You can give the gift of fun this holiday season, and it's easier to do than ever before. We know there's nothing more difficult than shopping for the person who seems to have everything, but if the recipient is an avid traveler, here are some gifts and gadgets that will guarantee memorable experiences and a fun excuse to get away.
Under $20 Great Ideas
Lock Up Stockings for the Security Conscious Traveler
With all of the airport regulations that travelers must adhere to nowadays, people have enough to worry about without the fear of items in their luggage being stolen. With Lewis N. Clark’s Transportation Security Administration-approved locks, worry no more. The makers provide the TSA with the means to open and relock them when they need to get into luggage for inspection, rather than cutting them open. The locks are available in an array of bright colors, with the option of a three or four-digit combination. They also offer a lock with a sensor that turns from green to red to alert travelers that it has been opened for inspection. In the event that TSA does cut the lock, Lewis N. Clark guarantees a free replacement. The locks range in price from $7.50 for the three-digit model to $10.95 for the four-digit model. For more information and to order, click on Lewis N. Clark Travel Sentry Lock.
J.B.
Inspiring and Soothing Moms-to-Be
Here’s a book for mothers-to-be that shows that pregnancy doesn’t mean the end of everything chic and fun. Hot Mama: How to Have a Babe and Be a Babe by Karen Salmansohn is of a different breed than most pregnancy literature out there, with lively pictures and useful tips about staying cool during the nine-month ordeal. This book is an ideal introduction to dealing with pregnancy, as it’s fun approach eases a lot of anxiety that new mothers-to-be usually feel. The book deals with everything from health and beauty, to finding clothes that don’t scream “maternity ward,” to massages and a continued sex life during pregnancy. The book is informative yet not overwhelming, and its amusing language speaks to the women who may fear that pregnancy equals a loss of sexiness. Click here to order Hot Mama: How to Have a Babe and Be a Babe for $10.95.
J. B.
Pacific Northwest Loves Kids
I had a wonderful family visit to Seattle as a child, but only now, browsing through these compact paperback guidebooks, do I realize how much the city has to offer children. The authors seem to reveal every possible excursion that one could fathom, organized neatly into 10 chapters. Culture, animals, parks, sports, and even a chapter on harvests (which includes a list of farmers markets and nearby farms) are just a sample of the fare, which includes a list of all the swimming pools and fountains in the city. Order Out & About with Kids: Seattle (3rd edition, $18.95) by Ann Bergman and Virginia Smyth and Out & About with Kids: Portland (2nd edition, $16.95) by Nelle Nix, the two already complete titles in this series. One feature that’s missing is maps—it’d be helpful to have a basic city map or one showing the top sights. But each attraction’s blurb seems to have all the information a traveler needs, and tip boxes are scattered throughout the pages so that readers can get the optimal experience. Both are great for locals, visitors and those who aspire to a better life in the Pacific Northwest.
M. K.
Under $30 Great Ideas
Travel Made Cleaner: A Germ-free Toothbrush
Do you know the kind of person that feels lost when they travel without hand sanitizing lotion? Or maybe you’re just tired of wrapping your toothbrush in tissue—or whatever else you can find—when you’re on the go? This toothbrush sanitizer provides a handy way of transporting your toothbrush, at the same time eliminating 99.9% of the germs that toothbrushes tend to accumulate, according to laboratory research. An ultra-violet bulb turns on after you shut the slender, silver case, and automatically turns off after 7 minutes—and keeps the toothbrush sanitized until the next use. The battery-operated system fits various sized brushes, including electric toothbrushes, and sells for $29.95. I found the case to be very convenient for both traveling and at home, although it’s naturally hard to notice a difference in the cleanliness of the toothbrush. But, it’s an effective germ-detonator according to independent lab tests, and was praised by several reputable sources. Read more about it and click here to order a Violight Toothbrush Sanitizer and Storage System.
J.B.
Digital Video, Without Shelling Out the Big Bucks
This is a great option if you’re debating purchasing a camcorder, or for children who want to make movies but can’t necessarily be trusted with your $500 camera. This handheld camera holds 20 minutes of digital video and sound, and lets you watch, erase, and rerecord footage as you go. I found the camera to be a great value - quite durable, with a clear screen and good sound quality. Once you’ve captured whatever memories you’d like to preserve, simply bring the camera to a CVS 1-Hour Photo for a user-friendly DVD. The camera itself goes for $29.99, and the cost of processing is $12.99. However, during my experience as filmmaker extraordinaire, I noticed that the low battery signal popping up fairly often, though the camera didn’t actually run out of battery. But for travelers who’d rather not risk damaging expensive equipment on trips, or for that wedding or other precious moment that you’d like to preserve on tape, this new product is a great gift at a reasonable price. Look for the CVS store nearest you at www.cvs.com.
J.B.
Under $50 Great Ideas
CityPass Makes City Life Affordable
You’ve probably heard about CityPass and already know how they can help your family save money on admissions to museums, zoos, aquariums and observatories in popular family-friendly cities like Boston, Chicago, Hollywood, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California or Toronto by charging a flat rate for the attractions included. Just purchase your booklet of tickets at the first participating attraction (depending on the city, prices typically range from $39-65/adult and $20-49/kids (more for Hollywood and Southern California) and you save approximately 50% of what you'd pay if you purchased each site admission separately. And, with CityPass, you won't have to wait on line to be admitted - just show your pass and walk right in. Now, the fun can last longer because the passes, typically valid for nine days, will remain valid from December 15 through March 31 in New York, Hollywood, Philadelphia and Seattle, and all year long in Boston. This is a great gift for visitors, but also for residents of the host cities who sometimes don’t get to appreciate what’s in their own back yards. Call CityPass at 
888/330-5008 or 208/787-4300 or visit www.citypass.com for a listing of sites.
