Trying to get away from it all without sleeping through it all? Travel alarm clocks are just the thing you need to get you wherever and whenever on time. Whether it's an old friend's wedding, a business conference, an important lecture, or an international flight that you just can't afford to miss, don't leave home without your travel alarm clock.

Traveling, especially to a different time zone, can be very disconcerting. Not only does your body have to adjust to the new time zone, you might also find yourself repeatedly adding or subtracting numbers of hours from the time that you have been used to. A travel alarm clock is a handy contraption that will keep you from hyperventilating over the change in time zones. You can set it up in any way that suits you, making allowances for time zones and eliminating any fear of missing your appointments.

Smaller Is Definitely Better
Travel alarm clocks come in different shapes and different sizes. The biggest one in the world is in London and is fondly known as Big Ben. You wouldn't want to try packing that away in your overnight bag, however. For travel alarm clocks, the time-honored rule on minimalism applies: less is more. In fact, it's not so much the size of your travel alarm clock that counts; its how you use it! The first thing to look for in a good travel alarm clock is portability. This shouldn't be a problem as most travel alarm clocks are relatively small. However, you do want to make sure that the casing is tough enough to withstand being thrown about in your suitcase in the baggage hold of a 747-400. A broken alarm clock will do you no good, for obvious reasons.

Your Clock and You
We've all seen, and probably owned at some point, those colorful battery-powered or wind-up analog clocks with big faces. However, travel alarm clocks have since evolved and are now available in various stages of complexity, from the simple wind-up variety to the more complex digital clocks chock-full of add-ons, bells, and whistles.

There are digital travel alarm clocks with FM radios. Simply set the alarm the night before and when its time to wake up, voila! You'll find yourself pleasantly waking up to your favourite radio show. Other digital travel alarm clocks allow you to set not only the time, but also the alarm tone. Light sleepers can choose discreet beeps or pleasant chimes. If you are the type who likes being lulled to sleep by the dulcet tones of a jackhammer, you can select more alarming sounds, such as jangling bells, deafening horns, or your mother-in-law's laughter. All the better to wake you up, my dear!

Who Says Power Isn't Everything?
Sure, timing is everything but it runs on power. Make sure your travel alarm clock is going to be on time by starting with that little thing that makes it work in the first place - the power supply. Check those batteries periodically. It's difficult to determine if your batteries are running out so keep them refreshed, just to be on the safe side. If your travel alarm clock vibrates, the batteries might move. So, check them often and make sure they are lodged in their little compartments correctly.

It's also a smart idea to make sure your travel alarm clock comes with an ac/dc power adaptor. Unless the unthinkable happens and there is a power outage, you know you're going to get to the church or the board room on time with a steady power supply. And even if the power does go off, the battery will kick in straightaway, keeping you on time and in time! Constant vigilance is all that's required to keep your travel alarm clock working.

Forget about the family dog or your diamonds. In this day and age where time is money, the good old travel alarm clock is set to be your best friend. You don't have to feed it or take it to the toilet. It requires no more attention than a sleeping baby. It just sits there, making cute noises, waiting patiently for you to tell it to shut up. Best of all, it sure beats having to endure that annoying hotel wake up call any day.