Luggage and Literature

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - St. Augustine

  • Travel Bucket List
  • Travel Resources
  • Indexes
    • Book Index A-F
    • Book Index G-L
    • Book Index M-R
    • Book Index S-Z
    • Book Club Questions Index
    • Packing Index
    • Domestic Travel Index
    • International Travel Index
  • About
  • Contact

2017 Holiday Gift Guide

12.11.2017 by Tana Henry //

Do you have a traveler or bibliophile in your life? I’ve purchased some super handy travel items (and spotted some others that I want for myself) lately that I think would make great gifts for the traveler in your life. And bookish gifts are always fun! Here are sixteen items that make up my holiday gift guide, for the traveler or reader in your life.

1.Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones. These are so wonderful to have on plane rides. They really do make it so much quieter. And being able to listen to music or watch a movie make the trip go more quickly.

2.Hardside Spinner Luggage. This year, I’ve been converted to hard shell luggage. I’ve found that combined with packing cubes, my packing is so much more organized; and I’m able to fit more into the same amount of space.

3.Packing Cubes. I’ve been a big fan of packing cubes for the last few years. I love that my luggage stays organized even on those trips where I have to repack my bags several times.

4.Kindle Fire. Plenty of reading material, and also a tablet for watching movies and accessing the internet. My Kindle Fire is an indispensable part of my travel supplies.

5.An Amazon Prime subscription. Seriously, I think that Amazon Prime is a wonderful deal. Free 2 day shipping. 1 free borrowed book per month (Kindle Owner’s Lending Library), and 1 free book per month (Kindle First). Free movies and television shows. Free music. And all of that for only $99 per year. This would be an awesome gift for travelers, book lovers, movie lovers, music lovers…pretty much everyone.

6.Portable Luggage Scale. With airlines cracking down on the number and weight of luggage, we’ve found our portable luggage scale to be invaluable to avoid excess baggage fees or repacking luggage in the airport. Especially when we go on scuba diving trips, our luggage can easily be overweight if not distributed property, so this makes packing easy. And it’s small (and lightweight) enough to fit in a carry-on or checked bag so that bags can be repacked for the return trip easily. Plus, they only cost about $7.99-9.99, depending on the brand that you purchase.

7. External battery charger. In the last year, I purchased a bigger external battery charger like this one that is fantastic for traveling. It will charge a couple of different devices at a time, and get them from empty to a full charge. This one is priced at $39.99, which looks like a good value in external battery chargers.

8.Dry Bags. Because we scuba dive, we use these frequently to keep our clothes or other items dry on the dive boats. But I’ve also used mine to keep phone, towel, and kindle clean and dry when going to the beach. So I know that these would come in handy for snorkelers, or anyone who just wants certain items kept clean and dry.

9.Point and shoot camera. I have this Samsung point and shoot digital camera. I really like it. It has about the most functionality that you can get in a point and shoot, takes great pictures, and it will fit in a small purse or in a pocket. After doing some research, and thinking about my needs when it comes to a camera (primarily portability), I decided that a big DSLR camera isn’t really a good fit at present. These range in price from $159.00 to $274.99 depending on the particular color that you want.

10.Amazon gift cards. I read a ton on my Kindle, but especially while on trips. And I love listening to Amazon music, some of which is free with Prime music, but some of which is not. So I am always happy to get an Amazon gift card, so that I can stock up on ebooks and tunes before I leave.

11. Infinity scarf with hidden zippered pouch. I don’t have this item, but really want it. It sounds like it would be perfect for holding cash, credit cards, and a passport, to keep them safe from muggers, without looking like a dopey tourist with a money belt. At $11.00, it’s inexpensive enough to buy in a couple of different colors to wear with different outfits.

12. Airline gift cards or hotel gift cards. I use IHG and United credit cards and love earning points rewards points. If family or friends wanted to purchase gift cards for us for hotels or airlines, we’d definitely get a lot of enjoyment out of it, as those are often the two largest drivers of cost. So I think that hotel and airline gift cards would make an awesome gift!

13.Fun Bookends. I’ve got more books than I know what to do with. But neat bookends like these Fender themed ones would help to manage my collection, or that of any book and music lover.

14.Beautiful Agate Coasters. The coasters are gorgeous! And they would be perfect for that hot or cold drink paired with a good book and a cozy chair.

