Tag: travel gifts

Christmas gift guide 2015

Stuck for what to give your nearest and dearest this Christmas? The Goodtrippers Christmas gift guide is full of bright ideas for those looking for eco-friendly, sustainable or charity gifts….now, it’s time to start shopping!

For kids…

seeded christmas tree - www.sciencemuseumshop.co.uk

Plantable Christmas trees – £5

Printed on seeded paper, these hanging decorations can be used over the festive season, then after Twelfth Night, plant them and help create more trees for the future. Buy from www.sciencemuseumshop.co.uk

PENGUIN Boys Set www.rockinbaby.com

Rockin’ Baby Penguin PJs – £26

These cute PJs are just a part of the excellent Rockin’ Baby range for boys and girls. We love the fact that for every item bought, Rockin’ Baby donate an item of clothing to children in over 30 countries, in partnership with ChildFund International. Buy from www.rockinbaby.com

24 x non-toxic wax crayons (dinosaurs), £11.99, yourssustainably.com (2)

Eco-friendly wax colouring crayons – £11.99

This set of cute dinosaurs will brighten up the post-Christmas thank you cards. Made of non-toxic wax, they come in a set of 24 assorted colours. Buy from www.yourssustainably.com

For foodies…

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Pomora olive oil subscription gift – £29 or £39 per quarter

Support small, local growers in Italy by adopting or fostering an olive tree for a loved one through the Pomora subscription service. Each quarter they’ll receive three 250ml tins of premium extra virgin olive oil direct from the producers, including rosemary, lemon and white truffle oils. Buy from www.pomora.com

Karma ColaKarma Cola – £1.59

This delicious craft cola is made with real cola nut and the best organic and Fairtrade ingredients, also available in Gingeralla and Lemony Lemon. Named ‘The World’s Fairest Trader’ in 2014 by Fairtrade International, Karma Cola not only tastes good, it’s doing good, making a big difference for a small village in Sierra Leone, rebuilding itself in the aftermath of war and benefitting the farmers of the sacred cola nut directly. Buy from www.waitrose.com

wraps (all), £6.99, yourssustainably.com

Reusable food wraps – £6.99 each

Leave that dull clingfilm at home, these gorgeous fabric sandwich wraps will add style to any lunch al fresco or ‘al desko’. With waterproof lining these reusable, washable wraps can help you cut down on wasteful food packaging. Buy from www.yourssustainably.com

On the go…

BAGS_QS004_NAVY_WHITE (1)

St Mary’s X-10 Sailcloth Laptop Bag – £60

Just one of the bags from the Quba Sails range of laptop bags, weekend bags and washbags, all vegan-friendly and made from reworked sail cloth. Buy from www.quba.com

incognito luxury combo2 low resolution

 

The incognito luxury travel combo – £45

Perfect for treks in the tropics or camping on the Scottish coast, this set for ‘bite-free’ holidays is 100% natural, biodegradable, chemical-free, achieves an overall recycling rate of 95% and won the Queen’s award this year for its efforts in sustainability. Buy from www.lessmosquito.com

BRITA Fill&Go Blue LR[1]

BRITA Fill&Go bottle – £14.99

Help save on plastic bottle waste with the Fill&Go. This sleek bottle is BPA-free and each filter disk can filter 20 litres of water, saving 40 plastic (500ml) water bottles. The Fill&Go has an straw enclosed in the bottle, making it easy to drink from when running. Buy from www.brita.co.uk

wee PAL chargers small file(1)wee PAL rechargeable power bank – £25

This portable charger powers up any device that is compatible with a USB (phones, Bluetooth speakers, cameras, games controllers) and can fully charge an iPhone 6 in just 1.5 hours.  For each wee PAL purchased, social enterprise Power a Life delivers a solar light, free of charge, to a child living without electricity in Africa to help them do their homework at night. Buy from www.poweralife.com

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Yogabellies luxury eco yoga mat – £59

Don’t leave this beautiful eco-friendly yoga mat at home! It’s made from 100% natural tree rubber and uses water based inks. It’s free from latex, silicone, toxic glue and phthalates and contains no PVC or chlorine. This means that it’s safe to use for pregnancy and practice with your baby. Buy from www.yogabellies.co.uk

For fashion and style lovers…

Mela lightweight cotton striped scarf (red and coral), £40, Danaqa.comMela scarf – £40

