus fare.
• Tell your bank when you travel abroad, if your bank advises it.
• Know how to reach your bank without your phone. Write the number on your card.
• Understand how you could get emergency cash. See obtičal brez telefona, denarnice ali ključev.

Phone settings that help in an emergency¶

Set these up when you are calm. They can help rescuers and family if something goes wrong.

1. Medical ID. Fill it in with allergies, conditions, medicines and emergency contacts. First responders can see it from the lock screen.
2. Emergency contacts. Add people who should be told in a crisis.
3. Emergency SOS. Learn the shortcut that calls your local emergency number from the lock screen, and practise opening the screen once.
4. Satellite messaging. If your phone supports it, check where it works and how to use it.
5. Location sharing. Share your location with one trusted person for the trip, using a map or messaging app.
6. Wireless emergency alerts. Make sure government alerts are turned on. They are on by default on most phones.
7. Crash and fall detection. If your phone or watch has it, check that it is on.
8. Low power mode shortcut. Know how to switch it on in a second.
9. Flashlight shortcut. Handy in a power cut.
10. Emergency SMS registration. In the United Kingdom, people who are deaf or have a speech impairment can register for the emergency SMS service. Check your country's rules.

Decision guide: what to do the day before¶

flowchart TD
    A["Trip planned"] --> B["Check battery health and charge habits"]
    B --> C["Download offline maps and tickets"]
    C --> D["Back up phone and turn on Find My or Find Hub"]
    D --> E["Pack power bank, cable and adapter"]
    E --> F["Write the paper numbers card"]
    F --> G["Set Medical ID and emergency contacts"]
    G --> H["Share your plan with a trusted person"]
    H --> I["Leave with a full battery"]

A checklist you can print¶

Special trips¶

Road trips¶

Carry a car charger, a cable and a power bank. Download offline maps for the whole route, and note rest stops and fuel. Keep a paper map in the glove box.

Tell someone your route and expected arrival. See okvara avtomobila and the car kit for what else to carry.

Hiking and camping¶

Pack a charged power bank, a whistle, a torch, a paper map and a compass. Keep the phone in airplane mode to save power, and use it only for photos, checks and emergencies. Keep it warm and dry, and consider a waterproof pouch. Read izgubljen na prostem in phone dropped in water.

Overseas travel¶

Check whether your phone is unlocked and whether it works with local networks, and compare roaming with a local SIM or eSIM. Carry a plug adapter, and note your embassy's emergency number. Register with your government's travel advice service if it offers one. Read travel emergencies abroad in izgubljen potni list ali potne listine.

Travelling with children or older relatives¶

Write a card for each person, with a contact number. Teach children what to do if they get lost, and agree on a meeting place. For adults who need medication or have a disability, carry a list of medicines and a doctor's number. See izgubljen otrok.

Festivals, events and crowds¶

Mobile networks are often overloaded in large crowds, so calls and data can be slow. Agree a meeting point and a time in advance, and carry a power bank. Keep the phone in a front pocket or a zipped bag.

Business travel¶

Keep a spare phone or a trusted contact for work. Check your employer's policy on lost devices, and know the number for the IT help desk. Do not rely on a single phone for work two factor codes.

Habits that keep your phone alive every day¶

• Plug in at night and top up during the day.
• Do not let the battery drop to zero often. It wears the battery.
• Avoid leaving the phone in heat or direct sun.
• Update the phone software. Updates often improve battery use and security.
• Remove apps you do not use.
• Check which apps use the most battery. The settings show a list.
• Replace a worn battery.
• Use a good quality case.
• Keep a cable at your desk, in the car and in your bag.
• Clean the charging port gently with a dry wooden toothpick or a soft brush if charging is slow.

A timeline for getting ready¶

Spreading the tasks over a week keeps them small. None of these steps takes long, and most only need to be done once.

A week before¶

Check your battery health and book a replacement if it is poor. Update the phone software and your map apps. Turn on automatic backups, and confirm that the latest backup has a recent date. Order any adapter, cable or power bank you are missing, so that you have time to test it.

Three days before¶

Download offline maps and test them in airplane mode. Fill in your Medical ID and emergency contacts. Write the paper numbers card and print two copies. Photograph your passport, cards and insurance, and store the images in a secure place, with a copy for someone at home.

