Meet the Nightwave!  Nightwave helps you fall asleep by guiding you in a proven relaxation process as you lie in bed. (yes, this was taken verbatum right off the box)  You synchronize your breathing with a light that has five different settings.  One of the settings simply is “on” and can be used to give a romantic glow to your room – at home or on the road.  We do have to have a sound machine for traveling, but also have used the bedside radio tuned to static when we forget to pack our sound conditioner. Either way, you are able to relax you without drugs!

You can read testimonials and get more information here  Nightwave .

Okay —-this is just for the ladies and transdressers. The Berry Ball sells for about $14.00.  It can be used for traveling or washing your bras.  It protects them from being crushed and ruined.  You can also use it to pack your panties so they don’t get snagged.  View the demo  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl1fXiwUzhQ.

The first is the Pillow Protector.  I have had some uncomfortable thoughts regarding cleanliness  when we stay in some of the less expensive motel/hotel places about the pillows.  The Pillow Protector protects against mites and allergies.  It probably ensures you of another buffer with a pillow where many, many people have slept.  If you’re driving its easy to bring your own pillows but, when traveling by plane, just add these to your suitcase and alleviate any surprises you might encounter during your travels.

The Pillow Protector and more bedding products may be found at: http://www.protectabeddirect.com/

If you want something that is also sanitizing and easy to travel with you may want to try the Clean Wave.  It helps to eliminate viruses, germs, bacteria and more.  It is a chemical-free, odorless UV-C light that penetrates the membranes of biological pollutants.  It does take a few minutes of exposure to complete the sanitazation process and there really isn’t anyway to know for sure if you’ve accomplished your goal. But, I suppose its better than worrying and short of getting out the cleaning rags yourself!

The Clean Wave can be found at: http://www.verilux.com/uv-products/uvc-sanitizing-travelwand

We were sent  30 Words,  a language guide for travelers.  The little accordion card enclosed has 800 key words and phrases in a logical a accessible format.  All words and phrases are accompanied by phonetic pronunciations.  There are eight pamphlets available on their web site’s store that cover the major languages in Europe, South America and Asia.

It appears that, with a little pre planning, one could get the desired information from a traveled related situation.  There are far more than 30 words translated, but, per the authors, its having the “right” 30 words available that makes travel in a foreign land most pleasant and allows one to experience the local charm to its fullest.  We’ll let you know how it goes when we give it a try!

They are just $10.00 and may be found at: http://30words.com/

Here’s a great little CD to relieve stress and muscle aches in the car because we all know how stressful driving can be! It is definitely better for long trips on open roads with minimal traffic. The instructions are easy to follow and it only takes about 10 or 15 minutes to go through all of them.  After a few times through, one can do the routine without the tape, although using it occasionally will help keep you doing the routine correctly.  I actually think this is one of the best drive time ideas I ever heard of.  Always remember to first pay attention to your driving (the tape constantly cues you to watch traffic).  Using this you’ll reach your destination feeling much less tense and more rested.

The package is $20.00 and may be found at:http://www.drivetimeyoga.com/

This is one of my favorite gadgets.  I can’t tell you how much I dislike packing my visor for trips.  It’s awkward and takes up so much space!  I need my visor for golf and the beach, and was thrilled when Tana from Vizini sent us these!

It’s a flat vizor that attaches to your sun glasses.  It isn’t tight on your forehead and, therefor, very comfortable to wear. 

No, this isn’t me, but I do like her form! You can visit their site at  www.vizini.com  and they’re only $10.00!!!!

Here’s another interesting idea for sunglasses.  STICK-ON READING LENSES!

So, if you are in a pinch and don’t have your prescription sun glasses, simply stick these on your designer shades!  They are $20.00, reusable and they come in different strengths and a little travel case.  Their site is www.seemores.com.

We received the neck and back versions and were impressed with their function and versatility.  Its easy, using the straps and Velcro provided with each pillow, to create custom shapes and configurations.  (Sorry for the poor photography)

This is the neck pillow. If needed, it can be folded over for more support.

This is the back cushion and, it too can be folded over for more support. We especially the flexibility to use it as either a thin (as shown), or thick (doubled over) pillow. Our experience with other lumber support products has revealed that, due to the thickness, they sometimes create more discomfort than relief! Also, there is a strap that makes it possible to permanently, more or less, position the support in your car, office chair, or favorite relaxing chair at home!

 Their website, http://www.comfortideas.com/Default.aspx, is easy to use, displays all their product lines, and provides, of course, purchase instructions.

Enter the Klean Kanteen!

