Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers - My Family Travels

Looking for a holiday gift guide for travelers? We know that people who love to travel want to encourage wanderlust in loved ones. There’s no better way than presenting them with holiday gifts designed to make travel easier. Here are our picks, starting at just $8, to exchange this festive season or put on your wish list for Santa.

Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers of All Ages

Man charges cellphone with Niteize portable lantern.
Stay on the Light Side and charge your gear with a Niteize lantern from our holiday gift guide for travelers.

Light Up the Night with Niteize

Illuminate spooky spaces or read all night. This very lightweight, bright lantern from Niteize is perfect for the outdoors too. Recharge it via USB and then have extra power to charge your cellphone on the go. Comes with while silk tote pouch that makes the bright glow softer and more romantic. Very durable. From $36.

Light Up the Night With Niteize

Enjoy the Sun Safely

Page from Goodr sunglasses website shows different models.
The Goodr OC Line is one of the most popular, with dozens of styles, lens and frame colors plus lots of patterns to choose from.

A company with a sense of humor produces great looking Goodr performance sunglasses that stick to sweaty or wet faces. Choose cool reflective lenses in all colors or quieter lenses from orange to brown. Frame patterns cover the rainbow. Order the wide/larger head size with bigger lenses for more sun coverage. Smaller size frames fit bigger kids. So far, they are indestructible. Well priced from $25.

Go Goodr to Protect Your Eyes from the Sun

Teach All of You Table Manners

Bamboo eating utensils ensure everyone in the family has their own sanitary diningware when eating out anywhere in the world.
Bamboo eating utensils ensure everyone in the family has their own sanitary diningware when eating out anywhere in the world.

Light and reusable, Patagonia bamboo utensils allow travelers of all ages to safely eat anything, anywhere. Train your toddler how to use a knife and fork around the campfire or on picnic tables. Particularly useful when enjoying street food while traveling, since utensils may not have been cleaned to your standards. From $8.

Travel Tableware Teaches Table Manners

Hands Free Travel Shoes for All Ages

A person with legs crossed on top of luggage watches TV screen.
Kizik shoes (this is the Prague model) are so comfortable that you won’t want to slip them off once you get to your hotel. Photo c. Ron Bozman / RKR Media.

The Kizik line of shoes slip on and off hands-free, a blessing for anyone forced to go through TSA without Pre-Check. How does handsfree work when each model has laces and a full profile? “Kizik shoes feature a patented heel design,” explains their PR firm. Slip your toes in and the heel compresses so you can slide your foot under the laces. Press down and the heel springs back into its supportive place. It works! These casual shoes look pretty great, too. Different uppers range from leather (more of a business look) to elasticized fabric (sneaker time.) Other pluses: Enough innersole support to be museum-worthy, very comfy for wider feet, lightweight for travel. Kiziks come in several colors, have EE widths for men and women, and come in children’s models too. From $99; kids sizes from $69.

Hands Free Feet With Kizik Shoes

Holiday Gift Guide for Traveler Toddlers

Blow Up, Strap In, Sit Comfortably

An inflatable AirTushi seat serves as a highchair when you're dining out or enjoying room service, and a booster when you're flying with baby.
An inflatable AirTushi seat serves as a highchair when you’re dining out or enjoying room service, and a booster when you’re flying with baby. Photo c. RoamWild

Inflate this little fortress from Roam Wild around your loved one’s butt. The easy-to-carry AirTushi keeps children strapped in, stable and snug on an adult chair on in an airplane seat. Makes dining out while traveling a breeze. Deflates and packs easily. From $19.99

Sit Tight with AirTushi Inflatable Booster

Teach Geography from the Comfort of Home

A wall mounted world map made of wooden puzzle pieces hangs in a living room over the couch.
Assemble your world map made of wooden puzzle pieces and hang it over the couch to make future trip planning easier to visualize. Photo c. Enjoythewood.com

Work on a huge global puzzle together. You may not solve the world’s problems but it’s a fun pastime. This wall-size 3D map of the world from Enjoy the Wood is made from several types of natural wood carved as if puzzle pieces. Assemble them and then stick everything to a backing for travel-inspiring wall art when you’re done. From $180.

