Trying to find portable gift to bring on partner's birthday trip!
November 16, 2022 4:11 PM Subscribe
My boyfriend and I are going on a trip for his birthday. I want to bring a portable gift for him to unwrap but am feeling a bit clueless. He has many interests -- he is an avid reader, writer, visual artist and musician. He is interested in politics, travelling, science and culture. He loves to cook! He loves and is interested in so many things, I can't believe I'm having trouble. [More inside.]
I was thinking possibly a special traveller's notebook (specifically this one)? Previously I have gotten him books, tea, records and writing materials.
I think part of the trouble is that I can think of BIG items more easily - big heavy books, musical instruments, a record player, home decor or cooking implements... but bringing something that is both portable and special is stumping me a bit.
I'm really curious if there are any ideas out there I haven't thought of -- really appreciate any and all help! Thank you so much!
I was thinking possibly a special traveller's notebook (specifically this one)? Previously I have gotten him books, tea, records and writing materials.
I think part of the trouble is that I can think of BIG items more easily - big heavy books, musical instruments, a record player, home decor or cooking implements... but bringing something that is both portable and special is stumping me a bit.
I'm really curious if there are any ideas out there I haven't thought of -- really appreciate any and all help! Thank you so much!
What about a small musical instrument like a harmonica?
posted by Glinn at 4:28 PM on November 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Glinn at 4:28 PM on November 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
has he already got a kindle or other e-reader? game changer for readers who travel
posted by fingersandtoes at 4:35 PM on November 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 4:35 PM on November 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
of course a special surprise experience during the trip could be a great gift. Special restaurant reservation? Zlplining? Private tour of something?
posted by fingersandtoes at 4:36 PM on November 16, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 4:36 PM on November 16, 2022 [5 favorites]
A subscription to a magazine or journal, a National Parks pass, a museum membership, tickets to the jazz series at a local venue, etc. You could present anything like that to him as a "voucher" that you design, or with a token gift or written in his card.
posted by headnsouth at 4:36 PM on November 16, 2022
posted by headnsouth at 4:36 PM on November 16, 2022
If you'd rather just get him the big thing, a card with a photo of the thing in it will build anticipation for when you get home. (Bonus points if you can get a friend to deliver it while you're away)
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:51 PM on November 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:51 PM on November 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
I can vouch for this itty bitty teeny tiny watercolor kit. The half-pans are replaceable. It's a nice addition to a travel journal if the paper if compatible.
The DIY version is an Altoids tin plus the blister pack from the inside of a pack of gum (the tablet kind where every gum has its own well in the tray) with tube watercolors squeezed in and dried in place.
posted by blnkfrnk at 5:02 PM on November 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
The DIY version is an Altoids tin plus the blister pack from the inside of a pack of gum (the tablet kind where every gum has its own well in the tray) with tube watercolors squeezed in and dried in place.
posted by blnkfrnk at 5:02 PM on November 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
What about a small musical instrument like a harmonica?
Oooh, or a KALIMBA!
posted by mochapickle at 5:10 PM on November 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Oooh, or a KALIMBA!
posted by mochapickle at 5:10 PM on November 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
A cooking class for the two of you in the location where you're travelling is a great memory and experience.
posted by hydra77 at 5:42 PM on November 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by hydra77 at 5:42 PM on November 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
Jabra noise-cancelling in-ear earphones. They're pretty great for long flights etc.; not as good as high-end units, but good enough and a hell of a lot cheaper with great battery life (IME). Plus they're tiny.
posted by aramaic at 5:46 PM on November 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by aramaic at 5:46 PM on November 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Based on AskMeFi advice, I bought an avid cook in my life an Opinel mushroom knife and it was a HUGE hit.
posted by neushoorn at 5:48 PM on November 16, 2022
posted by neushoorn at 5:48 PM on November 16, 2022
He’s a writer? A fountain pen. Depends on your budget but you can get an excellent quality Pilot Metropolitan or a Lamy Safari for between $20-$30 and that includes a cartridge.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:50 PM on November 16, 2022
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:50 PM on November 16, 2022
of course a special surprise experience during the trip could be a great gift. Special restaurant reservation? Zlplining? Private tour of something?
