Oh, shoot: Before you pack ultralight, visit UmbrellaToday.com. It might be raining.
What’s hot: This could be the easiest (and most fun) way to check the weather before heading out. Just type in your current location and UmbrellaToday tells you whether you’ll need your rain gear.
If you want more personal service, sign up for e-mail alerts and set a time for their delivery (e-mail or SMS) on days when you think you might need an umbrella.
Traveling abroad? No worries. The Web site tested through for destinations as far and wide as Bangkok, Thailand; Sydney, Australia; Lima, Peru; and Chamonix, France. For that last city, I didn’t receive a simple yes or no. Instead, it returned the word “Snow” in big white letters with a pile of powder on top of the umbrella.
What’s not: You get only a yes or no answer to your umbrella query. If it is raining, it would help to know the temperature and whether it’s a drizzle or a downpour. The iPhone app doesn’t have any features beyond what the Web site has. I can bookmark the site on my phone and save the $1.99.
Rent fast: LicketyTrip.com shows vacation rentals available this week or next.
What’s hot: Other vacation rental sites make you dig into the property page and test various dates for availability. Sure, you have a smaller pool to choose from with this simple last-minute booking tool, but it feels more like an insider’s short list than an empty database.
Destinations include the United States (with the most listings), Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Canada and elsewhere.
What’s not: It’s hard to compare prices, let alone find out whether the rental you’re interested in is on sale. I didn’t see an area for rates or even a range of rates. The only way to find out is to contact the owner using an online form. Sometimes a phone number is available, too.
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