Last updated on August 2, 2025 by Shannon
So, here’s the deal:
Leaving to travel is a huge deal for travelers no matter how long the journey.
As a long-term female traveler on the road for more than 15 years, I’ve carefully tested and tried countless travel products. Over the years, my endless search for great travel gear means I also have some ideas on what makes a great gift for women travelers.
Travelers don’t have a lot of extra space, so it’s important they use travel gear that’s multifunctional, durable, and looks great too. There’s an art to travel, and I spent dozens of trips since my first trip abroad back in 2005 testing options in an effort to reach that perfect mix of practical and useful—but still stylish!
Let’s dive in.
Practical Travel Gift Ideas for Women
Although finding a great cross-body travel purse was my first goal, over the years I’ve found a few other things that always make it into my luggage. Some of these I bought myself, others were gifts from family members. If you’re searching for the perfect travel gift for a woman in your life, know that all of these things make my travels more enjoyable, and make me look like a more put-together traveler!
My Favorite Cross-Body Travel Purse
A lot of travelers, like me, carry a purse in everyday life, so it makes sense to carry one while traveling. I’ve tried to carry my things just in a backpack, a fanny pack, or in my pockets, but it’s not for me.
So I searched for the perfect travel purse. I have carried expensive bags, cheap sack-like bags, regular purses, messenger bags—none of these bags ever quite kept pace with my travels. I started my yearlong round the world trip with an AmeriBag ($85)—this bag actually works exceptionally well as a travel bag. It’s easy on your back since it’s ergonomically designed to remove stress for those with back problems. But it’s not very stylish.
My Baggallini Travel bag ($83) is a finalist—it looks good, and has a lot of pockets. It also has a sleeve to attach to a roller bag, which is super useful for getting around airports. It’s a tad less durable than I needed for long-term travel, but it’s the right gift for some women. Consider gifting this purse for those who take shorter vacations (like a European trip) versus long-term backpacking.
I did find the perfect travel bag—the Donner by Overland Equipment—but they discontinued it in 2015. When I needed a replacement travel purse, I renewed the search and settled on Travelon, which channels what I loved about the Donner. The Travelon Anti-Theft Cross-Body Bag ($46) emerged as a clear leader for its combination of size, functionality, and the sheer number of great pockets.
It’s the best crossbody travel purse I’ve yet found on the market. It looks nice enough to carry out to dinner, but it also holds enough for a day of exploring inside of it (phone, map, sunscreen, hat), plus a water bottle spot.
If you’re picking out a gift for a travel lover, this purse will keep pace with her travels. And if your loved one is heading to Europe, it transitions from go-bag for sightseeing to dinner with friends.
What makes this travel gift a winner?
- Sturdy features, the material is strong and the strap is wide and comfortable.
- Great convenience factors; there are a range of pockets in various areas so you can easily store and find things. I like the back zippered pocket to hold my tickets and passport for quick access.
- Good looking and versatile; works in a range of situations from sightseeing to dinner.
- A great size; this purse fits an outing’s worth of stuff in it: water bottle, sunglasses, mirrorless camera, notebook, snack, chap-stick and Kindle.
- Anti-theft features; I usually travel with a carabiner to secure my purse strap, and this one has it built it. So handy! It also has locking zippers and slash-proof fabric. In Europe, the carabiner and anti-theft features are particularly ideal so you can affix the purse to your chair in places like Paris and Rome where petty theft is high.
I always carry a purse on my travels, and if you want to gift something super useful to a traveling woman in your life, this gift hits all of my positives. That said, it’s on the larger end of the bag perspective (I always need mine to fit my camera). So if you want a lower-profile option, the Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag has the same anti-theft features but a bit of a lower profile and won’t make you look like a tourist!
Picking one out as a travel gift for the woman in your life: Amazon has a range of gorgeous colors. I prefer the black Travelon so that it matches a lot, but there are some beautiful prints that would make this a more special gift.
A Stylish Pocket Scarf
Wearing a scarf is a great way to dress up an outfit when you’re traveling, and a Hidden Pocket Scarf ($20) is a fun, practical addition to a travel wardrobe. It’s wicked useful and comes in several of colors.