This lightweight and vibrant cotton scarf has been handmade in Ethiopia by dedicated craftswomen of a small, women-led business. Buy from www.danaqa.com

dragonfly broochDragonfly pewter brooch – £22

Handmade using lead-free pewter and inspired by the wildlife of Norfolk, this dragonfly brooch will add an original touch to any outfit. Buy from www.folksy.com/shops/yljewellery

Neroli neckace 2 RGNeroli necklace by Liz Earle Jewellery – £180

This beautiful necklace is part of a botanics collection made entirely of fairtrade and ethically-sourced materials. The Neroli necklace is available in 24ct rose or yellow gold vermeil and 100% certified Fairtrade. Buy from www.credjewellery.com

Don’t forget the charity gifts…

Christmas really is the time to give back and help those less fortunate. There are so many charity gifts available but some of our favourite ones include Good Gifts (so much choice, great categories and we love the cartoon gift cards); animal adoption schemes such as snow leopard adoption from WWF; Oxfam Unwrapped gifts helping those in poorer countries; or buy a gift for someone you’ll never meet (even though you will be making them feel special this Christmas) via the Salvation Army’s Christmas Present Appeal (check the website for details of local appeals in your area – hurry, ends soon!).

And relax…

After all of that shopping for everyone else, how about a little something for your Christmas wish list? We’ve picked a stocking filler and a ‘star gift’ that are both guaranteed to help you relax after the festive season.

STV0563.OBO.261-EditOlverum bath oil – from £23.50

This gorgeous natural bath oil will relax you even before you slip into the bath! Releasing a gorgeous aroma under running water, its scent will instantly turn your bathroom into a luxury spa. It’s packed full of natural essential oils including lemon peel, geranium flower, rosemary, lavendar, lime, ecualyptus and verbena to leave you uplifted (and with silky smooth skin to boot!). Buy from www.olverum.com

Tiipii Bed (2)Tiipii Bed – £199

We love this innovative take on the traditional hammock. Just hang from a tree or secure a hanging position indoors, and create your very own chill-out zone. With enough room for 1-2 adults or 4-5 children, add a few cushions and you’ll be battling to keep the swing bed to yourself! It also packs down into a tidy, lightweight carry bag so you can take it with you on holiday too. Available in natural white, natural green or natural taupe. Buy from www.tiipiibed.co.uk

 

Last minute Christmas gift guide

Leaving it late for your Christmas shopping? Don’t want to brave the frantic last minute rush on the high street? Don’t panic! Here are some great Christmas gift ideas for the Goodtripper in your life – and they can be grabbed with the click of your mouse!

(Good tip: Many of these gift givers will email you a voucher to confirm your present, but if you do miss the final delivery date for vouchers or packs, you can get creative and make your own voucher card and give the real thing in the new year!)

If they’re always thinking of others… Get them a Good Gift

Protect an acre of rainforest
Protect an acre of rainforest

One of the original and best charity gift givers – we love the creativity and imagination in the Good Gifts range, and all gifts come with great little cards. There are ways to help good causes at home and abroad, but travel fans may like some of these suggestions:

An Acre of Rainforest (£52) – help mitigate 200 tonnes of CO2 from your loved-one’s carbon footprint (Good Givers have already helped protect 12,000 acres of tropical rainforest!)

25 sqm of Woodland (£32) – closer to home, help them protect green belt woodland which saves a tonne of carbon

Air Ambulance Journey (£120) – in rural parts of Africa, air ambulances are vital in saving lives. If your loved one loves flying, help them fund one of the most important flights for someone in need in Africa.

Get these, and many more Good Gifts ideas, at www.goodgifts.org

If they love the sea… Boutique Beach Hut hire for a day

Boutique beach hut, Grand Pavilion
Boutique beach hut, Grand Pavilion

We love this idea! Two brand new beach huts at Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex, are currently being spruced up ready for hire from 1st February 2015. But these aren’t your average beach front hideaways – these are rather fancy (chandelier and luxury interiors) boutique beach huts! Pick either Grand Pavilion or Indian Summer, add on a luxury picnic with champagne, and you’ve got a very special seaside trip sorted. The organisers are also offering to arrange spa treatment and welcome bouquet add-ons.

Price: Grab the introductory price of £38 for a day’s hire. A luxury package, including picnic and champagne, is £94. The pretty gift voucher comes boxed.

