“It’s that time of year again”, but honestly how many times have you heard someone declare that? Well that’s because it is indeed that time of year again. The time where we selflessly purchase or make gifts for family, friends, co-workers and maybe even your pet.
The holiday season is the most commercialized time of the winter season, but there is something to be said about going out of our way to make our loved ones know they’re loved by giving them a gift we hope they will enjoy. There are many individuals that enjoy travelling during the holidays. Whether out of the desire to escape the cold weather or just because their planned trip to another part of the world happens to coincide with the most wonderful time of the year, many people choose not to stay at home during the month of December.
So you may be asking yourself, what sort of presents can we give to these people who won’t even be around at the appropriate time to receive them? With a little planning, time and effort, here are some awesome gift ideas for your friend, family member or significant other whose heart yearns to travel. These gift ideas are designed to enhance their travelling experience while also showing them how much you care – AKA the perfect combination:
- An old fashioned compass:
Yes, there is a compass app available to download, but there’s nothing quite like having the physical compass nestled in one’s pocket or backpack. Also charging stations or outlets are not always readily available when travelling, so what is one to do when they can’t load the compass app? They’ll be thankful that they received that compass from you. If you really want to go the extra mile, maybe have their initials engraved somewhere on the compass. Every time they lose their sense of direction, they’ll pull out that compass and think of you as they regain their direction.
2. A polaroid camera:
Plenty of breathtaking pictures can easily be taken on a phone, but having physical copies of all the new sights your loved one is going to capture is extra special. Be sure to purchase a few rolls of film along with the camera itself. Of course the traveller is bound to be selective about the pictures they’re going to take since the rolls cannot be digitally regenerated by deleting photos, but it never hurts to have that extra roll for the camera. Polaroid cameras after all are intensely nostalgic and coming back in style. They make for a perfect accessory to hang around one’s neck when travelling to distant places.
3. A journal:
There is no better outlet to express yourself and recount personal experiences than writing. A blank journal is the best way for your loved one to write all about the new, stimulating environment they will find themselves in. Writing in this journal also grants them the opportunity to relive their travelling experiences, like a literary time capsule. To make it even more personalized, write them a little paragraph on the first page of the journal, to wish them safety and happiness as they enjoy their time outside of their usual element. (A friend of mine actually did this for me and it still warms my heart to open up my journal and see such a thoughtful note on the first blank page.)
4. A bilingual dictionary:
It’s entirely possible that your loved one is travelling to a part of the world where English is not the primary language. To help ease that language barrier, why not buy them a bilingual dictionary? Whether it be an English to French, English to Spanish or English to Portuguese dictionary, it’s a useful and ideal gift to make their vacation more enjoyable. A small dictionary is ideal since they’ll most likely be carrying it with them everywhere they go. Plus they also get to enhance their speaking skills!
5. A pair of headphones:
Everyone needs a stellar pair of headphones. It’s basically an everyday essential but even more so when travelling. Your travelling loved one will want to have some kind of soundtrack when going about their days and nights in the place of their choice. And you can bet that they’ll benefit from having easy access to a pair of great sounding headphones. This gift could also go hand in hand with the final idea…
6. A playlist or a mix CD:
This idea is definitely the most personalized gift on this list. Creating a digital playlist or a mix CD (yes, they are still a thing!) for your loved one, full of a selection of songs that you think they will love, is a guaranteed way to tug at their heart strings. You can create a playlist of their favorite genre of music, their favorite singer or band or get even more creative and make a playlist of music from the country they are spending time in! They can load your playlist on their phone or iPod or pop the mix CD into their car stereo if they’re driving to their destination. Either way they’ll be jamming out to the music of your choosing.
This list is of course just the tip of the iceberg. Gift ideas are endless, especially for those who love to explore all that the world has to offer. Even when your loved one is away for the holidays, they will appreciate the time and effort you spent on making their travels unforgettable.
