Martin's 10 Useful Christmas Gifts/Stocking Stuffers for the Traveler

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1.     Packing Cubes (pack-it Cubes)

Organize, and fold clothes in separate coloured cubes which pack together conveniently and are easy to identify when needed.  An essential travel item for my trips whether short or long.  The original ones were Eagle Creek, but now there are many brands. 

Eagle Creek

2.     Multi-plug with USB

Pretty much all of us travel with a phone, computer, or other devices that require charging or power.  The travel adaptor plug is a necessity, and a plug like this covers all continents and countries.  Most ideal is one with a USB plug-in like this

Travel Adaptor Plug

3.     Sarong

A sarong has so many uses.  It can be used as a towel for the beach, a sheet, a wet blanket to cool down on the hot nights, a skirt for the ladies, a cover-up for changing, a headdress to protect from sand.  Very lightweight and versatile, it can cut down on requiring too many other items.

4.     Money Belt/Body Wallet

I find that a money belt is a necessity for keeping passport/credit cards/cash safe while traveling.  One of the best I have found is the Lifeventure Dristore Body wallet because it has a waterproof section.

Lifeventure Wallet

5.     Saxx Underwear

Underwear for him.  The most comfortable underwear I have found for traveling.  It is quick drying, so can hand wash easily, and has flaps to keep all the man bits in place and as a bonus, they don’t ride up.   Comfort is very important.

Saxx Underwear

6.     Quick Dry Pack Towel

Regular towels take up a huge amount of space in a backpack, and when they get wet, take a long time to dry.  A good option is a thin, lighter weight towel that dries fast and packs very small.  I can’t say it’s as soft and absorbent as a regular towel, but a very good option based on size and weight. They come in all different sizes.

Cascade Designs

7.     Dry Bag

A decent, light-weight dry bag can protect your electronics or clothes from major downpours in rainy season, gives security when traveling on boats, or protection when taking part in other water activities.  Give the traveler piece of mind.  This is a good brand, but there are many.

Outdoor Research

8.     7 Wonders Duel or Carcassonne Games

The standard game people take on travels is a deck of cards, but why not step it up a notch.  A great strategy game is this amazing 2-player game called 7 Wonders Duel.  It can be packed down to a small little bag, and can pass many hours while waiting for buses or trains. 

7 Wonders Duel

Another great option for a multi-player game is Carcassonne, which also packs quite small. Can be played by 2 to 6 players.

Carcassonne

9.     Lonely Planet eBook

A travel guide is important for any traveler, and having it at the touch of your fingertips sure helps.  Buying a Lonely Planet book online will make a great gift.  While it recommends hotels and restaurants in many locations, I find it ideal for things to see and do, but most important, provides maps of important locations when the traveler arrives somewhere unknown.

Lonely Planet Guides

10.  Battery for Recharging

Battery packs are getting smaller and smaller, and more powerful.  A cell phone should never run out of juice with one of these.  They come in many different sizes.  Usually a bigger one is more powerful, but when traveling, weight and size is definitely something you need to be aware of, so there is a balance of power vs. size/weight.
  Best Portable Battery Chargers