Best Graduation Gifts for Grads with a Travel Bug
Travel related gifts come in all shapes and sizes so whatever your budget there is a great gift just waiting to be bought and wrapped. I've presented some of my favorite ideas, based on what I needed for my own travels when I was just starting out, and covering a wide price range. Remember, the key is to keep it practical - it will guarantee appreciation.
A passport.My mother gave me the application form and money to cover the fee for my first passport well before I actually left the country. Once I'd applied I felt like I could go anywhere anytime. It is often the first hurdle to getting started in making plans and it adds a touch of reality.
Flight vouchers.Pay for the whole ticket or just contribute towards it, many travel agencies these days offer gift vouchers.
A travel journal.Choose something memorable and personal. Add messages for the writer to find randomly throughout the book so that you are with them as they travel.
Guide books.Most first time travelers prefer the safety net of a quality guide book The Rough Guide and Lonely Planet are popular options with low-budget guides in their range.
Luggage.Good luggage will never go unappreciated. If buying a travel pack or rucksack, it should be specifically fitted to the person who will be using it so its a good idea to have them come along when you purchase it. Also there is a lot of variety in styles and functions so the traveler may very well want to choose their own.
Camping / Outdoor accessories.Swiss army knife, camp towel, sleeping sheet, flashlight, rain poncho.... any items like these make life on the road a lot easier. Ask at you local outdoor store for suggestions or see what they have in stock. Ensure it is lightweight and durable.
Electrical converters.For the ultimate in practicality, plugs for converting domestic electrical plugs to fit the wall sockets of foreign countries are always useful.
Camera and/or photo printing voucher.If your grad doesn't have a digital camera this would make a great gift as no one wants to return home without photos. Of course once home, it is unlikely that they will have funds left for printing those prized memories so a voucher for photo printing would be appreciated.
MP3 player.For all those lonely hours in bus stations, on trains or trying to get to sleep in a noisy hostel, portable music is a must! MP3 players provide the smallest, most lightweight options, holding the most music, making them perfect for travel.
Travel clock.A good - small but durable and highly reliable - travel clock makes catching early trains and planes easy. You will need something with a back-light for reading the time at night and with good volume control (so as not to wake the whole dormitory).
If you are at all in doubt about what gift to buy - ask. Its really disappointing preparing for a big trip, watching every penny as you try to save for the essentials only to be given a useless gift by someone who means well. On a number of occasions I've had to make the decision of whether to cart something around with me just to be polite or whether to leave it at home even though I know it was bought specifically for my trip.