F. F.
Go USA Offers City Touring FlexibilityIn contrast to the CityPass, the flexible Go Card allows entrance to “partner” attractions in Boston, Chicago, Hawai’i, Miami, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle (with more to come), on a per day basis. A single-day Go USA card, which can be used in any city, costs $59, a steal considering how expensive individual museum and park entrance fees can be. Two, three, five, and seven-day cards range in price up to $219. Children’s cards range from $49- $169. Who should get a one-day card? The family who will go to the 45 “partner” attractions in San Francisco, from Six Flags Marine World to Golden Gate Bay Cruises, in the shortest time possible! Note that multi-day cards can be used in different cities over the course of a year, so the possibilities are infinite. The cards come with free guidebooks, which I find to be very comprehensive and well organized, with information on each sight, maps, contact info, along with step-by-step instructions on getting in. Giving a Go Card is a great excuse for a day trip to a nearby city as well—the people who live closest to fun destinations always seem to be the ones who haven’t had the chance to see the all that they have to offer. You can buy the cards at
www.GoUSACard.com.
J.B. Save Car Seats From Chaos
In my family’s cars, our backseats have always been a smorgasbord of crumbs, drink stains, and virtually any other type of damage that a car seat could possibly endure. And we didn’t even have a dog. The Kozy K-9 seat cover is big enough to protect the entire backseat, and with its hefty material and non-skid backing, it’s durable enough to endure even the wildest pets and children. The cover is water-resistant and machine washable, and has Velcro along the edge to securely attach it to the back of the seat. It’s compatible with bucket and bench seats, so can be used in cars, minivans, SUVs, and trucks, and works with headrests as well. Personally, I think this seat cover is as useful for protecting against the wear and tear of children—but either way, tossing it into the washer beats spending hours scrubbing in the backseat, hands down. The covers come in a variety of materials, colors, sizes and print and range in price from $44.95 to $119.95. For more details, and to order, visit Kozy K-9 cover.
J.B.
Map Disposal Made Easier
“Are we there yet?” This question can push you over the edge of sanity on those long road trips, when family-bonding time can transform into World War III. The Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 with GPS Locator creates a bit more serenity in these situations, helping you to avoid wrong turns and construction, and find convenient stops along the way. It also means you won’t need reading glasses in the car any more! The compact, USB ready GPS device plugs in to any laptop, Windows Mobile-based pocket PC, or Smartphone. The program has nearly 6 million miles of routable maps, and the ability to tailor routes to your own needs. The maps are detailed and adaptable, and provide current construction information as well as general-interest points along the road. And, with voice-prompted directions, it’s compatible for lone travelers as well. With this technology, you can hit the road and decide your moves as you go, and avoid driving extra miles in search of gas or a bathroom. And if you do manage to get off track, the software has a “Reroute from Here” feature that modifies the directions to put you back on course. The package is valued at $39.95 for the standard software, or $129.99 for Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006 with a GPS locator for the gearhead in your lift. A European version, AutoRoute 2006 is available for the same price, for each version. Click here to order Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007.
J.B.
More Than $100 -- But Great Ideas
Merrily We Roll Along – At Last!
Last month we were delighted to have a new piece of luggage for our trip to the Southwest; - the Briggs & Riley Model TD-U521 21” carry-on expandable rolling suitcase. Sleekly clad in a deep red color labeled “Sunset,” this very smart and functional travel accessory held almost 2,500-cubic inches of clothes, toiletries, travel accessories, and, of course, souvenirs. And while the dimensions total 43.5” overall in it's expansionless mode, we checked it on all four flights, imagining that handling under the plane would be as good a test as any. And so it was. In almost 5,000 miles of travel, everything held, no rips, no dents, no slashes, as good as new.
This would be an excellent present for the solo-goer on a trans-oceanic trip, or maybe even an overnight bag for a small family of weekenders. Thoughtfully, there is a mesh restraint on the front that can be zippered in, perfect for that coat or thin book that just won't fit anywhere else. It rolls and balances better than any other comparable bag its size, very helpful on those ever-increasing airport jaunts involving distances heretofore thought in marathon terms. And, no struggling to handle the handle. It slides up and down very reliably, often not the case with similar bags.
The expansion zipper yields an additional 3” of height, giving you 17” to pack away most everything other than the kitchen sink. About the only drawback, not uncommon for wheeled luggage, is that it weighs a little over 10 pounds. Given some domestic air carriers luggage weight restrictions of 50lbs., you would need to pack very specifically for a US plane trip. For a suggested retail price of $249.00, a very impressive addition, indeed. See the full Briggs-Riley line or click here to order the TD-U521.
R. S.
Packing It On Your Back With Style
I’ve been lugging large EMS college-style backpacks around New York and on/off airplanes for several years now, maybe carrying more than I should be. Seeing this Briggs & Riley compact backpack convinced me that my old warhorse would easily defeat its smaller competitor. But I was wrong. After two weeks, I’m a true believer. The TD-331 Transcend Backpack in midnight blue, rainforest green, silver or a deep red sunset is a trim carryall with some business style, smart pocket design, and lots of room. It has comfortable straps and seems, in general, to be a hardy and superbly designed bag with a neoprene laptop sleeve, CD or Ipod pocket, and a waterproof headphone cord eyelet. As you can tell, I’m a convert. Who’s it for? Everyone from Granny to toddler will love the style, but with a ticket price of $124, you’ll probably want to gift it to your favorite teen. See more Briggs-Riley models and order the TD-331. now.
R. B.
The above products, reviewed by the FTF staff, were put to the test by staff and freelance contributors Johanna Bardo, Ron Bozman, Fran Falkin, Mary Kearl and Ralph Spielman. Thanks to all!
