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 that I’ve already suggested:

• Night light, personalized photo album, swivel plug in
• Bag tags
• Luggage and carryon bags
• Photo album & frames
• Hand cream
• Netflix
• Books that are educational, humorous, or for kids.
• Digital camera
• Maps
• Xubaz
• Map scarves
• Sleep mask
• Traveler’s journal
• Travel pillow

Here are a few more that would be a big hit:

• A gift certificate for a restaurant that they’ve wanted to try in the city they travel to the most.
• Housecleaning services.  I know that one thing I really hate is to spend all my days off cleaning the house and doing household chores, and I’d guess that I’m not the only one who feels that way.  A little helping hand once in awhile can make anyone’s day.
• A romantic trip for the two of you, or a fun trip for the whole family.  Yes, even though we travel for business, we still love to travel for pleasure, too.

Now get going!  Go get that special gift for the special traveler in your life!

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• 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 of a new one ““ the front end of an airplane.  It’s a design any traveler would love, or love to hate.
• Another gift was an adjustable multi-prong plus in.  Okay, that’s probably not the technical name for it, but that’s a pretty good description of what it is.  You can plug it into the electrical socket in the room, and it will swivel in whatever direction that you need it to.  Then, you can plus in your stuff.  There’s room to plug in your laptop, cell phone, mp3 player, and still have an extra.  This little gem is going to be a permanent part of my packing essentials.
• Finally, I received a personalized calendar.  A friend made a 2007 calendar using photographs of fun things that we had done together on layovers throughout this past year.  I plan to hang it by my desk at home, where it will serve as a daily reminder of a great year and a wonderful friendship.  Why don’t you dig out some favorite photos and make a calendar personalized for the traveler in your life?

Better hurry!  There’s only three more shopping days left!

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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 you are, of course, but in a crowded airport, impersonal hotel room, or a stressful meeting, kind words can make all the difference in the world.

Call your traveler today and let them know how important they are to you.  Leave a voice mail if they are unavailable.  I guarantee you that they will replay that message over and over!

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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 others in baggage claim.

I’ve written about some fun bag tags previously, so take a look here to see if these suit you.

Here are a couple of other suggestions. 

Tags for Bags offers bag tags made out of a heavy duty polyester webbing that can be personalized, Global Bag Tag offers a bag tag with an electronic tracking option, and Corporate Travel Safety offers larger sized, brightly colored faux leather tags (in photo).
 
Bag tags are relatively inexpensive, and make a great stocking stuffer or secret Santa gift.

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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 treks?
• What type of clothes do they pack?  Casual, no frills attire or business suits?
• Do they check luggage or carry it on?  U.S. airline regulations limit the size of carry on luggage to roughly 22″ x 14″ x 9″.
• What is their color preference?  Black is conservative, yet versatile, but since it is easily confused with all the other bags, there’s a proliferation of colored luggage now available.
• Is the traveler independent, carrying their own bags and handling their own arrangements?  Or do they depend on others to meet them, carry their bags, and chauffeur them where they need to go.

Answers to these questions will help you make decisions about size, weight, and durability factors of a luggage purchase.

There are lots of retail and online locations for luggage purchases.  A popular site with airline crew is eBags.  They carry a wide variety of bags at competitive prices.  You don’t have to be a crewmember to shop there, although they frequently do have discounts for airline personnel.

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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 in a protective pouch.

Another option is a small photo album.  4×6 is a great size.  Photos can be placed in the album, serving as a prompt to wonderful memories of home and of the road.  These albums come in a variety of sizes, can hold up to 100 photos, and are very inexpensive.

Photo credit:  flickr

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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 been burning up the flight attendant hotline for quite some time now.  Our workday is spent serving food, picking up trash, and washing my hands in between.  At the end of a trip, our hands look pretty ragged. 

Just give the 60-Second Fix Kit a try.

Step 1:  On dry hands, rub the scrub into and all over your hands.  It’s a gritty, grainy feel that both exfoliates and hydrates.  Thoroughly rinse your hands; you’ll immediately notice almost protective type of feel to your hands. 

Step 2: Slather on hand cream.

That’s it; all there is to it.  I try to use it every day before heading off to work. 

While this may seem a little too “girlie” of a gift, there are several scents suitable for men as well. 

Scents:  Choose from:  Goat milk, Jojoba, La Source, Gardener’s.

Price:   On sale online, $20 for the duo, with some free shipping and other gift options.   Regular price for the duo is $25.  I’ve seen several other fragrances available when shopping at the various stores.    The products are available individually as well. 

The “no liquid, no gels” ban means that you can’t take it on the plane with you, but it you’re checking luggage, just pop it into a plastic bag and pack it.   If you only take carry ons, try the two-step process before heading off to the airport.

While you’re at it ““ pick up an extra.  You just know that you’re going to want one for yourself!

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I’m a big fan of Netflix, believing that it’s a great choice for travelers.  Here’s why:

1. Users set up a movie queue from the website, putting in order the movies that they wish to view.   Netflix has an extensive list of DVDs, including movies, television programming, indie films, documentaries, and special recordings.  (I’ve been re-watching some of the classic Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn movies.)  Uses get to constantly re-order their queue, depending on your priority or mood, and Netflix sends you whatever is at the top of your list.
2. The DVD arrives in the mail and is returnable by mail.  I frequently don’t have time to get the video store because I keep somewhat irregular hours.  With Netflix, I just have to walk out to the mailbox.  And I return the DVD in a pre-paid mailer.  I can mail it back from home or from the road.
3. There are no due dates or late fees.  This is a big bonus for travelers, as a trip can easily take us on the road beyond the rental period.  Even if it’s a long trip, I can pack up a few movies to keep me company and just drop them in the mail as I finish with them.
4. The subscription price is affordable, and is based on how many DVD rentals you have at one time.  There is no maximum amount of rentals per month, and as soon as one is returned, another one will be on its way.

Netflix has holiday gift subscriptions available for one month up to a year of rentals.  Pricing varies, depending on number of rentals allowed at one time, and ranges from $10 month for one DVD at a time to $18 dollars a month for three at a time.

A Netflix gift subscription is a great holiday gift for any traveler who is a movie or television fan.

Photo credit:  flickr

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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 a wildlife preserve, or get the inside scoop on what really happens backstage at the theater”¦or even in the teacher’s lounge! And the ideas are just general enough to provide a gentle push in the right direction, while allowing young dreamers to use their imagination and fill in the specifics.

I’ll be picking up this book for some of the small fry in my extended family.
 

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• 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.   I received an autographed copy of the book from Ellen, and have had a good time figuring out what’s fiction and what’s faction.

You can buy the book through Amazon (aff) by clicking here.

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