• Loco Cocoa Caffeinated Hot Chocolate
• Stay Puft Marshmallows – The World’s Finest Caffeinated Marshmallows
• BioFUEL – The World’s Most Powerful CAFFEINE INFUSED Popcorn!
• A Snack In The Face Highly Caffeinated Brownies and Cookies
• Shower Shock Caffeinated Soap
• Spazzstick Caffeinated Lip Balm – The World’s First Caffeinated Lip Balm
• Bang!! Caffeinated Ice Cream
• Skin Kiss Caffeine Tights & Shapewear (they claim the effect lasts up to 5 washes)
• NRG Potato Chips
• Morning Spark Natural Energy Instant Oatmeal
• SumSeeds: Energized Sunflower Seeds
• Water Joe – Water with a Work Ethic
• Hot D Wake Up Juice – The Original Bloody Mary Energy Drink

• And our favorite: Perky Jerky – Energizing, All Natural Jerky (The turkey option is, of course, “Turkey Perky Jerky.” Love it!)

We prefer to get our buzz the old-fashioned way, but this may just be the trend of the future. What do you think? Will coffee soon be a thing of the past?

Sources:
- thinkgeek.com
– possessedbycaffeine.com
– bevuniverse.com
– mentalfloss.com
– SFWeeklyBlog

Here’s a preview to get you started. Can you match the airport with its claim to fame (if you want to call them that) below?

• A. Denver
• B. Chicago O’Hare
• C. Atlanta
• D. Vegas
• E. Charlotte
• F. Minneapolis
• G. San Francisco
• H. Philadelphia

1. Minute Suites (at two of the above airports!) offer small but clean and plush rooms for relaxing, doing business, or napping! Pricing starts at a $30 minimum for an hour, adds $7.50 for each additional 15-minute increment, and at more than 4 hours various discounts apply. There are also special rates for pilots, airline employees, and military personnel.
   

   Photo Credit: Jaunted

2. The “Freshen Up!” Store is a great idea, offering shower rooms, massage chairs, a place to iron your clothes and lots of travel-sized toiletries and basics that would come in handy if stranded, like underwear, socks, and pantyhose. Why doesn’t every airport have one of these?!
   

   Photo Credit: Stuck At the Airport

3. Live Bathroom Attendants at this airport will greet you, guide you to the a stall and even pump the hand towel machine for you. Their purpose, however, is reported to be to regulate bathroom traffic and maintain cleanliness. So we guess it makes sense. Kind of.
4. “Fountain of the Future” Super-Deluxe Coca-Cola Machines with touch-screens that let you select from around 100 options can provide minutes of entertainment while waiting at the airport in the town that is home to Coke headquarters.
   

   Photo Credit: Jaunted

    

    

5. A Liquor Store Near Baggage Claim doesn’t actually exist at this airport yet, but the airport considering adding this store will come as no surprise. Probably not a great idea, but no doubt would be successful.
6. Pirates Statues, through August 2011, are entertainment for both the young and the old, especially since pirates are currently so popular (thanks, Johnny!). Life-sized statues are scattered around this airport, promoting an exhibit at this city’s Museum of Nature & Science.
   

   Photo Credit: Stuck At the Airport

7. “Sugar Pop” Candy Shop provides a happy diversion for both the youngsters and the young at heart that are on the go at this airport.
   

   Photo Credit: Jaunted

8. “Magic Ad” Bathroom Mirrors and Water Fountains with Waterbottle Refill Features will keep travelers busy at this airport. The mirrors display ads until you approach, then magically switch to a regular mirror until you walk away. Neat because of the novelty, but they have a high potential to get on your nerves if they become commonplace. Can’t we pee in peace?!
   

   Photo Credit: Jaunted

   These neat water fountains with a water bottle refill option won’t be annoying however, just handy (and eco-conscious!). Especially if the liquids ban stays in place for the long-term. We love!

   

   Photo Credit: Jaunted

   There is a spot in the back to place your bottle where a sensor will fill your bottle super-quickly without even having to touch a button. There is a “Green Ticker” counting the number of plastic bottles it saves as it goes. Hooray!

So if you know of a must-see attraction at an airport near (or far from) you, let us know! You might see it in an upcoming edition.

