Geek Alert: Travel Gear for your Inner and Outer Geek

Nothing screams geek like a USB drive attached to your key chain, but now you can shout it from a mountain top with an Imation USB Flash Drive Wristband.  Wow, How Cool is That!  This is just one of the items that made the list of Geeky Travel Gadgets from Vagabondish.

My favorite item on the list is the iCache.  You can travel without carrying all of your credit cards by using this wicked cool gadget.  Once you purchase the iCache, you go online and register your credit cards.  The gadget is biometrically secured using a fingerprint and recreates the magnetic strip from your card to be used when traveling.

And you thought that the James Bond tricks were cool.

The "Evolution" of Technology at Hotels

Apple continues to define "cool" technology for the masses. Their laptops are super sleek and the iPod term now defines mp3 players, like Google defines search engines. A new software company, Runtriz, hopes to use the iPhone and iPod Touch to make it hip to carry these gadgets when you stay at your next hotel. An article in the Washington Post highlights the test of the "Hotel Evolution" product from Runtriz at the Malibu Beach Inn in Malibu, CA.

The "Hotel Evolution" application can either be loaded onto a guests existing iPhone or iPod Touch, or in the case of the Malibu Beach Inn, the guest is loaned an iPod Touch if they don't own their own. The software makes it possible for the guest to order room service, book spa treatments, retreive their message and set wake up calls. There are other options as well.

This is what I call bringing convenience to your hotel stay. Runtriz says that since the application is web based it will eventually be released for Blackberries and other cell phone platforms, like Google's Android.

technology, travel

Southwest Ups Committment to Business Travelers with "Fly By"

Why is it that in today's economy the legacy airlines keep taking away services and amenities, but the new kids, like Southwest, keep adding services to keep their customers happy?  I think it is the way that Southwest looks at their business.  They value the relationship with the customer and know that they have a choice.  They want them to come back so they keep looking to expand and improve the service.

Now Southwest is adding business traveler services like priority access to security lanes.  This new services will be available to customers at Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), Orange County John Wayne (SNA), Denver International (DEN), San Francisco International (SF)) and Los Angeles International (LAX).  The service starts in November.

Check out the Fly By program on the Southwest blog.

Southwest, airline, amenities

Video Games Rock Hotels

Do you love your Wii? Are you Guitar Hero to be reckoned with? Make sure that you check out the video game systems and titles available to you next time you stay in a hotel. Marriott and Nintendo announced a partnership to put Wiis into select Marriott hotels. The modified Wii systems have a selection of games that can be selected via the Wii's menu. The system is being tested at 6 hotels: New York Marriott Marquis, Renaissance New York Times Square, Boston Marriott Cambridge, Bethesda MD. Marriott Suites, Annapolis Marriott Waterfront and the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort.

In other video game news, you now that the kids who grew up on video games are in charge when they start using gaming systems for training. Hilton via its Hilton Garden Inn brand is going to start using Playstation Portables (PSPs) to deliver training to line level employees.

Marriott to offer Wiis in hotel rooms.
Westin: a Wii Paradise
Video Games Come of Age in Hotels
Hilton Garden Inn Makes Training Available on PSP

Marriott, Hilton, Westin, amenities, wii, xbox 360, video games

Travel 101 for Parents: What You Should Know About Traveling with Children

Traveling with children can be difficult. I say can because I have seen many a child melt down on a plane, in a restaurant or ______ (you fill in the blank with you own location). As we have traveled with our 14 month old son, Aaron, we have learned the hard way what works and doesn't work for us as a family. And despite how good any child is, they can have their moments when you take them out of their routine, place them in unfamiliar surroundings and ask them to "be good".

There is a great article over at BootsnAll about travel tips that every parent should know. I would highly recommend that you take a moment to read it before your next family trip. It may just save your sanity.

