Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Travelers

In today's day and age, there are tons of gadgets to make traveling easier. A lot of these things make great stocking stuffers. Here are some of the most essential.

Universal adapter and converter set: Your traveler will want to charge their iPod and camera battery all over the world. With a universal adapter set they'll be prepared where ever they go!

Alarm clock: Make sure your traveler doesn't miss their 5 a.m. flight home! A cell phone can also be used as an alarm clock, but not all US cell phones work in other parts of the world.

Toiletry bottles: Nothing is worse then getting off your flight from Madrid and retrieving your bag from the carousel only to find your shampoo has spilled and ruined your Picasso prints from El Prado. Make sure the plastic bottles have screw-on caps and they'll be less likely to spill. Ziplock bags help, too!

LUSH shampoo bar: Avoid the above problem altogether by giving your traveler a solid shampoo bar to carry around. Plus, the shampoo bar can also be used as body wash and laundry soap! LUSH also makes a tin for the shampoo bars and a solid conditioner.

Silk neck pouch: Your traveler can keep their passport and cash safe at airports and train stations with a nice neck pouch. A silk one feels better next to the skin, especially during hot weather, and it doesn't cost much more than the ordinary kind. As a bonus it can double as a small purse!

Compass: It's easier to read a map when you know which way is north. You can get compasses that come attached to things like whistles or flashlights, which are also handy.

Pocket knife or multi-purpose tool: How will your traveler slice up that bread and cheese they bought as a picnic lunch to eat in a park or on the train? They will be surprised at how many times they use this traveler's necessity. Make sure you get a pair with scissors and they will be doubly useful. You can go with the classic Swiss Army knife or a new-fangled Leatherman tool.

Pocket tissues: Your traveler will always want to have some of these handy. It's amazing how superfluous toilet paper seems to be in other parts of the world!

Earplugs: It's a bad idea to set foot on an airplane or in a hostel without these.

Hand sanitizer gel or wipes: There's not always soap to wash your hands. For that matter, there's not always water.

A mini-first aid kit: For the bumps and bruises of the road.

A mini-sewing kit: You never know when your traveler will need to replace a button.

Mighty Bright reading light: These are great both at home and abroad. They are bright enough for reading, journal writing, or even middle-of-the-night packing but much more discreet than the over-head light, so they are an essential for any hosteller. The clip will go almost anywhere. The Mighty Bright with the flexible neck is best because it doesn't break as easily (speaking from experience!) and it takes three triple-A batteries, which are much lighter than four double-A batteries. Throw in a pack of lithium batteries, which will last longer than your traveler's trans-Siberian railway journey.

Eye mask; Just because your traveler has a Mighty Bright reading light, and doesn't have to disturb everyone by turning on the overhead light, doesn't meant that everyone will have received such thoughtful stocking stuffers! Make sure your traveler has an eye mask and they will be able to sleep through it all.

Blow-up pillow: It's happened to everyone: uncontrollable envy because the person next to you has one of those comfy u-shaped airplane pillows and is snoozing away, while you are tossing and turning on your lumpy airline-provided polyester log. Make sure it doesn't happen to your traveler! A blow-up pillow takes up much less space than a regular one and is just as comfortable. Your traveler will be thankful for this stocking stuffer, not just on airplanes but on trains, buses, and hostel beds where the pillow seems to have gone missing!

Phrasebooks: These are usually the perfect size for stockings.

Moleskin city notebooks: These little notebooks are so cool! They come with maps and marked pages for your traveler to essentially write their own guidebook. If Moleskin doesn't make a notebook for the city your traveler is heading to next, or if they are going on a multi-city journey, a plain Moleskin notebook will be just as useful.

Luggage lock: A TSA approved lock will keep thieving fingers out of your traveler's backpack or suitcase.

Universal sink plug: A universal plug is a flat plug that suctions over the drain on any sink. This is essential for any long-term traveler who is planning on washing clothes in the hostel or hotel sink.

Rubber clothesline: Travel clotheslines are flexible and have clips and suction cups so you can attach them to almost anything. There are two or more rubber cords interwoven so you don't even need clothespins! They take up very little room but make a huge difference if your traveler is washing clothes in the sink.

Travel underwear: It may seem strange, but specially designed, fast-drying travel underwear is a great investment. Your traveler can wash his or her underwear in the sink (with the help of the aforementioned sink plug) and if it dries quickly enough, make do with only 2 or 3 pairs. This leaves room in their luggage for more important things-like presents for you! Ex Officio travel underwear is amazingly comfortable!

Travel socks: The same thing goes for socks as for underwear. Tilley's makes great travel socks.

And of course-airline tickets and Eurail passes make the best stocking stuffers of all!