The service is currently only available for hotels in the United State. You start by entering a town and state in the form on the Google Hotel Finder page.

Google then displays a list of hotels in that city. You can modify the shape of the region with a click on edit shape to include or exclude hotels in the listing. Just drag the white dots to a different location to change the size of the area that you want to be included when looking for hotels in that particular region of the country.

Once you are done you can go back to the list to see the changes you made reflected there.

Each hotel is listed with a thumbnail screenshot, name, description, hotel class, user rating, average price per night and how that price compares to the typical price in the selected region.

Some hotels unfortunately lack some of the information, it is possible to exclude most of those by making configuration changes in the sidebar.

Here it is possible to change the check in and check out dates, pricing or class and user rating criteria.

As far as price goes, you can use a slide to set a minimum and maximum price per night, and how the hotel’s price should compare to typical prices.

Hotel class allows you to select a minimum hotel class and minimum user rating that all hotels must have to make it on the list.

The listing can be sorted by hotel class, user rating, price per night and compared to typical information but bot by hotel name. Another thing that is missing is a search filter to display specific hotels faster.

A click on a hotel displays additional information taken from Google Places. This includes photos, reviews by Google users, address and phone numbers as well as the hotel’s Internet address and additional information that the owner of the hotel has added to Google Places.

You can click on the domain to be taken to the hotel or click on Book to book the hotel. The booking links often display advertisements (e.g. to hotel booking sites such as Priceline, GetaRoom, Agoda or Booking.com) but also always a link to the owner site to book right there.

Would I use Google Hotel Finder exclusively to find a hotel to stay in when visiting the United States? The answer to that question has to be no. User reviews on Google Places are notoriously easy to manipulate, and while you could say that this is also the case on sites such as Tripadvisor, the latter often have lots of reviews per hotel instead of just a handful that Google Places offer.

It is nevertheless a nice maps mashup, and the ability to sort hotels by price and price comparison is rather nice. The strongest feature is the ability to select the region that you want your hotel to be in detail. Google highlights popular regions on that map which is another plus.

You can try out Google Hotel Finder here on this page.

What exactly is Wi-Fi? We’ve heard the term so often, but very few know what it actually means. It is a means of accessing the internet through signals that travel through air, or wireless signals, which are transmitted to the device that supports Wi-Fi connectivity from a Wi-Fi router, which in turn is physically connected to the internet using a wire. Thus the router transmits, or “routes” signals all around it, usually limited to a particular radius, which depends on the brand of the router. Any device with Wi-Fi capability can access the internet by receiving and transmitting these signals. Thus Wi-Fi is a very user-friendly option, and has been implemented successfully at places all around the world, like airports, coffee lounges, restaurants, schools, colleges, universities, railway stations and hotels. These places, usually called “hotspots”, are covered by routers that provide internet access.

via http://xkcd.com/416/

In general, because the internet does not come free to anyone, Wi-Fi routers are password-protected, and access to internet is restricted to authorized people. Restricted access is also in force to prevent illegal activities from taking place, and to prevent abuse of the internet. Thus airports, train terminals, and all other places that provide Wi-Fi give out the username and password that enables the user to log on to the Wi-Fi network, for a price. Thus you buy internet, but unlike in cyber cafes, you get to sit wherever you like, and you need your own device that has Wi-Fi capability. So don’t be surprised if you go to a place that has “This place is a hotspot” or “Wi-Fi provided here” signs written, and when you turn on your device’s Wi-Fi and open up a browser, you see a page asking for a username and a password, or just the password, in some cases. You either need to purchase it for a fixed time, or ask for permission, as many places provide free Wi-Fi for employees, their families, and such. Now while using Wi-Fi at a place that you frequent is an easy process, the real hassle begins when you travel, and need to be connected to the internet constantly. Do not worry because free Wi-Fi is here!

