Voted one of Time’s 50 Best Websites, Stay.com is no ordinary travel planner. Sure, you can do all the normal stuff you do on other travel websites, including find information about a city, chat with fellow travelers, and book hotel rooms. But Stay.com steps it up a notch by allowing you to build your own travel guide.

Once you find your destination, read the reviews, view sites and attractions, and plan what you want to do, you can put everything into your own personal travel guide that can be saved to your cell phone and viewed offline, or printed out into a compact format which you can fold and put in your pocket for easy reference. Plus, share your guide with friends and family, and continue to collect places you like, and add them later.

Plus, with Stay.com’s Easy Hotel Booking, you can:

• Find reviews and make reservations at more than 100,000 hotels
• Reserve with secure booking
• View negotiated deals
• Take advantage of no cancellation fees
• View customer reviews

Check out Stay.com’s Guide for more information.

Create Your Own Travel Guide from Stay.com on Vimeo.

Android:
For use on android based operating systems, including HTC, LG, Sony, & Samsung.

• Exchange Rates. This add-free app by Russell Wilson features an integrated calculator, an off-line mode, auto-sync, and multiple currency display. It has every world currency, and includes override and invert rates. Best of all, the app is free.

• Featured by the Travel Channel, XE Currency is a customizable currency app that also includes precious metals. The app allows you to follow up to 10 currencies at a time, from an option list of over 180 currencies. Rates update once per minute so you’re always in the know. The app is free, and also available for iPhone.

iPhone:
For use on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad…

• iCurrency Pad. For only .99 cents, get up-to-the-minute exchange rates via an “electronic board” with historical price trends. The app boasts 150+ currencies and charts for all exchange rates. Offered in a variety of languages, included English, Spanish, Chinese, German, Italian, and Arabic.

• Worldmate. With 160+ currencies and an easy to use calculator, World Mate is a great travel assistant. The currencies and exchange rates are automatically delivered and stored on your phone or device, making conversion easy.

There’s no reason to be bored on a road trip. Try these 10 boardless (and boredless) games suggested by How Stuff Works and you’re sure to have a great time. For complete directions on how to play the games, follow the link above.

1. Rock, Paper, Scissors. This oldie but goodie can have endless variations.
2. The Grocery Game. Can you name an item on the grocery list from A to Z?
3. Spelling Bee. Have fun and learn at the same time.
4. I Spy. Will you be the first to guess?
5. Team Storytelling. You never know what you’ll come up with!
6. The Banana Game. Observation skills required.
7. Find the Vehicle. What elusive cars can you spot on the road?
8. Slug Bug. This classic road trip game never goes out of style.
9. Fortunately-Unfortunately. Induce the power of positive thinking.
10. Who Am I? Great variation of 20 questions.

Traveling on business? Most likely you will be working out of your hotel room or using conference areas. So, which hotels offer the best services for business travelers?

According to Forbes, the following are best bets.

• Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Work areas complete with fax, printer, dual-line telephones, and wireless internet are available at standard fare prices. Also take advantage of the nearly 2 million square feet of meeting space.

• Le Meridien in San Francisco’s financial district boasts that business travelers can “practically roll out of bed right into their meeting.” The hotel has high speed wireless internet, 24 hour room service, ample meeting and event space, and plenty of travel rewards.

Fortune magazine recommends:

• Ace Hotel in New York City. Enjoy free wireless internet, faxing, printing and copying services, a ballroom for corporate events, trendy restaurants, and even indie movies on demand.

• The Crosby Street Hotel in London provides free Wi-Fi, ample meeting space, and a 99 seat screening room.

•In Chicago, head to The Elysian. Though you will spend $395 and upwards, this hotel claims to “bring the office to the room.” Staff members are trained and prepared to handle most any business request, including executing a Power Point presentation.

Vapur Anti-Bottle – Flexible Water Bottle
The Ultimate Water Bottle! Reusable, foldable, washable, freezable, attachable, identifiable, and completely BPA free. Vapur’s Anti-Bottle Water Bottles are constructed with three layers of durable FDA approved plastic that is stain resistant and odor and taste free. When in use, the Anti-Bottle is designed to stand. When empty, roll, fold, or flatten the bottle for easy storage. The bottles can even be filled with water and frozen for use as an ice pack. $9.95

Aerobie Aeropress Coffee & Espresso Maker (w/ Tote Bag)
Brew the richest, smoothest, freshest coffee in 30 seconds! The unique design of the Aerobie Aeropress uses an ideal water temperature, gentle air pressure, total immersion, and a micro-filter to brew the perfect cup of coffee. First, the water and grounds mingle for 10 seconds. Then, the gentle air pressure pushes the mixture through the micro-filter for 20 seconds. The lower temperature and short brew time produces not only a rich, smooth flavor, but lower acid content so it’s friendlier on the stomach. The Aerobie Aeropress makes 1-4 cups of coffee or espresso. Made in the USA, and includes a handy tote bag.