Enjoy A Wooden View of the World

Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers On the Move

Carry A Beverage All the Time

Three Tiger brand thermos water bottles hold hot and cold liquids at temperature for hours on end.
Pick from several sizes and colors as all the Tiger brand thermoses work perfectly as water bottles or for hot and cold liquids.

Invest in a rugged, Tiger mini-thermos that keeps hot or cold temperatures for up to 24 hours. Pick up a small size, add hot cocoa, and slip it into a pocket — perfect for skiing. Drop them while hiking and nothing breaks. Anti-bacterial technology and wide mouths makes them easy to clean. From $32.

Travel Like a Tiger

Stay Lock Step with Baby on Any Road

A Jeep Powerglyde Plus Stroller with twins in it and a mom standing by.
The Jeep Powerglyde Stroller, seen here in a two-seater model, uses new technology to make steering and gliding down urban streets smoother. Photo c. Delta Children

The Jeep PowerGlyde Stroller by Delta Children boasts new front wheel design that makes handling easier. Smoother turns and three reclining seat positions make the ride more comfortable for baby, too. Heavy duty steel frame is sturdy enough for European cobblestones, yet it folds like an umbrella stroller and weighs in under 14 lbs. We like the extendable canopy with UPF 50+ sun visor.  $69.99

Glyde with That Stroller

Micromobility Solution in a Great Package

A skateboarder on a winding road, aerial view.
William Royce takes off on a Bustin Boards hybrid e-board, a great way to tour the countryside. Photo c. Bustin Boards.

Travel around the neighborhood with a flash, lighter than air, on a Bustin Board’s skateboard. The company’s hybird electric skateboards make traversing long distances faster and easier. They’re here to solve that how to get from here to there problem travelers so often confront. In addition, the boards have great designs to please your fashionistas of any age. From $568.

Micromobility Solutions with Style

Carry A Tune Wherever You Go

Roam speaker by Sonos on table next to chair, in front of window.
Relax wherever life takes you with your own music, courtesy of the Sonos Roam travel speaker.

Sonos is known for the amazing sound their speakers deliver. The small Roam model is a lightweight, compact unit that brings that quality on the road. It easily connects via bluetooth to Spotify and other apps for indoor or outdoor amplification. Use it at your compsite or pool because it’s waterproof too. $160.

Music On The Go Anywhere All The Time

Holiday Gift Guide for Media Savvy Travelers

Secure Camera Mounts Easily

Red and white checked chairs at outdoor cafe with sign in front.
The Tenikle tripod in action, seen at a cafe in Manhattan’s Flatiron District where it’s making a “selfie” of 2 tourist in front of Empire State Building. Photo c. Ron Bozman / RKR Media

This handy, lightweight camera/cellphone Tenikle support looks like an octapus. Bend and stick three flexible arms lined with suction mounts to chair backs, handlebars, strollers and dashboards to keep devices secure on many surfaces. From $45.

Take 360 Photos & Videos Securely

Raise the Next Generation of Influencers

Joby Gorillapod Mobile Vlogging Kit has needed equipment for making better videos.
The Joby Gorillapod Mobile Vlogging Kit has a tripod, mics, cables, and lights needed for making better videos on the go.

Joby, a top-of-the-line action tripod company, produced an all-in-one gear kit to support home filmmakers. Gorillapod Mobile Vlogging Kit lets families up the quality of their audio, camera moves and lighting on the go. A perfect present for that outgoing tween or teen, it promotes quality production values to enhance content creation. The kit includes everything you need except a cellphone camera. From $160.

