Help me find a great travel gift.
August 14, 2005 12:32 AM
Help me find a travel gift for my mother, who's about to head off to Europe.
My mother's heading off to Europe with a small group of people next in a month or so. I'd love to get her a travel gift, something useful, yet compact.
I'm currently leaning towards a travel diary, but any suggestions will be welcomed! What did you find to be indispensable during travels?
My mother's heading off to Europe with a small group of people next in a month or so. I'd love to get her a travel gift, something useful, yet compact.
I'm currently leaning towards a travel diary, but any suggestions will be welcomed! What did you find to be indispensable during travels?
Digital camera - assuming that she doesn't already own one?
If she does, maybe an extra memory card - in the 1 gig range? (yes, you're setting yourself up to be barraged by pictures; I found out that my mom was using a paltry 64 meg SD card and was forced to decide which pictures to keep/delete - although giving her a 1 gig SD card ended up being a pain for me, she was quite happy with it - especially since she doesn't own a portable computer).
If her camera has voice-record ability, maybe tell her about it so she can add metadata to the visual data that she acquires?
posted by PurplePorpoise at 1:21 AM on August 14, 2005
If she does, maybe an extra memory card - in the 1 gig range? (yes, you're setting yourself up to be barraged by pictures; I found out that my mom was using a paltry 64 meg SD card and was forced to decide which pictures to keep/delete - although giving her a 1 gig SD card ended up being a pain for me, she was quite happy with it - especially since she doesn't own a portable computer).
If her camera has voice-record ability, maybe tell her about it so she can add metadata to the visual data that she acquires?
posted by PurplePorpoise at 1:21 AM on August 14, 2005
This travel belt with zip compartment for money and/or important papers.
posted by krisjohn at 1:41 AM on August 14, 2005
posted by krisjohn at 1:41 AM on August 14, 2005
Anything Eagle Creek makes. Although I think a digital camera memory card is a better suggestion if she already has a camera.
posted by grouse at 2:28 AM on August 14, 2005
posted by grouse at 2:28 AM on August 14, 2005
Some very compact things that I always take:
From personal experience I find Ear Putty better than foam plugs.
Point It is a great little book to help you communicate in any language...the international language of pointing ;-)
A Maglite Solitaire. With a few spare AAA batteries.
A Leatherman Micra. Very handy but don't put it in your carry-on.
A really good quality inflatable neck pillow. But go for the quality as the cheapy one aren't that comfortable & have annoying seams etc.
This may not be necessary for your Mom's trip but if she has a mobile phone that can handle European networks, or if you can pick up one via eBay, have a look at this page with info on cheap mobile roaming. It's a UK-based site but the info on unlocking & local SIMs is pretty universal.
You could consider getting her some cool, non-US-tourist-style clothes to replace the pastels, shorts & white socks ;-)
posted by i_cola at 2:44 AM on August 14, 2005
From personal experience I find Ear Putty better than foam plugs.
Point It is a great little book to help you communicate in any language...the international language of pointing ;-)
A Maglite Solitaire. With a few spare AAA batteries.
A Leatherman Micra. Very handy but don't put it in your carry-on.
A really good quality inflatable neck pillow. But go for the quality as the cheapy one aren't that comfortable & have annoying seams etc.
This may not be necessary for your Mom's trip but if she has a mobile phone that can handle European networks, or if you can pick up one via eBay, have a look at this page with info on cheap mobile roaming. It's a UK-based site but the info on unlocking & local SIMs is pretty universal.
You could consider getting her some cool, non-US-tourist-style clothes to replace the pastels, shorts & white socks ;-)
posted by i_cola at 2:44 AM on August 14, 2005
I suggest a good day pack. Something more strudy than a purse with zippers and easy to carry for long periods. Maybe with a holder for a nalgene bottle as water is always handy. You could even fill it for her with travel size kleenex, purell, some hard candy, etc. All the little things needed while out and about exploring sites.
posted by arruns at 3:12 AM on August 14, 2005
posted by arruns at 3:12 AM on August 14, 2005
Drip dry clips - plastic clips on a lanyard that loop over towel bars or shower rods. Very useful for drying undies and such. Can also be found in drug stores or K-Wal-Mart-Target places.
Oooh! And this is what I want for my next trip! Hanging Toiletry Kit
TravelSmith has all sorts of nifty items, clothes, etc.
posted by Corky at 4:18 AM on August 14, 2005
Oooh! And this is what I want for my next trip! Hanging Toiletry Kit
TravelSmith has all sorts of nifty items, clothes, etc.
posted by Corky at 4:18 AM on August 14, 2005
These are really cool, if she's into fanny packs.
(Can we come up with a better name for these, BTW?)
posted by killy willy at 7:34 AM on August 14, 2005
(Can we come up with a better name for these, BTW?)
posted by killy willy at 7:34 AM on August 14, 2005
My mom travels a lot for her work all over the world, and therefore spends a lot of time on planes. Her biggest beef with travelling is the nasty airplane blankets and pillows, and the fact that it's always cold on planes. She now owns numerous travel blankets (nice shawls work well too) and a travel pillow.
Just something to keep in mind...
posted by elquien at 8:59 AM on August 14, 2005
Just something to keep in mind...
posted by elquien at 8:59 AM on August 14, 2005
a silk pillowcase, a good small travel alarm, prepaid fedex slips to send stuff home?
posted by amberglow at 11:37 AM on August 14, 2005
posted by amberglow at 11:37 AM on August 14, 2005
a prepaid GSM phone.
(fanny packs are called "lumbar packs" by outdoor equipment companies.)
posted by raaka at 11:19 PM on August 14, 2005
(fanny packs are called "lumbar packs" by outdoor equipment companies.)
posted by raaka at 11:19 PM on August 14, 2005
Second the recommendations for Maglite Solitaire, a good inflatable neck pillow (I like the horseshoe shape), and a good alarm clock.
Also: a cable lock (like a combination padlock, but uses a retractable cable instead of a shackle.) It's good for securing bags together or to a luggage rack. Get the right gizmo to go along with it, and you can use it with the Kensington slot to secure your notebook computer. A superabsorbent travel towel. A TSA-approved ("Travel Safe") luggage lock. A nice leather passport case. I hate money belts, but I really like my loop wallet. A good Moleskine notebook to use as a travel diary.
Flight 001 has some nice, trendy-ish things. And Eagle Creek and Lewis N. Clark are some decent brands.
posted by Vidiot at 2:59 PM on August 15, 2005
Also: a cable lock (like a combination padlock, but uses a retractable cable instead of a shackle.) It's good for securing bags together or to a luggage rack. Get the right gizmo to go along with it, and you can use it with the Kensington slot to secure your notebook computer. A superabsorbent travel towel. A TSA-approved ("Travel Safe") luggage lock. A nice leather passport case. I hate money belts, but I really like my loop wallet. A good Moleskine notebook to use as a travel diary.
Flight 001 has some nice, trendy-ish things. And Eagle Creek and Lewis N. Clark are some decent brands.
posted by Vidiot at 2:59 PM on August 15, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by buzzman at 12:50 AM on August 14, 2005