What To Buy…the Traveler

Well, it’s that time of year again. Yep, it’s time to start your holiday shopping! And if you are like me and have more than a few family members and friends to buy for, then you know it can be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out what to get for everyone. So, we decided to put together a few posts that will hopefully help out when trying to pick out that perfect gift.

To start off, we’ll talk about gift ideas for the traveler. You know, that person that always seems to be on the go, be it a cruise around the Amalfi Coast or a trip to the Jersey Shore.

The Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 12 Megapixel Waterproof Digital Camera is a fantastic waterproof camera. We actually bought this last summer before a trip to Costa Rica, knowing that we’d be doing a lot of whitewater rafting and staying at a hotel right on the beach. The camera actually takes amazing photos, both underwater, as well as out. It’s also really sturdy. It was dropped a couple times and was no worse for wear. I really think it would be a wonderful gift for someone that

Here’s a sample shot taken with the camera (click for larger image):

Another good gift idea for someone always on the go is the Magellan RoadMate 1470 Touchscreen GPS. I actually bought this recently for my mom, who travels a lot for work. She’s not the most tech savvy person, so I was a bit nervous that she would find the interface a bit daunting. Luckily, she had it up and running almost immediately. The device itself is a bit large, but the touchscreen is big and clear. And unlike a few other GPS units, the sound is loud and not at all muddled. If you know someone that drives a lot or is always on the go, you can’t miss with this unit.

The Sony DVP-FX730 7″ Portable DVD Player makes a nice gift for people that travel by car or plane a lot or maybe just have kids that need a little distraction on long trips. It’s a fairly light unit, weighing in at just under 2lb, so that means it won’t weigh you down when carrying it around. There are also two inputs for headphones, so it makes sharing easy. What I like best about this player is that, unlike some other units, the battery actually lasts quite awhile before needing a recharge. Definitely a plus when on a long plane ride and you have no access to a charging station.

Ok, don’t laugh at this one. It might look silly, but the Fromm Works Inc. Quik Pod Explorer Handheld Extendable Tripod is pretty darn cool. If you find that asking strangers to constantly take your photo in front of tourist attractions is annoying, or you are tired of having to juggle the camera to fit you and your friends in the frame while you attempt a self portrait, this is a godsend. Just attach the camera to the tripod, hold out the extender and then take your pic. It even comes with a self-image positioning mirror to make sure your shot will be perfect. So simple…and no more dreaded My Space angle pics! This is a really cool gift for someone that loves travel and taking photos.

Finally, what trip would be complete without a portable gaming device? Beat the boredom of a long flight or road trip with some gaming. Nothing helps you pass time like a portable gaming device, and the Nintendo DSi is the perfect gaming candidate. Besides being a great portable gaming device, the DSi also has a camera. It comes with two cameras to be exact. One on the external body, while the second one points at the user when the DSi is flipped open. The cameras allow you to take and share pictures with your friends and family. For those more creatively inclined, you will also be able to manipulate the pictures you take. It also includes a feature called the DSi Sound. It’s an interactive voice recorder and music player that allows the user to play with their music, while simultaneously listening to it. The mic is located between the two screens of the DSi.

So there you have it. These products are all great gifts ideas for the traveler. You cannot go wrong with any of them. Check back on Monday when we’ll talk about gifts for the Blu-ray addict in your life!

Check out our other holiday gift guides:
What to Buy the Wanna Be Chef
What to Buy the Vinyl Enthusiast
What to Buy the Blu-ray Addict

More to come!

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• What To Buy…the Wanna-be Chef
• What To Buy…the Vinyl Enthusiast
• What To Buy…the Blu-ray Addict