TripCase vs. TripIt

 VS 

I don't know about you, but when I travel I find there's a lot of information I need to keep track of - flights, hotel confirmation, shuttle services, etc. A few years ago, I started using TripIt on my iPhone. Recently, I stumbled across a different app - TripCase - and have decided to compare the two, using both on my upcoming trips. TripCase is even offering a FREE trial period for its Pro version until the end of 2012.  Pretty good marketing, if you ask me.

One of the first differences between the two is that TripCase does not offer an iPad version, which is a bit disappointing. Perhaps this will come in the future? Both offer two methods of entering trip data - manually, or importing (via email confirmations). In this respect, both operated smoothly. Currently, even though I have two additional trips planned, I only have the data available for my next trip, a cruise. Once I finalize the bookings for another trip, I will be able to compare the two apps as far as multiple trip list views.

TripIt also allows me to connect with others who have TripIt accounts - a nice feature for business travelers and families. I use this feature often. TripCase looks to have this same functionality, although I have not set it up, as none of my existing contacts have TripCase accounts.

Both apps also have the ability to publish information to your social networks (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), although I'm not sure I'd want to share that much.

Both apps also have the ability to share your trips to your online calendars, via subscription, something I use all the time.

Both apps have associated web sites which also allow for manual entry of your trip info, although I personally prefer the layout of the TripIt site. Both apps have free and paid versions, but I do not yet know what the cost of the Pro TripCase account is; I've been unable to find it on their site. TripIt offers their Pro version for $49 a year, not really a bargain unless you're a road warrior.

One of the features which caught my eye with TripCase is its notifications - when I land, TripCase will let me know if a connecting flight has changed, or remind me to check my hotel to see if I can check in early. It will also provide traffic updates if I'll be driving to my next destination. TripIt also shares some of this functionality, but at a $49 per year cost. right now, while TripCase Pro is free, that will be my preference.

Overall, both apps offer nice visuals and comprehensive features, and I'm looking forward to exploring their differences on my next trip.

**UPDATE**

Ok, the verdict is in - it's a tie. No, seriously. I have two more trips scheduled this year, and will continue to use both apps. I really can't decide which I like better. At least not yet.

(6/8/12)

Travel in 2012

                                                         

The first months of 2012 will, or have, seen me in Northampton, MA; Ft. Lauderdale; Orlando and the Caribbean for a cruise; and Houston for work. Mid-summer will be Sint Maarten and St. Kitts for a week of diving. The latter third of the year, as of now, remains wide open. Here's hoping for a fun-filled year of adventures :-)

Utila Diving (originally posted September 19, 2010)

Ok, so this was two months ago, but I spent a week at the Utila Dive Lodge with a subset of Our Own Damn Dive Club (OODDC for short), and we had a blast. The trip was eight days, seven nights. Utila is one of the Bay Islands of Honduras (the other notable island being Roatan), accessible by boat and small plane, about 18 miles north of the Honduran mainland. I flew direct to San Pedro Sula, Honduras from Newark (and wisely used miles to upgrade to First Class for the 5 hour flight), then flew from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba, on the coast, on a 16-passenger plane. From there, we took a 5-minute flight in an 8-passenger plane over to Utila.

Once we landed, we were greeted by our driver, and his van, into which we stuffed ourselves and our gear (we were only 7 so this wasn't awful). The Utila Dive Lodge sits in the harbor, and is entirely self-contained. The week was all-inclusive, so we never had to go in search of meals after diving. The rooms were very spacious and clean, with lots of room for gear storage. The Lodge only has eight rooms, of which we took four. We had the place to ourselves. There was a reason for that. Apparently, every year there is Carnival, during which the islanders choose and crown the next Queen for their pageant. Each night's festivities were RIGHT NEXT TO our hotel. And it was LOUD. This really was the only blemish on the whole trip.

Diving in Utila was surprisingly beautiful. I say that only because all of us have been incredibly fortunate and have been diving all over the world. This was up there on our list of places to return. What makes diving in Utila so special are the whale sharks. There are only a handful of places on earth where humans can interact with these beautiful, huge creatures. We spent a late morning spotting and snorkeling with four separate whale sharks, and I was able to get some amazing video clips (which i will upload). The reefs were in really good shape and we saw lots of fish, turtles, even a frogfish one day!

Packing for this trip was a bit of a challenge, as we were limited to 50 pounds in our checked bag (due to the tiny flight). I managed to get my bag to 37 pounds, which included all of my SCUBA gear and clothing for the week. I used a North Face Recon as a carry on, and it held my iPad, keyboard, Kindle, iPhone, cameras (2 Canon SD-1100IS') and housing, plus paperwork, a change of clothes, and some snacks and water. All told, I'd say it was my best, most efficient packing job to date.

We're not yet sure where we'll be going next year, but I'll be ready with a really short packing list

Time to Pack! (originally posted July 12, 2010)

This coming Saturday I am leaving for a week of diving in Utila, one of the Bay Islands off the northern coast of Honduras. I've been to my doctor to get all the prophylactic prescriptions (Malarone - it's apparently malaria heaven there; Cipro, Zpack, steroid ear drops), and am heading out a little later for the rest of the over the counter meds - Bonine, chewing gum, Advil, etc. Over the years, I've found that this stuff is more important than almost anything else I pack.

