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Betty W. Stark

Guide to Gadgets for Business Travelers

Handy and fun gadgets help eliminate on-the-road troubles

By Betty W. Stark, Business travel consultant and columnist, Stark Consulting

There’s plenty to complain about when it comes to the hassles of business travel. Airlines have taken away meals and pillows and blankets. They rarely stock magazines or newspapers, because they weigh too much and flight attendants are too busy dealing with cranky passengers to distribute them anyway.  

Every seat on the aircraft is filled and your seat neighbor wants to chat nonstop (you don’t). Maybe it’s time to look for travel gadgets and products to help smooth out all those annoying “bumps in the road”.  

   1.   Look for products that will make your travel more comfortable.
   2.   Find gadgets that will keep vital data safe, protect electronic equipment.
   3.   Seek out widgets that will help keep you safe on the road.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Increase in-flight comfort

No more blankets or pillows mean you’ll probably have a long, cold flight and worse, you’ll arrive with a crick in your neck. Packed flights mean you’ll have lots of potentially noisy seatmates. Suppliers of travel comfort items feel your pain and have designed products that go a long way toward cozying up a long flight.
I recommend: Check out the Dream Sack Travel Blanket and the Eagle Creek Comfort Travel Pillow that requires only two puffs to inflate. To help tune out noisy neighbors, look into noise-canceling headphones. Instead of alcohol or sleeping aids, try slipping into relaxation with all-natural Badger Sleep Balm. If that doesn’t work, watch a movie instead.

Protect valuable data and electronics.

Business travelers are notorious for hauling along thousands of dollars worth of equipment crammed with critical information, then doing little or nothing to protect the data from snoopy seat mates or the equipment from theft.
I recommend: Check out a notebook/LCD privacy filter. It will make your laptop screen invisible to the person next to or behind you and it protects the LCD display from fingerprints, scratches and abrasions. You can protect your laptop from theft too, or download critical data to a removable flash drive no bigger than your house key.

Use gadgets to protect yourself

Business travelers, especially those who travel frequently, often neglect to consider personal safety. There are lots of easy-to-tote gadgets that add a measure of security for those unexpected situations.
I recommend: Secure money and vital documents in specially-designed pouches. Carry a door alarm to protect against hotel room intrusions. Pack a super-bright flashlight. Carry a mega-decibel alarm to scare off attackers.

Get to know the best sources for all travel-related gadgets

There are so many travel gadgets that searching for them can be daunting. The Internet is a great resource for gadget shopping.
I recommend: Scout out more information and handy travel tips too at Magellan’s, Brookstone, TravelSmith, Sharper Image, Travel Essentials and Sky Mall.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Browsing for travel gadgets in airport shops can be fun but you’ll often save by buying online.
  • Some gadget sites include user reviews.
  • Some gadget sites, like Magellan’s, are chock full of valuable travel tips and destination information.
  • Look for new packing accessories that conform to current carry-on restrictions.
  • Remove the batteries from gadgets and pack them in a separate zip-top bag to help speed your way through security checkpoints.

The official source of Gadgets for Business Travelers is
the Accessories for Travel page at Business.com

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Recommended Solution Providers

Magellan's: Dream Sack Travel Blanket
This travel blanket, light and easy to pack, offers warmth and comfort on long flights.

Ear Plug Store: Noise Cancelling Headphones
Tune out inflight noise with these handy gadgets.

Badger Balm: Natural Relaxation Aid
Rub this soothing balm on your temples to help ease you through long flights.

Nextag.com: Comparison Shop for Laptop Privacy Monitor
Compare prices for this laptop data security product.

InMotion Pictures: Movie Rentals for Inflight Viewing
Rent DVD players and movies at any one of these airports and return them at another or by mail in special pouch.

Lojack for Laptops: Track and Recover Lost or Stolen Laptops
Protect your laptop with this theft protection service that tracks, locates and recovers lost or stolen laptops.

Magellan's: Security Wallets and Money Belts
Stash your cash and valuable documents in these compact security pouches when you travel.

Magellan's: Hotel Room Intrusion Alarm
Protect your hotel room against unwanted intruders with this easy-to-pack door stop alarm.

Magellan's: Eon Everlasting Flashlight
Carry this super-bright credit-card-size flashlight to cast a brilliant beam into dark places when you're traveling.

Best Sites to Learn More

Magellan's: Leading source of Travel Supplies
Look here for travel gadgets for any purpose. Great travel tips and destination information too.

Brookstone: Travel Supplies and Gadgets
Look here for innovative gadgets for travel and auto.

Travel Smith: Clothing, Accessories and Gadgets for the Traveler
Excellent source for clothes that travel well, gadgets and accessories for travelers.

Travel Essentials: Travel Clothing and Gadgets
Check here for travel clothing from several manufacturers, maps and guidebooks, luggage, gadgets, and much more.

Sky Mall: Travel Gadgets and Much More
Look here for gadgets, luggage and bags, language aids, briefcases and totes.



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