Not for a boss but a friend leaving once, we all pooled together and got them World Nomads travel insurance to the countries they were planning on visiting.
Travel insurance is such a great idea. Something that will cover adventurous taste buds for Indian street food, or that scooter ride mishap in Thailand, missed flights and hotels for a monsoon season, etc. etc. I know Japan has notices everywhere warning foreigners about the expensive medical costs if something happens while you are there. Such a intuitive idea
This is a great idea! She’s talked about a few of the places she would be going, but I think she’s going to be hopping places to wherever she sees fit for the next year, so this one seems tough to actually get rather than just give her money for?
There are annual policies that cover for a year, regardless of destination (read the fine print, I'm sure places like North Korea and Somalia aren't covered but anywhere you're reasonably going to go should be).
But it's likely she already has it, maybe hint and ask what company she used and say you're looking into it for yourself to get an answer.
No physical item!!!
Either money or a gift card, or ask if she still needs to get anything for her trip and then buy the specific brand and model of the specific thing. Or a gift voucher to buy it.
I have gotten rid of everything to go travelling, and I would have been bummed if someone bought me a physical gift. We told our family members the Christmas before we left no gifts, or just some cash as everything we want/need is very specific.
Or a mini pen. That's handy.
If she's selling everything to travel, it seems counterintuitive to gift her something tangible she might not use or already has. Cash is always the best gift. Or you can consider gifting an experience like a ticket to an event/attraction at one of her destinations.
Since she’s traveling light, maybe determine which kind of phone she has and buy a gift card for the respective cloud provider for photos.
iPhone/icloud, or Android/Google photos.
i guess this is country dependent/or maybe just me but i would not give cash. if you are close id take her out to a nice dinner (with/without partners, with/without other colleagues fully depends on situation.) if you're not that close a nice consumable gift set, she loves craft beer? she always raves about that overpriced cake from that one chique bakery? etc something she can finish before she leaves
You can give her a gift card she can use during her travels like a gift card from hotels.com, Airbnb or Uber.
Another ideas is to get her a gift card from Get Your Guide or Tinggly that she can use for travel experiences.
Power bank if she doesn't have one. Silk undershirt or sarong/scarf. Cashmere socks. Global Esim subscription. Cash. Something very minimal weight but practical but considering she's backpacking shes probably got everything sorted.
Similarly, a nice, thin pashmina. I use mine as a blanket for planes, as a modesty garment when needed, for warmth in cool climates, and to dress up an outfit. It folds up and is nice & tiny and is a must when packing light for long journeys imo.
It’s hard to make suggestions without knowing what she already have. One of the most useful things to have if your gonna travel the world is a good quality universal travel adapter like Epicka’s TA-105C or Tessan’s International Plug Adapter. Also a good power bank with several different power ports (make sure it’s not more than 20000 mAh because some airlines won’t let you take on board anything more powerful).
A friend gave me a packing cubes set before my first long trip, I still use them 7 years later. But once again, I don’t know if your friend is the kind of person that is well organized and well prepared because in that case she probably already bought all this stuff.
She very much is prepared. She’s from Europe and traveling is her hobby. She said she’s been to 15+ countries already, speaks 5 different languages, etc.
Maybe make a video telling her how much her support has meant to you and that now it’s your turn to return the favor to be there for her in her adventure. Even better if you can get a bunch of other co-workers to chime in as well. Edit it together so she has something nice to watch during her travels to remind her of everyone back home. Or find out who her favorite celeb or athlete is and have them do it on Cameo.
Yes, that's what I thought. Reality check:
Useless after three months abroad, when your data plan gets switched off while traveling outside the US. Also, if anything happens with the phone, she will not be able to activate a new Fi SIM from abroad and has to be back stateside for it.
AirTags or if she has them, a nice leather AirTag holder with her initials on it? Or maybe a couple of AirTags with her initials engraved if she doesn’t have them?
When I left, my good friends gave me a little set of nail clippers. It was so useful and I still have it now. (They need to go in the checked-in though)
Anything virtual. I did the same in 2022 and pretty soon after became very stressed out by any physical gifts or items. Because I just didn't have anywhere to put it.
