Family Travel

  • Best Gifts For Traveling Moms

    Perfect Gifts for Traveling Moms 

    Traveling Moms can be much harder to buy a gift for since well, they can’t travel with a ton of things. For moms and families living out of a suitcase, it makes buying gifts and presents a challenge. But, it gets to be easy. I’ve been traveling with my family and living this nomadic life for years. I’ll share some of the best gift ideas for moms that are constantly on the go.

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      Compressed bags

      This should be the first thing on your list. They make great stocking stuffers or another main gift. Although small, they can be quite expensive and excellent. They make great presents for any traveler. They will help the nomad in your life organize their luggage in a way that they didn’t even know possible. This is that thing they didn’t think they needed and more wonderful they went so long without it.

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 2

      Luggage

      The more obvious gift for a traveler is luggage. Any luggage will do carry on or checked in. It’s all appreciated. Be sure to take a look and listen to their wants and needs as luggage as come in all materials. Your loved one may have a preference for soft or hard luggage, so it’s worth noting.

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 3

      Locks

      Locks are fantastic stocking stuffers and excellent all-around because you can never have too many. Be sure that they are TSA approved; otherwise, you will be a waste because they will get clipped and discarded.

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 4

      Clothing or favorite clothing store gift card

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 5

      A gift card may be the best option; a travel coat or a jacket or vest with lots of interiors and exterior pockets.

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 6

      Phone

      If your Mama is traveling around without a smartphone or an outdated one-please, take this opportunity to upgrade her! She will thank you for it. A smartphone is essential when you’re traveling abroad and to new foreign places. And, there’s no need to debate here. LOL, I like both Apple and Android devices, so instead, I’ll share my favorite models.

      Apple

      Android

      In case you’re wondering if I HAD TO choose, I’m #teamandroid all the way. 

      PS, If your Mom happens to work virtually, is a blogger or influencer, read this article here so you understand why every blogger should use an Andriod too. 

      Backpack

      There are probably a million options for travel backpacks, and so I’ll share my top choices after spending hundreds of hours literally researching and comparing features.

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 7

      Travel towel

      Another good stocking stuffer is a travel towel because these towels are not like your typical standard towel. They’re made from a lightweight material that dries extremely fast, and it is not nearly as bulky as a regular towel.

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 8

      Sink plugs

      Before you write this one-off, this is one of those handy Dandy tricks that many people are aware of and makes for a fun stocking stuffer. Think dogs come in handy, especially during European travel because most, if not all, pubs and sinks are never supplied with a sink plug, which can be problematic, especially for travelers with families. 

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 9

      Clothing line

      Like the travel towel, a clothing line is absolutely necessary if you have a nomad in your life. This will come to the rescue when they cannot find a laundromat or hangers to hang up my clothes. 

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 10

      Wallet 

      You have the option to purchase any wallet you like. Of course, I recommend a specialty wallet that has RFID capabilities. 

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 11

      Passport holder

      The passport holder is nice because it allows quick and easy access to essential documents while traveling. 

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 12

      Tile tracker

      A tile tracker is a small handy Square that works as a GPS and can be attached to anything like keys are bag but really anything with a hook. They can then track it via an app, and it always works as long as there is Wi-Fi that it can connect to. This is how full of their luggage is ever lost or misplaced is easy to find and whereabouts.

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 13

       Travel journal

      A travel journal where your loved one can write down memories and scrapbook their experiences will make for a fantastic gift. 

      Best Gifts For Traveling Moms 14

      My favorite physical journals are this one and this one. If you’re looking for a personalized one, you can print at home (hello free shipping!), then have a look at the one I’ve created here. 

    • How to Stay in Touch with Friends and Family

      Can you stay close to a friend who lives miles away? Maybe you grew up together, but jobs and marriages have taken you to different countries. Maybe you met online, and you’ve never lived in the same time zone.

