Tis’ the Season that I usually start stressing over what to give everyone on my gift list. But, this year I did some pre-planning and made a list of all the things that I have either purchased in the past or would love to receive this holiday.
PASSPORT HOLDER
Not only is this Shagwear passport holder stylish, it is also practical. Inside it has six card slots, plus a transparent id slot and is made from animal friendly materials. {More info…}
EARBUDS
These Thinksound eco-friendly earbuds will make you the hero of gift giving. I purchased them for my husband’s birthday this year and every time we travel he tells me how great they are. {More info…}
AVIATION CLOCK
These Lindbergh aviation clocks are the perfect gift idea for the traveler who will be spending some time at home, giving them a little reminder of what is to come in the future. {More info…}
LUGGAGE TAG
In a sea of black suitcases on the airports carousal everyone could benefit from a colorful luggage tag to identify your bag. Anne Taintor has a line of witty luggage tags that would make any traveler smile. {More info…}
SCRATCH OFF MAP
Traveling the world is already an adventure, but make it a bit more fun with this scratch off map. Simply scratch off the metallic foil of the places you have been to expose a pop of color underneath. {More info…}
Maps of the world make for great gifts for those consumed by wanderlust. Perhaps world map wall art prints would also be ideal for the homes of such people to serve as inspiration of where to go next!
PEST-OFF SOAP
Keep the pesky critters away with Pest-Off herbal soap. This soap is 100% natural and should be used as your first layer of protection when traveling to those humid places that attract bugs. {More info…}
TIMBUK2 CONTROL MESSENGER BAG
A durable Timbuk2 is my brand of choice as a laptop carry-on and this one has a TSA compliant external laptop compartment. It unzips and lies flat through security so you don’t have to remove your laptop. Bonus! {More info…}
ROADTRIP BINGO
Have fun passing time on a road trip with a call it like you see it game of Bingo. A traffic cone, flat tire or police car? What will you spot that will lead you to call “Bingo”? {More info…}
PERSONALIZED MAP KEY CHAIN
Pick the recipients favorite place to travel and turn it into a map keychain. These handcrafted key rings are customized with a map from Sherry Truitt’s vintage map collection. {More info…}
WORLD MAP PHONE CASE
This is a unique wood inlayed Iphone 5 case that is sure to impress. It is an easy snap-on that features a natural wood grain and finish. {More info…}
PACKING CUBES
Packing cubes are the secret trick that many travelers, myself included, use in order to fit everything neatly into their backbacks or suitcases. Plus, they help tremendously with reducing wrinkles! {More info…}
UNIVERSAL ADAPTER
When I travel overseas this is the universal adapter that comes with me. It works in more than 150 countries. My only complaint is that I only bought one! {More info…}
Traveling Soon? Use my Favorite Resources for Booking Your Trip!
Book Your Flight
Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine, because it checks dozens of airlines so you can easily find the best fare deals. You can also select ‘cheapest month’ to find the lowest fares for your destination (I use this all the time!).
Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
If love the freedom to explore like I do, driving from place to place is the best option! I always book with Discover Cars for the best prices and top brand options.
Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
I’d like to give those packing cubes a try.
The aviation clocks are pretty sweet — I’m sure some of my engineering students would love them too!
I may have to email my husband this shopping list, so he can get me those aviation clocks :)
I need to try the pest off herbal soap with citronella oil as I recently started using citronella oil on in the jungle and it helps. Sure beats putting nasty chemicals on your skin.
I am always hunting for something great to ward off the bugs!