| Showing up at a hotel, a ticket agent desk, or a | | | | you can use your combination PDA/Smart Phone |
| car rental counter and being asked for your hotel | | | | device and have all of your information in one |
| rewards program number, your frequent flier | | | | place!) |
| account number, or your "Preferred #1 Emerald | | | | I did a quick search on the PalmOne Web site -- |
| Club Gold Expresslane" account number, and not | | | | (Pocket PC users, check the PocketGear site -- |
| having it handy, can be very time consuming (not | | | | and not only did "Secret!" pop up, but so did about |
| to mention stressful and frustrating!). Sound | | | | 100 other PDA password-protected memo |
| familiar? | | | | storage programs, some less than $10. And of |
| If so, here is a VERY simple tip for you -- have | | | | course, if you are a planner user, you could |
| you ever considered putting all of those important | | | | create a single page in your planner that has all of |
| numbers in a single, easy-to-access and secure | | | | these account numbers (but make sure you don't |
| place? I have done just that, and it has made | | | | lose your planner or let it get stolen!!) |
| traveling so much easier and more enjoyable (and | | | | I've actually taken advantage of "Secret!" to not |
| my wallet SOOOO much thinner!) | | | | only list my private travel account numbers, but I |
| Here's how: | | | | also have a memo with all of my Internet |
| A few years ago, I downloaded a very | | | | account log-ins and passwords (who can possibly |
| inexpensive Palm software program named | | | | remember all of these!!), telephone calling card |
| "Secret!" by Linkesoft GmbH ($21.90). Secret! is | | | | account numbers, credit card account numbers, |
| basically a standard "memo pad" for your Palm | | | | and even memos on my personal goals and |
| PDA device, except that it is password protected | | | | dreams (because I don't want just anybody |
| and does not show up in an easy-to-access | | | | reading my goals and dreams!!) You could put just |
| format on your desktop or laptop (even though | | | | about anything that is very private in this memo |
| the data IS backed up when you synchronize | | | | pad, and be confident that it will stay just that -- |
| your device!) Create a password that only you | | | | very private! |
| know, and then create a single memo in that | | | | And of course, using this strategy has also saved |
| program named "Frequent Flyer/Travel #s". You | | | | me a lot of time, because I don't have to fumble |
| can input line-by-line entries with your account | | | | around with 300 travel cards, or try to remember |
| numbers for each of the many frequent flier, | | | | 300 different Internet account log-ins and |
| hotel, and car rental numbers. | | | | passwords -- now I just have to remember one |
| Whenever I travel now and need to access my | | | | (the password to "Secret!" itself), and I can find all |
| account numbers, I simply pull up "Secret!" from | | | | of the rest of these account numbers, names, |
| my Palm programs icon, enter in the password, | | | | and passwords whenever I need them. |
| open up the travel memo, and "voila!" I'm in | | | | I hope this tip allows you to be a more efficient |
| business with all of my travel account info. If you | | | | and less-stressed traveler (and Internet user!) |
| also have handy the toll free numbers for major | | | | And without all of these traveler cards to haul |
| hotels, airlines, and car rental companies, you can | | | | around with you, you will no longer have to check |
| actually do just about any needed travel | | | | your wallet or purse as an extra oversized piece |
| transaction just by having your PDA handy along | | | | of baggage. |
| with your cell phone. (And if you are really slick, | | | | |