Practical & Fun Gifts for the Traveler in Your Life

Since we moved to Europe we have traveled to and through ten countries (repeat trips to a few of those countries) by way of plane, train, and automobile. I wouldn't say I am a seasoned travel pro, but I am definitely not a novice.

I'm in no way a travel snob, nor am I the girl that backpacks on €5 per day. I fit somewhere in the middle.

We stay in wonderful accommodations, but I don't book based on star count, and we certainly don't eat only at Michelin rated restaurants. Oh, and we have never booked a private jet.

So it really busts my luggage zippers when I come across articles and posts about 'Gifts for Travelers' that are crazy expensive, and not exactly useful to the average, modest traveler.

I'll say it, most of us are the 'average', even if you don't want to admit it.

I'll put it this way, if you compare hotel prices, ever, you ARE average. The super rich don't compare prices, they simply book it, or have an assistant that does.

Every gift giver wants the receiver to cherish the item, but personally, I always want the receiver to actually use the item!

I've gotten my fair share of random travel related gifts since we have moved here and with Christmas around the corner I wanted to share a few of them with you that I absolutely love, and others that'd be nice to have as the adventurer I am.

*This post was born because one person can only receive so many cutesy passport holders or luggage tags*

And here we go:

All gifts below range from $1-$100

Something for every budget!

Before any traveler leaves their house, they pick a destination!

And with that, I love love love these scratch maps on the market.

Are they practical? No. But they sure are neato.

Gone are the days when one thumb-tacked a location on a plain ol' map. Now locations can be elegantly scratched off, like a lotto ticket.

*Because lotto tickets are the epitome of elegance?

These types of maps are popping up all over the globe, and are now sold through a variety of retailers, though the original is through a British company called Luckies of London (they do ship to many countries).

There are also a variety of styles available now, too. Small, large, extra large. Black, white. USA, Europe, UK, Asia, France, but world maps dominate the scratch map business. Maps with capital cities, maps that teach you how to say "hello" in each country.

Price: About $20-100

http://www.luckies.co.uk/gifts/scratch-maps/

Or you can simply search "Scratch map" on Amazon, though I suggest reading reviews. Some maps out there have misspellings of country and city names.

Hello, from Doucheland!

Not cool.

As tempting as it may be to purchase luggage or large travel bags for the traveler in your life, I wouldn't advise it. Many of us have a preference that cannot be shaken and is less than often converted. I know I am a bit weird about my own luggage.

Plus luggage is super pricey!

If you still feel the need to buy something for your traveling friend that is along the lines of baggage, but less expensive and just as useful:

Canvas Tote/Shopping Bags

Yeah, yeah. It sounds cheesy, but here in Europe, we use them daily.

A simple run to the store for wine and cheese. Canvas Tote bag.

Shopping at a Christmas market. Canvas Tote Bag.

Grocery shopping. Canvas Tote bagsssss.

In most of Europe, the plastic shopping bags that you expect to come with your purchase, even at a grocery store, do not. We use reusable bags for everything, not just Ikea binges.

Okay, they don't have to be canvas style, but that's my preferred bag. Easy to throw in the wash, durable, and can be balled up and stuffed into a purse until needed.

If you want to make them extra special and tailored to the receiver, you can buy them plain from a craft store and decorate your own.

What I don't recommend is buying very city specific bags that make one look like a tourist. Nothing screams "TOURIST" more than a tourist carrying a bag in Paris that says "Paris". There are cute options out there other than the Eiffel Tower or River Thames screen-printed on to a bag.

I do love canvas bags. Like for reals. I've even collected a few for special items, like wine. But truly, you can find a canvas bag for every traveler in your life.

A must when leaving the United States:

The Quintessential Travel Adapter!

While I don't own the particular version below, it would be nice to have. Instead, I have collected handfuls of adapters for different places throughout my own travels. An all-in-one would have been great from day one.

What it does do:

It allows the user to plug in various pronged gadgets into various outlets throughout the world, AND can be used with three devices at the same time. This is a bonus considering many of the hotels, hostels and such I have come across have limited outlets to use.

Just note: What it doesn't do is convert voltage...which is a whole different story.

Basically, every traveler needs adapters for each region they visit (laptops, phones, tablets, etc,). This kind of adapter leaves more room in the junk drawer at home because it works all over the world. Gone are the days of having a collection of regional adapters.

Available at Amazon.com

Sold by Travelholic for $19.99

One of my favorite things about traveling is snapping tons and tons of photos.

I know there will never be a day when someone gifts me a coveted lens for my collection (that costs about $3,500), but there is something just as wonderful that would be appreciated by any traveling photographer, and can be easily purchased by anyone:

Photo Printing Gift Certificates/Cards

Now, my go-to printing lab does not yet offer gift cards/certificates, but alas, there are other options.

Shutterfly offers gift cards in both electronic and paper style in $10-100 denominations.

Mpix, one of my backup go to printing labs, also offers e-gift cards that start at only $1 minimum!

There are a few other reputable companies out there as well.

If your traveling friend or family member is anything like myself, this is a no-fail gift that they are sure to utilize in one way or another!

Wearables:

I ALWAYS wear a watch while out and about. Especially after visiting London, where my phone didn't seem to care about a time change (yes, I restarted it, changed location, turned on location, etc,. My husband's identical phone liked England. Still don't know why). But watches rarely fail me.

My current and favorite watch?

Kate Spade Metro "Going PLaces"

It's not only adorable, it's functional, and simple. It also has a map of Europe, so yeah...

Available at Kate Spade.com, Macys, and other department store. Retail: $195

There are other travel themed watches out there that cost more or less. Like the Michael Kors in gold below ($275) OR The Brown Strap map watch available at Kohl's online for only $11.99!

Another wearable that isn't super functional, but is almost guaranteed to hold greater sentimental value than a watch: A Traveler's Charm Bracelet.

I made my own as gifts for my traveling daughters (see the post about DIY Charm Bracelets in 'Around My House' blog posts), but they can be bought ready to wear, too.

Ready to wear Charms Bracelets are not hard to find, but they come in pretty basic form, hence why I crafted my own tailored to my daughters' travels.

My personal cost for the above bracelet: $70

But I did buy base charm bracelets for my project (photo below) that can be a great starter for your traveler to add her (his) own charms later: JC Penny on sale for $12.99

Another from the practical vault:

The Never Have it When You Need it Umbrella

Here in Europe, rain comes from nowhere when it's least expected. I remember getting caught in a freak thunder-lightening storm while visiting Marie Antoinette's Hamlet in Versailles.

It sucked.

The forecast for the day boasted a 1% chance of rain. Yep, just 1%.

It was sunny, beautiful, and then the clouds swooped in within a matter of minutes, drenching us from head to toe.

Usually I bring a compact umbrella everywhere, but on this day, I decided to forego the umbrella to make my cross body purse lighter. It wasn't going to rain!

Dumb.

But had I owned one of these little babies, I'd like to think I could manage the 'weight'!

At 7 ounces, and with dimensions at 2-1/2" x 1-1/4" x 6-3/4" h, I don't think it'd ever leave my purse unless it was in use!

Available at thecontainerstore.com for $14.99

I generally don't travel with expensive jewelry, but I do travel with some fashion jewelry, and until I got one of these, my shit would always end up in a zip-locked tangled mess that left me too frustrated to wear.

This is compact, yet big enough, and keeps all of your bling organized!

This particular case is available at Mele & Co and Amazon for $18.00.

Broke Army Wife

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Practical & Fun Gifts for the Traveler in Your Life

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