Ten Great Gifts For Globetrotters by Penny McCormick
Dail sunglasses, €79; www.crann.co
To offset your carbon footprint, the gift of a pair of sustainable sunglasses may appeal. Crann, founded by Irish explorer Eoin McGuiness, uses recycled bamboo, oak and mixed woods for its range of handcrafted sunglasses and watches.
Silver Paloma sandals, €325; www.alamedaturquesa.com
Alameda Turquesa’s iconic pom-pom sandals have been worn by everyone from Anna Dello Russo to Olivia Palermo and Chiara Ferragni. These silver beauties will look as good in St Tropez as Santorini, or can be worn with velvet palazzo pants on Christmas Day.
Sony a7III, €2,300; www.sony.ie
Trends suggest we are moving back to cameras over saving images on our phones. A good all-round full-frame camera is the mirrorless Sony a7III – with interchangeable lens. Crucial features are its silent shooting and Real Time Eye-Auto Focus, which allows users to capture family holidays naturally without interrupting the fun.
Pink Cirrus No.2 steamer, €120; www.steamerystockholm.com
I’ve been surprised how many hotels no longer have irons and ironing boards in their room – necessitating either a hefty additional charge or a long wait for a board and mediocre iron to arrive. Now I’m a convert to The Steamery, which is easy to use and easy to pack and works on all types of fabrics. It also reduces bad odours and removes ‘‘shallow dirt.’’
Miniature candle set, Jo Malone London, €72, at Arnotts
For the frequent traveller who wants to inject some home comforts into a soulless corporate bedroom, Jo Malone London’s set of travel candles will appeal. The five luxe scents include Nectarine Blossom & Honey, Peony & Blush Suede, Cherry & Clove, Green Tomato Leaf and Roasted Chestnut.
The Ordnance Survey Ireland Puzzle Book, €18.99, at Arnotts
Guaranteed to test the wits of friends and family, this is perfect to pack for a staycation or long car journey.
Daily Defence Moisturiser, Cetaphil, €14.99, at Boots
As a stocking filler, Cetaphil’s Daily Defence Moisturiser SPF50 ticks a lot of boxes. It’s small enough to fit in hand luggage allowance. It’s also a lightweight, hard-working basic at an affordable price. Sofia Vergara, Charlize Theron and Reese Witherspoon are all fans.
I am a huge believer in luggage reflecting a traveller’s character and have always loved getting pieces other than standard black. On my Christmas wish list (for the last few years) has been items from Steamline. Choose from the special collaboration with Alice & Olivia or from the regular line which includes The Diplomat, The Editor and The Botanist amongst others. Available from www.steamlineluggage.com.
For long-haul travel or consistently changing time zones (even by a couple of hours), sleep is a premium. I’ve tried all sorts of remedies from setting my watch to the time zone ahead, dousing my pillow in lavender and hydrating as much as possible. An added extra and travel insider secret is the homeopathic Jet Candy. As well as allowing the internal body clock to function during long-haul travel, Jet Candy helps with dehydration, fatigue, disorientation, mental sharpness and other symptoms associated with the disruption of the circadian rhythms. Each bottle contains approximately 100 pillules, sufficient for eight intercontinental flights, each one containing sucrose, arnica, bellis perennis, cocculus, gelsemium and petroleum. Available from www.jet-candy.com.
Green journal, €60; www.smythson.com
Nothing compares to a gift which comes in a Nile blue box – synonymous with Smythson, the luxe London stationers and leather merchants. This Travel And Experiences journal, €60, is another stocking filler – perfect for planning 2020’s weekend breaks and holidays.
