The “I can’t get away!” Travel Gift Guide

Sure the holiday season is a wonderful time to be with friends and family but baby, it’s cold outside!
I’m not a fan of cold weather or winter, but as a Canadian I do know that you can’t beat it (trust me, I’ve tried), so you might as well join it. Why not help out the wanna-be-in-Bermuda traveler in your life with gifts that help them get through the winter months whether at home or away.

1. Gloves that you don’t have to take off to use your phone

No other glove should even be sold at this point. This is Canada and the 21st century: a glove that works with your PDA is mandatory. I fell in love with AGloves a few years ago – didn’t have to worry about it last year when we were chasing the sun around the world – and was excited to see they’ve created a Sports line that are perfect for the guys in your life too. The gloves are knit with real silver which assists with conductivity on your device. Lightweight and PDA friendly you could easily make the mistake of thinking you’re giving up form for fashion but nope, they will also keep you warm.

2. Boots that do double duty

It’s an age-old dilemma. You want the warmth and durability of a good boot but would rather not feel like you’ve added 50 pounds to your frame every time you put them on. Then, there’s the issue that arises when you’ve warn your boots out tobogganing or just mucking through the snow to your morning commute, get inside and then have to spend 20 mins getting them off to grab a cup of cocoa. The decision to put them on again is almost always weighed with the hassle in doing so.  What’s a girl to do? Teva Jordanelle boots solve the problem. Inside the tough, warm outer shell is a slipper like inner boot perfect for getting you over to the hot chocolate adn back without making a mess of the floor or suffering from tootsie chill on the way there or back. And the boots crush down (without wrecking their shape) for easy packing when you’re traveling to colder climes.

3. The Gift of Family Laughs

Nothing will wear your love and adoration for your family down faster than a week cooped up together inside with nothing to do. Nip that problem in the bud by stocking up on games that will get everyone up, moving and laughing. Our latest go to is Just Dance 4 (it comes for Wii, Kinnect and PS3). Challenge the kids in a Flo Rida dance off or just sit back and watch them shake what their mama gave them. Good times guaranteed.  Trust me, once you’ve seen a 45-year old man dance to Nikki Minaj, you can’t go back.

4. Getaway close to home

Maybe you can’t afford a big trip out of the city or the plane tickets to send your sister, but all that traveling you were doing this year could pay off big for someone else. Aeroplan has increased the host of gifts and activities that you can buy with your points    . Now you can use your miles  towards experiences. The  “Samba days” gift boxes offer everything from action and adventure options to golf to “shared plates” ( a dining experience in a selection of restaurants) and start at only 7,500 miles! www.Aeroplan.com/Activities.
 

And if you’re short on points? Consider trips out to some of the smaller neighbouring towns close to yours. While all of your neighbours may have already snatched up the goods on your own main shopping streets, the town next door is brimming with fresh ideas. Torontonians should peek into Downtown Oakville. On a recent visit I found a small town feel with plenty of  worldly gift options – Burrows Clothiers for Men, Tocca Finita for ladies and Pick of the Crop for kids are among the retailers offering unique finds. And unique dining experiences (like “7 restaurant” where pizza is cooked at 1000 degrees for 60-90 seconds!) are superb!