      If you don’t want your friendship to fade away, you’ll need to work at nurturing your connection. It’s challenging but rewarding.

      Holding onto old friends gives you the stability of having someone in your life who knew you at different stages of development.

      Any relationship may have more potential when you choose it deliberately rather than hanging out together because it’s convenient.

      Discover the secret to maintaining a long-distance friendship. Use these suggestions to make the separation work for you.

      The Secret to Staying in Touch with Friends and Family When You’re Stuck at Home or Far Away:

      Embrace change

      It’s natural to grieve when a close friend moves away. Remember that relationships shift over time, and the transformation may be positive. You could wind up valuing each other even more.

      Be intentional

      You will need to work harder at staying in touch and making specific plans. A precious friendship is worth the investment of time and thought.

      Act natural

      At the same time, you can overdo it. Enjoy ordinary conversation and pleasures instead of feeling compelled to come up with big news and adventures.

      Type less

      Texting is convenient but choose a more personal touch when possible. Try video calls and handwritten notes. Plan to get together in person whenever you can manage to be in the same area.

      Build support

      As much as you love your remote pals, you need contacts in your own time zone too. Keep making friends close to home.

      Here are Specific Strategies You Can Use to Stay in Touch That Work:

      Share activities

      Friendships usually involve doing the same thing in the same place, but they can also handle multiple locations. Play games online or read the same book so you can discuss it when you call.

      Take vacations

      Coordinate your leave time. Plan exotic getaways or visit each other at home. Enjoy having a free place to stay when you’re out of town.

      Use snail mail

      Send cards for no occasion or write a letter. Let your friend know that you’re thinking of them.

      Think local

      Keep your friend up to date on what’s going on where you live. Forward an interesting news story or your review of a new Korean restaurant.

      Schedule standing dates

      You’re more likely to be consistent if you adopt a regular schedule. Call each other on Wednesday evenings or Sunday mornings.

      Take pictures

      Make it easy for your friend to envision your life. Take a group photo with your office buddies. Post a picture of you attending a concert or your daughter’s soccer game.

      Go into detail

      You may need to provide more context when you’re talking with a friend you don’t see often. Fill in the background and explain how you’re feeling.

      Share your calendar

      The logistics can become complicated when you have lots of mutual friends spread out around the country or across the world. Consider creating a group calendar to help you keep track.

      Send gifts

      Your friends will love receiving surprise presents from you. Present them with a gift certificate so you can buy them a cup of coffee or help decorate their home. If you’re the DIY type, knit them a scarf or bake them some cookies that you can ship overnight.

      Long-distance friendships can thrive. Make a commitment to putting in the necessary effort and seize each opportunity to get together face to face.

    • 11 Things You Can Do When You Can’t Take a Vacation

      It’s been called a staycation, or a vacation spent on your home turf. It’s possible to have a better vacation at home, since you’re saving so much money on travel, lodging, and food.

      You can spend some of that money at a high-end restaurant or golf course. There’s no reason to be upset if you can’t afford a week in Paris. You can find plenty to do at home!

      Avoid the stress of traveling, sleeping in a different bed, and paying too much to eat every meal at a restaurant. Spend that money on more enjoyable activities.

      Enjoy your vacation at home

      Spend the day at the beach

      If you’re lucky enough to live near a lake or the ocean, a day at the beach is a good way to spend the day. Work on your tan and get some exercise swimming.

      Spend the day at the pool

      Those without access to a beach can take advantage of the next best thing: the local pool. Splurge for snacks and live it up.

      Go for a long bike ride

      Your bike might be hiding behind the lawnmower or beneath the rake, but it’s ready to go. Add some air to the tires and go out for a long ride. Look online for bike paths and popular routes.

      Have a picnic

      Whether it’s at the park, pool, or beach, a picnic provides a relaxing, enjoyable time. Pack your favorite foods and bring your favorite people. A bottle of wine can be a nice touch.

