As the holidays are quickly approaching, I thought I would share a few of the travel items that I am loving and lusting over. There is a range of price points for any gift-giver – from luxury to stocking stuffers. *Please note that I do not receive commission on any of these items. They are things that I genuinely love and use, or are high on my personal wish list!
Lust – What's on my wishlist this year
Away Carry-on Suitcase, $225
Image from Away
Love – What I don't travel without
The o.m.g. Bag by lo & Sons, On sale $192.50
Image from Lo & Sons
Dagne dover tiny tote $99-$175
Image from Dagne Dover
I don't own this carry-on bag, but I am currently lusting over it (fingers crossed that Santa reads this post!). My hot pink carry-on that my parents bought me 10 years ago is finally failing me. The Carry-On from Away not only has the high-tech feature of a USB port to charge your phone and other devices while traveling, but it also has an amazing design. I've always been weary of hard sided luggage, but Away has a lifetime guarantee that the bag will not crack under pressure. The bag also has an awesome compression system, allowing you to pack much more than you might imagine fits into the small bag. I also love that the company allows you to try the bag for 100 days and return it for free if you are unsatisfied. Yes, they really allow you to travel with the bag and still return it if you don't like it! Talk about confidence in their product!
I bring this bag as my "purse" on every flight and store it underneath the seat in front of me. It is high quality and has tons of organization inside. There are pockets galore! There is also a padded laptop case and a secret expandable pocket where you can store dirty shoes or clothes. It's stylish, fairly comfortable, and fits much more than you think! Expensive, yes. However, I foresee having this bags for years and years.
This bag is small but mighty! It is my must for sightseeing. It has a cross body strap to keep anyone from grabbing the bag from you. It has a ton of organization inside and just enough room to fit your essentials for sightseeing. It comes with a detachable card case for your credit cards, making it easy to travel light. I can fit the card case plus my phone, camera, pens, lip gloss, chapstick, sunglasses, and a mini water bottle inside. Fitting a mini water bottle is a must for my sightseeing purse – walking miles and miles throughout Europe in the warmer months will have you wishing you brought water with you! The bag is a little pricey for such a small purse, but they usually have a few colors on sale. I have a practical beige color, but would love black too.
Other Travel Items I Love
my must bring carry-on accessories for a long flight
- Kindle $79.99+ (you could also gift an Amazon gift card to load up on books for a trip)
- Portable phone charger $12.99
- Luxury travel sized grooming essentials – I love these, and a travel sized dry shampoo is always nice too!
- Fuzzy socks to keep your feet warm and comfy on long flights
- Travel sized essential oils to make a flight more luxurious – I like to bring this & this on flights
World Map with Push Pins $119.95
I bought this for my husband for our anniversary last year and love it! It's such a fun way to remember where we've been and look forward to everywhere that is on our bucket list!
Map Ornament $17
I think these ornaments are an adorable way to commemorate a special place. I bought one for a friend mapping out where she got engaged. I'd love one for all of my favorite places in the world!
Caroline Kraus Travel consultation $29+
Nothing beats the gift of the experiences and memories of travel! If you have a friend or family member who could benefit from curated trip planning, a points consultation, or a where in the world consultation, it could make a great gift. There is no better way to start off 2017 than with travel!
I hope these recommendations are helpful for any last minute gifts you are struggling to buy! Feel free to treat yourself to one or two!
-Caroline