Women can use the pocket to keep passport, credit cards, and spare cash safe while roaming around Europe or squeezing through crowded streets in Asia. It’s useful back home too—it’s a great way to go lightweight for a night out on the town as it takes the place of a small clutch. Now that I have a home base in Barcelona, Spain, I regularly use this during the chillier months in place of a purse.
The best travel wardrobes have items that function in different capacities, and this wins on that front. Give this travel gift to a woman backpacking in Europe, or perhaps one planning a lot of overland travel. She won’t regret tossing one of these into her bag in a neutral color that coordinates with most of her outfits.
Note: I own this black scarf from Clever Travel Companion (a company specializing in pickpocket proof clothing) and it is a winter scarf—it’s larger and thicker. The Pop Fashion scarf is lighter and therefore ideal for multi-season travel. Both companies use great materials that will last—cheaper brands use thin material that shows the bulky contents of your scarf (thus defeating the purpose of hiding things in it!).
A Stylish, Warm, Durable Cardigan
Part of what makes a great gift is giving something that they’ll love using, but might never splurge on for themselves. That’s where this premium cardigan comes into play. Do you need a fancy sweater to make your travels memorable? No. Does a nice cardigan not only keep you warm on the plane but offer both sun protection and warmth? Yes.
Look no further for the perfect cardigan for the traveling woman in your life. Made from Merino wool (a breed of sheep from Spain), the State Fusio Cardigan ($80) is a treasured piece of my travel clothing. It’s a travel must, especially when venturing around Europe. The weather fluctuates a lot in Europe and you are likely facing warm days and cool evenings.
The great thing about Merino wool is that it stays cool in warm weather and warm in cold weather. Having a good sweater is important so that you can keep yourself warm on chilly planes, buses, and trains. And even more, this sweater looks so good that I always get compliments on it when I’m on the road. It works just as well on a plane as it does in a bar for happy hour. I own this sweater in grey and blue, and one of them is always in my travel bag.
If you love the idea of gifting a premium sweater but want a bit lighter of a price tag, the Goodthreads Hooded Cardigan ($46) is also terrific—it has a hood! Enough said.
Cute, Comfortable Sandals
Traveling usually means long days on your feet where you’re covering miles and miles of terrain—often cobblestones if you’re in Europe.
The sad truth is, sports sandals like Chacos are usually the most useful and comfortable travel sandal—I own these Chacos ($70) and have gotten more than 15 years of use out of them. But sometimes, you just need something that’s as cute as it is functional—and that’s certainly not Chacos.
Since trusty Chacos and Birkenstocks aren’t going to cut in on a European trip—or any trip where the woman in your life wants a versatile shoe they can wear sightseeing and then to dinner—I offer up instead the NAOT Sabrina sandal ($106).
I know, it’s pretty perfect, right? It’s so comfortable, and surprisingly stylish, too. Like my cardigan, people have stopped me on the street to ask about my sandals.
These feature a thermoplastic rubber sole and cork footbed, so you can expect the shoe to contour to your foot and become even more comfortable over time. And the style is downright trendy. I have worn these through a dozen countries now and they’ve never given me a blister. I am on my third pair, each lasts me about a year of near constant use. This is the perfect sandal for hot summer days spent wandering through historic European cities or rural villages in Africa or Asia.
Given that the price point is over $100, it’s likely a splurge for the woman traveler in your life, but one she will love. And while I think the brown and black color combination is the most versatile, each one is gorgeous.
Safety Travel Gift Ideas for Women
Smartphone Security
Your smartphone is likely one of the most expensive items in your day bag—the traveler in your life (or you!) should keep it safe. The best cases on the market are both the Otterboxes and the Lifeproof cases.
While Otterboxes are good for daily use, the Lifeproof FRE case wins out for travelers. There is a reason why Lifeproof cases are so popular among travelers: They are almost indestructible. Lifeproof cases protect your phone from falls, sand, snow, and water. Anything you dream up for your trip—your phone case can handle it. There are several colors and styles available, and they also have a floating case if you’re planning a beach holiday.
