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Camping is a wonderful way to spend time in nature. Whether dad loves to test his own limits camping or hiking, goes boating or fishing in his free time, or likes to take the family on an outdoor adventure, there are plenty of camping gadgets for dad to make his outdoor life a little more fun and a lot more comfortable. From portable fire pits to manual coffee grinders and from a Jetboil cooking system to a travel hammock. This guide with the best gifts for outdoor dads will help you buy the perfect gift for the occasion.

Check out this gift guide and then shop for the best gifts for dad on Amazon to make buying a gift as easy as possible.

Portable Camping Fire Pit

As a family we travel a lot in our Mazda Bongo; a 4×4 camper, where space is limited. One of our favorite and most used items has to be our Portable Camping Fire Pit (which I bought as a present for my husband’s last birthday!)

This lightweight fire pit comes in a small carry bag that you can easily fit into a rucksack. No tools are required to put it together, you just connect the stainless steel legs together (which are anti-heating) and fold them out to create a frame. Then an anti-heating steel mesh is attached to the top, which is what you built your fire on. This mesh is meticulously woven to limit ash and debris from slipping through.

It is also very easy to clean to then pack away back into the bag (just leave your fire to cool down before you safely and responsibly dispose of the ashes).

Recommended by Jenny from TraveLynn Family

Buy at Amazon

Stanley Stainless Steel Shot Glass and Flask Gift Set

After a day of fishing, hiking, or lounging in a hammock, most dads are ready for a happy hour. The Stanley stainless steel shot glass and flask gift set adventure pack comes with four 2oz metal shot glasses (for sharing), an 8oz whiskey flask, and travel carrying case. It’s all your dad will need to bring along his favorite spirit to the campsite and keep it tasting as good as when it was in the bottle.

The stainless steel design won’t rust or add unwanted flavors to what is stored inside. The flask can also be used for a pre-mixed cocktail like an Old Fashioned. Pair the set with his favorite whiskey, bourbon, or rum for the perfect gift.

Recommended by Jenn from Cocktails Away

Buy at Amazon

YETI Portable Cooler

One of the best Father’s Day camping gift ideas is a cooler. This YETI Portable Cooler will survive a full day (and some more) for camping, or on a road trip. It has a capacity of up to 16 cans plus ice.

It is equipped with waterproof material and is also leakproof, so no spills inside the vehicle or at the campsite. The cooler has a decent opening to store food, cans, and ice, and keeps them cool for long hours.

A YETI cooler makes for a great gift as it is a very sturdy and neat-looking product. As far as dimensions go, it is about 15 2/3 in long x 10 1/5 in wide x 12 3/5 in high. All of 18 liters, it weighs 5.1 pounds – so a decent size to carry over the shoulder. Plus it won’t take up a lot of space inside the camping tent or the vehicle.

Recommended by Mayuri from Canada Crossroads

Buy at Amazon

LED beanie hat with light

If you’re looking one of the best unique and affordable camping gadgets for dad, then I’d recommend an LED beanie hat with in-built light. This product is brilliant because it has more than one use; it will keep your dad warm, whilst also providing light. This is a hat to put on during a walk, while camping in the winter, on a cool evening, or when dad needs to use the bathroom in the night!

This light has three adjustable brightness settings; the lowest level will last for up to eight hours, the middle level will last for up to four hours and the highest level will keep its charge for two hours. The beanies come in a variety of colors. They’re also USB rechargeable, so you can even recharge it during your camping trip. At around $10, this is a budget-friendly camping gift that is great for a dad that seems to have everything.

Recommended by Claire from Stapo’s Thrifty Life Hacks

Buy at Amazon

Travel hammock

Dad will be a happy camper with his very own travel hammock. Let him know you appreciate all that he does with a gift that helps him put his feet up and relax. He deserves it!

These travel hammocks come with carabiners, adjustable straps, and a carrying bag so he can easily set it up at most campsites using nearby trees. They come in two sizes, get the double for bigger guys. Consider adding the mosquito netting and rain fly. Then he can spend the night in it and use it for backpacking.

On Father’s Day, set it up in the backyard and bring him a cold beverage so he can relax and dream of future trips. 

Recommended by Erica from Trip Scholars

Buy at Amazon

Portable BBQ

For dads who love the great outdoors and camping, a portable barbecue will be a great addition to his adventures.

There are a lot of free BBQ points around but getting him his own portable BBQ will give you so much more freedom as a family – you can take it to the beach so he can cook breakfast as the sun comes up or he can cook your dinner right beside your tent or caravan. No more waiting for the BBQ point at the campsite to become available, plus you don’t have to rush to clean it for the next person the moment you’ve finished cooking.

You can choose a BBQ to suit his interests – whether he prefers the convenience of a gas BBQ or likes the classic flavor of a charcoal BBQ (my personal favorite is the Weber Baby Q gas BBQ which is small, solid and convenient). There are lots of compact travel BBQs to choose from this Father’s Day and they’re guaranteed to make camping a lot more fun.

Recommended by Karen from Smart Steps to Australia

Buy at Amazon

Manual coffee grinder

If your dad is a coffee connoisseur and enjoys making fresh coffee when camping, one of the best Father’s Day gift ideas is a camping coffee grinder.

With a travel coffee grinderyou can grind whole bean coffee as and when you need them each day for the best tasting coffee.

Unlike a home grinder, manual grinders are super compact, lightweight and do not need electricity.  Simply pop your beans in the top, set the grind size, turn the handle and within a minute or two you have freshly ground coffee ready to be brewed.

One of the best grinder options, especially if Dad travels with the Aeropress, is the Porlex Mini grinder. Made from stainless steel and with ceramic burrs, the Porlex is just 130mm tall and weighs 8 ounces. It fits snug inside the Aeropress coffee maker for easy transport and is the most compact option for hiking and backpacking.

If car camping is more their thing and you are looking for the very best manual grinder, look at the IZpresso JX manual grinder. One of the best manual grinders on the market, it will grind beans as evenly as most home grinders and is a great gift for coffee and camping loving dads.

Recommended by Rachel from Creators of Coffee

Buy at Amazon

Aeropress manual coffee maker

If you are looking for a Father’s Day gift for a dad who loves to camp and who also happens to love coffee, then we would recommend looking at an AeroPress. The AeroPress Go is a portable travel coffee press, a compact little coffee making gadget that was thought up by the same guy who designed the Aerobie; the sports toy that was popular in the eighties.

It does not require electricity to work – just a little muscle power! You pour boiling water into the chamber that holds the coffee grounds and push the plunger down into the chamber creating an airtight seal. It only takes about 1 minute for an American coffee and 2 minutes for a cold brew. The water is forced through the coffee and the filter and voila! Perfect coffee every time. It is high up on our list of campervan essentials.

The AeroPress Go includes a mug that you press your coffee into, can use to drink from and that also doubles as a carrying case when traveling.

Recommended by Jacquie from Flashpacking Family

Buy at Amazon

Hiking & camping waterproof jacket

As the famous hiking quote goes  “There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” A warm and weather-proof jacket can make all the difference during a camping trip!

This TEZO Men’s Rain Jacket is lightweight, waterproof, and windproof. It won’t add much to the weight of your camping gear, and it is a total lifesaver during bad weather. It is equipped with multiple pockets for keys and accessories, and the hood is detachable too. This lightweight waterproof jacket is the perfect gift for dads who enjoy camping and being outdoors, and who won’t let a bit of bad weather ruin the experience.

Recommended by Jiayi from The Diary of a Nomad

Buy at Amazon

Portable Outdoor Solar Power Bank

In the past, camping may have been all about being off-grid and enjoying nature… but that was before we had incredible portable technology that puts the world of entertainment at our fingertips. For all the dads out there that can’t live without their live sport updates, this portable solar power bank is a must-have camping accessory.

Recharge all your devices from its 26800mAh battery, then utilize the built-in solar panel to recharge the power bank and do it all again. This portable power bank is weatherproof, robust, and ready to go wherever you want to take it. You never have to give up your electronic comforts again!

Recommended by Yulia from Miss Tourist

Buy at Amazon

UltraThick Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad

Give your dad the ultimate gift of a great night’s sleep! Camping gear has come a long way in the last few decades, and it’s no longer necessary to sacrifice your well-deserved rest when heading out into nature. This self-inflating sleeping pad gives you the best of both worlds by combining UltraFlex memory foam with air mattress technology to create a luxurious 3″ high bed wherever you choose to rest your head.

This compact sleeping pad packs down to easily fit in your car or backpack; when you arrive, open a valve, and your bed will inflate itself! No more struggling with a pump or waking up on a deflated mattress in the middle of the night with this incredible advance in camping technology!

Recommended by Kate from Bags Always Packed

Buy at Amazon

Camping survival shovel

Looking for a gift for a dad who likes to have authentic camping experiences in nature? The perfect camping gift for the next Bear Grylls is an epic folding camping survival shovel.

