The savvy traveler can never be too prepared. Here’s some advice from Yoga Journal for an easy-to-carry health maintenance kit worthy of the most dedicated (and holisitic!) Eagle Scout. For the full article, click the link at the bottom.

Nourishing the Body. Prepare for skipped meals and altered schedules by packing small bags of dried fruits, seeds, nuts, lightweight energy bars, and firm fruits such as apples and oranges.

Sun Protection. No matter where your travels take you, pack sunblock with an SPF of 15 or higher. In case you do suffer from sunburn or windburn, aloe vera gel helps soothe the pain, as well as heal damaged skin.

R & R. Anxiety, tension, or sheer excitement from your travels may leave you unable to relax or sleep. Nature has a treasure trove of safe herbal relaxants such as passion flower, kava, chamomile, and linden flowers. In addition, you can ease a stiff neck with an inflatable neck pillow; shut out light and other distractions with an eyebag filled with hulled buckwheat and scented with lavender; and use a gel-filled eye mask (hot or cold) to reduce swelling brought on by lack of sleep, flying, or dehydration.

Mini-Medicine Kit. Pack some tiger balm for headaches and muscle tension in the skull and neck. Don’t forget immune system protection—pack vitamin C to fend off free radical damage brought on by travel stressors. Vitamin E and mineral selenium counteract chemical exposure, and acidophilus tablets can help protect against intestinal predators.

Steady Your Stomach. Do not leave home without the all-around travel herb: ginger. Not only does it quell motion sickness, but it also helps to ease digestive disturbances.

A Boost of Energy. Caffeine can add to jangled nerves and disrupt sleep patterns. If your body needs a boost, reach for ginseng and other herbal stimulants such as kola nut or yerba mate.

Yoga Journal health maintenance kit article

There are a number of online photo services but with the introduction of PictureMover, Snapfish is taking the lead. The first thing I do when I return from a trip is unload my digi pics onto my laptop. The last thing I want to do is upload them all over again when I decide to share them with friends, get prints, or create an album. Enter PictureMover, software designed to transfer photos from your camera (and other media devices like memory cards) to your computer AND to Snapfish. At the same time! Here’s to uploading two pics with one click.

Snapfish PictureMover

Good things come in threes. Like three miles per dollar spent on a hotel room! If you’re a United Mileage Plus member, from June 1 through July 31, 2006, you can earn triple miles on starting on your second stay at Omni hotels. Also, after your first stay, you’ll receive a second weekend night for just $25.

I’m partial to the Omni in San Francisco, mainly because it’s the only one I’ve been to. But most locations have 24-hour business centers, tasty restaurants, Starbucks coffee and other upscale amentities. Click on the link below to book.

United Mileage Plus triple miles at Omni hotels

Ah, technology. As far as I’m concerned, wireless internet access is the best thing since sliced bread. Free wifi is even better. Which is why the website ilovefreewifi.com is so cool. The site offers a community listing of free hotspots around the United States from Albuquerque to Washington DC so you can update your cross-country travel blog no matter where you are. The best part is you can access it on the road from your phone with a simple text message. Click the link below for all the details.

Free Wireless Internet Access Points in the US

Sure, Venice is nice - Saint Marks Basilica, the Guggenheim, quaint cobblestone lanes and romantic gondola rides. But the main attraction? Gelato. From stracciatella to cioccolato, this creamy cold treat is worth the trip to Italy alone. Looks like TravelPoster angiebubble, who snapped this pic, probably agrees.

If the roundup isn’t enough for you and nothing beats checking your mailbox and finding a new issue of insert title of favorite travel mag here, Girlfriend Getaways is the new mag on the block. The new publication from Budget Travel hit the stands this month and highlights travel especially for the ladies. Sure, its articles on destination spas, where to meet men and the shoe lover’s guide to travel are overtly stereotypical but entertaining nonetheless. So if you’re looking for a shot of estrogen among your travel glossies, add this to your subscriber list.

I’m a sucker for travel magazines. Those glossy pictures of idyllic beaches, brand new hotels and fabulous local color keep me turning the pages. Sometimes I get so distracted by the photos I forget to read the articles. And with so many titles out there, it’s impossible to keep up. Which is why I’m glad the Washington Post is publishing a semi-regular roundup of the best articles from all the travel mags. This roundup includes a piece from Town & Country Travel about France’s Ile de Re and Budget Travel’s 25 Reasons to love Oaxaca, Mexico. Get the info you need and leave the reading to the Post!

Washington Post travel mag roundup

Podcasts are the new way to study up on travel destinations from city walks and dining hot spots to museum tours and historical background. With so many options, how do you know which one to download? This month’s Conde Nast Traveler has a great article that breaks down the different audio guides and what they’re best for. Here’s a condensed version:

- Lonely Planet: 7-20 minute interviews with Lonely Planet authors who reveal their favorite spots and experiences. Destinations include New Zealand, Souteast Asia and numerous others. Free.

- Audiosteps: One to two hour guided walks for major US cites like San Francisco and Washington DC as well as Bath, Bristol and London. $14.

- iToors: Themed tours, like Glasgow’s music scene or Hemingway’s Paris, that take you off the beaten path. Free.

- iJourneys: Relaxed one-hour tours that hit the big spots and provide a bit of history for cities like Florence, Rome and Paris. $15 includes a printable map.

- Art Mobs: Brief unofficial guides to specific works at New York’s MoMA by Marymount Manhattan College art professors and students. Free.

Canada’s got it going on. Vancouver is the place to be and this week Daily Candy has the town covered. From where to stay (the Opus hotel) to where to eat (Chambar), they’ve got it nailed. Click the link below for details.

Daily Candy travel feature North Star