Blogmas Day 18 - Gifts for the Traveller

I love to travel, but it can be a bit expensive with all the gear you need, aside from the tickets and accommodation. Especially if it is your first big trip, you might find it helps to put a few of the bigger items on your wish list. That way you can save some money to spend once you are out in the world. 

Before my big Asia trip in 2009 I got a lot of the stuff I needed for Christmas which was a big help as far as my travel budget was concerned. 

Below are some of the bigger items any traveller might appreciate under the tree.

Backpack - an essential if you are off traveling the world. Unless you are the type to bring a long a suitcase with wheels. But those can be expensive too. Perhaps settle for a gift card or consult the person you are buying for as a backpack is a very personal choice. Some like outside pockets, some don’t, some want them big, some small, some like color, some don’t. There are endless possibilities, so if you do decided to spring for the actual backpack, make sure it can be returned and switched for another, just in case. 

Sleeping bag - these suckers can be expensive! This of course depends on the quality, but if you are going backpacking/trekking you will want a good lightweight sleeping bag that will keep you warm, but not take up too much space in your backpack. 

Sleeping mat - the same goes for sleeping mats. You want to be comfortable at night, but you don’t want to lug around any extra kilos. I find that an inflatable one really fits the bill here. Asivik does a nice one that has a pump that can be squished together to a small size. 

Pillow - I find that a good nights sleep is super important for me when traveling, because I want to be fresh to enjoy the adventures of the day. A decent pillow plays an important part in that, and I find it is usually worth it to bring an inflatable pillow along. It is essential for camping situations, but even if you are staying in hostels it might come in handy, as the pillows provided for you are sometimes not too great.

Toiletry kit - a toiletry bag is always useful whether for camping or staying in hostels with shared bathrooms. Make sure it has a hook, so it can just hang on the wall and you don’t need counter space as that is sometimes lacking. Perhaps you can fill it up with small size shampoo, soap, body lotion, tooth paste and so on. If it is for a camper who will be out in nature try to get biodegradable stuff. 

Guide books - these can be quite expensive and if the person is visiting multiple countries they can be quite an expense. I find that Lonely Planet’s guide books are always a good starting point, but there are a ton of options out there. I usually appreciate the more specific guide books, so if you know the person is going to one city in a country get a book for the city and not the entire country. Sometimes it is even possible to find themed guide books, like a beer lover’s guide to Germany or a gastronomic guide to France for example. Have a look around and see what fits your budget. If you don’t know their next destination there are a ton of “inspiration” books out there too, that any traveller will appreciate, such as top ten beaches to visit or most beautiful waterfalls around the world. The possibilities are endless. 

If you are on a smaller budget, try checking out my post for gifts in a jar. There are a lot of options for smaller, affordable gifts that will still look amazing with the right presentation. 

Really, there is an abundance of things that travelers will appreciate under the tree. For example hiking socks, blister pads, a fast-drying towel, a sturdy water bottle that can clip to the backpack, freeze dried food if they are going camping, a lightweight journal to document their adventures, packing cubes to ease the stuffing of the backpack. Really, walk into any outdoor store and whatever you pick will almost certainly be a hit!