What is a survival shovel? Imagine if a Swiss army knife and a shovel had a baby – you will get a reinvented shovel with a multitude of functions. The angles of the shovel blade move to change the operation of the shovel – it can be a hook, hoe, axe or conventional shovel. The other uses available include a spanner, knife, screwdriver, whistle and fire starter.

Why is this the best survival shovel? It is compact, lightweight, yet strong enough for the most significant camping tasks! Unlike other folding shovels, the length of the handle can be extended and increasing comfort for the camper! It is made from military-grade carbon steel. There is also a sturdy carry bag for storage and to stop incidental cuts from the saw.

If you want to make that Papa Bear happy – get him an epic folding-camping survival shovel.

Recommended by Alana from Family Bites Travel

Buy at Amazon

Earplugs

Earplugs may be an odd gift choice, but if you’ve ever been camping with a snorer or tried to go to bed before the campsite next to you, you’ll understand why.

When your father is out in nature, give him the gift of a great night’s sleep!

The earplugs I recommend The earplugs I recommend are the silicone putty type. They block out sound great and allow you to sleep on your side, unlike the expanding foam type that sticks out your ear canal slightly and causes discomfort when your head hits the pillow.

Lastly, the silicone earplugs can be used for other situations such as relieving airplane pressure pain when flying and prevent ear infections when swimming.

Your dad will surely be pleased with this slightly odd but super versatile gift!

Recommended by Nick from Illness To Ultra

Buy at Amazon

Daypack for hiking and trekking

A day backpack for hiking is a great gift for camping-loving dads. No matter what trips they take during the camping trip, a good backpack will have them covered.

As a dad on an adventure, you need to bring all the essentials not only for you, but often also for your kids, so a backpack that sits well on the back and has enough pockets for all the things that need to be easily accessible like a pocket knife, food, and water make all the difference.

For day hikes you could consider the 20L Osprey Daylite Plus or the lightweight Jack Wolfskin Kingston 30. The larger Fjallraven Kaipak 38 or The North Face Hydra 38L are also suitable for multi-day hikes or treks.

Recommended by Linn Haglund from Andalucia Hiking

Buy at Amazon

Jetboil portable cooking system

A jetboil is a compact and portable cooking system, perfect for any outdoor adventure. Allowing dad to boil water for his coffee or even cook meals, the jetboil takes up little space and is lightweight. It comes in variety of systems – giving you plenty of choice to suit dad’s
adventure style and requirements.

The smaller fast boil systems like the Jetboil MiniMo and the Jetboil MicroMo are very compact and perfect for coffee, tea and dehydrated meals. If the father in your life considers himself quite the camp chef, you may like to consider the 1.8L Jetboil Sumo cook and boil options which include simmer control and can support a pot and can be combined with the Jetboil Grande Coffee Press, skillet, and FluxRing 1.5L cooking pot.

Jetboil’s base camp systems are a great option for those dads who like to bring the family along on their adventures – as they offer greater functionality and are perfect for cooking larger meals.

Whichever option you choose, you really can’t go wrong – this is a great gift idea for the dads who have it all!

Recommended by Stephanie from Navigating Adventure

Buy at Amazon

Binoculars

Binoculars are a great Father’s Day gift for a camper in your life! Binoculars are one of those items that if you spend a few more dollars, the quality vastly improves.

We bought and used the SkyGenius 10 x 50 Binoculars on a recent trip to see the wild ponies in Chincoteague, Virginia. They worked so well for both the adults and the kids! The wild horses were far away but these binoculars added to the fun of spotting them across the beach and marsh. I like how it comes in a traveling case with rubber caps for all 4 of the lenses. We keep the binoculars in the car now in case we have a spontaneous adventure!

Recommended by Jennifer from Family Trip Guide

Buy at Amazon

Drybag waterproof bag

A drybag is a great gift for a dad that loves camping for Father’s Day. In it, he can keep his valuables safe and dry – specifically electronics that might get wet during damp nights. It’s also great to organize stuff because this way you can keep all your most important items in one place.

If you want to include any water-related activities like canoeing, kayaking, boating or fishing in your camping trip, a drybag is a must! We always take one for our delicate camera equipment, just to be on the safe side.

When looking for a drybag consider capacity, durability and comfort. You can opt for a classic roll-top dry bag, a dry bag waterproof backpack or even choose a waterproof duffle travel dry bag.

Recommended by Eva from Kids and the Outdoors

Buy at Amazon

Travel water bottle

A good water bottle is an absolute staple for outdoor adventures. The bottle should be able to keep cold liquids cool as well as hot liquids like coffee or tea warm enough for a while. But it also should be able to attach to your backpack so that it is always reachable. This will not only save you some space inside your backpack but also make it easily accessible. It also needs to be leak-proof so you don’t risk damaging any gear.

One of the best outdoor gifts for dad is the LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle. It’s available in a 22oz or a 1L version. It’s a BPA-free water bottle that filters the water while you’re drinking. The LifeStraw Go removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, and 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites without chemicals, iodine or batteries.

The “H2O Capsule water bottle” which can hold up to 2,2 liters of liquid is another good option. It has an attached handle as well as a neoprene sleeve with a zipper where you can store your belongings. It also has a high-quality shoulder strap which makes it easy to carry around.

If dad’s short on space, you can also consider a collapsible water bottle.

Recommended by Victoria from Guide Your Travel

Buy at Amazon

The post Best camping gifts for dad appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

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For a Mother’s Day gift dads and kids can often get away with some nice flowers and a drawing, but I’m actually not sure what the equivalent for that would be for dads. A pair of socks maybe? As I was recently discussing with one of my fellow travel bloggers, somehow gifts for Father’s Day always seem a bit ‘random’. And like I already said, I usually struggle to come up with a really good Father’s Day present. To show our love and appreciation though, I definitely like our gift to be a bit more meaningful than socks… And since I think a lot of people do as well, my travel blogging friends and I have come up with this inspiring list with the best gifts for dad. Most of the gifts in this post are Amazon gifts for dad, making it super easy for you to order your favorite Father’s Day gift with just a few clicks.

First off, let’s start with some Father’s Day gift advice:

• Even though dad might say he ‘already has everything and wants nothing’ he will be disappointed if you don’t have a present, however small it may be
• Don’t leave it until the last minute, make sure you order well ahead.
• If it does turn out you left it too late, make dad a gift card so he knows you did think of him.
• Get dad something he can actually use, dads are generally more partial to practical gifts than moms
• If dad has a hobby you’re in luck! Boating, fishing, camping, bbq-ing, playing golf, tennis or another sport… Lots of inspiration there!

The best tech gifts for dad

We’ve divided this Father’s Day gift guide into different sections, with the best tech gifts for men leading the way. Whatever the occasion, be it Father’s Day, dad’s birthday, Christmas or another celebration, electronic gifts for dad are always a hit. Better start saving though, because most tech gifts require a bit of budget.

GoPro Hero 9

The GoPro Hero 9 is the perfect gift for any Dad who loves taking videos while traveling! This durable little action camera will take crisp 5K footage of all your adventures. With hyper smooth stabilization and underwater recording capabilities, every adventure can be captured to remember for years to come!

The GoPro 9 has screens on both the front and back for optimal recording views and can also be used to take exceptional photos! Additional features include time-lapse, wide-angle and slow-mo recording. Be sure to add in an accessory kit so Dad can mount his GoPro to his bike, surfboard, selfie stick or backpack!

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Charlene from Adventure with the Hills

Garmin Forerunner 245 Music

One of the best Father’s Day gifts for a travel-loving man is the Garmin 245. It’s a smartwatch for an outdoor enthusiast.

The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is great if you love national parks or hiking. It has the ability to track your distance, oxygen levels, energy level, and how much time you need to recover. These features also come in handy if you enjoy trail running.

It is also great for those who travel on airplanes because of its ability to download music and books. It also helps you keep track of your phone which is probably the best option of all.

This is a great gift for any dad!

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Lisa from Planning Away

Microsoft Surface Go 2

The Microsoft Surface Go 2 is definitely one of the best Father’s Day gifts for dads who love to travel simply because it is one of the best travel laptops out there. Weighing a mere 1.2 lbs (544 g), this 2-in-1 laptop is incredibly light and portable. In fact, it barely takes up any space in a backpack!

This tiny laptop is also super flexible as it can be turned into a tablet too. In fact, you can use it even with just one hand and the touchscreen function is very convenient. This travel laptop is perfect for casual everyday tasks such as emailing, browsing, and streaming. It is also great for drawing and note-taking given that it’s a tablet too!

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Jiayi of The Diary of a Nomad

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII

If dad is an avid traveler, there is no better gift to get him than a proper travel camera. One of the best cameras in the market right now is the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII.

Weighing in at 302 grams, or 0.67 lb, the RX100 VII is a compact point-and-shoot camera that is perfect for blogging, travel, or just everyday use. Its excellent portability combined with ease-of-use is ideal for fathers that want great pictures without the hassle of a professional camera.