It holds a bottle of wine, and has a screw top.  So, to take that special bottle of wine with you, simply pour it into your Kanteen and pack it in your suitcase with no worries.  You can also use it for trips to the pool, the beach, on a picnic - anywhere you want to alleviate the concern of breaking a bottle. And, as an added benefit, it eliminates the need for a corkscrew! This version is $20, but check out the many options offered at http://www.charlestonnaturally.com/store/klean-kanteen-wine-karafe-1111.html  

When traveling, if you’re like us, often you find your room doesn’t have that fresh smell you anticipated. Well, Kim from Fresh Wave sent us a couple of wonderful products to use in our travels.  Although many deodorizers are available in almost any grocery store, these are all natural odor neutralizers. We received a package of vacuum pearls to pack in our suitcase, a candle for a hotel room and most important, a spray for eliminating odors immediately!  I can’t tell you how wonderful they smell.  The ingredients are extracts of lime, pine needles, aniseed, clove, cedar, and soy.

You can find their products at: www.fresh-wave.com

The Gizmo Bag above is a 3 in 1 bag for travel, work, or recreation.  It’s flat and can be concealed under a jacket.  It can be worn over the shoulder, across the body, or at the waist.  It has 4 open pouches and 2 zippered pouches for security.  Come on guys, you’ll really be appreciated if you get one of these! For more information http://www.lovemypup.com/

Meet the Cargo Travel Organizer, a great way to avoid the jumbled snarl of assorted electrical chords that, at least for us, seem to entwine themselves in our suitcase every time we pack!  It has four compartments for transporting cords, chargers, adapters, etc.  It stretches to fit a range of accessories.  Read more at  www.builtny.com.

Our last featured product, also targeted for travel and recreation, is the Go Caddy.  It leaves your hands free to take pictures, etc. when sightseeing on vacation. It will hold a 1.5 liter bottle of water, cruise ship pass, license, money charge cards, keys, camera, cell phone, map, etc.  Bill actually liked using it on our last trip! Visit their site at www.thegocaddy.com

Image from flickr by Kevindooley

When we are traveling, and aren’t locked in to staying in a specific hotel, we often use the “Best Deal -name your own price” feature of Priceline.com. By selecting among the hotel areas, amenities, and star ratings, its possible to narrow the options and get great deals in hotels either close to, or if you’re lucky, exactly, where you want to be. Of course, not every hotel in a given area is part of the Priceline system, so this does present some restrictions. But, we have found, there are always more than enough choices to accomodate our needs.   

For instance, this summer we were able to secure a 4 day stay at a Residence Inn, in the exact location we wanted, with a normal rate of $119/night, for $52/night!   

We began by selecting the hotel rating, then further narrowed the options by choosing one of 13 different local geographical options. From the original 113 hotels, this left only two possible spots, our desired Residence Inn and a Courtyard by Marriott, which both would suit us just fine. The system clues you as to the average cost per night, but we always start bidding really low, expecting rejection. Then, usually a day later because the system restricts the frequency one can submit bids, we begin increasing our bid. Eventually, our bid is accepted. Then comes the gamble. Since you pay Priceline direct, there are no refunds. Should your plans change, you have just spent money for a room you won’t use.   

So, if you have a high degree of certainty and you are a bit flexible as to where you are willing to stay, Priceline can save you quite a bit of money! Just be patient and don’t be afraid to have a bid rejected! For us using this feature is fun and, is as close to gambling as we ever get!

image from flickr by cameron parkins

What to take in the car……..  Hopefully it won’t look like the one above!!!!  I try to have a checklist of things I want to take in the car whenever we go on one of our road trips.

1.  Emergency kit.  The one shown has jumper cables, first aid kit, flashlight, pliers, philips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, exacto knife, hammer to break window, flares, tire inflater that runs off car battery, fix a flat aerosole, WD -40, duct tape,  a rag to clean hands, and bungee cords.

2.  Bottled water

3.  GPS system

4.  guide books, maps, hotel/motel books

5.  little pillow and blanket

6.  snacks- I like almonds, dried fruit, and oh yeah, m&m peanuts

7.  membership cards (hotels, AAA, etc.)

8.  wet naps

9.  books on tape

10.  ipod with little speaker (the one shown works really well)

11.  spare tire and jack

12.  travel games

13.  travel computer

 14.  camera

15.  little trash bags

16.  kleenex

I always make sure that the passenger seat can recline as much as possible for those important naps!  We also pack an overnight case for those one night hotel stops so that we don’t have to lug all our luggage in to a hotel.

image from flickr by Alan Vernon

I’ve been a member of AAA since 1988.  Practically part of the family!!  We use AAA for all of our road trips.  I go into their store and grab books, maps, sometimes traveler’s checks, and travel insurance for expensive cruises, etc.

Whenever we book a hotel, even in the big cities, we always ask for the AAA or AARP discounts,  and inevitably will get something off the price.

It’s also nice to know that when we are traveling by car we always have the security of roadside assistance.  The trip tiks are handy to let us know where there are possible delays for road construction.

It definitely is worth the $40.00 membership fee.