Okay, so it would seem that Back to the Future II didn't quite have it right, and flying cars are still some way off. And unfortunately, the same can be said for hoverboards too. But don't let that dishearten you - there are already plenty of futuristic means of transport that are already available - or, at least, available for pre-order.

They all come with a hefty price tag, but if you really want to get around in an all-new way, one of these pieces of travel tech could be just ticket. You just might have to break into your piggy bank (and a few other people's too).


The Martin Jetpack (approx $100,000)

Here's a dream that many people have shared over the years - particularly since the Bond movie From Russia With Love, which featured one prominently. The jetpack is a simple concept: strap a couple of rockets to your back, grab the control bars, and off you go. But the technology has been in its infancy for a long time, and nobody has really managed to get it right commercially speaking - until now, that is.

You can now pre-order a Martin Jetpack for 2013/2014 for the knock-down price of $100,000. The company's website states that they'll be fulfilling orders for the Martin Jetpack to corporate and military bodies first, then moving on to the commercial crowd. The Martin Jetpack is unique in that it doesn't use rocket power, but rather harnesses the power of a petrol engine to drive twin-ducted fans which produce enough lift to raise the jetpack and its pilot into the air. It's a vertical takeoff machine and can be deployed in a very small space. You can find out more, or pre-order your jetpack now, at www.martinjetpack.com.

The Rinspeed Squba (approx $1.5 million)

Whilst we'd like to avoid mentioning James Bond with every one of these innovations, it does seem that those film makers got things right. The classic underwater car from The Spy Who Loved Me, based on a Lotus design, was always seen as being something that's near impossible to commercialise. But, against all the odds, Rinspeed have done it. The Squba is the world's first car that can be driven both on land and underwater. It's an all-electric car (despite the old adage of not mixing the two) and can dive to depths of 10 metres. It has two propellers and two SeaBob water jets. When the car is under water, it can reach a speed of 2mph - on land it'll go as fast as 75mph. While the Martin Jetpack seems pricy at $100,000, the Squba really takes the cake. The prototype alone costs $1.5 million to make - meaning the retail price will likely be higher. Rinspeed have been quoted as saying that the Squba is a 'toy for rich people'. Still, if you've got the money - why not? You can read a wall of text all about this underwater car at the Rinspeed website.

The Hammacher Schlemmer Flying Hovercraft ($190,000)

Who hasn’t ever dreamed of owning their own personal aircraft? Well, now it’s a possibility with the Hammacher Schlemmer Flying Hovercraft. Granted, it only works above water, but still – it’ll get 20 feet off the ground whilst flying at around 70mph. It’s equipped with an 130 horsepower engine and both propellers and fans to enable it to leap over anything it may come across whilst gliding across the water. Unlike other hovercraft, this $190,000 beast can only opearate over water, but it’ll also fly on snow too. So if you live in the wilds of Canada or remote Antarctica, this could easily become your new runaround. And for a price tag that, when compared to owning an underwater car, seems veritably cheap – there are few reasons not to invest in a flying hovercraft. You’ll really be the envy of every other water-going vessel out on the lakes and rivers.

So there you have it: three fine examples of the future of travel technology, today (well, almost). Whilst we’re not all taking to the skies to get to work just yet, with the advancements in technology moving at the rate they are, it’s surely just a matter of time.

Author Bio:

Laura Chapman is a freelance travel writer with a passion for technology. She's unashamedly an Apple fangirl and wouldn't go anywhere without at least one iDevice!

To find out more about travel technology, just visit http://www.iglucruise.com/travel-technology.