Looking for that perfect gift for the travel-lover in your life? Or perhaps something for your self? This week and next, travel companies will be unveiling major deals in anticipation of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping days. Take advantage of these deals to book discounted travel, or get ahead of your Christmas shopping.
Here's my list of the top 10 travel gifts of 2019:
1. Skyroam
A WiFi Smartspot is my hands-down favorite travel gift for 2019. I use one by Skyroam, which is a new company that provides 4G LTE WiFi on the go. It offers 100% secure, completely portable WiFi to use in over 130 different countries. You can rent or buy your hotspot, which means you can rent one if you travel infrequently or even just want to just test it out on your next trip. But if you travel more than a few times a year, purchasing the Skyroam device is well worth the investment since it's only $179. It will charge your phone, is super lightweight, and even has a camera. You can choose between a monthly plan for $99 a month or pay a daily rate of $9 per day. The Skyroam is the perfect way to ensure you can be connected anywhere you travel. And if you don't want to commit to purchasing the device, you can rent one for just $8.99 per day.
This is honestly one of my favorite travel gadgets and one I don't travel without. I most recently used it on my trip to Greece, where I spent time in Mykonos and Athens first before spending a week sailing the Saronic Gulf. Though I had pretty reliable WiFi availability in Mykonos and Athens (I stayed at two Luxury Collection hotels, so the speeds were quite fast), I did not have the luxury of WiFi while I was on the sailboat, so I ended up using my Skyroam nearly every day. And yes, I was able to work on my blog, post to social media, edit photos in Lightroom (which relies on the cloud, and thus... internet) and catch up on emails—all while on a sailboat in the middle of the Aegean Sea. Pretty wild actually.
Try it out on your next trip! With their option to rent the device, you can try it out for a small fee and decide later if you want to purchase a hotspot of your own.
Use code "SKYROAMISTHECURE" at any time for 10% off your purchase!
Though I'm not yet aware of exactly what kind of deals they'll be rolling out for Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you can get a head start on the shopping by getting 25% off your purchase of 10 day passes or 40% off your purchase of 20 day passes by shopping now. Use code "10DPBF25" for your purchase of 10 or code "20DPBF40".
You can also give a social shout about your Skyroam on Giving Tuesday, which is December 3rd, and Skyroam will donate 1 global WiFi day pass to the community for every 1 social media share or repost. Skyroam is partnering up with Alex Rocha Youth Foundation in Cartagena, Columbia to give back by donating 40 Skyroam Solis 4G LTE hotspots to students and community leaders who rely heavily on mobile connectivity for educational opportunities.
2. Travel Guides
Printed travel guide books are not dead! Although it's true that you can literally find everything you need to know about a destination by searching it online, sometimes it's just nice to have a tangible book to flip through, read on the plane, or refer to when you do not have internet access.
My favorite guide books are by Lonely Planet. They have dominated the guidebook market for decades and have a guide for anywhere you want to go. These books make great holiday gifts for the travel lover in your family!
Take advantage of their Black Friday sale by shopping here: Lonely Planet Black Friday Sale - 40% off everything - SHOP NOW
Before traveling to the Greek Islands in September, I bought and read Lonely Planet's Greek Islands book. I cannot stress enough how helpful it was. If you have a trip to Greece planned anytime soon—or even if you are just dreaming of going someday—you MUST pick up either Lonely Planet's Greek Islands or Greece travel guides.
Use code "TRCURE40" for 40% off everything, starting Tuesday, November 26th. Get a head start on the shopping deals before it goes on sale for everyone on Black Friday (you get the same deal with the TRCURE40 code that everyone else will get on Friday only).
Use code “TRAVELCURE10” for 10% off your order total if you shop before or after Black Friday (and miss their big sale).
3. The Latest Camera Technology
We all know that technology is ever-changing. Just when you decide to pull the trigger on that expensive camera or drone, the company seems to come out with a brand new device. Just as Apple comes out with a new iPhone each year, a lot of camera makers come out with new versions every year or two. Some of my favorite travel camera devices (like the GoPro Hero, DJI gimbal, DJI Drone or even the iPhone) have new versions, like the GoPro Hero 8 or the new DJI Mavic Mini.
To read a complete list of my favorite travel cameras, CLICK HERE.
