At best, a mosquito bite is an itchy annoyance. At worst, it can kill you (via malaria, or worse). In either case, being bit by a mosquito is sub-optimal. So on Spot Cool Stuff’s last trip to Thailand we tried out a shirt from Ex Officio’s Buzz Off clothing line. Our shirt contained “Insect Shield technology.” Basically, woven into the fibers of the shirt was Permethrin, a man-made version of a natural insect repellent found in certain chrysanthemum plants. The Permethrin is odorless; in addition to mosquitoes it also repels ticks, fleas, and flies. Our verdict: The Buzz Off repellent properties really work! None of the bites we received were near our shirt. We were so impressed that next month when we are head to Africa we will not only bring our shirt from Thailand (it’s repellent properties last for 70 washes) but also a pair of Buzz Off pants and perhaps a hat.
BUY: MEN’S SHIRT | WOMEN’S SHIRT | MEN’S PANTS | WOMAN’S PANTS
Fred Flintstone never had it this good. While his cave dwelling was small and cramped (and put occupants in danger of being run over by an overly enthusiastic Dino), you can stay at the Kokopelli’s Cave Bed & Breakfast. This massive 1,700 square foot suite is built deep within a cave in the New Mexico desert. The space includes a Jacuzzi, functional kitchen and relaxing living room. To help stave off claustrophobia there are also two balconies with massive desert vistas stretching across five states. Unlike many unusual bed and breakfasts that rely solely upon their uniqueness to attract business, the personalized service at Kokopelli’s is outstanding. You need a little agility to make the climb to your room (and a lot of ChapStick for the dry desert air). A stay at Kokopelli’s will not disapoint.
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Your average high design hotel starts out as sterile property before having an artistic aspect added to it. Berlin’s Arte Luise Kunsthotel began as an artistic compound before having a hotel added it. The funky, individually designed rooms here formed organically during the building’s time as a Bohemian artists commune. Today the Arte Luise Kunsthotel still has a communal feel — there’s a public kitchen downstairs and several rooms have shared showers. There’s free wifi, too. Every room is cool though some of the edgier options are better for looking at than staying in. Do you really want to sleep in a room that makes you feel like you are in a cartoon (room #306) or that has brightly colored socks coming out of the walls (room #411)? For the best mix of design and comfort we are partial to the double Loop room (#205), the pseudo-futuristic Future Comfort room (#431) and the sophisticated Baustelle Deutschland suite (#105). Rooms start at an extremely reasonable €49/€79 for a single/double with shared shower.
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We at Spot Cool Stuff see our fair share of gadgets that are more hype than, you know, useful. The Solio Universal Hybrid Charger is not one of those. What is so great about the Solio is that, well, it actually works. One hour of good sun charging time really can provide enough power to play your iPod for an hour or to talk on your cell phone for about 25 minutes. For reals! The beauty of the Solio, though, is that it comes with a battery. The solar panels charge the battery, the battery charges your electronics. Leave the Solio laying out in a sunny spot, tie it to your backpack or attach it to a window with the included suction cup, and let the Solio do its thing. Then that evening, or whenever it is convenient, you can plug into the Solio to charge your gadgets.
There’s something else cool about the Solio. The battery holds a charge for a full year and is powerful enough to recharge your average cell phone more than twice. The Solio can also be recharged from your old fashion wall outlet and comes with a slew of adapters for various phones, MP3 players, cameras and portable game players. Which means the Solio is also handy as a universal adapter even if you are going to, say, Sweden in December, when the Solio’s solar charging possibilities aren’t so great. Instead of bringing along outlet chargers for all your electronics you could bring only the Solio’s. $99 for the basic model, $199 for the ultra-rugged Magnesium Edition. PLUS GET 10% OFF when you purchase through Spot Cool Stuff and use the coupon code EcoGift10!
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How to describe the bubble-shaped accommodations at the Museumotel? The complex’s nine units on an island in the northwest of France are part Smurf village, part spaceship pod and part hobbit house. The Museumotel was originally constructed in the late-1960’s as an attempt to create practical, cheap housing. Today, the furnishings in several of the pods look like they haven’t been updated since the late-1960’s. And another part of the original intent survives as well — the Museumotel is cheap (by France standards). A self-standing bubble with en suite bathroom and internet access can be yours for a little as 55 euros a night. We suggest “The Orange Bubble,” which is a little larger than the others and has two large windows looking out over the river.
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We are often surprised how much effort travelers put into deciding where to go and so little into deciding when. The weather at a certain time of year obviously effects the travel experience but so do a lot of other timing factors — when that cool local festival is happening, when an attraction is overrun by other tourists, when that amazing waterfall is at its best or when the whales are jumping. Where To Go When is the Eyewitness Travel guide to the logistics of planning the perfect nexus of vacation time and place. The book is conveniently organized by month and includes some stunning photographs. And while there aren’t enough details in this book to plan your trip once you’ve settled on your destination you’ll find lots of inspiration within these pages.
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It is amazing what a little personal attention can do. The folks at the Fox Hotel took an ordinary property, albeit an ordinary property well located in central Copenhagen, and set about making each of their 61 rooms artistic and individual. The result is a hotel with a collection of rooms that look like they could form an exhibit at the MoMA. We are fans of the Fox Hotel though wouldn’t necessarily choose to stay here for more than a night or two — the decor often tends to favor looking cool over being functional and many of the rooms are cramped. The hotel itself rates room from “extra large” to “small” but in making your selection you’d be wise to think of them as “medium” to “really tiny.” Our favorite rooms are #306, large, almost all-white and like sleeping in a cloud, and room #121, which is rather small but has a woodsy theme and a tent over the bed.
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LA’s first power plant is one of its latest hot spots. When The Edison Bar moved into a 1910 building near Harlem Place Alley in downtown L.A. it left much of the infrastructure there intact, including the original boiler, power turbines and much of the piping. Around that industrial facade went mood lighting, low-slung bar, atmospheric dance floor and lots of plush nook for eating, socializing and romancing. The result is beyond cool. Come prepared to stand in line and dress to impress — bouncers won’t let you in wearing hats, sneakers or athletic wear.
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