Gift Ideas For Travel Lovers

TMP 90 - Gifts
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Jenn: Hey everyone. Welcome back to the Travel Mug podcast. This is Jenn and I'm joined as always with Meggan, my partner in podcasting, not my partner in crime, but my partner in podcasting. , how are you today, Meggan?

Meggan: I'm good. Like it's so dark though. Like today was cloudy. I think we turned on lights here at like, I swear, 3:30pm. It's a smidge depressing, but again, you can't do anything about it, so just turn a light on and go on with your day. I guess

Jenn: That is true, and that can only mean one thing. Meggan holiday season is coming up.

Meggan: that is definitely part what it means for sure.

Jenn: Yeah, I went into our local hardware store on Saturday and they were playing Christmas music, and it has, it has arrived. So just in case you have some travelers on your gift list, we've put together some gift ideas, or maybe you'll put these on your wishlist. Who knows? There are so many different travel gadgets out there, and many of them aren't really necessary, but they can make travel easier or sometimes more fun. And we're also big fans of things that remind us of travel in our everyday lives as well. So we put together this top 10 list of gift ideas. So Meggan, I'm gonna throw it over to you.

What is number one on our list? In no particular order,

Meggan: Yes. Thank you for clarifying that. We've not ranked them, they're just a random list. So our first idea is apple air tags or an apple air tag, whichever. And air tags themselves have been around since about 2021. At this point. There were a lot of early adopters, but it kind of seems like it's becoming more mainstream now.

Most of us have likely heard a story or two where they have helped track down long lost luggage that the airlines claimed was simply missing without a trace. I did recently purchase one for Peter for his birthday. Of course, we've yet to use it since we've not flown since. But I feel like it's gonna be an added layer of security.

Nothing is foolproof. Totally. But an added layer of security as we all kind of fear our luggage being lost. Like it is one of those things where you're like, Ooh, uh, you wait for that belt to come around. And we can't wait to try it out. And I hope that before we fly to get my own as well. And I would just like to say for all our listeners, please use air tags for positive purposes only. You know.

Jenn: Yeah, for sure. , I definitely agree. I actually don't have air tags myself either, but it, it is something I have thought about and I wouldn't be sad if I showed up under the tree this year.

Meggan: I'll send a little message. and also I wanna say surprisingly, for an Apple product, it's not expensive. So I think it, one air tag is like $40, so it really isn't a bank breaker. So it could be a really thoughtful gift for a traveler in your life or yourself without being too expensive either.

Jenn: yeah, for sure.

Meggan: What's up next?

Jenn: All right, so up next is a travel journal, which we've talked about these before. It's a must have for me. So I've been journaling my travels in one way or another since I was a kid. I love writing down what we did each day, what we ate, uh, things we loved that we did. And actually on my first trip to Disney on the way home, on the plane, my dad got us to write down like our top five favorite things we did or saw, which was kind of fun too.

And it's really fun to look back. Sometimes I stick tickets or something like in between the pages and I have a few travel journals. We filled a couple in our, in our travels, and my latest one is from a shop on Etsy called Journo, journo Travel Goods. All one word. I'll put this in the show notes so people can find it.

But they are Canadian based, which I really liked, and you can personalize them. So ours has our names on the front. I bought them as wedding gifts before for, for some travel loving pals. And then I bought one for us last year when our previous journal was full. So yeah, I just really like having a travel journal and I think it can make a great gift, especially when it's personalized.

Meggan: Oh, I completely agree. I love that. I'll have to look it up for sure. It's something I've done periodically when I was in France for that month in 2004. I journaled the whole time, but it's not something I've done consistently. So I, I think I'd love to, to give that a try. So I'll definitely look that up.

Great idea.

Jenn: Oh, thanks.

Meggan: We're already adding to our wish list.

Jenn: This is just a list for us. I mean, we're just sharing it.

