Presents For Travelers
This post is also available in: German
Only two more weeks until Christmas and if you are as prepared as I am you haven’t bought a single gift yet. Maybe you are doing it like me and you are waiting until the very last minute!
I have put together a list of presents for travelers. This list is not only for Christmas, any traveler will be happy to get this anytime of the year either as a birthday present, xmas present or just a “Hey, I thought of you” present!
Happy shopping and enjoy the pre-christmas time!
1. DSLR
Every traveler needs a good camera. Here are three cameras for beginners, intermediates and professionals. Of course the price difference is huge between all three but there is an option for every budget. I’m a big Nikon fan therefore I can only recommend them. As you can see in my travel gear page, I photograph with a D90 and D7000.
Nikon D3100 (Beginner)
Nikon D90 (Intermediate)
Nikon D4 (Professional)
2. GoPro 3
I’m a huge fan of Go Pro. I have used them on my different adventures and they are very reliable; weather you are using them to capture the craziness of the Songkran Festival in Bangkok or for downhill mountain biking in Norway. They can handle the speed, the water and so much more! Prefect all rounder for adventurers!
GoPro 3 (Black Edition)
3. Day Backpack
I’m a huge fan of the Deuter Giga Office which lets you fit a lot of things into your backpack. For me it is important that I can carry my laptop and have enough space for a book or the Kindle and that it has enough pockets to sort all the things I carry with me like my documents, all the cables and adapters etc… The Deuter Giga Office is a great backpack but not the lightest!
4. Over Ear Headphones
Everybody swears on their big over ear headphones and most people use Beats by Dr. Dre. I have tried them and I love them too. Especially when traveling you are always surrounded by loud noise. In the plane you often don’t realize how loud it is. These noise canceling headphones help you to fully concentrate on the movie or to fully enjoy the music at 40.000 feet!
5. Backpack
When traveling long term it is important that every traveler has a good backpack that spreads the weight to different parts and not only leaves all the weight on the shoulders. I have tested many backpacks during the last 5 years and my favorite so far is the Deuter Aircontact Pro which I tested in Thailand this year!
6. E-Book Reader
There are so many e-book readers out there. The best still is the Kindle! You can download millions of books within seconds and you can read them wherever you want. When you travel you don’t want to carry 2-3 books that not only take away a lot of space but also are extra weight! If you, like me, love to see your books in a shelf you can still buy them second hand once you return home!
7. Travel Towel
Imagine following scene: It’s your last day at the hostel and you need to check out and have a 12 hours journey to the next city. Before you leave you shower which leaves your towel is very wet and when you arrive at your next city your whole backpack stinks and is wet. There is a solution for this; It’s called DryLite Towel and as you can imagine it quickly dries!
8. Macbook Air
When traveling you need something light, reliable and fast. There are many out there, my favorite is the Macbook Air. Personally I travel with the Macbook Pro but if you would have to buy another one for my travels I would switch to the Macbook Air.
9. Wifi Antenna
There is nothing worse than paying for Wifi at hotels or hostels with no Wifi! Let me present you the Alfa Wifi Antenna. With this little device you can scan in a radius of 1000 meters for Wifi. I’m sure that there is an open network in this radius unless you are sitting in the Sahara.
10. iPhone
While on the road you need to be in touch with friends and family or just update them every now and then via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. I’m using an unlocked iPhone 4 but Samsung Galaxy is also looking very promising. However, an unlocked smartphone is important while traveling!
11. International Adapter
When I left on my first trip around the world I was carrying 5 different adapters with me. Today I only travel with one adapter that has all kinds of adapters included. This not only saves me money but also some space! If you only travel around Europe you won’t need an adapter but on a long journey around the world this can be very useful!
12. World Scratch Map
I love this map. Every time I return home I scratch of a country! So far I have scratched of 54 countries. How many would you scratch of?
13. Swiss Pocket Knife
Happened so many times that I was sitting on the terrace of a hostel and we wanted to open a bottle of wine and nobody had a corkscrew. I always try to carry my swiss pocket knife with me cause I love my vino!
14. Online Language Course
I speak 7 languages which is extremely helpful when traveling abroad. I’m fluent in Spanish, German, English, Dutch and some other languages which helped me a lot when traveling in Central America, Australia, Europe and other parts of the world. How about learning a new language from home using a certified software?
15. Duct Tape
Every traveler needs Duct Tape! You can fix a whole on your backpack with it, fix the tripod or attach your GoPro to the most random items for the best camera perspective!
If you like to give away books. These are some of my favorite travel books:
16. Shantaram
Shantaram is narrated by Lin, an escaped convict with a false passport who flees maximum security prison in Australia for the teeming streets of a city where he can disappear. Accompanied by his guide and faithful friend, Prabaker, the two enter Bombay’s hidden society of beggars and gangsters, prostitutes and holy men, soldiers and actors, and Indians and exiles from other countries, who seek in this remarkable place what they cannot find elsewhere.
17. The Alchemist
Paolo Coelho is a writing god. I love his books and have read many of them. The Alchemist is about an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.
