South American Explorer

Want to know the latest travel tips, gadgets and advice? Or are you more interested in the best websites, travel books and maps? Either way, this page is for you! This month, we look at the best travel gadgets!

The Latest Must-have Gadgets for Travelers Part 1

It seems like every day some new gadget for travelers hits the market. Some are good, some useless and some just take up space in your backpack. We’ve searched far and wide to find gadgets that are actually worth buying.

Luggage locator – Just arrived at some foreign bus station and are in the middle of a seething crowd trying to find your luggage? This handy luggage locator may make you look like a techy nerd, but trust us, you’ll find your luggage and you’ll dissuade potential thieves.

TRAVELON® Digital scale – If you like shopping or if you’re not one to pack light, a small digital scale is invaluable. With airlines charging ridiculous prices for excess baggage this little ‘peace of mind’ will help you stay under the limit.

USB coffee warmer – Ok, so this one falls in to non-essential gadgets but we still love it. Plug it into the internet café’s computer, or your own laptop, and this USB operated heat pad will keep your coffee nicely warmed. It’s light and for those of you writing long blogs or SAE trip reports, will help you work through the night. 

Multi-purpose Charger – With more and more products requiring batteries or charging (think cell phones, digital cameras, ipods, and GPS), this portable multi-charger is a god-send. It’s light, works off a rechargeable lithium ion battery, and can charge two devices simultaneously. Brilliant.

Noise cancelling earphones – you may laugh, but when you’re stuck on a crowded bus, filled with chickens, children and luggage you’ll wish you had them!  These little babies cut out 42 decibels of noise, are light-weight and even include technology currently used by the US military. Can’t argue with that. 

Reader advice: Last month we looked at some of the great travel guides being released right now, and Jeremy Hollins from Brisbane, Australia wrote in to let us know about a new book from Frommer’s and travel website www.whatsonwhen.com

Frommer’s 300 Unmissable Events and Festivals Around the World lists the best, most interesting and most unique events around the world in a clear and easy-to-read format. We love it! Thanks Jeremy!

WEBSITES WE LOVE!

www.diversetraveller.com This is a great website for females. The stories are written by women on the road, the information comes from women who have been there and done it and there are some really useful tips given for women regarding safety and opportunities when travelling alone.

www.benjilanyado.wordpress.com This guy writes about travel for The Guardian UK and he always finds some interesting stories and angles from which to report.His blog is fresh, engaging and covers travel across the entire world. His stories make for a fascinating read and he’s well linked to other useful sites.

www.antarcticacruises.com.ar SAE members get a discount with these guys, courtesy of SAE Buenos Aires. The website is clear and full of all the information you would need to find a trip to the Antarctic to suit your needs.

www.tangol.com SAE members also get discounts with this Buenos Aires-based company when booking tango shows or football matches. (Come to the BA Clubhouse for more details). Their website is absolutely jam-packed with information on what to do in BA – it’s a non-stop shop to cover all your cultural interests when in the city.

Reviewed by SAE reporter Tracey Chandler.