What's a missing travel related product or service you wish we had?

I wish someone would invent a product that combines shampoo and conditioner into one bottle for my morning shower. When on vacation having to use use two separate products simply wastes too much potential sightseeing time! Also wish someone would finally invent a Star Trek like transporter machine that would "beam" me anywhere in the world instantaneously. I wouldn't have to bother with airlines or hotels, or even subways, or walking come to think of it. Think of the money we could save. Perhaps there's already an app for that;)

I wish there was a service that connected sober college students who were eager to find any way to avoid living with mom & dad over the summer to house-sit for people like us (especially since we have a cat) for only meager financial reward. When I was 20, I would have stayed in almost anyone's house for free if it meant the freedom of living independently. We tend to go on long trips, so even at as little as $15-$20/day, a 5-week trip get's pretty expensive to have someone feed the cat and make the house appear lived-in to potential burglers.

Michael: One can only hope for a Teleportation App. In the meantime, I am going to keep searching for a more doable travel related app that doesn't exist and is just something that travelers are looking for. Randy: I like the idea of having a website that could connect vacationers to potential list of people that could look after the house without having to pay for anything.

Definitely a 'beaming' machine. We would love to go to the States. However, with each overseas trip, our tolerance and ability to cope with the those damn long flights is becoming too much.

I like the idea of creating apps to solve common problems while traveling. I am good at creating iPhone apps. Any other iPhone app ideas/requests?

My dreamed-of travel accessory would be independent wealth.

" wish someone would invent a product that combines shampoo and conditioner into one bottle for my morning shower" Michael, this works quite well for me: Pert Shampoo Plus Conditioner

For my doable wish, I want toothpaste manufacturers to package toothpaste in a 3oz. (not 1 oz or 2.5 oz, but 3oz) container so that it would last longer and I wouldn't have to carry multiple packages. ; ) While the "beam up" app would be great, while we're waiting for it, I'll take an app that converts "coach" seats to "business class" seats. Note I'm not so greedy that I'm asking for first class, just business class, thank you. ; ) Pam

Just how much toothpaste do you use? Or how long are you traveling? We are just back from three weeks, two of us twice a day, did not use completely one .85 oz tube. A three oz tube would last us for several months.

I saw a better size toothpaste at Target just last week. I think it was close to 3 oz. It was definitely larger than the smaller 'travel' size you usually see.

I find that it can't quite make it through two weeks. Also, when I'm doing business travel I hate having to always change out the toothpaste, or have two tubes in my allocated 1 baggie. Yep, I've spotted the slightly bigger tube and I buy it every time I see it as many places don't carry it or don't carry it consistently. But why didn't they make it the full 3 oz's?
Enquiring minds want to know. ; ) Pam

I would like a mini-pack for over the counter medication. One pack might contain a couple of doses of Imodium, Pepto, aspirin, etc in very small packaging. It could be combined with a little bitty first aid kit. Also, I would like an app that knows where I am in an airport and gives me directions to where (and when) I board my connecting flight. I would like to place an order for the transporter.

Pam- you and I think alot alike. What I'd wish for is an airplane designer (and a company who'd "buy' his work) who would design plane seats with REAL people and WORKABLE space in mind. Business class comes really close, though we might not need seats quite that size. In fact, I'd like a seat where the lenght of the seat from the back to the front (from wehre the seat meets the back to where your knees go) is adjustable (I'm VERY short) and where the head rest will come all the way down to where MY head is. And why can't there be foot rests (like in buses) for coach?

Ok, Nick, I'll play. The travel apps for building itineraries are really weak. I'd like one that has the additional ability of tracking my whereabouts for family and friends. I could upload photos from a certain location, maybe video too. Family would see a website with a map showing where I have been, where I am and where I am going next. By clicking the places on the map they could see any photos, video or blog entries. There would also be key info on hotel, train/plane reservation info and current weather conditions. The app would also allow you to share with others you may "know" from the internets and real life are and whether you may intersect for a meet up. Tripit is probably the closest thing I have seen to this, but it could be much better.

Michael, yes Zuti does seem like a pretty cool app for offline browsing of the Metro system. Glenn, I can see somebody inventing a clothing material that doesn't wrinkle no matter what but I think you will still need to clean it. Unless, they infuse the clothes with bacteria eating nanobots. As far as having shoes that don't smell after two weeks of continuous wearing...now that's something that can/should be invented. As far as OTC medicine kit, can't you just use an empty pill bottle and fill it with all the OTC medicine that you already have at home? I am sure most people already have big bottles of Aspirin, Tylenol, Pepto, etc already at home.