Yes, you heard it right! Free Wi-Fi! How? You ask. Well not everyone sells internet, many provide it for free within a limited distance! There are many airports around the world that offer free Wi-Fi. Many restaurant chains like McDonalds and Starbucks offer free Wi-Fi access at multiple store locations across the world. All you need to do is ask, or check out the website of the particular store that is located in the place you are going to travel. Not just these, many bus companies, hotels, and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi as well. The best way to search for free Wi-Fi would be to search for it. Just turn on the Wi-Fi of your phone or laptop, and in most cases it begins to do an automatic search for Wi-Fi networks in the vicinity. Most likely you will see a list of three or four Wi-Fi networks that have been detected by your device. Now just try out each of them. Most times you can make out the provider by looking at the name of the network. For instance if you are sitting in a McDonalds restaurant, and if your network scan displays a result called “McD”, then you can be pretty sure it belongs to the store.

In addition, if you are using a laptop, you can even check for the signal strength of the available Wi-Fi networks in the area and thus choose the strongest one. Laptops are the easiest way to find free Wi-Fi, as they are made for connectivity and the hardware used is very effective in searching for Wi-Fi networks. If you are using a cell phone, then your work may be made easier because many phones now come with pre-installed applications, or apps that search for Wi-Fi networks and even in the absence of Wi-Fi signals can display the locations of free Wi-Fi hotspots in the location that you are present in. Another way you can look for free Wi-Fi is by going to different places like coffee shops, airports, hotels, and restaurants. Many places offer free Wi-Fi so that customers do not miss important assignments, and in a way, also make sure that they will come back, because the service is good. Thus you can find free Wi-Fi in many ways.

However, if you are too lazy to do all the scanning and all the traveling, do not worry. There are just the right tools that will do it for you. Websites, such as wififreespot.com offer a detailed and comprehensive listing of free Wi-Fi hotspots all over the world. They even list by state and by region. Another great option is Wefi, a free application for Windows that uses data given by users and creates databases of free Wi-Fi hotspots, and gives you all the details of the available Wi-Fi networks once downloaded and activated. Similar applications exist for smart phones, and with a little searching in your phone’s app store, you can find something very useful. So happy Wi-Fiing!

Before we begin, let us have a quick look at what Google Maps is all about. Google Maps is, according to Google themselves, “a Google service offering powerful, user-friendly mapping technology and local business information, including business locations, contact information, and driving directions.” Now this statement summarizes what Google Maps does in one word: everything. Right from planning your trip and marking places on maps, to obtaining driving directions to drive to a particular place, Google Maps does it all. It is the most comprehensive mapping service available on the internet, and by putting it to good use, the traveler can make his travels a whole lot cooler and more enjoyable.

There are some unique features that Google Maps offers, and these include:

• Comprehensive business listings that include information like open hours, payment types accepted, phone numbers, websites, email addresses and reviews, all in one place.
• Multiple views of places, with the option to choose satellite images or Google’s proprietary Street View images. Street View deserves a special mention because this initiative by Google aims to provide images of everything that can be accessed by road all over the world, and has been successfully implemented in more than a few parts of the world. With Street View, you can get to know how your exact destination (a hotel or a restaurant) will look right from your home.
• Integration with Google Earth: Google Earth combined with Google Maps gives you 3D images of terrain from Google Earth on Google Maps, which is useful to check out uncharted areas, or areas that are not easily accessible by road. This is an excellent feature and enables you to prepare to the greatest possible extent for your trip.
• Driving directions: yes, Google Maps offers detailed, comprehensive and accurate driving directions with just the click of a button. Just enter the starting point and destination and get driving directions, mostly in the shortest possible routes, and also with approximate traveling times. This is as comprehensive as it gets.
• Flexible map settings: you can zoom in and out, pan across, and tilt the maps – any way you like. Google Maps provides 360 degree views, and all the above features combined give you the feel of actually being in the place that you want to go to, without actually traveling.