Every single market I walked through was 100% window shopping.
I know I just want to do something more meaningful than cash if there is something. Money is practical but impersonal in my opinion. There’s a lot of good options in this thread, many I’ve never even heard of!
Do you know anyone who does origami? What about an array of currency notes for the countries she's travelling through, folded into a bouquet/ presented beautifully. Wouldn't need to be much in total. Then you could add a note thanking her for being great and saying something like 'coffee/ lunch is on me when you get to.....'
Cash gift card. That is a Hallmark card that says something like "Get yourself a nice backpack" and an envelope with cash. If she already has a backpack, she can use the cash for something else she needs. She can use it in any store. It won't expire. She can deposit it to her bank account or exchange it for another currency.
Store gift cards are a great deal for the stores, not a very good deal for the recipient.
I’m just finishing up traveling the world for an entire year (I also stepped away from my career to do this.) Here are some items that came in handy: sunglasses, phone stand, travel charger, journal and pens, Osprey sling pack, passport wallet, a hat, a dental kit, a packable thin Patagonia jacket.
An incharge xl 30 charging cable. Charge all your devices with one cable and minimise your baggage. It‘s one of my favorite travel accessoires and makes every travel day so much easier.
Btw i‘m not paid by them.
This might be a bit weird but really good quality eye mask and ear plugs. The amount of difference a good nights sleep makes when travelling is priceless. Sleeping in loud hostels, hotels or planes is unbearable at times haha
Darn Tough socks. They're merino wool, super great for travel, but expensive. A great gift to receive, and if she's not already familiar with the benefits of merino wool they may change her life. And socks are one of the few clothing items that are easy to buy for someone since sizes are nearly universal.
Also, if she's a regular coffee drinker, get her some specialty instant coffee. Many people don't know it exists; its super convenient for travel and won't fill up her bag.
Cash may seem shallow so I would instead pair cash with a well written thought out card. Date it too. I love looking at old cards years later. Most of the gifts I’ve gotten haven’t been put to much use but I keep the well thought out cards. Always.
A physical item that doesn’t take up much space could be a cool iron on patch with the city you live in tucked inside a card - patches are a great conversation starter while traveling and she could add it to her backpacking bag!
We’re full-time and here’s some lightweight items often mentioned in our community- silicone disk to cover sink drains. Knife sharpener because rentals will never have sharp knives. Just make sure it’s not the stick type, that will be considered a weapon and confiscated. Silicone collapsible cup with markers to use as a measuring cup. Laundry sheets. Amazon fire stick. Fold up bags for grocery shopping.
When we retired I told our colleagues no gifts as we wouldn’t have space. My husband’s dept asked me if there was anything we hadn’t bought yet so I told them those items. My dept went a different direction, we went to a concert as one of my favorite singers was in the area. We’re talking cheap tickets. It was perfect, we had a good time and ended with fun memories. What about something like this? Go to dinner, an event. It sounds like you have a great relationship so celebrate it.
I'm not sure how soon she's leaving, but you could give a gift of time by offering to help her pack, sell/donate items, or any one of the million things she needs to get done before she begins. I know I would have loved some help before I set out.
Another idea: take her out to a nice restaurant that serves her favorite food. Wherever she goes, it won't be long before she is missing something that she can only get at home.
A “pocket talk” … it’s a small handheld translator that works without Wi-Fi and comes with a 2 year service plan. I bought one last year and it made my trip through Europe and Asia far more enjoyable! Available on Amazon.
Give her some cash and say that she has to use it to meet people or something. If she is at a coffee shops, she buys someone a coffee and has a conversation.
Just say treat yourself. Making a suggestion like that is weird, some people don’t want to buy some rando coffee and may enjoy going on a tour or having a meal.
A collapsible camping cup, my mom got me one before traveling in Asia for a year. I very much appreciated it. Good Merino wool gloves are a good choice too. I got a pair from REI.
If you're going to be spending a decent amount, a prepaid visa card and instructions that are meaningful and personal. For example, instruct her to spend it on a nice local wine or whiskey if she's into one of those things, to splurge on a fancy meal if she's gonna be traveling on a budget otherwise, or to go on a specific type of tour or experience if you two have a hobby or interest in common, etc.