If your the traveling woman in your life already has a great phone case, gift her a smartphone tether ($10). Smartphone snatching and pickpocketing is a real worry, and a phone tether is cheap and super useful for travelers.
mophie Snap+ Juice Pack ($36)
A close travel friend had one of these on his iPhone and I coveted it while we were hiking in Africa and my phone could hardly last a couple hours, yet his chugged on for the whole hike with this slim, magnetic battery charger that attaches to the phone.
Universal Travel Adapter with USB ($21)
I carry one of these all over the world and I love it. It’s something they might not think to buy for themselves, but it’s incredibly handy for charging all that gear we carry—doubly important for those traveling as a couple or with friends since there is often just one outlet in hotel rooms! With the multiple USB and USB-C chargers included, they can charge everything in one go and get back to traveling the world.
Gifts for World Travelers with a Home
Cork Globe ($110) or Coloring-Friendly Globe ($30)
Both of these are an incredibly cute and fun take on a globe. Instead of a pin-up map, this is unique and I’d love to have one in my future living room one day. I’m partial to the cork globe that comes with markers to color in the paces you’ve visited, but both would make a really thoughtful gift idea for your world traveler.
Atlas Coffee Subscription ($60/3 months)
Coffee from around the world delivered to your door? Yes, please. Any combined travel- and coffee-lover would absolutely love this gift subscription (I would!). This is a gift idea that brings the world to your traveler’s doorsteps for those when they’re not out there globetrotting.
Globe In Fair-Trade Artisan Boxes (#30 – $105)
Pick a theme of for an artisan box filled with ethically-sourced, homemade products from all over the world, and it will arrive to the home of your world traveler. The company also offers a monthly gift subscription if you want to spread the gifting love throughout the year.
Gifts for World Traveling Photographers
Artifact Uprising’s Gorgeous Hardcover Photo Book ($72)
Ideal for the traveler who just returned from a journey and has hundreds of travel stories to tell with their photos. I have used other cheaper services and they work well, but this would make a beautiful gift of something that is high quality and lasting for a traveler you love.
14-in-1 Lens Kit for Smartphones ($26)
Smartphones take phenomenal photos these days, but if your traveler is hooked to their smartphone but also wants truly great travel photos from their journey, this clip is a fantastic fun gift they will love to play with on the road. It dramatically increases the quality of photos and range of situations they can take great shots on the road.
A Stylish Camera Scarf
Finding a comfortable camera strap is challenging. If the traveler in your life still travels with a DSLR, then you might want to upgrade her camera strap. Enter the LIFEMATE Scarf Camera Strap ($20).
I love the idea of a camera strap made from a scarf. Made from soft fabric, this scarf camera strap is comfortable, functional, and stylish. It will look great as she snaps photos of anything from the Taj Majal to the Eiffel Tower.
Pretty Travel Gift Ideas for Women
Travel Themed Jewelry
Adorable Silver Travel Bracelets: I love a good bangle wrist, and if you add some classy ones in sterling silver or stainless steel, your loved one can easily wear this jewelry on the road without worrying about it getting damp. These are my favorite jewelry pieces that would make memorable gifts for any woman who loves to travel the world.
- Stainless Steel Adjustable Wire Travel Bangle ($13)
- Stainless Cuff Bracelet with Travel Saying ($12)
- Compass Pendant Stirling Silver Necklace ($38)
- Pewter World Travel Pendant Necklace on Sterling Silver Chain ($21)
Personalized Leather Luggage Tag ($14)
Gorgeous, travel inspired, and whimsical, these luggage tags are a stylish fun addition to any piece of luggage your world traveler may be carrying.
Brass Cuff Travel Bracelet ($60)
The world traveler in your life can easily use this gift on the road without worrying about looking too flashy and inviting theft. It’s a gorgeous way to class-up that wrist of traveler bracelets all long-term travelers seem to collect.
Travel Jewelry Case ($42)
A personalized jewelry case is just what your fashionable world traveling friend or family member needs.
Gifts for Book-Loving World Travelers
Moleskine Travel Journal ($26)
Holy gorgeous! I used a regular moleskin for my notes and journaling for years, and eventually splurged on this one. I adore the travel theme, as well as the extra pocket for various tickets and travel stubs. The stickers are also thoughtfully designed and can actually prompt your world traveler to use the travel journal to document some off-beat moments on their trip.
