Gadget overload can undermine travel
Cox News Service
July 13, 2008
When I take a vacation I schedule three or four extra days at home before going back to work. I'm usually so exhausted and frazzled by my vacation that I need time to recover.
The hassle of air travel is often one reason. Anyone who has been through airport security with much more than a laptop knows the pain. Gadget freaks, er, lovers, can face delays. At worst, they could soon be undressing for strangers.
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Let's approach this problem from two directions. First, for those who really need to travel with a bunch of high-tech devices, we'll talk about some things that will help. Veteran road warriors already know most of this but it may help those who only travel for vacations.
Get charged up: Every device that you carry should be capable of working when you go through security. Computers should compute, radios and MP3 players should play and digital cameras should be capable of taking and displaying photos.
Organization pays: If you have accessories such as ethernet cables, battery chargers, extra memory cards and other items with wires or batteries, put them in a single clear plastic baggy. Otherwise, the security folks may need to paw through your luggage to find all the little wires and gizmos that show up on the scanner.
Don't overexplain: Obviously you should answer questions if you are asked. But don't start explaining unless you are asked. It often sounds defensive or even suspicious. Believe me, the security person has seen plenty of electronic devices before the ones in your baggage. So don't assume he's going to be puzzled by your MP3 player.
Don't try to hide things: This should be obvious but I've personally seen it in security lines. People poke gadgets in hidden pouches of luggage. That, of course, makes the security person even more interested.
The other angle we'll look at it — and my favorite — is whether you can leave some of your technology at home.
By taking all your gizmos, you have more stuff to carry around. And if you carry high-tech devices you feel obliged to use them. Simple solution: Take a break from e-mail, texting and instant messaging if you can.
There are still other reasons. Expensive high-tech devices are magnets for thieves, for instance, and they can get left behind or lost on a trip.
Still, I realize the world has shifted and many of us — me included — end up carrying some gadgets along.
So here's a compromise: Multifunctional devices — say an iPhone or other small device with the same features — make enormous sense for travelers. A single device can handle the functions of e-mail, phone, GPS and even camera.
Can't justify the expense of such a gadget just for travel? You still have some options.
If you rent a car, it's easy and affordable to have the rental company add a GPS.
Or do what I do. Before I leave I use MapQuest (www.mapquest.com) to print out routes I know I'll be taking — airport to hotel; hotel to some restaurants that my wife insists we visit; hotel to a few tourist spots.
If you're really eager to travel light, even cellphones — throwaway or rental — can be obtained in remote locations.
Checking e-mail is usually easy at a computer furnished in hotel business centers or Internet cafés. Even cruise ships offer Internet centers (although the cost is often so high I just keep walking until I am near a friendly beverage dispenser).
Some disposable digital cameras do a decent job and almost all of them do a better job than the camera built into a cellphone. Once you've taken your pictures, e-mail them home and toss the camera.
I don't always follow my own advice, but this is one time I really do. In the old days I vacationed like a pack mule — I can even remember taking a ham radio transceiver along on one vacation.
These days? I go on vacation.
