SPECIAL FEATURE: Travel & Technology, the top travel-related things that have made life easier for road warriors in the past 20 years

WEB RESOURCES

JohnnyJet.com

I was recently asked by a popular women’s magazine about the top travel-related things that have made life easier for road warriors in the past 20 years. When I found out that my information got cut from the story, I thought I might as well make good use of my hard work. So here are my thoughts on the subject:

1. The Internet
Hands down, the Internet has changed our world, the travel industry in particular. It makes travelers’ lives so much easier. Travelers now have access to information that in the past, only travel agents have had. The Internet has lowered airfares and provides access to such a wealth of information – it has made us all much more savvy travelers.

2 Laptops
Laptops have changed the way we work. Now, many travelers can work remotely thanks to Internet access and wireless capabilities. Also, thanks to laptops, travelers can watch live TV and movies of their own choosing in their hotel rooms.

3 Cell phones
Twenty years ago cell phones were expensive, bulky and only a select group of people had them. Not to mention, you couldn’t use them overseas! Nowadays, almost everyone has a cell phone (many with competitive rate plans), making travel so much easier. From arranging a pickup at the airport and getting directions, to staying in touch with loved ones, I don’t think many of us could travel without our cell phones.

4 Wireless communication devices
BlackBerry, Treo, iPhone – these devices are revolutionary. Ever since I got a BlackBerry, I no longer need to rush to my hotel when I land to download my email. I can do it while I’m still sitting on the tarmac. Love it!

5 iPods and MP3 players
These handy little devices have changed the way we listen to music. Portability is everything to travelers. iPods and MP3 players help to entertain us while we’re traveling, working out and drowning out the screaming baby in row 15. They make it easier to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the real world, even if only temporarily.

6 Online travel services
You can print your boarding pass yourself online. Now that’s amazing! Checking in for a flight has never been so easy. Just log on to your carrier’s website 24 hours in advance to choose your seat, then print! Wise travelers don’t check luggage, so they can show up to the airport a mere 50 minutes prior to departure. These online services are saving us time and taking the headache out of travel.

7 Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)
No more getting lost while trying to find your destination. If this technology had existed when I was a kid, my parents would never have gotten into a fight!

8 Digital cameras
Now, you don’t need to spend $15 to develop 24 pictures, then wait three days to find out just how bad your blurry shots are! Digital cameras not only save us time, paper, chemicals and money, but by using the software that comes with your camera or online photo-sharing services, photos are so much easier to share with friends and family. This helps us to create and keep memories.

9 VOIP
Years ago, making long-distance or overseas calls was a big deal because of the price. Calls could cost up to $7/minute and oftentimes the connection was patchy. These days, communication from anywhere in the world is fast, easy and free using Skype or other Voice Over Internet Protocols (VOIP). The sound is not only crystal clear but users can set up live webcams, too.

10 Social networking sites
Social networking sites such as FaceBook, MySpace, Hi5, TripAdvisor and CouchSurfing have made a huge splash with Internet users of all ages. These sites allow travelers to share travel experiences, suggestions and tips with other users and have become a big part of travel research. You can find out what real people have to say about hotels, airlines and destinations and you no longer have to rely solely on glossy travel brochures.

John E. DiScala (a.k.a. Johnny Jet) travels over 150,000 miles and visits over 20 countries each year. He and his website JohnnyJet.com have been featured over 1,000 times in major publications, including USA Today, Time, Fortune and The New York Times, and he has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, FOX News Channel and PBS. JohnnyJet.com has been named "one of the top best money-saving web sites for travel" by Budget Travel Magazine, while the L.A. Times calls it "one of the top 10 essential travel resources on the internet." In the May 2007 issue of Outside Magazine, Johnny Jet was touted for having one of the world's best "dream jobs". Every week, Johnny hosts a "travel website of the week" for several radio stations around the country, he writes weekly for Frommers.com and he has written for USAToday, The Boston Herald and Coast Magazine. Sign up today for Johnny Jet’s free weekly travel newsletter at www.JohnnyJet.com.
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