7 thoughtful gifts for the seasoned traveller

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For many people, travelling is a lifestyle. For others, it’s an aspiration and for some, it just comes with the job. For those who live to travel, when you find a product or service that makes life easier, it’s worth celebrating. In our travels, we’ve tried experiences, tested products and made mistakes and now we can confidently recommend these gifts to make every trip a little easier or a little better for the world explorer.

Tinggly

Why we love it: Tinggly is such a special gift that is truly one-size-fits-all-travellers. The company’s slogan, “giving stories, not stuff since 2014,” sums it up. Through Tinggly, you can buy either experiences or getaway gifts that are redeemable worldwide.

You just pick which “box” you want to gift, select if you want it delivered virtually or in the mail and the recipient can redeem it on their next adventure. The gifts don’t have an expiry date and are available at a range of prices, like the Essential Collection which can be used in over 100 countries for fun activities to Luxurious Getaway, which can be used to book two nights at a hotel with over 100,000 to choose from across more than 100 countries.

I discovered Tinggly while researching things to do on my recent trip to the U.K. I tried the Getaway – 3 Days in 100 Capitals and can confidently recommend Tinggly. The gift is so easy to use and great for last-minute bookings. Through Tinggly, I was able to book a hotel in Glasgow, Scotland, two days before I arrived, on New Year’s Eve.

Price: Starting from $10
Where to buy: Tinggly

Hotel stays (Hotels.com | IHG hotels)

Why we love it: Accommodations are expensive so it’s nice to be treated. When I look for accommodations, my highest priority is cost (then safety). Next comes convenience, aesthetics and amenities. I recently stayed at an IHG hotel in Dublin, Ireland, and I didn’t have to sacrifice any of my priorities. It was affordable, squeaky clean, conveniently located in the city centre and included a delicious breakfast, but I was most blown away by the people at the front desk. They were extremely personable and invested in making my stay a positive one, including making personalized itinerary recommendations.

Hotels.com offers an easy way to let the recipient pick their favourite hotel. If your recipient prefers to stay at more eclectic accommodations, an Airbnb gift card may be a good option.

Price: Starting from $50 (Hotels.com eGift card)
Where to buy:Walmart | IHG Hotels | Amazon – Airbnb

Carry-on luggage (Away + Monos)

Why we love it: We love the peace of mind that comes with not checking a bag. It always feels like a risk to check luggage — who knows if it’ll land at your final destination. It’s also a much quicker and easier process to simply carry on. You can avoid long luggage check-in lines and don’t have to find any carousel upon arrival.

I’ve tried the Away Carry-On and Monos Carry-On Pro and the secret is out. I’ve seen these brands all over airports across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. I get it, both carry-ons are organized on the inside, durable on the outside and easy to pull. I like to travel with a carry-on and a backpack that loops onto the luggage, like the Away Everywhere Zip Backpack and Monos Metro Backpack. This way when I’m too early for a flight and dragging my stuff around the airport, I can loop my backpack on the luggage and give the old back a rest. Monos is a Canadian brand founded in Vancouver – another plus.

Price: Starting from $306 (Monos Carry-On, least expensive option)
Where to buy:Away | Monos

Check-in luggage (Solgaard)

Why we love it: If you’re going on a long-haul trip, this closet-on-the-go is a lifesaver. Thanks to the removable, self-supporting shelving system, you simply open your case, pull up the shelves and voila! Unpacked in seconds.

This case comes equipped with five shelves, compression straps to maximize storage and zipped mesh pockets that are perfect for shoes, books and other items you may not be able to fit in a carry-on.

The case is basically indestructible, made from a polycarbonate, waterproof, scratch-resistant shell and backed by a lifetime warranty. Topped with a TSA-approved lock so all you need to worry about is finding the best beach on arrival.

Price: Starting at $470
Where to buy:Solgaard

Fold-up backpack (Paravel | Amazon)

Why we love it: A durable backpack, like those included above from Away and Monos, is essential to store extra or delicate items when travelling, but packing a backpack in that backpack is key too. That bonus backpack is ideal for day trips.

I often live out of my luggage while abroad and I don’t want to unpack my backpack to use it for a day of exploration. I also don’t want to bring such a bulky backpack on those day trips. A light, durable and perfectly-sized fold-up backpack won’t add too much extra weight or take up too much space in your luggage and will prove valuable for a day at the beach, a quick climb up a mountain or traversing city streets. Here are two options that are both water-resistant, about a half-a-pound and well-reviewed: Paravel Fold-Up Backpack and Ultralight Packable Backpack from Amazon.

Price: $28.99 – $110
Where to buy:Paravel | Amazon

Light and easy-to-pack games

Why we love it: Though travelling is all about exploring places, meeting new people and trying different foods, there can be a lot of downtime. If you’re travelling with someone, games are a great way to spend your spare time.

If you’re travelling solo, they’re a great way to make new connections. I’ve spent too many game-less hours at airports and my patience became really dicey. What I would have done for a deck of cards. Here’s a 6 Portable Travel Game Activities Notepad that could entertain for hours, or a classic deck of cards — but waterproof — perfect for travelling.

Price: Starting from $12.99
Where to buy: Amazon – Travel games | Amazon – Deck of cards

Airalo

Why we love it: Airalo is an eSIM card. It’s affordable and easy to use, as long as your phone is eSIM-friendly. You just need to download the Airalo app, select the country or region you’d like to have data and pick your package. I found it so much easier than switching out my SIM card.

Airalo is simple to use, just make sure you follow the instructions. I wasn’t positive that I was using Airalo and not my personal SIM, so I took out my card and felt confident that I wouldn’t be charged international roaming rates.

Note that you can only make internet-based calls, via WhatsApp for example, meaning calls to landlines which include hotels and other venues are not possible. Perhaps this will be solved in the future, but it won’t stop me from using the very convenient app. 

Price: Starting at $4.50 USD
Where to buy:Airalo

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