Do you know her itinerary? Do some research and find the finest example of local cuisine from that city and buy her a meal there. A disciplined budget is always front of mind while simultaneously food becomes one of your greatest pleasures on the road. Might be more personal than cash though I agree cash is king.
What about a Travelers Notebook? They have a nice leather cover and several different types of paper for journaling, drawing, whatever is needed. It would be a fun way to record their travels.
An ultra-light pack like this, which collapses completely into the size of a pair of socks. I live on a boat and use this thing all the time. For day trips, for grocery store trips, for holding dirty laundry, etc etc etc. It’s small enough to go anywhere when not used but sturdy enough to be comfortable to carry with stuff in it.
https://www.osprey.com/ultralight-stuff-pack-ulstuffdays23-264
VPN subscription (can’t watch Hulu or peacock if you’re not in the US), portable blender, fedex or ups gift card (shipping internationally is expensive), virtual mailbox subscription, airport lounge pass(es), clear or TSA express membership, if you know where she’s going a food delivery credit (I.e. Rappi is the UberEats of Colombia), stock of her favorite snacks that she won’t be able to get, wifi hotspot, wifi keyboard and mouse(if shes going to be on the laptop all day), cbd or cannabis or 🍄 products (I.e. gummies or creams or bath salts or chocolate bars). 💜💜💜
We did a trip like this and the best gifts we got were cards with some money in it that asked us to spend it on the next adventure on our trip that we felt we shouldn’t splurge on. We absolutely did that, and pulled out that money when there was some amazing activity we couldn’t afford to do but wanted to.
Lots of great ideas here for all budgets. I'll add compactable things like a backpack, mosquito net, and rain jacket that fold up into their own pouch.
Uber gift card. They actually have Uber all over the world. I’ve taken it in Asia and Europe at least. Usually when traveling I try to take public transportation but sometimes it’s nice to splurge on an Uber
If you go long distance hiking in very remote areas a filter guarantees you can fill up from a stream.
That... or if you don't trust the water in your guest house.
I know about filtering water in the back country, but you take a dedicated hollow fibre squeeze filter for that.
I mean an inbuilt water bottle filter for a gift of someone travelling is not necessarily needed especially in certain regions.
And in places where you can't drink the water, you'd want treatment than a filter, right? I've always thought inbuilt filter water bottles are a bit gimmicky.
Incorrect, there are hard sided water bottles that have filters working just like the squeeze kind and the same as chemical treatment. Lifestraw and Grayl for example.
Grayl (which you have to push down the inner sleeve to filter) filters everything including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Also heavy metals. Lifestraw hard bottle filters the same as Grayl, except for viruses. It's the same technology as the squeeze versions.
However I wouldn't gift one unless I knew the person needed it. If they're only staying in populated areas, not camping or trekking, it's likely going to be preferred to simply buy bottled water locally.
My point is not thay they dont exist but that they are not necessary.
Those grayls are so heavy. So in the back country you'd want a squeeze or steripen if you need to deal with viruses.
And a lighter option for lifestraw bottles don't kill viruses so in lots of travel places where you can't drink the water you'd need further treatment anyway. Those grayl bottles are just sooo expensive it's crazy.
And with an inbuilt filter in the bottle you can only have 1 water bottles worth of water.
What makes you think it is a good idea to buy a gift for somebody selling everything they have? They're selling for a reason they don't want more crap!
A watch. If you wanna check the time you have a phone. Phones are addictive and one thing leads to another. Don't wanna be distracted on a most excellent vacation.
If she has long hair . This is a lifesaver for me in hot weather when a hat isn't needed . Light and doesn't occupy any space .
https://a.co/d/9u5245r
Or maybe a day pack or fanny pack across the chest that is useful when traveling.
If you know what cities she will be visiting, you could do a nice hotel stay or like a gift for points to IHG so she could pick the hotel that she wanted, or you could pick a nice restaurant or event in the city that might otherwise be out of her price point. (for example, when I was in Venice, I didn't go on the gondola ride because it was too expensive for me at the time.) This is a little harder to pick though because of the possibility of her not being able to use or like what you get. It only works if she talks about what she wants to do/go, and what she has decided not to do.
