In honor of Travel + Leisure's 40th anniversary, it has announced 40 travel innovations that have made traveling "better, easier, safer and healthier."
The slideshow included several important items such as digital cameras, air traffic control, GPS and World Heritage Sites, but other items, such as Skype and airplane meals could have been left off the list.
First, Skype is a good tool to converse face-to-face with people distances away. But if you are not traveling for business, is there really a need for Skype to be on this list? Even though it was the first free long-distance calling system between computers (created in 2003), it has less to do with travel and more with communication.
I don't know about you, but I could do without airplane meals. Airplanes are not known for their fine dining. It is practical to have a meal on an airplane, especially when you are traveling for longer than three hours, but now they are charging for food. I would rather buy airport food than pre-packaged flight food.
The list did include several items that can bring about a much easier and more enjoyable travel experience. For instance, Sea-Bands were on the list. As a sufferer of motion sickness, Sea-Bands seriously help me out both on airplanes and boats. Instead of motion sickness pills that put you to sleep, they are a drug-free and reusable remedy for motion sickness. The bands, invented in 1983, are said to cause a release of endorphins to prevent nausea. A plastic stud is attached to the inside of the wristband, which exerts pressure and stimulates the acupressure point. It has been proven that pressure on this point relieves nausea and vomiting.
I did like that foursquare was on the list. It takes traveling to the next level. The 2009 location-based site can give you tips about food, shopping and exploring based on people in your network.
For the complete list, click here.
What do you think? Do you think there were better choices?
Posts in The Traveling Gator appear on Wednesdays.
