first , I want to say that you should \* always \* have a battery-powered travel alarm clock in you luggage , with a spare battery . this be one of those basic must-haves for travel . I have stay at hotel which provide no clock at all . some have a clock with no alarm . some have a plug-in clock , and then the power go out . some have a really complex clock that you can not figure out how to set the alarm on ! by always have one with you , you be sure that you wake up on time and keep track of you schedule . there be plug-in one , but you have the problem of converter in foreign country , of find a outlet that be usefully near the bed , and again of power outage . it be much better to go with a battery power one . I like the fold-up design of this one . when it be shut , the display and button be all protect . you luggage can go through the most gorilla-like of baggage claim system and come out unscathed . the unit be very easy to use . a simple slider set the alarm on or off , and you get a visual indicator when it be on . you slide another lever to set the alarm or time . there be a snooze button which also turn on the light temporarily . you can set the hour and minute separately , which be a great improvement over system that make you cycle slowly through 23 hour to wrap around to the time you want . down side ? well , it be cheap plastic - but then again that make it really light . I really wish it be in a always-lit state for late night glance , but that would probably drain the battery quickly . so I think in general it be a great unit for the price . I have use it for quite a while and it be always come in handy . even the time I have not need it , it be be nice to know it be there in the corner of the bag