UnPlugging, and the Rest of the Week in Travel and Health

Personal technology has made traveling more rewarding than ever before. Or at least, it has raised the potential of traveling the globe – there are hundreds of devices, websites and apps that enable you to dig deep into a new destination and enjoy an experience that was virtually impossible to realize just a couple of decades ago. But of course, there is a flipside to the technology at our fingertips, and that is the subject of New York Times columnist Frank Bruni’s tremendous column this week, in which he explores the pull of the technological comforts of home while visiting an exciting city halfway around the world. We travel to explore new places, but very often spend a fair amount of time sitting in your hotel room in Rome and watching reruns of Family Guy (or is that just me?).

Jet lag is the scourge of many international travelers; the inability to adjust to a new time zone can drain much of the enjoyment out of vacation, or make it difficult to get the job done on a business trip. But the Global Post’s Alexander Besant reports that a new discovery by researchers at Oxford in the UK holds promise for, believe it or not, finding a cure for jet lag. They’ve isolated the gene that helps us regulate our inner clocks. Until that cure can be found, however, Stephanie Rosenbloom at the New York Times has some sleep gadgets that might help you get some shuteye when traveling.

We frequently tell you about the importance of maintaining your exercise routine when you’re traveling. Sneaking in a workout can make for a better travel experience for a multitude of reasons. Of course, finding acceptable workout conditions isn’t always easy when you’re on the road. At USA Today, Karen Asp offers up 12 fitness friendly hotel chains to make it simpler. And if you’d rather go more upscale, check out Alexa Brazilian’s article at the Wall Street Journal on England’s exclusive yoga retreat.

If you’re not looking for exclusivity and crave something a little more extreme, you can follow in the fast-moving footsteps of David and Katherine Lowrie. At the Wenger Blog, Kraig Becker has the story of their quest to run 5000 (that’s right – five thousand) miles across South America.

A new report shows that the three industries most targeted by data thieves are retail, hotels and food and beverage – in other words, where most travelers spend the bulk of their time and money. The New York Times’ Joe Sharkey reports that the reality is that travelers need to be very mindful of their data security. For good measure, Gadling’s Rob Annis has tips for keeping your data safe while traveling abroad.

Airline food often gets a bad rap. Typically, travelers are crabbing about the fact that there simply isn’t any food – that bag of peanuts will only fight off so much hunger. However, some airlines are committed to creating a gourmet experience in the sky; at CNN Mark Kavanaugh writes that those airlines are hoping high-end meals will help attract more business travelers.