Vlog with the Pros

Record The World and Make It a Better Place

A Sony RX 100 Cyber Shot camera with accessories needed for travel photos.
Choose from any of the Sony RX 100 Cyber Shot cameras whose excellent lenses and accessories will up your travel photos by lightyears.

Ready to move beyond your cellphone camera to record that bucket list trip? Sony, as they often do, created the ideal travel camera. The R100 series of digital cameras are portable and versatile enough for beginners or pro’s. Take advantage of a great Zoom lens that goes from 24mm-200mm so you can capture the breadth of the Grand Canyon or an elephant closeup on safari. It works in low light, is fast and has a much broader range of options than most photographers will ever use. The seventh iteration of Sony’s top-selling Cyber-shot line makes the most of your travel photo ops. From $1,100.

Get Your Cyber Shot Sony Cameras

Holiday Gift Guide for Traveling Men

Happy Feet Make Happy Travelers

colorful and wildly patterned mens socks.
Society Socks keep your favorite men on their toes and send matching socks to the homeless.

Society Socks sells wildly colorful, quality men’s socks by subscription and in gift boxes. And they donate even more pairs to charities around the world. Society Socks are 70% combed cotton and fit men’s shoe sizes 7-13. For women, they bundle up sports socks in basic colors. Gift the men in your life monthly with two new, cozy pairs in their fun patterns. It is a gentle reminder that there are others who need help getting back on their feet. Three-month Subscription, two pairs monthly, $60.

Wear Society Socks and Better the World

Drink and Drive Responsibly With This Mug

A green Carter Move travel mug by Fellows sits on a table at the United Lounge at AUS airport.
Go green with your refillable Carter Move travel mug by Fellows, seen here full of capuccino at the United Lounge, Austin Bergstrom Airport. Photo c. Ron Bozman / RKR Media

Fellow Products has perfected a well-insulated travel mug that you can brew coffee or tea into and take on the go. The best feature is the snap-in splash guard. The removable metal screen insert stops beverages from sloshing out of the wide mouth when you take a swig in the car. Carter Move travel mug comes in 8, 12, 16 oz so kids can carry their own. Cleans easily and works as an insulated water bottle. From $25.

Take This Fellow Mug and Hit the Road Safely

Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.

0 Replies to “Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers”

  • For summer vacation St John in USVI is an excellent place to visit. St. John is a true gem in the Caribbean with crystal clear waters, lush green mountains and gorgeous white sand beaches. Though it is the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John’s unspoiled beauty is perhaps the greatest found anywhere in the Caribbean. Sixty percent of the island is national park land, creating the illusion that you are as far from civilization as possible. However, fine shopping such as upscale jewelry stores and boutiques are just a short distance away. Boating is also a popular activity for visitors of the islands. Rent a boat and island hop to neighboring islands and cays or enjoy a day of snorkeling, swimming, picnicking and relaxing aboard one of many day sail charter boats.

  • I would suggest a car seat cover it helped me and my wife a lot from our last trip to Hawaii with my baby daughter here it is

  • Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Hawksnest Bay, and through the termites’ nests of Virgin Islands National Park. These are some beautiful places which are really attracts travelers to visit the islands.

  • Yes! Go to the Dominican Republic at least one time in your life.

  • todobigo

    Hello Clary, we are not attorneys but we do not see a need to have a power of attorney over your cousin for your trip. A permission to travel letter from the guardians, as well as a medical authorization letter — in case your cousin needs medical treatment — should be fine for your trip. This letter should come from the guardians, not you, so they should do it now rather than wait till your arrival to finish the paperwork. When they fill it out does not matter, since the letter will have the travel dates that your cousin will be with you. Have a safe trip and enjoy!

  • Clary

    Hello

    I’m traveling with my cousin who is a minor to South Korea in July 2018 its less than 20 days away along with the travel to consent letter should I get a temporary power of attorney. Also should I set a specific time frame to do these things or can I do it the day before we leave. I ask because I have to travel to where she lives and we are flying out of her city two days after I get there.

