Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown social networks with Skanz QR code wristband.

Scan This Travel Writer

The next time you are zip lining in Costa Rica or dancing the night away in New York and you want to exchange business cards – but you don’t have one on you – show your wrist band with your personalized QR code and voila! your contact information is transferred to their smart-phone.

Get out your QR Code Reader and Scan Nancy D. Brown - Travel Gear Review

Mobile Business Card

The standard business card serves its purpose when it comes to meetings, but today’s high tech, mobile connected era is always looking for the next best thing. Much the way Bump helps smart-phone users exchange contact information,  Skanz uses QR codes to capture and share users’ online presence.

The New York-based Skanz allows users to convey all their online details through a QR code. I went to the Skanz site and entered the contact and social networking information I wanted to share. A QR code was generated, allowing me to affix a decal to the back of my mobile phone or I could purchase a smartphone cover or wristband with my unique QR code on it. Either way, users may  scan each other’s QR codes with a free accompanying app for instant access to relevant information.

Skanz black bands - travel gear review

Don’t expect your QR code reader to perform well with dark lighting or moving wristbands. We needed to move inside for better lighting to successfully scan the QR code on my bracelet.  The wristband certainly served as an icebreaker for starting a conversation!

Social media fans may follow QR Skanz on Twitter or friend them on Facebook.  For all things travel related, follow travel expert Nancy D. Brown on Twitter.

Create your own QR code

Personal Skanzsite = free. Skanz bands $9.99 per band, available in a rainbow of colors.  iPhone cases with your personal Skanz code on the back $19.99. Skanz decals for your school ID card, computer, iPad case, anywhere it sticks – $5.00 per decal.

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Urbandillo Hobo Bag – Travel Gear Review

Top photo courtesy of David Lytle, Frommers.com Editorial Director. Skanz supplied me with this wristband for a travel gear review.

Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Travel writers share tips for how to find lost luggage

 With a heavy heart, I waited for the baggage claim carousel at O’Hare Airport to circle one last time. Surely my duffel bag would magically appear momentarily. Afterall, this was a non-stop United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Chicago. I had checked my bag in two hours early. How could this be happening to me, and at 1:30 in the morning?

Sadly, I admitted defeat and went over to the steel machine where I was to punch in my luggage identification number and wait for it to spit out the delayed baggage report receipt. Dejectedly clutching my laptop computer, I shuffled off to find the airport shuttle to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. The nice folks at the front desk hooked me up with some toiletries and I went to bed confident that my bag would be delivered before noon checkout.

As is the case of a lodging editor, I was moving on to review another hotel property the next day. Still no bag. After calling United Airlines 800 number, I was directed to their on-line site (which was down) to check the status of my bag. I checked into the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and was greeted with a friendly and sympathetic staff. A well-stocked toiletry bag was provided to me, but, alas, no duffel bag.

Eventually, I was reunited with my bag, but not before having to purchase a pair of dress pants and no-iron shirt for my BlogHer Travel Panel speaking engagement. I also need to send a shout out to Mary Kay Cosmetics and Public Relations Account Supervisor Jill Kleiner of Coyne. Her agency overnight Federal Expressed their entire make up line to me while I was staying at the Sheraton Hotel. And yes, Cat Lincoln of CleverGirls Collective saved the day when she slipped me some vital Yummie Tummie shapewear undergarments.

Rather than rant and rave, I’d like to offer some lost luggage travel tips from professional travel writers if an airline loses your luggage.

Travel Writers Share Lost Luggage Tips

Jennifer Leo: Los Angeles Times Travel Blog and Editor of Sand in My Bra series

Wendy Perrin: Conde Nast Traveler’s Consumer News Editor and Perrin Post blogger

Sean Keener: Co-Founder of the BootsnAll Travel Network 

Rosalind Cummings-Yeates: Freelance journalist and travel blogger

Kim Mance: Editor of Go Galavanting.com

Donna Hull: Freelance Writer and blogger at My Itchy Travel Feet

Lanora Mueller: Writing Travel blogger

Shannon Hurst Lane: Freelance travel writer