Travel Books ($10-$15)
Navigate to various regions of the world to find books themed to the country you world traveling friend is visiting. The list includes both fiction and non-fiction, as well as overall travel books that just make a great read. Considering giving your traveler a physical copy for the plane ride (and for hostel book exchanges), or a digital copy for their e-reader.
Just want my two perennially favorite travel books? I deeply loved:
- A Fortune-Teller Told Me: Earthbound Travels in the Far East by Tiziano Terzani
- The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner.
Kindle Unlimited ($12/month)
Gifting a Kindle Unlimited subscription offers your world traveler access anywhere in the world to millions of books. Many Lonely Planet guide books are enrolled in this program, making it a doubly handy gift. You borrow any book on your Kindle, read it, and it’s all included in the subscription price—no matter where in the world you’re traveling. This would be great for an avid reader on a long-term round the world trip.
Audible Subscription ($8 or $15 per month)
Does your traveling friend love to listen to books on tape? Then they might love a year of Audible. I used this the year I homeschooled my niece from Southeast Asia and she and I both listened to books on bumpy bus rides where there was no chance we could read a paperback book, but we could surely listen to them!
Unique Travel Gift Ideas for Women
In addition to these travel items, I always pack a few extra things that make my travels easier.
Backup Battery
If you’ll be using your smartphone then don’t forget a backup battery. I carry the budget and compact Anker PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger ($20), or consider the Huge Capacity External Battery Pack Dual Output Port ($35), which is a touch more expensive, slim, and it will carry enough charges for multiple devices.
Awesome Laptop Stickers ($9)
I adore a good travel laptop skins. Since it’s a fair bet your world traveler has a laptop, this world-themed skin ($9) is really fun (and so affordable), as is this travel quotable ($6). And at these prices, it’s easy to throw in one of these affordable gifts in addition to something else, or as a stocking stuffer.
Tunes for the Road
Spotify won’t work overseas, so consider upgrading to Spotify Premium for your trip. With premium, I download all of my music so I have offline tunes for the train rides and days out wandering new cities.
That wraps up the handful of my very favorite travel items that make it into my backpack on each trip, despite the extra weight. And there are other things I love (my backpack, my hiking boots, etc), but each one of these items have made my travels better in some identifiable way. As a traveler, every single thing I add to my backpack adds to the weight I carry on my back.
And as a woman running a business from all over the word, I need to look nice when I’m on the road. For this reason I am ruthless and meticulous about what I allow into my bag. And while many of these items cost more than other brands, these are the ones that tend to combine quality, style, and function. If it’s only going to break or look misshapen a few weeks into my trip, then it’s not a good purchase.
My full travel packing list is here, and I keep my Amazon Shop updated with my favorite gear if you need other gift inspiration.
And if you’re interested in generally the best gifts for world travelers, I put together a gift guide for those who love to travel—both practical and inspirational gifts!
Awesome site Shannon with loads of helpful info! I’m looking at going to South America next month if all goes according to plan and the whole thing seems a bit daunting if I must say. At least I’ll have everything I need :-). Would you reckon it’s safe enough to just take Malaria tablets and I have my Yellow fever vaccination. That is if I closely watch what I eat and drink and lather myself with repellent and sleep with a mosquito net? I’ve been to Morocco and Egypt and Turkey and all of them recommended a few different vaccinations but I never had any and did not have any issues.