This pocketable camera allows fathers to carry it with them at all times, capturing raw moments that will turn into precious memories. The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII is a gift that keeps on giving.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Sean from LivingOutLau

Best outdoor gifts for dad

If dad likes camping, hiking, or simply spending time in nature you’ll have your choice of outdoor gift ideas for dad. There are plenty of great gifts for outdoorsmen. Be creative when coming up with gifts for outdoor dads. Even though he may say he already has it all, there are bound to be outdoor dad gifts that would make him very happy. Get inspired by our suggestions below and don’t forget to check out the latest outdoor and camping gadgets on Amazon.

camping gifts for dad

Leatherman multitool

For a dad who does it all, you should get a Leatherman that does it all.

Leatherman multipurpose tools are loaded with heavy-duty features and make perfect companions for those who create, repair, and build every day, even during their holidays. A Leatherman is one of the most advanced multipurpose tools ever made and the best Fathers’ Day gift for dads that love to travel. From hiking, fishing, camping outdoors, or exploring all over the world, a Leatherman tool is reliable for any adventure and makes the perfect gift for dad.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Stéphanie from Bey Of Travel

Aeropress travel coffee maker

If Dad appreciates a good cup of coffee as much as he likes to travel, he needs an Aeropress. It’s not your typical coffee maker as it is made of plastic and the plunger has an airtight silicone seal. He can use the Aeropress to make coffee anywhere because no electricity is required. All he needs is some hot water and ground coffee. The cleanup afterward is a breeze too.

This portable travel coffee maker is so small it can easily fit in a backpack when he travels. But he will love the coffee (and espresso) so much he will want to use the travel coffee maker at home too. It’s an affordable Father’s Day gift that he will use every day.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Anisa from Two Traveling Texans

Binoculars

Binoculars are an amazing travel gift for dads who love to travel. They can be useful on any trip but specifically if time in nature will be part of it. There are so many things to discover and with a pair of binoculars on hand, it is so much easier to get a closer look.

Binoculars are available in a wide price range. We like these high end Vortex Optics Crossfire HD Binoculars for a dad that means serious business. For more recreational purposes, these binoculars with universal phone adapter are a great gift.

No matter if you are whale watching from a boat, birdwatching on a hike, or climbing up to a viewpoint to get a better look at the city you are staying in – with the ability to see things far away close up, you will discover a whole new perspective of your travel destination. And of course, binoculars are also a great tool to keep the kids entertained (birdwatching with kids is great!) when you need a minute for yourself.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Eva from Kids and the Outdoors

Milton Thermosteel Flip Lid Flask

While traveling in summer or winter, it isn’t easy to keep water at a perfect temperature. So, in this Father’s Day celebration, Milton Thermosteel Flip Lid Flask would be the ideal gift for any dad. It’s a live saver to any road trip.

This vacuum-insulated Milton flask is made of 304-grade durable stainless steel, which prevents rusting. It has double-walled vacuum insulated technology to maintain the proper temperature for almost 24 hours. The heat is retained via a unique copper lining within. The singular flip lid is manufactured for spill-free pouring or can be used to drink directly from the flask. This insulated water bottle comes with a nice carrying bag.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Ruma from The Holiday Story

Best gadget gifts for dad

Most men love gadgets, but the best gadgets for dads are things that solve a problem, things that are useful. Of course you could go for a pair of Bluetooth earmuffs but unless you think dad is actually going to use them you’re just throwing away money. Take a look at the cool gadgets for dad below. If your perfect gift isn’t there, also check the best gadgets for dad on Amazon.

Solar charger power bank

A fantastic father’s day gift for the outdoorsy, adventure-loving dad is a solar charger power bank. Just like a regular power bank, it charges up your battery-powered items, but unlike a power bank that has to recharge via an electrical outlet, you can charge it up with the sun. An essential item for any road trip packing list, it’s also perfect for when you’re hiking or camping and can’t rely on having electricity.

We like this solar charger because it’s lightweight and can charge multiple devices at once. It’s waterproof, dust-proof and shockproof and comes with an LED flashlight, making it a multifunctional dad gadget that any adventure dad will love having.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Christina from Live A Wilder Life

RFID blocking wallet

If you’re looking for a great travel-related father’s day gift, a brand new wallet is an awesome idea (in fact, it’s a good travel gift for moms as well!). A regular one is nice enough, but how about an RFID-blocking bifold wallet made from quality leather?

It’s something your dad or partner will be using every day – both at home and on a trip – so you can be sure your gift is going to be well-used. Other than holding money and any important documents, the RFID blocking feature prevents the electronic stealing of information. This way the important man in your life can bring his credit cards along without worrying.

There are many options available online, but this one is particularly appealing since it’s made from quality Argentinian leather and has a slim fit with large capacity.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Barbara from Mums on Flipflops

Noise Canceling Headphones

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all, even when you can’t really get away at all. In those cases, I just slip on my noise-cancelling headset, hit my favorites list and escape from the world.

They are also particularly useful on long flights where I might even want to watch a movie before slipping into melody-induced sleep. And believe me, before these babies came along, I could never fall asleep on an airplane.

Comfortable, lightweight, with a long-lasting USB rechargeable battery, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II noise-cancelling headphones are the perfect Father’s Day gift for traveling dads of all ages.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Jim from Grannies Go Digital

Kindle ebook reader

Books and vacations go hand in hand. Whether the father in your life likes to read on the plane, on the beach, or have a guidebook everywhere he goes, having a book along can enhance any trip. But books do take up a lot of luggage space and weight.

A Kindle e-reader is a perfect gift for a dad who loves to travel because he can bring an unlimited number of books with him without the added weight. He can also purchase new books on the go, without having to stop into a bookstore. And for the dad who loves to lug around a guidebook? A lightweight and ultra-slim e-reader is much easier to carry all day than a heavy guidebook, and just as easy to use.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Dani from Diapers in Paradise

ThxToms LED flashlight gloves

Holding a flashlight makes two-handed jobs hard. These fingerless LED flashlight gloves are perfect if dad needs some extra light and there’s no one to help. Perfect for working in tight, dark corners around the house, doing maintenance, but also for camping, night fishing or basically any other situation you might want some extra light.

The design of the gloves with the led light on your index finger will make sure it lights the spot where you want to work, instead of shining in your eyes. The material is stretchy and lightweight and will fit all but the very largest hands. Each glove contains 2 CR2016 batteries that are easy to replace.

This is a great example of a gadget gift that actually has practical use. Dads will love it!

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Lisa from FlipFlopGlobetrotters

Best useful gifts for dad

While getting dad a pair of socks might seem a bit impersonal (unless they’re high quality hiking socks or maybe some cool personalized socks), there are plenty of other travel related practical gifts for dad that he will love.

Ably Apparel travel clothes

Ably Apparel is the perfect Father’s Day gift for any man that loves traveling. All clothes in this label are treated with Filium which turns fabric into water-resistant, stain-resistant, and odor-resistant clothing.

This is perfect for men who sweat a lot when traveling in hot, humid climates as perspiration evaporates through the breathable fabric, and the water-resistant properties keep clothes dry. In addition, Ably clothes can easily be worn for a week or more before needing to be washed due to the odor repelling fabric.

We have thoroughly tested out our Ably Apparel over 3 years of full-time travel and we highly recommend them. Not only are they soft and comfortable to wear, but you will need to pack fewer clothes and wash them less often. What’s not to love about that!

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Peta and Jonas of Exit45 Travels

Sturdy hiking boots

Nothing makes you more miserable than having sore feet. This is especially true if you are camping and want to do any hikes. Accordingly, one of the best Father’s Day gifts you could purchase is an amazing pair of hiking shoes or boots. In my opinion, Adidas makes some of the best hiking shoes and boots around.

Adidas uses its superb athletic and footwear technology when making its hiking shoes. This includes exceptional comfort, support, and traction on the outsoles. In addition, it offers a selection of hiking shoes with insulation for cold weather, Gore-Tex or Climaproof for waterproofing, or even recycled plastics for more eco-friendly choices. Models to consider are the Adidas Terrex Trailmaker Gore-Tex, the Adidas Terrex Scope High GTX or the Adidas Terrex Swift R2 Mid GTX.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Nicole from Go Far Grow Close

Orihea Sleeping Mask

All travel-loving dads will find themselves in need of sleep on a train, plane, or too-bright hotel room at one time or another. So to ensure they can get their twenty winks, treat them to a black-out sleeping mask from Orihea. Not only is it super comfortable and lightweight for sleeping in, but it blocks out 100% of light, so he can sleep easily.