I would like to pose a question that relates to a missing travel related service. Looking at Rick Steve's forums, seems like the most trouble people have is coming up with a good itinerary for their trip. So, is it me or there isn't a good website out there that can automatically suggest a good itinerary based on a traveler's input? For example, a traveler will say that I have 2 weeks to explore Western Europe, have x amount of money to spend and I am traveling with my kids/wife/husband/gf. Based on these inputs, the website will suggest you an itinerary. Others can then rate or leave comments if they took a similar trip. You can also specify things like I am a foodie and then the itinerary will include cities that have a through food scene and suggest some of the locations and foods the locals like to eat there. What do you think?

Denise's idea is great. They sell all kinds of travel sized products. You can get a prepackaged travel shave kit, a travel sewing kit, even a travel sized first aid kit (pretty much just bandaids) - why not a prepackaged OTC travel medicine kit? Good thinking Denise! My invention would be a shrink ray. If the TSA scanner could just shrink me down to about 1/2 my current size, my coach seat would feel like first class. On arrival they can put me back to normal size.

Hmmm, some of the things I'd like to see: - clothes that are truly wrinkle free under any conditions, and clean themselves - shoes that wouldn't smell after two weeks of continuous wearing, no matter what the condition of the feet which have been in them... - an IPhone app that speeds up the drifting of the continents, thus allowing the user to move Europe closer to North America when and as needed - indestructible sandwiches that won't get squashed up in my Civita daypack - an IPhone app that uses Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity to alter my perception of how long I have to stand in line to see an attraction
- with all the advances in genetics, surely they could create a tree that sprouts money ( $10 or $20 dollar denominations would be fine)...

Nick, I'll bite, too. Maybe they're out there, but I get impatient going through all the apps to find what I need. I use an itouch, so I like to have travel apps that don't necessarily need internet access. I'd love to have one that can tell me what public transportation I need to take from point a to point b without needing internet access. I had downloaded one for Chicago that seemed great, until I was actually IN Chicago and couldn't get the info I needed since I was downtown and not hooked up to wireless.

I liked Michael's suggestion. One of the new big things on mobile phones is the various location services, such as Google Lattitude. I hadn't really thought of using them before, but for a group traveling together, using a service that showed where each person in the group currently was makes sense for those times when members of the group go their separate ways. It takes three things: a) a data capable phone (e.g., iPhone or Android), b) a phone with some type of GPS ability, and c) a local data plan. It is getting more and more likely that these three requirements can be met by more and more users.

"Maybe they're out there, but I get impatient going through all the apps to find what I need. I use an itouch, so I like to have travel apps that don't necessarily need internet access. I'd love to have one that can tell me what public transportation I need to take from point a to point b without needing internet access." http://www.zuti.co.uk/

I just want a bed that I can lie down on in the plane, so I can sleep. Is that too much too ask?

Something like that would be great, Nick, but there are just so many variables it would have to consider. It would be simple enough to determine an order to see places in, but everyone's tastes are different, and it would be impossible to factor in every variation of transportation modes, interests, and preferences to come up with a reasonable itinerary. I like to travel independently because I know there are things that I am interested in doing that no one else (that I would otherwise travel with) would be. I also have no desire to visit certain places, and have already visited many. It would be hard to factor my preferred activity into a boilerplate itinerary based on how many total days I have, how many places I want to go, and how much I have to spend.

I created my own OTC kits- one for purse at home one for travle bag. I used snmall pill organizers. I put asprin in one section, Aleve in another, benedryl capsules in one, Dramamine in one. I also put 2 Nyqiul gel caps in one section. For long trips I use 2 sections for Aleve (hubby and I take it alot when we have to walk a great deal, or are outdoors in cold weather or changing weather - oh the joys of arthritis- lol!!) and 2 for benedryl (when you are outdoors more, you have more allergy symptoms too). You could add a section for Immodium or Peto pills if you need those. Some oranizers would have enough room for vitamins, too. And they come in different sizes and configuragtions so you can find one that works for you. I have several different ones- One only has 4 large sections, another has 8 smaller ones arranged in 2 rows of 4 each. Either takes up minimal space in purse or day bag and will at least get you through until you could get to a drug store/pharmacy/chemist. I also have a first aid kit-assorted band aids, small packets of neosporin, small packets of cortisone cream, prep pads/alcohol wipes, small roll of adhesive tape, guaze pads, and a few seri strips and butterfliy closures (learned the hard way to carry these). I also take at least 1 pair of latex gloves. All fits in a small baggie. I also take a sewing kit- Black, white, red, yellow, light blue and brown thread wound around a 2" 1" piece of light weight cardboard. 3 needles stuck into it. Small scissors with rounded edges. 3 - 5 buttons, and assorted sizes of safety pins. Also fits in small baggie.