Meggan: It essentially is. So next up we have a good quality backpack. So obviously backpacks can have a lot of uses in our everyday lives, but for traveling it is a super practical item to have. Now this can be used of course for your carry-on and using it as a carry on really can lead to more comfort when you are walking around the airport and to and from your destinations when you're not flying.

So while you're actually traveling on the earth, but not in the air necessarily. So I'm sure we've all dragged a bag with us that went over our shoulder, and it really is not a comfortable experience why I've ever done that. I question it every single time. Like, when will I learn? So a great backpack can also be used during travel as a good day pack. If it's not huge, of course, to take your essentials for the day away from your accommodations, you can of course, dear listener, revert back to our January 24th episode of this year when Jenn actually discusses what you should take in your day pack, when you're out and about on your adventures and a good sturdy backpack is where you can put the stuff. So day packs are key as well to a comfortable day away from your lodging. So, you know, why not give that traveler in your life, you know, a great little backpack.

Jenn: Yes, and I mean there are like so many options out there, . I, My husband has one from Mountain Equipment Co-op that he bought when he went to South America, I think in . That would've been like 2007 ish. And like the thing still kick in, we bring it on like every trip and it's still going. So yeah, a good quality backpack can last you a long time.

Meggan: It can, and I have like a smaller one. I often don't carry it to the airport necessarily, but it is small enough to pack it in my luggage for a day pack use. Lululemon. But again, there's so many options out there and if you have the opportunity, I would suggest too to try them on to make sure that you're making the right selection for yourself, your body type and obviously just that comfort level if you're gonna be carrying it around a lot.

Track 1: Yeah. Love

Meggan: Definitely. So kind of along the same bag line, I suppose, what's another option or gift idea you have?

Jenn: Yeah, so a toiletry bag. So some people love them, some people don't. I love mine. I love that it kind of unfurls and it has a hook to hang on the shower. Um. rod, I guess or any, some other service in the hotel room. And it fits a lot of stuff, so it's best for your check luggage because if you put like your liquids and stuff in there, you're gonna have to take them out if it's carry on, blah, blah, blah.

But it's good for like makeup, jewelry, shaving stuff like guys and gals and everything. Like it is really good just to kind of keep everything together. And I've been using mine. Oh my gosh, probably 10 years. And I take it like even when I just go to like visit my mom a couple hours away, like , I leave it packed with travel stuff most of the time so that I can just kind of grab it and add more stuff to it and go. But I love it.

Meggan: Yeah, we are definitely of the same mind with a, a toiletry bag. I leave certain items in it for the travel. Add a few things to it. When we met Peter didn't use one. He just like left stuff to go around freestyle in his suitcase, and I thought, that's disturbing. So he eventually got one and now uses it every single, even weekend trip, everything.

It just, why have stuff just flying around.

Jenn: Listen, my husband uses a plastic bag,

Meggan: Oh, oh, Ryan, maybe

Jenn: maybe.

Meggan: that to his list. Now you have an idea for him. So. So kind of along the same lines ish. Could be a toiletry bag as an example but filled with care package items for the traveler in your life. So this is more probably a gift to give than maybe receive. But if you are getting them a gift. You likely already know them fairly well. We generally don't gift strangers things. So having said that, a travel care package can be like a super thoughtful gift idea, especially for someone if they have an upcoming trip. So you know they're going somewhere in the next six months or whatever. The care package can contain, of course, some great comfort items to help the actual travel part of their trip be more enjoyable.

So some items you could include are an eye mask for sleeping. favorite lip balm and facial moisturizer because we do know that flying can really dry you out. Having said that, a nice water bottle that's refillable maybe some wet wipes or hand sanitizer. A plane friendly snack for fun.

and maybe like a small notebook and a pen or a great paperback book if you know, like what kind of books they like if they are a reader. So I think this is a gift idea. It's not only practical, but it's one that's more personal. And I think it really shows that you pay attention and sort of care about their comfort.

So I think that that could be something you could really play around with, but could be a really personal gift.

Jenn: Hmm. I love that idea. I would be, I would be so excited if I got that.