Unlike other eye masks, the Orihea mask cups the eyes, not touching the lids or getting in the way of eyelashes, something that makes it feel like wearing nothing at all! Plus, by taking your own mask onboard a plane, you can leave the airline freebie for someone else to enjoy – cutting back on unnecessary waste.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Nadine from Zero Waste Memoirs

High-Quality Travel Pillow

My partner flies 4 times a month just for work and after months of hearing about how he can’t sleep on flights, I was determined to find him something to help. Last year I bought him an ergonomically designed travel pillow with firm, tall sides and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

For months he had been using a cheap neck pillow with barely any stuffing and next to no support. Once he switched to the ergonomic memory foam pillow he found it easier to sleep on a flight and arrives at his destination feeling much better.

To make sure you’re getting the best option, choose something with tall sides that wraps fully around, is adjustable and ergonomically designed. Something made from memory foam is the best option for extra support.

Buy at Amazon

Sophie from Australian Coffee lovers

Travel laptop backpack

If you are looking for an awesome Father’s day gift then I definitely recommend this travel laptop backpack; perfect for any traveling dad. Not only is it practical but it is also stylish and comfortable with its padded shoulder straps.

It has many great features including the anti-theft pocket at the back which protects all your valuables. There is also plenty of room to fit all his favorite gadgets and a 17-inch computer. The USB charging port is really useful as you don’t have to fumble inside your bag with all the cables; you can just plug the phone into the outside charging port. It is also water-resistant which is always handy if the weather changes on you last minute during your travels.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Asha from Home Travel Guide

Airlines approved carry on trolley

There are endless gadgets to give to a traveling dad, but before anything else you need to make sure he has the best trolley possible to make every move fast, efficient, and comfortable.

The American Tourister Soundbox trolley is the perfect answer to all these needs. It also presents itself as the ideal product for anyone who cannot decide between the safety of rigid trolleys and the flexibility of a softshell trolley. The Soundbox model has a rigid but light and expandable body. A double zip ensures the possibility of expanding the volume to contain last-minute purchases.

It has an attractive design available in various colors, 4 double wheels that make transport super easy, and a TSA safety lock. It is available in different dimensions including a small size that makes it the perfect low-cost airlines approved cabin bag.

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by Clotilde from A Princess Travelling with Twins

Other great gifts for dad

Even if the gifts in the categories above don’t resonate with you, there are tons of other great gifts for dad. We’ve collected some more inspiration for you below.

Travel map to document your travels

Nothing beats looking back and reminiscing on amazing trips that your family has taken. One unique way to do this is by giving Dad a special map that documents all of the fantastic places you have all made memories at.

One fun way to get the whole family involved is to create a corkboard map. Simply buy a corkboard that is big enough to fit a map on top and adhere them together. Get some pushpins and start pinning in each location your family has traveled to. This makes for a fantastic entryway decor item that really gets people talking!

If you would rather not go the DIY route, there are plenty of maps that are fun scratch off maps already made and just ready for you to “scratch off” where you just explored! There are now so many to choose from that you can get a global map or one just of a specific country. Place these in your RV, family room, or anywhere else that will have you dreaming of past (and future) trips as a family!

Buy at Amazon

Recommended by LeAnna from Wander in Germany

Priority Pass membership

What do you get the Dad who already has it all? What about the man who prefers experiences over material gifts? If he travels often, consider gifting him with a Priority Pass membership. Priority Pass lounges are located in over 1300 airports around the world and are a great way for travelers to unwind before taking their next flight.

All of the lounges offer free wi-fi and a quiet, comfortable place to sit while waiting. Most offer free refreshments and some even offer things like spa services and sleeping areas.

Unlike some airport lounges that are only accessible if you’re flying with a certain airline, Priority Pass lounges are available to anyone with a membership. This is especially helpful if he often travels on airlines that don’t have their own lounges. Considering the perks included, a Priority Pass would make a great gift for a Dad who loves to travel!

Recommended by Karee from Our Woven Journey

E-Gift cards

Nowadays you can get most gift cards by e-mail. And it’s a pretty good option if you really don’t know what to buy or forgot to get something. With an eGift card, dad can pick out a nice present for himself. You can choose from a lot of different eGift cards from most major retail chains. You can get an actual plastic gift card, or have the card mailed directly to dad (which is a great option if you live in another state or country). One of the easiest of course is the Amazon eGift Card. With over 12 million products to choose from, there must be something dad likes!

Check out all eGift Cards on Amazon >>

Amazon subscriptions & memberships

There are some awesome Amazon subscriptions and memberships that make a great Father’s Day gift.

• Audible Gift Membership – for dads that love listening to audiobooks
  One free audiobook and 2 Audible Original titles per month, discounts on additional purchases
• Kindle Unlimited Membership – for dads that love to read & listen.
  Unlimited reading and unlimited listening to over 1 million ebooks and thousands of audiobooks.
• Amazon Prime Subscription – for dads that love to shop
  Free fast delivery and free access to movies, series, music, and ebooks as well as unlimited photo storage.

Custom gifts for dad

Personalized photo gifts are always a nice idea. You can either choose a family travel pic or another picture that holds good memories. There are plenty of options. You can get your photo printed on

•  wood, metal or canvas wall art
• a personalized coffee mug
• a customized t-shirt
•  custom printed socks
• a personalized key chain
• a reusable water bottle
• a custom engraved leather wallet

Check out all personalized photo gifts for dad on Amazon >>

The post The best Father’s Day gifts 2021 – for dads that love travel appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

Printables are a great solution for travel. They’re low-budget and easy to bring along. Whether you are looking for fun travel games, need something for your kids to do while you’re driving to grandma, are focusing your unit studies on travel, transport, or a particular country or just want to pretend-travel with your kids, you’re sure to find what you need in this post. From road trip bingo to free printable travel journal pages and from travel story cards and printable country packs to play passports for kids. This extensive list of travel-themed printables is a great resource for all parents and kids that love travel. 

This post may contain affiliate links, check out our disclaimer for more info.

As homeschoolers and avid travelers, we love free printables. There are just so many fantastic free resources available online. Why reinvent the wheel? It can be a bit of a challenge to find the best worksheets, travel-themed activity sheets, and online travel games to print. That’s why we created this list with the very best free travel printables.

There’s a huge variety available. In this post, we’re making a distinction between printable travel games (including board games), printable travel journal pages, printable kids’ passport templates, printable story cards, road trip bingo printables, printable country activity sheets, and activity packs.

Don’t forget to save this post for future reference!

Printable travel games for kids

These free printable travel games by Mini Travellers are good for hours of fun. Many different games to choose from with options for kids of all ages. From car badge bingo to i-spy at the airport.

In The Playroom offers this great pack with 13 different printable car games for kids. I really like the designs of these pages, very playful. You do need a color printer to get the most of these.

These free printable board games from Views From A Stepstool are fantastic for travel. You can easily bring a whole binder of different games and it takes the same space as one boxed board game. Sign up for the newsletter to get access to even more games.

Kids travel journal printable

We really like this kids travel journal printable by Explorer Momma. This one is meant for slightly older kids that can read and write with ease. It’s very complete and apart from the regular daily journal pages, it also includes some cool writing and drawing prompts. You do need to sign up for the newsletter to get it.

If you’re looking for a more basic kids travel journal, you want to check out these free printable journal pages for kids by We 3 Travel. There are only two interior pages and a cover, but this might just be what you’re looking for. We like the simple design with the icons to indicate mood, weather and travel type.

Printable passport templates for kids

This free printable passport for kids from Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs is a fun way for kids to keep track of where they’ve been, the countries they’ve learned about or as part of your holiday around the world units. You do need to create a free Teachers Pay Teachers account to download it. But there are tons of other amazing free and cheap downloadable worksheets on this platform.

Living Life and Learning also shares a great printable play passport for kids. This free download includes passport stamps for 20 different countries, that kids can cut out and glue inside their passport as they learn about each country.

Printable story cards

Sometimes you just want a different kind of travel game. We love story cards! They spark kids’ imagination and creativity, inviting them to spin the most amazing tales. Story cards are easy to print and store in a small ziplock bag.

Check out these camping-themed story cards or these nature-themed story cards (requires you to enter your email address).

Road trip bingo printable

Who doesn’t like a good car bingo game to pass the time! It’s a great game to make sure your kids do more than just staring at their screens and actually notice what’s out there. There are lots of different bingo games you can think of to play in during a road trip.

This free color-in U.S. License Plate Coloring Map by Berkley and Beyond is perfect for children age 4 and up. Print it out and use it in the car to keep kids busy looking for license plates from various states and then coloring in that state (link to the download is at the top of the page).

Also check out this free Road Trip BINGO Printable Game by This Reading Mama. It includes 8 different game boards with pictures of things you’ll encounter during your road trip. You can play it as a collaborative game or make it competitive for kids that are a bit older.

Other fun car bingo games are car brands bingo or road trip restaurant bingo.

Printable country activity sheets

Whether you are pretend traveling from home or are actually visiting a particular country, these free printables are a great way for kids to learn about various countries. Check out these free printable country packs by Case of Adventure. You can choose from 8 different countries, such as Italy, Ireland, Romania, France, Singapore and Madagascar. (email addres required)

Teacher Planet also offers some great free country theme printables, which include coloring pages, unit studies, activities, worksheets and lesson plans for countries such as New Zealand, Mexico and Germany.