4. Used Cameras
Or if you're looking for even better deals, try used cameras on Amazon. Most people never think of this when searching for deals, but you can often get gently used cameras in near perfect condition on Amazon for a fraction of the price you'd pay for a new one.*
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
5. Herschel Travel Products
Herschel is a clothing and accessory company that makes durable, well-made travel bags, backpacks and accessory items. My favorite travel gift is their Travel Amenity Kit, which is only $29.99 and includes a convenient storage pouch, ear plugs, a sleeping mask, slippers and an inflatable neck pillow for maximum in-flight comfort. All the products match and squish together into a compact carrying bag--which you know I love since space-saving is my favorite way to pack light and maximize space. It also comes in black, navy/red and camo.
Herschel is also of course known for their great weekender bags, suitcases and backpacks. I like their iconic Retreat Backback (which comes in 40 different color options!), their Winslow Garment Bag, and their hard case Trade Luggage, which comes in fun prints.
Or for the water loving traveler, Herschel also carries dry bags like this one, which are great to throw all your camera gear, phones and accessories into before going out on the water.
Sign up for their mailing list to get notified when their Black Friday sales start. See below:
6. Noise-Cancelling Headphones
I mean, does anyone actually travel without these?? Good noise-cancelling headphones are key to getting a good night's sleep on long-haul flights. And just like camera gear, the quality of these change pretty drastically year after year. So if your spouse or family member has an old pair, it might be time for a new one. These make great gifts for even the non-travel-lover in your life.
But with that said.... they are GREAT for travel. I never—I repeat, NEVER—travel anywhere longer than an hour plane flight away without my noise-cancelling headphones. Have you ever been on a long-haul flight with a crying baby or snoring old man next you? Oh, you haven’t? Well then you’re either really damn lucky or you must only fly private. Cause I certainly have, and I can attest to the fact that I’ve had at least one screaming infant on every single international flight I’ve taken. So how am I able to still sleep like a baby with all that raucous going on in the background? The answer is: noise-cancelling headphones my friends. If you know, you know. If you don’t, well—you need these in your life.
Noise cancelling headphones are the solution to blocking out screaming babies and other disruptions, and frankly, I am not sure how people travel without them. I will even bring earplugs so that if the noise on the plane is really loud, that I can put earplugs in, then wear noise-cancelling headphones over my ears with ambient noise playing. Trust me: you do this and you will not hear a thing.
I like the Beats by Dre Solo 3 over-the-ear headphones. They are noise-cancelling, comfortable, and super stylish—you can get them in just about every color to express your individuality. I have the matte navy blue ones, but I’m eyeing the new royal blue and gold headphones in Warriors colors. Be sure to invest in a good headphone, because quality does matter. Though most travelers have a set of headphones, the technology changes insanely frequently so last year’s headphones are almost never as good as this year’s. If you or a loved one is using headphones that are a few years old (I’m guilty myslef), you’d be shocked to hear the difference.
7. Hydration Packs (Stocking Stuffer)
We all know that airline travel dehydrates you. This is one of the many reasons people typically arrive in a new destination and end up feeling jet-lagged. Well, one way to combat jetlag is to make sure you're well hydrated, and an easy way to do that (opposed to drinking tons of water and therefore having to get up to pee every hour) is to drink one glass of water with a hydration packet in it. I like Liquid IV, but there are plenty of similar products out there that do the trick. Buy a box and stuff these individual packets in Christmas stockings or add them to a travel gift basket.
8. DJI Mavic Air
This is the drone that I take with me EVERYWHERE. It is compact, lightweight, and shoots 4K video, which makes it the perfect travel-friendly drone. Take advantage of DJI's holiday sales by shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. They're usually about $700, but you can often save $100 by shopping the sale.
DJI Mavic Air is easily the best drone in the market right now – owing to its incredible portability, unprecedented performance and long-lasting battery life. In addition, there are several advanced features that make this drone the best; features such as SmartCapture that allows you to fly the drone with simple hand gestures, QuickShot flight modes that record short video clips while tracking a subject, 720p-resolution view from its camera from up to 2.4 miles, Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems for better obstacle avoidance and 4K recording that produces sharp videos loaded with fine details.
