The personal touch...

Have you been to the destination yourself? Everyone loves to give you their recommendations, but it’s wonderful when they take the time to write down the details for you to slip in your diary. Grab a few pages from their filofax and write down the names, addresses, contact details of the ‘must sees’ or go high tech and download their palmpilot with the information.

A waiting card or letter at your traveler’s destination hotel or a waiting email on their remote email address is so welcoming. Don’t wait for them to be the first to write.

The safe bet...

These gifts are a safe bet when you simply have run out of ideas.

Spare rolls of film -- Choose high speed (ie: 200 or 400 ASA) as these settings will suit all weather conditions and inside photography.

Bookstore voucher -- Allow your traveler to choose a travel guide, trashy novel, a travel journal or even maps.

A camping store/luggage store voucher -- No matter how many trips I take, there is always something from these stores I need, whether it’s a power converter, a backpack, fanny bag, suitbag or just the latest travel gadget that catches my eye.

A compact umbrella -- choose one that has an aluminum spine and handle. This type is more expensive to buy than all the others but it's so light and compact, a traveling woman almost forgets she's carrying it.

More thoughts on gift-giving...

The perfect $2.00 gift -- Go to the foodwrap section of the supermarket and pick up a box of assorted size zip lock bags. They are perfect to keep your luggage in order and saves the time consuming ‘luggage dig’ everytime you are trying to find an item in your suitcase.

Gifts to avoid -- I was given the most beautiful and I suspect expensive gift by my work colleagues before I left for this latest trip. It was a stylish glass and stainless steel coffee plunger. It is carefully wrapped and stowed away in my cupboard at home. It has all the characteristics of a bad present, it's heavy, it's breakable, it's expensive (I’d feel so guilty if it got lost or broken) and it’s an awkward shape.

Ideal gifts no longer -- With improved standards of security at our airports and terminals now, it's important that we all play our part, even gift givers. This we can do by not giving such items as Swiss Army knives, pocket-size scissors, or mini screwdrivers (often sold as part of spectacle cleaning kits).

My favorite gift -- My 7 year old niece gets the prize for the best travel gift I've ever got. She recently gave me a set of Six Glitter Gel Pens. I can use them to write or draw, jazz up a boring aerogramme letter, amuse the restless kid in the plane seat behind me and best of all, these fabulous pens write at any angle.

The gift to touch her heart...

This may sound a little sappy, but for everyone who has ever packed their bags and headed off to explore, there is a certain level of anxiety and stress that comes with leaving the comfort of home for the unknown. Send your traveler off with your love, your best wishes and most definitely your encouragement.

My friend Michael emailed me with these words just before I left for my current year long adventure, “I am so proud of you, you are doing what we all dream of doing, rather than conform to what we are expected to do.” I felt so empowered by these words and remember them whenever I am faced with a new challenge on my travels.