Having looked at the unique features offered by Google Maps, let us now look into how to actually use individual features to plan that perfect trip. First, you would want to plan your trip using Google Maps. The reason we want to use Google Maps here is that as mentioned above, Google Maps contain all information that is necessary, i.e. street and road names, business listings, places to visit, and so on. SO planning your trip using Google Maps only makes sense. All you need is a Google account, and of course, the trip that you intend to plan. Once you’ve logged into Google Maps (maps.google.com) using your Google account, just click on “My Maps” and then “Create new map”. Then give it the appropriate name, preferably including the year and name or purpose of destination, such as “London 2010, Vacation”, and select whether your map should be Public or Unlisted. Selecting “Public” makes the map accessible by anyone, so exercise caution here. Selecting “Unlisted” enables you to share it only with people you choose. Having done this, search for places and businesses that you will be visiting during your trip on Google Maps. As you hover the mouse cursor over each listing, a small pop-up window appears, displaying brief information about the place. Select “Save to My Maps” to save the particular listing onto your map. Select all necessary places, before finishing. You can even customize the map by placing icons over listings, like a house icon over a hotel, a movie ion over a cinema, and so on. You can also print the map to give all members of the group an idea as to where everything is.

Having planned your trip, you now need driving directions, or, if you choose to, select public transportation options. Yes, that can be done as well with Google Maps. Let’s see how to obtain driving directions using Google Maps. Once you’ve gotten to the Google Maps website, all you need to do is click on “Get Directions” on the menu on the top, type the names of the starting place and the destination, and click on the “Get Directions” button that is present right under the destination box. You can thus obtain driving directions easily using Google Maps. Another great feature is the availability of getting directions for public transport and walking. Once you click on “Get Directions” as mentioned above, you get a drop down menu with three items: “By Car”, “By Public Transit” and “By Walking”. Select “By Public Transit” and get detailed instructions as to which buses to get onto, which trains to board, and which flights to catch. This really is a great feature that provides comprehensive information that is really very handy. If you select “By Walking”, then it gives you the best possible route in which you can walk to the destination. All this information is available as more and more public transportation services post their schedules and timings online. Google Maps collects all this information, and by integrating it into Google Maps, creates the easiest user interface ever, and helps in planning a trip down to the last minute detail.

Another great feature is availability of future information as well. If you are leaving on a specific date, all you’ve got to do is enter the specific dates, and you’ll get all the train, bus and flight schedules for that particular day. Google Maps will also display if the place of interest that you want to visit is closed on that particular day. Thus using the Internet’s best free travel planner to your advantage; you can achieve the perfect trip and travel in peace and happiness.

The docile human did not easily climb into invisible air to commute. The invincible oceans also seemed to give way to him. No physical or abstract barrier has obstructed his path. Every hurdle that he has encountered was removed with the help of years of research and experience. Over time, human progress has attained numerous unachievable milestones. The universe has been shrunk into a smaller time and space dimension. The giants of technology have taken every sphere of human activity in their stride.

There is an inconspicuous difference between a good and a bad technology. The dance of opposites is prevalent in every physical phenomenon. No entity of this universe is flawless. This is the law of Nature. This is the secret fact that strikes off the right balance for the survival of all. Humans have solely taken charge of their existence now. They have become the creator of life and also its destroyer. We have created a world of our own where technology has made everything available at the drop of a pin.

The bright world of technology is often haunted by its darker side. The over indulgences of humans in the comfort soaked world of technology have turned them into one of the several gadgets that they uses. Man is no longer an epitome of emotions but has long back become a mechanical unit.

He uses technology not just to derive pleasure for his body but also to maximize the efficiency of his body parts as well. This makes him think less and avoid trivial calculations too. Eventually the mind restricts its work to certain mundane tasks and creativity is hampered. This is the effect of a negative technology. The one which was not created for such an effect but due to its prolonged use its output goal has changed. The pleasure provided is such that reasoning takes a backseat. This is the cause behind every creation that becomes a stumbling block on the road of progress. Therefore no technology can be judged as a boon or a bane for mankind until its is effect is made certain.

The computer industry is flooded with new launches every day. The manufacturing firms are in a cut throat competition with each other. The soaring prices of the latest products does not hamper their sale. The demand for faster, smaller, and more expensive gadgets is unending.

