As we approach the Holidays or the Giving Season, it's time to find those perfect gifts for those near and dear, or maybe add to our own wishlist.  I’m sharing my ideas in the hopes they help with your hunt to brighten someone’s day.

Travel Related:

My "GO-TO" Travel Staple

If there is one travel staple I absolutely love, it's a cashmere wrap. I usually don't travel with anything that needs to be dry cleaned, but here's why I make an exception for a cashmere wrap. It doubles as a blanket on the plane, and there is nothing that feels better on a long flight than snuggling up with soft cashmere. Additionally, I can't tell you how often this has come in handy on a night out.

For Men Who Travel

This wallet is the size of a credit card and has a little ejection switch to pop them out, so you don't even have to open it. It also has a money clip, which, when traveling outside the states, you'll find you need.

… and for you women who need a slim wallet with ample card slots and a zippered compartment for those ubiquitous foreign coins - this or this

For Any Traveler

You never know the "plug situation" in your next hotel room. Will there be enough outlets? Will they be convenient? With this charging station, you don't have to worry. 

Travel During COVID

Now that we have to carry our Vaccination Card to travel overseas, these holders have become a new addition.

The Gift of Travel

Flyte Take Flyte Organization is near and dear to my heart. If you’re like me and believe that travel can change your perspective and help to make us all Citizens of the World, consider giving to Flyte. Travel can open our minds to so many things, and you can help bring this to teenagers who don’t have the means to travel. Help change the world, one young adult at a time.

Wine Traveler

I'd be remiss if I didn't have this on my list - this bubble-packing is easy and the perfect answer to wine travel. If you're the one bringing the wine, either by car or plane, these handy Wineskins will get your wine there safely.

Wine Related:

I know wine can be a challenging gift to give, but these two wine clubs have unique curated packages.

Fatcork

Who doesn't love to receive some bubbles 🥂 I love the fact that they work exclusively with small, family-run grower Champagne houses. It will be a unique gift because Fatcork Champagnes are produced in small batches, and likely something they haven’t tried.

Bravino

The focus of Bravino is on Italian wines from small family-run wineries. Since Italy has 20 wine regions and over 200 indigenous grapes, you'll most likely be able to give your wine lover a new experience and expand their wine repertoire. Plus, Carly and Tommaso, husband & wife, and the owners of Bravino, are so helpful and accommodating.  

Books:

I love to gift them, and I love to receive them. Books can cover so many interests; travel, wine, cooking, history, or that perfect vacation read. For that hard-to-find person, look for a book to match their interests.

For the Wine Lover & those Wine Travel Planners

The World Atlas of Wine. This book provides a well-rounded understanding of each of the major wine regions; history, grapes, terroir, etc. It also provides maps, going into details, including sub-regions within a region (i.e., Mosel - broken down into three regions), and mentions some of the premier producers. All of this helps you gain an excellent understanding of a region and is the perfect starting point for any wine travel planning. 

For those who love History thru Architecture

How to read Churches, Buildings, and Homes. I’m so happy I discovered these How-To books, which are easy reference guides to understand history through architecture. You'll find them helpful while exploring historical cities. I use the Church book often, and it's small enough to throw in your backpack/purse/camera bag for a quick source of information.

For the History Buff who loves Maps

Historical Atlas of Central Europe. This book gives you the history of this region through geographic and political change accompanied by maps of eras and empires. I first encountered this book when we were planning our travels to Turkey, and I wanted to understand the history of the Ottman Empire. As we embark upon our trip to Austria, this book came in handy to understand the Hapsburg Empire. Plus, I love the maps!

For Anyone Who Loves Italy (The Italophile)

Old World Italian: Recipes and Secrets from Our Travels in Italy - A Cookbook with a Travel Twist 

One of the things I love about travel is discovering a new culture, and one of the best ways to learn is through a country's food and wine. In 2020 when travel was restricted, we decided to virtually explore Italy by drinking and cooking our way through the local cuisine. This was a fantastic gift which not only helped us through this time but is still a go-to for Italian recipes.

Always Italy by Francis Mayes

As the author of Under the Tuscan Sun, she knows about la dolce vita! In this book, she shares her favorite places in her travels around Italy. Providing hidden gems from where to rest your head, local restaurants, and even little-known hiking trails. And the pictures!!!

For your next Vacation Read

To Sir With Love.  Who doesn't need a book to escape, and it helps when it has a happy ending. There is no drama in this; just a fun read that will leave a smile on your face. Full disclosure, it's written by my daughter-in-law, but it's not on this list because of that. If you too loved, You've Got Mail, you'll love this modern-day version as well. Find all her books here.

My Favorite Book of 2021

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know. This book proved to me you are never too old to learn and knowing what we don't know is wisdom. Adam Grant weaves in great stories to show us; we can laugh at ourselves, change our minds frequently, and instead of proving ourselves, seek to improve ourselves. By bringing nuance to charged conversations maybe we can change workplaces, communities and turn our kids into lifelong learners.

Happy Giving 😊🥂🍷✈️

To see all the things I pack in my suitcase

To see how I pack my “suitcase” wine