Gift guide for travelers 2006

By Genevieve S. Brown

updated 2:01 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2005

‘Tis the season for gift giving, and chances are you’ve got a few people on your list that are near impossible to shop for. If your loved one has the travel bug, look no further than this list to get inspired for the holiday season. We’ve compiled a guide with gifts in every price range to please even the most difficult-to-shop-for world wanderers.

And if you’re reading this in hopes of being the receiver of one or more of these items? No problem –- forward this to your family and friends so they can get inspired to give to you.

$50 or Less
For the ultimate in stocking-stuffer swag for your favorite traveler, bypass your local drug store and head straight to Minimus.biz, the only online store (that we know of at least) that sells everything a traveler could need in travel-sized packets. Create an entire care package for someone on your list at minimal cost – individual salad dressings are about $0.50, a tiny lint brush is just $0.69, laundry detergent is $0.65, shampoo is about $1.25, and mini deodorants are $1.25 – plus hundreds of other items that any traveler would find useful on the road. Best of all, the products are all name brands so the gift receiver doesn’t have to sacrifice their favorite products in favor of saving space.

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Everyone knows a traveler with a passport cover worn from use. A leather passport cover from Bloomingdale's will help keep that precious travel document safe and stylish. Choose from several genuine Italian leather covers in gold or silver metallic. Each is embossed with the United States passport logo and costs $42.

Or, if your traveler is super trendy or a girly girl, why not give them the velour passport case by Juicy Couture? It comes in flashy pink and has leather trim. It is also available at Bloomingdales.com for $38.

True travelers are typically itching for their next trip, so why not help kick-start their planning with the book "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" by Patricia Schultz, available on Amazon.com from $12.50. The book recommends places both on and off the beaten path – from the Great Wall of China to Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills. Avid travelers will get a kick out of reading about the places they’ve already been and planning for their next adventure.

For the armchair traveler, check out "Honeymoon With My Brother", by Franz Wisner, also available on Amazon.com from $16.29. Wisner tells the story of being left by his fiancé and taking the already-paid-for honeymoon with his estranged brother -- their two-week vacation turned into a two-year trip around the world.

If you have an avid cruiser on your list, "What Time is the Midnight Buffet?" (from $12.95) is the perfect gift. Novice and seasoned cruisers will love the story of one couple’s escapades on their 25th-anniversary cruise.

Hotel enthusiasts will love the book "Hip Hotels Atlas" (from $34) – a compilation of some of the coolest and most individualized hotels in the world complete with over 1,000 gorgeous photographs. Another option, if you know where your favorite traveler will be heading on their next adventure, is a guidebook -- always a welcome and practical gift. Check out our guide to guidebooks for help choosing one to give this holiday season.

For most of us, air travel means trying to secure the least expensive ticket and getting to our destinations with as little inconvenience as possible. Why not put some of the fun and glamour back into air travel -- it is possible even for those traveling on the most restricted of tickets with airport lounge day passes. The passes typically cost less than $50 and include one-day admission to the airline’s airport lounge. In certain cases, if the traveler decides to purchase a full club membership, the price of the one-day pass will be deducted from the cost. The passes are non-refundable and non-transferable. American Airlines ($50), Delta Airlines ($25) and US Airways ($40) all offer day passes. However, American Airlines is the only one which lets you purchase the pass online; Delta and US Airways require a trip to the airport club lounge for purchase.

Great gifts to give (and receive) for every type of traveler!

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