We have the SD card reader for the ipad, got it at the Apple store. There is also one for the "newer" lightning plugs too.
LINK Costs just under $30.
The process couldn't be easier, and as a PP mentioned, allows you to "not" bring a laptop on a vacation. We uploaded our photos every day on our trip, and even if something would have happened to our camera and our ipad, the photos were in the cloud!
DD is going to Europe in January for school, with her brand new ipad mini, and we will be getting her the above card reader. I am a little bummed that with the change in the plugs, that she can't use the card readers we have for our ipad.