Choosing A Digital Travel Alarm Clock?

When traveling, it is nice to be able to take an alarm clock with you. Sure, the hotel will probably have one, but they are often difficult to set. And the “wake up service” they provide can have its problems – which you won’t know until after you aren’t woken up in time for your business meeting the next day. If you travel light, in hostels, or in a friend or relative’s spare bedroom, there will likely not even be an alarm clock to use. So plan to take one with you. But how do you choose a digital travel alarm clock?

Features To Consider

When you are selecting a digital travel alarm clock, there are several features competing for “highest priority.” You are the one who decides which is most important to you.

Some people, particularly those traveling light, are most concerned about the weight of the digital travel alarm clock. While many are lightweight, some are just small, but can weigh a few pounds. Don’t be caught with too heavy of a clock!

For others, the ease of setting the alarm and time are the most important. It is important to be able to set the alarm accurately, every time. And to be able to change the time on the clock if you will be crossing time zones. Some digital travel alarm clocks will do this automatically, if they are atomic. Alternately, you can select a digital world clock, which would have times from around the world.

Think about the numbers on your digital travel alarm clock. Are they large enough to be able to see them in the dark? When traveling, it is common to wake in the night, worrying about the time. If you tend to wake, you might want to be able to easily see the time. Also, depending on whether the numbers are lit by LED or LCD, there may be a backlight inside the alarm clock that can interfere with falling asleep. On some travel alarm clocks, that light can be dimmed.

Consider how your digital travel alarm clock gets its power. Do you want one that will need to be plugged into a wall socket? Or uses a battery? If battery powered, it is much more flexible on where it can be used. Also, if there isn’t a battery, the time will need to be re-set when you plug it back in, so most people prefer battery operated digital travel alarm clocks. Remember to check the battery prior to traveling – using a fresh battery is a great idea!

Though travel alarm clocks must be small, some include a radio. If you want to be able to wake to music, a radio will have to be included.

You can get a digital travel alarm clock with “bells and whistles.” Consider getting one with a sunrise simulator, where the alarm is set to gradually increase the amount of light that the digital travel alarm clock emits. It is perfect for anyone who is more alert after waking up gradually.

Not all digital travel alarm clocks include a snooze button. That’s the button you can press to get the gift of a few more precious minutes before you have to get up. On some, you can press it more than once – so be careful with that type! The time it gives is often a set amount, like nine minutes, but on some digital travel alarm clocks it is adjustable.