Luggage or accessory requests from Santa?

Plane tickets to just about anywhere :-)

I’m hoping for a Tom Bihn gift card to offset my inevitable 2019 purchases.

🎅🏻

Not a travel item, but this is how my 6-year-old grandson describes his Santa visit:

"I ordered a hamster from Santa."

No, but I should have thought about this earlier....next Fall we should ask the webmaster if we can do a "gear swap" like they do for winter sporting goods!

I've got several bags I need to get rid of and untold numbers of packing cubes (all stashed in the travel bins we discussed in THAT long thread!)

Lola, very funny! Is Santa delivering a hamster?

Kim, anything you are looking for?

Pam, at very least we could do gear swaps within group meetings -- I know I have borrowed books and stuff for previous trips and sometimes people bring in gear for "show and tell". Problem is that it would be like going to garage sales -- your treasures move from your travel bin to mine. ;- )

Pam, I just thought his terminology was cute, as if he views Santa as the embodiment of Amazon, in a red suit.

I think the hamster will come from the pet store, but the cage might have to be delivered by Amazon (aka Santa Claus) first.

Not exactly travel gear, but I've asked Santa for a tablet type computer. My parents are definitely elderly, and are having various health problems. I want a computer light enough to pack in my carry on or backpack, with a keyboard I can actually type on, and Skype capability. My dad gets uneasy if I'm out of touch for more than a couple of days, so I figure if I can Skype to his cell or landline he'll be okay.

No, I don't have a cell phone, smart or otherwise. As I mentioned, I want a keyboard on which I can type.

Also cheap plane tickets to Paris would be nice. Preferable Premium Economy. :-)

Jame you could consider an iPad with a Smart Keyboard. We got my dad one when I was home in April and it functions for him exactly as you mentioned. You can find a little bit of discount on the “old” iPads — cheaper if you get WiFi only — now on MacMall or B&H (or I got a $50 gift card from Apple when I bought a 9.7” 2018 sixth generation iPad when I was home for Thanksgiving, which went part of the way to getting the Smart Keyboard.). Really handy and light, and I figure I can use it too to download photos when on trips (my husband has commandeered ”our” iPad, and when I went to Scotland in August I had my camera and my phone, and my phone was having serious battery and charging problems, so I couldn't share photos like I wanted.

So, I got my Christmas early from my parents when I was home in the form of an iPad. I wouldn't mind a Tom Bihn gift card that's for sure!!! And mainly I’d like a ticket to somewhere. My birthday is in a couple of weeks and like every year I’ve basically left it too late — even train tix down to Bordeaux and back would be a couple of hundred euros at this point!!

Last year thanks to generous friends we went to London in early December, and I wish we'd thought to do that again, it was wonderful. All the Christmas spirit!! And thanks to my husband's work, we got to spend one night at the Savoy and feel like fancy people (the other two nights at Premier Inn Holborn). That was really wonderful, I keep thinking about the London Walk I did on Dicken's Christmas London which was of course fantastic, and all the displays and lights and stuff that give London its festive atmosphere during the holidays.

And Lola yes , hope Santa delivers the cage before the hamster!!!

I didn't even know I wanted something for travel for Christmas, but my husband got me a new camera strap made out of a scarf that is just beautiful. I have trouble carrying my camera because of neck pain, so I think this will really help. I had drooled over one that a tour mate had on during our BPV trip, but of course I forgot to look into it when I got home. Such a nice surprise!

Kim, thanks for the tip. I'll make sure Santa sees it!

And when were you back here? Next time let us know and we'll have a special Travel Group meeting in your honor. Or lunch at White River...

Awwww White River!! We always go straight there from the airport for dinner when I get home!

To be honest in November when I flew home, I was in Tulsa for only two days before accompanyng my parents to fly to LA to my brother's and his family for Thanksgiving. And when I was home in April, it was for my dad's 80th which also turned out to be the day my mom had surgery to remove some early -stage cancer from her bladder. Wish I could get home to have some actual relaxing time!! I would love to meet up with the group. Some day!!

Tamara, what a wonderful thoughtful gift from your husband! He was really paying attention!

I would like a VPN subscription (virtual private network.) I also follow the Solo Traveler blog and she highly recommends one. My greatest wish though was not luggage or accessory, but will involve travel. I scored tickets to Hamilton in Dallas in April. I had been trying all over the US for tickets to this musical. Last week I succeeded so happy holidays to me.

