20 Under $20: Gifts for the Boomer Traveler, 2009 Edition

Holiday shopping at Hong Kong's Jade Market

Friday (Black Friday) is the official beginning of the holiday shopping season. My Itchy Travel Feet has joined the slew of blogs publishing gift giving ideas for their readers.

Baby boomers, are you searching for stocking stuffer or inexpensive gifts for the traveler on your holiday shopping list? Don’t worry. I’ve researched your gift giving dilemma, concentrating on items that cost $20 or less. To add a little fun to the mix, I asked my twitter followers for suggestions. These savvy travelers sent me the name of their favorite inexpensive travel product.

PACK IT AWAY

• SMALL PACKING CUBES (3) ($19.99 on sale) keep travelers organized. Suggested by @rachelcotterill. Computational Linguistics PhD student Rachel Cotterill writes fiction, travel and also blogs.
• SMOOTH WAIST MONEY BELT ($8.99) keeps money and credit cards safe. @kimthewriter suggested I check out the cool travel gear at AAA. I chose this cloth money belt because I never travel without one. Kim Fernandez is a prolific writer for consumer, trade, alumni and association publications.
• Small Open Top Canvas Tote ($17.99) holds the equivalent of one bag of groceries for your next road trip. @Willdobbs suggested that I look at Land’s End for an inexpensive travel gift idea. William Dobbs offers social media advice at Collective Cloud Consulting.

ON THE ROAD

• BROOKSTONE ULTRASLIM UMBRELLA is small and lightweight plus it folds flat. ($20) Suggested by @llgable. Laura Gable tweets about luxury travel.
• Avenir Comfy Gel Cycling Gloves ($4.97 – 19.99) for cycling travelers. Suggested by @familyonbikes. Check out Family on Bikes, which records the family cycling travel adventures of the Vogel family.
• Emergency Solar Hand Crank Dynamo AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio, Flashlight, Reading LED Light, Cell Phone Charger w/ USB adaptor ($19.99) will light the way as well as keep you informed during travel emergencies. Suggested by @hotspringer who is travel writer Rebecca McCormick.
• High Road No Battery Flashlight (Set of 2) ($18.99) lights your way with a simple shake. @travelwonders says this is ideal for camping or hiking in third world countries where batteries are dodgy and wasteful. Check out Travel Wonders of the World to read about memorable travel destinations and experiences from all over the world.
• POCKETCOMMS ($10) picture flash cards help you communicate no matter the language. Suggested by @Heathercowper whose writing, photographs and videos at Heather on her travels will entertain and educate you.
• All-in-One Travel Power Plug Adapter ($3.09) Suggested by @foxnomad who writes about traveling smarter at foXnoMad.
• Bucky Shades Sleep Mask With Earplugs($19.85) keeps travelers snoozing away, even on those dreaded red-eye flights. Suggested by @UKtraveleditor. Writer Jill Starley-Grainger specializes in travel, ethical living, food and drink.
• UNIVERSAL PLUG ADAPTER ($13) eliminates your power connection woes no matter where you travel. Suggested by @judydolce who tweets about her two passions of food and travel.
• MINI TRAVEL POWER STRIP ($16.99) solves the “not enough outlet” problem in hotels or cruise ship cabins. Suggested by @Cajun_Mama. Travel writer Shannon Lane dishes on the latest Travel Tips and Deals at ShannonLane.com
• tugo Luggage Drink Holder (11.95) provides a handy place to put your coffee cup while you’re running through the airport. Suggested by @DonnaLHull. It’s my blog, of course I had to suggest something.
  

TRAVEL EXTRAS

• MOO GIFT CARDS AND STATIONARY ($19.99) provides travelers with an easy means of sharing their photographs. Another super idea from @Heathercowper.
• DOYBAGS (Shopping bag is $19.99) are made from recycled juice boxes by a women’s cooperative in the Philippines. Save the environment, do a good deed and give a cute bag all at the same time. Suggested by @pen4hire. Travel writer Vera Marie Badertscher combines literature with travel at A Traveler’s Library.
• BOX OF CHOCOLATES FROM HARRY AND DAVID’S ($19.95) provides the tired traveler with a tasty pick-me-up or a thoughtful gift for your host. Suggested by @PeggyCoonley who inspires women to travel through tour offerings at Serendipity Traveler.
• Bodum Pavina 2.5-Ounce Double-Wall Thermo Glasses (Espresso/Shot), Set of 2 ($12.25) make an inexpensive gift for your host. Suggested by @travelinggreen who writes about environmentally friendly travel at Traveling Greener.

What’s that? No travelers on your gift giving list. Check out these blogs for more $20 or less gift ideas:

Irish music gift ideas from Kerry Dexter at Music Road.
Merry Martha Gift Guide suggests inexpensive gifts that even Martha Stewart would like. Brette Sember writes about “all things Martha” over at Martha & Me.
Wasabimon with gluten-free and/or cooking ideas from Stephanie Stiavetti

And, finally, this gift post doesn’t meet my $20 and under guideline but I couldn’t resist sharing 10 Perfect Gifts for Travelers Who Read from Vera Marie Badertscher at A Traveler’s Library.

Well, there you have it. My 20 travel gifts for approximately $20 or under. Post a comment if you would like to add your under $20 travel gift to the list.

Update 2011: If you’re counting, we’re down to 17 gifts on our list as some items are no longer available on the internet. Check out our 2011 edition of 20 under $20 Gifts for the Boomer Traveler for more holiday shopping ideas.

Disclosure: I have included links to the products for your convenience. However My Itchy Travel Feet does receive a small percentage for purchases made at Amazon.com.

New here? Like what you see? Subscribe to our monthly travel newsletter for boomers for exclusive specials and more travel fun.

You may also like -

Snorkeling at Moon Reef on a private excursion in FijiSaturday's scene: Welcome to the Miraflores LocksSaturday's scene: Alabaster Mosque

Tagged as: $20 gift ideas, $20 gifts, Baby boomer travel, baby boomers, boomer, boomer travel, boomers, gift giving, gift ideas, holiday shopping, inexpensive gifts, travel, travel gifts, traveler