Based on our own travel experiences and extensive research, we are certain that the items we offer are the best in each of their respective categories. We spend considerable time carefully selecting thoughtfully designed and well constructed products that appeal to various ages and interests and that respond to the travel needs of today’s families.

From the website, you can shop for kid travel stuff by category, by brand or by price. You can also shop by age, too (the link is easy to miss if you go to the website).

So the next time your kids ask, “Are we there yet?”, what are you going to whip up?

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Using the Electrovaya PowerPad 130, I was able to use my laptop outside for nearly nine hours, with only a fraction of that time spent on standby.

The batteries in the PowerPad series weigh about a pound, come with two USB charge ports, and they’re well worth having if you frequently work from hotspots, or want to work outside for extended periods. They’re compatible with thousands of models of laptops.

Also perfect for use during long drives or long-haul flights particularly if you’re on economy class where there usually aren’t plugs available for recharging.

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Here’s probably one of the best gadgets for parents traveling with their little ones: the All-in-One Car Seat, Baby Stroller and Booster Seat from Hammacher.

A boon for parents traveling with young children, this versatile seat converts quickly and easily from a secure car/plane seat (forward- or rear-facing) into a sturdy, maneuverable stroller, complete with adjustable-height handle and a low center of gravity for stability. It can even be used as a booster seat when dining. The wheels and handle fold up and fit inside the body, and it secures to seats directly with a seat belt, for a true all-in-one solution. Instead of lugging excessive amounts of gear with you when you travel or shop, this innovative system allows you to simply wheel your child to the plane or car, fold away the strollers wheels and handle, and buckle it firmly in place.

This is particularly nifty when flying with children. The stroller function will be very useful when you navigate the airport, and the carseat function makes flying much safer for small children (rather than holding them on your lap during take-off and landing). This fine piece of equipment is suitable for newborns (at least 5 pounds) up to children weighing 40 pounds. You can get one here for $249.95.

Hat Tip: The Red Ferret Journal;Photo from Hammacher

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But cruises are different, probably because it’s not yet a popular mode of holiday travel? But if that’s what you’re looking for, you just might find the best deals at Cruise Compete. And that’s even without actually searching for it.

Confused? Here’s how it works. Just choose a cruise, create an account, request quotes, and then sit back and let the quotations from various travel agents reach you. In effect, independent travel agencies compete to offer you the best cruise deal.

Have a look at the looong list of Asia/Far East Cruises to choose from, or simply choose one from the Asia/Far East Cruise Specials currently on offer.

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First, try these: GINGER AND WRISTBANDS Although far from proven, these are safe and worth a shot, especially for mild symptoms. Ginger root, typically sold in candies and capsules, has the most supporting evidence. Occasional use of up to 250 milligrams four times a day is considered safe for most people, including women who might be pregnant. Bracelets such as Sea-Bands, found at drugstores, stimulate acupressure points on the wrist and have been shown to combat nausea in some situations. The evidence that they work against motion sickness is mixed. However, they’re safe and can be used along with other remedies.

Next, try this: ANTIHISTAMINES. Older over-the-counter antihistamines such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) have been proven to counteract motion sickness and are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use by children older than 2. The catch is that they take 30 minutes to an hour to kick in, and they can leave you feeling drowsy or light-headed. Newer, non-sedating over-the-counter antihistamines such as loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec p) might relieve allergy symptoms but don’t appear to quell a queasy stomach.

If all else fails, try: PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. Promethazine (Phenergan) is another antihistamine effective at relieving nausea, but it might make you sleepy. Another choice is prescription strength meclizine (Antivert), although it, too, may cause drowsiness. A scopolamine patch (Transderm-Scop) is also very effective, but side effects including blurred vision and severe drowsiness make it a treatment of last resort. Some patients also report a rebound effect, including nausea, dizziness, and headaches when they remove the patch.

Before traveling, have a light meal about 3 hours before you hit the road. If you can, choose a seat or spot least affected by motion — up front in a car, over a wing on a plane, or midship on a boat deck.

Photo: ShopSmart July 2008 Cover, used with permission

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Unlike the locals who keep their babies at home for the first few months, my daughter’s been around since the day we were discharged from the hospital. And even if our trips have just been ultra short ones– the farthest being to a friend’s house half an hour’s drive away– there’s no telling where she could have picked up the virus.

Would I have done differently and refrained from bringing her along to those short trips? Heck, no! As the doc said, she could very well have picked it up from us, from home. Traveling ups the risk of getting sick, of course, by exposing you to more people than you would otherwise have been if you just stayed in your bedroom. But I think I’d rather take the risk. With infants, one needs to be more careful, of course, and I would hesitate flying or being in areas with too many people for too long, especially if the babies haven’t had their immunization shots yet.

