If you’re like me, you love your tablet. My iPad is great for surfing the web, using apps, and reading. But actual work? Not at all. Typing for long periods of time is too difficult on my iPad, which makes it hard to get any real work done. I’ve often thought about getting an external keyboard, but many of the ones I’ve seen have been so bulky that I might as well use my regular laptop. Then I was sent the Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad to review, and all of my feelings have changed.

Belkin recently launched their Ultimate Keyboard Case, and so far the reviews have been excellent. After my own personal experience, I completely agree. It’s meant to stay with your iPad all the time, so it functions as both a case and a keyboard (as one might gather from the name). The back has an aluminum shell, but the connecting pieces are nice and thin. It was very simple to slip my iPad into place, and after the initial charge (I let it charge for about 20 minutes) setup took maybe 30 seconds and was incredibly easy.

The keyboard is great—obviously smaller than a full-size laptop keyboard, but certainly large enough to get the job done. I really like that there are individual, separate keys—it makes typing so much easier. Plus the keys are big enough and in the right place.  It also really protected my iPad from the various large things I carry in my purse.

I carried it around with me (everywhere) for a few days, and here are the features I love. First, it is SO thin. Hardly thicker than my iPad by itself! Also, it weighs almost nothing, so I barely notice it in my purse, and I was able to fit it into regular purses vs. my normal large work purse. It takes up so much less room than my regular laptop, which makes using it in tight spaces (like conferences and airplanes) a breeze. When I wanted it to be just a tablet, the case folded back nicely and didn’t interfere.

As a travel bonus, since it’s an iPad I didn’t have to take it out at security. Woohoo! (Hey, I’ll take any time saver there.)

Will this replace my laptop for everything? No—I had a hard time adjusting to no mouse, plus I need all of those awesome MS programs (PowerPoint anyone?). But I love the Ultimate Keyboard Case, and will definitely use it with my iPad on all trips from here on out. I recommend it to anyone who travels often or needs a super portable computer. It is compatible with iPad 2 plus Gen 3 and 4, and is available for $129.

So who wants one?? To celebrate the release, I am giving away a Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case!! In order to enter, please leave a comment answering the following question: What is your best tip for getting through security quickly? The contest starts today and goes through Sunday, May 19, at midnight CDT. The winner will be chosen randomly, and as always only one entry per person.

My tip for getting through security quickly (besides TSA Pre-Check of course) is to have everything ready before you get to the bins. Have your liquids bag (if you take it out) easily accessible, have everything out of your pockets, and have your laptop ready to pull out. Or you could take an iPad with the Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case, which doesn’t have to come out!

Good luck!!

After 18 months of research, Hyatt has recently come out with a new array of offerings geared toward the frequent traveler. The new features are tailored to guests’ individual preferences, and include a service providing frequently forgotten items, healthy new menu options, and upgraded bath amenities. Hyatt recently invited me to be their guest at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk so I could check it all out.

Room

The hotel is incredibly beautiful. It had interesting art and chandeliers, plus huge windows overlooking the Riverwalk. Of course, one thing I hadn’t realized was that I was visiting on Saint Patrick’s day, so there were many folks out celebrating. Luckily, once I got up to my room I didn’t hear anything. Although I swear I’ve never seen so much green clothing in all of my life!

The room was really lovely. The bed was very comfortable, with a good amount of pillows. The desk was large, and even after sitting there for over an hour I still felt good. The armchair and ottoman were awesome. In the evening I turned the armchair around so I could appreciate the best part of our room—the view. The Hyatt Regency Riverwalk overlooks the Alamo (hugely famous piece of Texas history, for those of you who are unfamiliar), and from our room we could see it really well. So cool!

The bathroom was nice, with the standard granite countertop and huge mirror. It also had a magnifying makeup mirror, which was an unexpected bonus.

Hyatt Has It service

One of the new Hyatt offerings is an updated version of the standard “Did you forget something? We have it,” service that many hotels offer. Not only do they have the typical razor/toothbrush/etc items that guests can have, they have a huge list of things guests can have, buy, or borrow. For example, while I was getting ready for dinner (at Biga on the Banks—highly, highly recommend!!!) I realized that I had forgotten my curling iron. Normally something like that would end any cute-hair aspirations for the evening, but the Hyatt now even has items like curling irons that guests can borrow or buy! Other examples are makeup wipes, yoga mats, baby products, lint removers, Woolite, a wine opener, computer and phone chargers, and more. They bring it right to your door! This was awesome, and I think will be very useful to travelers moving forward.

Healthy, balanced menu offerings

Another new feature is the healthier, smaller portioned menu offerings. Guests can choose from a variety of dishes that include a protein, grains, and vegetables, available in two sizes. Everything is in season and locally sourced when possible. All of the options sounded very delicious, and I went with the chicken breast, jasmine rice, and grilled veggies. It was so good! It was very tasty, didn’t weigh me down, and it felt like I was doing something good for my body, very different from your typical room service fare. I also tried a mango smoothie, which was fantastic.

Upgraded bath amenities

The toiletries in my room were by KenetMD, and were amazing. These products have a cult-following, and for a good reason. My hair and skin felt so smooth after using them, and I totally have the shampoo and conditioner in my shower at home right now.

Service

The service at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk was incredible. I let them know I was bringing the Mini Warrior, and they had a Pack ‘n’ Play waiting in the room for us, including baby toiletries. Everyone we encountered, from the front desk person to the housekeeper to the room service delivery person was gracious, helpful, and seemed happy to be at work.