Meggan: I know I would be like you really love me, thank you. Alright what's next?

Jenn: All right, so this is something I thought I wouldn't use until I did, so that is like a passport wallet. So I bought a passport wallet after we got our Nexus card so that it would be easier just to keep everything together. So the one that I got is big enough for, I think there's four passport slots, and then the other side has spots for regular size cards.

So like your, you could use like your driver's license, a Nexus card if you had one credit, debit cards, whatever. But it's also long enough that printed plane tickets fit in it as well. And I actually really liked keeping everything together in my bag. It zippers closed, and then when it was time that we had to get something out, you just kind of unzip it and everything is right there.

And I thought, I don't need that. But then I got it and went, yeah, this makes my life just a little bit better. So it was worth it.

Meggan: I agree. Now, mine isn't like that necessarily, where you can like zip everything. I think that sounds better. Mine's just sort of like literally looks like a little wallet, like its own singular thing, but for some reason, and I do have like my travel insurance information and stuff shoved in the little pockets, so it's a idea of someone doesn't want something that big.

I think the bigger one sounds honestly a little bit better, but even knowing that mine is in its own little small, cozy. Rather than, again, just flinging about, even though it still is, the cozy somehow still makes me feel cozy about it. You know,

Jenn: yeah,

Meggan: it's being taken care of in some regard.

Jenn: Alright, what's next?

Meggan: So the next one is a gift of currency for the country that your traveler is visiting. So we've actually given this very thing to friends who were traveling to the US as a gift. So sometimes not knowing what to get. Someone can be stressful, as we all know. Or you're stumped because maybe the person's hard to buy for or they have like quote unquote everything or can buy themselves what they want.

Or if the traveler in your life has an upcoming trip, why not head to your local bank and purchase them currency that they can use for their trip going to the US. Buy 'em, US cash. If they're going to Europe, buy them some Euros. No, buy them some Euros.

Jenn: Yeah.

Meggan: Yeah. We talked in a recent travel tip Tuesday as well, that having some cash on you when you travel is still very important.

So why not give that traveler the gift of cash? It's not only helpful for them, but again, it shows you put some thought into the gift, but it isn't too much work for you. So if you don't have the time to do the little, you know, toiletry bag gift, buy them some cash. Everyone loves it. You know what I mean?

It's an easy gift, but it's thoughtful as well.

Jenn: Yeah, I love that. We got some euros when I think it was a wedding gift, actually, not a holiday gift, but like when we were getting ready to, after we got married and we were getting ready to go in our honeymoon a couple people gave us some, some euroes and it is always appreciated. , everybody loves cash.

Meggan: Well, that's exactly it, and that's why this list is so versatile. It doesn't have to be just for the holidays, it can be for any occasion. And I think that's what's so great about it. So this next item I have two minds of. So what's up next?

Jenn: All right. packing cubes, Meggan, they're you love 'em or you hate 'em, I but I love them. I love my packing cubes. We discussed this on our packing episode, which PS is still, I think right now, it's in our top three most downloaded episodes it came out in 2021, so I think everybody just needs help with packing.

Meggan: Including myself, I understand.

Jenn: I have a set that came with three different sizes, so I usually use the two smallest ones and my husband uses the larger one. But I love it. I mean, we talked about this in the packing episode. I like keeping everything separate and organized in its own little square of packed ness. So what, what are your thoughts, Meggan, on the packing cube?

Meggan: No, I do have packing cubes actually, but I'm an, as we've discussed as well, I'm a chronic over packer. So all I did was jam these cubes chockfull of things, and then they felt like they made my luggage bulkier. So this is not a packing cube problem. This is a me a me problem, which I completely understand.

So while I think they're a great idea, I haven't been able to work for me, but I'm . My goal for my next trip, big trip to Iceland for two weeks is going to be a whole packing adventure. So I, I'm gonna give it a try again in the future.

Jenn: I a can't wait to hear how this goes.

Meggan: Might be a whole episode screw talking about Iceland.,

Jenn: Meggan's.

