suze

Currency for the next foreign country he will travel to!!

Most "hardcoare travelers" wouldn't want a suitcase someone else picked out or the trendy-gadgety stuff. They already know what works for them.

thursdaysd

Not currency. The giver will overpay.

I am (or was) a frequent traveler. Gifts have rarely been of use. About the only exception was a nylon shopping bag that packed into itself. I use it for groceries when I am staying in an apartment or apart-hotel.

However, we appear to be talking to ourselves.

IMDonehere

However, we appear to be talking to ourselves.

Speak for yourself.

suze

<Not currency. The giver will overpay.>

You don't know that.

suze

And it's the one gift that a "hardcore traveler" could use for sure.

thursdaysd

Sure I know that. The best rate is from an ATM in-country. In any case, I find giving money as a gift objectionable.

mrwunrfl

>>nylon shopping bag that packed into itself

I have one of those, too, but used it for the same purposes as the folding backpacks. I bought it on a trip when I needed it. It is roomy but a bit too much like a purse for this guy and not hands free. Despite that, I did use it again and it may serve a specific purpose on a future trip.

>>Not currency. The giver will overpay.
There's that. But, I would not want a cash gift of any kind from my daughter if I had one. As a father to daughter gift, ok, even if it was expensive (in terms of exchange rate/fee) because he would paying for the convenience to her.

Christina

It's hard to say without knowing what kind of travel he does. As for magazines, you'd have to know if he had a subscription already, of course. I agree that CN Traveler has become useless, I'm almost ready to drop it even though I've had it for years just for fun as it didn't cost that much. I don't mind ads, actually, it's just that they don't have hardly any real travel articles any more, they have entire magazines that are just about fashion or their stupid lists and involve no journalism. Personally I think Nat Geo Traveler is even more useless and did drop it this year. It just doesn't have hardly any real articles at all.

But if he were a niche traveler, I could see maybe an Outdoors magazine or something.

I would never want anyone picking out suitcases for me, and if he's such a big traveler, I'm sure he doesn't need any, anyway. Unless he's hinted about replacing one and what he wants, otherwise, I'd never do that. Someone would undoubtedly get me something I disliked in terms of weight or features, and I don't need more luggage anyway, so it's just more stuff to try to find room for in your house.

How about some membership to one of those airline elite traveler lounge clubs? I don't have one and don't know how they work, you'd have to know their favorite airline. You can buy one-time passes, maybe one or two of those (a United Club one-time lounge pass is $59, so is a one-time AA club pass). Actually, I wouldn't mind getting those, you could get a United one and AA one for variety, probably Delta has one also.

suze

<Not currency. The giver will overpay.>

<In any case, I find giving money as a gift objectionable.>



Then I guess you shouldn't do it.

suze

I often give foreign currency as a gift for friends or co-workers who are traveling.

Let's see... Swiss Franc, Colombian peso, Mexican peso, and Euro were my most recent gifts.

Everyone seems thrilled with it. Nothing nicer than having ~$100 or so already in hand in local currency when you land.

mrwunrfl

>>I would never want anyone picking out suitcases for me

Same here. Someone buying me luggage would be like buying me shoes.

suze, you can give me currency of any kind because you are not my daughter. Even though I didn't want that kind of gift from my imaginary daughter I would still accept it as a thoughtful gift that took some effort and cost to get. It would be a welcome convenience that I would use. As long as it is foreign currency and not US$

thursdaysd

Of course, we have no idea whether the traveler in the case ever leaves the US...

suze

Call me crazy but I assume a "hardcore traveler" has a passport and knows how to use it.

Of course I would only purchase foreign currency for the appropriate country which I knew for sure the person was going to (duh).

Why mrwunrfl, I am please you would accept my gift!

mrwunrfl

>>How about some membership to one of those airline elite traveler lounge clubs?

That is a great idea. They aren't exactly "elite traveler" lounges. Just airline club lounges. Anyone can buy an annual club membership or day passes.

An elite traveler without club membership or pass might get access to an airline's club lounge if they are traveling internationally, but not on a US domestic trip.

If he is an international premium class traveler then he would likely have access to a business class or first class lounge. An airline might have their club lounge double as a business class lounge. Or they might have all three types of lounges (club, business, first).

A day pass for an airline that he uses occasionally for a domestic trip would work best if that airline had a club lounge at his origin or destination airport. It might not work well if the the only lounge is at the hub where he connects.

Lyn95

I really like the suggestion for membership to an airline lounge. Everybody has to get to the airport so early now so having a comfortable place to hang out, would be so nice. Your dad probably travels mostly with one specific airline just make sure his usual departing airport had a lounge for this airline.

Another idea would be a gift card for a specific airline. Most airlines also let you gift miles.

fishee

Choosing one airline lounge can be tricky unless he's an elite traveler with a preferred airline. If he lives in a hub (for UA, AA, or Delta) it increases the chance he will get to use it.

I think Bose noise-canceling headphones are a wonderful gift to people who fly frequently. It's an indulgence that many won't purchase for themselves but it makes a huge difference to my level of fatigue when I fly with them. I feel much less frazzled upon arrival when I'm able to block out that deafening noise that drones on for hours and hours.

suze

fishee, Do you use the Bose just for silence (like ear plugs) or you are listening to music or a book or something on them?

thursdaysd

They are a nice idea, but if they are headphones they take up too much room for me to travel with them. If you are in biz class sometimes the airline will hand them out for free for the flight.

Lyn95

thursdaysd - I have Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones and they don't take up any room at all. I take them everywhere I go.

https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/...20_apple_black

thursdaysd

I call those earbuds. Unfortunately, most earbuds don't fit my ears.