This Season’s Best Travel Buys

It’s that time of year again! It can be hard to tell down here in the Southern Hemisphere, where the heat’s creeping up as summer looms, but it is indeed the holiday season — which means it’s also time for Travel Tuesday.

To help you choose your upcoming travel buys for yourself and your favorite folks, I’ve put together this sweet little list. Enjoy, and have yourself a merry little winter. 

Last-Chance Travel Tuesday Deals

It’s not too late to grab a great Travel Tuesday-linked discount. In the mood for paradise? On Hawaii’s Big Island, the adults-only, all-inclusive Hamakua Hotel is offering seven nights for the price of four ($699 a night, code: Cyber), while the more affordable Romer House Waikiki is 40 percent off through Dec. 6 (code: BFCM24).

Closer to home, Chicago’s new riverside hotel, L7 Chicago, is offering 30 percent off 2025 stays through Dec. 8. If neither of these destinations appeal, Booking.com has discounts of up to 35 percent on lodgings in Rome, New York, Rio and beyond.

The Gift of a Journey

’Tis the season to buy your mother that holiday she’s always dreamed of? One of the hot travel trends this year is gift cards and vouchers. Most major airlines, cruise outfits, and hotel chains allow customers to buy personalized gift cards or redeemable credits, including American Airlines, Delta, Marriott, Hilton, Royal Caribbean, and Mandarin Oriental.

But you could get next level and book your loved one a boutique tour or educational adventure, with a voucher for Intrepid Travel or Road Scholar. Or, if you act fast, you could lock in Geographic Expeditions’ $1000 off on select trips through Dec. 6. The only question is, would your mom prefer rugged Patagonia, wild and wonderful Madagascar or India’s enchanting Taj Mahal?

True Universal Adapter

I’m always on the move and always using my laptop, which means my power cord is constantly being twisted and turned, wrapped and unwound and stretched to its breaking point. Not long ago I went past that point and had to buy a new one in Buenos Aires, where I live. Now, when I travel I need an adapter with Argentina’s diagonal Type I plug, a rarity in the west. But Devonteed’s universal travel adapter is one of the few that lives up to the name: it works in 160 countries. And with three mini-USB ports, it’s able to fast-charge five devices simultaneously, all for less than $30 on Amazon. You could gift one to yourself and your favorite traveler.

Wooly Winter Wear

When temperatures drop, I’m all about warm and cozy knitwear, and nobody does wool better than Scandinavians. I fell for this style of traditional fisherman’s cardigan on a visit to Bergen years ago, and recently found that Norway’s Susan Fosse does a brilliant zip-up version. Their women’s cardigans also make for a fantastic gift for that special someone. They don’t come cheap, but they’re said to last a lifetime—assuming you’re able to hold onto it. A bit more affordable, their stunning scarves come imprinted with Norwegian scenes and landscapes.

Real More on Post Summer Travel Necessities

Pack Your Packable

I’ve traveled enough to know to never check a bag. You’ll wait forever at the carousel or they’ll lose it and take days to track it down. Instead, I load my laptop and other necessities into my backpack and drag my wheeled carry-on. But sometimes I’ll want to pick up a few things—a sweater, hat, T-shirt, a stylish gift or curio—and need extra space to get them home. For that, I’ve found Matador’s packable duffle, a 25-liter recycled nylon bag that squishes down to the size of a paperback. It’s water-resistant, comes in three colors, and stays at the bottom of my carry-on until it’s pressed into service to hold those great gifts I lug back home for the holidays.

Read More on Top 5 Travel Essentials to Pack

About the Author

This essay is an excerpt from EA Editor David Lepeska’s 2023 book, Desiccated Land.

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