Our Favorite Things: Travel Edition
It’s that time of year when we’re thinking about what gifts to give our friends and family - and if you’ve got someone in your life who loves to travel (or needs to travel more), then I’ve got a few ideas for you!
I’ve recently purchased a few travel items for myself that I have to recommend - some of these were critical to my experience in Argentina!
Travel Pillow
I have never been good at sleeping on planes. I’ve tried the U-shaped pillows, but they never seem to work for me. Before my honeymoon, however, I was motivated to find a new pillow that would actually allow me to sleep comfortably and feel rested upon arrival (especially because my husband can fall asleep just about anywhere!). After reading many, many reviews from other sleepless travelers like myself, I settled on the Trtl pillow. I was NOT disappointed!
The Trtl pillow is unlike most travel pillows in that it’s not super cushiony. Instead it’s more like a neck brace with a scarf attached. And yet, it’s surprisingly comfortable! I was able to get some sleep on the flight AND I didn’t have any weird neck pain. The design also makes it easy to pack which was really important to me. I hate the idea of having to carry a bulky pillow around with me.
Packable Totes
I love to carry on my luggage whenever possible, but this isn’t always ideal if I want to pick up some souvenirs while I am at a destination. When I went to Japan earlier this year, I brought an extra tote bag for this very reason - and then the zipper broke off and I had to cut the bag open when I got home! Thus, I was on the hunt for a new tote bag that would easily fold up and could be packed easily for future trips.
via Amazon
I now find myself with two of these bags and they are both fantastic - The Foldie and Baggallini Carryall Expandable Tote. I’d purchased the Baggalini tote first, but then my mom gave me The Foldie as a pre-honeymoon gift. And we ended up using both of them! I loved The Foldie as my primary personal bag that I could carry on with my suitcase. It has tons of extra pockets and compartments and was very spacious. Once we had picked up 5 bottles of wine in Mendoza, I packed those in my suitcase and used the Baggallini tote for my clothes. The Baggallini tote doesn’t have as many of those pockets which makes it easier to fold up, but less useful as a primary tote bag. However, I would certainly recommend either of these bags to add to your (or someone else’s) luggage collection!
And my favorite carry-on by Away is 25% off right now - if you’re thinking it’s time for some new luggage for you (or someone else), you should definitely check this out.
Noise-canceling headphones
I have long wanted a pair of these headphones, but never got around to buying them. Thanks to some extra Amex points, my husband and I were able to purchase two pairs for our honeymoon. It was a game-changer for listening to podcasts or music from my phone or plugging into the Delta entertainment system to watch a movie.
Whether you opt for the Bose headphones or the slightly less expensive Soundcore headphones my husband and I purchased, you will not regret having a little more peace on your next flight.
There are also a few gifts that never go out of style:
Consider a gift card for your recipient’s airline of choice or cash in hotel rewards points (like Marriott Bonvoy) for a gift card that you can redeem like cash for a future hotel stay.
Give yourself (or someone else) the gift of Global Entry. If you haven’t already signed up for Global Entry and you travel a few times a year internationally, it’s time that you enrolled! It can be a game-changer to skip long lines at Customs and breeze through the Global Entry kiosks. And it comes with TSA Pre-check!
If you have a credit card that offers credits for things like Global Entry or TSA Precheck, you can likely use those to give one of these offerings to a friend or family member who needs it.
Even better, give the gift of travel with a Brilliant Escapes gift card to cover all or part of the trip planning fee!