  • Its a lovely place. My experience was very excellent. I enjoyed such an amazing camel ride. Staff was well-trained & well-dressed up. Very helpfull staff ,I am very impressed. I suggest to all to go there & have some fun.
    Royal Desert Camp is one of the best tent camps in Sam, Jaisalmer. We had visited on 31st Dec and stayed here for the night. There was an extra charge for the Gala Dinner, but it was worth the money spent. We were 3 girls on a road trip and it was a safe and good place to be at.
    Being in the city of Royal Tents in Jaisalmer of moving sand ridges, you can’t get away from the seat travel. A rough ride on a camel in the Thar Desert is one of the energizing things to do in Jaisalmer Royal Camps. It enables you to investigate the remote and segregated spots tucked amidst the abandon. Absolutely, the additional time you give on your safari, the more remote spots you are probably going to see and the more you may acclimate to and appreciate the abandon serenity.
    Jaisalmer luxury camp in Sam Sand Dunes is an unquestionable requirement visit in the province of Rajasthan in the environs of the city of Jaisalmer. It is likely that you are going for a Desert Safari when wanting to visit Thar Desert or the consequences will be severe, the purpose of going there is pointless, making the Sam Sand Dunes an expanding significant vacation spot of the city.

    Visit Us : http://www.desertdreamroyalcamp.com/rooms.php

  • There is a reason why Iceland is a favourite travel destination. It’s natural beauty of mountains, volcanoes, and bodies of water make this country seem surreal … https://www.merrchant.com/daily/2/travel-blogs/

  • Indeed Caribbean islands are popular with families in the summer because of less rates than in winter, and the beaches and cultural attractions are just as appealing.

  • If you are interested in visiting Cusco, getting in touch with its people, volunteering in our Nutrition and education projects, then visit http://www.takemeinyourheart.org

  • kuyamo2004

    My wife and I (US citizens) want to to take my 16 year old niece (who is a FIlipino citizen) to Korea for a graduation gift.  We plan to pick her up in Philippines and fly together to Korea.  We have all parental permissions and have proof of ability to support her trip.  Is it possible for my niece to obtain the visa?  A travel agent in the Philippines is telling us no.

    • todobigo

      What a wonderful graduation present! We cannot speak on behalf of the government of Korea, as they determine their visa policy for citizens of all countries who want to visit. What we suggest is that you contact the Korea Embassy in the US – 202-939-5600 – as you are U.S.citizens, and ask them for their advice.

      Regardless of the visas, it is important that when you travel with your minor niece you have the Permission Letters, so that is a great first step.

      Have a safe trip, please let us know if we can be of  help.

  • anjalik097

    I want to know how much cost the whole trip can be required to visit this destination. I would like to specific answer on thanks in advance. 

  • Lauriewilliams

    The Montcalm Club is a reward program offering free membership for all 5-star MontCalm hotels in London. Each of The MontCalm Luxury Hotels is uniquely and elegantly designed to enhance your stay whether you are in London for business, shopping, theatre or sight-seeing. We extend a diverse range of benefits for our valued guests. Become a member by registering online or at reception at any of MontCalm properties and earn 100 points straightaway & 10 points on every pound you spend on your room booking at any of our hotels. Collect the requisite points and redeem them for a free night stay at the Mont Calm Hotels in London. So, what you are waiting for? Join, Earn & Redeem at the montcalmclub. This time montcalmclub offering the loyalty rewarding in that people can save up to 15% on membership.

  • ggomez2224

    This is such a piece of paradise.  

  • Sarah Marri

    Love the pictures, outstanding post! You absolutely re-fueled my wish to visit Morocco. It’s been on my bucket incline for fairly some time. Sounds like you had a blast!

  • ggomez2224

    Indeed! Agra is one of the most beautiful places in India to visit. Taj Mahal is one of my favourites. Seeing Agra Fort in Person is quite mesmerizing too. Thank for the trip planning details. I will bookmark this for my future India travels. 