Meggan: I'll just talk about packing.

Jenn: Oh yeah. Do you need me to come over there and like coach you? I feel like I.

Meggan: I, I probably do. I'm not even lying. I'm probably, oh yeah, for sure. We'll talk about that offline. 'cause I might need you to do that. Just that.

Jenn: Alright, what's next?

Meggan: All right, so the final item from me is a charging bank for your devices. So most of us these days are traveling with at least a phone. But for some people they have AirPods or earbuds and some type of smartwatch potentially.

Now, when I think of all those items, it just sounds like a lot of cords to me. Like bulky cords. So having said that, an idea for a traveler with all of these devices in your life could be a charging bank. So like literally one like contraption that has all the necessary spots for all your charging needs.

So a little part for your watch, a little part for your phone, and another one, let's say for your earbuds. So one item and one cord is just a really more compact idea. Again, I did give Peter one of these for his recent birthday as well, so can't wait to try that out in a future trip and hoping, hoping for more simplistic traveling when it comes to all the charging things and all the cords that we need.

Jenn: Yeah, I, why does everything have different cords.?

Meggan: Right. I know. And now with the new iPhones, they have different cords due to regulations than older iPhones and other Apple products. Like it's a whole thing.

Jenn: It is a whole thing. Yeah, I, yeah, it is very annoying and like trying to find the right cords. I don't know. I, I, things are everywhere. You guys can see my office, but you can't see the floor where there's a pile over here a bunch of charging stuff.

Meggan: You may need a charging bank.

Jenn: I might need one of those.

Meggan: Alright, great. What have we got? Last but not least. 'cause there is a bonus item.

Jenn: Yes. Love a bonus item. All so number 10 on our list in no particular order is a scratch off map or some type of art. Us travelers, we love maps. We, we can't help it, we just do. We have a large map on the wall of our dining room that we put pins in, and that actually was a gift from a Christmas gift from my parents.

A couple years ago we've also been gifted scratch off maps as well, and those are really fun. We also love travel inspired art, and we often pick it up when we're traveling, but sometimes I find things on Etsy as well, and there's just fun stuff. So if you know that they have a favorite place that you find some cool art that could go up on their wall or some maps or we just like map, map stuff, anything with a map on it, I'm gonna be really excited about.

Meggan: I know a map or a globe, we're here for it.

Jenn: We are

Meggan: Definitely. Now that's the official list, but I want you to tell our listeners about this bonus item. It's very exciting,

Jenn: I couldn't leave it off. So bonus travel mug podcast merch, obviously. So did you know that we have a merch store? You can get stickers, t-shirts, notebooks, mugs, I mean, travel mug podcast, tote bags, everything, sweatshirts. There's so many things. So I think that you should go check it out and the link will be in the show notes.

Meggan: I think that's a great idea. I mean, the merch honestly sounds like it should be on the top of everyone's list, in my opinion.

Jenn: Obviously if you listen to this podcast, you should put it on your, put it on your list.

Meggan: Why don't, why aren't you literally toting us around with you? I mean, what are you waiting for? So, yes, the link for that, along with all the other items I assume will be in the show notes. So please definitely take a look at some of our favorites, some things that we've come up with to help you. Why, you know, why make it hard on yourself?

Just click a link that we're giving you. You know um, well that is it for this week's episode. We hope you, we've given you some good gift ideas for the traveler in your life and really, like I mentioned, there are for any gift giving occasion in case you don't celebrate Christmas, there are other opportunities, of course, throughout the year to give, or even just because, or just gift yourself, because you know

Jenn: Yeah.

Meggan: who doesn't love a gift.

Jenn: Treat yourself!

Meggan: Treat yourself. Exactly. And if you enjoyed this week's show, you can give us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Buy us a coffee to support the fun that we're having here. The link for that is also in the show notes. Very busy Show notes this week, or share the show with a travel loving pal. Plus you can follow us on all the social media platforms at Travel Mug Podcast.

And until next time, farewell.