MEMO TO SANTA SUPERB CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR TRAVELLERS
From portable interpreters to heated eye masks, the best Christmas presents on offer for savvy travellers
NEXT-GENERATION NAPPING
Graphene Eye Mask, £40, simbasleep.com
ExpErtly moulded to rest gently on your eyes, blocking out almost all light, Simba’s heated, graphene eye mask is a genius and comfortable sleep support. to turn on the warmth, plug the USB into the port on your plane seat or a power bank. Set your preferred heat level (there are three) and you’ll soon be lulled into the land of nod.
CHAT LIKE A LOCAL
Pocketalk language translator, £219, amazon.co.uk
A two-wAy voice translator that instantly interprets 74 languages, pocketalk makes conversing with locals a whole lot easier.
Simply say into it: ‘Can I get a taxi to the train station?’ and the device will say the phrase back in whichever language you have chosen. It works the other way, too. Hold the device up as the other person replies and their words will be translated back to you on screen.
A GYM IN YOUR POCKET
Activ5 Portable Strength Training Device and Coaching App, £129.95, amazon.co.uk top of the wish list for active travellers is Activ5’s fitness device, which enables you to exercise anywhere, anytime.
Download the smartphone app, then link it to the device via Bluetooth. A selection of exercises is provided on the app, including five-minute, full-body workouts. you can squeeze and press the small device to measure pressure during strength exercises.
SMART SUITCASE
Horizn Studios M5 suitcase, £320, horizn-studios.co.uk tHIS is the ultimate in high-end luggage. It comes in seven colours, including marine green and blue vega, and features a one- click removable phone charger, 360degree spinner wheels and an aerospace-grade hard shell — so there’s no risk of belongings getting crushed.
the 33-litre suitcase comes with one-year’s access to a ‘personal travel assistant’ website called Horizn Go. this enables members to book curated trips and includes perks such as tickets to sold-out events, complimentary breakfasts, late check-outs and upgrades at 2,000 hotels worldwide.
CLEAN WATER IN A JIFF
GOpure PuriBloc Portable Tap Water Filter Capsule, £19.99, lakeland.co.uk tHIS nifty pod filters tap water within seconds. Drop it into your bottle or flask, fill the bottle with water and watch the pod quickly get to work.
the filtration power comes from an unlimited, renewable resource called diatomaceous earth. this is a natural, positively charged material that attracts and neutralizes contaminants present in the water.
one pod can filter up to 1,000 litres of tap water — that’s the equivalent of around 2,000 single-use, plastic water bottles.
FIND ZEN ON THE GO
Manduka eKO SuperLite Travel Yoga Mat, £40, yogastudio.co.uk
MADE from sustainably harvested tree- derived rubber, using nontoxic eKo foaming agents (for the ecologically conscious), this super-lightweight mat takes all the stress out of travelling with your yoga kit, helping active holidaymakers find their Zen on the go.
SKY-HIGH PAMPERING
On The Fly pamper kit, £18, patchology.co.uk tHIS carry-on-friendly pack can be used before, after, or even during a flight to illuminate, rejuvenate and energise tired skin, eyes and lips. the pack includes eye gels, a lip gel, and illuminating and hydrating face masks.
HOLIDAY IN STYLE
Travel wallet, £135, aspinaloflondon.com
A GooD travel wallet has never gone under-appreciated. Especially this one from Aspinal in shocking pink with an orange suede interior. If you like, you can even have it embossed with initials — or go all out and complete the set with matching luggage tags and passport cover.
NEVER LOSE POWER
Belkin Pocket Power 10K Portable Power Bank Charger, £25, johnlewis.com
EnSUrE you never get caught short by your phone’s unreliable battery life again.
Stylish, durable and light (it weighs only 222g), you can slip Belkin’s pocket power into your bag and forget all about it until you need it to save the day.
It can recharge a state- of-theart smartphone up to three times, which totals approximately 25 hours of call time or up to 21 hours of web browsing.