2014 Tech + Travel Holiday Gift Guide

10 gift ideas for the tech-savvy frequent traveler on your holiday shopping list:

1 iPad Air 2
I loved my first iPad so much that even when newer versions came out, I didn’t feel the need to upgrade. The original iPad was such a game-changer on the tech scene – I felt pretty lucky just to have one. Fast-forward a few years and the iPad has undergone many a facelift and the new iPad Air 2 is really a thing of beauty. At 6.1 mm thin and 0.96 pounds, it’s 18% thinner than its predecessor and more powerful. It feels amazing in your hands and the picture quality is stunning. Because of its lightweight portability, it’s the perfect gift for the traveler on your list who will be delighted to use it for work or for play.

2 B&O PLAY BeoPlay H2
Every traveler needs a pair of headphones, whether it’s for use on the plane, during a workout or for work purposes. The new BeoPlay H2 headphones are thoughtfully designed by the Danish industrial designer Jakob Wagner and offer superior sound quality coupled with innovative design. Available in three colors: Carbon Blue, Silver Cloud and Feldspar Green.

3 Samsung Galaxy Gear 2
Who wouldn’t love the convenience of a smart watch? This gadget is sure to be on many travelers’ wish lists this Christmas.  The Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 is compatible with a variety of Samsung devices and can do all sorts of fun stuff, from helping you track your fitness progress and taking pictures, to syncing with your phone to send and receive mail. Plus, with a 4GB internal memory, there’s lots of storage capacity for all kinds of files. But best of all, this smart watch boasts a sleek and stylish look that makes it as design-conscious as it is functional.

4 TripIt Pro
TripIt Pro is a traveler’s essential companion and by paying the $49 yearly fee, you can give the gift of easier travel to the person on your list who needs it most. With a subscription to TripIt Pro, they’ll be able to organize all of their travel plans in one centralized spot, get real-time alerts about flight delays, cancellations and gate changes, keep track of reward-program flights and miles, get notifications when they’re eligible for flight refunds … and so much more. Since travel can be a hassle on the best of days, TripIt Pro will help to ease the stress of travel by keeping things neat and organized. GIVE BACK: Also this holiday season, TripIt is supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help fund the wishes of children that involve travel. By donating miles from your Delta, United or US Airways account, you can not only ensure that your miles don’t go to waste, but that they can make a special wish come true this Christmas. Learn more here.

5 Tory Burch FitBit Flex Bracelet
Staying fit on the road is a challenge for most frequent travelers but the FitBit helps to keep track of how many steps you’ve taken and can help you to reach your fitness goals. Kick someone’s FitBit love up a notch by gifting them with a super-stylish Tory Burch bracelet, made exclusively for FitBit. Turning the fitness tracker device into something that can easily be worn from day to night, the silicone bracelet is available in Tory Burch’s signature colours, prints and designs.

6 Mujjo Gloves
Mujjo Gloves made it on to my gift guide last Christmas and they’re here again this season. That’s because I think they’re one of the greatest gifts to put under the tree for just about anyone. Made with a focus on insulation, conductivity and elasticity, to provide optimal warmth, comfort and touchscreen compatibility, these touchscreen gloves will let the wearer keep their fingers toasty warm while tweeting and texting outside during the cold winter months. Available in five different colours, with enough stretch to fit most hands and made with an anti-pilling yarn, these gloves are sure to be a hit this holiday season.

7 Kobo Aura H20
I’ll never forget the time my husband asked me if I had to choose between him and my Kobo, what I would choose? The look on his face told me I’d waited a beat too long to respond. I jest (sort of) but suffice it to say, my Kobo is pretty essential to me and is, hands down, one of my top travel must-haves. The newest Kobo to hit the market is the Kobo Aura H20 and it’s the first waterproof design – what a great idea! Now, travelers can take their favourite books just about anywhere with them – from the tub to the pool to the beach. And the screen on this version is larger than the regular Kobo Aura and reads like printed paper, which means there’s no glare. Perfect for outdoor reading.

8 Fujifilm Instax Mini
I know everyone has a camera on their phone but this camera is just too much fun – it’s the perfect entertaining gift for Christmas. You know, the kind of thing you might not buy yourself but would be thrilled to find under the tree? The Fujifilm Instax Mini Camera is the modern day version of a Polaroid camera and with so many photos just rotting in digital dungeons, it’s a lot of fun to print them (gasp! remember when we used to print photos?) and share with friends and family. This is the kind of gift that will be put to immediate use as soon as it’s opened (don’t forget to include some film for the camera, about $10.)

9 Jonathan Adler charger
A portable charger is an essential for any traveler and I love the design of this Jonathan Adler number. Plus, at $15, it’s an inexpensive gift that won’t break the bank for you but will make the recipient very happy. This charger delivers up to a 70% charge on most iPhones and up to 50% charge on iPads. It’s compatible with 30-pin port devices and the charger itself can recharge using a USB 2.0 connection. Petite, pretty and portable – parfait!

10 Beats Pill Speaker
This lightweight speaker is so sleek and portable, it’ll fit easily into any travel bag, meaning that you can take superior sound with you, wherever you go! But the coolest feature is that you can sync two Pills by tapping them together and they’ll play the same song for a fuller sound experience. Even better, tap them together twice to make one Pill the left output and the other the right output, for a stereo sound experience. How cool is that? The Pill speakers come in an array of colours but I am seriously crushing on the white and gold.