The playful and colourful country worksheets by ESLKIDZ are also worth mentioning. Currently they offer sheets for 16 different countries, for instance Egypt, China, Russia and Argentina.

Various travel-themed activity sheets

Check out this great free ‘countries of the world’ coloring book from 123 Homeschool 4 Me. Color and fun for kids from preschool to 3rd grade. This educational coloring book contains coloring pages for 18 countries across all continents.

This is a nice collection of activity sheets for kids with a travel theme, from Zena’s Suitcase. A little bit of everything with coloring pages, mazes, spelling, and maths.

Also from Zena’s Suitcase is this collection of word search games for kids. It includes an empty PDF template so you can make your own!

So you see, there are plenty of fun travel printables available to make your travels more enjoyable. And the best thing… the printables on this list are all completely free! You might need to leave your email address but that’s it. Are you already preparing for your next trip? Then start printing away!

Our travel journals

If you don’t feel like printing your own pages a ready-made travel journal might be an idea. Amazon offers many options. We’ve actually published a number of our own travel journals for kids! They are draw&write journals for kids age 6+. Besides journal pages they contain games, puzzles and coloring pages.

At the moment you can buy our road trip journal, camping journal, or camping log book. All are available on Amazon.

The post Best free travel printables for kids appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

This post may contain affiliate links, check out our disclaimer for more info.

First off, let’s start some general Mother’s Day gift advice:

• Even though your mom might say she doesn’t want anything, do not make the mistake of not getting her a present or making her one!
• Don’t leave it until the last minute, make sure you order well ahead.
• If it does turn out you left it too late, make her a gift card so she knows you did think of her.
• No matter what you give her, it will be appreciated. Especially if you take the time to really think about your gift.
• A Mother’s Day gift doesn’t have to cost you all your savings, and bigger isn’t always better. There’s a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift for any budget.
• Letting her sleep in, getting her breakfast in bed and cleaning the house is also greatly appreciated

Moms that love travel are, of course, just like other moms. Therefore a lot of the things in this gift guide are gifts all moms would appreciate. However, there are certain gifts travel moms will definitely appreciate more, so we’ve mostly included gifts that are small enough to travel with or that make travel more easy.

Mother’s Day delivery gifts

If you’re not able to visit your mom (due to a crazy global pandemic or simply because she lives too far away or you’re abroad), or can’t go to a physical store to buy something nice, there are still plenty of other ways to say ‘I love & appreciate you’. An added advantage of shopping online is that you can get it delivered. In this guide, you’ll find a lot of online Mother’s Day gifts you can simply buy at Amazon.

Mother’s Day delivery flowers

While flowers are popular, this is in no way a cheap Mother’s Day gift. Flower deliveries are actually quite expensive. Having said that, moms always appreciate flowers, for any occasion! There are plenty of flower delivery services. Do keep in mind that Mother’s Day is on a Sunday. While there are florists and parcel services that deliver on Sunday, you usually pay a lot extra for it. So, better be on time and have them delivered the Saturday before.

Check out all Flower Delivery Services on Amazon >>

Digital Mother’s Day gifts

If you don’t have time to order a gift and have it delivered, you can also consider a digital gift for Mother’s Day.

E-Gift cards

Most gift cards can nowadays also be delivered by e-mail. With an eGift card mom can pick out a nice present for herself. There are a lot of different eGift cards to choose from. Most major retail chains have gift cards nowadays. You can get an actual plastic giftcard, or have the card mailed directly to mom. One of the easiest of course is the Amazon eGift Card. With over 12 million products to choose from, there must be something mom likes!

Check out all eGift Cards on Amazon >>

Subscriptions & memberships

There are some awesome subscriptions and memberships that make great gifts for mom.

• Audible Gift Membership – for moms that love listening to audiobooks
  One free audiobook and 2 Audible Original titles per month, discounts on additional purchases
• Kindle Unlimited Membership – for moms that love to read & listen.
  Unlimited reading and unlimited listening to over 1 million ebooks and thousands of audiobooks.
• Amazon Prime Subscription – for moms that love to shop
  Free fast delivery and free access to movies, series, music and ebooks as well as unlimited photo storage.

DIY Mother’s Day gifts

Homemade Mother’s Day gifts are the best! All moms appreciate their kids taking the time to make them something special. So dads, it’s your turn! Round up the art supplies or get some of these arts & crafts supplies on Amazon and get to work. You can find lots of Mother’s Day craft ideas on Pinterest.

If your kids make a drawing or some other work of art in 2D, putting it in a nice picture frame will make it an even nicer gift.

If your kids aren’t too enthusiastic about arts & crafts (mine isn’t) there are lots of other home made gifts for Mother’s Day. Baking a cake or cookies, or making and decorating cupcakes is also a lovely surprise. You can get your baking supplies and cake baking mix at Amazon, and order some cool cake decorations while you’re at it.

Personalized photo gifts for Mother’s Day

Any gift personalized with a family travel picture (especially one that mom’s also in!) or a picture of the kids is bound to be a hit. There are plenty of options. You can get your photo printed on

•  wood, metal or canvas wall art
• a personalized coffee mug
• a customized t-shirt
•  custom printed socks
• a personalized moon lamp
• a photo blanket
• a reusable water bottle
• a personalized clock with a family picture

Check out all personalized photo gifts for mom on Amazon >>

Other personalized gifts

If a gift with a photo doesn’t appeal, there are some great gifts you can personalize with only text. Why not get mom a personalized water bottle, a lovely piece of personalized jewelry or a funny personalized coffee mug.

Mother’s Day personalized jewelry

There are some great options for personalized jewelry that would make a lovely Mother’s Day present.

Personalized name jewelry for mom

You can choose a personalized necklace that either has the name engraved or even in handwriting. Give mom a necklace with all her kids’ names, to keep close to her heart.

If mom isn’t into necklaces that much a personalized bracelet might be a nice gift for her. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. An elegant chain bracelet with a handwritten name, or cuff bracelets with engraving, there’s plenty to choose from.

A less obvious choice is personalized earrings. Personally, I wouldn’t often wear earrings that have either my name or my child’s, but of course the engraving can be something else that’s meaningful too. There are some lovely monogram earrings and I think these earrings that have the date engraved are pretty cool too.

See all personalized Mother’s Day jewelry on Amazon >>

Mother’s Day birthstone jewelry

A Mother’s Day birthstone necklace or a birthstone ring or bracelet is a very personal and elegant gift.

Often this type of jewelry contains the birthstone of the children and possibly grandchildren, but it can also be made with mom’s own birthstone. You can choose a design with just the birthstone(s) or a combination of an engraving and a birthstone.

You can either choose a piece of jewelry with a more modern look or go for a more traditional shape like a heart or a tree of life. There are so many designs, there’s bound to be one that fits mom’s style.

Check out all birthstone jewelry on Amazon >>

Personalized water bottle

Millions of single use plastic water bottles are used everyday. Bad for the environment and not very economic either. But, staying hydrated is important, even if it’s often easer said than done. So why not give mom a reusable water bottle. Not just any reusable bottle of course, but a nice personalized one. Moms that travel, whether is commuting to work or travel to exotic places, will love having a own bottle that’s hers alone. You can either choose a stainless steel bottle (if you get a double wall insulated one you can use it for hot liquids as well) or a plastic one (make sure it’s BPA free!) and there are different kinds of lits.

Check out all personalized water bottles on Amazon >>

A book about mom

This customizable book ‘I wrote a book about you’ is super cute. All you have to do is fill in the blanks to get a very thoughtful personalized gift. Older kids can fill it in by themselves, but dads can also do it together with their young kids and get some spontaneous and funny answers. From ‘I know it doesn’t qualify as a superpower, but your ability to … is pretty remarkable’ to ‘if you were a soup you would be …’ and ‘if you were a superhero you would be …’.

Another option is this little book ‘What I love about Mom‘, that also lets you fill in the blanks. You can make it as hilarious or heartfelt as you like. ‘If you were a scent you’d be …’ and ‘I’d be lost without your …’ are some of the fun things about mom in this book.

Check out all customizable books for mom on Amazon >>

Journals

A lovely designed journal is a wonderful Mother’s Day present. If she likes to write get one with lined pages, but if she likes to draw as well as write a journal with unlined or blank pages might work best. If she’s not into writing that much (yet) or doesn’t really know where to start, a journal with writing prompts is a great idea.

Blank journals

If you’re looking for a lined journal, this handmade genuine leather-bound one definitely makes a statement. And the best thing, as it ages the leather only becomes more worn and beautiful.

Or look for a notebook style journal. Personally, I really I prefer the notebook journal with an inspirational quote on the cover. There are many different designs and different quotes, so you can choose one that best fits her personality and style.

