Must Have Travel Gadgets Part 2

Due to great feedback from our viewers and new opinions from some of our expert travel bloggers, we have decided to update our list of must have travel gadgets.  Please be sure to check these out before embarking on your next trip, as you will certainly be glad you did!

 

1. Inflatable Hangers

– We all know packing is one of the hardest things to do when traveling.  Inflatable hangers allow you to bring extra hangers without taking up any extra space in your luggage. (Details & Reviews)

 

2. Hidden Pen Camera

– The perfect way to secretly capture an event.  This discreet camera allows a traveler to quickly and stealthily photograph or record any event with ease. (Details & Reviews)

 

 

3. Go Pro

 – Never miss a minute on your trip with the Go Pro!  This popular camera allows you to record everything you are seeing while carrying it in a compact fashion.  Don’t write this one off, as it is a must have! (Details & Reviews)

4. Water Bottle With Pill Organizer

– Not only is a water bottle a must have for international travel, and I recommend that you keep it full, this particular one combines it with your daily pill regimen so no matter where you are, you will always be able to stay on schedule with your medication! (Details & Reviews)

 

5. Red Cross Approved First Aid Kit

– Traveling can take us to interesting places far and wide, and we can’t always count on there to be a pharmacy nearby.  This Red Cross approved first aid kit can be your compact lifeline should a minor injury occur! (Details & Reviews)

 

6. Terminator Travel Bug Spray

– This travel size bug spray kills all bugs on contact and is certainly a must have for your international adventures. (Details & Reviews)

 

7. Collapsible Travel Cups

– Many cities around the world offer free water fountains as an alternative to expensive bottled water.  These collapsible cups allow you to travel light and take full advantage of such fountains, but as always, make sure it’s safe to drink. (Details & Reviews)

 

8. Travel Humidifier

– This inexpensive device easily attaches to a water bottle and will quickly make great improvements to the air quality of your accommodations.  At this price, this accessory is an absolute must. (Details & Reviews)

 

9. Five in One Travel Poker Game

– We all know that long trips can be boring, but why not pass the time with a 5 in 1 handheld poker game.  Complete with a multiplayer option, this just may be the key to keeping yourself and your family entertained. (Details & Reviews)

 

10. Disposible Socks

– On long trips abroad, laundry can be on eof the biggest burdens.  Disposible socks not only allow you to keep your feet sanitary when trying on different types of footware, but they can help minimize your laundry load. (Details & Reviews)

 

11. Compression Sack

– This “hoboroll” compression sack allows you to fit incredible amounts of clothing and other travel essentials into it and compress it down to an easy to carry bundle.  This is a must for all long trips. (Details & Reviews)

 

12. Location Tracking Tag

– This tool allows you to track up to 6 of your valuables through your phone or smart device at the same time.  Simply tag your bag and turn on your phone and you will receive a notification if it moves.  This is a great way to keep your belongings secure while checking them with different travel services and hotels. (Details & Reviews)

 

13. Fold and Go travel Slippers

– These slippers are compact, lightweight and comfortable.  Order these slippers and never have to walk barefoot around an airplane or hotel room again. (Details & Reviews)

 

 

14. Travel Golf Set

– If you love golf but have trouble transporting your clubs then this may just change your life.  This portable club set will fit in the overhead bin on an airplane and is able to be taken anywhere your game takes you! (Details & Reviews)

 

 

These tools and gadgets have helped thousands of travelers, and we hope that they help you too!  Subscribe and continue to check back with us for more content from the TravelersAlly blog team!

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Best Disney Blogs to Help You Plan an Awesome Vacation

Disney World Vaction Cinderella Castle

Whether you’re heading to Disneyland, Disney World, or one of Disney’s global parks (the newest, Disney Shanghai, is slated to open next spring), planning a Disney vacation can be a challenge.  It will pay off in the end though, when you see the smiles on your kids’ faces. Or the smile on your own face because you can totally be an adult, cough cough, and still have fun at Disney.

