Mariel Hemingway & Travelers Advantage

Holiday Travel Tips & Gadgets
Most of us will travel at some point during the holiday season. Flying, especially, can be stressful this time of year.

I'd like to share a few travel tips and must-haves that I've discovered during my years of globe-trotting. They've made my travels more comfortable and have helped me arrive at my destination happy and relaxed. 

When I fly, I bring along an air purifier and noise cancellation head phones that I can also use to play music. This one may sound a little strange, but I also bring sesame oil for my nostrils. It keeps your nose and throat from getting dry at high altitudes and makes you less susceptible to airborne illnesses that thrive in planes. Silver spray is also really beneficial. It helps boost the immune system and attacks any germs that you may pick up. It's highly effective and available at most health food stores.

I like to bring my own tea and snacks for the trip, too. I want to know where my food has been and how and where it's been prepared. That way, I know I'll arrive at my destination feeling good, with no surprise or unpleasant reactions to airplane food.

The experts at Travelers Advantage also have some suggestions for portable and electronic items that can make your travels more comfortable and enjoyable. A few of their favorites include:

1. Portable DVD players - Lightweight entertainment that's easy to pack - a lifesaver if you have children along for the ride.


2. MP3 players, iPods & Mobile phones - Music is a great stress reliever and makes the miles fly by. An MP3 player or iPod also politely lets the chatty stranger next to you know that you don't feel like talking. Many mobile phones, like the iPhone, have special airplane modes that allow travelers to listen to music or watch movies while adhering to in-flight rules.


3. Handheld GPS devices - They know where you are, even when you don't. GPS devices use satellite signals to pinpoint exactly where you are and how fast you're going. Many contain detailed street maps, which are helpful in new cities.


4. Buckey pillows, travel pillows and travel massagers - When you're napping on a plane or riding in a car, you need proper head and neck support. The U-shaped Buckey pillow is filled with buckwheat hulls and is made of washable fabric. A portable travel massager can help relax the tight and tense muscles that come with hours of air or automobile travel.


5. Power Monkey - With this ingenious device, you can leave all your other electronic chargers at home. The pocket-sized Power Monkey charges mobile phones, iPods, BlackBerrys, MP3 players, Bluetooth headsets, and PDAs. It includes a 110-240 voltage adaptor plus four adaptor plugs so that it can recharge from 150 countries. 


6. Travel Phones -Stay connected from wherever you are. The National Geographic Talk Abroad Travel Phone allows you to call anywhere in the world from over 100 countries.


7. Earphones - Block out jet engine noise, loud fellow passengers and other travel discomforts with earphones or plugs that that reduce or eliminate noise. Some, like the Comply NR10 Earphones, are made of soft memory foam for added comfort and top sound quality.

About Mariel Hemingway

Mariel Hemingway made her silver screen debut at 13 years old in "Lipstick," and was nominated for an Oscar four years later for Woody Allen's "Manhattan." She has starred in some 30 films. Currently, she is producing a film based on her grandfather's epic best-seller "A Moveable Feast," a set of memoirs of his experiences in Paris in the 1920s. In addition to her film career, she found a passion for holistic and balanced living. She's written two books and conducts wellness retreats across the country sharing her insights about yoga, meditation, nutrition and home. She is currently working on a cookbook called Mariel’s Kitchen Cookbook that will be released by Harper San Francisco Publishers in the spring of 2009. Hemingway is the mother of two teenage daughters.

About Travelers Advantage

Members of Travelers Advantage (http://www.travelersadvantage.com or 1-877-841-1335) can save money on air travel, cruises, car rentals and accommodations, as well as earn five percent cash back on eligible travel booked with preferred providers through the service. Travelers Advantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans. 

About Affinion Group
As a global leader with almost 40 years of experience, Affinion Group (www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing loyalty solutions. Leveraging its expertise in customer engagement, product development and targeted marketing, Affinion provides programs in subscription-based lifestyle services, personal protection, insurance and other areas to help generate increased customer loyalty and significant incremental revenue for more than 5,550 marketing partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Stamford, Conn., the company has approximately 4,250 employees and markets in 17 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified.

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