If you prefer an unlined journal, with blank pages so that mom can combine both drawing and writing, this handmade leather journal is a really good option. Also check out this 10″ leather-bound sketchbook. It’s handmade from 100% natural leather with a beautifully designed cover and a clasp to keep securely closed.

A refillable diary is a gift that lasts a long time. Once you’ve used all the pages, you can simply buy a refill. It’s also possible to combine both lined and blank paper, which makes it very versatile. MaleDen offers a number of lovely refillable journals, both lined and blank.

Check out all journals on Amazon >>

Journals with writing prompts

Present, Not Perfect for Moms is a personal creativity journal. This small journal is easy to put in your bag and take with you. It has a lovely, colorful design and is a joy to write in. It contains creative exercises, writing prompts and inspirational quotes.

One Question a Day for Moms: A Five-Year Journal is a great keepsake as you can compare 5 years of journaling with interesting questions that you answer on the same day every year. Great for moms that don’t have a lot of time.

Gratitude journaling is said to reduce stress and improve health. Now, if that’s not a great gift! I really like Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal for its wonderful design and thought provoking and creative writing promps. For mothers who don’t have a lot of time, why not buy a One-Minute Gratitude Journal? Less pressure, less time consuming but with the same benefits.

The sarcastic humor of this journal isn’t for everyone, but if you have a teen daughter or son looking for a cool Mother’s Day gift they might enjoy giving their mom this fun ‘Zen as F*k’ journal. The subtitle reads ‘A Journal for Practicing the Mindful Art of Not Giving a Sh*t’. Yes, it’s very sarcastic, but also humorous and contains some pretty profound lessons.

Check out all journals with writing prompts on Amazon >>

Jewelry

Even if it’s not personalized, jewelry is always a personal gift to give. Whether you choose a lovely pair of earrings, a stylish bracelet or a gorgeous necklace, it’s a gift that mom will cherish forever.

Charm bracelet

A charm bracelet is a lovely and meaningful gift for mom. It’s a very personal gift that mom will love. For each special occasion, you can give her a new charm, so you’ll always have a gift for mom the coming few years. There are different kinds of charm bracelets to choose from. Go for a classic design, or choose a more modern Pandora style bracelet.

With a bracelet like this mom gets to store her favorite memories in the form of charms. It’s a personal styling item, that adds visual interest to any outfit. Charm bracelets are individually tailored and therefore always unique.

Check out different types of charm bracelets on Amazon >>

Essential Oil Diffuser Bracelet

If mom likes aromatherapy, this might be the perfect gift for this Mother’s Day. An aromatherapy bracelet or essential oil diffuser bracelet let’s you enjoy subtle aromatherapy all day long. Reap the unique benefits of aromatherapy on the go.

Diffuser jewelry comes in different shapes and sizes, so you can choose one that best fits moms style. Choose a more traditional lava beads bracelet or a locket design with a gold, silver or leather strap.

Smells are directly tied to the part of our brain that holds memories and emotions. Smells also have the ability to motivate and inspire and can therefore be used to treat anxiety and stress, to help you sleep better, to energize and to lift up your mood. It’s important to use good quality, organic oils. Either buy a premade mix or let mom mix her own personal scent.

Check out all essential oil diffuser bracelets on Amazon >>

Practical travel gifts for mom

Travel pillow that actually works

If there’s something every traveling mom appreciates it’s a good travel pillow. Let me assure you it’s not so easy to find one that actually works! Sleeping on a plane, train or bus is always a challenge and you really don’t want to find yourself nodding off on your unknown neighbor’s shoulder.

Even if your kids let you sleep (or your partner takes care of the kids so you get catch some sleep), it’s hard to find a position comfortable enough that you can actually fall asleep. Humans are just not meant to sleep sitting up.

Enter stage the innovative TedBoss Travel Pillow Scarf. It’s made of comfortable microfleece and offers great neck support. Position the enclosed memory foam support where it feels best (on either side of the neck or even the chin), wrap the scarf around and secure it. Now mom can sleep comfortably, even while traveling.

Check out the TeddBoss Travel Pillow on Amazon >>

Fun luggage tags

Luggage tags come in all shapes and sizes. They’re a fun way to personalize your luggage and very useful too. Tagging your luggage makes it more easily identifyable so it doesn’t end up going home with the wrong traveler. The paper tags the airlines give you are pretty much useless. They generally don’t last very long and easily come off. You’ll want a luggage tag that’s highly visible, unique and durable.

There’s a luggage tag for every traveling mom out there. You can choose a colorful flower suitcase label, luggage tags with a tropical design, disney suitcase tags, star wars luggage tags, Pokémon luggage tags or any other kind of funny bag tags.

Check out all luggage tags on Amazon >>

Foldable jewelry organizer

Depending on what kind of travel mom does, she may or may not bring a lot of jewelry. For business trips she might want to bring her best, for family holidays not so much. But even the most down to earth mom likes to look nice when she’s out. We usually travel really light and casual, and I always bring some earrings and generally buy a ton of cheap bracelets as we go. Having to find them amidst all our other toiletries is always a pain.

So the perfect Mother’s Day gift for moms that love travel is a BAGSMART Travel Jewelry Organizer. What an invention! Now she’ll never have any trouble finding that matching earring. And it’s small enough

Check out all travel jewelry organizers at Amazon >>

Technology gifts for mom

Ebook reader

If mom loves to read and travel, the best Mother’s Day gift ever is an ebook reader. She may swear she likes paper books best and she doesn’t need an ereader but she’ll come to love it. As an avid reader myself, it took me a while to get used to my Kindle ebook readerbut now I use it almost every day.

The e-ink that ebook readers use is so much more comfortable for your eyes than a tablet screen, ebook readers can last days without recharging and you can easily store over a thousand books. I really like how easy it is to get new books too, and most are a lot less expensive than paper books. Amazon’s Kindle Store even contains a lot of free ebooks for you to download. Ebook readers are really light and think and hardly take up any space, so they are perfect for travel.

For moms that already own an ebook reader, a Kindle Unlimited Membership is an excellent idea.

Check out all ebook readers on Amazon >>

Bluetooth speaker

For mom’s that love both music and travel a mini bluetooth speaker is a wonderful and surprisingly affordable Mother’s Day gift. For $20 or less you’ll find plenty of good options. Sure you can use your phone, but the sound in no way compares to the crystal clear tones of a speaker like this. It’s also perfect for other occasions such as picknicks in the park, outdoor fitness sessions or even when mom’s in the kitchen making dinner.

The EWA A106 Pro is a tiny speaker that fits in your pocket. It comes with a carrying case and is water proof. At only 6.2 ounces you can simply slip it in your bag and take it wherever you go.

Check out all bluetooth speakers on Amazon >>

Fitness tracker

For sporty moms that like to stay fit, why not consider a fitness tracker as a Mother’s Day gift? A fitness tracker, also called activity tracker or fitness activity tracker is a wearable device that helps you improve your health by tracking your day to day activity. It tracks things like steps taken, distance walked, hourly activity, active minutes and calories burnt. More expensive trackers have a built-in heart rate monitor and/or a built-in GPS and some can even measure your blood pressure.

Fitbit is a well-known fitness tracker brand that consistently gets rave reviews on Amazon. It has an elegant design and comes in stylish colors, so mom will enjoy wearing it.

Check out all activity trackers on Amazon >>

Phone camera lens kit / Cell phone lens kit

Pictures are a great way to relive memories, whether it’s precious moments captured during travel or fun family experiences in your own backyard. Most mothers love to take pictures, so that they can always keep those memories faimly memories.

And some moms are creative photographers that just like experimenting. For those moms that always have their phones out to take pictures but aren’t completely satisfied with the quality of the pics, a cell phone lens kit is a perfect Mother’s Day gift. A phone camera lens kit simply attaches to your phone, so you don’t need to bring that bulky SLR anymore. Most kits include various lenses, such as a wide angle lens, a fish eye lens, a macro lens and a zoom lens. There are also sets that have different filters, or one specific type of lens.

Check out all phone camera lens kits on Amazon >>

Portable video projector

Mom’s own mobile movie theater! This is not exactly a cheap Mother’s Day gift, but definitely an awesome one. The Vamvo Ultra Mini is about the size of 2 stacked iPhone 11’s and weighs only 0.6lbs, so it’s easy to bring along on your travels. Perfect to watch movies on your hotel room wall!

No more watching films on your laptop or staring at a too small hotel room tv screen. You can easily bring this tiny projector along and enjoy a 100″ projected movie. Or, you can use it for family movie night in rooms where you have no tv screen. How cool is that? This mini projector is compatible with iPhone, iPad, Android devices, laptops, PCs and various game consoles. It has a number of rich ports such as HDMI, USB, TF and Micro SD.