Jane, Kim's suggestion of an iPad with Smart Keyboard is an excellent idea. My son gave me an iPad Pro with keyboard and I love it. It is very thin and lightweight, easy to carry in a daypack. The camera is excellent. And it pretty much fully replaces a computer. My husband now wants one to replace his Mac laptop.

It also can be used with a "pencil" which is beyond my capabilities but some people might be interested.

And if your dad has an iPhone you can use FaceTime which I find much easier than Skype.

Lola, I left this page open so "Santa" could see it. As it happens, he hates all things Apple, but we'll see what happens. Dad's phone is a Jitterbug flip.

Maybe I'll leave the page open again, with your post showing. :-)

I recently learned about travel valet trays. I think I will eventually get one of these from red Oxx. This is the kind of thing that minimalist Packers will NOT want. But after traveling around a bit - I think I would like one. It's basically a packable, fabric "ash tray" that you throw your keys and stuff into. Definitely not for minimalist packers. But, a nice extra for traveling.

I use the Tom Bihn travel tray and love it. I use it instead of a tech pouch or cord holder, and then use it as a catch all at my destination. Still manage somewhat minimalist packing.

I definitely recommend an iPad with the smart keyboard. I have the 9.7" model (don't think the current ones are available in that size, but 10" sounds right), and it's perfect for travel. Easily fits in a carryon or backpack and is great for watching videos as well as the normal computer/internet stuff. It's my go-to for plane travel.

If you aren't an Apple person, the Microsoft Surface Pro, while a little bigger, functions as a tablet and as a PC. Definitely buy the keyboard case with it. Still compact enough for travel without the weight of a laptop.

wildcat, I'm passing along both your recommendations, but he doesn't much care for Microsoft, either. I suspect whatever we get, we'll try to install Linux and Firefox. I don't know if that's possible on tablets, though. But I checked, and Skype will run on the Linux operating system.

Thanks for the input everyone; I appreciate it, even if "Santa" grumbles. :-)

Funny, at the thrift shop today I saw a non-brand-name travel tray (for $2) -- not waiting for Santa, I bought it for myself. (DH had "liberated" an earlier tray purchase and has taken it on many trips.)

Jane, if he wants to run Linux and Firefox, I believe you would be happier with an Android tablet. IPads are nice, but you are pretty much locked in to the Apple ecosystem. An Android tablet is much more customizable.

As for the Tom Bihn travel trays - I love mine! I am a minimalist packer, always well under 15 lbs. The travel tray flattens for packing but is so useful in hotels. I keep mine on the nightstand filled with secure wallet, everyday wallet, phone, and glasses. So easy to grab and have the essentials if you must evacuate in an emergency.

Akros, I think I heard him mention Android... Thanks for the tip.

One of our local RS group members made a travel tray after she saw the Tom Bihn model. She sews so it was easy for her altho it would be beyond my pathetic capabilities.

akros, I just looked up Android, and see that it is actually based on Linux, so it sounds like a good choice. DH says Apple's OS is also based on Linux, but it has been so proprietarized (I just made that up) that it's pretty inflexible.

I actually still use DOS, so I don't keep up with all the operating systems out there. We use Linux on DH's laptop; that's what we use for internet as well as his political activities. All our finance and much of our correspondence is done on my desktop, running DOS. It works for us!

Thanks again for the tip about Android; I suspect that's the way we'll go. Of course, it's up to Santa (who'd better get his act in gear; Christmas is upon us!) :-) Merry Christmas!

I was going to say that the travel valet trays are very easy to make, but Pam beat me to it, assuming you have the skills and materials and desire. I initially thought it was a silly idea but then realized how many times I have had cards etc skid across a shiny surface, leading to furniture moving. I am going to make one. I think...

My husband commandeered my Apple keyboard, but then we found one at a thrift store and now he has his own. I also found a nice Pacsafe cross body bag at a thrift store.

As for Santa, I am hoping for the perfect suitcase, or preferably, a bag like Hermione has in Harry Potter - you can fit anything in it and it weighs nothing. Best carry-on ever!

Adding my voice to the Tom Bihn travel tray lovers. The Red Oxx one is just a flat thing, and you'd have to empty it each time. The Tom Bihn can be your junk drawer for pens and wallet and coins and phone charger. It holds as much or as little as you want. And, grab and go in an emergency.

