Yay! My favorite time of the year is here and I am excited to share with some wanderful (see what I did there? 😉 ) products that I’ve discovered this year that will be sure to fuel your wanderlust! Like the seasoned traveler, I am always experimenting with new travel products, trying to figure out which works for me. Not to mention, I will be giving away some freebies, scroll down to the bottom for more details!
The photo quality is fantastic, I recently took this with me on Safari in South Africa and was blown away by the quality of photos it took. The 10x zoom came in handy for those far away shots. Make sure it is unlocked before you travel overseas.
Picture of a Cheetah sitting on the hill (regular mode)
10X Zoom – you have to admit it is fantastic!
Amazon Basics 50 inch tripod:
It was a last minute purchase before my South Africa trip. I am so glad I bought it, I was debating on whether or not if I should get it, and turns out there were several occasions where I really needed it. I loved this because it was a darker brown, unlike the gold it looked like in the photo on the Amazon page. Which made it perfect for my trip to South Africa, it blended in with the environment perfectly. It is really lightweight, and compact (it easily fits into my backpack!) and I love the fact that it comes with a carrying case. When it is unfolded it extends to 50 inches, but when it is collapsed it is 16 inches and weighs 1.2lbs. Bonus it is only $12, get it here.
IT Luggage:
I love my IT luggage, I have so many that I’ve bought over the years. But recently when I was in London, I fell in love with the cutest IT carry on luggage at Primark (a UK department store). I can fit so much stuff in this bag, it is amazing. Not only that it is a spinner, the handles are small, they are sturdy and super lightweight weighing at 3lbs – they also come with a 10-year warranty! While I bought mine at Primark, you can easily find different versions on Ebags, Amazon, or at your local Homegoods, Marshall stores.
Or you can opt for the Head Case luggage cover. You may have seen this viral product on social media lately. Keep thieves away from stealing your luggage with your best “Hit me with your best shot” face.
Apple World Travel Adapter Kit:
Did you know that you can interchange these plugs with the iPhone/iPad plugs? I use this for my laptop, and it is fantastic!
KRIGER Universal power strip AC 110-220-240V surge protector for computer:
While it is large in size, I found it extremely useful in my travels. The cool thing about this is that it works with plugs from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, China and more! I will note that the main plug is European. It was so great to be able to plug things in and not worry about blowing a fuse, and you could even share with your friends, colleagues at a conference, or perhaps a random traveler at the airport in dire need of an outlet. They will thank you!
S-ZONE Vintage Waterproof Canvas DSLR Camera Messenger Bag:
While I had my eye on the Lo & Sons Camera bag, or the ONA bags – I opted for a cheaper bag via Amazon. I have to say that it surprised me. I have a sleeve for my iPad, it holds my go pro accessories, my wallet, passport, a little bag of makeup/supplies, my camera, small selfie stick, portable gorilla pod tripod and it has a pocket in the front for more stuff! I am in love with this bag, and what sold me on it was the fact that it had a little strap on the back so I can easily slide it in the handle of my suitcase.
Camkix Remote Control Shutter: Perfect for those solo selfie shots! It works for Android and iPhones.
Instax Mini Instant Camera – for the novice photographer:
Pair with the 2017 Instax photo ornament, or if they are a magnet collector get the Instax Photo Sleeve Magnet Set. Don’t forget a cute carrying case to keep it safe!
Xpand Elastic Shoelaces:
It may seem to you the equivalent of gifting socks, but honestly, I love these elastic shoelaces, it has made getting in and out of airports so much easier. They are more comfortable, not as restricting as other shoelaces. They also come in 40+ different colors!
Lewis N. Clark Deluxe Pill Organizer:
Most of you may recall my battle with Thyroid Cancer four years ago, unfortunately, I now have to take thyroid medicine, along with a plethora of other pills. This has been a godsend, it organizes all of my medicines perfectly. It even has two separate sections for day/night, and an extra zipper pocket in the back for extras. Pro tip: I use the label maker to note which medicine is what. But if you’re worried about customs, sometimes I peel off the label of my pill bottles and stick them onto the Ziploc bags that way I can show security if needed, or bring a doctor’s note.
Tabasco Packets/ Gluten Free Soy Sauce:
I mentioned these in my birthday gift guide, and I will mention them again. If you have a favorite condiment that you know will be hard to find overseas, chances are there is a travel-friendly version of them. The Tabasco packets are fantastic for breakfast on the planes, they truly spice up the bland airplane food. If you know someone that can’t live without Sriracha, Tabasco, Gluten Free Soy Sauce, Cholula hot sauce, Honey, or even Mustard then these are fun stocking stuffers to give out. If there is something specific that they like, I am willing to bet they have a travel sized version of it.
Collapsible Tea Kettle:
Okay… You may laugh, I did when my sister brought her brand new tea kettle on our South Africa trip. I rolled my eyes, thinking it was so typical of my sister to bring something like this, she has been known to bring heating pads on trips. However, I wasn’t laughing when I got a horrible cold from another person in our group (thanks a lot!) during our Safari trip, and it saved my ass several times. When my sister left home early for Thanksgiving, she took hers with her – I didn’t think I need it anymore. I was wrong – when my mom got to the second lodge, she got the same horrible cold I did. But the tea kettle in the hotel was nasty, crusty, and it would need to be scrapped and sterilized before I could use it. Not only that, our rooms were so far from the main breakfast room, that they don’t do room service. So we were without tea and my poor mom suffered. I had to carry a tray of tea back and forth, it was such a pain. I was wishing I had this. BTW it is dual voltage.
Gift cards for Uber, to their favorite airline, hotel, or even iTunes, etc:
I don’t know why gift cards get a bad rep in the gifting circle, I honestly love gift cards. To me, it feels thoughtful, they know what I like and who doesn’t like ordering knowing that you have a prepaid card?
Priority Pass:
I recently got this, and can’t believe I ever lived without it. With the Priority Pass you have access to over 1,000 lounges around the world, if you’re flying coach – it feels so luxe to freshen up in one of these. I got this card as a perk from American Express, but I didn’t know you can purchase the Priority Pass separately! Currently, there are three membership plans to choose from; the Standard ($99), Standard Plus ($249), Prestige ($399) per annum.
100 Places Scratch Off Poster:
Like the scratch-off maps that I posted last year, this edition is all about 100 noteworthy places to check out. A fun way to keep track of the landmarks you’ve seen!
Tie & Cufflink Organizer for the business traveler. A great way to organize your cufflinks and ties for conferences, special events or if you just want to look snazzy!
Plane-shaped tea bags by Tea Heritage:
How cute are these teabags? They are handmade with organic cotton yarn in Lyon, France – you can select your own flavors.
Secret Marvels of the World by Lonely Planet:
Need inspiration for your 2018 travels? Look no further than this quirky book, it’s jam-packed with 360 off the beaten path places around the world!
Hope you enjoyed the latest roundup of Christmas gifts! Let me know if there is something cool you want to share? I’m always looking for the next cool gadget. Happy Holidays!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, in which I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps with the costs of running this site, thanks! I choose these items because I personally love them, and wanted to share them with you in hopes you have a fantastic Christmas/Hannukah! Enjoy!