The latest fad is gifting of these fancy possessions on just any occasion to even the youngest of users. Be it the birthday of an artist’s muse or the winning of an award. The question that whether traveling with a high class ultra expensive computer is really the best option or worst can only be answered by them. The panorama of the peoples traveling mode narrates a different saga. The incessant spam, huge number of websites devoted specifically to selling huckster products, affiliate sites, and rip offs never seem to stop. The technology that was aimed at providing privacy and comfort turns out to be the worst way to find travel deals. The huge number of bargain airfare sites all seem to give higher numbers than the airlines themselves. If you take the time to use an old fashioned travel agent, you find that the price is lower still. Where is the progress?

Technology available for travelers is not only confined to the laptop and internet sectors. The quality of comfort desired by the tech savvy humans today has led to an added baggage of gadgets to be carried while touring. Be it an i- pod, electric heater, or the most essential mobile phones.

The day that we forget to carry our cell phones turns into a nightmare. The number of mobile phone users is ever increasing. Though mobile technology has made the world safer and has increased interaction,it has not yet found a way to slash down high roaming rates!

Our dependence on cell phones is frightening. This amazing gadget is found in almost every citizen’s pocket today. The office goers, school kids, and college goers have the fancy ones while the rest have just regular ‘old’ ones of 6 months or more. The market however knows how to capitalize on this dependence by raising the bar of tolls on far off calls.

There is no way to escape this absurd protocol. International calls can even cost up to nine time higher call rates. This monetary loss is incurred by all of us and makes us give a second thought to answering your best friends call in outstations. The best way to avoid a pestering friend’s call is to give an excuse of the mobile’s battery being dead. What if it happens for real while traveling?? It can result in big problems.

Everyone wants the latest phones with the best features incorporated in them. A traveler cannot be said to be lonely if he has the latest blackberry or smart phone. The internet connectivity, large music storage, and infinite gaming options leave no time for a traveler to appreciate his surroundings.

The high appeal of this technology has taken a massive toll on the young. Even the youngest kids can efficiently operate their dad’s cellphone. This results in making him a social being but in the virtual world instead of the real one. Add to that that the harmful radiation that emanates from our mobile phones is known to cause sterility in men. and you start to see just what the worst technology for travelers might be.

While traveling we often witness a cellphone attached to the ear of someone and we tend to accept the mental absence from within the group activity. Eventually this causes the person to become totally disconnected from the present life situation. The unending frequency of calls from the workplace may also ruin a family trip.

The mobile phone is undoubtedly the worst technology for travelers. Because the entire workplace will know about your whereabouts, the mobile leaves no scope for a personal time for recreation.

Wikitravel is one such website that is frequently visited by travel lovers to search for the best holiday destinations in exotic or domestic locations teamed with a promise of adventure and culture It provides the comments of experts which can be useful in choosing the best areas to travel to. Similarly Facebook has more than a few pages that provide the complete head to toe about traveling in Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa, North and South America. It also provides links to various sites that offer other interesting travel options as well. The best mode of transport as well as the best airline options are presented to the visitors of the website.

For those looking for general information a good source is The Thorn Tree, which is the name of the travelers forum maintained by Lonely Planet. This website provides a traveler with a huge number of reviews, personal advice, and suggestions of gadgets and other essentials to carry while traveling. Before embarking on a journey what a traveler needs to do is to just surf through this site for primary level of planning of his trip.

Tripadvisor gives the traveler complete knowledge of any place to visit. Be it the best travel option, the best hotel facility, the best restaurant or even the availability of tickets. Thus it helps in planning a complete travel package for an individual or family alike.

Makemytrip is another very popular travel website. It provides quality information on every aspect of travel. Whether it renting a car, bus travel, or information on visa services. It has tied a business knot with Amadeus, a leading technology provider to ensure that travelers are well equipped with every small bit information.

