Sound Machines

Check out brookstones.com They have a special travel model that combines an alarm clock.

I'm not sure about those sound machines but maybe this helps:

My husband has noise cancelling headphones that he uses for business travel. Mostly on the airplane so that he can sleep there. You can also use them together with your iPod to listen to whatever you've got on there without having to turn the volume waaaay up. He also uses them at home, for example when he has to work on the computer while the somebody else in the same room is watching tv.

I bought his one from Sony for about $70 and they do fold quite nicely for travel. The best one in this category is by Bose but costs 4 times as much.

Noise cancelling headphones won't help when sleeping in a hotel room. The sound machines fill the entire room with white noise to "block" outside noise.

I got one from Sharper Image. They have a website that I ordered it from if you don't have one nearby. It is small, also an alarm clock, and runs on batteries or can plug in. I understand the need. I can't sleep when it is totally silent either. Have fun!

Conair Sound Therapy Travel Clock Radio (SU5T)

It's great. Unfortunately, it's no longer made. However, if you search the web, you might be able to find one.

Eight sounds, Am/FM radio, alarm clock, cheaper than the Brookstone or Sharper Image models.

I totally understand the noise issue, however, my issue was that I have to have complete darkness to sleep. In Europe the daylight comes early and goes away late at night, so I got a eye mask. I tried SO many different ones over the years and finally came across one at Bed, Bath & Beyond that has dips where your eyes are; which confused me until I was told that you do blink while you sleep. Who knew. Anyway, I never leave home w/out them, especially if I want to be rested.

Just FYI...Noise cancelling headphones should not be worn while on board the Aircraft. It is not safe.

You need to be able to hear the shouted commands of the Flight Crew during an emergency situation. I don't know about the rest of you, but I think that is something I'd definitely want to be able to hear!

Federal Regulations require the Flight Crew to enforce the removal of such devices during the safety briefing and critical phase of flight. I think it would be safer to prohibit them altogether. Safety first at 37,000ft.