It sure has been a busy summer, and our travels are far from over. We’ve all been trying to lighten the load we take on the road, carefully choosing our favorite things as we try to fit our stuff into carry-on bags. So now, with the holiday season approaching, I thought I’d share a few of my favorites as ideas for stocking stuffers and gifts with a travel theme.
Keebos Cross-Body Phone Case
My absolute all-time favorite gadget, which I thought would be great on a cruise and ended up using every day since, is the Keebos Cross-Body Phone Case. It promises “safety, accessibility and style in one smartphone case”—and it does deliver.
Just put a credit card, a $20 bill and a room key in the wallet, hang it around your neck, and you are ready for the day onboard a ship or at a conference in a hotel. I leave behind the carry-on bag on those endless fam walking tours and cruise-ship excursions, and just wear my Keebos as we explore at each stop. Now at home, I do the same when I head for the supermarket or the mall; I leave my purse in the car and just take my phone in with me.
Expert tip: It sure looks cute in pink, I think, and it matches my favorite sneakers. But black or gray probably would have been a better choice to hide the dirt.
Keebos Crossbody Phone Cases for iPhone & Samsung – Venice Beach, CA
Morph Clothing’s Capsule Dress
Talk about packing light! Whether you need a dress, a beach coverup, a blouse or a halter, this lightweight garment is ready for you. When it’s cool you can let down the sleeves, and then later shape-shift them into pockets to make a short-sleeved dress. The bamboo jersey fabric is soft and stretchy, as well as environmentally friendly. I’m thinking it will be the perfect thing for my red-eye flight to Ushaia, where I can wear it as a blouse when I get on the plane, shift the sleeves and the hemline from long to short as the temperature dictates, and even let down the bottom to sleep in it. I’m not sure I would wear this “capsule” design to a formal event, even with a belt, though the Morph designers suggest you can. But it would be great on a cruise, where you could wear it as a blouse in the morning, a cover-up by the pool or a dress for dinner—and only pack one thing. It comes in a number of colors they promise will not fade.
CAPSULE DRESS – MORPH Clothing
Xbox Controller for iPhones
Forget the movies; there’s just one thing that keeps the boys in our family entertained during long trips, and it’s playing video games. We were all happy to try out the new Xbox mobile gaming controller for iPhones, launched in partnership with RiotPWR. Designed to look just like any Xbox controller, it plugs right into your iPhone and runs on Bluetooth, requiring no wifi (though there is a paid registration required). As with all good video games (of which I admit to knowing very little), my 10-year-old grandson Brady was quickly addicted and happy to sit quietly and play it for hours, in the air and at home.
Xbox Wireless Controller | Xbox
Ilive’s Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds
Used to be that I’d watch airplane movies on the seat back—but that’s rapidly going away. Then I tried Bluetooth headphones, but it seemed there was so much noise around me that I couldn’t hear the movie. These wireless ear buds really helped—and they charge quickly. Small and easy to carry, they come in a convenient case that recharges them.
iLive’s Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds
Lint Zappers
There’s no escaping lint on the road, but I’ve been leaving the roller behind in favor of these “portable laundry problem solvers” that come in a small pack similar to Sticky Notes. Made of recyclable cardboard and biodegradable, and costing just about $3 a pack (sold in three-packs), they would make a cute and useful stocking stuffer for travelers and clients.
LintZapper Portable Lint Sheets 3 Pack – FurZapper
Dr. Plotka’s Traveling Toothbrush
Okay, I can’t guarantee that the health claims on this toothbrush are true—but I love the foldable design and believe it keeps the brush clean through a long trip, even if it’s stuffed in my suitcase. And for some reason, my grandkids are crazy about these. I gave one to my grandson when he forgot to bring his, and he was obsessed with it. Now, every time he travels with me, he asks if I have one for him—and this from a kid who has to be noodged to brush his teeth!
The company says the toothbrush was created by a dentist, designed with silver-infused bristles that naturally eliminate 99% of bacteria, viruses, and fungi from your toothbrush after each use. It also has flossing bristles designed to reach under the gum line and between teeth to break up plaque, which they say work especially well with braces, dentures, and other dental hardware.
You can request a free sample at Mouthwatchers Breakthrough Toothbrush & Toothpaste (everythingbranding.com).
Riderz Cup Holder Companions
Making things a little less complicated for traveling parents, Riderz stuffed animals are designed to fit in the cup holder of your child’s stroller or car seat. Their 11-inch circumference and weighted bottom fit perfectly so they don’t fall out onto dirty floors in airports and hotels. There are eight members of the family, including dolphins, giraffes, and elephants.
Riderz™! The Cup Holder Companion! – My Riderz™
The Wander Club Keychain
My husband loved this gift I got him last year, a leather keychain that holds tokens from each country you visit.
Insider tip: Be prepared. If you travel as much as we do, you’ll need a second one.
When it comes to gift giving to industry colleagues, my traditional favorites are the Chocolate Passport that Trader Joe’s sells around Christmas time ($9.99 last year; not yet available at my store this year) and the “1,000 Places to See Before You Die Picture-A-Day Wall Calendar 2023” ($15.15 on Amazon), which keeps you front and center on the recipient’s mind all year long.
Happy shopping—and happy traveling—everyone! May your days be merry and bright.
Cheryl’s 40-year career in journalism is bookended by roles in the travel industry, including Executive Editor of Business Travel News in the 1990s, and recently, Editor in Chief of Travel Market Report and admin of Cheryl Rosen’s Group for Travel Professionals, a news and support group on Facebook. As an independent contractor since retiring from the 9-to-5 to travel more, she has written regular articles about the life and business of travel agents for Luxury Travel Advisor, Travel Agent, and Insider Travel Report. She also writes and edits for professional publications in the financial services, business, and technology sectors.
