Nifty Thrifty Travel Gifty #1

When you spend a lot of time travelling, well-meaning friends and family tend to use this "travel" as a blantant theme in all subsequent gift giving. Like the way that cat owners end up with lots of cat books and feline-shaped tea pots.

But the handiest travel accessories are rarely fancy do-dads or gee-whiz jackets with 140 pockets and compartments for aforementioned fancy do-dads. Wear that kind of stuff and you'll look like an amateur. Or German.

So if you're looking for a gift for the vagabond in your life this holiday season, start collecting items for a travel kit. You're going to look like a weirdo cheap-ass if you give them just one of these things, but bundle them all up in a reusable folding shopping bag with a written explanation and you're going to be a hit!

Item #1: ZipLoc Bags
Yes, you can put your toothpaste in one so you can get past airport security, but there is so much more you can do with a bunch of ZipLocs. As a business traveller, I even take a couple - they're perfect for collecting your receipts. But ZipLoc bags really come into their own for budget travellers. If you're looking to be especially kind, get a jumbo bag and put an assortment of sizes inside. Here's just a short list of the things that I've used them for:

1. Damp bathing suit - means you can take a dip in the pool right before getting on that next bus.
2. Compression bag - I've taken a large ZipLoc, shoved my fleece jacket in there, sat on it and zipped it up. Jacket = very tiny corner of my backpack.
3. Sink stopper - if there's no plug, just lay a bag down in the bottom of the sink. The water will hold it down and seal the plughole.
4. Stinky food - if you're staying at hostels and preparing your own food, chances are you will end up with some herbs and spices that you end up toting from place to place. Do us all a favour and put the garlic in a ZipLoc baggie....
5. Keep stuff dry - like your camera, iPod, passport, when you're on a little boat out to an island and you're going to have to jump out and wade up the the beach. I've also heard of people putting their regular camera in a bag, sealing it and then taking photos underwater. Not sure I am that confident...

Stay tuned for the next installment of Nifty Thrifty Travel Gifty.