Sun Visor Organizer
Store all of your travel gadgets neatly and securely with the sun visor organizer. The organizer will accommodate your cell phone, MP3 player, headset, garage door opener, flashlights, pens, maps, chewing gum, and anything else you may need while on the road. $19.95

Digital Travel Luggage Scale
Check the weight of your baggage before leaving home, and save on costly baggage charges at the airport. The Digital Travel Luggage Scale will measure weight up to 88 pounds. It also features a bright, blue back-lit display, auto power off, and a quick release strap that easily adjusts to any size handle. Measures only 5.5″ x 1.25″ x 1.25″ for easy storage. $16.95

Wunderground’s Trip Planner, Road Trip Planner, and Flight Tracking will help you avoid weather delays and tell you whether you need to pack sweaters or shorts on your trip. Input your dates of travel and destination into the Trip Planner and Road Trip Planner, and using a historical database, Wunderground will tell you what kind of weather to expect.

To use Flight Tracking, select the option from the Travel & Activities Menu, select an airline, and input your flight number. Or, simply take a look at the live Doppler radar map and take note of any red dotted areas, which indicate flight delays due to poor weather.

You can also use Wunderground to check weather conditions anywhere you want, including severe storm outbreaks such as hurricanes and tornadoes. The Wundermap will give you an aerial view of a city or neighborhood, and the health map will let you know where virus outbreaks are.

Check out these resources and much more at Wundground.com.

IgoUgo
Winner of the Webby Award for Best Travel Site in the US in 2005, IgoUgo has only gotten better. Not only can you compare rates on all sorts of trips and travels, you can read stories and tips, share your travel experience, ask questions in the forum, view photos from traveler’s top picks, and much more. As a bonus, contributors to IgoUgo are awarded GO points, which can be redeemed at online retailers and used for frequent flyer miles.

TravBuddy
TravBuddy allows you to share reviews, memories, and photos, find travel companions, and meet new friends. Create a profile page, and personalize it with travel maps, games, and more. Trav Buddy is free, and has been featured in PC World, Real Simple, and Budget Travel.

1. Prior to traveling with your pet, consult with your veterinarian to ensure your pet is healthy enough to make the journey.

2. Make sure your pet has the appropriate vaccinations, such as a current rabies shot. Many airlines will require a health certificate.

3. Find pet friendly airlines and lodging in advance, and ask what constitutes pet friendly—do they require a deposit, is there a designated pet area, etc.

4. Make sure your pet is wearing an identification tag with a phone number where someone can be reached at all times.

5. Find a transport crate large enough to accommodate your pet and his or her belongings, such a food and water bowls, blankets, toys, or a litter box. If you’re traveling by air, check with the airline for transport crate guidelines.

6. If your pet has never traveled before, take him or her on a few trips in the car to find out how he or she will react.

7. During the trip, make sure your pet has food and water. Be aware, however, that your pet may not eat or drink much during travel.

8. If your pet needs any medication, pack enough for a few extra days in case your traveling takes longer than expected.

9. If traveling with a cat, always keep the cat in the crate. A dark blanket draped over the crate will help keep the cat calm and quiet.

10. Prepare for the weather. If a hot streak is expected, make sure your pet is hydrated. If it’s going to be cold, include a blanket in the pet’s crate. In any event, avoid leaving your pet in the car alone for extended periods of time.

Most convenience foods are loaded with salt, fat, and sugar. But when you’re traveling, you may not have time for much else. What snacks should you reach for instead of the pop, chips, and candy bars?

• Granola or protein bars. Just watch out for sugar and calories.
• Fruit and yogurt parfaits are great choices at the drive-through window.
• String cheese will give you some calcium and protein.
• Reach for the water!
• Baked whole grain crackers are becoming more common in convenience stores and airports.
• Nuts. Loaded with protein and unsaturated fats, nuts are healthy snacking food.
• Trail mix. Again, just watch out for sugar and calories.
• Fruit. An apple a day keeps the doctor away!
• Fruit leather or dried fruit. Both are easy to keep in the car or in your pack.
• Veggies. Just watch what you dip them in.
• Beef Jerky. Go with low sodium.

How would you fare if you were trapped somewhere and needed to be rescued? How Stuff Works put together a list of survival tools and signals for such an event. Here are three that you should equip your vehicle or person with are:

Fire. According to the article, the internationally recognized distress signal is three fires in a triangular formation, or three fires in a straight line about 80 feet apart. Make sure your vehicle or travel pack includes matches, flint, and other fire making supplies.

Smoke. If it is daytime, smoke sends a better signal than fire. Three puffs of smoke in the air is the international signal for trouble. You can achieve the three puffs by covering the smoky fire with a wet item, such as a jacket or blanket, then pulling it off. As an alternative to actually making a fire, you can purchase canisters of artificial smoke.

Mirror. A mirror or other shiny object can help you signal an airplane or helicopter flying overhead. Tilt the object back and forth to get their attention.