Budget Travel recently put out its list of the top 10 best travel innovations of the past 10 years (though actually one of their innovations has been around longer than that). It got me thinking what are my favorite things that make travel easier?

My list definitely coincides with theirs to a large extent. Certainly anything having to do with the Internet, from booking reservations online to being able to research travel destinations, hotels, restaurants, etc., to pulling maps and comparing prices, to being able to print gift certificates from Restaurant.com and my boarding pass before I even leave for the airport, etc. So pretty much the Internet itself would be my top favorite travel innovation (as well as my favorite innovation of all time).

And yes, amen to whoever invented luggage on wheels (though as many Budget Travel readers pointed out, these have been around for longer than 10 years). I remember schlepping an oversized tote bag and a large suitcase (without wheels) to London and back 14 or so years ago, and it was an experience I would never repeat. They were both bigger than I was and probably almost as heavy. Wheels make things so much easier!

I also love my digital camera which allows me to view my photos right away and know if they’re good or not, and I don’t have to pay to develop a bunch of lousy photos.

Also my mp3 player, which allows me to entertain myself with my own favorite music without taking up space with a CD player and CDs in my carryon.

I’m pretty new to cell phones (I’m not much of a phone person), but I do like that I don’t have to find a public pay phone any more or pay outrageous fees in hotels to use their phones.

Worldwide ATM access makes travelers checks pretty obsolete for me. Woo! Oh sure, they always throw in fees, but to me, it’s worth it for the convenience.

I’d also have to say TVs on seatbacks in airplanes. I prefer being able to choose what I watch during the flight instead of being stuck with a lame movie chosen by the airline.

I’ve never tried a neck pillow, but I really need to do that one of these days. I can’t sleep on airplaines, so maybe that’s the solution. Can anyone recommend a really good one?

I still haven’t ever used a GPS system (for budgetary reasons), but I wish I had one. I have GPS envy. For now, I rely on Google maps. And have you seen their street views??? Fantastic! You can do a virtual run-through of driving from point A to point B in a strange city before you even get there! Again, I love the Internet.

One thing I was surprised wasn’t mentioned were space saver bags. Have they been around longer than 10 years? I certainly find them very handy at keeping my luggage to just 1 suitcase, thus avoiding those 2nd bag fees.

It seems some enterprising soul is inventing cool new travel gadgets every day, so stay on top of them by reading TravelGadgets.org. For instance, I just read about MizPee there. Have you heard of it? Hilarious–and yet oh so useful.

Do you have any favorite travel innovations from recent years that haven’t been mentioned?