Twenty free iTunes downloads – courtesy of Southwest Airlines InAirtainment

What better way to end the work week than snagging twenty free song downloads from iTunes, courtesy of Southwest Airlines?

To celebrate forty years of flying and the launch of their new InAirtainment portal, Southwest put together a list of artists “about to fly”. In the lineup, you’ll find songs from artists like Laura Jansen and a personal favorite of mine – Ellie Goulding.

To get your iTunes promo code, head on over to the Southwest Airlines InAirtenment page and click on the large iTunes banner. You can read more about the promo on the excellent Nuts About Southwest blog.

Label your power cords – Hotel tip

Today’s tech-savvy world requires a lot of equipment to stay “plugged-in.” Cell phones, laptops, and MP3 players all require power cords to recharge. Since these items don’t need to be plugged in all the time, it’s easy to forget your power cords when checking out of a hotel.

Increase your chances of recovery by writing your name and contact information on a piece of masking tape and securing the tape to your power cord. Be sure to write clearly, and use an indelible marker, such as a Sharpie, so the information will not smear or rub off.

Before you check out, simply grab all the cords with your name on them. If you accidentally forget one, you can easily call the hotel and say, “I forgot my cord. Mine is the one with my name and address on it.”

Download a walking tour of the city – International travel tip

A great way to learn about a city before you arrive is to download a walking tour of the city to your MP3 player or smart phone.

Many destinations, particularly in Europe, offer free downloads of maps, audio tours, and podcasts through official city government and tourism websites. Self-guided sightseeing tours of cities and major attractions, such as the Louvre, may also be available through Apple’s iTunes website. Some tours may require a small fee to download, but they’re usually less than $15.

The advantage of learning about the city before your arrival is that you can maximize your time by doing those things you really want to do, rather than trying to figure out your schedule while on the ground. Also, being oriented upon arrival just makes you feel more confident and excited about your adventure.

“Fairmont Fit” program supplies sporty guests with running shoes

Before every trip I tell myself that in between sightseeing, wine tasting, and multi-course gastronomic feasts, I’m going to get in some physical activity. Then I start packing my carry-on and, when things get tight, the workout clothes and running shoes are the first things to get cut.

Despite my good intentions, I’d rather pack an extra pair of heels or save room for some souvenirs than squeeze my bulky running shoes into my bag. And I’m sure I’m not alone. To make it easier on people like me, Fairmont’s “Fairmont Fit” program provides guests with a gently used pair of running shoes in their size to use for the duration of their stay.

Guests must be members of the Fairmont President’s Club loyalty program and pay $10 per stay for the Fairmont Fit program. The shoes need to be requested in advance; they are cleaned after every use and replaced each season. In addition to use of the use of the shoes (available at 56 Fairmont hotels), guests can also use Adidas workout shirts and shorts or capris, yoga mat and stretch band, and an MP3 player loaded with 1,000 songs.

Who am I kidding? I’m not going to go for a run even if the hotel does lend me some kicks. But for the more dedicated, it’s a great way to pack light and still be able to maintain your workout routine on a trip.

[via Travel+Leisure]

Daily deal – 32GB Creative Zen media player for $179

My daily deal for today is for the 32GB Creative Zen media player.

This device features music and video playback on a 2.5″ color screen.

The device also has a built in FM radio with 32 presets, a voice recorder, a clock/alarm and it can even synchronize your contacts and appointments from Microsoft Outlook!

The player usually retails for around $240, but is currently available directly from Creative for just $179.99.

A 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB version can also be found on their site. The 2GB is on sale for just $49.99. All orders over $75 ship for free. The device comes with a USB cable and a pair of headphones.