OK - so an alarm clock is a bit of a crap gadget. If it were a biscuit, it would be a digestive. Not glamourous, but essential on any backpacker's plate. Even though you might think you'll be having a lie-in for a year, there will be times when you need to get up at ungodly hours, either to catch flights, join tours or even to see sunrises on top of mountains. And if you've left your phone at home - or need a secondary waker-upper to hide on top of the wardrobe for those times when snoozing won't do and you really HAVE to get up - then you'll need one of these. Some alarm clocks are all singing and dancing, doubling up as travel currency calculators or world time clocks, helping you to avoid ringing home during Eastenders and telling you exactly how much in your home currency you are being stung for by making the call. Have a little look.