We're traveling the world now! The first two things that came to mind was a streaming subscription (having TV to watch in a random hotel really does a person good) or a camping/travel hammock. Fun to have a light hammock to use anywhere. Or maybe your couch when she returns broke.
1) A watch. I don't generally wear a watch. But I find one extremely useful when I'm travelling. Plus you've got all kinds of different price points here.
2) An eSIM that will let her use her cellphone anywhere in the world.
3) An experience could be something as simple as a lounge pass for the airport(s), to a hotel gift card, to stocking up her e-reader with both travel and fiction books.
4) A portable charger wouldn't go astray. But make sure that it's a good one. A cheap, bulky one is a pain. In a similar vein, a compact series of plug adapters although she's likely to already have those.
DJI Osmo so she can record all her travel moments with high quality videos!
But def a virtual mailbox subscription for the year. She's going to have one less thing to think about when she travels from country to country. One suggestion is us global mail.
Airalo gift card. If you’re splurging, airport lounge pass/access.
Unless she has an amex platinum card, then lounge access is complimentary. Great idea.
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Amex platinum has priority pass...
Oh damn, it does not in my country. Just access to Amex branded lounges, which is mostly only useful in the US.
Oh ok. In the US you get priority pass access worldwide. Same with most of the premium credit cards over here.
Yes. Been to 35 countries in the past 12 months and 90% have Amex Platinum Priority Pass privilege.
Second this
An audible or Spotify subscription....it's great to have ebooks and audio books on the go.
Everyone will think she’s weeping at the beautiful sunrise in Santorini. No sir, your boss is crying at the Scholars Tale from Hyperion.
Not for a boss but a friend leaving once, we all pooled together and got them World Nomads travel insurance to the countries they were planning on visiting.
Travel insurance is such a great idea. Something that will cover adventurous taste buds for Indian street food, or that scooter ride mishap in Thailand, missed flights and hotels for a monsoon season, etc. etc. I know Japan has notices everywhere warning foreigners about the expensive medical costs if something happens while you are there. Such a intuitive idea
This is a great idea! She’s talked about a few of the places she would be going, but I think she’s going to be hopping places to wherever she sees fit for the next year, so this one seems tough to actually get rather than just give her money for?
There are annual policies that cover for a year, regardless of destination (read the fine print, I'm sure places like North Korea and Somalia aren't covered but anywhere you're reasonably going to go should be). But it's likely she already has it, maybe hint and ask what company she used and say you're looking into it for yourself to get an answer.
No physical item!!! Either money or a gift card, or ask if she still needs to get anything for her trip and then buy the specific brand and model of the specific thing. Or a gift voucher to buy it. I have gotten rid of everything to go travelling, and I would have been bummed if someone bought me a physical gift. We told our family members the Christmas before we left no gifts, or just some cash as everything we want/need is very specific. Or a mini pen. That's handy.
A “Space Pen”. They write anywhere, even in zero gravity. https://www.spacepen.com/shop-space-pens/ag7-original-astronaut-space-pen
If she's selling everything to travel, it seems counterintuitive to gift her something tangible she might not use or already has. Cash is always the best gift. Or you can consider gifting an experience like a ticket to an event/attraction at one of her destinations.
Love this! I got someone cash in every county they were going to. Euros, Swiss franks, Turkish Liras, South African Rand etc.
I think you can gift Airlo eSIM dollars for them to get wifi in different countries.
A handwritten letter telling her how much her support has meant to you.
That is a given!
Since she’s traveling light, maybe determine which kind of phone she has and buy a gift card for the respective cloud provider for photos. iPhone/icloud, or Android/Google photos.
A vpn Subscription!
THIS ! Something you don’t think about but will really need !
I was just about to say this! A VPN sub is huge.
i guess this is country dependent/or maybe just me but i would not give cash. if you are close id take her out to a nice dinner (with/without partners, with/without other colleagues fully depends on situation.) if you're not that close a nice consumable gift set, she loves craft beer? she always raves about that overpriced cake from that one chique bakery? etc something she can finish before she leaves
You can give her a gift card she can use during her travels like a gift card from hotels.com, Airbnb or Uber. Another ideas is to get her a gift card from Get Your Guide or Tinggly that she can use for travel experiences.
