TECH ON THE GO: Weighing in at only 3.3 ounces and just four inches long, the Flip Mino digital camcorder is a mini techno wonder. The small camera shoots 60 minutes of MPEG-4 quality video and is small enough to fit in most pockets.
For a traveler this is the ultimate video camera to take with you anywhere, and for the technically challenged the Flip Mino is simple enough for a toddler to use...just press the big red button on the back and you are the next Scorsese.
The camera features a built-in USB connector that pops up when you press a button...making the camera feel like a Bond gadget, and makes downloading your videos a breeze...you literally plug the camera directly into your computer and the Mino does the rest.
A unique twist the company offers is the option to customize the camera online while purchasing. Through their website you can upload a design or photo and it will be printed directly onto the white plastic body of the camera you order. If you can't come up with a design yourself, the website has tons of ready to use designs and even a design generator for those looking to be the next Picasso. The Flip Mino costs $180 and now comes in an HD version for $230, available at theflip.com
TRAVEL WEB: Finding the perfect postcard at times is nearly impossible…then finding a stamp, figuring out the correct postage, finding a mailbox…this process can feel like you are going on a wild goose chase…this is why I have sworn off non-electronic communication when traveling. But every time I leave on a trip one of my friends has to set off my guilt-o-meter by saying the famous line “send me a postcard from X.”
So when I discovered HazelMail.com I was ecstatic…my postcard-guilt-complex is over! Hazel Mail is an ingenious website that allows you to upload photos and fill out a virtual postcard. They then print it and mail it out for you…in the time it takes to write an email you have sent a physical postcard. The service costs $1.50, which is cheap when you consider how much time you will save on your vacation.
BUDGET TRAVEL: Many years ago when I backpacked Europe, I had the pleasure of roaming Munich with Mike's Bike Tour. While cruising the Internet I was happy to discover they are still around!
If you are visiting Munich you must take their tour, it is hands down the best way to see the highlights of the city in one afternoon. Your guide takes you by all the major monuments and provides detailed history. The tour is on paved paths and is not strenuous; so do not fear my little couch potatoes. The best part is when the tour stops at a traditional beer garden for a break; by the end of it you end up with a bunch of tipsy tourists cycling…a sight not to miss!
The tour is inexpensive, costing $30 including the bike, and $22 for backpackers (must be staying at one of the hostels on their list). No reservations are required, just show up at the meeting spot at the designated time, for details visit mikesbiketours.com
SPA REPORT: At the foot of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, you will find the Baños Arabe (Arab baths), which are in the tradition of the Moorish baths that probably existed back when the Alhambra was still occupied.
If you are a fan of Moorish architecture then you will be drooling inside the baths and upset you can’t take photos. Not only are the baths beautiful but they are also relaxing and inexpensive. For $32 you get entry into the baths, which have different pools all in varying temperatures, and a 15-minute aromatherapy massage.
What I loved about the experience was that I felt as if I was in the Alhambra experiencing life the way it was back then. For more info visit their granada.hammamspain.com
FUTURE OF TRAVEL: I have never been into camping…but after seeing the Verdier Light Caravan concept camper, I had a change of heart. Designed by the Canadian Industrial Designer Alexandre Verdier, this concept car is the ultimate chic yet green caravan.
The stylish design alone makes me want to snap one up, but when I saw the built in computer, fold out kitchen and solar power system I was sold. Unfortunately like all that is fabulous, this caravan is not cheap with prices starting at $129,000…and although they are already accepting deposits, a production start date is yet to be set.
TIP OF THE WEEK: As if loosing your bag wasn't painful enough, airlines make you go through the arduous task of writing a list of everything you lost, in order to be reimbursed.
To make the task easier, take a photo of the contents of your luggage before you pack. This will make the list easier to conjure up.
Michelle Strashoon’s column appears every Thursday in the Daily Sound. E-mail your travel tips and feedback to tips@hipcompass.com