Vacation Memories

Budget-friendly gifts for travelers: Create a puzzle in a tin



I love the idea of spending a post-holiday winter afternoon snuggled inside, snapping together a puzzle depicting a favorite warm-vacation memory. Does everyone connect the edges first, then fill in? Or are there puzzle renegades who barrel ahead frameless? Anyway, I can say firsthand that at this particular site, it’s a quick and easy process to create an account, then upload a photo for your gift. PhotoWorks’ PR people tell me they’re going to do away with the need to create an account starting next week, making the process even easier.

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Budget-friendly gifts for travelers: Chalkboard frame


I’d gift this containing a shared-vacation photo and scrawled with a personalized note. Because I’m sweet that way.

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Digital Camera Swim Mask


A swim mask with integrated waterproof digital camera, for hands-free snorkeling plus a hard copy of the experience. Makes stills or video.

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Mino 60-minute mini camcorder by Flip


You know how those huge mobile phones from the 80s look so ridiculous? Bulky camcorders are finally headed the same direction. Flip’s newest pocket version—just three ounces and about a half-inch thick—can hold sixty minutes of digital video. The USB port flips out of the top, so you can connect it directly to your computer for downloading or charging the built-in battery.

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Travel Journal by Poketo

You should travel more. You should be more organized. This helps with both goals. Handy features include a packing checklist, self-stick tabs, a travel pouch and a built-in envelope where you can stuff ticket stubs, brochures and other road mementos.

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Select-a-map personalized jigsaw puzzle

Have one custom-made for a honeymoon, dream or pet destination, and bingo! A perfect string of Sunday afternoons for your favorite map nerd.

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Kid travel journal and scrapbook by I Get Around


My 5-going-on-15-year-old niece Nayana walked me through her recent trip to New York with the aid of this travel journal. Two pages designated to each day offer a good amount of space to write a few key words, draw thoughts and plaster stickers. The trip kicked off the journal, which she’ll continue to fill throughout the year. Definitely a keepsake in the making.

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Eye-Fi Explore 2GB wireless memory card

Automatically, wirelessly uploads photos to your computer and the web while you’re on the road, in range of over 10,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across America. Adds geo-tags, too. Brilliant, I tell you. I have the standard old Eye-Fi (now renamed the “Share”), which does the same, but only within your select wireless network. Love, love, love it. Manual downloading is now beneath me.

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35mm slide and negative film scanner

slide scanner
Usher all your pre-digital vacations into the 21st century.

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Customized photo luggage tag by PhotoWorks

photoworks luggage tag
So incredibly easy to create this quality tag. Just one heads up: Your photo prints on both sides, so if you want it to work as a luggage identifier for anyone other than yourself, you’ll need to do some doctoring.

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