Answers: A. 6; B. 8; C. 1 and 4; D. 5 (of course!); E. 3; F. 7; G. 2; H. 1

Credits: Jaunted and Stuck At the Airport blogs

• Baby Plane Shirt (via @Jaunted) from milkbomb.com. “Congratulations! You get to sit near me.” Too cute! Would almost make up for getting the seat next to a little one if he/she was wearing this.
• Sassy Coffee Sleeves (via @Topix) from trendhuntermagazine.com. Pretty funny; be sure to check out all the options. Something for everyone! We thought this was the snarkiest:
• Funny Bag Tags from inventivetravelware.com. Make great small gifts, and with this many choices you can pimp your luggage and make it stand out from the crowd.
• Clever Tampon Cases from miamica.com. Husbands/boyfriends: Consider it an early warning system. When you see the case in her bag or luggage, you’ll know it’s time to up the niceness factor 10 fold to keep yourself out of hot water. Everyone wins!

Have you seen any snarky gear lately? Do share!

Our booth was looking just as snazzy as usual. Once the show began there were of course people in the picture…

Karen found a friend along the way. Even bedbugs can use an extra hand while traveling!

If your hotel has bedbugs this big, you've really got a problem...

And there of course were new and interesting products to check out. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Shelves-To-Go: The name says it all. Just hang in your closet at home and pack your belongings into the shelves. Then take the whole thing and put it into your suitcase. When you arrive at your destination, just re-hang and you’re all set!

• Trunco bag by Balanzza: The industry’s first “modular carry-on.” The unit is made up of smaller parts that can un-snap to fit the space available on the airplane. Find you have to gate-check your bag at the last minute? Just click off the laptop piece to bring with you and you can gate-check without worry. Only a little overhead room left? Part of the bag can go up in the overhead bin, while the rest can stow by your feet to give your legs as much space as possible.
• Back2you luggage tags and labels: Each tag or label has a serial number for traceability. You enter your contact information in their database, and if your items ever come up lost they will notify you and reunite you and your possessions! Made of heavy-duty stainless steel, these are definitely recommended for frequent travelers. No need to rely on the airlines – take tracing into your own hands.
• Hadaki e-book and i-pad wraps from Kalencom: For the technology-lovers, these wraps offer style, protection, and a built-in stand. Hadaki always has drool-worthy patterns and designs, and these wraps are no exception.
  

  Hadaki iPad Wrap

• Travel BlanKid from Cabeau: The winner of the TGA Show’s Buzz Award is a four-in-one travel companion for children: backpack, blanket, travel pillow, and “animal buddy.” Three animal choices: Makemba the Monkey, Pailou the Panda, and Lula the Ladybug. Anything that can make traveling with children easier is always a hit!

Announcing our biggest sale ever! Get 30% off all products in the tugo store (click here) if you use the coupon code blackfriblog

Hurry! This deal won’t last long… and while you’re at it, check out our gift guides from the archives for ideas:

• The Ultimate Cup / Drink Holder Gift Guide
• Holiday Gift Guide: Travelers
• Holiday Gift Guide: Coffee Lovers
• Holiday Gift Guide: Busy Moms
• Holiday Gift Guide: Educators
• Holiday Gift Guide: Commuters

We start with the obvious-

tugo plus h2otugo from goodtugo.com “keeps your drink suspended between the upright handles of your rolling bag.”

Claims:

• “Its unique design keeps your cup level to prevent sloshing.”
• “tugo is easy. tugo is simple. tugo is strong. tugo is fast.”
• “Changing the way we travel, one drink at a time.”

A basic version, great for cup holder fans of all ages-

Stickey Cup from stickeycup.com uses a “uniquely designed rubber suction cup that is rock solid.”

Claims:

• “One beautifully simple cup holder, with versatility never before seen in the cup holder world!”
• “The multi-purpose nature of the Stickey Cup will stagger your mind!”
• “…the Stickey Cup finally puts an end to your lifelong quest to find the perfect cup holder! You may now stop searching, and enjoy life as it is meant to be enjoyed.”

Similar suction cup idea, but much more appealing execution-

Spink from dreamfarm.com uses “strong, lever-powered suction” to “keep your Spink stuck to your desk so you can’t knock it or your drink over.”

Claims:

• “Handle and finger grooves let you easily grab your mug or cup.”
• “Draw on it, design your own cover, or slip in a photo to make your Spink as individual as you.”
• “Don’t give up what you love, have it next to you and Spink will make sure you never spill another drink.”

On to a more specialized audience-

SwirlyGig from swirlygig.com is a “Drink Holder, Beverage Holder, Cup Holder” that “fits on Microphone Stands & Music Stands.”