There are a few other items that I would like to add to the list:

Think about the sleeping arrangements - Not all hotels are equally conducive to putting the kids to bed early while you stay up. I recommend staying in a hotel with all suites, like Embassy Suites or Residence Inn. We have found that with our son, we can't stay up and watch tv or do anything in the room if we can't separate him from us. He is too sensitive to sound or light when sleeping. Sometimes, you are lucky enough to have larger room where you can move them further away from the stimulus, but you can't always count on that. Additionally, not all cribs in hotel rooms are created equally. Some hotels use play pens while others use an actual crib. You may want to bring along your own bedding, and definitely bring along your little girl's favorite blanket to help her sleep at night.

Plan your day based on your child's schedule - This is the best advice I can give. We all know when our children are at the best and worst during the day. Try to plan on being near the hotel or a friend's house when they are going to want to go down for a nap. Go out for a museum visit after they have awoken and are refreshed. Plan your airplane ride for when your child usually sleeps. This one really helps us.

Use your car seat bag for extra luggage space - Now that airlines are charging extra money for all the luggage, make sure that you use the extra space around your car seat back to hold things like diapers, coats, etc. This gives you the extra space you need in your own luggage and allows you to easily grab much needed items when you get the bag from luggage claim. Of course this one only works if you check the car seat and don't take it on the plane. You can also by the great airplane seat harness to eliminate the need to carry that car seat on the plane with you.

Here are some other resources to help you plan your next family trip:

• Traveling with Kids - Family friendly travel gear
• TravelWithYourKids - Tips from parents for parents on a variety of travel related topics
• Flight Attendant's Travel Tips for Children
• MomsMinivan101 - Travel games and road trip ideas
  

Technorati Tags: family travel, travel tips

Southwest Airlines Fall Fare Sale - Book by October 2

Southwest Airlines' Fall Fare Sale is going on now through October 2nd for travel from October 21 to November 18, 2008. Airfare is as low as $46 each way with this promotion. There is a 21 day advance purchase required. To get the best fare possible, you must travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday. See blow for sample fares from this airfare promotion.

• Seattle/Tacoma, WA (SEA) to/from Boise, ID (BOI) - $46 one way
• Washington/Dulles, DC (IAD) to/from West Palm Beach, FL (PBI) - $101 one way
• St. Louis, MO (STL) to/from Denver, CO (DEN) - $79 one way
• San Francisco, CA (SFO) to/from Las Vegas, NV (LAS) - $71 one way
• Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) to/from San Diego, CA (SAN) - $104 one way

To check availability of these discounts go to the Southwest site.

Technorati Tags: airfare, Southwest

Discount Fall Fares from Virgin America - starting at $69 each way

WOW!  Check out this offer from Virgin America.  They are offering great fall rates.

To get a ticket at the $69 level you would need to fly to or from San Francisco (SFO) and one of these great cities: Los Angeles (LAX), San Diego (SAN), Las Vegas (LAS) or Seattle (SEA).

Virgina America features cool state of the are mood lit cabins, personalized entertainment systems at each seat, leather seats and power and USB outlets, to keep your electronic gadgets fully fueled and ready to go.

They are also offering great fares to other destinations like Washington, DC and New York City, NY from as low as $149.

Here are the restrictions:

• Must purchase tickets by September 25, 2008
• Travel must start on or after September 16, 2008 and be completed by December 17, 2008
• The following blackout dates apply: November 26 and 29, December 1, 2008
  
• Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable
• This is for internet bookings only, fares for call in reservations may cost more
  

Technorati Tags: airfare deals, Virgin America

Travel Tips for Weather Troubled Locales

It seems that hurricanes are really taking their toll this year.  The Caribbean, Texas and Lousiana have all had their share of problems.  I found this on CNN about keeping informed on travel cancellation and change policies related to travel services.  There are some great travel pointers here.  The article covers points for airlines, hotels and cruises.

If you have to travel, be informed and arrive safe.

Technorati Tags: travel tips