What to Give Your Favorite Road Warrior this Season…
By Kelly McCoy
When your gift recipients fill their days with taking the weekly red-eye from LA or running for the shuttle to NYC, it might seem challenging to find the perfect gift this holiday season. With a little digging, however, you'll discover that there are many choices to help make the road warrior's 2008 travels a little more convenient and a lot more comfortable.
As buyer for Savvy Travel Shop in downtown Lexington, MA, Paula Winik scours the marketplace for just the right items to please business travelers and vacationers alike.
“You might start with the ultimate rolling carry-on from Rick Steves, America's most popular travel authority,” says Winik. “The 21” Roll-Aboard weighs a mere 7 pounds with a packing compartment measuring 9” x 21” x 14” to fit most airlines' carry-on guidelines.”
According to Winik, when you need to carry more, you can pull on the expando-zipper and gain an extra 2” of cargo depth, but this will make the bag exceed the carry-on limit. This bag also offers important road warrior features including an extra-long handle, so you're not breaking your back running through airports, as well as strong inline skate wheels that glide even on rough surfaces. The outside add-a-bag strap lets you clip your day bag right on so they can be rolled together.
Since Savvy Travel Shop is a division of Atlas Travel International, ranked as one of America's fastest growing women-owned businesses serving 500 companies with corporate travel and thousands of vacationers, Winik is often asked about ways to effectively deal with today's airport security
“Today what's inside your carry-on is of the utmost importance and the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has strict rules about toiletries,” she says. “Here's where a Travelon toiletries bag can be a great stocking stuffer! This one-quart zip-top bag is TSA-compliant for toiletry carry-on regulations. The clear PVC bag comes with four 2-ounce reusable bottles and two three-quarter ounce jars. This is perfect for any traveler on your list. “
In addition, Winik encourages today's travelers to be extremely diligent about identification. “With passports a must for any travel outside the U.S., you may want to buy a selection of Travelon's ID and Boarding Pass Holders for the business or vacation travelers on your list,” she continues. “These are available in a variety of colors and offer easy, hands-free check-in by keeping your passport, ID and boarding pass in a pouch securely attached around your neck.” According to Travelon, these passport holders also offer a see-through window that allows easy visibility for airline personnel checking you through security and a hidden rear-zippered pocket keeps money or other small valuables on your person.
Winik says that travel underwear has always been one of her most popular items at Savvy Travel Shop. “For some travelers,” she says, “ comfort is key and nothing promotes comfort like Ex Officio's Give-N-Go stretch undergarments. For both men and women, you can find underwear, tanks and t-shirts that travelers will want to pack every time.”
Ex Officio describes the fabric as “odor resistant and moisture-wicking” to help a traveler feel fresh no matter how long he or she is on the road. It also washes easily in a hotel sink and dries in a few hours, allowing you to pack fewer pairs and stay fresher.
Winik says that she and her staff love to guide holiday shoppers through the best gift selection for a particular traveler. “If you can tell us where they travel, what they like, and what travel challenges they talk about, we will help you match a gift to their needs.”
For those who want their road warriors to select their favorite item for themselves, Savvy Travel Shop also offers gift certificates in any amount for either merchandise or travel. “We live in a global world,” says Winik, “and travel gifts are becoming more and more popular each holiday season.”
For more information, visit Savvy Travel Shop at 1656 Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington or call 781-879-1850.