Check out all mini projectors on Amazon >>

The post The best mothers day gift ideas 2021 – for moms that love to travel appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

For those of us with a severe case of wanderlust, not being able to travel is hard. We just have those itchy feet and the travel bug can cause unrest and dissatisfaction. Right now the Corona virus is really messing up everybody’s travel plans and most of us are self-isolating or even in self-quarantine. Keep dreaming though, eventually travel will resume! But even without de pandemic COVID-19 there are many reasons why, even though you might want to travel, you can’t or won’t. Maybe you’re trying to save up enough money to go on a long rtw trip, perhaps you only have a limited number of vacation days, want to stay near an ailing family member that needs care or maybe you have health issues yourself. Let us tell you how you can still satisfy your urge to travel without leaving your house!

This post my contain affiliate links. See our disclaimer for more info.

You’ll be relieved to find there are many ways to satisfy your wanderlust from the comfort of your own home. You can still get your daily dose of travel vitamins… online! From more ‘conventional’ methods, such as reading travel blogs or travel books, to options you might not have thought about yourself like taking a virtual museum tour, watching wildlife webcams or doing a junior ranger program online. How about visiting the San Diego Zoo in your pajamas or taking a tour around Paris while relaxing on your own couch? It’s all possible! The internet and social media are opening up so many opportunities. Other countries and cultures have become so much more accessible, even while staying home.

We’ve asked the bloggers in our travel bloggers network to give you their best tips on how to travel from your own home. Many of our travel blogger friends responded to our request and contributed to this post. Together we came up with all these awesome tips. Have fun reading and discovering!

Also, if you are homeschooling (because of Corona, or just because – like us – it’s your way of life) keep reading! There are some great homeschooling ideas here as well.

Read travel novels

by Michael from Books Like This One

One of the best ways to continue to travel without leaving your home is by delving into some great travel books. This is a great way to dream about some of your favorite destinations and has been a popular option for many travelers over the years who, for whatever reason, couldn’t hit the road. Even if you have already read many of the most popular books from this genre, there are plenty of other books just like it!

If you’re looking for a great travel memoir, then it’s worth checking out books such as Wild by Cheryl Strayed, Walking the Nile by Levison Wood or any of Bill Bryson’s travel books.

If you prefer to read a fictional story about travel instead, then you can’t go wrong with The Alchemist by Pablo Coelho, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts & The Beach by Alex Garland.

There’s also the option to simply read books about your favorite destinations such as learning about ancient Greece in Circe by Madeline Miller or delving into Scottish history in Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

Finally, if you have children, make sure to check out fantastic classic books such as The Wizard of Oz and the Narina series. But also take a look at books set in cities around the world, such as Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans and the Larry Gets Lost series by Michael Mullin and John Skewes.

Plan your next trip

Claudia from My Adventures Across The World

One of the best things to do at home when you can’t travel is to actually plan a trip.

Even if for the time being there is no prospect of the trip to actually take place, if you know that in the foreseeable future you want to visit a specific destination, you should definitely take advantage of the extra time you have to look into things such as crafting a good itinerary which will allow you to make the most of the place you want to visit in a limited amount of time.

Make sure to look into the attractions you want to visit. You may even want to start getting tickets for them – if you do so via third party sites such as Viator or Get Your Guide the cancellation policies are very flexible and you should not have any trouble getting your money back in case the trip doesn’t happen in the end.

You can also start researching places to stay – prices will likely change by the time you will be ready to make the bookings, but you can still note down a few hotels or apartments that you think may be suitable for your needs and budget.

Go through your old travel photos and make a photo book

by Bella from Passport & Pixels

How many folders of photos do you have from your holidays that you never look at? How many times do you get back from a trip determined to do something with all the hundreds of images you took, but then life takes over and you do nothing? Being stuck at home may suck, but it’s the perfect time to re-live and reminisce about past travel experiences by finally going back through your old pictures.

If you can’t travel, why not relive the good times by going back through old photos, remembering the fun you had or the hilarious things that happened on the trip. And if you want to do more than just look, a great way to bring your travels back to life is to create something with them. There are hundreds of companies who will turn your holiday photos into wall art, t-shirts, mugs, sticky tiles, mouse mats, jigsaw puzzles and more – the possibilities are almost endless. Since I’m a travel photographer, my go-to is to create beautiful photobooks – you’re far more likely to look at these in future than you are to go digging back through an old folder on your computer. Making a photobook also gives you a great reason to look back at images of your past travels, and you never know what wonderful travel gems you may find to put a smile back on your face.

Turn your favorite travel pic into lovely wall art >>
Make a coffee mug with your best family travel photo >>

Work on a virtual junior ranger program

by Stephanie from Explore More Clean Less

The Junior Ranger badge program runs through the United States National Park system and is a fun, usually free way to learn about parks across the country. In person, kids explore the park while filling out a booklet full of activities. They then take a pledge to protect the park and get inducted as “junior ranger” by one of the actual park rangers, receiving a patch and/or small plastic park badge commemorating their achievement!

What some people don’t know is that many of these parks allow you to work on junior ranger badges from home, too! Print off the booklet at home and use the park’s website and Youtube to take a virtual tour, and then mail your completed booklet in to receive your badge in the mail. A few examples are Denali National Park, Point Reyes National Seashore, and the Appalachian Trail. Once you’ve earned badges, pick one of these junior ranger badge display ideas and show them off!

Virtual travel tours

by Corina from Another Milestone

Stuck inside and unable to travel – that is a nightmare for all those that love to explore the world. But in a situation when this is the only option you have, you must be creative and explore the world in alternative ways. Virtual tours are a very realistic manner to discover new places sitting on your couch. Google has launched a platform to create virtual tours using Google Maps or to enjoy the tours other already designed: https://poly.google.com/tours

Missing Paris? Just type “Paris” in the search tab and you will receive several options to see the best parts of Rome on your computer. Curious what Romania looks like? Search “Romania” and you will get multiple tours that will inspire you to visit this country once the things get better. Fabulous cities, amazing national parks and even important buildings can be visited on this platform. And if you want to visit a certain place and you don’t find it, there is always the alternative to craft your own tour.

Learn to cook a foreign dish

by Bruna from I Heart Brazil

Globalization is a blessing. Nowadays, we can travel the world without even leaving home.
And as an incurable foodie, one of the things I like to try at home is foreign dishes. For instance, many Brazilian dishes aren’t complicated, and chances are, you have the ingredients in your pantry.

If you don’t have dinner plans yet, you could cook a one-pot chicken and rice meal from Brazil called galinhada. It’s straightforward to prepare and fills up well! As for dessert, I’m completely in love with brigadeiros, which is a chocolate fudge truffle that melts in your mouth. Just be warned: it is addictive! To top it off, you could finish the night with a Brazilian cocktail. A strawberry caipirinha, for instance, tastes great on a warm evening.

By cooking foreign dishes, you not only learn a little more about other cultures, but you also impress your friends and family with delicious recipes. I’m sure they will love it!

Indulge yourself and get some cookbooks to discover new dishes to try. Have the ingredients delivered as well so you can start your journey around the world with food! Tasty cuisines to try are Brazilian, French, Vietnamese, Thai or Mexican.

Handstand Kids also has amazing travel-themed cookbooks for kids, so they can learn to cook Italian, Mexican or Chinese. And there are fantastic multicultural cookbooks for kids as well.

Create your family’s bucket list

by Mal from Raw Mal Roams

An excellent way to travel while staying at home is creating your own ultimate bucket list. This activity will allow you to visit all the places you’ve ever dreamed about from the comfort of your house. Don’t be shy, put all your dreams on the paper however big or small they are!

You can add to your list a deadline like before I’m 30, next 2 year or leave yourself a lifetime to do it. And the best part is that when everything goes back to normal, you’ve got a ready plan and can start ticking activities off.

Be specific, what is it that you want, instead of just writing a location to visit. For example – I want to see the sunrise from Borobudur Temple, instead of just saying you want to visit Java.

Also, many destinations have yearly events and visiting them during that time will be particularly rewarding, for example, Rio de Janeiro at Carnival time, Chiang Mai and the Lantern Festival or India during the Hindu festival of colours. You can go a step further and research a rough budget and decide what year and month you can do it.

I also recommend adding some activities to your bucket list like running London Marathon, learning how to cook Thai curry in Ko Samui or climbing Kilimanjaro. Just have fun with it and get inspired!

Read travel blogs

by Jenn and Ed from Coleman Concierge

If you’re looking for a way to feel the joy of travel without ever leaving your house, consider reading a travel blog. Bloggers are real people who love travel, not corporations. You’ll get to see the world through their lens, and meet all kinds of colorful people along the way. Reading travel blogs is like going to a coffee shop and sharing a cup of joe with someone who just came back from an incredible journey.

