Tick these travel gifts off Santa's list
By Kate Simon
Still haven’t shopped for Christmas? If there are avid travellers among your nearest and dearest, you might find an idea or two in here for Santa’s sack.
A holiday company once gave me a soft-shell, drag-along, cabin suitcase. Lucky me, especially as it is still going strong 20 years later, if a little battered and bruised. Why has it lasted so long? Probably because it was made by Samsonite.
So, when I decided to upgrade to a hard-shell four-wheel version a couple of years ago I set my sights on a Samsonite C-Lite Spinner. But I just couldn’t stomach spending £300-plus. Instead, I bought a perfectly serviceable version from John Lewis for around £100. It has proved to be hardwearing and is capacious, it keeps everything in place thanks to a mesh zip cover on one side and elastic straps on the other, plus the handle locks at several heights.
When I’m on the road researching Between the Pubs for this blog, I’m usually only in a destination overnight. The suitcase is a bit of a drag (geddit) for such a short trip, so my latest investment is a waterproof Ortlieb daypack, the commuter-style one that incorporates a laptop sleeve. These are designed for cyclists but they’re brilliant for overnight stays because you can just sling them on your back to avoid the hassle of stowing a case at your hotel and maximise time exploring.
Whichever bag I travel with, I always pack my Exped dry bag – well, I nicked it from my husband – for my dirty clothes. So much better than a plastic bag because the opening rolls down and clips together.
I’ve also ditched plastic bags for shoes in favour of featherweight, waterproof shoe bags from Muji. They have a drawstring top and a bit of Velcro inside that creates separate pouches for each shoe. Sadly, Muji doesn’t seem to sell these any more, but a good alternative is the Shoe Pouch from pack all.
Packing efficiently doesn’t necessarily mean packing light. (Read all about it in the book I co-wrote with my friend Sarah Barrell for Lonely Planet, How To Pack For Any Trip – a not-so naked plug, we don’t earn royalties.) But there are limits, especially when it comes to packing toiletries.
I used to swear by my waterproof roll-up washbag, which hangs from its own hook to reveal three compartments. I think I decided it all looked a bit functional (as you’ll see from my choices, I’m fond of the utilitarian style). So I’ve somehow expanded into three toiletries bags – wet, dry, make-up.
In fact, I’m quite tempted to also invest in a Lay-N-Go Cosmo make-up bag. Loosen the drawstring and this round bag becomes a flat pancake, displaying all the contents in full view. No rummaging. But I think I’ll probably restrain myself and return to a roll-up toiletries bag. I might upgrade to a Lowe Alpine one that also incorporates a little mirror. Muji does a good version, too.
Definitely on my Christmas list is a Bellroy Tech Kit, a neat solution for my chargers/mouse/plugs/earphones etc. I’d also like some touchscreen gloves so that I can use my phone on the move without freezing my hands. I rather like these North Face Etip gloves with touchscreen fingers and thumbs. Let’s hope the folks at home are reading this…
Phil’s Beer Notes
A quick Google suggests that buying beer gifts online can be a bit of a minefield. There are plenty of not-so-special options targeting the desperate niece or nephew looking for something to buy that uncle they don’t really see very much.
Best of British Beer looks a pretty decent place to go, though. There are a variety of options at different price points – right up to £155 for beers to cover the whole year. Most importantly, they include good brands. The 12 Beer Christmas Tree (£36.50), for instance, could include brews from Thornbridge, Keltek or Williams Bros – though you can’t be sure exactly what you’ll get.
So my top tip would be to take yourself to a nearby brewery where the shop or tap room should be happy to put a selection together for you. And don’t forget to include a nice glass.
Photo © Bart Fields