60 Delightful Years of Disney Magic

Make your way to the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration, where Guests of every age are commemorating 60 years of Disney magic with dazzling entertainment and sparkling surprises, including 3 new nighttime spectaculars:

Behold a Timeless World of Wonder
Ever since Disneyland Park opened on July 17, 1955, the Disneyland Resort has been an unforgettable destination for families to return to, again and again—a source of joy for the entire world and a place where innovation has continued to inspire an exciting future.

Vibrant fireworks bursting above Sleeping Beauty Castle at the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration

 

Blogs to help you plan

To help you plan the best vacation for you and your family, or just get your Disney fix while you’re at work, here are some of our favorite Disney blogs:

  • Disney Food Blog – Everything you need to know about eating at Disney. This blog has menus and reviews for all restaurants, tips for making reservations and keeping your budget in check, as well as tons of pictures to make you hungry. You’re welcome.
  • Disney Tourist Blog – Great all-around blog that includes trip guides for all five Disney parks. We love the section dedicated to trip reports, where you can get the play-by-play of all kinds of trips to the parks, with lots of pictures!
  • AllEars.net – So maybe it’s not a blog (although it has a section with multiple awesome blogs to choose from), it’s a great site with up-to-date info on all things Disney.
  • Running at Disney – One of the major draws to Disney parks are runDisneyraces, held several times throughout the year.  If you’re thinking about running a Disney race, check out this blog for helpful tips and info.
  • WDW News Today – This site keeps you updated with the latest Disney news. It also has a podcast and–our favorite– a listening section that plays music from the parks!
  • Ferdalump – Ok, so this may not help you plan your vacation, and it’s not a blog (sorry not sorry), but it is the cutest thing ever.  Watch this little girl charm everyone in the parks in her adorable Disney-themed outfits handmade by her mom.

Word of caution: you may get sucked into the Disney information blackhole (we don’t hate it in there), so just be prepared.

Now go forth, and plan your best Disney vacation yet!

 

14 Must Have Gadgets for International Travel

Image: http://expertvagabond.com/gopro-accessories/

Traveling is one of the most exciting things that we can do in today’s world.  There are, however, many things that can add stress to your trip planning and travel process.  Here are fourteen must have gadgets to put the ease back in traveling.

Amazon is celebrating its 20th anniversary with special PRIME deals on all sorts of products.  Submit your favorite travel picture and gadget from around the globe and you might win their $10,000 prize.

1. Spy Hat Camera

This tool can be a great way to not only capture everything you do while traveling, but to do it secretly as well! (Details & Reviews)

2. QR Smart Tags

The perfect way to insure that if a bag is lost, it can be traced back and returned to you. These smart tags are waterproof and weatherproof and can be scanned by any smart phone. This affordable accessory is a must! (Details & Reviews)

 

3. Go Girl

Although we can’t say we recommend this product, we can say this is definitly one of the craziest gadgets that we have ever come across and is certainly worth looking at for the price! (Details & Reviews)

4. Travel Pillow

Although international travel is frequently equated with luxury, you never know when you will find yourself on a bumpy aircraft or uncomfortable train. This plush pillow was the British invention of the year in 2013. (Details & Reviews)

5. International Power Outlet Converter

What many travelers forget when they are embarking on their first international trip is that even the simplest of things are not all created equal. In fact the outlets throughout the world can vary by country or by region. This outlet converter works in over 150 countries, including the US, Canada, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Japan. (Details & Reviews)

 

6. Phone Battery Backup

These days, a traveler’s worst nightmare can be getting caught with a dead phone. Just plug this battery backup into your phone, and it charges back up when an outlet is nowhere in sight. (Details & Reviews)

 

7. Wine Skin

With airline policies forbidding travelers from bringing beverages on the plane, a wine skin allows you to be sure that fine bottle of wine stays safe in your checked luggage for the duration of the trip. (Details & Reviews)

