Gifting is, of course, all about what the receiver wants and likes. However, it’s important that the presents reflect the giver too. That means that our friends and family very often get travel-related things at Christmas because, frankly, travel is high on our list of favourite things to do.
Also, travel accessories are often the kind of thing that you only think about when you are packing or en route, when it’s often too late, so solving those minor journey-related worries in advance is a welcome treat for most people. They are also things that will be used year after year, which is a nice additional touch. Anyway, we are not dropping any hints here (well… not heavy ones anyway), but here are a few things we would be happy to find under the tree this festive season.
MVST Treva Aluminium Suitcase
A good carry-on case with wheels is a basic necessity of travel – do not make the mistake of relying on a back-breaking shoulder bag for anything longer than a 24-hour trip – but please choose one with a bit of style. Aluminium cases are always the chic alternative, and this dent-resistant version from MVST is a great example. The four wheels give it extra stability, and the double lock closure is a good thief deterrent. You can get it here.
Mulberry Passport Cover
OK – a passport cover isn’t the most important of things, but it is a nice classy detail to your travel set and actually makes it easier to locate it in a bag. This one in croc printed leather also doubles as a wallet with plenty of room for credit cards, receipts and foreign currency. Available at Mulberry’s website.
Steamery Portable Cirrus 3 Edition Iron Steamer
We can’t really remember what we did without a steamer. Did we really get out an ironing board and iron every time we needed to spruce up a shirt? Graham certainly didn’t – he hasn’t pressed anything for years and just claims he likes the rumpled look. But for most of us, steamers make our lives easier and are eminently suitable for travel too. We love this limited edition chrome one especially. You can get it here.
Nuori The one kit
Just because you are travelling, it doesn’t mean you should ignore your skincare – in fact, plane journeys can really dry out your skin, and if you are using more SPF, then you maybe need to double down on cleansing. If you are a cabin bag only, perhaps we can forgive you for leaving the serum and hand cream at home, but you need the essentials. This compact set from Copenhagen favourites Nuori is ideal: small enough to fit in your carry-on, powerful enough to actually work. Available here.
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones
Whether they are for drowning out the sound of screaming kids on the plane or for giving you the perfect ambient soundtrack for poolside, a set of good headphones is a vacation must. These are cordless, have noise-cancelling technology and are of such minimalist design that they will never clash with your outfit, which makes them a win all round for us. You can get them here.
Seiko Conceptual SWR108P1
If you want to travel in style but prefer to leave your more expensive pieces at home, it’s worth having a watch that still looks chic but lets you holiday without worrying about every scratch. Inspired by the classic design of the Tank, this model pays honest homage to the original while keeping things affordable. It looks good, wears well, too, and even with a brand like Seiko and its heritage in watchmaking, you don’t need to be ashamed of having it on the wrist.
