New York Times Travel Show Features Safaris, Solar Power and Cigar-Rolling

1. NYT Travel Show

   More than 500 destinations were on display at the New York Times Travel Show.

   

2. Brightbox

   Nothing says travel like running out of phone battery in the middle of a foreign country.

   Brightbox is putting their charging stations into restaurants and stores, so you can securely charge your phone while dining.

   Swipe a credit card to open the chamber, plug your phone into one of the connector options, shop or stroll while it charges and swipe again to retrieve your phone.

   

3. Brightbox Open

   This is what the chamber looks like when it is open. The connector options are visible.

   

4. Scottevest

   Scottevest makes great clothes for travelers. The pockets are designed for tech, so this women's jacket had places for me to securely keep my iPhone, iPad and other devices.

   

5. Scottevest Fleece

   Scottevest's new fleece lets you access and use your phone while it's still in your pocket; the capacitive touch screen works through the plastic.

   

6. Dominican Republic

   In addition to the its fabulous beaches, the Dominican Republic is known for its excellent cigars.

   

7. Cigar-Rolling

   Show-goers were treated to a display of cigar-rolling at the Dominican Republic booth.

   

8. Voltaic

   Solar-power company Voltaic showed off its portable solar chargers and solar backpacks. It also had a solar-powered light on display.

   

9. Looxcie

   A Looxcie HD video cam is a great gadget for vacation. It constantly records, so don't worry about missing that awesome footage you thought you weren't filming.

   

10. Looxcie Hands-Free

    The Looxcie video cam has mounts, so you can wear it on a helmet and livestream your next adventure.

    

11. Libon

    Libon is an iPhone app that offers free voice calls and messaging while you're traveling.

    

Winter-weary New Yorkers took their dreams of warm, sunny islands in tropical locations to the New York Times Travel Show this past weekend. The show, in its 10th year, showcases more than 500 travel destinations from all over the world.

There were seminars on travel and social media, the latest mobile travel apps, as well as ways to use the Internet to research and book your next vacation. The floor was divided into sections by country and type of travel. Given the number of people standing in line for cruise information, vacationing on the high seas is clearly a popular travel option.

For those who prefer land — whether you're looking for the ultimate African safari, or rest and relaxation on a Caribbean Island — the show did not disappoint. Travel experts offered tips for bookings and family-friendly vacations, while hotel lines showed off their latest properties. We even found a man in the Dominican Republic booth hand-rolling cigars to show off the flavor of his country.

And as always, the show featured useful gadgets to take on vacation. Click through the gallery, above, to see what caught our eye.

Do you use social media to plan trips? What types of tech do you bring on trips? Let us know in the comments.