 

8. Portable Digital Luggage Scale

One of the best ways to save money while traveling is to eliminate unnecessary expenses, and one of the most common for international travelers is the additional fines for heavy baggage. This lightweight, portable scale can help you pack accordingly and avoid those unwanted fees. (Details & Reviews)

9. Portable Hotspot

You never know what the wireless internet and cellular reception will be like, but with this portable gadget your worries will be gone. Connect to the internet from anywhere regardless of reception with thisportable Wifi hotspot. (Details & Reviews)

 

10. Anti-Theft Card Holders

As technology improves, crime grows. These card holders are the perfect way to protect personal information stored in your passport and credit cards from RFID enables thieves. (Details & Reviews)

 

11. iPad Hanger

When traveling with kids, it is no secret that keeping them entertained on long trips can be a challenged. This iPad hanger can turn almost any seatback into a miniature movie theater and entertain the kids for hours! (Details & Reviews)

 

12. Portable Waterproof Speaker

Wherever you find yourself traveling, this speaker allows you to take fantastic sound quality with you. Through water, wind, ice or snow, this portable speaker is ready to brave it all with you. (Details & Reviews)

 

13. Luggage Lock

This TSA approved lock for your luggage can take a lot of worry out of traveling. Depending on your method of travel, bags can be left unattended for long periods of time, however a lock can deter thieves of all kinds from trying to run off with your valuables. (Details & Reviews)

 

14. Solar Charging Travel Backpack

Every traveler needs a good backpack to keep with them for those long flights and train rides. Why not have one that happens to be solar powered and can also charge all of your electronics? (Details & Reviews)

Let us know what your favorite travel gadget is!  Post a link to it in the comments section below.

 

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Jawsome Staff Favorites for Shark Week

hdanimalswallpapers.com

Adventure travel takes on a whole new meaning each year when the Discovery Channel’s shark week kicks off.  Check out the TravelersAlly staff picks for favorite Shark Video and Shark Prank!

Shark_Attack_Prank_-_spring_break

 

Staff Favorite Shark Prank Video

Spring Break Shark Attack  – Fins up for the practical jokers at SuperHollyward and “Shark Boy” Geoff Ward for their scare tactics (until the police arrived) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  How would you have reacted?

 

 

Staff Favorite Shark Video

Sometimes the sharks BITE back and get the better of the photographers and videographers who are filming the sharks.  Great video from our friends at Animal Max who clearly had to spend some money to repair the boat!

 

 

Want More Jawsome Shark Reccomendations

Check out the Top Seven Internatiaonl Shark Encounters Blog Post.

Click Here to Visit the Blog

We promise they won’t bite!

 

 

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Seven Popular International JAWSOME Shark Encounters

In honor of the Discovery Channel’s 2015 Shark Week (began on July 5, 2015), we are profiling the top seven (7) shark encounters for scuba divers around the globe that our clients, and staff, rank as the best up close and personal trips to see a shark in the wild.

Shark_Week

As experts in the area of adventure travel, and with several staff PADI certified divers, we love the thrill of scuba diving with the chance to see the magnificent hunters of the sea.  I became PADI certified in Indonesia in the mid-nineties, and have loved diving and shark diving ever since. Any great shark dive starts with the selection of the right dive company.

 

Check out the Staff’s Favorite
Shark Video & Shark Prank Video

Check out some of the most popular dive companies and their shark encounters below.

Top & Shark Encounters for Scuba Divers Around the Globe

(7)  Grey & WhiteGrey_and_white_tip_reef_sharks Tip Reef Sharks (Great Barrier Reef, Australia) – For the advanced adventure divers wanting to photograph sharks one of the greatest locations on the planet is the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia.  Drift dive and wall dives are stunning and there is always an abundance of sharks. Check out Mike Ball Dive Expeditions for their Shark Shooter Expeditions (especially the North Horn / Osprey Reef dive departing out of Cairns).

