A good gift answers people’s needs. A great gift addresses their wants. A perfect gift somehow manages to do both. Still, if you’re shopping for a loved one who trekked the Peruvian countryside and went on a Tanzanian safari this past summer, we know that holiday hill feels impossibly tough to climb.
But unique options do exist — you just need to know where to look. Some of the nine gifts that follow are things you’d pack, while others are meant to be enjoyed at home once you get back. All are interesting enough to warrant a wow from the world traveler in your life.
Portland Gear’s Cascade backpack
While perfect for everyday use, the Cascade Backpack proves its worth as a carry-on. For starters, there’s the weather-proof vegan leather outer material that repels everything the trip throws at it. There’s also the pop-top wire frame construction that’s a lifesaver for squeezing in one more shirt or another book. And then there are the unique colors, like Sunrise, Tan and Forest, that ensure the bag stays functional and fun.
Nothing headphones
At this point, nearly every pair of headphones on the market offers Bluetooth capabilities and crystal-clear audio. To separate itself from the noise, Nothing made its over-the-ear headphones look futuristic with a transparent design while somehow still nodding to the ’90s with a cassette-like silhouette. The finished product will turn heads as you bob yours in your own noise-cancelling solo concert.
The Connaught coffee table book
If the walls at Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star The Connaught could talk, they’d whisper about the times Queen Elizabeth II visited or they’d reveal the go-to items on Jack Nicholson’s dinner order. But since they can’t speak, the grand London property’s first book does all the gabbing across 200 pages filled with stunning photos, Bill Prince’s elegant prose and Assouline’s industry-leading approach to coffee table books.
National parks gear
If you thought the only way you could show support for Yellowstone or the Great Smoky Mountains was by packing up the kids for a weekend visit, think again. The National Parks Conservation Association’s website allows you to speak your piece — everything from embroidered jackets and fashionable T-shirts to tumblers and waistpacks is available — while knowing that proceeds go to park protection efforts.
Mott + Bow five-pocket travel pants
We’ve been fans of Mott + Bow’s supremely soft stretch tees for years, so when we were introduced to the brand’s soft, minimally wrinkling travel pants, we became even bigger cheerleaders. Once you see how well these versatile garments hold up, even after sprinting through the airport for the tight connection, you’ll understand why.
Rosewood fragrances
Nothing says “brand refresh” quite like a new signature scent, which is exactly what Rosewood was thinking with Bois Cachemire, a line created in collaboration with luxury design and fragrance house L’OBJECT. Inspired by the tradition of transporting cashmere in wooden trunks layered with patchouli leaves to ward off insects, the warm, refined combination of cashmeran, musk and patchouli is captured in a candle, room spray and pillow mist available at select Rosewood properties and online.
Aperture Wine gift series
Winemaker Jesse Katz has established himself as a force in California viticulture with his Aperture brand and exclusive collaborations, notably at Five-Star Montage Healdsburg. But the highly regarded vino expert knows not everyone can get to Sonoma, so he’s offering Aperture Wine through a customizable gift series. Select a single bottle (choose between a chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc, Bordeaux red blend or a cabernet sauvignon) or a two- or three-bottle box of the most popular pours. And for the true oenophile on your list, Aperture’s limited-edition library series delivers even more coveted vintages.
Texas BBQ: The Art of Low and Slow coffee table book
The Lone Star State’s affinity for barbecue has long been documented on TV, movies and magazine spreads. Texas’ love of brisket and pulled pork has even been analyzed in books before, but none have done so with beautiful photos or juicy pitmaster interviews quite like this. Call us biased because Texas BBQ was written by Forbes Travel Guide’s Austin correspondent, Veronica Meewes, but whatever you do, don’t call us late to the table when the ribs come off the grill.
Rimowa’s specialty cases
Whether you’re on a two-day getaway or a two-month adventure, Rimowa products are a stylish, sturdy travel partner. But the instantly recognizable anodized aluminum casing isn’t limited to luggage. The brand understands that its customers take precious wines, vintage watches and musical instruments on journeys with them, so it provides cases made specifically for those items as well. The mahjong attaché takes things a step further by even including a set of hand-adorned tiles with the purchase.