Yup , pam and others, you could figure out How to sew one, 10 years ago at every craft fair you could buy a round jewelry pouch w maybe six internal compartments each to hold a pair of earrings, Invision pie wedges w a smaller circle inside. I had to remake one and discovered that the inside supportive circle was cut from a milk jug! It would be easy to make one big enuff to hold a cell phone. Etc

Maybe Tulsa Santa needs a Samsung tablet!! I presume the same kind of keyboards are available for those . . .

On the valet trays, are we talking the flat ones, or the ones that are round and can be packed up with the stuff inside?

And yes those craft fair ones with the compartments inside— my mom always travels with hers, made out of some pink satin!

Happy Christmas Morning! I actually did get a plane ticket for Christmas from my husband-business class on the way over! (Delta/Virgin was having a sale).

Cala, hooray! Where to?

And Kim, Santa did bring a Samsung. Now I have to figure out how to use it... There's a separate keyboard, so I'll have to study that, too. Right now the Samsung is charging, while I'm getting my goose ready to roast.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Jane!! I’m glad Santa reads the forum!

Congrats on the plane ✈️ ticket too!

Santa finally delivered some snow so headed out for a walk soon to work on fitness for RS Belgium 🇧🇪 and Holland 🇳🇱 In April and of course Paris!!

Happy day to all!!

My son’s girlfriend gave me RS London 2019 for our May trip! Now to start planning for our free time

kim (oklahoma), that is such a great tour. Let's talk about it at our January meeting! I've been bereft since I had to miss our December meeting.

General comment to all: Thanks for the tips on tablets. Now, one more: A lesson learned. Don't try to figure out how to use a new device while you're prepping a goose. Tips for cleaning a Samsung Galaxy? :-)

@ Jane That ticket is for a flight to London where we will connect to Vienna to spend a few days before we take a Gate 1 tour that starts in Tirana in Sept.
@ Kim sounds like son's girlfriend might be a keeper.
63 and no snow here today-and one of the few days without rain!

Oh Jane that is so funny!!!! Hopefully it will wipe right off and you're having fun discovering and setting up your tablet.

I'm an Android person for my phone, and I highly recommend the app HERE maps. You can set it up before your trip with your hotel, restaurants you're considering, sites, and shops, and then you have it on your tablet even when you don't have WiFi.

Kim, I would say your son should definitely keep that thoughtful girlfriend around!

And Cala, that's fantastic! Any ticket is wonderful, but biz class, even better!!

Yes.... I certainly love his girlfriend. Hope she is the one but I try to stay out of it!!

Kim

Kim — understood!!! Anyway, enjoy perusing your book!!

We didn't need anything travel-related as next year's trips ((Spain/England and Japan) are all planned and air tickets booked. I did get my husband one of those travel trays mentioned above because he really needs one. I will try to remember to pack it.

And I must report to all who are concerned that the hamster (and amazing cage) arrived just as requested. My grandson was so worried that Santa would not be able to find him at his grandparents' house on Christmas eve, but his faith has been restored.

Santa brought me a Citysafe convertible backpack and it is gorgeous! It looks good as a purse and pack, plus seems like it will be very useful. I can see using it a lot. Thanks, Santa!!!

PS glad to hear about the hamster :)

Santa brought me gifts from two of my favorite stores. A new pair of Aviator jeans (stretchy, comfortable, and multiple pockets) and a Rohan shirt that looks like a cotton shirt, but is as warm as a lightweight fleece - AND has a zippered security pocket. I have both of these from last Christmas, wear them constantly at home and for travel, and am thankful to get them in new colors/patterns.

akros, does your Rohan shirt have a name? I'm looking at the Rohan website, and don't see one that fits your description. I could use a shirt like that. Yes, Christmas is over :-( but it's only a few months until my birthday....

Glad the hamster and cage arrived safely!

Jane — It's only a few days until my birthday!! We are renting a car Friday and going down to the Loire to see some of the chateaus all decked out for Christmas (they are decorated through Jan 6). Looking forward to seeing Azay-le-Rideau, which I’ve never been to, and revisiting my favorite, Chenonceau. Plus a bit of wine tasting and dinner downstairs at our hotel., the Auberge du Bon Laboureur in Chenonceaux itself (yes the village name is spelled differently than the chateau!).

Happy birthday, Kim! Sounds like great trip.