It’s that time of year when we all start to think about the holidays; baking, decorating and shopping. Shopping can be pretty easy though if someone on your gift list is a traveler. There are so many gift choices from focusing on the memories to choosing something practical.
The memories
Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland offers an amazing array of travel-related Christmas tree ornaments. From destination-specific to travel in general, you’re sure to find the perfect ornament.
Globe with Airplane Glass Ornament, for example, is a good choice for any international traveler, or choose a specific country or destination ornament to celebrate the past year’s adventures or an upcoming trip.
How about a decorative item? UnCommon Goods is another fantastic online store offering several travel gifts.
The World Traveler’s Cork Globe is great to remember past journeys or for planning new ones.
I love the Personalized Travel Milestone Marker. Personalize with vacations spots, hometowns or anywhere else that deserves a milestone marker. Or, if you’re unsure of what the recipient would choose, simply give them a gift card and allow them the fun of designing it.
Travel guides also make fantastic gifts for planning trips or remembering past ones. Two publishers I can recommend are National Geographic and Jonglez Publishing, known for their “secret” guides including Secret Florence and Secret Venice.
Packing tools
Traveling often means living out of a suitcase. Lewis N. Clark offers an excellent Hanging Toiletry Kit. The bottom part is 3 inches wide with little sleeves to hold items such as hairspray, mouthwash, shampoo and conditioner. There is room in the bottom for other items as well as a front pouch, two pouches on the top part that fold out to hang, and a pouch on the front of the folded-up kit.
Their matching Jewelry Roll keeps jewelry protected, accessible and tangle-free. The jewelry roll includes an earring strip, ring holder and zip pockets for necklaces, bracelets and watches.
I have given so many friends Packing Cubes over the years. I love them! I think of them as mini dresser drawers: one for tops, another for undergarments and pajamas, and so forth. After packing the cubes, they fit neatly into my suitcase. When I am at a hotel looking for clothes, I simply take out the cube, get what I want and put the cube back; no fuss, no muss, no stress.
I also recently discovered Packing Tubes. They fit perfectly between the ribs caused by the suitcase handle. They are excellent for socks and other small items, and they save me even more space in the suitcase.
Eagle Creek has two items I take on nearly every trip that would make excellent gifts: the Packable Duffel and Packable Backpack. When I travel somewhere, I don’t have a carry-on; only my backpack with my computer, camera, electronic cords and medications, plus a small neck-stash. On my way home, I fill the packable duffle with my laundry and use my suitcase for carrying souvenirs. When I am out and about seeing the sites I appreciate a daypack as well for a bottle of water and to stash my purchases. Of course, never put your passport or money in your daypack; always carry a neck-stash to protect these valuables from pickpockets.
Travel Safety
I am a huge fan of RFID-blocking gear.
(Radio-Frequency Identification) uses electromagnetic fields to identify and track information attached to objects including credit cards and passports. Although it has been around for years, its relatively new use is identity and digital theft. RFID skimming enables information from RFID-based smart cards to be read and duplicated.
As I indicated, I always use an RFID-Blocking Neck Stash as a little purse. In it I put my passport, driver’s license, boarding pass, credit cards and a little cash. If you’d rather carry a purse, try the RFID-Blocking Purse/Backpack. It easily converts from a purse into a backpack. And for evenings when you might want something more stylish, there is also an RFID-Blocking Fine Leather Clutch.
One other item I just discovered is a Travel Door Alarm. It has a motion sensor that triggers the alarm when someone has opened the door. Small and easy to use, it is an excellent extra measure of security.
Travel Accessories
When traveling internationally, you’ll need an electric converter. One I just found is a combination adapter, converter and USB charger.
Another new find that I am enamored with is the Wrap-N-Rest Pillow. Instead of being in a U-shape, it is a circle. And, with a Velcro strap, it hangs from my backpack.
The Bagnet is an awesome gift for any woman who has gone into the ladies room and discovered there wasn’t a place to hang her purse. It can be used on any heavy metal item including a restaurant dining table or inside of a locker; the uses are seemingly endless.
My go-to travel shoes are CMUK. Lightweight, they don’t take up a lot of space in the suitcase and are so comfortable! Gift cards are available.
Luggage
Every trip poses a new set of circumstances. How long are you going to be gone? Will you have access to laundry service? Do you plan to buy a lot of souvenirs?
Here are three pieces of luggage that I can personally recommend because I have used them and know they stand-up to airline handling.
The Carryall III Spinner Pullman carry-on is durable and lightweight (only 7 1/2 pounds). Checking a bag? The Gear Warrior AWD 26 is perfect for one-week trips and the Gear Warrior AWD 29 works well for longer adventures.
So, have fun shopping; there’s so much to choose from for the traveler on your list.
Disclaimer: In some cases, the writer received the reviewed merchandise either free or at a reduced cost.