Congrats on the upcoming trip! I know how overwhelming it can be to get everything aligned and ready. I am glad to hear that the resources on the site have been helpful! For the vaccinations, that’s a really tough call. If you don’t have your childhood vaccinations like Hep A, measles, polio etc, then I would highly recommend that you get them. The thing is, vaccination rates outside of the U.S. are much lower, so although you can go years without contact stateside, if you’re traveling in poor areas then it’s impossible to prevent contact with many of them, and poor sanitation heightens the rise. Hospitals are also scarce, so something like tetanus is far more serious if you’re in a remote part of the Amazon. If you’re just talking about the odd-ball ones, there are several that I’ve opted out of, like rabies and Japanese encephalitis, but ultimately I’ve always found the precaution worth it. Despite being cautious, I nearly died in Laos from a diarrheal illness (dysentery), and it was terrifying to be in a country without any healthcare system. No hospitals, no way to get an IV, just 15 hours of boat to bus to tuk-tuk to get to Thailand. Best of luck! ~S
Thank you for taking the time to write back. :-) Geez! Glad you made it outta there then. Was that from eating something do you think? All these health websites warn against eating from the local markets and that even though that is the kind of food i’d rather have. Always looks and smells yummy. Did you eat much from there or mainly in restaurants? Thanks again! Bernardine
I am fairly certain it was from eating fresh fruit that wasn’t properly washed. As a vegetarian, I sometimes risk things that I know are less safe but I eat them because I lack other options that are safer (like well-cooked meat on a stick or something like that). Often times street food is far safer than a restaurant. The turnover time is faster. They often specialize in a single dish and buy the ingredients fresh every day (as opposed to restaurants that keep a lot of ingredients on hand for weeks). Plus, you can watch them prepare it in front of you. There are easy ways to eat safely, like going to places with a queue, watching how they handle money, and eating at the proper local mealtimes. I give a full rundown how to safely eating streetfood here: https://alittleadrift.com/rtw-travel/#food and Jodi wrote a fantastic post about it here: http://www.legalnomads.com/2016/01/street-food.html Definitely don’t avoid street food when you’re on the road! :)
Thanks for that again Shannon. I’m still in two minds about getting ALL the vaccines they recommend as I’m sure it’s also a money making racket like a lot of things so it’s hard to know for definite. I have my Yellow Fever one and have Malaria tablets and getting the strongest repellent for clothes, net and myself which I will be sure to apply every two hours but still need to decide on the rest of the vaccines. GP is no help either cause they just do their job and say that you need all of them. :-)
I came off the link for the purse recommendation somewhere…and fell in love with your blog post. Cannot wait to read your other posts. I would add in essential oils. I carry them with me when I travel and have been so thankful. I carry the mini bottles filled from my larger ones and can share what I do on my blog with you when I get it done. I have lavender for sleep and skin issues (bug bites, cuts, scrapes & burns), Purification for hotel rooms & bad smelling rooms, Digize and/or Peppermint for aiding in food poisoning or stomach issues, headaches, aches and pains and more.
Hi Sue, so glad you like the site and that you found it useful! And essential oils is a great recommendation — I don’t carry very many with me, but Tea Tree Oil is one that I always have in my bag and it has come in handy countless times. Thanks! :)
Call me if you would like to learn more for simple tips on the basic oils to use on trips. You will wonder how you ever did without them. I have used them countless times when I am unfamiliar with the hospitals and over the counter remedies in a different country. My husband had an interesting time when he ended up in the docs office, after food poisoning, in Japan. He learned the hard way to carry the oils. :)) Poor guy! :(He said he will not be without the basic kit I made for him. You have an awesome day, Shannon!
I am always open to new knowledge if you have an easy list of the ones you always carry with you!
I sure do, here is the list:
1) Thieves
2) Digize
3) Lavender
4) Peppermint
5) Frankincense
6) Stress Away
7) Lemon
8) Copaiba
9) Peace & Calming
10) Purification
and of course YL’s awesome Sleepessence capsules for sleeping at night, naturally. If you want to learn more on them, I do personal consults on why, each of them and how I do it for each trip. 763.3seven0.224six I had to spell for them silly crawlers that like to randomly call me. Only 14+ years of experience, with the oils.
Thank you, thank you for the list of oils! My best friend studied oils and introduced me to Thieves, which is incredible. I really appreciate you taking the time to share them and I will definitely contact you in the future if I decide to delve deeper into them. Safe and happy travels! :)
You are so welcome! :) Yes, I love that whole line of Thieves products. So happy you liked it. No issue here, if your best friend is still doing them, by all means head on over to the person. But if you need someone, I am willing to lend a hand. So glad you enjoyed the list.
Such great stuff! I agree with you… here a few extra things I swear by in my travels…
– a Microsoft surface tablet (with extra clip on keyboard) — PERFECT for travelling, everything like a normal computer word, PowerPoint as well as kindle, apps like on smartphone, but small, light, easy, great battery life, all the benefits of a normal tablet but with the keyboard it just like a computer, typing is so much easier! I have never had a phone on my travels, just used this (with Skype account to call numbers) and written down numbers and asked to borrow people’s phones when I need to call someone out of wifi reception.