15.Hardcover Books. If you know someone who is a fan of a particular book series, purchasing the whole series for him/her in hardcover and a set as beautiful as this one, would be a lovely gift. I’m certain that any book lover would be grateful for something like this.

16.Book Themed Gift. I love this Harry Potter themed mug, that changes colors when either hot or cold. Themed gifts for a particular book series are always fun.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Categories // Uncategorized Tags // Christmas, gift guide, Holiday Gift Guide, Hotels.com gift cards, IHG gift cards

Chicago, Illinois

06.20.2016 by Tana Henry //

In my next post on Chicago, I will talk a bit about my favorite hotel in the city, the Palmer House Hilton. In this post, I’m going to touch on a few fun things to do while visiting the city. This is by no means an exhaustive list of what to do in Chicago, because the city still boasts many things that I haven’t had the time to check out. It’s just a few ideas if you’re planning a visit and are looking for something to do.

Christmas in Chicago

My favorite time of year to visit Chicago is at Christmas time. I’ve visited twice around Christmas, and checking out the decorations around the city (the lights, the trees, the window displays) is definitely one of my favorite things to do in Chi-town.

Chicago at Christmas

Bus/Trolley Tour

A double-decker bus/trolley tour of the city. It’s a great way to learn about the city, and a quick way to get from point to point and see lots of the sites. My gal pals and I loved it, even though it was a bit chilly when we rode!

Chicago Double Decker Bus

Navy Pier

Visit Navy Pier, wander around, and get a hot dog from a cart. And maybe ride on the ferris wheel while you’re at it. Such a fun place for all ages!

Hershey World

Hershey World is cheesy but super fun. And the whole place smells like chocolate. We had a great time admiring all of the jumbo candy items.

Hershey Chocolate World

Skyscrapers

Check out the view from a skyscraper in Chicago. I’ve been to the top of the Willis Tower (back when it was called the Sears Tower), and was in awe of the view. I’d like to go to the top of the Hancock Tower on a future visit.

Chicago Style Pizza

Eating Chicago style pizza! How can you make a trip to Chicago without trying it?! I’d say that those from Chicago have different ideas of which place is the best to go for the best deep dish pie, but I’d bet you really can’t go wrong with any of them.

Chicago Style pizza

Architectural Boat Tour

An evening architectural boat tour. So gorgeous! And so informative. Probably my favorite activity in the Windy City (which by the way, is named because of the politicians in Chicago, not because of the weather), especially if it ends in a fireworks show.

Chicago Skyline

Fireworks over Chicago

When in Chicago, I’ve not ever had time to visit any museums. In particular I’d love to visit the Field Museum on future visit. I’ve also not had the opportunity to take in a baseball game from Wrigley Field. So, I guess a future trip to Chicago is in the cards for me so that I can check these items off of my list.

Have you visited or done any of the things on my list? What have you done in Chicago that you’ve loved?

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Categories // Domestic Travel Tags // archictectural boat tour, Chicago, Christmas, double decker bus, Field Museum, Hancock Tower, Hershey World, hot dog cart, Illinois, Navy Pier, pizza, Sears Tower, trolley, Willis Tower, Wrigley Field

My name is Tana, and I am an attorney in South-Central Nebraska. I'm married to a great guy, named Mike, and have a dog named Emmy and a cat named Scout. I read as much as possible, and travel any chance I get. Luggage and Literature chronicles both. I hope you enjoy looking around! Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think.

HELP KEEP CREATIVITY GOING AND MY MIND AWAKE WHILE READING AND REVIEWING!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • October 2023 Reading List
  • September 2023 Reading List
  • August 2023 Reading List
  • Bahamas Scuba Diving
  • Pet Care During Travel

Categories

  • Book Club Questions
  • Domestic Travel
  • Friday Five
  • General Tips
  • Goals
  • International Travel
  • Packing Tips
  • Roadside Locations
  • Uncategorized
  • What I Read

Pages

  • About
  • Book Club Questions Index
  • Book Index A-F
  • Book Index G-L
  • Book Index M-R
  • Book Index S-Z
  • Contact
  • Domestic Travel Index
  • Indexes
  • International Travel Index
  • Packing Index
  • Travel Bucket List
  • Travel Resources

Archives

  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in