“The most precious gift is not a thing, but the memories made on adventures together.”
WHERE TO NEXT?
Dear Traveler,
On Sunday I arrived back from 2 1/2 weeks away – NYC for Thanksgiving and I flew straight to Kenya from there. On my return I left Lamu, on the coast of Kenya, on a series of four flights to get home. My 15.5 hour flight from Nairobi landed at JFK at 7am in a whiteout – the first big snowstorm of the year. Four flight delays and one cancellation later, I scored the last seat on the only flight going to Boston that night and arrived home late after 10+ hours of delays.
Was all that travel worth it?
YES!
I’d been to Kenya before, but this trip went to all new places. Every lodge we stayed in is family owned, several also owned by the local tribes. As expected we saw incredible wildlife. But the cultural experiences where we were invited into the real lives of the semi-nomadic Maasai and Samburu tribes, was the true highlight. I can’t wait to share more soon!
I’m not immune to flight challenges, but I try to make the best of them. In this case I had lots of time to catch up on work, Christmas shopping and… getting you this guide. If you are like me and still need some ideas for people on your list, I hope this list gives you some inspiration! I have collected a variety of “the best of” gift lists and shared them with you below. I have also made my own list that includes some of my favorites and…
- gifts I’ve previously given
- friends’ recommendations
- other gifts I’m giving this year
- things I personally covet
Similar to last year I’m sharing ideas from the shops of three women entrepreneurs in my community…
- Suzi Curtis, owner of Woody’s Mercantile in Woodstock, VT. Her design sense is the best! Their instagram.
- Julie VonBargen, owner of our local jewelry boutique, Von Bargen’s, with shops throughout VT. This is no ordinary jewelry store. Her curated pieces include traditional styles and small artisans’ creations. Their instagram.
- Mia Vogt, owner of our stylish, designer women’s clothing boutique, Indigo. Their instagram.
One of the items below is tickets to the World Cup. They recently announced the game schedule. See the US games below…
US VS PARAGUAY Friday, 12th June
US VS AUSTRALIA Friday, 19th June
US VS UEFA PLAY-OFF C Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, Romania Thursday, 25th June
And as I love to travel for sporting events and plan travels for you to sporting events, here are a few more ideas for the coming year…
The Rugby World Cup Oct 1-Nov 13, 2027
LA Rams NFL Game in Melbourne Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2026
Experiences with your loved ones always give you the most bang for your buck in terms of memories made from the gift! There are inspiring ideas below for teens, college kids, friends, spouses and whoever else you want to get a gift for. If you click on the photos, most have links to the website for purchase. Personally I think pairing a tangible gift with an experiential one (of course travel!) is an ideal combination, so this year I continued to share a travel idea to some of my favorite places for almost all items below. The possibilities are truly endless!
Caveat – I have purchased/tried/seen many of these, but not all. If you do buy any, would you send me a note and let me know which and how you or the recipient likes it?
NOTE: the destinations do not have embedded links. If you are interested in any of them, send me a message. I hope you find items that you want to buy for someone (or for yourself – that’s ok too) or I hope these inspire other ideas.
If you are having trouble making a decision, consider taking Gretchen Rubin’s Gift Giving Quiz. Answer 8 questions about the recipient and you’ll learn what types of gifts they appreciate.
The 10+ hours I spent curating and creating this list has been a bit of a labor of love. I love sharing inspiring ideas with you – whether they are travel related or not. If you love these ideas – please take 3 seconds to share this newsletter with your friends! You will receive good karma and a thank you from me. And remember – these aren’t just gifts for the holidays, so feel free to reference the list throughout the year on our website.
What places are on your bucket list for 2026?!
Don’t just dream about it, now is the time to plan it – especially for next summer in Europe or Africa.
I wish you the warmest, coziest of holidays with your friends and family!
