Spider

I've been trying to think of gift ideas for the holidays, and I thought travel related items might be a good idea for some people. Does anyone have any ideas for gifts under $50? I've thought of luggage(one piece), travel clocks, gift certificates, and maybe travel books. Any more ideas? Thanks!<BR>

bettyk

Well, I really enjoyed my travel pillow during those long overseas flights last spring. Travelsmith.com and Magellans.com both carry a lot of travel items that would make nice gifts.

Marilyn

Have you checked out the travel catalogs on line? With the holidays coming there are bound to be lots of gift ideas. Here are a couple:<BR><BR>1. Tote bag that folds into itself (very small) to pack as extra bag for purchases on return trip.<BR><BR>2. Eagle Creek makes a wonderful luggage or briefcase shoulder strap that has a lot of padding -- great for lugging a heavy carry-on through the airport.<BR><BR>3. Small, lightweight travel umbrella<BR><BR>4. Really nice set of luggage tags and/or small locks for all the zip compartments.<BR><BR>5. Toiletries bag -- again, Eagle Creek has some really nice ones with detachable shower bags, hooks for hanging, detachable mirror.<BR><BR>6. Airplane kit: moisturizer and/or hand lotion, earplugs or earplanes, eye mask, good book to read, disposable toothbrush and paste. (I could make up at least a dozen of these from the stuff I've gotten over the years!) Put it all in a nice little bag or pouch that can be reused as a makeup bag.<BR><BR>7. An article of travel clothing that can be washed in the hotel sink and dries overnight. Depending on your relationship with the person you are getting the gift for, it might be a shirt or underwear.

RzzzA

bed bath and beyond sells the aquis quick-dry towels that are really useful for travel...they're SOFT, lightweight, and they come in their own pouch!<BR><BR>Depending on how much you are willing to spend, they have various sizes available:<BR><BR>the bigger bath towels were $35.99<BR> (a bit much for my budget)<BR>the hair and body towels were $17.99<BR> (but i got $5 off with a coupon they <BR> sent me)<BR><BR>Check out their website (i think it's just bedbathandbeyond.com) click on bath, then solid towels, and i think it's on page 3...you may also find some other good gift ideas there!<BR><BR>Or at the redenvelope site, they sell this compact (i think 2x 2 x 1/2), lightweight photo frame alarm clock for $20--it sounds like a lot for a little clock but it has this cool feature where you have the option of waking up to an alarm or a recorded voice message! Imagine being far away from a loved one and waking up each morning to their voices!

Melissa

My brothers actually gave me some of the best travel gifts of all time! OXO brand has a rubber shopping bag handle--I think it is about $2 at the store. For shopaholics, you can put your one heavy (or several regular) shopping bags in the slot, then carry the bags in comfort without burning your hands.<BR><BR>Another good one is that space-saver vacuum bag. I think they may have infomercials on it. YOu pack your clothes in this plastic bag and then squeeze the air out. It helps to create more space in your suitcase so you can shop some more!<BR><BR>I saw that Brookstone has a combo mini-travel iron &amp; hairdryer and I think it is about $30-40 (max). That rocks!

Spider

Wow, some great ideas! Now I don't have to think so hard! Thanks!

Julie

Map Scarves of Paris and London are really cool - see www.mapscarves.com<BR>

Nan

A store like Marshalls or TJMaxx has nice makeup and travel bags right now. Alot of them have the Provence style material design and I bought a large quilted bag for 15$ and a plastic lined matching cosmetic bag for 7$.

Susan

My husband has a mini disk player, which he usually uses with headphones at home. Last year I bought him a set of travel speakers from the Sony Store. They fold into a little square and are really easy to pack. I think they were about $75 CAD, so under $50 USD. They are terrific - now we can have music when we travel.

Erin

I know that several people have already mentioned travel clocks, but visit Crate &amp; Barrel online. For $20 they have a really nice travel alarm clock with a little flashlight attached- which is really helpful when you need to find the bathroom in the middle of the night in a hotel room!

Karen

These are all great suggestions, perhaps in the card you could include the fodor's travel talk website address and some of the favorite tips you've seen here.

Jinx Hoover

Backpacks are really handy travel items. I have used one for about 15 years and couldn't do without it.<BR><BR>Jinx Hoover

Nutella

A bit of advice about travel alarm clocks. These days many cell phones double as alarm clocks, rendering the clocks obsolete. So you might want to check with the person youre buying it for.

gb

Target and Kohl's have small travel atomic clocks that automatically change time.