Another site that is less well known is Yatra.com. Certain big IT companies such as Intel and Reliance are its business associates. It ensures that traveling with technology becomes a good experience for travelers as it provides all round information right from the beginning to the conclusion of one’s trip.

Mercurytravels.com is a reliable travel planner. It provides a chart of the most sophisticated travel guides such as SOTC, Thomas Cook, or Cox and Kings. This site is frequently visited by travelers who wish to make overseas trips. This site boasts of fulfilling the demand of pure vegetarian food for its customers.

For those traveling on a budget or seeking more independent travel a great source of travel information, cheap flights, and great travel gear is Vagobond.com. This independent travel site tends to look at how travel can be accomplished by even those on the tightest of budgets.

Ixibo.com, on the other hand, is a website that pertains to the tech savvy traveler. It aids on almost every technical fix that a traveler might need while traveling away from home. It provides news on the latest technological innovations. This also helps the traveler to buy the best and the latest gadgets available in the market.

The TravelersZone is a site that offers options for the best gadget to be carried while traveling. It also highlights the assets of all those gadgets. These range from a language translator to Wi–Fi connectivity provider gizmos.

There are literally millions of sites that pertain to the travel interests of people. The internet is a vast pool of knowledge that has information packets waiting to be opened by an avid surfer. What is required by us is the knowledge of the location of these sites.

The first thing that usually pops on our computer screen after switching on the internet is the amazing Google search engine. In fact, it is the best guide that helps any surfer to reach the area of his interest. Even one word that we know can help us to get the knowledge we need about a location, activity, or destination.

For the business traveler, finding a virtual assistant to take care of their business needs might be a primary concern.

InterGlobe Technologies is a leading Business Protocol Outsourcing (BPO) that provides quality technology for travel. Every brief and detailed information is provided for a traveler’s total comfort.

In this era of advanced globalization where interviews are taken via video conference and theories of national importance are also discussed in a similar manner, business world professionals have to keep themselves abreast of the latest technology. More than just keeping them up to date, this helps them enhance the sphere of their activity. The dependence on technology is so much that in times of distress humans have learned to turn to technology for providing solace.

Traveling has become synonymous with business expansion and technology has become its better half. Together they have the potential to generate the gross domestic product of a nation and its people. The modern times require extensive traveling within one’s home country as well as overseas. Technology has wrapped each one of us within its veils of comfort and contention. We are bound to delve into its multifarious terrain owing to the all around encompassing nature of it and the sphere of ease that it bestows on us.

Technology has the power to guide us through every sort of confusion. The answer to any question that seemed to have no answer is obtained simply by the click of a mouse. The internet is the ultimate resource of knowledge and offers infinite avenues of development.

Human beings do not have to sit in a conference to finalize the best deal. A quick search through the net serves as the best way to find any information. Whether it is buying a piece of property in a far off locality or choosing the best out of the infinite traveling options, the internet helps strike the best deal. The right website can be the best location to obtain profound knowledge about the subject of one’s study. Its authenticity is at times endangered given the numerous site options that are available. To choose some of the best sites that are used by travelers is a difficult task.

At times the technology and sites that we surf may be fake and mislead us but in the wider view technology has only made life simpler for travelers. The planning that goes into making a perfect trip need not be done months or years in advance. All that is required is that we know how to do quality research and choose the best from among the millions of options. We just need to search for the best sites that suit our traveling demands The highly demanding job profiles of the present era have created a niche for workaholics, but for those who want to work and travel, they now have the time to go through the enticing technological innovations and use them for attaining their business goals. The internet is the solution to all of the world’s travel problems.

Man created a world of his own centered around the world’s creations. He found out the super formula of technology and continues to grow stronger by its use. Technology is all around us. It has a world of its own that is comfortable and offers a wide array of attractive options.

Technology made humans search new shores. The intensity of man’s travel has caused technology to prosper. This is of little significance as long as both are growing unhampered. The competition between the supremacy between technology and man does not hold any value until man’s intelligence continues to create an anti technology to curb its disastrous effects.

