- Life & Leisure > *Life & Leisure F1 > TCD Traveler: Getaway Gadgets
- November 28th, 2010
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- By Robert Bundy
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TCD Traveler: Getaway Gadgets
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If you didn’t want to brave the mobs on Black Friday, then you probably have some catching up to do in the gift-giving department. Lucky for you, we’re here to help with five handy gadgets that are sure to set a globetrotter’s heart beating faster.
The ila WEDGE Doorstop Alarm
For women traveling alone, ila Security Ltd. presents the single most girly security gadget we’ve ever seen. Bedecked with pretty pink flowers or dancing purple butterflies, the ila Wedge is a lightweight and petite doorstop alarm that tucks under the bedroom door of wherever you have chosen to lay your head that night. The ila not only prevents the door from being opened, it utters an ear-splitting 130db siren when breached—and looks totally darling while doing it! Available at www.handpickedgiftstore.com for $19.99
AViiQ: Portable Laptop Stand
I take my Macbook Pro everywhere, and while I love it, sometimes that beast gets hot. That heat also decreases precious battery life, which is a problem if there are no available electrical outlets for a recharge. But who wants to lug around an ungainly laptop stand when you’re traveling? The AViiQ offers a beautiful solution. It is very much like an Apple product, which is just about the nicest thing I could say about a computer accessory. This German-made laptop stand is incredibly thin and weighs only 5.5 ounces, and you really can take it anywhere. Folded flat, is practically disappears, but open it up and it presents a stylish platform to dissipate heat from your portable computer. A must-have for notebook owners.
Available from www.aviiq.com for $79.95.
Balanzza: Mini Luggage Scale
The airlines are ramping up the extra charges for excess luggage weight, and guessing wrong about the heft of your suitcase can cost you a pretty penny. The Balanzza lets you pack intelligently and avoid having to frantically paw through your bags at the check-in counter to try to redistribute your stuff. Simply snap the scale to your luggage, lift it using the scale, wait for the beep and then read the display. It lifts up to 100 pounds, and at about 3 ounces, it’s tiny enough to take with you on the road.
Available in gray and green for $24.95 at www.balanzza.com
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Moshi Lifestyle Voice Control Bluetooth Car Hands-free Speakerphone
We love car trips and frequently wander down to Chicago. Illinois has a ban on the use of mobile phones, however, and once you cross the border, brandishing your phone while driving can land you a very expensive ticket. More importantly, mobile phones contribute to a staggering number of auto accidents, so a Bluetooth speakerphone for your car is a great gift for that road warrior in your family. Sleek, compact and well-made, programming Moshi is easy, and once clipped to your driver’s seat visor, it automatically links to your mobile phone and obeys up to 13 voice-activated commands. It also features caller I.D., ambient noise suppression and echo cancelation for clear sound.
Available at www.moshilifestyle.com for $79.99
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Wicked Little Buds
These compact earbuds offer excellent sound at this price point, and are built to last — far sturdier than the flimsy versions that usually come free with your iPod. A tough fiber cord lends a retro feel while promising to endure punishment, and a gold-plated connector prevents corrosion. More importantly, the built-in noise isolation and respectable drivers provide great sound at a bargain price. Buy two pairs: one for the radical snowboarder in your family and one for yourself. Available in Black, Blue, Purple and Silver from Amazon.com for $29.99
TCD Traveler Q&A
Every other week we answer a question from curious travelers like you.
I really enjoyed reading about those different spa treatments, though I can’t help but wonder if all the theatrics that go along with these things is really necessary. As you said, what it really comes down to is the expertise of the masseuse, so why do I need all the window dressing that goes along with these treatments?
—Jeff N.
From the Editor:
It’s true that nothing is more important that the skilled hand of the masseuse, and that’s why I made that point. But the environment in which these treatments takes place is not to be underestimated either. For example, you could enjoy a fantastic gourmet meal, plated by an artist and served with a flourish in a beautiful setting on a lovely spring night under a full moon.
Or you could eat that same meal with your fingers. Out of a paper bag. In a bus station. In Detroit.
Do you see what I am saying? Some people say presentation is everything, and while I wouldn’t go that far, I can certainly confirm that it plays a key role in creating a space that is conducive to relaxation and stress reduction. Many of these spas promote treatments that draw on a myriad of world cultures and therapeutic traditions, and have gone to no small trouble to create exquisite spaces that enhance the experiences you’ve come to sample. And sure, there is a marketing effort to differentiate one spa from another that plays into some exotic elements in these spas.
But it’s not all just marketing hokum; the atmospheres, handsome settings and expertly orchestrated environments contribute significantly to the overall effect, and they work on you whether you know it or not, relaxing and transporting you in a way that a mall-cubicle massage at your local club could never achieve. I like my mall-cubicle massages, by the way. Thank God for them. But when I am on vacation, and want to do something that departs from the everyday in a big way, spa experiences like the ones I described are like wonderful gifts I give to my wife and myself. And a big part of that gift is the pretty packaging that it comes in. But your mileage may differ.
Ask and ye shall receive, Skip. One of the things that I liked about the Wedge was the girly fashion aspect of it, as it is rare, to say the least, in security devices. And I am a fan of anything that would encourage women traveling alone to take sensible precautions while on the road. But I can understand how you yourself might prefer something that doesn’t look like so much like a tween purse. Here’s a link to a big, macho doorstop alarm that should fit the bill for you: http://www.zoshop.com/q/wedge+guard+doorstop+alarm.
Rob
[Reply]
What a nice little selection of useful gadgets. Too bad the WEDGE Door Stop Alarm only comes in pink flowers or purple butterflies (are those really cute for anyone over 5 years old?) designed for “women traveling alone”. As a man, I’d kind of like to know when someone’s busting through my hotel room door, too.
[Reply]