Learn how to best utilize your reMarkable 2 while traveling internationally for work or pleasure. This digital notebook allows you to synchronize your travel, organize key documents, and coordinate
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Why am I qualified to write this article on international travel with the reMarkable 2
I love to travel. But even more than loving to travel, I love when my trips go smoothly. In that light, I’ve learned to use my reMarkable 2 to plan and execute really great international trips.
When I think of international travel, the Jimmy Buffett song “Last Mango in Paris” comes to Mind – reminding me of the incredible experiences that are possible. I use my remarkable 2 to maximize my experiences during these trips.
Testing that occurred to write this article
I recently took a 3-week trip from my home in the United States through six European countries. This trip included Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg. During this period I used my reMarkable 2 for remote work tasks, to keep my trip organized, and as a backup for important documents.
I also wrote an article about how to maximize outdoor running during trips like this.
How to use the reMarkable 2 to plan an international trip
As a former Army officer, I’m a big planner. My internal need to perform basic planning and preparation is heightened when traveling internationally. Though I don’t plan my itinerary down to the minute, I like to familiarize myself with the area, ensure I have my travel basics covered, and prepare for contingencies.
Use your reMarkable to capture information about a new location
While the reMarkable 2 isn’t great for for pursuing the internet, it can be a powerful tool for taking notes and keeping to do lists.
We all have our own ways of understanding a new place. For me, it’s through maps. I like to use Google’s custom map tool to drop icons for things I want to see or experience. While this functionality isn’t natively built for the reMarkable, I do like to capture articles through Read on reMarkable. This might be an overview of a city or country on WikiTravel or just a random Wikipedia article on a specific site.
As I think through travel arrangements I need to make or travel accessories I need to order on Amazon, I also like to take my notes on my reMarkable. I find this equally convientant whether I have a random thought in a business meeting or dedicating time to research.
Synchronize travel schedule on the reMarkable 2
Longer or more complicated trips require additional planning to ensure that you don’t have a place to stay one night or overbook your schedule. To perform this function, I like drawing the key portions of my trip out on a calendar.
Some examples of the types of events I include:
- Flights w/ departure times
- Hotel or AirBnb stays with how many nights I’ll be there
- Key events (e.g., a ceremony or booked tour)
- Travel details of others I might be linking up with
To capture all of these details for my most recent trip, I used my 4-week calendar PDF template (available free here). While the view when I left was fully filled it, I captured this information over the course of months.
Capture important information for travel contingencies
Another Army habit that dies hard is thinking about what might go wrong on a trip and how to minimize the effect. This could be simple things like misplacing your airline ticket information to more critical events like having your phone or passport stolen. You should even think about what you’d do if there’s a weather or security emergency in the country you’re traveling to.
As I’ve thought through various travel situations, there is one common element that makes them easier to respond to: information. The three key pieces of information I always keep on my reMarkable as a backup are:
- Copy of my passport – just in case my gets stolen
- List of important phone numbers of friends and family – in case my phone is lost or stolen
- Contact information of my national embassy in the country I’m visiting – so I can get help from my government in a true crisis
By keeping these documents on my reMarkable and syncing them to reMarkable connect, I have copies on my device, my reMarkable App, and through the web portal. All but the web portal can be accessed when I’m offline (which is important when there’s no wifi or your phone doesn’t work).
Load content to read during international travel
While the remarkable 2 isn’t a perfect eReader (more on that here), it does a good enough job when you’re minimizing your devices for a long trip. I’m a proponent of traveling with a backpack and rollaboard bag, so consolidating devices can be a big deal. If you are using your reMarkable as an eReader, remember to:
- Read web content with Read on reMarkable – if you aren’t using an international plan on your phone (or are limited by bandwidth), travel can be a great time to catch up on article. Use the Read on reMarkable plug in to load up plenty of articles to read.
- Load PDFs or ePUBs – travel can also be great for catching up on longer form reading. I’m a huge fan of Project Gutenberg for 70,000+ free books. You can also download ePUB format books and populate them on your reMarkable before the trip.
How to prepare your reMarkable 2 for international travel
Prep the settings on your reMarkable 2 for international travel
Before I leave on a big trip, I take a couple of key actions to prepare my reMarkable for the upcoming trip:
- Fully charge my reMarkable 2
- Sync my reMarkable 2 so documents are available on reMarkable Connect
- Turn on the security pass code
- Turn on Airplane Mode on my reMarkable 2 (to save battery and increase security)
Get the right accessories for your reMarkable 2 for international travel
Before a trip, there are a couple of key accessories that can keep your reMarkable 2 functional throughout your whole trip:
- European outlet adapter – as an American, I needed an electrical socket adapter to charge my reMarkable (and other devices). I been using the Tessan charger and have been extremely pleased with it. It has 3 USB ports and space to plug in 4 US plugs.
