Quick - tell me the name of a device that will send out a 9-1-1 Alert to notify an emergency response center of your GPS location no matter where you are, for just 42¢ a day? Hint - it will work just about anywhere in the world, even in those dead zones.

I'll make it easier. Name a device that will let your contacts know exactly where you are and that you are O.K.? Even if you are off the coast of Tasmania.

It's not your cell phone. But it is about the same size as one.

And - What would you pay for such a device? How about 42¢ a day giving you or your family total peace of mind? Knowing no matter what happened on your trip - a medical emergency, a car break down, if you needed help of any kind, it was available. Here is an example - How many times do your children go off on their own with friends for a long weekend? You would like to know they are safe, wouldn't you? I know I would feel a lot better. I don't need a phone call; I just want to know they are O.K. How about if I had a way to check on their progress and know that all was well. It's not that I don't trust them. It's just that I would like the peace of mind knowing that they are alright.

Granted my kids are not going off by themselves to places like Banff Canada, or the remote Ungava Peninsula of Northern Quebec, or Seward Alaska, and definitely not to Tasmania. But people did go to these places and were able to get help from 9-1-1 just by pressing a button. I'd like to see a cell phone do that for only 42¢ a day.

The device I am talking about is Find Me Spot . The cost for Basic Service for One Year is $99.99 and includes Unlimited Messaging of:

• Alert 9-1-1 [Notifies emergency response center of your GPS location]


• Check/OK [Lets contacts know where you are and that you are O.K.]


• HELP/SPOT ASSIST [Request help from friends and family at your location]

You can see the Coverage map . The places where it doesn't cover are places I won't ever go to in my lifetime.

When I said the cost was only 42¢ a day, I included the Tracking Upgrade Option for $49.99 a year. I like the peace of mind the Basic Service offers, but the Tracking Upgrade Option allows me to send and save locations during a journey and allow contacts to track progress using online shared pages powered by Google Maps.

The unit is known as a Satellite Personal Tracker. It also has replacement insurance available for only $17.99 a year and gives you the ability to replace your damaged, lost of stolen SPOT unit.

If you get a SPOT, drop me an e-mail. I would love to know how you are using it, how it works, and the peace of mind it offers.

Until next time, let me know what travel articles you would like to see, and how you are doing, O.K.?

Jim Fortune - the Bella Budget Travel Guy