  • shubh199308

    A very nice information about Agra and its related places. People usually think a lot about making their trip well-organised. This will gonna help them.

  • MarthaC

    Hurricanes strike without intimation, we need to take some preventive measures to reduce the impact of hurricanes. The information given here is really useful. I would like to add some of the tips that help to survive a hurricane like, create a plan for the family, secure your home with hurricane resistant products, always have a survival kit with you. Take some helpful hints from the professionals and secure your home and make sure you have an escape route ready with you.

  • Lauriewilliams

    Of course! Christmas is a magical time for children – and equally unusual for moms and dads who love nothing more than to see their little ones’ faces smiley with festive joy.
    There are so many countries and their cities where people can enjoy these festivals, but  I think London is the most popular place to enjoy the lightning of the festivals like Christmas.

    • travelboots-pat

      Christmas is magical especially for kids. We were lucky enough to take our kids to Lapland when they were younger. Meeting the real Santa and his elves was wonderful. 

  • hankoutb

    Great article with good information 

     

    thanks for it

  • HaydenBeck

    If anyone is looking for anything else to do in London, there is a Christmas market in Hyde Park that lasts through New Years. There are several other seasonal events that you can enjoy. 

    https://londonconnection.com/upcoming-events-london/

  • Luther

    Great products!

  • ToddHogan

    Volunteer vacations, or voluntourism, is one of the fastest growing trends in the travel industry. By taking a volunteer vacation, you’ll be able to do good as well as have fun and make a difference in the world. Whereas volunteer is always appreciated by all people. One of my friends is a working as a volunteer for voyage humanitaire, these trips offer a great charity experience, Where you can offer your support to the needful people.

  • Dealsdunia

    Nothing is more beautiful than Europe. Would definitely travel to Europe one day. 

  • shubhamsahu001

    Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand is known for its vibrant street life and ornate shrines. It is a city which is exquisitely decorated with Buddhist temples all around along with various natural beauties. The city of Bangkok welcomes more visitors than any other city in the world and is known as a hot and chaotic city.

  • Ron

    How did Halloween get to be so big? The most fun we ever had was at the Day of the Dead celebrations in Oaxaca, but I see now that in the US, it’s gone to a whole new level of madness.

  • moderator

    A road trip through New England is beautiful at any time of year, but when the leaves begin to turn (anywhere from early September to late October) it can be spectacular.

    The common wisdom is that the leaves get their signal to change color when night time temperatures drop below 40 F degrees. The farther north you go towards Canada, and the higher the elevation, the sooner this occurs.  By mid-September you may see a whole range of colors in northern Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. 

    In New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, those colors could reach their peak around early October.  In Manhattan, New York City where my family lives, we always count on Columbus Day as being the height of leaf color around us, but a big storm or early frost can change all that.

    The safest bet is to ask the source — tourism offices in the states you are interested in — as they monitor the climate and moisture in the leaves very closely.  Here is a round up of resources for leaf peepers:
    Leaf Peekers Guide Americas Fall Foliage

     

  • What a great list this is — I just got back from Norway and have to say that the Raumer railway, from Alesund up to Bergen, is another gorgeous ride. The Norway fjords are very beautiful.

  • alli65

    I never knew South Dakota was an ice-cream hotspot, sounds like a great place for foodie familes. The local dishes–I need to try chislic–are making my mouth-water. Thanks for such an informative peice on a part of the country I know so little about. 

  • admin

    We’ve just heard the good news that Finnair is increasing airlift to five airports in Lapland for the winter 2017-2018 season. Between Jan 1- March 24, 2018, Finnair will add four weekly frequencies to Rovaniemi, three to Kuusamo,  and extra flights between Helsinki and Ivalo and Helsinki and Kittilä.

    During the winter 2017-2018 season, Finnair will also operate new non-stop flights to Lapland airports from London Gatwick, Paris and Zurich.

