travel clock suggestions

I spent last trip fussing about alarms - I also wear ear plugs and often wouldn't hear things. I figured out AFTER my trip that my best alarm is my iPod. It has an alarm that plays a large variety of notes going up and down a scale - even at half volume, I always hear it. I carry the iPod anyhow, so it's been extremely handy on my most recent shorter trips. I really find that with ear plugs the notes really matter... I don't always hear lower tones, but hate something really shrill. Volume doesn't necessarily matter, which makes neighbours much happier. Of course, it's not a cheap alarm clock at $200+ lol.

Stephanie, take a look at the Sonic Alert website. http://www.sonicalert.com/products.html They have some extra loud travel alarm clocks including ones that shake the bed. No I don't have this one ... My LL Bean travel alarm with the standard beep works fine :)

I also use my iPod Touch. Of the 20 or so sounds, I like the old fashioned phone. Every time I hear it I bolt awake instantly. It doesn't even need to be loud. It's a reflex thing. In the spirit of traveling light, I would never pack a clock as a clock - not when it's an add-on to many electronics.

Like the other posters here, I use my Apple product, my iPhone works great! It can get pretty darn loud. So - if you have an ipod or iphone, or a phone with a good loud ring, why bother buying yet another product to drag around?

Some other devices that do alarm clock duty: -Laptop -Netbook -Portable gaming console -cellphone -smartphone -PDA -watch -hotel wake-call
-call to prayer...Istanbul only;)

A few years ago I bought a Timex travel alarm which I really like (I use it as an alarm at home because my other clock is really complicated). I wear earplugs a lot of the time too and the alarm on the Timex is pretty loud. The alarm changes sounds every 10 seconds, from a slow beep-beep, beep-beep to a faster beep-beep-beep, beep-beep-beep to get into your unconscious and wake you up.

Nothing new to add, but I always use both my mobile phone and iPOD alarms when traveling (I like to have a backup). I have these devices with me anyway, and it's quite easy to use the alarm clock features on both.

I too use my Ipod touch these days, but still carry an old Scientific Instruments travel clock, and use both. The Ipod, while loud, does have a shorter battery life, where the travel alarm I only need to replace every few years.

Just to add a funny note to this thread. I once had an alarm clock that was radio controlled, so that it would always be on time. Never had to worry about changing it for daylight savings time, etc. Took a trip to Turkey though and took the batteries out so it wouldn't accidently go off in my luggage. Arrive in Turkey and guess what? I had forgotten that the radio tower that controlled this was in Germany. I was now too far away from it and could not set the clock at all.

My experience is earplugs and an alarm clock don't mix. While this happened in the US and not Europe, one morning at 4:30 I was awoken by the alarm clock in the next hotel room which blared on and on (I didn't have earplugs). I didn't need to be awake until 7:30 so I wasn't happy with this. The next morning I saw my neighbors who were talking to the front next about saying anther night because they missed their flight and the next available one wasn't until the next day. They had earplugs and slept thru the alarm. Needless to say, neither of us very happy campers that morning. I requested that if the hotel does allow them to stay another night that they be located to a different room. They were offended at my lack of sympathy for their situation and expressed absolutely no apology for having ruined my nights sleep.

I've used a Seiko travel alarm. It gets progressively louder and it wakes me even with ear plugs in. I keep using the travel alarm as its battery seems to last forever. Pam

thanks guys! i will have to look up some of those clocks. an iphone is a little out of my price range long term. but i will be up for a new phone about a month before my trip so i will take to my provider as well.

I'm guessing I have Sarah's Timex clock, AND I wear the best earplugs available AND I use a 'sound machine' with 'Yosemite Falls' gushing away...It starts out quietly, then continues to annoy me until I wake up enough to shut it off! Just go to the Targets and Wal-Marts of the world and play with some...

Stephanie, I use the alarm clock in my Cell phone. It has a suitably annoying tone which works well, and since I always travel with the phone I don't have to pack anything else along. Regarding Timex travel alarm clocks, I purchased one for a trip several years ago, but the alarm didn't work. I sent it back and got a replacement, but that one also malfunctioned after a short time. I've given up on Timex products. The absolute BEST Travel Alarm I've ever had was a product from The Sharper Image. I use it at home as my main alarm clock. Since it's battery-operated, I never had to worry about being late for work due to a power outage (when I was working). You might have a look at This Clock to see if it might work for you. Happy travels!

There is one other issue to think about if you are buying a separate travel clock. It's important that it be easy to remember how to change time zones. Mine will automatically detect the "time" but you need to set the time zone. It's very easy to do. Also, it should be easy to set the alarm time as well. I remember the first ones I had involved lengthy instructions to do either of these tasks. Pam

I use the alarm on my iPad or iPod. It is loud and you can have different rings. The alarm on my watch is useless to me as it is so quiet.

Though you have a bunch of good suggestions, I'll add mine. I had the same problem and purchased a travel clock radio (at Radio Shack, I believe). Its only about 3"x3"x.75" when closed. I can crank up the radio volume to rouse me every time.

Stephanie, It's funny. I have also the Timex Travel Alarm that Eileen and Sarah travel with. I can just about sleep through anything, but that thing is downright rude. It just keeps getting louder and more annoying. No matter how sleep deprived, jet lagged or hung over you are, you have to get up and turn it off.

I am looking for an inexpensive (less than $30) WRIST WATCH (not travel clock) that beeps very loudly when the alarm goes off and/or vibrates. I'm backpacking and a heavy sleeper and don't want the extra weight in my pack. I'd greatly appreciate any links for wrist watches with loud/vibrating alarms that you know of. Thanks!

http://www.vibratingalarmclock.org/

FWIW, I realized several days after my post that the Timex I think we're all talking about is identical to the one RS sells on this website...it's identical to mine, anyway. Please don't get one soooo loud that you awaken me in the next room ;-)

Hey, I want those earplugs that work so well. I've been using foam ones and they somewhat deaden the sound, but I can still hear almost everything. What kind are you using?

Amanda The reason you haven't had any responses directed to your question of a watch is that the old thread on which you put your question is about travel clocks, exactly what you said you don't want. Can I suggest you start a new question about the watch you want? A lot of people only read the headline and might not see what it is that you want.

I will toss another vote in for the Ipod Touch. Great multifunctional item, music, podcasts, data, and a very good alarm. great idea for light packing.