Believe it or not, I’ve actually done all of my shopping for the holidays. But in years past, it’s been a very last-minute affair. If you, like me, are looking for gifts for the traveler in your life, I have some suggestions.
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Books
Travel books are a great gift for this time of year so that your loved ones can plan their adventures for 2020!
Koko’s Guide to Austin, Texas– My friend Jane, a fellow Universal Orlando ambassador, self-published her colorful and pocket-sized guide to her home of Austin, Texas. She took her expertise from her website, A Taste of Koko, and added bright photographs and sections on every type of food, drink, and fun found in the city.
Lonely Planet Dark Skies: A Practical Guide to Astrotourism– Another friend, Valerie, published her love letter to space in this incredible guide. Not only does it include landmarks from the space race, which she’s covered on the Space Tourism Guide. But it also includes the best places to go stargazing and see auroras.
Comfortably Wild: The Best Glamping Destinations in North America– My friends at HoneyTrek completed a 2.5-year journey in an RV, spanning over 70,000 miles. In their new book, they visit the most unforgettable outdoor accommodations like treehouses, Airstreams, domes, teepees, and more. To make this gift extra personal, you can get custom signed copies at HoneyTrek.com/CWS.
And, of course, I would love for you to buy my book, This Is My South: The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States!
Clothing and Gear
Tortuga Setout Women’s 35L– This fantastic Tortuga backpack comes in 35 and 45-liter versions designed specifically for women’s bodies with padded hip belts and chest straps. The clamshell design makes it easy to find your belongings and a padded laptop sleeve protects your electronics. It also has a sleek design that doesn’t look like the grubby backpacks covered in patches you might find slung on the tops of minibuses or tucked beneath a hostel bunk bed.
Allbirds Women’s Tree Runners– Last year, I got a pair of Allbirds for Christmas. I immediately loved the woven, lightweight shoes made of natural materials, especially for travel. The New Zealand company has a loyal following for their quality products and excellent customer service. They also make men’s shoes and wool versions. They go with nearly every outfit and can even be washed!
Ushuaia Hat from Tenth Street Hats– This year I got a Brooklyn Hat Company hat that is now the perfect addition to my travel wardrobe. The colorful wide-brimmed hat is foldable so I don’t have to worry about damaging it in my suitcase. The pom poms and colorful details are inspired by the South American destination.
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker– You don’t have to suffer with bad coffee. My outdoors-loving sister swears by this easy and packable coffee system. The setup comes with thin filters that allow you to fill the container with coffee and hot water, pouring into your desired cup. It’s perfect for camping and those traveling in places without access to in-room coffee makers. It also cuts down on those wasteful Keurig pods.
Experiences/Other
Scotts Cheap Flights Premium Subscription– I am an avid user of Scott’s Cheap Flights. It’s how I got my $500 flight to South Africa and $300 flight to Peru. The company sends emails straight to your inbox with cheap flights from your chosen airports and nearby ones to around the globe. Some are mistake fares that will be gone in a few hours while others offer discounted business class. Premium membership is only $39 per year! It’s well worth it.
Rent the Runway Unlimited Subscription– Avoid fast fashion by gifting an annual subscription to the clothing rental company. Their selection includes not only black-tie dresses and upscale designer goods. But they also have casual attire that can be worn every day. If you’re looking for an easy way to mix up your wardrobe, this is the perfect gift.
Getaway Gift Card– I recently had the pleasure of staying at Getaway Chattahoochee, a tiny house cabin in a rural town outside of Atlanta. It’s the perfect place to disconnect. But don’t worry, they have other locations around the country including Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, and more. They accept gift cards in varying amounts depending on if you want to gift one night or many.
Donations- This time of year is also good to make donations to charitable organizations. In past years, I’ve given money to the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai and FLYTE, a group that brings high schoolers abroad. This year, I’d like to support the Ometepe Bilingual School in Nicaragua. I stayed at their adjoining guesthouse in 2017 and loved the way they recycle as much as possible to construct buildings. It may be the only chance some of these kids get to learn English. Tourism on the island has suffered due to the political climate so they need as much support as possible.
If you’re looking to take your blog to the next level in 2020, consider signing up for my course Leveraging Your Travel Blog Into a Book. It has hours of video with fellow authors and information on how to put together your book, whether a travelogue or guidebook.
Thank you Caroline!