Get it at www.boutiquebeachhuts.co.uk

If they love animals… Adopt an animal

Adopting an animal at a zoo, nature park, animal shelter or conservation project is a great way to show your support. Many organisations offer adoption schemes and give your recipient a welcome pack plus regular updates.

WWF offer a great adoption scheme which helps them protect many endangered animals around the world (and recipients receive a cute cuddly toy along with their welcome pack and updates!). Choose from snow leopard, Bengal tiger, Hawksbill turtle, orangutan and many more.

Price: From £36/year (you can pledge as much as you like, min.£3, as a monthly payment)

Get it at www.wwf.org.uk

If they want a memorable day out… Meet the animals at London Zoo

Meet the giraffes
Meet the giraffes

ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo offer animal lovers an incredible chance to go behind the scenes at these world-famous zoos and meet their animals on a vip day out. Join a keeper and find out even more about the fascinating lives of the aardvarks, penguins, meerkats, kangeroos, giraffes and more. Taking part in this experience helps support ZSL’s conservation work around the world.

Prices vary and start at £45 per person

Get this, and other gift ideas (including animal adoption) at www.zsl.org

For the person who has everything… Even more charity gift ideas!

Frankly, who needs another unwanted present? MoneySavingExpert.com has compiled a great list of charity gift ideas, complete with final delivery dates for vouchers (although many can be emailed up to Christmas Eve). Take a look at the ways you can spread some Christmas love and cheer with charities including Unicef, Centrepoint, Age International, Oxfam and more – MoneySavingExpert.com Charity Gifts

Look for a bargain… Don’t forget to browse our Good Offers section for a few special discount codes for some of our favourite brands

Check out our 2013 Christmas Gift Guide packed full of present ideas including travel gadgets, outdoor gear, sustainable fashion and accessories.

Everyone loves books at Christmas – we pick 10 of the best travel books

The Goodtrippers Christmas Gift Guide 2013 – Part 1

Wondering what great Christmas gifts to get friends and family this year? We’ve picked some of the best ideas for travel enthusiasts, backpackers, weekenders, globe trotters and lovers of the great outdoors. Time to get shopping!

FOR STYLE_SAVVY TRAVELLERSE-SIDE - Proof Wooden Sunglasses in bamboo polarized - £120

Sustainable wooden sunglasses by Proof: These stylish shades, designed by Proof, are individually handcrafted and rendered in beautiful eco-friendly wood such as ebony and bamboo. We like the classic, unisex style, and that for every pair you buy a portion of the sale price goes to supporting charitable causes worldwide, including an eye clinic in rural India.

Price: £120. Available from www.e-side.co.uk

Oxfam Monsoon wash bag

Monsoon for Oxfam large wash bag: This special Monsoon collection for Oxfam includes hand embroidered items are made by SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), a community cooperative in India committed to empowering female artisans. This beautifully patterned textile washbag is a stylish way to carry your travel accessories.

Price: £9.99. Available from www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/local-shops/monsoon

 

trapper-wrist-warmer-turquoise-blue Snugbug hat and wrist warmers: Snugbug create some the most Cable Floppy Pom Pom Whitesnugly winter woollies around! Made with 100% New Zealand wool, this top quality lanoline repels rain and snow making them great for winter outdoor activities. We love the on-trend chunky cable-knit designs and tribal-style patterns of the wrist warmers. But best of all, Snugbug works with ethical and fairtrade suppliers in Nepal where they are hand knitted – this ensures the money goes directly to the Nepalese villages involved.

Price: Cable floppy pompom hat – £22; Trapper wrist warmers – £20. Available from www.snug-bug.co.uk

 

TEKO EVAPOR8 socks: Every Christmas list needs a pair of socks and, would you believe it, Teko Evapor8 socksthese socks are actually made from recycled drinks bottles! The high-tech lightweight fabric ensures that your feet will stay dry, comfortable and odour-free as the EVAPOR8 fibre dries incredibly fast and is very durable making them perfect for high intensity activities or for wearing in hot, humid conditions.

Price: from approx. £8.50. Available from www.tekosocks.com or Amazon

 

Reflexion photography cases: For the wannabe David Bailey in your life who’s always lugging their camera (and Reflexion casescamera equipment) on their trips, the Reflexion photography case collection could be just the thing. The range, by Case Logic, includes two messenger-style cross-body bags which feature a removable camera pod to store your camera, lens and accessories, as well as offering good padded protection.