– a medium sized strong clip-it lunchbox– sooooo useful! When in your bag you can store things in it ad in use it can be used as a bowl to eat or drink from, or a storage for anything (I use it mainly for food), I take it always in my day bag and whenever I am around places with food and there is an excess I put it I my lunchbox and then have a meal later when I am hungry. Great for example, when you go out to dinner with some friends and you or they do not finish meals, put leftovers away and then you have a meal for later or the next day (a real tip in saving money)
– duck tape — my life is two words! Can be used for just about anything from a clothesline to fixing your shoes temporarily, to strap things to you or to other people, to secure things, to hide things, omg I can’t even describe my love for duck tape!
– a little, small, light picture book from the place where you are from, this has been so cool in countless situations, whenever you are meeting people and they are interested in where you are from you can just pull it out and give it to them to see (can get from a tourist shop in your home country), everyone who I have showed mine on New Zealand have loved it!
– a pillow case, my favourite one from home, gives me a little bit of comfort especially when sleeping in real far out places, and can be filled with clothes to make a pillow, there is nothing worse than not having a pillow to sleep with.
I hope this was helpful =)
Some great ideas here Mandy! Duck tape is always in my backpack for those very reasons you mentioned! The rest sound handy for a packing list too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, safe and happy travels.
Microsoft surface pro 3 is what someone just recommended to me with all my traveling I do and it also hooks up to a zyto compass, which I haul around with me. Which the kindle doesn’t have the capibility for that. I was looking for something lightweight and also functional without hauling another laptop! Thanks for the tips on what to do with it.
Is the bag big enough for a DSLR?
Only if you carry a fairly small lens, or perhaps just the camera. I carry a water bottle, my wallet, some odds and ends, and my Panasonic (just one pancake lens on it: pretty easily in the bag, so if you don’t carry full gear + a purse it could work! :) It’s a decent size inside.
i don’t know if that makes a difference, I’m a guy. but for a gift, all i want is an awesome smartphone, with great camera and a backpack with two pair of denim.:)
Hah, fair point John … though I tried to vary the money levels of gifts because my dad would laugh at me if I asked him to buy me a nice camera or an iPhone. Though as you noted, I do love them …especially when paired with Spotify :)
As a gift: a versalette, a piece of clothing you can use in so many ways. So far I use a sarong as towel, skirt, bed sheet, scarf, head cover…
I agree Pauline! I really loved the idea and have met both women. Unfortunately they are no longer making any more of the versalettes, and I was waiting to buy one for a new color, so I missed out! Glad to hear you love it, and that it’s super handy :)
i love reading about other traveler’s favorite products – awesome picks! i’m in the market for a new camera so the Lumix is on top of the list! great pic of Railay by the way – went there last month – WOW so glad i had a chance to experience that beauty! hope it’s ok, i featured a link to your gift list on my blog :-)
I appreciate you including my post in the round-up Alex! The camera is definitely worth checking out too, I love mine dearly and a couple other travel bloggers over the past year have gotten it too and seem to echo my love for it :)
Ha ha ha .. I am laughing aloud by seeing the eyes of Ana while you were nearby her. By the way.. dialing up the phone from the bank looks unique.
Ana is quite the character isn’t she! She made my travels a lot more fun over the past year, thanks for reading Suzanne! :)
The travel gift list shared here in the post are really good for use.. Merry Christmas and Happy holidays……
Thank you! Happy holidays to you as well! :)
Can’t go anywhere without my iphone
Agreed! One of the most multi-tasking, useful items in my bag :)
Capturing the moments every time you travel is one of the things you should never, ever forget. For this reason, camera has been one of the best items you must have whenever you travel. Travel light will always work best-as always. Just bring the essentials and you will definitely enjoy your time.
Thanks Jim, I agree! My camera is one of my prized items, and the other non-essentials just make it more comforting when I travel long-term! :)
Great gift list, unique from a lot of backpacking gifts guides I have seen this holiday season. I agree, traveling lets you realize what you don’t need. It is a liberating feeling.
