Holiday Gift Giving Guide

It’s that time again when the stores are filled with ideas to buy your family and friends for the holidays. Looking for the best gifts for travelers? Look no further! There are lots of options for every budget to make your gift giving easier.

Ornaments

Tree ornaments are a favorite with lots of travelers. At Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan, there are hundreds of travel related ornaments to choose from. Whether visiting the store in person or using their mail order option, you’ll find everything from destination decorations and Jim Shore Santa ornaments from around the world to personalized ornaments to commemorate a trip. Countries, states, national parks, landmarks and flags are available.

Backpack

I love the durability of Eagle Creek backpacks and luggage. Everything from the fabric to the stitching and zippers are simply the best. And a No Matter What™ Warranty. I just discovered a new backpack made just for women — Global Companion 40L W — designed to better fit a woman’s body. It features a suitcase-style butterfly opening with two compartments for easy packing and organization, and a bottom shoe compartment. There are also a padded 17 inch laptop sleeve at the back, a padded electronic pocket and many other Eagle Creek features. The backpack comes in concord, black and smoky blue.

The Gift of Security

RFID (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. I highly recommend products featuring RFID protection. There are several listed below. 

Anti-Theft Boho Backpack

This attractive backpack features a locking main compartment with a padded pocket to hold a tablet or iPad as well as a side pocket and a zip wall pocket. The locking front compartment has RFID protected passport and card slots. Other security features include surround slash-resistant body panels and shoulder strap. The quilted backpack comes in black, blossom floral, gray heather and mosaic tile.

Travel Kits

Eagle Creek also offers several “kits” to make gift giving easy.

The Security Gear Kit includes a lightweight TSA lock, RFID money belt and RFID zipped organizer for your passport, credit cards and other essentials.

The International Travel Gear Kit includes a USB travel adaptor, a neck pillow and a money belt.

The In-Flight Gear Kit includes a blanket, eyeshade, neck pillow and earplugs.

Anti-Theft Metro Stadium Mini Crossbody

This stadium bag is perfect for plane travel. Just slip your passport and a credit card or two in the RFID slots. There’s room for your smartphone. It’s perfect for on-the-road too with its slash-resistance body-panels and shoulder strap. The main compartment locks for security as well. The stadium crossbody comes in black, gray and navy.

Anti-Theft Heritage Tour Bag

This hobo bag featuring a roomy compartment with zippered RFID blocking pocket, two open top wall pockets and a tethered key clip with LED light. There is a locking front zippered pocket and a rear zippered pocket. The bag also features two slash-resistant, removable shoulder straps. It comes in indigo, pewter and sage.

Atlas Coffee Club

Consider a gift subscription to the Atlas Coffee Club. You can travel the world every time you make a cup. This gift subscription delivers a new single origin coffee to your travel friend every month. It’s complete with tasting notes, brewing tips and a postcard from the country of origin. In other words, it’s a simple gift that supports local coffee farmers and is, therefore, one of the best gifts for people who travel with a mug in their hand. There is a whole world of coffee gifts.

Packable Clothing

Packing is always a chore, but when you are worrying about size and weight, it can become stressful. Orvis offers a packable jacket that is stain-, wind-, and water-resistant. The Pack-And-Go Travel Jacket also dries quickly and is perfect for summer and fall travel. The hood tucks away in collar and there are two interior zip pockets to keep valuables safe. The coat is available in stone, spice, navy and black. Orvis offers a wide range of travel clothes for your next adventure.

Guide books

Jonglez Publishing offers a wide array of travel books featuring a location’s “secrets.” The guidebooks are written by local authorizes and created for residents as well as travelers. Each guide features color photography and an amazing catalog of interesting and unusual places to visit in a specific city or country including Bali, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Rome and Naples.

Luggage Scales

Never leave home without a luggage scale. Just because your suitcase is under the maximum weight allowed when you leave home doesn’t mean it will weigh the same on your return flight—at least if you love souvenir shopping like I do. I have given luggage scales as gifts and they are always well received. No one wants to pay excessive fees for over-weight luggage.

Universal 3-in-1 Adapter, Converter, and USB Charger

 Another great stocking stuffer is a universal electric adaptor that is suitable for your world travels—160 countries in all. The USB port is for 110 or 220 watts so that as you are charging another piece of electronics you can use the USB port.

Happy Holiday!

I love the holidays and I love shopping for loved ones. If you have a traveler on your list, be assured I personally tried each of these products and can recommend every merchant.  

In some cases sample products were provided. The honest opinions are that of the author.  

For other product reviews click here.

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