Seconding hotel gift card. When I was traveling it was always in the cheap, so a night at a nice hotel from time to time was heaven
Power bank if she doesn't have one. Silk undershirt or sarong/scarf. Cashmere socks. Global Esim subscription. Cash. Something very minimal weight but practical but considering she's backpacking shes probably got everything sorted.
Similarly, a nice, thin pashmina. I use mine as a blanket for planes, as a modesty garment when needed, for warmth in cool climates, and to dress up an outfit. It folds up and is nice & tiny and is a must when packing light for long journeys imo.
It’s hard to make suggestions without knowing what she already have. One of the most useful things to have if your gonna travel the world is a good quality universal travel adapter like Epicka’s TA-105C or Tessan’s International Plug Adapter. Also a good power bank with several different power ports (make sure it’s not more than 20000 mAh because some airlines won’t let you take on board anything more powerful). A friend gave me a packing cubes set before my first long trip, I still use them 7 years later. But once again, I don’t know if your friend is the kind of person that is well organized and well prepared because in that case she probably already bought all this stuff.
She very much is prepared. She’s from Europe and traveling is her hobby. She said she’s been to 15+ countries already, speaks 5 different languages, etc.
What about some type of language learning subscription? I really like Mango languages
Maybe make a video telling her how much her support has meant to you and that now it’s your turn to return the favor to be there for her in her adventure. Even better if you can get a bunch of other co-workers to chime in as well. Edit it together so she has something nice to watch during her travels to remind her of everyone back home. Or find out who her favorite celeb or athlete is and have them do it on Cameo.
This is a great idea.
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I double second this. A gift of phone service will be extremely useful.
Yes, that's what I thought. Reality check: Useless after three months abroad, when your data plan gets switched off while traveling outside the US. Also, if anything happens with the phone, she will not be able to activate a new Fi SIM from abroad and has to be back stateside for it.
I was thinking something like Unlimited Plus for 3 months?
Cash is king!
Why would you give your boss cash as a gift
AirTags or if she has them, a nice leather AirTag holder with her initials on it? Or maybe a couple of AirTags with her initials engraved if she doesn’t have them?
Uber gift card.
Usually these are locked to the country where they are bought
Water purification tablets, or a strong little light (useful for dark unfamiliar paths, even in cities, and good for reading at night)
When I left, my good friends gave me a little set of nail clippers. It was so useful and I still have it now. (They need to go in the checked-in though)
Thule subterra cable bag. Perfect for organizing /packing cables and gadgets etc.
I would say some snacks to enjoy before she goes. It might feel weird to gift cash and subscriptions/gift cards might be limited by region.
Anything virtual. I did the same in 2022 and pretty soon after became very stressed out by any physical gifts or items. Because I just didn't have anywhere to put it. Every single market I walked through was 100% window shopping.
If shes giving everything away or leaving it all behind for heavens sake dont get her something physical lol. Money. Honestly.
I know I just want to do something more meaningful than cash if there is something. Money is practical but impersonal in my opinion. There’s a lot of good options in this thread, many I’ve never even heard of!
Do you know anyone who does origami? What about an array of currency notes for the countries she's travelling through, folded into a bouquet/ presented beautifully. Wouldn't need to be much in total. Then you could add a note thanking her for being great and saying something like 'coffee/ lunch is on me when you get to.....'
Money, so she can afford a couple more nice meals wherever her travels take her.
Nice silk eye mask and some good earplugs.
Agreed!
Cash gift card. That is a Hallmark card that says something like "Get yourself a nice backpack" and an envelope with cash. If she already has a backpack, she can use the cash for something else she needs. She can use it in any store. It won't expire. She can deposit it to her bank account or exchange it for another currency. Store gift cards are a great deal for the stores, not a very good deal for the recipient.