Naturally, the power to think and plan was imparted to human beings. This is the only factor that sets us apart from the other creatures of the living world. Vision, intelligence, organization and planning are hence the most fundamental essential for any long or short term plan. The journey of miles begins with a single step. Planning is the basic unit of a successful endeavor. Ferdinand Magellan didn’t go around the world just to quench his thirst of exploration and probably had a clear planned course of action. It is not possible in the current scenario.

With the earth being explored to its deepest cavern, there is no avenue left to be discovered. This helps us in making traveling a well calculated and planned event. This re –establishes the eminence of a thorough planning down to the minutest detail. Planning is an art acquired through experience and research. An effective plan is the one that gives ample space to each parameter offered in proportion to its importance quotient. A planned activity need not be conventional but is sure to be the most convenient one.

The planning done before traveling holds much value today, given the frequent business and family trips, under restrained time and money parameters. Technology that is known to make life easier for us makes the journey comfortable. We live in a technical world. So wherever we travel, planning and technology go together.

The technology that best suites the demands of travel should have the feature of being cost effective and handy. The smaller the gadget the higher its likeliness to be chosen as a travel partner. Mobile phones, iPods, mp3 players, video games, and laptops are the favorite companions of many. The planning that goes into taking them along does not require too much thinking. Travelers have learned to create extra space for them.

The long, rough, and unknown stretches can be easily crossed while listening to favorite tracks or while watching the favorite love classics for the nth time! This ensures that to have our favorite gadget is a must. Technology spins an individual’s home anywhere by surrounding him with his most used objects. This feeling of security escorts the traveler and makes him comfortable.

The mode of commuting is another subject of travel that requires effective planning. The chosen option should best suite an individual’s demands. Whether one wants to travel via air, train, or cruise has to be resolved before traveling. Technology cannot yet perceive the vague imaginations of a human mind; it is the slave of human actions. Hence its output will be satisfactory only when the best plan is applied to it.

Technology comes with a price tag. A hefty amount ensures a more self sufficient unit of technology. Traveling can become a dream come true experience only if the right situations are chosen. To be able to plan it all correctly means one can play the right cards at the right time. To travel with a costly airline that offers the best level of service to its customer is a boon for a lone traveler but can prove to be a problem if he chooses to travel with his entire family. He would rather plan to opt for an airline that offers cost effective family trips.

Similarly a tiny electric rod used for making tea and warming milk can help prevent travelers from suffering severe pangs of hunger. This is cost effective as well. The pain relief sprays, thermometer, and acupuncture gadgets for seniors, if carried on a travel junket can continue to provide them with comfort in every situation. Electrically heated blankets can protect against jaw dropping cold climates.

There are several life saving kits available today to be used in case of mishaps. A good travel plan should be able to provide benefit even in the worst situation. Also its effect should be aimed not only to aid an individual, but it should be such that fellow travelers are equally benefited by it.

Technology and planning both are raised to another level if one travels for adventure. Mountain cyclists have to be well equipped with the best time repair gadgets. Similarly the jungle safari traveler needs to have the best pair of binoculars to get the best views. Mountaineers require the best travel suits that protect them against altitude sickness.

Traveling at the fastest pace no longer is the demarcation between a winner and an average player. It is the perfection of planning and organization that finally bags the prize. Hence it can be concluded that the adoption of a certain technology can prove to be thoroughly useful only if the requisite planning is done effectively. Also this choice varies for every individual traveler. Yet the central idea of planned travel remains unchallenged. Make your plan and then stick to it.
.

You should be careful. Don’t run right out and buy a travel pillow or a big GPS unit, those of us who love to travel are notoriously picky about what we put in our travel kit because unlike the Victorian travelers of yesteryear, we usually have to lug our baggage around with us instead of having a team of porters or sherpas who are willing to carry our things for us. In addition, because of global security and the cost of fuel, every ounce counts when you are trying to figure out what to put in your bags and what to leave behind. So, even if you buy something that you are sure will be useful, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t make the cut. However, in order to maximize your chances of holiday gift success with the globetrotter of your life, this small guide will help you to narrow the incredibly broad range of choices in travel gear, travel technology, and travel comfort items.

