Here’s another portable language translator, the
Lingo Pacifica, for the
traveler who just doesn’t have enough gadgets. No, it doesn’t do the talking for you as you’re looking for the
nearest bathroom, but it will help you nail down the basics to hire a cab and find your hotel or hostel. And it will
make sure you don’t get a plate full of eyeballs when you really want some garlic soup.
Yes, you can accomplish all you need with a language book or the foreign phrases section of your Lonely Planet, but it
does give you 96,000 words in 16 languages…all in the palm of your hand. Your choice. Personally, I’ll stick with the
book, as I hate to carry around such task specific gadgets, but business travelers might find this one useful.