The holiday season is almost here. That means it’s time for Santa’s elves to start working overtime. Whether you’re looking for ideas for gifts to buy or suggestions to give to relatives, I’ve got you covered. I compiled a list of 50 items that would be helpful for traveling families. The list includes big items (luggage) as well small items appropriate for stocking stuffers (deck of cards). It includes items to use to plan your next vacation (travel guidebooks), items to use on your vacation (travel power strip), and items to capture your vacation memories (photo frames).
Some of the ideas came from gifts that my kids have received over the years. My mother-in-law bought my kids personalized toiletry bags several years ago which still get used on every trip. My mother bought each of my kids their own luggage set and a sleeping bag. While these items might not seem as exciting as a new toy or electronic gadget, my kids were surprisingly thrilled to receive them. And when you’re packing for a trip, it’s nice not to have to spend a fortune buying all the equipment. But practical items aren’t the only gifts my kids have received–they’ve gotten some fun ones too. A couple of years ago my sister-in-law bought my kids special tools for building sand castles. (You can see how them put them to use here.)
One of my favorite ideas to give an experience. One year my husband’s side of the family took a Christmas cruise. Instead of buying gifts, we decided to spend that money on excursions, and we made some awesome memories together. We’ve given a zoo membership and show tickets as Christmas gifts. One of my readers told me that she gave my book along with attraction tickets as a gift. Giving a museum membership helps to stretch a vacation budget. Many museums have reciprocal agreements with other museums. We’ve used our local science museum membership to visit other science museums across the country for free.