To start with, let’s have a look at some of the top travel gear that your traveler may enjoy. First, let’s start with the bags. There are a number of great bags out there that are designed for global comfort, security, and ease of use. I’m not only talking about rucksacks here, but also great messenger bags, wheelie bags, and multi purpose travel totes. That’s a keyword by the way when you are looking for things for those who travel, multi-purpose. If something can do more than one thing, it is twice as useful as something that only does one. Think about the kind of travel they will be doing. Are they a backpacker in third world countries? A secure pack with slashproof sides and bottom, good locks, and a wire mesh protector is probably a good bet. If they are traveling in mostly developed countries, a carry on size wheelie bag with multi compartments and specific areas for laptop, chargers, phone, and other accessories is probably a gift that will be both appreciated and used. For those who are doing both, you might consider one of the rugged and now fairly famous saddleback leather bags which are designed specifically for globe trotters.

Although most travelers can use a good knife, this is probably not the best idea as a gift since in these days of security and checkpoints, the wrong knife can either be confiscated or get the traveler in trouble. Other items to consider are silk sleepsacks which weigh little and provide great comfort, lightweight travel towels, and specific travel clothing like the Scott Travel Vest.

Moving beyond the basics and into the realm of gear, we can find a wide range of laptop and phone accessories that are perfect for the traveler. Of course, if you want to skip the accessories and move straight to the phone or laptop you really can’t go wrong with an iPhone or a Netbook as a gift. They are light, multi functional, and usually can be modified to work in any country the person will be going to. Along the same lines, you shouldn’t neglect the idea of the universal travel adapter. Not all countries use the same electric current or voltage and an adapter can really be a useful item for those on the go. Furthermore, a set of ultra portable speakers can turn an iPod, iPhone, or Netbook into a full on entertainment center, which is pretty cool when you are stranded at a camel crossing in Timbuktu. Other technology items to consider are travel extension cords, ink-less travel printers, and of course cameras.

There are very few travelers who don’t love taking photos and a great camera means they can share their adventures with you. Everyone wins in that situation. A gift that is becoming increasingly popular with the jetset is the Kindle. No more shopping in airports for trashy novels, with the Kindle you can bring hundreds of books in just one small container. For those who already have a kindle or iPhone, you can provide gift certificates to Amazon, iTunes, Apple, or other app stores where the adventurer can select their own digital downloads.

Finally, let’s have a look at comfort items. These are things that most of us who are a little older think of as travel items. Neck pillows, folding toothbrushes, travel irons, travel blow dryers, and that kind of thing. There are some really great products out there, all you have to do is look through the SkyMall catalog next time you are flying somewhere and you will see them, but ask yourself if they are really necessary. A travel alarm clock probably isn’t since you can assume that everyone has a phone with an alarm clock built into it. Same goes for a calculator. One thing that can be nice for any traveler are lightweight organizers for bags or stuff sacks for gear. Simple things like travel size shampoos, toothpaste, and first aid kits can also be well appreciated.

In short, there are a million and one things you can buy for the person in your life who is always on the move. The big decider is what kind of travel they are doing and what kind of person they are. If you buy a business traveler a hammock, chances are he will appreciate it less than a wrinkle free tie and the opposite is true for the gap year backpacker in your life. One thing is for sure, the shopping can sure be fun. Now get to it.

The latest “proof” that current electronic verification systems are not as secure as the government wants you to believe, is a video by dutch security researcher Elvis Aaron Presley, sorry Jeroen van Beek, who managed to create a blank working document that was accepted at Amsterdam airport in September 2008. Aaron used credentials from long dead singer Elvis Presley, something that human security would probably have spotted.

The essence of the test was to show that ePassports can be easily forged. This essentially means that anyone with the technical knowledge can alter the picture, name, nationality, DOB and other credentials with ease.

