Plan
on traveling soon? Then check out our travel gear reviews;
they might help you figure out what to buy and bring with
you on your next trip.
FEATURE REVIEWS from Ron Stern
QuietComfort® 3 Bose® Acoustic Noise-Cancelling® Headphones Bose has been a leader in the development of noise canceling headphones. These are the latest incarnation and will surround you with blissful silence. Simply slip them on, flip a switch and the sounds of engine noise, crying children or snoring neighbors will be drastically diminished. These are a must-have during long flights and are compatible with CD/DVD and MP3 players. They also come with a free Lexar MP3 player. Available from TravelSmith. (www.TravelSmith.com). Retail cost: $349.00.
Seiko Travel Clock Stay on time with the new Seiko Travel Clock-no matter what country you're in. Turn it on and a radio signal connects to atomic time transmitters in four areas of the world, including the United States, Europe, Japan and the Far East. Its sleek design allows it to be easily placed on any flat surface. Adjusting the alarm is also a breeze. Touch the top of the unit and a snooze light illuminates the digital details for about 4 seconds-just enough time to get another 40 winks. After five minutes, the alarm will sound again. In addition to time, the clock also displays the date and current temperature. In case you can't quite find the hotel room lights, the base of the unit serves as a blue LED flashlight. (Four AAA batteries are included.) Available from Magellan's (www.magellans.com). Retail Cost: $44.85.
Samsung BLACKJACK Advertised
as slim, smart and simple, this
new multi-media device can handle
quite the workload. The phone
features Windows Mobile® 5.0
for Smartphones, a QWERTY keypad
for easy dialing and tyzping,
Bluetooth 2.0, a 1.3 MP integrated
camera, Windows Media Player® 10,
a voice recorder and more. You
can also surf the Internet,
check personal and corporate
email, send and receive instant
messages and download songs
and videos, all at 3G speeds.
Navigating the small size screen
takes some getting used to when
using the Internet, but overall
this little baby will deliver
most of the functions included
in a laptop and cell phone.
Available from Cingular Wireless
(www.cingular.com).
Cost: Varies depending on plan
contract and rebates.
The BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8100™ The newest innovation from Blackberry®, is one of the world's smallest smartphones. It comes packed with all the bells and whistles you would expect including a 1.3 megapixel digital camera, web browsing, speakerphone, text messaging,and organizational functions. Unlike the BLACKJACK (and a function I liked slightly better), the Pearl will forward emails to your phone so you don't have to retrieve them each time. The "Pearl" refers to the trackball, which acts like a scroll wheel, easily allowing you to switch between various tasks. The Pearl also comes with SureType™ keyboard technology in a QWERTY layout, making it easier to compose words when sending messages. Overall, I really liked the functionality of the Pearl and found myself becoming dependent upon the quick email access. Perhaps I should check myself into a rehab somewhere? Available from Cingular Wireless or T-Mobile retailers (www.cingular.com). Cost: Varies depending upon plan contract and rebates.
Helium Breeze from Delsey® Sporting a graphite frame and Bullet Proof(tm) ballistic nylon, the new Helium Breeze is advertised as 30-40% lighter than the average upright rolling piece of luggage. Having tried it I can say that it does indeed cut down on weight and allowed me to pack more into the case without being charged an extra overweight baggage fee. The unit is also E.x.p.a.n.d.a.b.l.e to an extra 2 1/2 inches for additional items. It comes with a fully lined, removable suiter, two interior pockets and a Recessed locking Trolley(tm), a wetbag (handy for wet bathing suits and that last minute dip in the pool before departing), and a Tote-a-Long Clip™ to piggy back additional bags. Delsey has also done all of us a favor by adding recessed Velocity™ in-line skate wheels that roll smoothly and quiet across airport floors. I have tried lots of rolling luggage and this one gets my highest recommendation. Available from department stores, specialty luggage stores and online retailers. (www.delsey.com) Retail Cost: $200
PRODUCTS FOR SAFE TRAVEL
Hurricanes, terrorism and medical emergencies are just a few concerns in this post 9/11 world. But, as the Boy Scout motto says, "Be Prepared." Here are some products and services that will give business travelers peace of mind:
Plane Sheets Personal Airline Seat Covers Over half a billion people will be flying this year just on domestic flights. What do they all have in common? Everyone will be sit where in a previously occupied seat. The seat upholstery picks up germs, bacteria and who knows what else. If you are like me and have just a touch of germaphobia, make sure you have your own set of sanitary Plane Sheets. Compact and washable, just slip the comfy fabric over the seat and headrest and relax. Don't be surprised if your jealous neighbors ask where you got them. Available from TravelSmith (www.travelsmith.com). Retail cost: $24.99 A disposable and less expensive version of these seat covers is also available from Aero-San Corporation (www.aero-san.com). Retail cost of seat covers: $7.99.
Air Ambulance Card Did you know that 70% of all travelers consider a medical emergency their greatest concern? Did you also know that the average price of an overseas medical evacuation is about $75,000. Accidents and medical emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time, but for $195 per year you can be protected almost anywhere in the world. Many policies have fine print restrictions that will prevent you from being transported back to the U.S. The Air Ambulance Card has no medical necessity requirement, no nearest appropriate facility limitation, no pre-existing condition exclusion and no maximum dollar amount. They just send the nearest plane to pick you up and take you home. Available from: Air Ambulance Card (www.airambulancecard.com). Cost: $195 for individual per year and $295 per family.
RFID Blocking Passport Wallet It seems that as fast as security technology increases so does the ability of thieves. Passports and credit cards are examples of identification that are being embedded with tiny radio frequency (RF) tags that can now be read by security scanners at the airport and where you shop. Hackers, however, have figured out a way to also scan these when they are in the same proximity and can steal information resulting in identify theft. This unique passport wallet acts as a barrier to these signals and protects your identify. It can only be read when you open the wallet at the appropriate venues. It is made of leather and is 51/2 x 4". Available from Magellan's (www.magellans.com). Retail cost: $19.85
Travel Rescue Kit As any business person knows, there are always traveling disadvantages. Crowded airplanes and airports, sneezing and coughing children and adults, questionable food, and unsanitary conditions all carry the potential of making anyone ill. Fortunately, there is Travel Rescue that comes in a handy compact kit. Each of four products is designed to combat a particular ailment. The manufacturer claims that Throat Rescue kills strep A and other harmful pathogens; Cold Rescue and Sinus Rescue comes in a nasal spray that kills viruses and bacteria and Stomach Rescue uses ionic silver and is to provide relief from food poisoning, killing not only staph A, but salmonella and E. Coli. Since a doctor is not always available when traveling, this has become a regular part of my travel gear. Available from Magellan's (www.magellans.com). Retail cost: $19.85
Packsafe® Waist Pack Street crime can happen anywhere. Cut and run thieves are adept at grabbing your waist packs without you even realizing. The Packsafe® Waste Pack has a cable-reinforced adjustable belt that locks around the waist and prevents crooks from cutting it off. You can also lock it around hotel fixtures as a mini-hotel safe. It comes with two zippered compartments and has ample room for passports, cell phones and even a small camera. Size: 10" x 6" x 2 1/2", fits 28" to 44" waists. Available from TravelSmith (www.travelsmith.com). Retail cost: $35.00
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Plan
on traveling soon? Then check out our travel gear reviews;
they might help you figure out what to buy and bring with
you on your next trip.