Price: various, from £45. Available from Amazon

 

FOR GADGET FANSTrakdot device

Trakdot luggage tracking device: Never fear lost luggage again! Once you register on the Trakdot website, place the device inside your suitcase or bag. Trakdot will deliver location information directly to your mobile phone or SMS device via text or email. An additional app even alerts passengers as their baggage approaches on the carousel…smart.

Price: £44.99 (plus annual service fee of £13.65). Available from www.trakdot.com

 

E-SIDE - Handmade wooden compass - £15

 

Wooden compass: For trekkers who prefer the classic forms of navigation, get them this stylish, hand carved wooden compass by Singgih Susilo. It’s tactile and attractive enough to keep them away from battery-draining GPS devices.

Price: £15. Available from www.e-side.co.uk

 

 

House of Marley watch, Transport light wood House of Marley watch, Billet Fabric greenHouse of Marley Watches: We love these eco-friendly watches designed and crafted by House of Marley (yes, of Bob Marley family fame). Choose a design with either salvaged leather, REWIND fabric, cotton and canvas straps; recycled steel or FSC-certified wood dials; and casing and buckles created with low impact ion plating. And to make them extra lovely, a percentage of proceeds from each sale goes to support 1Love.org, a non-profit which aims to make lives better around the world.

Price: various, ‘Billet’ with fabric strap – £89.99; ‘Transport’ with leather strap – £109.99. Available from www.watchshop.com

 

Lifeproof NUUD S3 case

Lifeproof waterproof cases: Smartphones and tablets can take a battering on your travels, but the award-winning Lifeproof creates a great range of shock-proof cases that protect your precious gadgets from water, dirt, mud and snow. The LifeJacket case even makes your tablet or smartphone completely buoyant allowing you to take it out on the water, and even take photos underwater. Cases available for iPhone 5, iPhone 4, iPad, iPad mini, Samsung S3 and S4.

Price: various, from £59.99. Available from www.lifeproof.com or Amazon

 

FOR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTSDraper Tools Folding Stool_Backpack

Draper Tools folding stool backpack: Lighten the load on a long hike – no need to carry a backpack and a separate chair, this durable, water-resistant backpack has a lightweight steel tube attached (1.6kg) that forms into a comfy seat. Ideal for camping or hiking.

Price: £16.50. Available from national outdoor stores or Amazon

 

Zap-It: Being in the great outdoors is wonderful – but not so wonderful if you find yourself a meal for the local Zap it in greenmosquitoes! Zap-It is a cute little device that is perfect to soothing itchy insect bites. Just place over the offending itch and click a few times – the mild and harmless (no stronger than a gentle pinch, honestly!) electrical impulse is created by crystals, delivering little zaps that soon stops you scratching. Its tiny size means you can even carry it around in your pocket.

Price: £5.95. Available from various health stores, garden centres, pharmacies and online at www.ecobrands.co.uk

 

JML Flexi torch: This slimline, bendable torch helps you illuminate awkward, hard-to-reach areas with its 360° JML FlexiTorchflexible head. But as a bonus, the head extends up to 57cm and is magnetised allowing you to retrieve lost or trapped metal items – you’ll realise how useful this is when you drop your keys down a tiny hole! It can lift objects of up to 1kg. The three LED lights have a good life expectancy and batteries are included.

Price: from £9.99. Available from www.jmldirect.com or Amazon

 

H2Onya 350ml purpleH2-Onya-750ml-Emerald-Green

H2Onya steel bottles: Perfect for hiking or cycling trips, these reusable stainless steel bottles are lightweight but sturdy enough to survive regular knocks. Made from 100% foodsafe material and bisphenol A-free, they won’t leach any nasties into your drinking water. We like the funky metallic colours and attractive ergonomic design.

Price: £11 (1l); £9.50 (350ml). Available from www.onyabags.co.uk

 

Coming soon…The Goodtrippers Christmas Gift Guide: Part 2 (last minute gifts to buy online!)

All of the Amazon links in this article link to the Goodtrippers Amazon Affiliates site – this is at no additional cost to you (prices are the same as going direct to Amazon) but Goodtrippers receives a small percentage from sales when you purchase using these links. Many thanks for your support.