Warmly,
- Gifts + Travel
- Gifts for Travel
- Stocking Stuffers
Other gift guides
GIFTS + TRAVEL
TOD’s suede tote
for looking stylish while enjoying a glass of wine
pairs well with…
Florence
Rails LouLou maxi dress
effortlessly beautiful and cool
pairs well with…
a yacht charter in the BVIs
Handmade Forged Brass or Copper Cocktail Stirrer
for making your favorite cocktails
pairs well with…
London
Blue Green Tourmaline necklace
Von Bargen’s
pairs well with…
Rainbow Mountain in Peru
Copper Double-Sided Jigger
for when you want a Manhattan
pairs well with…
The Bourbon Trail, Kentucky
Large Orbit Hoops
Woody’s Mercantile
pairs well with…
NOS Hotel, Sifnos
French Glass Water Bottles
effortless style on your dining table
pairs well with…
a week in Provence
sheep ornament
a cozy tree addition
pairs well with…
the Scottish Highlands
bamboo jersey pjs
for cool nights next to the fire
pairs well with…
a stay at Camp Sarika, UT
Grand Cabas satchel
my favorite travel bag
pairs well with…
a safari
meadow bracelet
for Boho chic at the beach
pairs well with…
Nobu Barbuda
Giannina espresso maker
for casual Sunday mornings
pairs well with…
a trip to Tuscany, Italy
Mosbacke waterproof winter coat
perfect for when it’s both rainy and cold
pairs well with…
being prepared in Edinburgh
pairs well with…
Nemacolin
fun socks
necessary for certain trips
pairs well with…
Japan
bouquet paintable notecards
painting quiets the mind and allows creativity to flow
pairs well with…
a stay at Thyme in the Cotswolds
Herringbone chocolate blanket
a cozy wrap on cool nights
pairs well with…
an adventure at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
sailor love whipstitch mittens
for warmer winter days walking about town
pairs well with…
late fall in Telluride
Tickets to the 2026 World Cup
it’s so close to home this year!
pairs well with…
NYC
tickets to the Rose Bowl
to see undefeated Indiana U in the Rose Bowl for the first time!
pairs well with…
Malibu, CA
GIFTS FOR TRAVEL
Tumi just in case tote
I bought this en route to Australia and have used it many times since
AirFly wireless headphones
so you can use your own headphones while flying
Away carry-on flex
my go-to travel bag for short weeks away (without a lot of shoes)
tiny portable noise machine
I love this!
carabiner
my absolute favorite – always found clipped to my travel bag
Apple AirTag
never check a bag without one in your luggage!
STOCKING STUFFERS
lavender lip balm
for safaris, hikes or beach days
mini lipsticks
when you are short on space
Tony’s Chocolonely bar
personalize one any way you’d like
cable ties
I use these for all of my electronics’ cords
Reach out to plan your
OTHER GIFT GUIDES
The Best Travel Gifts for the Frequent Flier and Far-Flung Adventurer, Outside Magazine
40 Best Travel Gifts for Everyone from Frequent Fliers
to Casual Jet-Setters, Town & Country
14 of the best gifts for travel lovers this Christmas, Stylist
The Best Gifts for Travelers That Cost Less Than $100 AFAR
The 52 Best Gifts for Frequent Travelers, Wirecutter
The 57 Best Gifts for Travelers,
According to Travel Experts, AFAR
50 Thoughtful Travel Gifts That Will Make Their Next Trip Smoother, Condé Nast Traveler
The 48 Best Travel Gift Ideas, According to Frequent Travelers, New York Magazine
The 24 Best Gifts for People Who Love Food, Wirecutter
The Best 50 Christmas Gifts for Everyone on Your List, Wirecutter
The Gift Guide for the Person Who Has Everything, Robb Report
The 44 Best Holiday Gifts for Teens, Wirecutter
32 Unique Gifts for Men Who Have Everything, WSJ
The 63 Best Gifts for Travelers, According to T+L Editors, T&L
Gifts for a Good Time, AirMail