12 fancy holiday gifts inspired by travel and hotels
I’m on the road about half the year on assignment for TPG and on any given week, you might find me browsing the jade market in Taipei, window-shopping through Galerie Vivienne in Paris or strolling through the San Telmo market in Buenos Aires on the hunt for collectibles.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a souvenir, piece of art, sweet treat or other little curio and thought, “Wouldn’t this make a great gift for so and so?”
The only trouble is, I travel light, so there’s nary a nook or cranny in my carry-on to fit a gift, let alone several.
I do, however, make a mental inventory of potential gifts I see so that I can order them for friends and family later. Here are a few of my favorite recent finds that might be perfect for someone on your holiday gift list, all inspired by my travels.
1 Hotels hooded bathrobe
Best for: Armchair travelers who like to keep cozy
There’s a lot I love about 1 Hotels — their sustainable ethos, the Bamford bath amenities, in-room filtered water taps, the smattering of hyperlocal, destination-specific activities on offer to guests, bustling public spaces with unique dining concepts and…the bathrobes. I’m not usually a bathrobe kind of guy, but I can’t resist donning one of these ultracomfortable numbers anytime I’m a guest at one of these properties. Simple and soft, with a gray jersey-knit lining and a loose hoodie, they’re perfect for lounging with a cappuccino while you try to stave off jet lag.
TPG tip: You might want to make this purchase at an actual 1 Hotel boutique so you can earn more points per dollar with a credit card that offers a travel or hotel category bonus.
Gold-leaf lacquer boxes from Zohiko
Best for: The Japanophile you want to impress
Like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, my delight in purchasing travel souvenirs is only impeded by the limited space in my small city apartment. That’s why I love the little lacquerware boxes and trays from Zohiko, a boutique in Kyoto’s Nakagyo Ward that traces its history back to the 17th century. I especially love the finely filigreed Kirikane style, where patterns or shapes are cut out in gold or silver leaf and pressed into place. I purchased a glossy black box with gold inlay of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves on my last visit, and I keep it on my nightstand to hold my wedding ring and watch.
TPG tip: Make a trip to Japan out of it and browse the physical Zohiko boutique (you can also enjoy tax-free purchases if you’re visiting) while checking out some of Kyoto’s exciting new hotels.
Handicrafts from Artesanías de Colombia
Best for: Folks who appreciate colorful, culturally significant crafts
Inevitably, every time I’m traipsing around Bogotá, I find myself drawn to this gorgeous little boutique in the city’s upscale Chapinero neighborhood, which sources fair-trade handcrafted pieces of art and decor from small communities around the country, including woven baskets starting at just $18. I am personally drawn to carefully carved wooden Tamo bowls from the coastal Nariño region, decorated with brightly dyed strands of wheat or barley fiber, but you can find everything from woven baskets to hammocks, jewelry and even pieces of furniture.
TPG tip: While you can often haggle for handicrafts in Colombia, prices in this boutique are as marked, so save your negotiating skills for street vendors.
Luxurious Lao textiles from Ock Pop Tok
Best for: Helping a friend spruce up their interior decor game
Although long popular with backpackers and river cruisers, Luang Prabang still feels like an under-the-radar find in mountainous Laos, sitting on the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers. It’s also a hotbed of fair-trade arts and crafts. A standout atelier in town is Ock Pop Tok, an art school, store and restaurant that aims to revive, support and teach traditional Lao artistic techniques. Visitors can take classes in silk-weaving, batik-dyeing and embroidery, among other offerings. I am always tempted to buy out the textile section of the boutique, but I usually limit myself to a vibrant wall hanging or two.
TPG tip: Don’t just make a purchase; spend a few days as a student at Ock Pop Tok to pick up a new craft yourself.
Officina Profumo Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella
Best for: Travelers who like their perfumes with a hint of historical luxury
Of course, I’d suggest visiting the original Florence flagship of this bath and beauty purveyor, which dates back to 1221. It feels a little like visiting Ollivanders Wand Shop from “Harry Potter,” with antique cases bursting with all-natural unguents and elixirs whose formulas were originally developed by Dominican friars. But if you can’t get there, there are also locations around the U.S., including those in West Hollywood, California, Soho in New York City and Bal Harbour, Florida. I tend to keep it simple and go for the pure sweet almond oil, but you could also go regal and buy a bottle of the perfumery’s citrusy Acqua della Regina, created for Catherine de’ Medici as a gift for her husband, the future king of France, back in 1533.
TPG tip: It can sometimes be less expensive to purchase these products from the original store in Florence, so why not make a trip out of it?