The day before¶

Charge the phone, the power bank and any other devices. Save tickets and bookings offline, and print the most important ones. Share your plan with a trusted person, including the route, the places you will sleep and the time you expect to be back. Check the weather, because cold and heat both change how long a battery lasts.

On the day¶

Charge the phone to full, pack the power bank, cable and adapter in your carry bag, and put the card in your wallet. Switch on low power mode if you will be out for many hours. Look at your lock screen message once, and check that the contact is correct.

During the trip¶

Top up the phone when you stop for a meal or a break. Check in with your contact at the times you agreed. Keep an eye on your battery, and when it falls to 40 percent, switch to saving mode if you have not already. Note where you can charge near you, so that you do not search in a hurry.

When you get back¶

Charge everything, refresh your backups and put your kit back in a bag, ready for next time. Update the paper card if anything changed. Make a note of what worked and what you forgot.

What to do if something still goes wrong¶

Even with good preparation, things can go wrong. Having a plan for the first few minutes helps you stay calm.

• If the battery dies, plug in your power bank, or follow baterija telefona se izprazni, ko ste zunaj.
• If the phone is lost or stolen, use another device to lock it, call your carrier and freeze cards, as in izgubili ali ukradli telefon, ko ste zdoma.
• If it falls in water, switch it off, dry it gently and wait, as in phone dropped in water.
• If you need urgent help, ask a person to call your local emergency number, as in emergency call with a dead or low battery phone.
• If you cannot pay or get home, use the paper card and contact someone you trust.

Pogoste napake, ki se jim je treba izogniti¶

• Downloading maps in the departure lounge and finding the download fails. Do it at home.
• Packing a power bank in checked luggage. It must go in carry on.
• Carrying a power bank that is not charged.
• Forgetting the cable.
• Keeping all numbers only in the phone.
• Storing copies of passports and cards in the same bag as the originals.
• Skipping the backup.
• Using unknown public USB ports.
• Nikomur ne povej svojega načrta.
• Assuming roaming will work. Check before you go.

Key points to remember¶

• Download offline maps at home and test them in airplane mode.
• Carry a charged power bank and a short cable that fits your phone.
• Keep a paper card with numbers, and learn two by heart.
• Varnostno kopirajte svoj telefon in pred odhodom vklopite Find My ali Find Hub.
• Fill in Medical ID and emergency contacts so that rescuers can see them.
• Tell someone your plan, and agree when you will check in.
• Check airline rules before you fly with a power bank, and carry it in your cabin bag.

Viri preverjeni¶

• Ready.gov and FEMA (United States): family communication plans, keeping phones charged and carrying a portable charger.
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, United States) and the International Civil Aviation Organization: rules for carrying lithium batteries and power banks on aircraft.
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC, United States) and Ofcom (United Kingdom): guidance on emergency calls and roaming.
• US Department of State and UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: travel preparation advice.
• Apple Support, Google Help and Samsung Support: offline maps, battery health, Medical ID and Find My or Find Hub.

Airline and national rules change, so confirm them before you travel.

Pogosta vprašanja¶

What size power bank should I carry?¶

For a day out, a 5,000 to 10,000 mAh power bank gives about one to two full phone charges and fits in a pocket or small bag. For several days, a hike or a road trip, a 20,000 mAh unit gives about four. Choose a reputable brand, and keep it in carry on baggage when you fly.

Do offline maps really work without a signal?¶

Yes. After you download an area on Wi-Fi, the map app can show roads and places, and your phone's satellite positioning can mark where you are, even with no mobile data. Test it in airplane mode before you leave, and refresh the maps before each trip.

What should be on a paper numbers card?¶

Put two phone numbers of people you trust, one out of area contact, your home and accommodation address, medical information, insurance details and the local emergency number. Keep one copy in your wallet and one in a bag, and never write bank PINs or passwords on it.

Should I memorise phone numbers in the age of smartphones?¶

Yes, at least two. If your phone is lost, dead or broken, a number you know by heart lets you call for help from any borrowed phone. Practise saying them aloud and teach children theirs.

Sorodni vodniki¶

• Baterija telefona se izprazni, ko ste zunaj
• Klic v sili s praznim ali praznim telefonom
• Stranded without phone, wallet or keys
• Generator kontaktnih kartic za nujne primere
• Go bag and evacuation pack