travel clock

Are you by any chance also bringing along a smartphone, tablet, netbook, or ipod touch? They can be used as alarm clocks. One less thing to lug around.

Just start working you way through a travel store and listen to the alarms.

I like L.L. Bean's travel alarm clock (http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/70703?feat=203-GN1&page=led-nightfinder-alarm) I agree that oftentimes a cell phone works well as an alarm and that's what I actually use on a daily basis at home, but sometimes the outlet to recharge your phone isn't conveniently located by the bed, especially in older hotels/when staying with friends. So, I like to bring my own alarm clock when traveling, as I find I get especially disoriented about what time it is when dealing with jet lag, and like to easily be able to see what time it is when I inevitably wake up in the middle of the night.

I got a really nice Seiko at a clock store that wasn't as expensive as you might think. It's compact. It's easy to set the alarm. The battery runs forever. It's easy to change time zones. You can set the volume of the alarm. It can sit right by the bed as I don't need to charge it. The problem I find with using the cell phone is that I charge it at night and so it's often across the room. Which could be a plus if you're need to get out of bed to insure you stay awake. :) Pam

I've used a Timex travel alarm for years. It's compact, folds up, and has a loud alarm with 3 different beeping sounds. It starts with one sound, then switches to another and finally a third if you don't wake up (i.e. turn off the alarm). It's also an AM/FM radio so you can pick up signals in different countries, which I enjoy as another aspect of local flavor. I'm not sure what you mean by a low alarm tone.

Another vote for the L.L. Bean unit.

How about a digital watch, such as a Timex Expedition or a Casio? Tone may not be low, but it would be small and relatively inexpensive. I'd take it off your wrist at night so the covers didn't muffle the sound.

Thanks for all the suggestions. My husband cannot hear high pitched alarms, so he needs a loud alarm, with a low pitch--or perhaps one that varies the pitch. He has one but it TICKS and drives me crazy.

I used to use an LL Bean and liked it well enough. Our travel now is our Ipod Touch, which we brought for making Skype calls home (using free wifi) - so no extra space or weight for a dedicated travel alarm. The Ipod alarm works well, no noise at all until it goes off. It starts softly and gets steadily louder until you turn it off.

I am going to try the llbean clock. Most of our travel is to remote places in South America where electricity is iffy, so rules out phone, IPAD options. Thanks all.