Travel Alarm Clock

Wake up to a familiar face

Phone calls in the middle of the night are never good. And after an evening in the hotel
bar, 7 a.m. can feel like the middle of the night. So skip the wake-up call and bring along
your own alarm clock.

Quality Points

Size: Palm-sized.
Structure: Collapsible.
Face: Digital
Material: Plastic.
Illumination: Legible in the dark without disturbing your sleep.
Power: Battery, with adapter back-up.
Nice extras: Carrying case, snooze button, radio, time zones.

More Details:

Size: When you’re loading up the suitcase, space is at a premium. Don’t waste it on your
alarm clock. Look for something that won’t even be noticed in your duffel bag.
Structure: Keep the face protected from scratches and smashes while you’re in transi—
get clock that collapses. And make sure it’s easy to open. A clock you can’t see is also
known as a paperweight.
Face: A travel alarm clock is small to begin with, and trying to discern the big hand from
the little hand can be a challenge at 3 a.m. Stick with a digital clock that’s easy to read in
the dark.
Material: While a stainless steel clock alarm clock might be more pleasing to the eye
than a plastic clock, remember you’ll be carrying it with you everywhere. A stainless
clock will not impress that cute woman from housekeeping, and it’ll just add more
weight to your luggage.
Brightness: Most liquid crystal display (LCD) travel alarm clocks have an unobtrusive
light. You want a clock that will wake you upnot keep you up.
Power: That big pink bunny notwithstanding, batteries do not last forever. Since most
clocks don’t include an adapter, get one and use it whenever possible. Only rely on the
batteries when you’re actually in transit.
Nice extras: A carrying case makes it easy to protect the clock while it’s in your bag. If
you rely on a snooze button at home, don’t think you’ll just be able to jump out of a hotel
bed after one buzz. Same with the radio: if you normally wake up to music or the news,
be consistent. Take a few minutes to find a local station on the alarm clock, and you’ll
start off your early morning much less cranky. If you travel internationally, find a clock
that lets you check the time in several different zones.