A gaucho belt from Arandu
Best for: The fashionable cowboys at your rodeo
I love an eye-catching accessory, and belts are my statement pieces of choice. So on my last visit to Buenos Aires, I stopped by Arandu Talabarteria’s tony boutique in Recoleta. The whole store is inspired by a romanticized version of gaucho life on the pampas. You can find sturdy leather boots, billowy bombacha pants, cozy ponchos and my favorite: woven belts with intricate threadwork and high-quality leather. They start at $45 and can range into the hundreds of dollars, depending on the level of detail and craftsmanship. Best of all, you can ship to the U.S., so you don’t have to cross the equator to stock up.
TPG tip: They also have dog collars for your faithful canine companion.
KLM’s Delft houses
Best for: The high-flying #avgeek in your life
If you’ve followed me for the past few years, you know I’m pretty much obsessed with KLM’s tile Delft houses, the little replicas of actual historical buildings around the Netherlands that the airline hands out to long-haul business-class passengers. I’ve attended the unveiling of each year’s new house for several years now, and my own collection has grown into a veritable village. If you have an equally #avgeeky member of your gifting circle and are looking for the perfect present, then you might want to consider buying one of these beauties for them. Historian Mark Zegeling’s “Little Kingdom by the Sea” book set, which delves into the history of all 107 of the houses, is a great accompanying gift as well.
TPG tip: Be sure to use a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees so you don’t get dinged with a 1-3% surcharge when buying your house.
Carlton Cannes beach bag
Best for: Swanky sunseekers who want to make a splash
How do you tell me you summer on the French Riviera without telling me you summer on the French Riviera? You simply tote around a sunshiney yellow-and-white-striped beach bag from the iconic Carlton Cannes, the first luxury hotel to open in the city, way back in 1911. A lot has changed since then, but the simple design is meant to evoke the Côte d’Azur of yore, when you might have found Cary Grant and Grace Kelly sunbathing on the plage between scenes of “To Catch a Thief.”
TPG tip: Make your purchase in person and use an IHG One Rewards credit card to earn multiple points per dollar.
Singapore Sling glass from Raffles Singapore
Best for: International imbibers with a sweet tooth
You might find it hard to remember your visit to Singapore, let alone pick up some souvenirs as gifts for friends, after you’ve had a few Singapore Slings at the Raffles Hotel’s iconic Long Bar. That’s why it might come in handy to pick up a keepsake Singapore Sling glass for your friends from the hotel’s online boutique. It’s like taking a sip of history with you. The nation’s signature drink was invented by Ngiam Tong Boon back in 1915 and is an intoxicating (and sweet!) mix of gin, grenadine, cherry liqueur, Benedictine, Curacao and both pineapple and lime juice. Even a sip can transport you back to a sultry Southeast Asian evening.
TPG tip: Pick a card that earns bonus rewards on everyday purchases, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, so you’re making the most of your spending.
Little Passports subscription
Best for: Your friends’ (or your own) globe-trotting tots
We can’t forget about the kids! In my experience, there are few better or more engaging (or educational) ways to get the tykes in your life interested in travel than Little Passports, a subscription membership where each month, your child is mailed a new box focusing on individual countries, animals, crafts and even DIY science experiments, depending on their specific subscription and age.
TPG tip: Don’t forget to choose the subscription length you want from the start, otherwise, these charges might sneak up on you month after month if you don’t cancel.
Officine Universelle Buly combs and creams
Best for: Your favorite skincare aficionado
I first came across Officine Universelle Buly’s sweet-smelling body products during a stay at the Rosewood Hotel de Crillon in Paris last year, and I promptly swiped several tubes of shampoo, conditioner and body lotion from my suite to use at home. On my next visit to the City of Light, though, I stopped by the enchanting store in the 6th arrondissement to sniff through various scents and balms tinged with exotic notes like Madagascar amber and Maltese iris. They also have fabulous tortoiseshell hair clips and combs that you can have monogrammed for even the most discerningly coiffed companions in your life.
TPG tip: If you’re purchasing liquid products and not checking a bag, make sure they comply with carry-on limits.
Shop Officine Universelle Buly
Four Seasons bed
Best for: Yourself! This is the ultimate self-care splurge
In recent years, more and more hotel chains have started selling the mattresses they use directly to customers. And while you might be a Westin Heavenly Bed fan, or perhaps a devotee of DoubleTree’s signature Sweet Dreams mattress, I personally recommend a Four Seasons mattress, which has the plushest pillowtop of any hotel bed I’ve experienced. After staying at dozens of Four Seasons over the years, I finally took the plunge and purchased one for myself about six years ago and I’ve never slept better. It’s definitely a splurge, but you can’t put a price tag on a great night’s sleep. So make this one a gift for yourself.
TPG tip: Given the price tag, wait until you have a new credit card with a minimum spending requirement to meet to earn its welcome offer so you can put your splurge to good use.