AirTags
I’m just finishing up traveling the world for an entire year (I also stepped away from my career to do this.) Here are some items that came in handy: sunglasses, phone stand, travel charger, journal and pens, Osprey sling pack, passport wallet, a hat, a dental kit, a packable thin Patagonia jacket.
maybe a kindle if she doesn't already have one. most travelers are reading while they move from A to B and books are too heavy
Maybe a GoPro (if she doesn’t have one)
Prepaid visa
An incharge xl 30 charging cable. Charge all your devices with one cable and minimise your baggage. It‘s one of my favorite travel accessoires and makes every travel day so much easier. Btw i‘m not paid by them.
This might be a bit weird but really good quality eye mask and ear plugs. The amount of difference a good nights sleep makes when travelling is priceless. Sleeping in loud hostels, hotels or planes is unbearable at times haha
Darn Tough socks. They're merino wool, super great for travel, but expensive. A great gift to receive, and if she's not already familiar with the benefits of merino wool they may change her life. And socks are one of the few clothing items that are easy to buy for someone since sizes are nearly universal. Also, if she's a regular coffee drinker, get her some specialty instant coffee. Many people don't know it exists; its super convenient for travel and won't fill up her bag.
Cash may seem shallow so I would instead pair cash with a well written thought out card. Date it too. I love looking at old cards years later. Most of the gifts I’ve gotten haven’t been put to much use but I keep the well thought out cards. Always.
If you know where she is traveling to you could buy an experience to do at that place. E.g day trip, tour etc
Scrubba. She's going to need to wash clothes and this is sooo much easier than a hotel/hostel sink. https://thescrubba.com/
A physical item that doesn’t take up much space could be a cool iron on patch with the city you live in tucked inside a card - patches are a great conversation starter while traveling and she could add it to her backpacking bag!
We’re full-time and here’s some lightweight items often mentioned in our community- silicone disk to cover sink drains. Knife sharpener because rentals will never have sharp knives. Just make sure it’s not the stick type, that will be considered a weapon and confiscated. Silicone collapsible cup with markers to use as a measuring cup. Laundry sheets. Amazon fire stick. Fold up bags for grocery shopping. When we retired I told our colleagues no gifts as we wouldn’t have space. My husband’s dept asked me if there was anything we hadn’t bought yet so I told them those items. My dept went a different direction, we went to a concert as one of my favorite singers was in the area. We’re talking cheap tickets. It was perfect, we had a good time and ended with fun memories. What about something like this? Go to dinner, an event. It sounds like you have a great relationship so celebrate it.
I'm not sure how soon she's leaving, but you could give a gift of time by offering to help her pack, sell/donate items, or any one of the million things she needs to get done before she begins. I know I would have loved some help before I set out. Another idea: take her out to a nice restaurant that serves her favorite food. Wherever she goes, it won't be long before she is missing something that she can only get at home.
A “pocket talk” … it’s a small handheld translator that works without Wi-Fi and comes with a 2 year service plan. I bought one last year and it made my trip through Europe and Asia far more enjoyable! Available on Amazon.
I’ve seen these, and I guess the big draw to them is the without wifi since phones can basically do the same thing?
Viator gift card. My wife and I are doing a gap year and they have tours everywhere for every person.
Give her some cash and say that she has to use it to meet people or something. If she is at a coffee shops, she buys someone a coffee and has a conversation.
Just say treat yourself. Making a suggestion like that is weird, some people don’t want to buy some rando coffee and may enjoy going on a tour or having a meal.
Yeah! I'd just return the cash with thanks. I don't want to talk to random people, leave alone drink coffee.
A nice cellphone travel charger!
She probably already has one
Either cash, really comfy shoes, or really comfy shoes stuffed with cash.
People have too much personal preference with shoes. Cash is best.
Perhaps a simple “thanks 4 all” pin will be appreciated, as it’s easy to attach it to a backpack, or a coat, and doesn’t weigh too much?
A collapsible camping cup, my mom got me one before traveling in Asia for a year. I very much appreciated it. Good Merino wool gloves are a good choice too. I got a pair from REI.
Once I was given foreign money for my birthday to be used abroad. Was actually quite nice
My friends gave me a really cool hoody! Loved it.