18. The Food Traveler’s Handbook
My friend and fellow travel blogger Jodi Ettenberg released her first book this year. She is the expert when it comes to food & travel and her book is a must read. It was an Amazon best seller for weeks! She blogs at legalnomads.com
19. The Volunteer Traveler’s Handbook
You or somebody you know wants to volunteer somewhere? Buy her/him The Volunteer Traveler’s Handbook. My friend and fellow travel blogger Shannon O’Donnell has volunteered in many countries around the world and knows her stuff. A great book for everybody who likes to travel and do good! She blogs at A Little Adrift!
The Volunteers Traveler’s Handbook
20. The Beach
You have probably seen the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio but did you know that the movie is based on a book? It’s a great book!
What’s on your wish list this year? We are looking forward to read your wish list in the comments below!
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Interesting and random list – I like it! Love that you included something for every budget. Shantaram is a good book!
Adam recently posted..Week 2: Learning German is sometimes fun, but definitely stressful
I love Shantaram. Read it in 4 days, I couldn’t stop!
I’d also say a silk sleeping sheet for any not so ideal accomodations, a headlamp and bandanas which can be used for many random needs on the road. Also, an ITunes gift card! I always want new music on the road and it’s an expense that adds up with a backpacker budget. For those heading out on a trip, I listed everything that I packed for my 11 rtw trip at the bottom of this post - http://leapingintolife.com/2012/01/14/leap-off-first-stop-costa-rica/ – happy travels!
Thanks Seb! Appreciate the mention, and the first time I settle into a place long-term I plan to buy that map!
xo
Shannon O’Donnell recently posted..A Little Gift Guide … Eight Travel Products I Deeply Love
Love this list!
I really want & need #1, 2, 11….
I’ve no problems with #14 as I know a few languages like you
#17 is a classic by no other than Paulo Coehlo!
Have to get #19 & 20!
If you can, get this book called Sihpromatum (www.sihpromatum.com) which is an amazing travel memoir. Just finished reading it and it is one of the best books I’ve read in 2012! Loved it.
Keep up the great work
K xo
Karla recently posted..Frifotos: Columns
Nice list, I can’t disagree with any of them, although I am a Canon girl
Ayngelina recently posted..Food Friday: Richmond Night Market
Loving the list! I’ll take all of them, thanks!
Erica recently posted..Weekend Review: Tieks
I need Santa to read this list – I’d like several of the things on it!
Emily in Chile recently posted..Saturday in Santiago: Coquinaria
What a perfect list, it kept getting better and better! Duct tape, eBook reader and adapters, many adapters!!!
Tiana Kai recently posted..Top American phrases that don’t translate well
Dear Santa, I have been a very good girl this year and all I want for Christmas is a nice new kindle so I can read on the go. You like reading, don’t you Santa? Me too! Thanks Santa!
Well… I guess I am gonna go ahead an forward this over to my husband, he is Santa now
Thanks for the inspiration and Happy Holidays (and enjoy your time off!)
ellie recently posted..‘real’ Thailand
Did Santa read your comment?
I just bought the Wifi Antenna… hope it makes my life better in Southeast Asia!
The Antenna is such a great thing! Helps you a lot while traveling! Did you test it already?
all that a traveller must dream about! I’d love to have wifi antenna,that wold make planning of he trip easier(cause I usually make routes on my iPhone and very often have to search for a cafe to connect). Good list!
Lia recently posted..Kim Kardashian is Back in NYC
Das sind mal wirklich hilfreiche Tipps! Meine beste Freundin ist eine regelrechte Globetrotterin, aber komplette Reisen kann ich ihr schlecht schenken (würde mein Budget sprengen). Diverse Sprachkurse oder ein eBook-Reader hingegen kommen als nächstes Präsent zum Geburtstag schon eher in Frage. Vielen Dank für diese kleine Anregung!
Loving that antenna.
I’m afraid, as a serial e-book reader breaker/loser I can’t agree with that one, although in an ideal world where they’re indestructible and follow you home when you’ve left them on a train they would be a great idea
)
Julie McNamee recently posted..5 European Ley Line Locations
Great list! I am going to steal parts of this for our upcoming birthdays before we leave for our upcoming 15 month RTW!!
Hannah @ Getting Stamped recently posted..Road Trip – The Yucatan
Interesting list.. though I personally would swap the Macbook Air for something more “expendable”. I use the HP Mini 5103 myself since I bought it for 30€ and repaired it. Not as powerful as the MB Air but it’s not the end of the world if it breaks.. or someone steals it.
Also, as a safety measure I always bring along a handheld transciever just in case I find myself in an area without cellphone coverage..
Tobbe recently posted..Using Walkie-Talkies abroad?
This is an awesome list. Got some of the items already. The WiFi antenna is a next buy, been caught out with no WiFi in a hotel in Phuket. The go pro looks like the next camera we will buy for our motorbike journey around Australia. Keep writing great blogs…. Wayne & Elena from globetrotting couple.
Wayne recently posted..Travel Tips
Thanks Wayne! The GoPro is awesome and also the WiFi Antenna helped out many times!
I had no idea about a wifi antenna; I’m so buying one on these!
Tim H recently posted..Calgary Slam Poetry: Judge and be Judged
You should! It’s such a great gadget!
Apart from these awesome 20 items, I wouldn’t also mind being gifted air tickets.
Oh and don’t forget steripen, the portable water purifier! See my 5 must-have items, just in case anyone is in a generous mood.
http://why.travel/facts/5-incredible-travel-gadgets/