Claims:

• None, really. There is also a version that holds drumsticks, and they have expanded the original design to work for other uses such as boating, camping, and on wheelchairs.

Next: an accident waiting to happen?-

Jung-Woo Lee’s umbrella designed for EK Design created quite a bit of buzz recently, with debate back and forth on whether it was genius or dangerous.

Claims:

• Also none. Seems like they’re letting us decide for ourselves.

Playful design for the kid at heart-

DrinKlip Cup Holder on drinklip.com is part of the design portfolio of Been Kim. In typical design-y style, the DrinKlip is displayed only visually, in a series of pictures showing the the product in various Zen locations and settings.

Claims:

• Again, none. Comes in several bright colors, although the lime version seems to be the most common.

Finally, the most portable and arguably the most creative-

The Beer Buckle from thebeerbuckle.com is “an amazing retractable beverage holding belt buckle.”

Claims:

• “Danger: You are now hands free!”
• The “world’s most interesting belt buckle.”
• “Not just a caddy novelty item, but a functional fashion accessory that has already found its way into the wardrobes of many people across the U.S., including many popular musicians.”

Let us know if you have seen one we missed!

Before You Board

• Get some rest: It’s tempting to stay up late in hopes of sleeping through a flight but crowded cabins are hardly a peaceful oasis. Get a full night’s rest before your flight and you’ll still have plenty of energy for business or pleasure when you land.
• Carry-on snacks: Stay healthy by packing your own snacks, such as a string cheese and nuts, along with an apple or banana. The combination of protein and high-fiber will keep you fuller longer and help you avoid the 1000-calorie airport combo later.

At the Airport

• Get a healthy start: No time for breakfast at home? At the airport, look for healthy options such as a whole-wheat bagel, yogurt or fresh fruit. For a heartier option, try an egg sandwich on an english-muffin, but make sure to skip add-ons like bacon or cheese.
• Eat lightly: If lunchtime coincides with your flight, avoid indulging in a cheeseburger or buffalo wings. Although these familiar favorites may seem like a good way to alleviate stress, they could actually make you feel worse. Look for lighter, low-calorie options such as a salad with fat-free dressing or a simple sub.

During the Flight

• Move around: Long hours in cramped airplane seats can wreak havoc on the body. Avoid crossing your legs and be sure to move around the cabin. Simple calf stretches can help blood circulation and reduce your chance of a blood clot.
• Hydrate: Don’t let a pressurized cabin and low humidity levels get the best of you. Drink water and avoid caffeine and alcoholic beverages. Stay hydrated by purchasing a water bottle. For a greener option, pack a stainless steel water bottle and fill it up at an airport coffee shop once you pass through security.

This post is based on an article written for our customer newsletter. Join the mailing list here.
For more ways to stay healthy and improve your next flight, check out tugo’s Top 10 Travel Tips.

Sources:
EHow: Healthy Airplane Snacks
Associated Content: Keep Healthy While Flying
WebMD: Keep Healthy While Flying

Retail options now include the basic tugo, the tugo + h2otugo, and just the h2otugo if you already have a tugo but want the added convenience of the accessory. Available at: goodtugo.com/retail

See the tugo + h2otugo in action in our new video: goodtugo.com/whats-a-tugo

Now you’re REALLY good tugo.

…but leave it to them to come up with a new selling point we had not thought of: picking up chicks.

Find it on page 40 of the July 2010 issue; now available at newsstands.

A lot has happened in that year, and our blog has included some of the highlights, like in July when the tugo was featured on the Today Show, or in August when KLM Airlines’s iFly magazine included the tugo with such travel necessities as Dom Perignon and Chanel No. 5. Also prominent on our list of highlights were FOXNews.com listing the tugo as one of their “Five Travel Gadgets Worth Giving” and, most recently, a featured product on the Rachael Ray Show.

We look forward to the coming year as we get ready to launch our new accessory, h2Otugo, which will allow you to carry a water bottle, soda can, or potentially anything that fits that you want to have close at hand on your rolling bag while you travel. Stay tuned for more information!

Signing up for our newsletter (click here) is the best way to get the latest updates, including the h2Otugo scoop. We will also include travel tips, deals or specials, and information that we think you will find useful. We plan for a focus on the business traveler, but there will be a little something for everyone included.

Also look for a special deal in April to mark the one-year anniversary of our website!