Top 10 Student Travel Gifts Over \$100 - Premium Student Travel

1. National Geographic Illuminated Desk Globe

Plan or follow progress around the world on this beautiful, illuminated desktop globe from National Geographic. Turn the light off and see political data and place names. With the light on, admire hand-drawn mountains, valleys, vegetation zones, and ocean floors. Gorgeous and practical.

2. Global Cell Phones and PDAs

A cell phone that does everything and does it around the world: global roaming, web surfing, email capability and a PDA in fairly compact phones with a QWERTY keyboard. Lots of music phone options, too. Reach out and touch someone no matter where in the world they may be wih a global PDA / cell phone (also called smartphones).

3. Ten Language Talking Translator

This gizmo is sumpin. Although it's main function is a language translator, it also functions as a currency converter - two cool tools in one. From the manufacturer: "It...translates over 200,000 words and 23,000 phrases...both orally and in writing in (ten languages). Includes a currency and metric converter, calculator, databank, and even gives the time in 200 cities." Earphones, carrying pouch, batteries (2 AAA), and excellent instructions included... See currency calculators.

4. RailEurope Youth Pass

A RailEurope youth pass is still the neccesity today that it was for backpackers in your own college days. Just choose the countries and choose a pass.

• Learn about all available Rail Europe youth passes

Lots of Eurail passes exist -- reading about rail passes and getting information overload? The Eurail Youth Pass (Eurailpass Youth) covers all of Europe and gives the most travel time -- though it's the priciest pass, it's the best.

5. Mediterranean Cruise -- Excellent European Tour

Cruising the French and Italian Rivieras - docking at exotic mediterranean ports of call - Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez, Monaco, Genoa, San Remo and Portofino - sounds like a travel dream come true. Sounds expensive.

Meet Easy Cruise, a no-frills cruise line touring the Mediterranean Sea (and now the Caribbean islands, too). Cabins start at $55 per night (based on double occupancy). Sounds good! Hop on and off at any point... Finish reading the Guide review

6. Small, Light, Quality Digital Camera

Gadgets have been getting smaller in rough proportion to the size of pants -- a decent cargo pocket will hold most digital cameras these days. To go small and light and top-notch, try the tiny Casio Exilim EX-Z850. A small camera is key for a traveler -- give the Casio a shot.

7. Green Tortoise Adventure Bus Tour

Give the gift of independent travel: Bus tour company Green Tortoise Adventure Travel bills itself as offering "Affordable Adventures With Extraordinary People." Green Tortoise was founded 30 years ago with one bus and "the realization that beautiful places, great food, and sociable people were the only essentials for gratifying travel experiences". Today, they've ferried over 500,000 adventurers around the U.S. (including Alaska), Mexico and Costa Rica... Finish reading the Guide review.

8. Explorica Mexico Student Travel Tour

Send your student on the travel adventure of a lifetime: an Explorica Mexico student travel tour. They'll join a group and start with educational tours in cosmopolitan Mexico City and then head to colonial silver capital Taxco, with a stop in cool Cuernavaca. The tour winds down in hot Acapulco, where swimming with dolphins or a party cruise may be on the agenda. Explorica's Mexico tours are worth every penny and then some... Read an Explorica company profile.

9. Debit Cards Say "Love" More Than Cash

While it's easy to tuck bills into a student's stocking, a debit card under the tree shows that you've given some real thought to your favorite traveler's safety and well-being. Open an account and get the accompanying free debit card in the student traveler's name. You can make surprise deposits or be the recipient of dialing-for-dollars calls from overseas. Read all about debit cards.

10. Hybrid Cars and SUVs Do Road Trips For Less

Hybrid cars can operate using electric power only, gas engine only, or a combination of the electric motor and gas engine. Some options that aren't too soccer-mommish or dad-driven are the Toyota Prius Touring Edition, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h, and Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Check out all the hybrid cars:

• Which hybrid car is right for you?