Giveaway: Products for Healthy Holiday Travel

If you'd like to win one of two cool products, read on. Whether you're packing for a hot or cold weather vacation, it's likely you'll be including ointments, gels, salves or lotions that will help you deal with rashes, bites, burns or just chapped, dry skin. And finding a company that manufactures environmentally friendly products is a real plus. That's why I have long recommended products by All Terrain, a New Hampshire-based company that's focused on natural ingredients and children's health. (They support organizations that are concentrating on reducing childhood obesity by promoting an active lifestyle.)

I recommend two of All Terrain's products --Aloe Gel and Herbal Armor Spray -- on the laminated list that's included with Doc-in-a-Bag, my unique travel first-aid kit organizer. (I've blogged about this first-aid-kit organizer here and here.) And, with the holidays fast approaching, I'm holding a savvy travel giveaway, thanks to All Terrain that's providing these two products, each to one lucky winner. 

Herbal Armor is a DEET-free insect repellent that relies on oils from plant-based oils: citronella, peppermint, cedar, lemongrass, geranium and soybean to repel mosquitoes and ticks. This is the only product I used on my recent river cruise along the Amazon. It's safe for children, it won't irritate your skin nor will it damage your clothing, and it's water and sweat resistant. Because it's 100% effective over a two-hour period, I simply reapplied it every two hours to remain mosquito free. The giveaway is the 4 oz. size that retails for $8.99.

Aside from containing aloe, the paraben-free Aloe Gel has, among the ingredients, extracts of chamomile and cucumber, as well as lavender oil that are all noted for their skin-healing properties. This product works well to relieve dry, cracked and chapped skin and it does so without any curious scent or greasy residue that seem to accompany many other aloe products. I carry it on all my trips and find it ultra soothing without negatively impacting my clothing. The giveaway is the 5 oz. size product that retails for $8.99

To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post as to how you try to stay healthy while traveling during the holidays. Make sure to include a way for me to contact you (whether your email, Twitter or Facebook account) in case you're one of the winners. All comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm on December 23, 2013. I will randomly choose two winners who will each randomly receive one of the two products above. You must be a U.S. resident to be eligible to receive the prize. Good luck everyone.

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Winner of Travel Gear Giveaway

We have a winner of the travel gear giveaway! Jeff Dobbins will pick one of the products manufactured by the Clever Travel Companion that are all designed to thwart pickpockets. These products include underwear, t-shirts, tank tops, and long johns, all with hidden pockets. Congrats, Jeff. And thanks to everyone who participated. I really appreciate your support.

This was such a fun and practical giveaway that I'll be partnering up with the Clever Travel Companion again next year.

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More Travel Product Discounts - Travel Tips E-Book

As you probably know, I strongly recommend many products and companies in my new travel tips e-book not because any company asked to be in the book but because these are products, companies and services I stand behind in terms of their quality and performance. 

 

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about three companies that are offering discounts to anyone who buys my e-book.

Now two more companies are on board with very cool discounts. 

 

Pick-pocket Proof Underwear! Yes, the Clever Travel Companion that makes men's and women's underwear and t-shirts with hidden pockets is offering a 15% discount to anyone who buys my travel tips e-book. Plus, if you tell your story of something you lost while traveling (including if your purse or pocket was picked), you could win the Clever Travel Companion product of your choice. Check out my post here for the rules. The contest ends December 10.

And a company with a quirky name, Horny Toad, that sells comfortable, stylish and performance-driven clothing (some with organic cotton) for men and women is offering a 10% discount on anything in their inventory, but just until February 1, 2013. When I'm shopping, I often find that active wear sacrifices a fashion sense and vice versa. Not so with Horny Toad. From dresses to tees, pants and jackets, Horny Toad makes items that I take on all my trips – including a fuzzy vest that I virtually live in in the winter – because I want items that look good, and are comfortable all day long no matter if I'm getting sweaty running around a city or I'm on a hiking trail. And many of their items also wear well for after work activities. 

 

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Giveaway: Best On-The-Road Lost Item/Pick-Pocket Story

My best pickpocket story is definitely unforgettable. It took place in one of my favorite cities, Madrid, in the afternoon as I stood outside a museum. Suddenly bird poop (or so it appeared) plopped all over my shoulder. And, just as suddenly, two well-dressed young girls appeared with tissues to help me clean up. Or, rather, they cleaned out my small backpack that I had on my back. Within seconds, as I was talking to one of them, the other managed to lift my passport, all my credit cards and money, my driver's license, my ATM card and even my hotel key. I later found out that this was an elaborate scam that employed someone with a high-powered water gun who shoots the faux poop on unsuspecting tourists -- though I thought I looked like a Madrileña and I even spoke Spanish.

 

If I had been wearing a pair of underwear or a t-shirt with hidden pockets, like those sold by Clever Travel Companion, at least I could've protected some of my valuables. This is one of the companies I recommend in my travel tips e-book, The Travel Authority: Essential Tips for Hassle-Free Travel. And, I'm happy to announce that the Clever Travel Companion is giving away any one of the many products they sell -- men's and women's underwear, t-shirts and tank tops -- to the one person who writes the best on-the-road lost item or pick-pocket story. To be eligible for the product of your choice, you must like the Clever Travel Companion on their Facebook page as well as submit your best story that involves either an item you lost while traveling or a situation where your pocket or purse was picked.  You can either post your story here on this blog or email it to me at jbarone2000@gmail.com -- no more than 200 words, please. (If you decide to post here, please provide your contact email so that I can reach you should you win.) All stories must be submitted by 11:59pm on December 10, 2012. Your story must be true and, aside from mentioning your own name if you post here, there's no need to identify anyone else who may have been involved or who you felt was involved in the incident. In addition, you must be a U.S. resident to be eligible to receive the prize. Good luck everyone.

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