+1. This sounds cheezy, but AirBNB Experiences (or whatever their little boutique tourist experience thing is called) has given our family some memorable vacation times that I would've been totally stoked to receive as a birthday gift.
See what's available in your destination; you might have to sift through a bunch of "drink a flight of hoppy microbrews while I tell you about the blockchains" chaff but Mrs. Sauce and I have found gold in there.
posted by Sauce Trough at 5:58 PM on November 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
+1. This sounds cheezy, but AirBNB Experiences (or whatever their little boutique tourist experience thing is called) has given our family some memorable vacation times that I would've been totally stoked to receive as a birthday gift.
See what's available in your destination; you might have to sift through a bunch of "drink a flight of hoppy microbrews while I tell you about the blockchains" chaff but Mrs. Sauce and I have found gold in there.
posted by Sauce Trough at 5:58 PM on November 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Cooking class where you are going was my first thought too,, or maybe a special culinary tour of the region you are visiting!
posted by wats at 6:29 PM on November 16, 2022
posted by wats at 6:29 PM on November 16, 2022
Queen's Brian May is an avid stereophotographer, who has published many books under his company the London Stereoscopic Company. Some of the books include an Owl viewer that he invented. I suggest STEREOSCOPY: The Dawn of 3-D or Queen In 3-D, The Bohemian Rhapsody Deluxe Edition both of which come with the full viewer (others come with a lite version)
And of course he can make his own photos to use with the viewer.
posted by Sophont at 7:46 PM on November 16, 2022
And of course he can make his own photos to use with the viewer.
posted by Sophont at 7:46 PM on November 16, 2022
I do not recommend the notebook you linked to. I bought the small one years ago and it's not great for writing.
How about a bookmark pen that'll last a lifetime? You can get them personalized as well.
posted by dobbs at 6:05 AM on November 17, 2022
How about a bookmark pen that'll last a lifetime? You can get them personalized as well.
posted by dobbs at 6:05 AM on November 17, 2022
Does he drink? World's greatest pocket flask and full sized flask.
posted by dobbs at 6:08 AM on November 17, 2022
posted by dobbs at 6:08 AM on November 17, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks for all the amazing answers so far! For a bit more info about the trip:
We are (so luckily) going to Italy - a cooking class would be incredible. My only concerns are:
1) We haven't fully planned our itenerary yet (we were wanting to see a couple of cities in around 9 days) so I'm feeling a touch nervous about trying to plan something specific in a specific place. Of course I could research and then book the class (if possible) while there?
2) It is an amazing amount of time but not super super long... I would hope that a class wouldn't feel like a limiting factor on doing other things? I'm probably overthinking here though. I get worried that, for some reason, this is not what they would like to do with their day while there but that they would have to do it? I should really do some research though and I do love this idea at the same time!
One more thing I maybe should have mentioned is that it is also going to be my birthday during the trip (!). And I know that he has gotten me something to unwrap. I realize I don't have to match his gift-giving in form, but I think this was additionally bringing my mind towards an unwrappable object (partly for the fun of unwrapping something).
But that is just context around how I've been thinking about it - I'm loving hearing all of the ideas and some of them have definitely gone on my list! Thanks so much.
posted by jerboa at 8:24 AM on November 17, 2022
We are (so luckily) going to Italy - a cooking class would be incredible. My only concerns are:
1) We haven't fully planned our itenerary yet (we were wanting to see a couple of cities in around 9 days) so I'm feeling a touch nervous about trying to plan something specific in a specific place. Of course I could research and then book the class (if possible) while there?
2) It is an amazing amount of time but not super super long... I would hope that a class wouldn't feel like a limiting factor on doing other things? I'm probably overthinking here though. I get worried that, for some reason, this is not what they would like to do with their day while there but that they would have to do it? I should really do some research though and I do love this idea at the same time!
One more thing I maybe should have mentioned is that it is also going to be my birthday during the trip (!). And I know that he has gotten me something to unwrap. I realize I don't have to match his gift-giving in form, but I think this was additionally bringing my mind towards an unwrappable object (partly for the fun of unwrapping something).
But that is just context around how I've been thinking about it - I'm loving hearing all of the ideas and some of them have definitely gone on my list! Thanks so much.
posted by jerboa at 8:24 AM on November 17, 2022
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posted by atomicstone at 4:18 PM on November 16, 2022