Gift ideas for travellers

Christmas has come around yet again, and luckily new tech gear hits stores just as quickly. So what great gift can you give to a world traveller?

From the quirky to downright practical, here are our top picks. Whether it's to stay in touch with family back home, and keep up to date with the news, or simply to pass the time with all forms of entertainment, there are heaps of gifts for the globetrotter in your life.

Price: AU$999
A fantastic gift would be Apple's latest iPhone, the 4S; it's an all-in-one device that would suit just about anyone. They can be confident in knowing that it'll work in every country they visit, and it can be used for navigation, entertainment and, of course, to keep in touch with loved ones.

Price: AU$549
If the 4S's AU$1000 price tag puts you off, perhaps consider the iPad 2 for almost half that cost, which does just about as much as the iPhone — but, naturally, without the phone capability. If you can afford it, they're both perfect travel companions!

Price: AU$549
Another wonderful gift would be Canon's PowerShot S100 for those who want to have the ability to snap photos or take their time setting up a shot with the manual controls and focusing, but without the heft of a digital SLR. It'll fit into any backpack, handbag or carry-on luggage.

Price: AU$179
For book lovers who must have their books and guides when they travel, you could get them the affordable Sony Wi-Fi Reader, which has a recommended retail price of AU$179. The battery will last for days on end, and is feather light in comparison to actual books.

Price: AU$349.95
If it's the kiddies (or even child-like adults) who need to be kept busy on the road, Nintendo's 3DS will keep them occupied for hours on end. It can play a wide variety of 3D and non-3D games. Plus, what kid wouldn't be happy with a gaming device?

Price: AU$44.95
These portable speakers by X-mini make for a great stocking stuffer. Whether it's to be hooked up to a smartphone, laptop, tablet or MP3 player, the receiver of this gift will be able to rock to music with mates without having to awkwardly share a pair of headphones. Backpacker room parties will never be the same again!

Price: AU$199
Let's say that they already have a smartphone and/or you don't want to spend over $200 — why not consider a simple MP3 player? The iPad Nano can fit in any pocket, and, with 24 hours of continuous audio playback, it'd be well-suited for long flights and tedious tours.

Price: AU$34.99
Whether your globetrotter is a savvy map reader or not, this mobile map app will come in handy to anyone touring a country on their own, or if they're a tad lost after following their own shadow, and can't find the nearest cafe. The great thing about this app is that the maps are stored on the phone, so there won't be any concerns over data-roaming fees.

The company offers a free seven-day trial, but it will then cost around AU$34.99 for Australia and New Zealand maps, and even more for any additional countries. The app is available for iPhone, Android, Bada and Symbian.

Price: AU$449
This is a great gift for either the klutz in your life or the intrepid traveller who would want a rugged camera that would be able to withstand tough conditions.

Price: AU$699
Magellan's eXplorist 610 is a rugged, waterproof and long-lasting GPS device (approximately 15 hours on one charge). Plus, since it'd be suited to camping and any other outdoor activity, the device uses two AA batteries, rather than Lithium-ion, which is easy to keep stock of without having to worry about a power outlet.

Another unique feature about the eXplorist is that it has a built-in camera, compass and barometric altimeter.

Price: US$29.99
Why not harness some of the sun's power? If power outlets will be hard to come by, then Freeloader's Pico Solar Charger will be extremely useful to keep tech necessities charged. The device, according to ThinkGeek, provides up to 35 hours of charge for a mobile phone, and 14 hours for an iPod.

Price: From US$9.99
This organiser would make a great stocking stuffer for just about anyone. It's designed to keep your tech and other goodies in one secure place — no more fumbling through a bag trying to find your MP3 player and headphones.

Price: US$240
Keep those precious memories near your heart with this flash memory locket. The USB locket by Emily Rothschild offers a 2GB flash drive for US$240, which you can get in either 24K satin gold-plated brass or black rhodium-plated brass. If that's too pricey, there is a mini-version for US$170, with the same amount of storage drive.

Price: US$39.99
Here's a gadget that will make your other gadgets last just that little while longer. The wrist charger powers up mobile phones, MP3 players, portable gaming devices — and pretty much anything that's compatible with a mini-USB port.

We're curious as to what airport security would think of such a device if they saw it strapped to someone's wrist.

Price: US$20.95
This is another stocking stuffer idea for those who worry about their identity being stolen. This holder is able to protect radio frequency identification-enabled passports and personal IDs from being skimmed.

Price: AU$799
Not sure whether to get your globetrotter a laptop or a tablet? Asus' Eee Pad Transformer is both! While the recommended retail price is AU$799 for the 32GB version with keyboard dock, JB Hi-Fi is currently selling it for AU$582, and is selling the 16GB version for AU$498. So shop around, as you may snag a bargain.

Price: AU$449
What traveller wouldn't want noise-cancelling headphones? Bose's Quiet Comfort headphones are not only great for cancelling out noise, but also the overall sound it outputs.