Travel & Aviation
Rogers offers US roaming for $7.99 a day
In February, I wrote about a new Fido plan that offered US roaming for $7.99 a day. I wanted to remind Rogers customers that they too have the same option. The plan costs $7.99 a day [for US bound travellers] which comes with 50MB of 3G data a day. Some some of us, 50MB seems extremely limiting but Rogers assures us that this is "twice the data a Rogers wireless customer would typically use per day while in Canada". Telus and Bell don't yet offer by the day plans for Canadians visiting the US: Telus has a plan that costs $40 and offers 100MB for 30 days ($1 per extra MB).
GoSleep pods make sleeping or sex at the airport affordable
The Abu Dhabi Airport has installed 10 GoSleep sleep pods (out of a total 35). These pods will be rented for $12 per hour and each pod provides a secure private sleeping area with internet access, electrical charging ports and a secure storage locker for your luggage. This is expensive for longer stays but much cheaper than a hotel room for short stays. You can leave the privacy cover open, partially closed or completely closed. I love the concept for short power naps but have some concerns about cleanliness.
Samoa Air charging based on passenger weight
Samoa Air has done the unthinkable by charging passengers based on how much they weigh. When buying a ticket, customers must enter their weight and the weight of their luggage before the airline provides the customized weight based fare during the booking process. This weight information is then verified at the airport to keep customers honest. The airline claims that a typical family with 2 adults and 2 mid-sized children will likely pay less than the old pricing model.
Fido to offer US roaming package for $7.99
Sometime this spring, Fido will launch a new US roaming add-on for its Canadian customers. For $7.99, you will get 50MB of US data roaming for a 24 hour window. Activation of the pack will be automatic as soon as you use data in the US. If you pass the 50MB limit, they will charge another $7.99 for each 50MB used (rounded up). @ekiledjian Coming this spring, Fido will offer customers a $7.99 pay-per-use roaming rate that gives customers access to 50MB of.
Never lose your luggage again
Globatrac has just announced its newest tracking product called the Trackdot. It is a small device equipped with a quad-band GSM system that will track itself and then provide periodic updates via its website, SMS or its smartphone app. The device will be powered by 2 AA batteries and should last up to 2 weeks. A business traveller would slide one of these devices in each of his checked bags. The device will then provide the requested location updated and the company has said it will even be able to notify you when your bag hits the luggage carousel.
The best USB cables for travellers
As a one-bag business traveller, I carefully calculate everything I bring along during my trips. After having researched and tested different types of "travel friendly" cables (rollable, foldable, retractable, etc), I can safely say my favorite kit is the Griffin USB Mini-Cable Kit. Why did I choose these? They are well built (they will hold up well to the torture of travel) and they are short (which means they take up very little space and won't get tangled). The plastic coating is nice and solid, yet the cables are flexible enough to bend into the right position.
Is the D-Link SharePort Mobile Companion a travelers best friend?
Anytime I travel, the one thing I absolutely want is wireless in-room internet. Most hotels offer some kind of wireless service but often it is slow, overloaded or isn’t accessible everywhere in the room. The best solution to this problem is to bring along your own router and convert the in-room wired connection into your own personal wireless network. Being a one bag (carry-on only) traveler, everything I bring has to be useful and small. The D-Link SharePort Mobile Companion is the right answer (DIR-505).
WineSkin is the ideal way to bring back Wine from your trip
One of the joys of travelling is discovering new tastes and bringing some of it back with you. Bringing back some souvenir alcohol is a great but most travelers worry about the bottle breaking in transit and leaving an indelible mark on your valuables. The WineSkin may just be able to solve your problem. The WineSkin is a thick peal-and-seal bubble protection system for your alcohol. Using it is very simple. Insert your favorite 750ml (or smaller) bottle into the WineSkin Peel and press the seal (the inner seal) against the vinyl covering Form fit the rest of the WineSeal around your bottle Peel and press the seal (the outer seal) against the vinyl covering The WineSkin is a single use item but you can find a 3 pack for $9.
Steripen review - Guaranteed clean water for the business traveller
As a business travel, I have visited some exotic cities and learned how important clean drinking water is. Water purification is done differently in each country and not all systems match the cleanliness we have come to expect. Other times countries have old or ill-maintained water distribution systems which infect the entire water network. Regardless of the reason, I have come to distrust tap water is most non-western countries. Even bottled water may not be safe. I once caught a vendor in Thailand who was extracting the clean water from the bottles [by making a small incision in the bottom of the plastic bottles], replacing it with local tap water and then resealing the bottom with a dab of crazy glue.
Review of the Eagle Creek Pack-It Cube Medium
Over the last 15 years, I have had the privilege of conducting business in over 30 different countries. Many years ago, I consciously decided to be a one-bag traveler which means I travel with carry-on only (aka no check in luggage). This has many benefits including: no excess baggage fees no worries about lost, delayed or damaged baggage no waiting at the luggage claim conveyor belt Planning is essential To be a one-bag traveler (which I highly recommend), I had to take some time and decide what I pack and how I pack it.