Regardless of where I'm going, or what I'm doing, I always make time to sit down and write out my packing lists. Instead of one giant list, I now make four distinct ones: dive gear, clothing, medications, and carry-on bag. I find that not only helps me organize my thoughts, but really speeds up the packing process.

For this trip, we have a checked bag limit of 50 pounds for the flight from San Pedro Sula to Utila. That's not a lot when you're packing dive gear, so I've decided to ditch my 8-pound eBags rolling duffle, and instead will use my LL Bean duffel bag, saving almost 7 pounds. In that will be my dive gear in a mesh duffel, and a few changes of clothing. When you spend most of the time underwater or in a pool, there's not much need for clothing.

I find that the hardest part of packing, for me anyway, is the carry-on bag. Once I get past the necessities, I'm left agonizing over the rest - reading material? puzzle books? snacks? If there's anything that has remained consistent, it's that I always overpack this bag. Always. I swear I won't do it this time. Really.

Packing Tips (originally posted May 9, 2010)

Hmm, where do I begin?

I'm a sucker for a good set of tips, especially when it comes to travel. The folks over at Gadling maintain some of the best travel-related tips I've seen, all in one place. Here are some of my favorite packing tips from them. You can see the whole list here.

A no-brainer. I will go do this right now:

"Create a Travel Drawer -Find yourself spending hours searching around the house for your voltage converter, mosquito net, and travel hairdryer before you leave for a trip? Consider emptying a drawer in your bureau or buying a plastic under-the-bed bin to store all these must-pack travel items.
You can also keep your drawer or bin stocked with travel-sized shampoos, first-aid kits, maps, spare earbuds, and photocopies of important documents like your driver's license and passport.
Never again will you waste time digging through closets and suitcases looking for your adapter plug kit."

I swear by this one:

"Prepare an In-Flight" Necessities Pouch - Blocking the aisle during boarding while you dig for gum, a book, a hand-held computer game, disinfecting wipes, or earphones will annoy your fellow passengers -- and can delay the departure of your plane.
To avoid this, pack these small must-haves in a resealable gallon-size bag (or any small, easily grabbed "day bag") and place it near the top of your carry-on bag. This will make the bag and its contents easy to retrieve as you take your seat.
Bonus: you'll have a convenient place to stow these necessities during flight and reduce your chances of leaving something behind."

This last one is a combination of mine, and Gadling's. Who knew I would be allergic to the hibiscus flowers on my pillow in the Marshall Islands? After waking up looking like an acne-ridden teenager after an evening sleeping on hibiscus residue, I learned my lesson.

"Pillowcases Provide Comfort and Storage - Pack a pillowcase in your carry-on luggage when you travel.
Stuff a few pair of socks in the pillowcase and use it as a neck pillow during a long flight or train ride.
When you reach your destination, use the pillowcase to store dirty clothes."
Ok, so I've added using the pillowcase, well, as a pillowcase. Who knows who/what has been on that thing before you've decided to lay your head to rest for the night??

While in now way comprehensive, Gadling's list is a great place to start for some really useful tips. Now get packing!

iPad Frenzy (originally posted April 3, 2010)

For those of you living under a rock and who may not know it, today is iPad Day! And for those of us who live and breathe the latest tech news about gizmos and gadgets, well, we have been scratching off the days 'til the iPad release on our walls since its January announcement by Steve Jobs. Now the quandary. To buy or not to buy? The practical money manager part of me says "are you kidding? This thing cost $500 for the cheapest model!" And then the alpha geek part of me says "why the hell am I not already in line picking up my pre-ordered iPad?" Well, it's too late for that, since I did not order one.

After poring over all the updates on the interweb this morning as I sipped my coffee, I am kicking myself. After all, this is the same geek who was in line EACH AND EVERY TIME for the latest iPhone release. And the first iPod release. D'oh. I'm not sure what my original qualms were, really. Money? Probably. But LOOK AT THAT SCREEN! And after I had to update 20+ Apps yesterday because they are now "iPad compatible", well, I'm thinking it's time to pick up that glass of KoolAid and drink deeply.

Which brings me back to my original concern. The money. If I'm going to spend $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi only model, why not wait and save up for the 64GB W-Fi + 3G model? After all, I already have a boatload of content, between music, photos, movies, podcasts, etc., not to mention the bajillion Apps I've already downloaded. If all I do is consume media and use Apps, right now, there appears to be no better device on which to do this. And I haven't even seen or touched one yet.

So, here I am, staring back at the money issue. I can sell more stuff on eBay, but just how much stuff? I was close to listing my Kindle 2, but am not quite ready to let go of it yet, even though there is a free Kindle Reader available for the iPad, which would allow me to read everything I've ever purchased on my Kindle. That's pretty sweet, but I don't think I'm quite ready to let go of the "lesser technology" for one reason. It's not as flashy, hence not as big a theft target. Yes, that harks back to the days of the first iPhone, when not that many people could be seen with one. BUT, you could slip it into your pocket until you were in a safer place. Not so with the iPad. When I travel with my Kindle 2, no one is staring at it lustfully, although many people are still curious.

The bottom line is that I will not resolve this today. I do know that at some point in the future I will own an iPad. Until then I guess I'll just have to make do with my outdated iPhone, Kindle, and netbook ;-)