9. Black Friday Travel Deals!
Okay, so this one might be more of a gift for yourself--OR you could surprise your spouse or family member with a trip--but Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best days to book travel, so you should take advantage of it. What most people don't know is that airlines and resorts often host sales on these days, where if you book that day for stays in the next 6 months or so, you can save a LOT of money. Here are some of my favorite deals:
Anantara Resorts
Whisk yourself away or sweep someone special off their feet with a retreat to a Spanish palace or Sri Lankan spa resort. Indulge in Thai cuisine or Emirati treasures. Cast away to the Maldives or Mozambique. From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, enjoy exclusive savings of up to 40% on unforgettable getaways at Anantara Hotels.
Booking period: 29th November - 2nd December 2019.
Stay period: 3rd December 2019 - 31st August 2020.
Or, right now you can save 35% off at the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort by clicking below.
Oberoi Resorts
Save up to 50% during their Black Friday sale on hotels and resorts across the globe. Stay at the stunning Oberoi Beach Resort in Mauritius, the dazzling Oberoi Beach Resort at Al Zorah in the UAE or the brand new Oberoi Marrakech in Morocco. Browse from a number of destinations in Eastern Asia, India and the Middle East. If you can't wait, enjoy 20% off right now.
Baltic Tours
Book a tour through the Baltics or Scandinavia with Baltic Tours. Travelers looking to head to these parts of the world can save 15% on Black Friday on the following tours: Best of Lapland in 6 Days, Baltic Highlights New Year, The Best of Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki and St. Petersburg in 10 Days, The Best of St. Petersburg and Moscow in 7 Days and more!
My personal favorite is their new Iceland tour. If you’ve been dreaming of a trip to Iceland, now is the time to book a tour with Baltic Tours. They offer a 7 day tour of the Golden Circle (Strokkur Geyser, Gulfoss Waterfalls, and Thingvellir National park) the Reykjanes Peninsula, with its active volcanos, large lava fields hot springs and geysers, and the world-famous Blue Lagoon hot pools in Reykjavik. From November 22nd through December 31st, travelers can get a 10% discount with code ENJOY10.
CheapOAir
CheapOAir can snag you some great deals on flights. Shop flights all over the world, right in one place. I actually used CheapOAir for some of my shorter flights on my last trip to Greece, and both the booking process and the flights went seamlessly.
Right now you can up to $40 off fees and flights from CheapOAir using code "EARLYBF40". On Thanksgiving Day, use code "THANKS36" for $36 off fees and flights.
Alaska Air
Mark your calendars because Alaskan Airlines' Black Friday sale begins at midnight on Friday, November 29th. If you're looking to travel to one of Alaska's popular destinations (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Anchorage, San Jose, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and more, it might be worth staying up a little extra late on Thanksgiving so you can shop these deals online and snag flights before they fill up. Though Alaska has been pretty hush-hush about the exact deals they'll be giving, in the past the've had flights for as little as $34 each way.
10. Mikoh
Okay, so I know this "travel gift" recommendation is a little unconventional, but the number one thing I like to shop for when I have a tropical vacay coming up is to shop for bikinis. I've been known to buy anywhere from three to five new bikinis for long trips, and of course tend to take as many as 15 bikinis on a trip with me! So whether it's to treat yourself or for the woman in your life, I say shop Mikoh this Holiday Season.
If you need a better reason, how about this: Mikoh has up to 70% off for Black Friday, and they are slashing prices on already reduced items. Bottom line: you can snag some REALLY. GREAT. DEALS. on everything from swimwear to lounge clothing to their incredible single use (translation: travel friendly) bikini wash that will be sure to get the chlorine out of your suits and keep their color but will also leave them smelling fresh like coconut.
And that's it!
Did I leave anything out? (I mean, of course I did... there are so many other great ideas out there--these are just a few of my favorites). But if you have a great travel device that you love, share it with me! I love hearing about new gadgets. E-mail me any time: info@travelisthecure.com
For more destination guides, browse Destinations A to Z, browse by Location Type, or view the Destinations on a Map. You can search by destination type, choosing from beach destinations, cities and metropolitan areas, ski destinations and the great outdoors. Head over to my Tips page for everything from packing guides to travel products and camera gear. To shop the items I love most when I travel, shop my Amazon Storefront.
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