- USB-C cable – you’ll need to charge your remarkable on any trip over a week. So I keep an Amazon basics USB-C cable in my pack.
- reMarkable case – protecting your remarkable while keeping it sleek should be a priority. I’ve been using the CoBak case and absolutely love it. I’ve tried many other cases (details here) but this case strikes the perfect balance between protection, storage and profile.
- Backup EMR stylus – I take a “two is one, one is none” philosophy to styli during travel, however I don’t carry two OEM styli. Instead I’ve been traveling with either a Staedtler Noris Digital Jumbo (~$35) or a V-Pen EMR Stylus (~$45) in case I lose or damage my stylus.
- Extra EMR Nibs – keeping an extra nib or two is always a good idea. I keep a few extra EMR nibs in the storage container built into my CoBak case.
- USB-C Charger – sometimes you can’t find an outlet or just need to extend the (already good) battery life, this is where a battery comes in handy. The Anker 20,000 mHA charger is great for charging your reMarkable as well as laptop.
How to use your reMarkable 2 during an international trip
International travel can be both exhilarating as well as exhausting. And I’ve found the reMarkable 2 an excellent way to keep myself organized in the fog of different cultures, languages, and time zones.
Taking notes on any remote work during your trip
The unfortunate reality of many executive roles, is that it can be difficult to fully unplug from work. I found this true on my most recent trip, but used my reMarkable to stay organized. Just as at home, I find that writing down key tasks and meetings (in local time) keeps me focused on the most critical items.
During this trip, I found a few times where I couldn’t make it back to my hotel in time for a call, so I’d bring by AirPod Pros and reMarkable with me during the day. Without a case, the reMarkable 2 slides easily into the Osprey Daylight sling bag. This combination allowed me to easily carry my reMarkable discretely while being ready for a mid-afternoon work call.
Checking my plan (especially during jet lag haze)
Between disrupted sleep and different time zones, keeping your travel plans straight during the trip can be a task. I found that having a copy of my travel plan (and key tickets) on my reMarkable and iPhone allowed me to easily reference my plan. This kept any anxiety around missing a flight or having not booked a hotel absolutely at bay.
Refer to a map or book loaded on your reMarkable
Having your reMarkable loaded with content is like having a whole stack of books and papers at the ready. I loaded a few long form history articles on my reMarkable and found it a wonderful way to reference the history of an area while having a cafe au lait (or a beer).
In particular, I loaded my custom Google Maps on my reMarkable and was able to use them as a refence in planning the days activities with my wife. The maps are obviously static (and I need to find a way to increase contract), but are great for referencing pins that I previously put on the map.
Travel journaling on the reMarkable 2
I love to record my trips in a journal, but loathe carrying an extra book or device. If you create a separate notebook for travel journaling, you can add an additional travel functionality to the reMarkable. I find that journaling while you are on the trip is the most effective way to reflect on the trip and capture the special moments.
There are some pre-made journal formats on Etsy and OnPlanner, but a blank page in your reMarkable can totally suffice.
Final thoughts on having used my reMarkable on a multiweek trip
No reMarkable Type Folio
I have a reMarkable Type Folio cover / keyboard and really love it. But based on the weight and my travel plans, I decided to leave it at home. I honestly didn’t miss it for the type of work and travel I conducted. In retrospect, I don’t think that the
Long battery life is great while traveling
Battery life is everything while traveling and the reMarkable 2 is a refreshing change from most other devices. I really appreciated the fact that I didn’t need to constantly charge my reMarkable while on the move.
Wonderful tool to carry reference materials
Since I loaded my reMarkable 2 with travel plans and copies of tickets / documents, I was able to easily access them in the fog of jet lag. This was really convientant, though I wasn’t able to actually check into any flights with my reMarkable.
reMarkable 2 is truly great for hybrid remote work while traveling
I ended up working more on this trip than I would have liked, but was able to balance it with free time because my reMarkable let me keep myself straight. I used it to take ‘to do’ list type items as well as organize speaking notes for critical meetings. I also carried it in my packable sling bag while attending a trade show or while seeing sites.
reMarkable 2 packs easily for international travel
It goes without saying, but the slim profile of the reMarkable 2 fits easily in backpacks and brief cases. This makes it easy to slide in with a laptop.
