I have been playing with the shiny new Macbook Air this month, dashing through airports with a Kindle Paperwhite in tow, and streaming on Showmax. I’m also enjoying the 2-for-1 offers on the Entertainer app and tried Samsung Pay on a wearable device, now supported in 25 countries.
LAPTOP
Macbook Air
The new Macbook Air with Retina display may have arrived a few years too late, but it’s everything we wanted. The 13.3-inch laptop weighs a mere 1.35 kg, making it a superb travel companion that won’t weigh you down. Its snappy performance and long-lasting battery life comes standard.
R21 499 | myistore.co.za
eREADER
Kindle Paperwhite
Beach and pool-side holidays have just gotten an upgrade. Amazon’s new 10the-generation 2018 Kindle Paperwhite brings much-needed water-resistance abilities and a Bluetooth update. An accidental dunk in 2m of fresh water is fine; and if you don’t feel like reading, pair it with wireless earphones and opt for an audio book.
R3 299 | shopandship.co.za
SMARTWATCH
Samsung Pay
The convenience of paying with a smartwatch is wonderful and could be safer if you travel frequently. For Standard Bank and Absa customers, Samsung Pay now works on the Galaxy Watch, Gear Sport and Gear S3. It is supported in 25 markets, including the US, UK, Asia, Europe and Australia, and allows multiple card enrolments.
from R3 800 | raru.co.za
APP
The Entertainer
Everyone loves a good deal and the Entertainer app offers a wide range of two-for-one pricing across hotels, restaurants, drinks, and activities for the whole family. Plan your next holiday with access to over 550 000 hotels in 29 countries, as well get local deals in major cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. Bonus: if you bank with FNB, access across the country is free.
R495 | theentertainerme.com
SERIES
Showmax
March is the best time to catch up on a Game of Thrones binge ahead of its highly-anticipated season finale next month on Showmax. If you’re looking to kill airport and travel time, you have all seven seasons to choose from. Simply load it for offline play on a tablet or smartphone ahead of your trip.
R99/pm | showmax.co.za
ULTRAMODERN VIENNA
On my travels, I’ve taken a fair amount of trains over the years, from daily commutes to airport runs and traveling between states. You’d think they all work similarly, except when crossing countries. While on holiday in Eastern Europe during single-digit freezing winter temperatures, I was travelling from Prague to Vienna but mixed up the carriage I was booked in. It appeared that a lot of passengers did this we all had to cart our luggage to the correct one.
For my onward journey from Vienna to Budapest, I got to the station super early to avoid previous mistakes, and was surprised and in awe to see digital boards on the platform detailing each carriage. It was clearly marked so you knew where first class was, the restaurant, and second class – all listed by carriage number. This time around I waited at the right platform with my luggage to avoid a mix up. It was very useful for those anyone who didn’t speak German. All I can say is, world, if you’re listening, more of this please!
Nafisa Akabor