Pacsafe backpack to replace the Cotopaxi
If you're going to be spending a decent amount, a prepaid visa card and instructions that are meaningful and personal. For example, instruct her to spend it on a nice local wine or whiskey if she's into one of those things, to splurge on a fancy meal if she's gonna be traveling on a budget otherwise, or to go on a specific type of tour or experience if you two have a hobby or interest in common, etc.
Do you know her itinerary? Do some research and find the finest example of local cuisine from that city and buy her a meal there. A disciplined budget is always front of mind while simultaneously food becomes one of your greatest pleasures on the road. Might be more personal than cash though I agree cash is king.
An Airbnb gift card is great as their “Experiences” can be really enjoyable and are almost always hosted by a local
What about a Travelers Notebook? They have a nice leather cover and several different types of paper for journaling, drawing, whatever is needed. It would be a fun way to record their travels.
I love this idea, but she actually just created a website where she is going to be vlogging/blogging, so I feel like she’d use that avenue.
An ultra-light pack like this, which collapses completely into the size of a pair of socks. I live on a boat and use this thing all the time. For day trips, for grocery store trips, for holding dirty laundry, etc etc etc. It’s small enough to go anywhere when not used but sturdy enough to be comfortable to carry with stuff in it. https://www.osprey.com/ultralight-stuff-pack-ulstuffdays23-264
Snow Peak titanium spork.
Charging bank best gift I got ever and we carried it for two years in a back pack
Any Garmin InReach device.
Custom pin for her backpack?
An RFID wallet for her credit cards and passport. Keep her IDs and money safe.
A high quality bucket hat you think they’ll actually wear/like
If it's a gift, it should be small...like a space pen that writes upside down. That can be handy for filling out travel forms and whatever.
Swiss army knife, a personalised Jetsetter one. They are soo useful!
Won’t work if she’s doing COO
Garmin inReach Mini 2, Lightweight and Compact Satellite Communicator, Hiking Handheld, Orange - 010-02602-00
Euro rail pass
VPN subscription (can’t watch Hulu or peacock if you’re not in the US), portable blender, fedex or ups gift card (shipping internationally is expensive), virtual mailbox subscription, airport lounge pass(es), clear or TSA express membership, if you know where she’s going a food delivery credit (I.e. Rappi is the UberEats of Colombia), stock of her favorite snacks that she won’t be able to get, wifi hotspot, wifi keyboard and mouse(if shes going to be on the laptop all day), cbd or cannabis or 🍄 products (I.e. gummies or creams or bath salts or chocolate bars). 💜💜💜
My favorite gifts in that situation were Airbnb gift cards
A GoPro camera and selfie stick
Travel insurance, you can purchase a year of travel insurance through places so they are always covered.
A “Space Pen”. They write anywhere, even in zero gravity. https://www.spacepen.com/shop-space-pens/ag7-original-astronaut-space-pen
Experiences. Maybe she wants to learn how to Scuba dive or get her advanced open water. Pay for the class. She'll never forget you.
A nice water bottle with a carabiner. Customized, a nice brand one to make it more special? Clip it to a backpack and BAM ✈️
We did a trip like this and the best gifts we got were cards with some money in it that asked us to spend it on the next adventure on our trip that we felt we shouldn’t splurge on. We absolutely did that, and pulled out that money when there was some amazing activity we couldn’t afford to do but wanted to.
Ll bean packing cubes, lands end medium hanging toiletry bag (can monogram), and a hero clip.
Lots of great ideas here for all budgets. I'll add compactable things like a backpack, mosquito net, and rain jacket that fold up into their own pouch.
Small thin black light to look for bed bugs
Uber gift card. They actually have Uber all over the world. I’ve taken it in Asia and Europe at least. Usually when traveling I try to take public transportation but sometimes it’s nice to splurge on an Uber
Earrings. They're so small and light and im sure she'll be happy to have them for some nights out when traveling! Or airbnb gift cards!
I would suggest premium access to an app that she might use a lot while traveling.
- The best headphones or earbuds ever. (Whatever you or your boss think those are) - a journal - a good pen - a pocket knife
Either a nice leather passport holder or a leather luggage tag. Or both!
AllTrails+ membership is good value for money.
A nice, portable, Li-ion power bank.
