Book for novice world travellers
November 25, 2022 5:00 PM Subscribe
We have some dear friends in their early 30’s who have never had the opportunity to leave the US. We are gifting them that experience. Which book do you suggest to give them destination inspiration?
We have two close friends who - due to family circumstances, economic circumstances, and CovId - have never left the US. They are both super outdoorsy (ski and mountain bike instructors, wildly fit and active and just awesome folks who because of life have never had the chance to travel much outside the Western US). For Christmas we are gifting them the cost of their passports and flights anywhere in the world (well any where American Airlines and a few hundred thousand points that we have never gotten around ro using will take them….)
I have talked to them and they have no idea where to go (but to avoid doubt they really do want to travel and are in a position now to do so). For the physical gift i want to give them a really inspirational book on world travel, which will have the rest of the present inside. Suggestions?
We have two close friends who - due to family circumstances, economic circumstances, and CovId - have never left the US. They are both super outdoorsy (ski and mountain bike instructors, wildly fit and active and just awesome folks who because of life have never had the chance to travel much outside the Western US). For Christmas we are gifting them the cost of their passports and flights anywhere in the world (well any where American Airlines and a few hundred thousand points that we have never gotten around ro using will take them….)
I have talked to them and they have no idea where to go (but to avoid doubt they really do want to travel and are in a position now to do so). For the physical gift i want to give them a really inspirational book on world travel, which will have the rest of the present inside. Suggestions?
Response by poster: Hmm is it possible to buy a RTW ticket on AA points? Couldn't see a way.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 5:59 PM on November 25, 2022
posted by inflatablekiwi at 5:59 PM on November 25, 2022
Last time I used them (TBH: a while ago!) AirTreks would work with you to burn miles -- even if that's no longer true they are a good source of ideas on where to go (for example, see their Specials page) for a splash-out-lets-be-crazy trip.
posted by aramaic at 6:26 PM on November 25, 2022
posted by aramaic at 6:26 PM on November 25, 2022
Best answer: Perhaps several Eyewitness Guides to places that you think might fit their interests and AA flies? You can go anywhere can be a bit overwhelming. Perhaps suggesting a few destinations might help them make their choice? For example, perhaps somewhere like Belize where there are lots of outdoor activities, I think would be relatively cheap for hotels and food and also speaks English? Or perhaps you know they really want to push their comfort zone and suggest somewhere that isn’t English speaking? Do they have the time to travel to somewhere like New Zealand which is a hard trip for many to ever take given the time and distance required?
Somewhere like Switzerland would be amazing for an outdoorsy person, but also still an extremely expensive vacation.
It sounds like you have enough points that the “cost” of the ticket really won’t matter very much, but if they are unfamiliar with the points system and airline fares, they may assume the further the travel, the more expensive, even if that doesn’t always hold true.
My parents kindly offered us points with United for my honeymoon, but a friends’ wedding is bringing us to St Croix- and United doesn’t fly there. It would stink for your kindness to go a little sideways at the beginning if they get excited for a location that isn’t very feasible (for example, I wouldn’t travel to China right now and risk the COVID zero policy forcing quarantine in an unfamiliar location)
Back to your original question, if this is for a Christmas gift, I believe both Target and World Market have passport/globe ornaments
posted by raccoon409 at 6:59 PM on November 25, 2022
Somewhere like Switzerland would be amazing for an outdoorsy person, but also still an extremely expensive vacation.
It sounds like you have enough points that the “cost” of the ticket really won’t matter very much, but if they are unfamiliar with the points system and airline fares, they may assume the further the travel, the more expensive, even if that doesn’t always hold true.
My parents kindly offered us points with United for my honeymoon, but a friends’ wedding is bringing us to St Croix- and United doesn’t fly there. It would stink for your kindness to go a little sideways at the beginning if they get excited for a location that isn’t very feasible (for example, I wouldn’t travel to China right now and risk the COVID zero policy forcing quarantine in an unfamiliar location)
Back to your original question, if this is for a Christmas gift, I believe both Target and World Market have passport/globe ornaments
posted by raccoon409 at 6:59 PM on November 25, 2022
Couldn't see a way
AA are part of OneWorld for points. Have a look at this page then, according to that article: "Map out your trip with Great Circle Mapper and find award space with your favorite Oneworld search tool".
