ALT-4 Best Graduation Gifts for Grads with a Travel Bug
I bet you think I'm going to start off with luggage.
Sorry, but luggage is a very personal item, and that decision should be placed on the individual carrier.
However, a student traveler might like a gift card to purchase some baggage, or a fine leather backpack, or even a laptop briefcase if they love to write on the road. As you can see it's a very customized fit.
My top pick for a gift in hand traveler comes in all sizes and price ranges. It's a camera.
Who travels that doesn't see something they want to memorize in a Kodak moment.
A fun style is in the form of those little disposables that come with processing fees. Now this may seem like a cheep way out, but they are practical, and think of how long it may take a student or graduate to save up enough cash to get his film developed.
I suggest buying several along with a 20 minute disposable video cam (Yes, they do make them too now.) and wrapping them all up in a nice wool sweater or Polartic jacket. Everybody traveling could some good warm cover.
If you want to spend more there is the digital Easy Share Camera (about a 130 dollars) where the student can print photos on the road and send them home to you. Pricier models can even print postcards.
Now, if you have a true photographer, and or a naturalist and you're willing to go all out for that ultimate once in a lifetime graduation gift take them to the camera shop and give them a spending limit.
Another great gift for a young journeymen is a handheld trail GPS unit.
These can run from 100 -200 dollars and Garmin is most reasonable and reliable. Three must have features are: its waterproof, it has a track log (That shows you where you've gone so you can back track if lost.) and a US base map (some models can reprogram outside of the country).
Next, there are three things that every traveler needs before the trip but doesn't want to spend money on them:
1) A laminated map of the area they're traveling.
2) A Frommer"s Travel Guide to the area. (Frommer's is the best by far)
3) A translation text, if going to a foreign country. (Even fluent speakers sometimes get tongue tied under pressure).
And finally, give them some prepaid calling cards and some advice.
Let your young traveler know that you will always be ready to assist them 24/7, and keep the gadgetry inconspicuous in public.
We want them to be safe as we let them go so, splurge in this department.