I tried to think outside of the typical lists, so I appreciate your feedback Stephen. Anything that is a non-essential “must have” for you? :)
I gotta get that purse ;)
In all seriousness, I loved, loved, loved my Kindle, but I have broken three now. Just reading that stuff now on my phone. I am such a bad techie.
I think the purse would look smashing on you Michael :) Sorry to hear about your Kindles, sheesh, that’s tough … and reading on the phone is so tiny no?! Hmm, I think we just need to get you a better case for your next one!
What a great list! It is so easy to take far more than we need when travelling and that, “What would you like for Christmas?” question is an absolute killer. Every year I get given guide books and every year they sit unopened in my wardrobe as I prefer travelling light. I take everything on your list, except the smart phone and the back-up battery. I do get lost a lot, but sometimes that’s fun too!
I agree that getting lost is half the fun! Unfortunately I get lost no matter what I have with me. And if you don’t have a phone, you likely don’t new the backup power. Safe travels!! :)
Can you speak about activating your locally purchased SIM card? I’ve heard a variety of stories on the matter and they unfortunately seem to cancel each other out. I’ve been curious about those card ambitions but the prices can be very ridiculous in certain places in South America.
Thanks a great question Frank, my friends have a tech travel site and talk about SIM cards several times (https://toomanyadapters.com/?s=sim) and this one on SEA in partciular: https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-cards-south-east-asia/
I have used a SIM in Laos and Thailand without any issue at all in my unlocked/jailbroken iPhone. :)
Wow, I just reread my comment from last night. I really must of been out of it—hardly makes sense. My apologies. I’m actually leaving in less than two weeks and I’ve put in some long nights piecing together all final items. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve come to your site. Check your analytics — those one hundred 2am hits from an IP in Tampa — yeah, that’s me. Lol. All seriousness, thank you for yet another lead. I will review and get that final todo off my list.
One last thing — totally unrelated and sort of a thank you to you. I’ve noticed that in Chrome your navigation jumps to a second like due to padding. In any case — thought I would send over a quick and easy solution. http://i.imgur.com/d8Wsk.jpg. Some how I’m sure you know how to fix it. But I happen to have all my gadgets open and thought I’d send it anyway
Thank you for that! It wasn’t happening on my browser, and I wouldn’t have known how to fix it. :) I am so glad to hear that the site had been helpful, and that your trip is near! Shoot me an email if there is anything I can help you with before you leave!
No no. Thank you! Yes, if anything comes up I’ll most definitely send you an email. And yes, I just tested again and realized that the padding issue is only on Chrome for Mac. On PC, everything is looking splendid. Sure in the grand scheme of things “Chrome browser+Mac” is the few. :)
fantastic post nice photos
enjoy reading it
I love Spotify Premium. It has replaced my iPod because now I can listen to my favorite songs on my phone or computer without even being online. I think we discussed the camera thing before. I ended up going with the Sony NEX 5N (the 7 is the current one now) and love how compact it is.
Your list is a good reminder that I need to get a back up battery!
I agree! I rarely use iTunes now for anything other than the apps, music all goes through my Spotify. As for the camera, we have talked about the Sony, and I am glad to know that version of the micro is excellent too. I think they all are strong because Jodi has the Olympus, you verify that the Sony is good, and the Lumix is aces. And the battery is a must! Esp if you’re streaming Spotify, that saps my iPhone quickly :)
Great suggestions!!! The pics that camera takes are unreal!
Thanks Andi! I know the DSLRs are higher quality at the end of the day, but I just love the size to image quality ratio of the micro-four-thirds cameras! :)
Welcome to the world of Tripit. I have been using it for a while now and it is an essential part of my travel planning. I love not having to go to a net cafe to print out flight confirmations anymore.
Those bags look great as well. Too bad they don’t cater for dudes though. I’m always on the lookout for good day bags and I would like to see them make a more dudelier version of the bag.
James, do you want a man purse?! I think they should make better man travel bags… you guys need to carry water too! TripIt is so good, and the fact that it stores the information offline=a perfect world. I’ll be on the lookout for a dudely bag for you :)
Noooo, not a man purse, a manly man bag is what I want :p I like the courier style bags like crumpler but their shape is too odd and they don’t have convenient pockets. Thanks for looking out for me :)