Christmas is a special time of the year when I can catch up with family and friends while eating delicious Christmas foods. Plus, there’s the exciting tradition of gift giving and gift receiving.
I always love giving presents, and the surprise of what’s beneath the wrapping when I receive gifts! Everyone knows I love travelling so I’ve received my fair share of wonderful travel gifts at Christmas time. All have been very thoughtful, very practical and very useful.
So, here are my Christmas gift ideas if you need some gifting inspiration for the intrepid traveller in your family!
Currency
Is the traveller in your family heading off overseas in the next few weeks? Then why not buy some currency for the country he or she visiting? Having a little currency on hand means there’s cash for any unexpected arrival taxes, a taxi ride from the airport on arrival, or buying a yummy local meal after a gruelling flight. If you can’t buy the exact currency, then the next best thing can help too. US Dollars, Euros and British Pounds are readily acceptable when buying local currency.
The Gift of an Experience
With so many gift voucher sites out there, people are spoilt for choice when it comes to the gift of an experience. Does your traveller love experiencing new activities, restaurants or locations? There are many sites that offer vouchers for cheap deals at restaurants like Scoopon or livingsocial. RedBalloon offers many fun and exciting things to do from winery tours, to skydiving, cooking and photography classes, and weekend getaways. Travelling also includes local travel, so your traveller will definitely appreciate the opportunity to try something new in their hometown!
Language Guides
Your traveller may have already completed some classes in a language that’s spoken in the country he or she is about to visit. Or, he or she might not have thought of doing this at all. Either way, a language guide is a great gift idea for someone travelling to a country where the language may create a barrier. There are so many to choose from, and Lonely Planet is one publisher that has an outstanding, extensive range of language guides. Many are small and relatively light so your traveller won’t need to stress about excess weight and they’re accessible when phone/internet coverage isn’t. Plus, they’ll be equipped with the basics to get by. If your traveller prefers an app or ebook, then an AppStore or Amazon Kindle gift card is a perfect alternative.
Safe and Secure Luggage
No matter how seasoned your traveller is, there is always a need to be extra careful with valuables like credit cards, passports and money. Pacsafe have an extensive range of luggage products, including passport and document wallets that feature scan-blocking technology. Your traveller will feel assured knowing their documents and valuables are safe from fraudulent activity while on the road.
Last-minute stocking fillers
If you’re looking for a few fun little things to bulk up a stocking, then these ideas are sure to come in handy!
- Power adapters/converters
- Little padlocks for locking up bags
- Travel-sized toiletries
- Synthetic shopping bag that comes folded to a small travel size
- Travel-sized umbrella
- Scarf or sarong
- Small fold-up guides and maps
- Little torch
- Light rain jacket or disposable poncho that folds up small
- Notebook or journal and pen
- Lockable bike chain – very handy for securing luggage during overnight train travel!
- Waterproof pouch for wet items or storing items in wet conditions
- Bag tags
- Luggage scale
A very Merry Christmas to my readers who are celebrating and thank you to everyone for your support throughout 2013. I’m looking forward to a brand New Year filled with more exciting travel happenings and lots of blogging. May you all have a successful and travel-filled New Year in 2014!