 

(6)  Whale Sharks (Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru) –  For the luxury diver, few dive companies do it better than the ones with the Four Seasons in the Maldives.  Between June and October is the best time to dive for whale sharks and mantas.  Popular dive sites like the Baa Atoll, Thilas, and Lankan Manta Point on North Male Atoll are awe-inspiring.  Check out the PADI certified divers at the Four Seasons and their Extraordinary Experiences. (Bonus experience – Try the “Manta Ray Scientist for a Day”)

Whale_Shark

 

(5)  Bull Sharks (Playa del Carmen, Mexico) – For the experienced thrill-seeking diver, the operators at Phocea Mexico offer a great dive during season each year from November to March to get up close to bull sharks.  The bull shark (or Zambezi shark) is a very curious shark and is about 12 feet in length at its biggest,making this shark dive pure excitement.

Bull_Sharks

(4)  Hammerhead Sharks (Cocos Island, Costa Rica) – Cocos Island is one of the great dive destinations around the world.  With over a dozen great dive sites (check out Dirty Rock and  Manuelita), this destination is known for hammerhead shark diving.  It is not uncommon at Dirty Rock to see dozens, if not more hammerheads along with reef and tiger sharks.  Check out the reviews of the dive masters at Undersea Hunter.  They will help educate you on Proyecto Tiburon, the Costa Rican conservation project.

Hammerhead_Sharks

 

(3)  Caribbean Reef Sharks (Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas) – Unexso is one of the longstanding dive centers in the Bahamas that has been offering shark dives to both experienced and new divers for over 20 years.  Divers who visit Unexso’s Shark Junction will get a thrilling experience seeing experienced dive masters feed and interact with the Caribbean reef shark.  Unexso is one of our favorite picks for all of the great work it does for conservation measures.

reef_shark

 

(2)  Basking Sharks (Oban, Scotland) –  The basking shark dives are some of the more adventuresome dives you can do basking_sharkoff the coast of Scotland.  This is definitely a dry suit dive for those divers wanting to spend the better part of the day in the water.  Check in with the dive masters at Basking Shark Scotland, not only for their basking shark dives, but some of the great dives they do in Iceland in October.

 

(1) Great White Sharks (Gansbaai, South Africa) – Of course we couldn’t leave off the great white shark cage dive experience.  From South Australia to South Africa, divers all over the world want to check off this bucket list dive.  It is not inexpensive, but is surely a top dive memory for all those who dare jump into the cage with the legendary shark.  From Shark Alley to Dyer Island, check out the dive masters at Marine Dynamics for an unforgettable experience.

Great_White_Shark

TravelersAlly TIP – It goes without saying that shark diving is an extreme sport.  Make sure that you are covered for Extreme Sports on your Travel Medical Policy before you jump in the water!  Have a Jawsome summer during shark week!

 

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Send your favorite dive operator reviews & pictures of Shark Dives & you might make the next Travelers Ally Extreme Sports Blog!********************************************************************************

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Best Fireworks Shows to Put You in the 4th of July Spirit

Image courtesy of dynamicfireworks.co.uk

 

What’s a 4th of July celebration without fireworks?  To get in the spirit for this weekend, here are some of our favorite videos of fireworks shows past.
Some of them are a little long, but hey, your boss won’t mind. It’s basically the weekend, right?

 

Washington D.C.  What’s better than celebrating in our nation’s capital with fireworks over the Washington Monument?

New York City. This one-of-a-kind show against the Manhattan skyline includes rows of fireworks launched from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Houston. The finale is what it’s all about, right? Caution: This bright finale from Freedom over Texas may blind you.

Disney World. You can’t have a list like this without them! They pretty much rule the whole fireworks-put-to-music thing.

 

Happy 4th of July!  What’s your favorite fireworks show?

 

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