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Just like booking an airline flight, all you have to do is to enter your travel dates, points of departure and destination, and seat. You can use a credit card, debit card or an internet enabled online bank account to pay for your bookings. And like airline bookings, you will then be issued an e-ticket, which you need to present upon boarding together with some form of identification.

Neat, eh?

Image: Make My Trip screenshot

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Photo Credit: aussiegall via Flickr

Wherever your feet brings you (if you’re visiting Asia, let us know your plans!), don’t forget to check out some of these stories and tips from the b5media travel channel:

• Filipina Soul – A yummy sounding recipe for Putong Puti (Rice Muffins).
• Flyaway Cafe – Picks her 7 Family Vacation Destinations that are FUN & Educational.
• Geeky Traveller – Answers the questions Is the New iPhone 3G useful for travelers?
• Let’s Visit Asia – Unfortunately, Thai Airways Adjusts Fuel Surcharge (hint:  it’s going up).
• Sirened – An argument for decriminalization of drugs with Prescription Drugs Kill More People than Illegal Drugs.
• Southern Byways – Suggests Museum Exhibitions to See This Summer.
• Starked DC – Give us his Electoral College Forecast: 6/17 Update.
• Starked SF – Explores Reality Television: America’s Obsession with Losing and Failure.
• The Boston Traveler – Another yummy regional recipe, How to Make Boston Cream Pie from Scratch.
• The Chicago Traveler – A restaurant review, Green Zebra Offers Upscale Vegetarian.
• The DC Traveler – Something to think about, Place to Reflect and Remember.
• The Denver Traveler – A beautiful look at Colorado’s Capitol Building.
• The Disney Traveler – Spells out the 2008 Walt Disney World Park Ticket Prices in Simple Terms.
• The Hawaii Traveler – An eating guide,  Aloha, and Thanks For All the Fish.
• The Kuala Lumpur Traveler – Saving money is always important, Pak Lah latest cost cutting measures proved that the government can save.
• The Las Vegas Adventurer – Good news on a popular story, The Mirage Welcomes Tiger Cubs to the Secret Garden.
• The London Traveler – Shopping anyone –  Harrods or Harvey Nicks?
• The New York City Traveler – Outdoor urban haunts, 5 Favorite Rooftop Bars in New York City (and 1 in New Jersey).
• The Paris Traveler – Explain a culinary treat, Let’s Go To Italy (Or My Kitchen) and Eat Some Nutella.
• The San Diego Traveler – BIG golf news, Tiger Takes It In Sudden Death Overtime.
• The Seattle Traveler – Fact and fiction, The Legend & Money of D.B. Cooper.
• The South Florida Traveler – Keep cool, Cool Off at the Venetian Pool.
• The Switzerland Traveler – Simply beautiful, Even More Photos of Chateau Chillon.
• The Sydney Traveler – It’s about the animals, A Day at the Zoo.
• The Tokyo Traveler – The song and the game, Pachinko – Get your Gambling Fix in Tokyo!
• The Vancouver Traveler – It’s all about the music, 23rd Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
• Traveling the Green Way – Sustainable eating, On the Road: Finding Eco-Friendly Restaurants.

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Often, I consult 2-3 websites to book my travel needs, compare the rates offered, and book from that which returns the best offer. Although I have my favorites, they don’t consistently show the best rates, and sometimes I’m surprised to find better offers from websites I wold never have thought of checking out.

With Hotels Combined, the search for that best deal has become a few clicks easier. It searches more than 30 hotel reservation websites– including AsiaRooms.com, Orbitz, LastMinute.com, HotelClub.com, Travelocity.com, and many others– simultaneously to help you find the lowest rate instantly. Give it a spin here!

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Now, I don’t mean it as a criticism of those who do go on such holidays. Some of you work hard for it. You’ve earned it, and yes, you deserve it.

But if you’re like me and you hear a tiny voice making you feel guilty on treating yourself to an extravagant vacation, why not book your travel needs through Good Shop?

GoodShop.com is the new online shopping mall which donates a percentage of each purchase to the charity designated by the buyer. There are more than 600 stores participating including Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Budget Rent-A-Car and others. The shopping experience and the prices are exactly the same as going to the sites directly, but by going through GoodShop first, up to 37% of the purchase price is donated the shopper’s favorite cause.

I’m sure you’ll feel at least a tiny bit better, knowing you’re not just the only one who will benefit with your holiday vacation!

Image: Good Shop header

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