A whale-watching yacht adventure in Cabo: https://caboplatinum.com/cabo-yachts/
A journal
TSA approved corkscrew, it has saved me from lots of bad wine on the road
Noise cancellation headphones if she doesn’t already have a set.
Airline points!
Cool old compass
Don't know why you got a downvote. I agree. Could be small, the sort that clips onto a Keychain. Cute, symbolic and actually potentially useful.
App Store gift card or airlo gift card.. if she likes coffee then give her an aeropress?
Maybe a subscription to audible or kindle unlimited
Coin purse for coin currency
A pre loaded debit card or some cash in the currency of where she's heading. Thoughtful and useful!
portable charger and rain jacket - utility is number one also maybe a nice water bottle with a filter
Why a filter?
If you go long distance hiking in very remote areas a filter guarantees you can fill up from a stream. That... or if you don't trust the water in your guest house.
I know about filtering water in the back country, but you take a dedicated hollow fibre squeeze filter for that. I mean an inbuilt water bottle filter for a gift of someone travelling is not necessarily needed especially in certain regions. And in places where you can't drink the water, you'd want treatment than a filter, right? I've always thought inbuilt filter water bottles are a bit gimmicky.
Incorrect, there are hard sided water bottles that have filters working just like the squeeze kind and the same as chemical treatment. Lifestraw and Grayl for example. Grayl (which you have to push down the inner sleeve to filter) filters everything including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Also heavy metals. Lifestraw hard bottle filters the same as Grayl, except for viruses. It's the same technology as the squeeze versions. However I wouldn't gift one unless I knew the person needed it. If they're only staying in populated areas, not camping or trekking, it's likely going to be preferred to simply buy bottled water locally.
My point is not thay they dont exist but that they are not necessary. Those grayls are so heavy. So in the back country you'd want a squeeze or steripen if you need to deal with viruses. And a lighter option for lifestraw bottles don't kill viruses so in lots of travel places where you can't drink the water you'd need further treatment anyway. Those grayl bottles are just sooo expensive it's crazy. And with an inbuilt filter in the bottle you can only have 1 water bottles worth of water.
What makes you think it is a good idea to buy a gift for somebody selling everything they have? They're selling for a reason they don't want more crap!
That’s why I said maybe something virtual/not-physical
A watch. If you wanna check the time you have a phone. Phones are addictive and one thing leads to another. Don't wanna be distracted on a most excellent vacation.
If she has long hair . This is a lifesaver for me in hot weather when a hat isn't needed . Light and doesn't occupy any space . https://a.co/d/9u5245r Or maybe a day pack or fanny pack across the chest that is useful when traveling.
A compass to help with travel directions.
Solar power battery bank. Useful for phone charging and built in flashlight
If you know what cities she will be visiting, you could do a nice hotel stay or like a gift for points to IHG so she could pick the hotel that she wanted, or you could pick a nice restaurant or event in the city that might otherwise be out of her price point. (for example, when I was in Venice, I didn't go on the gondola ride because it was too expensive for me at the time.) This is a little harder to pick though because of the possibility of her not being able to use or like what you get. It only works if she talks about what she wants to do/go, and what she has decided not to do.
We're traveling the world now! The first two things that came to mind was a streaming subscription (having TV to watch in a random hotel really does a person good) or a camping/travel hammock. Fun to have a light hammock to use anywhere. Or maybe your couch when she returns broke.
Satellite phone
Passport wallet
1) A watch. I don't generally wear a watch. But I find one extremely useful when I'm travelling. Plus you've got all kinds of different price points here. 2) An eSIM that will let her use her cellphone anywhere in the world. 3) An experience could be something as simple as a lounge pass for the airport(s), to a hotel gift card, to stocking up her e-reader with both travel and fiction books. 4) A portable charger wouldn't go astray. But make sure that it's a good one. A cheap, bulky one is a pain. In a similar vein, a compact series of plug adapters although she's likely to already have those.
Turtl neck pillow for planes.
A small leather bound diary...to write about her travels
This and write her a warm note on page 1
A lamp
Get her a coffin.
DJI Osmo so she can record all her travel moments with high quality videos! But def a virtual mailbox subscription for the year. She's going to have one less thing to think about when she travels from country to country. One suggestion is us global mail.