posted by Thella at 7:00 PM on November 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
AA are part of OneWorld for points. Have a look at this page then, according to that article: "Map out your trip with Great Circle Mapper and find award space with your favorite Oneworld search tool".
posted by Thella at 7:00 PM on November 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Additional thought: Maybe the present inside your physical gift could be your flight miles details (amount, conditions, etc) and let them plan the trip, leaving you to book it.
posted by Thella at 8:21 PM on November 25, 2022
posted by Thella at 8:21 PM on November 25, 2022
Best answer: “Anywhere in the world” can be incredibly overwhelming and a ton of work to figure out. I say instead to compile a list of a few different vacation package ideas and get them a book about that place. I worry if this is too open ended, they’ll never quite do it.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:36 PM on November 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by bluedaisy at 9:36 PM on November 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Lonely Planet make a number of coffee table type books with lots of big pictures and travel ideas around various themes (eg cities, where to go when, hikes of Europe) as well as some books aimed at the novice with general purpose travel tips.
posted by Superilla at 10:23 PM on November 25, 2022
posted by Superilla at 10:23 PM on November 25, 2022
Best answer: I am food-focused when I travel so when my SO gifted me the “Gastro Obscura” I loved it.
https://books.atlasobscura.com/
posted by alchemist at 10:26 PM on November 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
https://books.atlasobscura.com/
posted by alchemist at 10:26 PM on November 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
New York Times 36 hours books are beautiful and practical! A wealth of inspiration. (Sorry I'm in Spain right now - recommended! - and my mobile links are all in ES but the books are EN).
posted by socky_puppy at 2:42 AM on November 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by socky_puppy at 2:42 AM on November 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
Also, what about an Intrepid Travel or G Adventures voucher to allow them to choose something structured?
posted by socky_puppy at 2:43 AM on November 26, 2022
posted by socky_puppy at 2:43 AM on November 26, 2022
Best answer: Here’s Lonely Planet - The World You can kind look up anywhere and get the highlights.
I think your first international trip can get overwhelming, and modest ambitions will set you up for success. It’s once you enjoy trip #1 that you expand your ambitions.
They should go to Chamonix, or New Zealand, or Jasper and park themselves in one spot and do a bunch of outdoorsy stuff.
posted by thenormshow at 6:09 AM on November 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
I think your first international trip can get overwhelming, and modest ambitions will set you up for success. It’s once you enjoy trip #1 that you expand your ambitions.
They should go to Chamonix, or New Zealand, or Jasper and park themselves in one spot and do a bunch of outdoorsy stuff.
posted by thenormshow at 6:09 AM on November 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: A book of travel monologues, or travel story compilations, would be great. REI (and probably EMS if you're back east) has lots on the shelf that would appeal to active sport types.
It sounds stupid, but I really liked that "1000 Places to See Before You Die" book - it has a nice feel to it and easy to browse in.
Finally, if you're feeling a bit extra generous (you're already being so generous!), you might offer to pay for a journey for them with Mountain Travel or Wilderness Travel or Geographic Expeditions etc - those companies have expensive but active and grounded trips, where your friends would get to do things like Snorkel in remote Indonesian Archipelegos or Mountain Bike in Italy, without having to do all the planning and arranging. It's a great introduction to international travel. They also produce gorgeous catalogues, which could be the token physical portion of your gift.
posted by bluesky78987 at 6:41 AM on November 26, 2022
It sounds stupid, but I really liked that "1000 Places to See Before You Die" book - it has a nice feel to it and easy to browse in.
Finally, if you're feeling a bit extra generous (you're already being so generous!), you might offer to pay for a journey for them with Mountain Travel or Wilderness Travel or Geographic Expeditions etc - those companies have expensive but active and grounded trips, where your friends would get to do things like Snorkel in remote Indonesian Archipelegos or Mountain Bike in Italy, without having to do all the planning and arranging. It's a great introduction to international travel. They also produce gorgeous catalogues, which could be the token physical portion of your gift.
posted by bluesky78987 at 6:41 AM on November 26, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks all. Going to get them a large coffee table travel book of the world (and maybe a European ski adventure book), and then just going to give them a slip of paper that says you have 250,000 AA points for flights and maybe a few hotel nights - make it happen! Wasn't intending to book anything for them.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 9:38 AM on December 2, 2022
posted by inflatablekiwi at 9:38 AM on December 2, 2022
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posted by Thella at 5:39 PM on November 25, 2022 [1 favorite]