Tech for Travel

Holiday travel season is officially begun. As the potentially bumpy road to your relatives' beckons, consider turning to technology to help. As a mom who has her fair share of travel in store over the next few weeks, I'll let you in on my must-have gadgets. I'll also share some insight from Fred Kantor, a fellow frequent traveler and eBay Operations Manager of Hot Digital, a tech-focused eBay store that offers over 10,000 products, generates almost $7 million in annual eBay sales and has earned over 118,000 positive feedback scores. Between the two of us, we'll have you traveling smoothly from coast to coast.

The Road Trip

Endless miles ahead of you and the only thing to look forward to is the nearest rest stop? These gadgets will make the miles fly by.

1. Sirius Backseat TV (buy it now price, approx. $200-$250)

Go ahead and leave the portable DVD players behind when you're traveling by car, because now you can have access to all your favorite TV shows, even in transit. Whether you're the one stuck the backseat or you've stashed your kids back there, this gadget offers continuous programming to suit even the pickiest viewer.


 

2. Kodak EasyShare Digital Camera (buy it now price, approx. $100-$180)

A camera on for the car ride? You'll pack one anyway, so why not use it to stay entertained on the road? Take silly snapshots of the family in the car (that photo of your sister sleeping with her mouth wide open will be great for blackmail later), or take detours to stop (and document) interesting sites along the way. The Kodak EasyShare line of cameras is Kantor's choice for capturing holiday memories. He says these cameras are "small, affordable and render some great quality shots." The Z1485 and C180 are his two favorites from the line.

3. Magellan RoadMate 1470 GPS Device (buy it now price, approx. $150-$200)

If you haven't jumped on the GPS bandwagon, now is the time. Although the device will get you there without fail, you'll end up using it for more than just directions: It can help you find you the closest gas stations, AAA highlights like rest stations with parks (saved me when my son was going bonkers), and point you around traffic. All of these features plus voice-guided directions and a large screen that's easy to see make this my pick.

Air Time

When the free movie you can barely see just isn't enough make the minutes tick by, look to these gadgets to keep you entertained while traveling through the sky!

1. MyVu Movie Viewing Glasses (buy it now price, approx. $60-$90)

I keep hours of videos on my iPhone, and have found the ultimate way to watch them on planes: MyVu glasses. These glasses take the image from my device and project it in such a way that it looks like I'm watching it on a full blown movie screen. I like that I can adjust the image as well as the fit of the glasses to make sure I'm comfy from take-off 'til landing.

2. Bucky Balls (buy it now price, approx. $15-$25)

Kantor has pointed out a toy for kids and adults alike that will keep your mind occupied on a long flight. "BuckyBalls" are magnetic balls that transform into different shapes, sculptures, and patterns; they'll keep you creative for hours.

3. Toshiba Portable DVD Player (buy it now price, approx. $120-$180)

Watching your favorite flicks on a portable DVD player is a proven method for passing the time. Picking one often comes down to the best deal you can find, but here's the short list of why I picked the Toshiba: The nice 9-inch screen size, its ability to handle Divix (burned) DVDs, the beautiful 800x480 image resolution, an SD slot (for watching media straight from a camera or listening to music), options for hooking up to a TV, a long battery life, virtual surround sound, a car kit included and a swivel screen.

Kids On Board

Although I always search for ways to combat boredom while traveling, the most important person to keep entertained is my son, Jack. When he's with me, you'll never catch me without these gadgets.

1. Disney MixMax Portable Movie Player (buy it now price, approx. $50-$80)

Smaller than a deck of cards 10 times the fun, this little player shows the movies your children love the most: the ones made by Disney. Each player is designed for a specific character or movie, and comes complete with decorative skin and wrist strap. Choose from over 20 Disney pre-loaded SD movie cards (more are being released all the time). I'm most impressed with the abuse my player has endured as well as the battery life; it lasts me more than three hours with every use.


 

2. Coby MP305 Music Player (buy it now price, approx. $20-$30)

According to Kantor, if you're traveling with kids, "an MP3 Player may be the most important item you take with you on the trip.  I speak from experience traveling all over the country with my two daughters, and it's a must have item for them." This particular device is great for kids because it's affordable and easy to navigate.

3. UV Disinfectant Wand (buy it now price, approx. $90-$110)
These days, we're all constantly washing and sanitizing our children's hands. But despite the precautions, the thought of walking onto a germ-filled airplane or into a gas station bathroom is just plain scary. While traveling the country with little ones this season, consider bringing along a UV sanitizing wand.  If a utensil drops or a sneeze is heard close by, wave your wand over your child's surroundings and hands to kill 99% of harmful germs within the vicinity. Magic!