The list is guaranteed to keep even the most die-hard geek happy while they’re traveling. From digital cameras to preserve your memories to global translators to help you speak in other countries, this is a useful starting point if you’re trying to figure out what you need for your trip.

I think I covet the iPhone most of all on their list. What do you love?

Post from: Geeky Traveller

1. My camera. That’s an absolute no-brainer for me. I’m an amateur, but I’m a photo fiend and the family shutterbug. Leaving home without my Canon Rebel XT would be like asking me to sever a limb.

2. My GorillaPod. I wrote a brief entry on it not too long ago. I now have one of my own, sent to me to test it out – expect a personal review of it later this week. But suffice it to say that if I’m on vacation I would like to be sure that I’m in some of the shots as well, and the GorillaPod would help with that in just about any location.

3. A multi-charging unit. You can find a lot of these on the market. Having cell phones and cameras and possibly GPS units, not to mention mp3 players, you need something to charge them. Why lug one for each device if you can use a universal charger to take care of several of them at once?

4. Speaking of mp3 players – I may not have a fancy iPod but I do have a nice little SanDisk mp3 player. I can’t sleep well without some sort of white noise, and it’s even worse in an unfamiliar location, so having a nice ocean wave sound looping on my mp3 player would make sure I can catch some shut-eye while I’m away!

5. A travel alarm clock. If I’m camping, I don’t need one. Once the sun comes up, I can’t sleep more than an hour in a tent because they get so hot. However, anywhere else, and I want to make sure I have something that will make sure I’m up at a decent hour so I don’t waste my vacation by sleeping it away.

6. A Swiss Army knife or something similar. The tools of the geeks, they used to say in my high school, but I used one of those to open a bottle of beer on top of Citadel Hill in Quebec city during an impromptu evening many years ago. You never know when you’ll need a corkscrew, a pair of tiny scissors, or a plain old knife. Cover your bases!

7. A compass. Most of my travels involve camping these days, so I’d likely bring a compass for any hiking I end up doing. Even if I used a fully marked trail and didn’t really need one, I’d use one just because a) it’s fun, and b) it would be educational for my kids.

8. A point and shoot camera. Okay, up top I listed my Rebel XT. So why a point and shoot? Because it’s easy to fit in your pocket so my husband could carry it and then we get two different perspectives. My kids could take shots with it too. And also, then I could have an excuse to try…

9. A waterproof casing for digital cameras. I don’t even know if they make them for a digital SLR, but I wouldn’t trust it with my more expensive camera. However, with a cheaper point and shoot, I’d take the risk and see if I can get some underwater shots in the ocean or the hotel pool.

10. Some sort of kids’ activity center. If my travel involved a road trip, I’d definitely want something to keep the kids entertained for awhile.

Despite my attachment to my laptop, I likely wouldn’t bring it with me unless I was going on a business trip or visiting family. If I’m on an actual vacation in a city that I want to see, I don’t want the distraction of my laptop. If I really desperately need to taunt someone back home, I’ll find an internet cafe and send a quick email telling them what an awesome time I’m having.

What do you need to bring on your travels?

Technorati Tags: top ten travel gadgets, travel gadgets, geeky traveller, b5media

Post from: Geeky Traveller

Before you board your flight, you can check out this list that was compiled by Forbes. Using statistics that included the percentage of high speed access users, availability of Wi-Fi hotspots, and the range of providers, they concluded which cities top the list for the most internet-friendly locations in the U.S.

First on the list? Atlanta, Georgia.

See where everyone else came in over here.

Post from: Geeky Traveller

In no particular order:

1. 
   The Olympus Stylys 7750 waterproof camera – Because I’m of the firm belief that you can never have too many cameras.
2. 
   The iPod as a travel aide – because I fully confess that as a Canadian, I am REALLY JEALOUS that I can’t have an iPhone yet. Ppplllbbbtttt to you Americans with your cool phone!
3. 
   The Avis portable WiFi with car rental deal – If you’re traveling, why not bring your Wi-Fi wherever you go?
4. 
   The Vortex hand-powered blender – Nothing makes camping more civilized than sipping margaritas by the fire!
5. 
   The extremely portable and collapsible bike – Takes up very little precious space and lets you pedal around anywhere.
6. 
   The Two-way language communicator – the translation gadget that makes me think of Star Trek (that’s a good thing).
7. 
   MizPee’s toilet locater – as someone who needs to pee at every gas station on a road trip, this is possibly one of my favorite travel sites ever!
8. 
   Keeping up to date on airline meals – the good, the bad, and the ugly in airline food.
9. Tourist Remover – Finally get that picture of tourist attractions WITHOUT all the tourists cluttering up your shot!
10. 
    Use a t-shirt to find W-Fi in your area – Possibly the best t-shirt ever created, and YES I would wear it!

Thank you to all of you for your support here whether by silently reading or by chiming in and leaving comments. Geeky Traveller would not be the same without you. Happy new year, and I’ll see you in 2008!

Technorati Tags: geeky travel, geeky traveller, gadgets, top travel gadgets, top travel sites

Post from: Geeky Traveller