Is there a traveller on your holiday shopping list? Lucky you! We're an easy bunch to shop for.
Most nomadic souls already have a pile of travel journals, passport holders and luggage tags laying around. Want to know what we really want for Christmas this year? I’ve assembled a list of gifts for 11 specific types of travellers, along with links where to buy them. Easy-peasy!
All recommendations are our own.
Happy holidays!
x Alison
Parks Canada bags
For the weekend-tripper
Parks Canada
These limited-edition, red-and-black buffalo check bags celebrate being a Canadian traveller without an emblazoned maple leaf. Proceeds support Canada’s special places: national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas. Made in Canada.
Price: knapsack $199.95; tote $399.95
Shop: Buy it here
Bangs National Nomad High Top
For the traveller who flaunts it through fashion
Consider these canvas kicks a crafty manifestation of your USA bucket list. (Because there's nothing more satisfying than crossing items off your "to do" list - especially when it comes to travel.) Bangs fit similar to a high top Converse sneaker, are unisex and come with two fabric markers. Visit a state, colour it in.
Price: $62 USD
Shop: Buy a pair here
Buff’s Canada Collection
For the proud Canuck
Do these vintage-inspired Buffs make your heart flutter with Canadian pride?
For a personalized gift, select a region from the 1867 Canada Collection to represent where your recipient is from, or perhaps an area of Canada they'd like to visit. These limited edition Buffs were designed by artist Cameron Stevens to celebrate Canada 150, and are only available in Canada.
Price: $24
Shop: buyabuff.com/Collections/CANADA
Bagsmart Universal Cable Organizer
For the tech-crazed traveller
Tired of finding your electronic cords tangled upon arrival? Bagsmart designed a small (think: approximately the same size as your iPhone) cable organizer to simplify the mess. Made of water-resistant polyester, the padded covers will protect your headphones, USB wall mounts, SD cards, extra batteries and more.
Price: $17.99
Shop: Buy it here
Speakeasy Hidden Pocket Scarves
For the stylishly-safe traveller
We all want to keep our passports safe, but there has got to be a better way than a money belt. Avoid a fashion faux-paus, keep your important items hidden and cozy up in an infinity scarf with Speakeasy’s hidden pocket scarves. There are a ton of different patterns and each scarf is handmade in the USA.
Price: $44-55 USD
Shop: Buy one here
Greater Skies Personalized Star Map
For the sentimental traveller
Want to capture a special moment in time, in possibly the most thoughtful way? Perhaps a romantic Parisian proposal, the day you exchanged nuptials at your destination wedding, or a crazy memorable night of dancing under a Thai full moon. Enter Greater Skies personalized star map. Input a date, location and time and Greater Skies will produce a graphic of how the night sky looked in that moment. Add a customized caption to inspire all sorts of warm fuzzies in your gift recipient.
Price: $34.95 for a digital download or $94.95 for a print on high-quality photographic paper (free shipping to Canada).
Shop: Buy it here
CCS G3 Grey Strapshot
For the shutterbug traveller
Travellers know the dilemma well: to pack, or not to pack, a weighty DSLR. One thing making the choice easier for shutter-happy wanderers? Getting the DSLR off your neck and into a secure camera holster. First, fasten the camera-hub mounting bolt to the bottom of the DSLR. Next, affix the holster to a backpack strap on the shoulder or hip. A patented twist-and-lock function means the camera is snug and secure. Your hands are free to high-five locals, pay a vendor or scramble ruins.
Price: $79 USD
Shop: Buy it here
Trtl Travel Pillow
For the traveller who can actually sleep on planes
There’s nothing better than sleeping through a long flight...and nothing worse than waking up with a kinked neck. Those U-shaped tube pillows look ridiculous and rarely feel good. The Trtl Travel Pillow was made to challenge traditional plane pillows and give you the neck support you deserve.
Price: $39.95
Shop: Buy it here
Alite Designs Meadow Mat
For the beach bum, festival-goer or picnic junkie
Bulky beach blankets are a thing of the past. This lightweight, portable, waterproof mat features prime polyester fabric, straps for convenient carrying and loops for stakes (or sticks) to hold down your fort on windy days. Tote it from the beach to the park to a musical festival to your next camping trip to an afternoon picnic. Yeah, it’s versatile.
Price: $39+
Shop: Buy it at MEC or shop Alite Designs.
Fair trade coffee, jewelry and home décor
For the sustainable traveller
Find a gift that was handmade in a country your traveller has been to or still has on their bucket list. Ten Thousand Villages sells gifts, accessories, home decor, food items and more, all made by workers in disadvantaged places who are paid a fair wage, so you can feel good about buying these beautiful items.
Price: $5+
Shop: See the entire collection here
Handpresso Pump
For the coffee-addicted traveller
Some of us can’t function without our daily dose of espresso, even on the go. This minuscule hand-pressed espresso machine easily fits in a backpack or purse and makes the perfect Italian espresso wherever you are.
Price: $129
Shop: Buy it here
Canadian Traveller magazine subscription
For the armchair traveller
A gift that gives throughout the year. Find words by Editor Terrilyn Kunopaski and even a few confessions penned by yours truly. Columns include snapshots, in short, 72 hours in..., shop, travel muse, unexpected icon, confessions and our destination features. We publish Canadian Traveller quarterly and editions can also be read digitally at no extra cost.
Price: $17.95 - $29.95 - $36 (1-2-3 years)
Shop: Subscribe here
Have questions? Want to speak with a human? Email Sheila, our lovely customer service lead: sheilar@mypassionmedia.com or call us at 1-888-924-7524.
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Gift Guides of Christmases Past