      Attend a sporting event

      Professional sports are exciting but expensive. If an NBA game is out of your budget, check out the local high school team. Sports can be exciting at any level.

      Read a book

      It can be hard to find time to read when you always seem to be busy with work. Take advantage of your free time and relax with a good book. You might even find the time to get a library card. Then your books are free.

      Visit a local museum or zoo

      Most people go out of town to visit the zoo or museum. Now is the time to check out your local offerings.

      Spend a day at the movies

      Pack in three or more movies on the same day. The real cost is food. Consider watching one movie, then heading out for lunch. You’ll be full and satisfied for the next couple of movies.

      Have friends over for a movie night

      Stay at home and rent movies on demand. Invite over a few friends and tell them to bring their favorite snacks.

      Rent a boat

      Rent a speedboat or sailboat for the day. Test out your skills and spend some quality time on the water.
      Check out a local band. Get out for an evening and enjoy the local music scene. Enjoy the nightlife for a change of pace.

      Go out for a fancy lunch

      Since you’re not spending money on a vacation, you might have the funds available to have lunch at that fancy restaurant downtown. Splurge a little bit and enjoy yourself.

      Work on your golf or tennis game

      You’ve always said you’d be great at golf if you just had the time to practice. Now you have the time. Consider taking a few lessons and concentrate on improving your game.

      A staycation can be a better option than going out of town. The sights might be familiar, but you’ll have more money to spend on entertainment if you stay at home. Use your vacation time wisely, get out of the house, and enjoy your time off.

    • Avoiding Identity Theft While On the Road

      How To Avoid Identity Theft While Traveling

      Travel safely:

      If you’re preparing to take a vacation, I’m sure you’ve thought about your safety. You’ve possibly even felt nervous about being mugged or losing your most precious possessions. Am I right? It’s quite common for credit cards, passport, and drivers’ licenses to get stolen.

      I’ve heard so many horror stories about people’s identities getting stolen during their travel that it’s taking up a huge amount of my energy and mental bandwidth as I fretted about the thoughts.

      Although you have a right to be concerned about these issues, once you discover how to avoid this situation and be proactive about the steps to take to avoid identity theft before, during, and after your travel, you’ll see that you can have the time of your life on your vacation.

      Use these tips to protect yourself from identity theft during your travels:

      Before You Travel:

      • Go through your wallet and remove things that you won’t need on your trip. Your social security card, credit cards (except for the one or two major cards you’ll use on the vacation), and any listings of website passwords should be left at home in a safe location. 
      • Also, call the credit card company for the card you’ll be taking with you to inform them of your travel plans and dates. Take copies of your passport and identification to store separately in your luggage, just in case.
      • Avoid posting on your social media site when you’ll be leaving and returning as this is simply a cue for when it’s safe for thieves to enter your home. 
      • If you don’t have a trusted close friend, relative, or neighbor to promptly remove your daily mail, go to your local post office and complete a card giving permission for your mail to be temporarily held at the post office.

      During the Trip:

      • Avoid responding back online to possible phishing efforts to get your banking info. Instead, have your banking institutions’ phone numbers in your smartphone where you could access them to call and inquire about any concerns regarding your accounts.
      • Refrain from checking bank accounts on hotel computers to prevent the theft of delicate information.
      • Keep your original identification and credit cards with you at all times. Consider using a small zippered travel pouch on a belt that can be worn underneath your clothing while you travel.
      • Store the copies you brought in your luggage, separately from the originals. Place the copies in the luggage lining or with dirty clothes where they would not likely be discovered by others. Better yet, keep them locked away in the hotel safe.

      When You Arrive Home:

      • Feel free to access one of the free online credit-check websites to check your credit report to ensure that your credit is intact and has not been tampered with during your vacation. 

      You can enjoy your upcoming trip and know that your money and identity will be safe by following these suggestions before, during, and after you return from your trip. Bon voyage!