Check out a student travel gift guide for goodies under $25, including shoestring guidebooks, terrific travel journal, wee-sized world atlas and more. Spend a little and give a lot.
1. Lonely Planet "Shoestring" Guidebooks
Although all their books are budget conscious, Lonely Planet has a special series called Shoestrings Guides which they correctly tout as "big trips for small budgets -- the only guidebook series exclusively for backpackers, by backpackers." Finish reading the review and see prices or compare prices now.
2. Lonely Planet Language Phrase Books for iPhone
© Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Language guides for iPhone own the phrasebook world. Bow down to them. Like a talking pocket translator, but way mo' better with the power of Lonely Planet behind useful phrases for backpackers (like, "Donde esta la cantina?" rather than "Donde esta la cruise ship's lido deck?"). Most are less than $10. Get the link for download and see more iPhone apps...
3. Nomad Travel Journal
Photo courtesy Nomad Journals
Giving a travel journal as a gift means the student traveler on your list can keep the gift of travel memories forever, and Nomad makes a great travel journal. At $15 or so ($25-30 with case), you can't go wrong... Finish reading the review or compare prices now.
4. Essential World Atlas
It's tough to pack the world into 144 pages, but this Oxford book does a decent job. Study up on travel destinations with your student traveler: 96 large maps, 35,000-name index, 67 metro maps, eight pages of satellite imagery -- let your imagination run wild.5. Universal Electric Adapter With Surge Protector
Why do you need an electrical adapter? An adapter allows a dual voltage appliance, converter, or transformer to be plugged into a wall outlet that is different from the pin configuration on the appliance, converter, or transformer. It gets more complicated. Different countries require different adapters. Rather than puzzle out which adapter you'll need, just buy this one... Finish reading the review and compare prices.6. Backpack Sized Espresso Maker
Photo courtesy Glacier
A gift for the caffeine-craving student traveler on your list: camping backpackers especially appreciate the luxury of morning espresso. Get your coffee fix with a handy backcountry espresso maker from GSI - the Mini Espresso Maker. Finish reading the review or buy direct.
7. Teeny Travel Book Lights
© My Light screenshot
Little bitty book lights are a great travel accessory -- they can be used to read maps in a darkened train, check guidebooks on a dimly lit bus or clipped to a journal for late night writing in a hostel dorm. Your local book store probably has at least one variety of little book lights, as do superstores like Walmart... Finish reading and compare prices.
8. "Safe Skies" TSA Luggage Locks
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) can clip luggage locks, sift through stuff and send a bag on unlocked. The torch logo on these Safe Skies luggage locks tells baggage screeners that they can open bags and relock without clipping the lock. And the company will replace a lock if it does get cut. Four-dial heavy duty combo locks come in five cool colors to help with luggage ID. I've tried 'em; I like 'em. Also handy for locking a pack's zippers while carrying it on the streets. Finish reading the review or buy direct.9. Great Passport Organizer / Travel Wallet
Photo partially courtesy LL Bean
How do I love this passport organizer / travel wallet? Let me tell you the ways I used it on a recent trip.
- Back open pocket - boarding pass, itinerary, maps
- Front zippered pocket - passport, picture ID and coins
- Inner "top" zippered pocket - folding money
- Inner "lower" zippered mesh pocket - more coins, gum, personal stuff
10. Two Interesting Hotel Room Safety Gadgets
Give yourself a gift: the peace of mind that comes with knowing your traveling loved one is safe. I'm an adventurous traveler, and I've certainly stayed in some hotels/motels/hostels where my safety in my room was questionable whether because of the neighborhood or the iffy door lock. Check out these two hotel room safety gadgets... Finish reading the review and compare prices.