During the 18 months of research the Hyatt did to prepare for these new offerings, they talked to hundreds of women travelers to find out what was important to them on the road. I think the new Hyatt experience will make road warriors and warriorettes alike have an easier, healthier time when they’re away from home. My experience was great (as have all of my Hyatt stays), and I recommend the Hyatt hotels to everyone!

Don’t forget about the contest—you can win a free night at any Hyatt Place in the US!! Today is the last day to enter, and the winner will be announced tomorrow.

Road Warriorette was given a night free of charge in order to do this review.

Today is the last day to enter the Plantronics sponsored sweepstakes. All you have to do is answer the following question: How do you bring your business and personal life together during business trips? Click here to enter for a chance to win!

And check out the review I did of the Voyager Legend!

Sponsored Review: Plantronics Voyager Legend

Plantronics Voyager Legend Review

In honor of the new Plantronics Voyager  Legend headset, Road Warriorette will be featuring some sponsored posts on behalf of Plantronics and has been compensated for her contributions.

I’ll be honest. I’ve never successfully used a wireless headset before. I had one with my old phone but I could never make it work, and it frustrated me so much that I gave up and reverted back to my standard white iPhones headset. So when Plantronics first sent me the Voyager Legend to review I delayed using it for a while because it made me nervous. What if I hated it? What if it didn’t work right? (I feel pretty dumb for feeling that way now. Live and learn!)

The setup. I was anticipating some hideously complex setup that required a doctorate in technology. I’m so happy I was wrong! Setup was super easy. I literally put the headset on my ear, pressed a button, and had my phone search for Bluetooth devices. Took thirty seconds, done, ready to go.

Using it. Next came the really scary part: actually using it. It felt very comfortable on my ear, even when wearing it for hours. It also felt very secure and didn’t come off at all. To test it, first I had the Home Warrior go into another room and call me. The Legend said, “Incoming call from Home Warrior. Answer or ignore?”  Whichever command I chose, it understood me. The sound was great—crystal clear on both ends.

I wore it around for a couple of days, and it worked really well. I had no dropped calls or issues with it. Although one day I had my curly hair down, and I’m pretty sure the guy at Starbucks thought I was crazy and talking to myself because my hair totally hides it.

Noise canceling. The Legend blocks noise really well. I had my husband wear it and go to some noisy areas so that I could hear for myself how much background noise seeps through. Specific noises, like the Mini Warrior crying, came through some. But general background noise, like crowd noise, couldn’t be heard at all.

Call routing. This was so cool. If I answered a call on my phone, I could switch it to the headset just by putting it on. I didn’t have to push any buttons or anything.

Other stuff.  The Legend has a mute button and a button to end a call. Once I figured out which was which they were a snap to use. I also tried using it to listen to music, although since it’s only in one ear I still prefer my regular headphones for that.

My one minor complaint: I wish it came with some sort of carrying case. I felt really nervous putting it in my purse without anything protecting it, even though it did fine in there. There is a charging case that will not only store it but also charge it, but it comes out next week so I don’t have it yet.

Overall? I freaking love this thing. I can finally get up and refill my coffee without worrying about jerking wires out of my ear because I dropped my phone. I can take calls while traveling without worrying that background noise will distract my caller. I can answer calls while driving without being dangerous. It was so easy that even technologically phobic or dumb people can use it without frustration. I would certainly recommend this as an excellent, easy-to-use device to anyone who works remotely or travels.  Or really anyone who wants to be able to talk on the phone and do something else at the same time.

Available for $99.99 on the Plantronics website.

Don’t forget, we are giving away a Voyager Legend headset! The sweepstakes is open until Monday night, so enter today for a chance to win!

These days, there is no shortage of hotels aimed at the business traveler. But just because a chain says they know what road warriors want doesn’t make it so! One place that gets it right—Hyatt Place. You can tell they know what works for business travelers from the moment you step inside. The nice people at Hyatt Place gave me a room for the night in their Austin location to check out the hotel and new a.m. Kitchen Skillet breakfast.

Room. The room was large and incredibly comfortable. It’s divided into two sections—a sort of living/work space with a kitchenette, and the bedroom/bathroom. In the living area, the sectional sofa had more seating than I have at my own house—it was huge! I sat there for a while working, and really enjoyed it. There was a lot more room to spread out than normal. The king size bed had plenty of pillows (yes!!) and was nice and supportive. The bathroom was nice, with a cool wallpaper and large walk in shower.

Green features. In all new Hyatt Place properties built, there is some type of energy management system in place. In the particular location I visited, you have to put your room key in a slot by the door in order to control the AC. When your key isn’t in there, the AC automatically goes up a few degrees because it knows you’re not in the room. This does two things—it keeps your key in a handy spot by the door so you never forget it, and maintains an efficient temperature in your room. It’s very cool.

Technology. Hyatt Place hotels offer free wifi all around the hotel, including your room. They also have a business center with computers and printers, or you can hook your own system up to a printer if needed.

Outside. There was a gorgeous pool that I (sadly) didn’t have time to enjoy. Next time, though, I will make it a priority! For those with energy to burn, there is a nice workout facility as well.

Breakfast. I loved the new a.m. Kitchen Skillet! A definite, tasty improvement to their breakfast setup.* (Check out my full review here.) There is also a selection of snacks available in the gallery, as well as bar offerings.

Service. All of my interactions with the staff were efficient, quick, and courteous. Just what a tired road warriorette needs after a long day!

*I don’t think the a.m. Kitchen Skillet is available in all locations yet, but should be soon.

All in all, I had a great stay at the Hyatt Place. Plenty of room to spread out in a comfortable, attractive space, free wifi, and delicious food—what more do you need?