How about a carry on bag that is 16"x14"x12" (Spirit's free carry on size) - just in case other airlines follow suit.

Michael thank you! I knew someone out there would know where to find that. Now if I only had that BEFORE going to Chicago.... Jo they do have beds. You just have to pony up for business class or pray for an upgrade. We got upgraded last summer, it was soooooooo nice. It was on the way back, though, wish we had it for the overnight flight.

Michael, Other options for a combined shampoo/conditioner are; Pantene Pro V2 TRESemme
AXE also makes one but I've never used it. Suave for Men even has a 3 in 1; shampoo, conditioner and body wash. :-)

wait? you're saying that there is already a shampoo+conditioner product available at a retailer near me? not only that, there are multiple competing products??? ouch, do I feel like any idiot!

"Suave for Men even has a 3 in 1; shampoo, conditioner and body wash." I read an interesting article about this. Much as Nick is looking to serve an unmet need, a soap company enlisted anthologists to study mens' shower habits. They learned that when the regular soap ran out, men grabbed the shampoo and used that. And it was happening more frequently than anyone realized Hence the new product (which is probably the same crap labeled differently). Ain't America great?

Nick I love the idea.

"Hence the new product (which is probably the same crap labeled differently)." So true! lol

I actually had some free time in my hand and wanted to start a website or come up with a product that would solve a persisting but feasible travel related problem (having a time machine would be nice but I'm sorry it's just not feasible). We found that there's already various shampoo+conditioner products being sold in the market. They already make a ~3oz sized toothpaste. Zuti is an iPhone app with pre-loaded transportation maps for major cities. Creating OTC packets at home is pretty simple. It looks like from the discussions so far, solutions already exist to most of the problems out there....unless, somebody can prove me wrong. I need a problem/complaint that really annoys the heck out of travelers during their journey and each time they think why somebody hasn't already cracked it yet.

Where or where have you seen the 3 oz toothpaste. I swear I look every time I'm in the drug store or grocery. Do you have to special order on line somewhere? What a pain if that is true. I'm sorry, I want my 3 oz. toothpaste available locally and easily found. ; ) PAm

Hi Pam, I just did a search on walmart.com and it says that the following 3oz tube of Colgate is In-Stock at my store http://www.walmart.com/ip/Colgate-Cavity-Protection-Regular-Fluoride-Toothpaste-3-oz/12443248

Pamela, usually in any drugstore (Wallgreens, Rite Aid, CVS) the travel items are all in one specific area of the store shelved in little bins and often located in the front part of the stores. Hope this helps. Happy Travels!

Nick, this sounds like more than a fun sideline and more like a work (or business school) assignment. Will you disclose whether this is true? The problem with asking people is we often have made compensations for things that are frustrating and no longer notice them. Nothing beats getting in the field and either observing or at least having face to face interviews and ask people to describe their experiences.

Hi Michael, I got a chuckle reading your reply. Sorry for sounding like I was doing research for an assignment but thankfully I am a full-time employee at an engineering company. I just thought that instead of wasting time watching TV in the evening/weekends, it would be cool to work on a fun little project. Between my jobs, I had the opportunity to do some backpacking in Eastern Europe for 2 months in September of last year. I had an amazing time and learned a lot about traveling. The ideas/problems I had been posting for last week or so originate from my experience during travel. Before I start my fun little project on solving a persistent problem that a traveler faces, I wanted to see if other travelers (like yourself) had the same kind of problems. If anything, it's still insightful to share problems/solutions to problems.

One thing I would like to see is a directory of coin-operated laundromats, and laundries that will take a bag of dirty clothes and wash them for you overnight.

I found 2oz toothpaste (Colgate sensitive) at my local drug store (Bartell's in Seattle), it was in the travel section not the toothpaste section. What I want is a plastic soap container that holds the travel sized bar of soap (not a big regular sized bar). I have looked everywhere and cannot find this product. This could be my million dollar idea if I could figure out how to produce plastic soap containers! :)

Tom, I would love to have a website like that. When in Eastern Europe, it was such a pain to find any coin operated laundromat which I am not ever sure if they exist in that part of Europe. The hostel wanted to charge 10 Euros for 1 load of washing/drying.
Erika, that's a pretty good idea. I don't know why they don't have a travel sized soap box.