Appreciation post: Skipping VPNs on vacation can be okay
I disagree with the idea that you must have a VPN for all travel. For checking news or maps, regular website security often does the job. I've done this for years without trouble.
Public wifi has risks, but it's not always sketchy. A lot of websites use HTTPS, which protects your info. If you use a VPN, that's even better. With these tools, public wifi can be safe for most things. Just be smart about what you do online.