  • FTFstaff

    we love this idea, to add actual storybooks to the amazing storytelling that goes on at Disneyland. Imagine you can follow up on the excitement of a thrill ride with the moral tale that influenced it, how much more meaningful that would become for our kids. thanks for sharing it!

  • admin

    My 16 yr old is planning to go to Costa Rica with an 18yr old and a 19 yr old.  What papers do I need to fill out and have him bring?

    Submitted by D.A. to moderator

  • admin

    My family has been in the wholesale end of the souvenir supply business dating back to 1952 when my Grandfather came out of retirement at age 51 and bought a local wholesale jobber distributor that sold some small wooden novelties made in the Ozarks.  

    Along with my father’s youth, energy and drive they built a small regional business into a national Importer/Distributor with regional warehouses serving the souvenir needs of Tourist attractions throughout the US. It’s an interesting story and one that started with cheap trinkets Made in Japan that transformed Asia into the powerful Manufacturing Revolution that feeds thousands of Big box Retailers today.

    One of our oldest and most popular local attractions here in the midwest that is still operating under the original Family is Meramec Caverns.  The attraction has been largely shut down early this spring due to some troubling environmental problems which I believe developed after a regional Flood of the Meramec washed out the visitor center.  I believe its set to reopen soon.  This is the type of “Attraction” that has kept families on the road and vintage souvenirs making a comeback. 

     

    Fairway Mfg. Company

    Mark Sobelman, President

    2424 Schuetz Rd.

    Maryland Heights, MO 63043

  • todobigo

    Thanks for the feedback, that travel stroller you got looks like a great solution with 2 kids, but it’s pricey! Let us know how you like using it on your trip.

  • DomHawkinsLAX


    Congratulations!

  • admin

    Traveler Carla K asks:

    My eleven year old son will be traveling with his grandmother to Vietnam and Cambodia. They will have a plane change in Korea (which will be a port of entry, so I assume they will go through immigration and customs here as well). 

    This is my question: Do I need to sign and notarize three separate forms (one per country)?

    Our answer:

    We are not attorneys but we recommend that you have several copies of the same form, and that the form include the travel information about the whole itinerary. In terms of changing planes, there may not be a need to go through Immigration in Korea. However, if you have an original form that mentions all the flights/countries within a broad range of travel dates, and have photocopies that grandparents can leave behind if requested by an Immigration official, they should be fine.

    We wish your son and his grandmother a safe and fun trip — it certainly sounds like a fascinating journey to us.Thank you and please get in touch with other questions.

     
  • admin

    The CPB has some useful advice on this topic on their web page: http://ow.ly/Q2WEY

  • admin

    Well the 1st of June started out soggy. I, along with most all the captains had to cancel due to the fact that it rained and lightened most of the day.  The rest of the week was beautiful. None of my clients this week wanted to Tarpon fish, so I stayed inshore most of the week, but the reports I’m getting are still saying that the tarpon bite is remaining strong at Bean Point and along the beach. All my clients this week  wanted to stay inshore to take home some fish for the dinner table. The bite this week was slow in the morning but picked up at the tale end of the high tide and was good through the outgoing tide.  Most days we were able to catch 20 or so trout with about half being in the keeper range. The big trout of the week was 23″ with most of the trout being caught in 3′-4′ of water on small grass patches. The Redfish bite has been slow but we are managing to catch a couple each trip during the higher water along the mangroves. The Snook bite has been good as long as the tide is moving. Most trips we were able to catch around 15-20 with most being in the 25″ range. If you are looking to book at fishing charter or fishing trip and are near Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key, Bradenton, Sarasota, St. Pete, or Tampa areas book with Anna Maria Inshore Fishing, LCC call Fishing Guide Capt. Kyle (941) 345-7182  http://www.annamariainshorefishing.com or check out my brother Fishing Guide Capt. Ryan (941) 812-7435 http://www.bradentoninshorefishing.com  

     
  • FTFstaff

    I just wanted to inquire how much a cruise is how long it is what the fees and baggage charges etc   are there  accommodation for children that are autistic  _ is there a discount for people that are Disneyland  annual  pass holders

     

    By Deb L, moved by Forums moderator

    • todobigo

      Disney cruises are really fun, and their staff is so well trained to work with all kids, that I think you will find them able to include a child with autism in the regular children’s programming.  (Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line I know — see story — that has specific accommodations and loaner toy kits, for example, for guests on the spectrum.) 

