Gifts for Travelers
I may be getting ahead of myself here, but anyone who is already planning for the coming holiday season is on the hunt for the perfect gifts for friends and family. I can't help you find the perfect gift for "the person who has everything," but I can help you find great gifts for your globe trotting friends. I have compiled some ideas ranging from inexpensive to a little pricey, but don't miss the Pinterest board for this page with more than 100 ideas (and growing).
$ - Make something. The Internet is full of DIY ideas for easy gifts. One map can be converted into jewelry, art, accessories and more. If you don't have a knack for crafting yourself, Etsy is a great place to buy homemade and unique gifts at relatively inexpensive prices.
$ - Travel accessories. Travelers can always benefit from accessories that make their trip easier and more enjoyable. Neck pillows, fast drying clothing and special cases designed for devices are all things a jetsetter may not have the funds to spring for when they're busy saving up for the trip itself. Most accessories are not too expensive and your recipient will be thinking of you when they use it during their trip.
$ - Travel guides. Get them started with a guide to their next destination. Whether they alreayd have the flight booked or are just posting pictures to their dream board, a travel guide will jump start their planning and get them even more excited for the trip. I am personally a huge fan of Lonely Planet guides, but I would also recommend Fodor's and Frommer's. Paying for a subscription to their favorite Travel Magazine makes a great gift too. I love AFAR, Budget Travel, Lonely Planet Traveller, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Wanderlust.
$-$$ - Home decor. Depending on what you buy, most travel-themed home decor is affordable. One of my favorite travel gifts was this scratch-off map I can use to keep track of my travels ($20 at Uncommon Goods). But a regular map will do just fine, or a globe, painting, etc. Honestly, anything with a map on it will be loved by your traveling friend.
$-$$ - Jewelry. Etsy is a great place to start when looking for travel-themed jewelry. But other jewelry stores will have charms of famous monuments and other jewelry to inspire wanderlust.
$-$$ - Personalized items. RedEnvelope, Personalization Mall, Personal Creations and CafePress are good places to start for gifts you can put their name on. Not all of the products are expensive, but an added cost for customization is possible.
$$-$$$ - Luggage. Has that suitcase they've dragged around the world seen better days? If you have the funds, a new suitcase, carry-on, even luggage set make great gift for the world traveler. Find out what their preferences are, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for a suitcase that won't fall apart after its first trip in the cargo hold.
$$$ - Globe bar. This is a very cool piece I discovered a few weeks ago. A variety of companies are making variations of this, and some are very expensive, but the best deal can be found at Overstock for around $130.
$$$ - Camera. You'll have to really like the person you're buying for, but I guarantee a camera is the best gift you can give a traveler. From a good quality point and shoot to a fancy DSLR, you are guaranteed to get a cool souvenir when they return.
And finally...money! If you still don't know what to buy, the perfect thing to do is help fund the next trip. Give a little or a lot, every little bit helps when you want to see the world.
Fun Fact: Gift giving is different in every country, so if you plan to visit friends or family abroad, read up on the customs and traditions before you go. For example, in India you should only wrap presents in red, green or yellow wrapping paper as they are considered good luck. Never wrap gifts in black or white because they are unlucky colors. Also, often they will not open the gift in front of you, but will instead wait and open them in private. When giving money, many Asian countries consider even numbers to be unlucky, so always give money in odd amounts.
That's it for today, but I'll be spending the next few days designing a new logo, so keep an eye out for a new post soon! And don't miss this Pinterest board for even more gift ideas!
Thanks for reading!
-Sam
$ - Make something. The Internet is full of DIY ideas for easy gifts. One map can be converted into jewelry, art, accessories and more. If you don't have a knack for crafting yourself, Etsy is a great place to buy homemade and unique gifts at relatively inexpensive prices.
$ - Travel accessories. Travelers can always benefit from accessories that make their trip easier and more enjoyable. Neck pillows, fast drying clothing and special cases designed for devices are all things a jetsetter may not have the funds to spring for when they're busy saving up for the trip itself. Most accessories are not too expensive and your recipient will be thinking of you when they use it during their trip.
$ - Travel guides. Get them started with a guide to their next destination. Whether they alreayd have the flight booked or are just posting pictures to their dream board, a travel guide will jump start their planning and get them even more excited for the trip. I am personally a huge fan of Lonely Planet guides, but I would also recommend Fodor's and Frommer's. Paying for a subscription to their favorite Travel Magazine makes a great gift too. I love AFAR, Budget Travel, Lonely Planet Traveller, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Wanderlust.
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| Not a bad start, but a lot of work to do. |
$-$$ - Jewelry. Etsy is a great place to start when looking for travel-themed jewelry. But other jewelry stores will have charms of famous monuments and other jewelry to inspire wanderlust.
$-$$ - Personalized items. RedEnvelope, Personalization Mall, Personal Creations and CafePress are good places to start for gifts you can put their name on. Not all of the products are expensive, but an added cost for customization is possible.
$$-$$$ - Luggage. Has that suitcase they've dragged around the world seen better days? If you have the funds, a new suitcase, carry-on, even luggage set make great gift for the world traveler. Find out what their preferences are, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for a suitcase that won't fall apart after its first trip in the cargo hold.
$$$ - Globe bar. This is a very cool piece I discovered a few weeks ago. A variety of companies are making variations of this, and some are very expensive, but the best deal can be found at Overstock for around $130.
$$$ - Camera. You'll have to really like the person you're buying for, but I guarantee a camera is the best gift you can give a traveler. From a good quality point and shoot to a fancy DSLR, you are guaranteed to get a cool souvenir when they return.
And finally...money! If you still don't know what to buy, the perfect thing to do is help fund the next trip. Give a little or a lot, every little bit helps when you want to see the world.
Fun Fact: Gift giving is different in every country, so if you plan to visit friends or family abroad, read up on the customs and traditions before you go. For example, in India you should only wrap presents in red, green or yellow wrapping paper as they are considered good luck. Never wrap gifts in black or white because they are unlucky colors. Also, often they will not open the gift in front of you, but will instead wait and open them in private. When giving money, many Asian countries consider even numbers to be unlucky, so always give money in odd amounts.
That's it for today, but I'll be spending the next few days designing a new logo, so keep an eye out for a new post soon! And don't miss this Pinterest board for even more gift ideas!
Thanks for reading!
-Sam
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