If you haven’t decided on a holiday gift for the special travelers in your life, it’s time to read this post, get some ideas, and then step away from the computer and go shopping.  It’s too late for online shopping, so you just need to get out there and get busy!  (Okay, an easy way out here is to order something online, then print out a nice picture of the gift, and slip in into a nice card.)
Today’s post is a round up of ideas that I’ve already suggested, along with a few new ones. 
So here’s the list of ideas …read more

Earlier this week, I was the fortunate recipient of some great travel gifts, and I know other travelers would appreciate them as much I do.

A nightlight.  I usually bring night light with me when I travel, putting it into the bathroom, and making it a little easier to get around at night.  I’m in so many different hotels that it’s sometimes hard to remember where I am, and having a night light just brings a little familiarity to my surroundings.  I’ve had a plain standard light, and I’ve had a lava lamp night light.  This week I received a gift …read more

My next gift suggestion is a simple one, and while it’s inexpensive, it’s truly priceless to the traveler.
Kind words. 
Too many times when we travel, our phone conversations with loved ones are short, sterile, or too business like.  We can blame a bad cell connection, a hectic schedule, people waiting for us, or that we’re just taking a quick break between meetings, running for a flight, or grabbing a minute between phone calls.
The precious reminder that someone on the end of a phone cares about us is one of the best gifts that you can get.  That’s true no matter where …read more

In a world of black luggage, it’s sometimes easy to grab the wrong bag.  Hopefully, you always check the beg tag to make sure the bag you’ve got is your own!
A brightly colored bag tag will add an additional visual to help you spot your luggage, whether you’re putting it in an overhead bin or looking for in on a crowded luggage carousel.
Currently, I’m using a bright neon pink bag tag, and you can see it from a mile away.  On a recent trip, I checked my bag, and it was easy to spot “my” black bag among all the …read more

Every traveler needs luggage.  And the reality is, despite those 10-year or lifetime warranties, it wears out.  Sometimes, it’s a matter of taste or preference changing, finding that the luggage that once worked no longer does. 
Right now a lot of travelers are re-thinking their luggage choices in response to the “no liquid” rules.
Whether it’s a new roller bag, a carry on bag, toiletry case, or brief case, luggage would make a great holiday gift.
Here are some things to take into consideration in making a luggage selection:

What type of travel does the recipient do?  Short two-day business trips or 10-day international …read more

A picture frame or small photo album makes a great gift for someone who is away from home a lot.  It allows the traveler to take a little piece of home with them wherever they go.
A small frame can be easily packed away, and then taken out and placed on a nightstand or desk in a hotel room, where the traveler can gaze fondly upon their loved ones ““ spouse, children, sweetheart, or even the dog.  Make sure the frame is sturdy enough to survive packing.  If you’re concerned about it, you could buy one of the frames that come …read more

The bane of every traveler’s life is dryness.  Dry air, dry eyes, dry nasal passages, dry hair, dry everything!  Well — some of those just aren’t problems that can be solved with an item that is gift appropriate.
But, here’s a great gift idea to help combat the dry skin that is the result of too much time spent on an airplane or in a hotel room:  the 60-Second Fix Kit for Hands from Crabtree & Evelyn.  A co-worker turned me on to this product, and if it works for me, it will work for anyone.
The wonders of this product have …read more

When you spend lots of time in an airplane or a hotel room, life can get pretty boring.  That’s why I see so many people playing games on their laptop, or watching a movie, instead of working.  I know that I always have a movie DVD (or two) tucked into my carryon, either to watch on the plane or when I’m in my hotel room.
I’m a big fan of Netflix, believing that it’s a great choice for travelers.  Here’s why:

Users set up a movie queue from the website, putting in order the movies that they wish to view.   Netflix has …read more

Today’s gift is for young travelers.  Or maybe adults who want to instill in younger ones a sense of curiosity about the world.
101 Places You Gotta See Before You’re 12 by Joanne O’Sullivan.
Here’s what Amazon (aff) has to say about the book:
And there’s no need to go far or plan a big, expensive vacation to see this great stuff. In fact, some of the places may be quite close to home. They can take a peek at what actually goes on at their parents’ office, experience another culture’s cuisine at an ethnic restaurant, immerse themselves in the beauty of nature at …read more

Here’s a gift suggestion for travelers that fulfills a couple of missions:

It’s a book talking about the “inside” aspect of travel, written irreverently by a fellow Flight Attendant. 
It’s a book written by a blogger, specifically a Flight Attendant who got fired for blogging.
And it’s a fun read.  Quick, easy, providing a good laugh, and perfect for an otherwise boring trip.

Diary of a Dysfunctional Flight Attendant (The Queen of Sky Blog) is written by former Delta Flight Attendant, Ellen Simonetti.  It’s the life of a fictional flight attendant, told in blog form, and is based on Ellen’s Queen of Sky Blog.   …read more