If you need proof that Elvis is still alive then the following video might convince you.. I mean, it is an ePassport, a secure and reliable passport. Ain’t it?

Check out the thc epassport page for all the information about the current insecurities.

Update: The page does not seem to be available anymore. The video has been uploaded to YouTube where it is still accessible publicly. The researcher used the forged epassport to pass passport checks on Amsterdam airport. And while that was only done to demonstrate the vulnerability of the system, it could have serious consequences if terrorists would find a way around the system.

That would be bad luck and one thing that you should do before traveling to the United States, or any other country that is giving their border agents such rights is to protect your data; Or don’t visit the country which I prefer to do. The easiest way to protect your data is to leave it at home. If that is not possible because you do need your notebook for work you should prepare it so that the important data is protected and hidden.

I’m not accustomed to US laws and do not know if they can force you to reveal a password for an encrypted partition. But even if they cannot they probably can keep the notebook for a certain time to examine it and probably also question you for a while which would make the trip rather unpleasant.

Your best bet is to use encryption and another encrypted container on that encrypted drive. This way you can cooperate and enter the password: Here Office, take a look, I have no problem with it. The important data would still be encrypted and inaccessible and you would definitely not reveal that password. It’s impossible to tell for them anyway if there is another container unless you leave clues on the drive.

You need to make sure that all sensible data, like documents, emails, browser cache, passwords, cookies, pictures, videos, plane flying manuals, Atombombs for Dummies is stored on that second encrypted container.

Important data could be stored on a web server as well and downloaded while in the country. Just make sure it gets erased properly before leaving again. Any other ideas ? Let me know.

You simply enter a search in the format “From town1 to town2″ where both towns have to have an airport and direct flights between them.

From New York to London would be a valid request.

Google then shows as the first search result a box in which you can enter departing and returning time and below that box a link to the websites of Expedia, Hotwire and Orbitz.

You simply select one of the three and are forwarded to a booking page where you can book the flight.

Use Google.com to Search for Flights

Google technology is always advancing, much to the frustration of the competition. They feature yet another application from google.com that you can use to find flights for departing and arrival destinations at determined dates and times. You don’t exactly do this from google.com directly. This is the direct URL that will hook you up with this nifty feature:

http://www.google.com/flights/

When you go to Google, enter a flight-related search and then click “Flights” on the left pane of the search results page. You can also enter “Google flights” in the google.com search field and be directed to the URL listed above. Immediately, you will see a map with your present location conveniently entered in the “From” field. Then you enter your destination and a dropdown menu will be presented with different airport options for that city. Of course, both cities need to have compatible direct flights available between them.

Major city airports have flights between the departing city and the arrival city, while more obscure locations will not. The search will only give you results for valid requests. For example, “From Atlanta to Chicago” would be a reasonable search request and “From Chicago to Hot Springs, North Carolina would not be. You can determine the other modes of travel on your own, but Google at least offers you the major connections. Enter the date of departure and the date of return to the point of departure. You can also enter a price that would be ideal and search results will be narrowed down to that price range as long as it is realistic.

You will notice the average prices for the flights from your point of departure (as determined by your IP address) to your destination listed by the arrival points on the map. Below the Depart / Return / Price / Duration field entries, a list of flights available is presented. You will see many options to choose from, depending on the price range that you entered and the duration desired (again, this needs to be realistic).

Takeoff and Arrival times are listed with the expected duration of travel shown between. Airline options are listed and the routes are indicated along with the number of price options based on a minimum price for a round trip that is definitely not first class. The lowest prices are displayed in green and generally have the highest number of available flights. If it is on the company tab, you can dig a little deeper once you track down the specifics and hook up with business class if that is your style.

If you are familiar with air travel, you already know that the duration includes the layover time. You will see the layover city listed under the Route column. If you want a direct flight with no layover, the word “via” will be absent in the listing. Your air travel planning is made easier with just a few mouse clicks thanks to the mighty Google search. Pop open the laptop and within minutes you know your options.