One of my favorite travel books is 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. It’s not a perfect list, but it does give you a lot of great ideas for things to do all over the world. Whenever I am planning a trip, I always look up my destination in the book for suggestions. A big problem with travel books is that they quickly become outdated and this book, written in 2003, is no exception. That’s why I was thrilled to find out that Patrica Schultz has released a new, updated version. I’ve already put in an order for mine and I can’t wait to see what’s been changed and what the 200 new entries include.

$12.46 Amazon

UPDATE: My book arrived and I am loving the new edition!

Love traveling but hate planning? American Express Travel will do the work for you with their new Nextpedition program. Here’s how it works: First, you take a quiz to identify your interests and travel style. Next, you speak to a travel specialist to iron out more of your preferences like trip length and budget. Finally you receive a quote for a trip…without the details. A week before your departure, you’ll receive packing instructions, vouchers and a special electronic console which will reveal your itinerary day by day. Currently, mystery trips could send you anywhere in the U.S., Canada or Europe.

Personally, I kind of like planning but I can see the appeal. I’m not sure I could stand not knowing what I’d be doing each day but it’s definitely an interesting concept.

Nextpedition from American Express Travel

Now you can track your bag, even during your flight, with the mobile bag tracking feature in the free Delta App. Just enter the number on your bag receipt or scan the barcode and you can track your bag in real time on your iPhone, Android or Windows phone. It will be available to Blackberry users in early 2012.

I am not one to spend a lot of money on a suitcase. They get thrown around, are placed on dirty belts and racks and pricey pieces can attract thieves. Still, I have to admit that I am loving the new Britto Collection from Heys. The bags are like works of art and their hard-shelled exteriors look quite durable. I’m feeling tempted!

From $200 heysusa.com

Hard to believe in these economic times, but there’s a new travel magazine on newsstands called AFAR. The company is targeting experienced travelers looking to immerse themselves in world cultures and the premier issue is out this month. I found it to be a bit cluttered but I’m always happy to see new products for travelers so I’ll probably give it a try for a year.

$19.95/one year subscription AFAR

Colgate has released a new disposable toothbrush called the Colgate Wisp. It’s a flat, 3 1/2 inch brush with a bead of toothpaste built in and a pick on the end. The Wisp comes in three flavors, works without water and can be purchased in packs of 4 for around $3.00 or 16 for around $9.00. You can find them in most grocery stores or pharmacies on and offline.

For more information on the Wisp and a coupon, check out Colgate’s website linked below.

Colgate Wisp

Now you can download Frommers travel guides for use on your iPhone or iPod Touch. They include all the information and maps available in the books and are stored locally so you can access them even when you can’t get online. Guides for New York, San Francisco, London and Paris are currently available with more expected later this year. They are priced at $9.99 each and can be found in the App Store section on iTunes.

As people become more environmentally conscious, they look for greener ways to live and travel is no exception. Fodor’s, one of the largest publishers of travel guides, has taken notice of the trend and put together a new title called “Green Travel: The World’s Best Eco-Lodges & Earth-Friendly Hotels”. The book features independent reviews of 100 eco-friendly hotels across the globe and will hit stores on April 29th.

$14.93 Amazon

Throw a few miniTissues in your bag next time you travel and you’ll always have a clean cloth close at hand. They are hydraulically compressed into tiny portable pellets but just add water and unfold a full sized tissue! They come in packages of 96, 192 and 500 but are individually wrapped so they stay clean and fresh. They are 100% natural, lint and chemical free, biodegradable and easy to carry without sacrificing precious space.

$13.95-$29.95 miniTissues

Source: DailyCandy

If you like the book, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, the author has just released another version featuring 1,000 travel spots in the USA and Canada only. Pick it up and hit the road!

$13.57 Amazon.com