3 Intangible gifts to give a traveler

The holiday season is upon us and on every side we’re being encouraged to buy stuff and to give because the holidays are about giving. But what do you do if someone on your gift list is a traveler and, like me, lives out of his backpack. There’s no sense in giving a bathrobe to a backpacker, and that $99 Soda Stream in the Black Friday flier is useless to someone who’s intentionally homeless.  So what do you give a traveler?

Here are three intangibles that could be perfect:

Air Miles

If you’ve got two million miles and you know you’ll never use them, why not transfer a few thousand to the gypsy in your life? A voucher for an airline ticket, miles that you have to use or they’re going to expire, or that companion ticket that you got with a new credit card sign up: perfect. Airfare is often the biggest line item in a traveler’s budget and, who knows, perhaps they’ll use the ticket to pay you a visit!

E or Audio Books

Reading material in your primary language is sometimes hard to come by on the road. When they can be found, books are heavy. Rarely do we carry more than one paper book at a time. However, with our iPods and iPads we can carry thousands of books and read them everywhere. If you’re worried about your loved one reading on a tiny screen, then audio books are an excellent alternative. Gift cards for iTunes or Amazon, or Rolf’s new audio version of Vagabonding, on Audible are sure to be welcome gifts for the nomad you love.

First Night

Want to really make your traveling buddy smile: give the gift of a first night. There is nothing worse than finding yourself in a crappy hostel on Khao San Road in Bangkok after a grueling 30 hour trip from the other side of the world. Give a weary traveler the promise of a first night in a comfy hotel when they hit the ground. Hand make a gift certificate for them and then let them help select a place that best suits their needs.

Now you tell me… what are your best ideas for intangible gifts for the travelers you love?