      DCL Cruises run 4 to 7 days typically, pricing varies because some have theme park tickets bundled in, some leave from Florida, others from California and a ship will be in Europe this summer.

      You can find out more about Disney Cruise Lines at their site: vhttp://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ – that would be the place to inquire if pass holders get any type of discount.  One good cruise travel specialist we know is Magic For Less — http://www.themagicforless.com/ – and they can help you sort through the many choices.

      Have a great trip, we don’t think you’ll go wrong!

  • admin

    From a quirky retail store, to a nature park with over 380 live animals, the Shell Factory is “must see” for families visiting The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Southwest Florida. Located in Fort Myers, this iconic, offbeat roadside attraction offers a variety of activities, souvenirs and experiences for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

    You can shop for Christmas decorations in the Christmas store (which is open year-round!), try out a hurricane simulator, watch hermit crab races, stroll through aisles filled with taxidermy, indulge in homemade fudge, channel your inner pirate in the Pirate room and more.

    Thanks to Julianna Bryan for her fun suggestion.

  • admin

    Hello, my name is Joshua.  You have a great site. I have a few questions that has branched off from reading your article by Kyle McCarthy about the road trip from Jacksonville Florida to Key West using A1A and also Route 1.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I am  in the navy and live in Jacksonville.  I recently decided that I am going to take a long (month or longer) backpacking trip from Jacksonville to Miami (or Key west if I can make it).   I am having trouble decideing which route to take A1A or Route 1.   It seems as if you took both on your road trip.  Maybe you can suggest which I take.  If you can make any suggestions maybe you could consider I will be backpacking and looking for a decent sized shoulder on the side to walk on.  I would like easier access to motels and food.  I also wonder if I could plop a tent down anywhere in my travels?  Also, I picture myself stopping for a cold beer here and there along my travels somewhere that a dirty backpacker would be welcomed.  The problem is I am currently on deployment overseas so my research is limited and I am not very familiar with Florida at all yet.  Any help for my backpacking trip would be greatly appreciated so I can start to plan it as much as I can at sea for now.  The descriptions of your trip are very well detailed, I am just not sure which route to concentrate on or would be easier, more scenic and fun for a backpacker.  I will continue to read your site as I love to travel and you have very detailed and relevant information.  Thanks so much.

  • admin

    ubud would be super for a mother-daughter getaway. The Yoga Barn is terrific: it cascades down a hillside, first with welcome bungalow, then a really good restaurant, then a yoga building (photo  below), then gardens and what I think are either cottages for accom or treatment rooms. And meanwhile you’re in ubud!

    Some people stay at the yoga barn but it’s pretty expensive by ubud standards. I had a beautiful guest house– traditional compound with statuary and pool and ornate platforms — for $25 cDN and I left it for a better one.  Plus today I went to beautiful spa, garden setting, 5 mins from yoga barn, and had massage , papaya scrub, and soak in a flower-filled tub — $27 cDN , so that’s maybe $20?

    Ubud Bali Guesthouse

    < The patio of my guesthouse.

     

    Ubud is so very beautiful, my room is like a private bungalow by a ravine,  beautiful greenery, sounds of cicadas and rushing water, and this little temple where the lady of the house does a ceremony every morning.
     

    Ubud also has Balinese dance performances every night ($6), exquisite meals ($5)… 

    Contributed by user Teresa Plowright.