I just use my watch when I travel (I haven't found the need to have an alarm).

Are you already bringing your cell phone (and does it have an alarm function?)

I have several, I think one I particularly like is just a travel clock by a regular brand you can buy at a AAA travel store, for example (I think Franzus, but am not sure). It's about a 2 inch square.

The problem with most of the others I have is they have sort of this high-pitched beep as the alarm and it is not super loud. They are all pretty much alike in that regard, I think.

All of the ones I had were reliable in terms of working as long as you set them properly. I did have a cheap Timex one once, it's true, that wasn't too reliable as it kept going off all the time even when it wasn't set to go off. I mean it would go off at the time set even if the alarm switch was set "off". It couldn't tell the difference in off and on.

I have a cheap Timex travel clock that I bought about 10 years ago for around $9 at Walmart or someplace like that. Blue Indiglo face, big numbers, snooze button, totally easy to use. It's about 2" x 2" and unfolds to sit up. I know I've seen them in the stores since then, so I assume it's still being made. Highly recommended.

I also have an alarm on my watch, so if we have to get up early to make a flight, or something important, I set both of them, just in case.

The cellphone is a good suggestion, but I usually don't bring my on vacation overseas.

I like the big numbers on the LLBean travel clock:

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=62731&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&from=SR&feat=sr

~Liz

We have a Timevision travel alarm clock that I purchased from magellan.com in 2004. I love this clock...we have yet to change the batteries! The alarm itself is fairly loud, and the numbers are large enough that you can actually read them. I guess my only complaint, although very minor, is that the numbers aren't backlit.

Tracy

I second the LL Bean travel clock. I like it so much that I use it as my bedside clock. It folds flat and only lights up when you touch it; the light goes off after a few seconds so the light doesn't bother you while sleeping. Also shows temperature.

I used to bring a travel alarm clock that i bought from Brookstone. It's quite small, about 2.5"x2.5". However, I don't use it anymore for trips. Instead, I use my Timex Ironman watch for alarm, plus my cellphone. Since I need those 2 things anyway, I don't need to pack an additional clock.

Do you carry a PDA? Mine is my clock/alarm in addition to its thousand other functions. One unit to carry plus a universal charger 110V/220V/12V is all the electronics I need.

I think I have the same clock NanBug has with it's original battery. I've also had mine about 10 years. I like that it folds and weighs very little.

I do have a cell phone, and can program the alarm. I will probably use it as a back-up, but I have an early morning connection to make the second day after I arrive in Madrid from the West Coast USA, and because of the time-change I want to be absolutely sure I don't oversleep. The Timex clock sounds like a good bet - I'll look for one.

I also use my cellphone as an alarm. The 'system' keeps the time in sync with local time zone. It has a snooze of 10min increments, too.