Gifts for People Hitting the Road

The holiday season is an opportune time to give a budget traveler some help in preparing for future adventures. Here are a few suggestions:

* The right guidebook can be worth many times its face value, but the wrong one can be a frustrating source of extra weight. A variety of publishers produce guides packed with the kind of information that’s ideal for independent budget travelers. The “Let’s Go” series, produced by Harvard Student Agencies; the “On the Loose” series, by Berkeley Guides, and the Travel Survival Kit and Shoestring guides, by Lonely Planet, are a few of the best and most popular.

Go to a bookstore that specializes in travel and get advice from an expert who has had personal experience in your area of interest or has talked to a lot of people. Before you buy, find out whether a new edition will be released before the recipient takes off. If so, settle for a gift certificate to cover the cost of the most up-to-date version.

* If you’re worried that a young traveler might try hitchhiking to save money, contact a travel agent or the tourist information office of the destination country for information on any bus or rail passes available. You’ll also be buying yourself some peace of mind.

Student travel agencies usually know of special deals for youths that regular travel agents may not. Often, it’s a good idea to buy a pass as a holiday present, as prices are often raised on Jan. 1. Just make sure the recipient will begin using the pass within its period of validity (usually six months from the date of purchase).

* The right luggage can be an ideal gift, but choosing it for someone else is tricky, consideringthe key factors of personal preference and proper fit. It’s best to ask a store’s sales staff, which is usually experienced and able to provide knowledgeable advice. Get an estimate on prices and purchase a gift certificate so that the recipient can go in and be properly fitted.

* A small day pack (for the back) or fanny pack (worn around the waist) is helpful for day trips, but caution the traveler against keeping valuables in either. On a crowded bus or in other close quarters, a thief can cut them open with a razor.

Money belts or neck pouches are ideal for keeping valuables such as tickets, passports, traveler’s checks and cash safely stashed under one’s clothing.

* If the traveler is going to stay in hostels, available in more than 60 countries through Hostelling International, he or she will need a sheet sleeping bag. Regular sleeping bags are not allowed for sanitary reasons. Sheet sleeping bags also can be rented at each hostel.

* The right shoes or hiking boots can add hours to every day, especially for travelers carrying heavy packs. The shoes need to be worn a bit before the trip so there’s less likelihood of blisters developing. If it’s likely the person might could be walk in mud or rain, it’s important that he or she wear shoes that dry easily.

* The first day or two after arrival overseas are often the most difficult for the novice traveler, who may be jet-lagged and trying to cope with a foreign language. To make things easier, you can arrange to pay the first two nights of accommodations through a travel agent. You might also purchase some foreign currency, so the person will have time to search for a good exchange rate upon arrival, before cashing traveler’s checks.