What the heck does the title of this post mean? Well, I'm referring to the TruckingAccident.org Blog where I found a great resource for the road warrior in a post called "The Mobile Productivity Toolbox: 100 Resources to Keep You Productive When on the Move."
Some of the new finds (for me, anyway) from this list include:
- #4: Mobivox: Get cheap Skype calls even when you're away from your computer and WiFi with Mobivox's service.
- #7: ProjectStat.us: If you're traveling, you may not be able to field lots of calls and emails about progress on projects. Keep everyone out of your hair by letting them find out with ProjectStat.us. [Note: ProjectStat.us is awesome - and I love their logo]
- #61: oh don't forget: Get reminders sent to you via SMS with this service. You don't even need an account to do it.
And, as the name of the post implies, there are 97 others. Go check it out!
Oh - and if you are a blogger, you might find some gems in another one of their articles: "Travel Blogging: 100 Resources To Help You Post on The Road."
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Want a quick and easy way to keep track of what's in your wallet in case it gets lost or stolen?
I've scanned my credit cards, drivers license, etc. (front and back) into a PDF file that I have encrypted into a self-extracting ZIP file (with 256-bit AES encryption and a complex passphrase). I have this ZIP file stored electronically so that I can get to it anywhere in the world. That way, if I lose my wallet I can quickly get a list of what was in it, including the contact numbers on the back of the cards.
The ZIP file also contains a scan of my passport in case I lose it while traveling abroad.
I've added a recurring reminder in my calendar prompting me to update the scan from time to time.
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Read MoreLeaving town for the holidays? Make a list. Actually, many people have some of the more common lists covered (who's naughty and nice, who to send cards to, etc.) A list that is particularly valuable for me is my "don't forget to do this stuff."
Some things on my list include the following:
| Arrange for pet sitter |
Adjust thermostat (lower in the winter, higher in the summer) |
| Leave check for pet sitter |
Turn on "out of office" reply on email |
| Stop newspaper delivery |
Change voicemail greeting to let people know you're gone |
| Hold mail delivery (you can do this online in the US at www.usps.com) |
Pay all bills (or schedule them in online banking) |
| Bring garbage from kitchen garbage can to outside can |
Print out itinerary and confirmation numbers |
| Check weather forecast for where you're going and pack appropriately |
If you're traveling internationally, ensure you have:
current passports, valid visas, etc. (allow at 6 weeks for US passport processing) |
This is just a sample of the things on my list, and we end up adding things to it every time. For example, 2 trips ago, we forgot my 7-year old's suitcase in her room; now, everyone must put their luggage by the front door and we double check that everyone has their bag before we leave the driveway. Last trip, I forgot my Blackberry and we almost missed our flight because I needed to go back and get it (it's also my phone).
Don't have a list? Here is a great online travel checklist, organized as a timeline - this provides a really good place to start.
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Read MoreA few weeks ago, I wrote about a free service called Yapta, which stands for "Your Amazing Personal Travel Assistant" (get Yapta now, or read my previous post about Yapta). Shortly after I started using Yapta, I bought a couple of plane tickets for a family trip and used it to watch the fares to see if they dropped. My tickets were about $760 each when I paid for them (yep, I know - pricey).
What does Yapta do?
The way Yapta works is that you can tell it what trips you're shopping for, or which tickets you've already bought. From there, Yapta starts monitoring the prices and lets you know when they drop (you can set how far they need to drop before you're notified). If the price drops, most airlines will either give you a refund or issue a travel voucher (depending on their policy) if you contact them before the price goes back up again (you've gotta act fast - those fares change quickly).
Yapta can track fares from the following airlines (currently US-heavy), but they have been adding more to the list:
AirTran Airways
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- ATA Airlines
- Continental
- Delta Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
- JetBlue
- Midwest Airlines
- Ted Airlines
- United Airlines
- US Airways
Well, did Yapta work?
About a week ago, I got an email from Yapta on my Blackberry saying the fare had dropped, and I was elegible for a voucher from United Airlines for the difference. They even told me where to call and what to say to get my voucher (pretty cool). I called United, and the price had dropped to $601 per ticket so I got vouchers in the amount of $308.
Now that is what I call an amazing personal travel assistant. It's free - what are you waiting for?
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Read MoreI know from personal experience that sitting on top of your rollaboard luggage is generally not good for it. Most rollaboards are just not made to support the weight of a human.
I found out that a local company (they're based in Oregon area where I live) has decided to change all that. The company is "SeatKase" and they are making some nice, carry-on sized luggage with a fold-out seat that you can sit on. SeatKase luggage has been tested to hold up to 250 pounds, so it's really tough stuff.
SeatKase uses a patent pending design for the wheels that make them stop rolling when you sit on the luggage so you don't end up sitting on the floor. The luggage is also designed to make it easy to create a laptop stand so you can couple the luggage with any chair that's handy and create an office on demand.
On the SeatKase site, you'll find data on the wheel locking mechanism, as well as ordering and pricing information (the bags are $99 US - a great price for something that looks to be very well made).
I haven't seen one of these in person yet, but this seems like a great idea for road warriors.
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