Are you concerned you are not green enough? What about your family or friends? Do you do your part for a cleaner environment? Those batteries for the electronics… do you recycle or recharge? Are you still throwing away your batteries?! Well, now is the time to start new habits. You can charge your gear while you commute with the new Fusion canvas/leather Solar Messenger Bag by Eclipse Solar Gear.

The Fusion Messenger Bags are functional bags, and they have solar cells built right into the side for easy charging. Anything you can plug into your car using a 12-volt auto adapter can be trickle charged using solar bags by Eclipse Solar Gear. These messenger bags are sold online, and at Macy’s Department Stores. The MSRP on the Fusion Messenger Bags are $189 - $249. As for your batteries that you no longer have a use for, please find a location to recycle them: www.rbrc.org

• jeff's blog
• Add new comment

How many times have you had your luggage placed on the scale at the airport, and you became concerned you might be fined? Did you pack too much? Are your bags overweight? There is a way to know the weight of your bags before you get to the airport. I use a handheld scale when I travel with my family to get each bag to 49 lbs. The Balanzza Ergo digital handheld scale requires AAA batteries (included), can weigh bags up to 100 pounds and is only 10oz. The Balanzza is $24 MSRP, and is much less than the penalties from the airlines.

See the graph below to better understand the penalties and fees from the airlines:

• jeff's blog
• Add new comment

7 Steps to Successfully Getting Your Bag Onboard

With the ever-increasing trend towards airlines charging to check even one bag it is tempting to carry onboard any and all bags for your flight. But, the airlines are keenly aware of your desire to avoid the fees and are on the lookout for passengers who want to stuff as much into carry-on baggage. Here are some simple steps you can take to packing a bag for carry-on and still stay within the airline rules.

Step 1 – Pack Light

Trust me, you don’t need to bring as much as you think. Consider how often you are going to be seen by the same people and realize that you don’t need to wear something different every day of your trip. Limit the number of shoes you bring. Remember you’re already wearing one pair on the plane.  read more »

• Add new comment
• by John Lopinto

Hunting for vampires and werewolves in a misty, green rainforest doesn’t top many vacation itineraries, unless you’re a Twilighter! For fans of Stephenie Meyers’ hit saga, “Twilight,” imagination meets reality in the small town of Forks, Wash., where the romantic adventures of a teenage girl, Bella, and her vampire boyfriend, Edward, take place. Located on the Olympic Peninsula, Forks and Kalaloch Lodge is surrounded by miles of peaceful beaches and beautiful forests that provide the ideal landscape for visitors to do some fantasy sightseeing.

With “Twilight” premiering today and more movies on the way, this cultural phenomenon will not be disappearing any time soon. For the thousands of Twilighters that are making the pilgrimage to the Olympic Peninsula, Kalaloch Lodge is offering a Twilight Package starting at just $349.*

Available now through April 30, 2009, the Twilight Package features a two-night stay, dinner for two with a special Twilight dessert and extra Twilight amenities.  read more »

• Add new comment

This budget travel logging GPS is simple to operate and has easy-to-use software. It is useful for creating a track log showing routes taken in Google Earth or on Google Maps. My main usage is to Geotag (add geographical information to) photos uploaded to Flickr.

If all this “Travel Logger” and Geotagging talk is new to you there are video demonstrations on the i-Gotu product site showing usage with @trip and Flickr

A couple of features are that the unit uses are the almost industry standard SirfStar III chipset and water resistant case. There is no display other than two LED's. Battery charging is done via the USB cord. Sample rates can be customized to optimize battery life and track accuracy. While connected via USB the GPS can also act as a receiver for PC navigations software too.  read more »

• Joe Stewart's blog
• Add new comment

Well, not really, but when you buy a new phone from T-Mobile and sign-up for a two-year service agreement from 11/19 – 12/24/08 you will receive a companion ticket for free.

Have you been eyeing the new Google G1 phone? Get your phone with a free companion airline ticket and fly to Puerto Rico and all 48 States that connect to one another (meaning Hawaii and Alaska are not included). Taxes and fees including a per-flight booking fee apply. You can receive a maximum of five (5) companion flights per T-Mobile account, so if you plan on extending your T-Mobile service wait until 11/19/08. You must purchase a full fare ticket in order to use the companion ticket, but it is like buying one and getting one free. As with all offers there are restrictions, and you will find those here: www.flywitht-mobile.com. Save travels!

• jeff's blog
• Add new comment

If you’re among the lucky few headed to Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII, you might want to consider fulfilling your need for aquatic thrill. The Florida Aquarium is offering a few programs that represent unique opportunities to ensure your trip has more than one “once-in-a-lifetime” memory. Certified SCUBA divers can come face to face with five different species of shark, while everyone at least six years old can swim with the fish in a 500,000-gallon tank featuring more than 2,300 of the cute sea creatures. All these aquatic adventures may leave your kids saying "what game?".

For more information and pricing visit www.flaquarium.org

• John Lentz Jr.'s blog
• Add new comment

A must-have product for international travelers, the Macally PowerPal is a combination USB, AC charger and universal power adaptor that can charge virtually any USB device such as an iPhone, iPod, camera and PDA.

It provides interchangeable plugs for North and South America, Taiwan, Japan, Europe, China, Middle East, Russia, United Kingdom, Singapore, Hang Kong, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The PowerPal also offers a fuse compartment (including and extra fuse) and a Universal pass through outlet—so users still have access to a plug, even when the adaptor plugged into an outlet. It comes with a standard iPod 30-pin to USB charging cable and a carrying pouch.  read more »

It’s often hard to catch a break in today’s fast-paced society. With meetings to run to, deadlines to meet and clients to please, people get swamped with everyday routines. Wouldn’t it be nice to come home after a long day at work and enjoy a soothing massage from a loved one or, even nicer, enjoy a massage with a loved one?

With Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort’s “Twice as Nice” package, guests can do just that. From now through the end of the lodge’s season, the getaway package includes one night lodging in a non-kitchen cabin, two 30-minute massages and two passes to the Hot Springs Mineral Pools. Whether people want to bring a best friend, significant other or family member, starting at just $222 this package allows visitors to enjoy a relaxing and memorable trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Located 12 miles within the heart of Olympic National Park, Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is surrounded by forested peaks and the pristine Sol Duc River and features three outdoor pure mineral water hot pools. The natural hot springs are maintained at a calming temperature between 97 and 106 degrees.  read more »

With families preparing for back-to-school activities and only a few weeks left to make holiday vacation plans, many Americans are looking for last-minute vacations to take the edge off before the winter season begins.

According to a new survey conducted by the Travel Industry Association, one out of five adults planning to take a home-based vacation during the next six months fully expects to stay in a local hotel, motel or resort at least one night during their “staycation.”

This suggests that many Americans still plan to “get away” even if their destination is local. Fortunately, a number of ARAMARK Parks & Destinations’ national park lodges and tours are offering travelers the perfect end-of-season packages to entice them to take advantage of an array of cultural and adventurous activities nationwide.  read more »