It’s the personal touches that make blogs unique. A good writer will bring you into the scene and let you experience the trip alongside them. They’ll have original photographs and always be looking for new angles to explore. Of course, they’ll have their niche and brand of travel, so if you find someone you like, you should subscribe to their blog to always get updates. We write to adult-professional who travel experience and adventure first, but that’s just us. You want to find people who resonate with you, spark your imagination, and take you to exotic places like watching the sunrise over Chichen Itza without you ever leaving your couch. Check out this overview of the best family travel bloggers.

Virtual museum tours

By Emily from Wander-Lush

Walking through a good museum can feel like you’ve been transported to a different time and place. If you can’t leave home or your favorite institutions are currently closed, why not recreate that sensation with a virtual tour.

There are dozens of museums and galleries around the world that now offer online ‘tours’ of their exhibits through interactive web platforms you can access on desktop or mobile. It’s a wonderful way to stay curious and keep the spirit of discovery alive, and especially great for kids as it doubles as a learning experience. Some virtual museums recreate the experience of moving through a building on foot. Others provide detailed information by ‘zooming in’ on particular objects in the collection.

Browse the Egyptian Antiquities exhibit at The Louvre, wander the Hall of Mammals at the Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C., check out Rembrandt’s famous Night Watch at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam or participate in a virtual reality experience hosted by The Space Center Houston. If you’re an art buff, the Google Art Project brings together key works from more than 1,200 global institutions, all available to browse online at your leisure.

No queues, no sore feet, and the ability to spend as long as you like examining objects of interest. Plus, when you seek out independent institutions, a virtual museum tour can be a great way to support a small business that is doing it tough right now.

Relive past travel experiences through food

by Alana from Family Bites Travel

When we get back from a family holiday, we get in a post-holiday-funk. We often will talk about our travel experiences in the context of a memorable meal. We worked out many years ago we can prolong a travel experience by learning to cook local dishes.

Even if you are unable to leave home, you can easily be transported back to places you have visited by recreating a memorable meal. As a family, we can feel like we are back in Sri Lanka while eating a Lankan curry with string-hoppers as we reminisce about seeing a wild leopard. Or, we laugh about our pimped-up trishaw rides in Melaka whilst trying to reconstruct Malaysian chicken balls.

We have discussed the unbelievable selection of lentils available in India versus the dismal selection we can buy in Australia when making daal. We have tried to recreate our favorite desserts like Balinese condensed milk pancakes or rolled ice-cream from Thailand, although our street vendor theatrics need work.

Reminiscing about past travels while trying to recreate a memorable meal can transport you back to a feeling, a place, a smell or a memory of your family travel experiences. So, get cooking!

Set up a resort in your own home

by Rachel from The Rx For Travel

As a teen, I remember my cousins and I would get dressed in our bathing suits, lay out our beach towels on the tan carpet and pretend we were at the beach. It was so simple, and yet we are still talking about that memory 20+ years later. Now that I have kids of my own, I remember that sometimes you don’t have to leave your house to make special memories that they will carry with them throughout life. If you can’t travel far, it can be fun to set up a resort in your own home.

In our backyard, we turned it into a kid-friendly water park with a mini pool, water sprinkler toys, and a water table. Our front yard is full of recreational activities: frisbees, soccer balls, tennis equipment, and kid-size golf clubs. When it’s time to come inside, you can have a dance party in your living room while listening to your favorite Pandora station or go see a concert via YouTube. You can even do a special art or craft focused on the pretend location you are visiting. Years from now, you may find that the pretend vacation at home is the one they look back on with the fondest memories.

Check out water sprinkler toys on Amazon >>
See lots of other outdoor toys on Amazon >>

Study previous travel destinations

by Derek & Mike from Robe Trotting

One great way to travel from home without leaving the house is through the power of learning. Many parents are suddenly taking the role of homeschooling educator and travel topics can fit nicely into many curriculums.

One way to insert travel into your childrens’ schooling is to select one of your previous travel destinations and study the geography of the region. The geology and ecological features of the destination also make for great subjects in a science lesson. Perhaps the local language of the destination can be reviewed and studied. All of these are ways to incorporate travel in your childrens’ learning and revisit family memories.

You can also work with your children to develop future travel plans. As an exercise in mathematics, you can assign a budget and have your children plan a trip to a destination of their choice. Your children can do a report on the destination and practice their research skills to provide you with the same information you look up while trip planning. Maybe you’ll even use their itinerary for a holiday once travel becomes available again. There are so many educational opportunities to come from travel, even if they’re done from home.

Watch travel series

by Tiffany from A Girl and Her Passport

Many of us now have a Netflix subscription now. I know I have had one since it came to your house by disk. This is a great option to keep traveling without leaving the house, especially since Netflix is constantly updating its offerings.

Keep in mind what I am going to suggest you watch may not be available in your country.

Secrets to Great British Castles – I love these PBS series. They show you around the castle but also reveal all the things you probably wouldn’t hear about when you go visit in person. Then when you can finally go, you will know where to look. PBS has several of these types of series in many UK locations.

Dark Tourist – This series may not be for the faint of heart but it does reveal an interesting side of places. Plus, if you are like me, you will probably never go to these places in person anyway. **Disclaimer – some episodes may be graphic.

Rick Steves anything – Rick Steves is the king of travel shows even before Netflix came along. While he can be a bit dry, he does give you a full range of places in Europe to armchair travel to.

House Hunters International – Ok, this isn’t a travel show. But I love getting to see what houses look like in other countries. They usually show you around the town as well. I also like it because they aren’t always in the big cities of a place so you many get to learn about a place you never heard of.

If you need more options, just search for travel and you will get tons. Food travel shows are also really popular right now as well.

Some travel shows for kids you might look into are Wild Kratts, Let’s Go Luna and Hogie the Globehopper.

Listen to Travel Podcasts

by Wendy Werneth from The Nomadic Vegan

Listening to podcasts is a great way to discover new places without leaving your own home. It also exercises your brain more than just watching a video or documentary about travel, because you get to use your imagination to picture what the destination is like. The Amateur Traveler podcast is one that has been around for a long time and has a huge back catalog of more than 600 episodes! If you want to know about an off-the-beaten-track destination, odds are there’s an episode about it. In addition to the general travel podcasts, there’s a podcast for pretty much every kind of travel niche these days, so if you have a special interest you’ll probably find a podcast about it.

For example, as a vegan traveler, I really love listening to the World Vegan Travel podcast. And for families that love to travel together, there are plenty of options too, of course. Some, like Family Travel Radio and Kidventures, feature interviews with various family travel experts. While others, such as Yellow Van Travels and Join Our Vida Loca, are hosted by a single family who brings you along on their journeys around the world.

Watch travel documentaries

by Cath from Passports and Adventures

You don’t have to leave your home to fulfill some wanderlust. One way to still enjoy traveling is to watch travel-related documentaries, especially with kids. There are some great miniseries based in specific locations that are very inspiring. Some will have a focus on nature in specific places and some will mix nature with culture and the local community. And any child who loves animals will enjoy the nature angle of these shows.

One such documentary that inspired one of our trips was a three-part documentary on Yellowstone National Park. It showed viewers how the park changes from winter, through summer and back again and how the animals cope in the depths of winter. It was so fascinating that it inspired our visit to Yellowstone with kids.

Another series that has put a country onto our bucket list is Wild China. This six-part documentary covers different regions and cities in China and shares some fascinating insights and stories about the country and the nature within it. We’d love to visit with our son one day. And likewise, South Pacific, another six-part series based around islands in the South Pacific such as New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Watching any of these travel-related documentaries will inspire your wanderlust without having to leave your home.

Video chat with friends around the world

by Kate from Rolling Along with Kids

Our family loves traveling to Bali and we have made such great friends with our beautiful nannies that help us out each holiday. Their care and affection for our kids makes our hearts smile. With our recent travel plans having to adjust, we love to keep connected with our Balinese nannies.

Many Balinese have access to What’s App and Facebook Messenger so it makes it easy to stay connected with them. Using the video chat function, we can chat with our nannies and feel that we are in Bali. Each call is different, from learning to count to 10 in Bahasa, to chatting about Balinese culture and even learning Balinese dance! It is a perfect way to pass the long days at home with the kids but also brings something even more important into their day, culture.

So if you have ever made contact with a local while traveling overseas now is a perfect time to reconnect. They will appreciate the connection with another human being around the world.

Follow a travel photographer online

By David from Delve Into Europe

We’re crawling up the walls in an apartment in Prague in the hope that lockdown conditions may be partly eased in the not-too-distant future. All the beauty and stunning architecture of this amazing city is just a few miles up the tramline, but frustratingly out of bounds.

One thing that we do to ease this frustration is to indulge in some lengthy online virtual journeys around the Czech Republic and Europe. There has always been a bit of an escapist in both of us, and there’s nothing we enjoy more than seeking out photography of smaller places we wouldn’t necessarily have looked up. The result is that we find more and more places to add to our bucket lists.

We go through some of the usual channels – Google images, image libraries, Instagram – and when we chance upon somewhere we like the look of we also seek out photographers based in these places and investigate further. So without being locked down in Prague, we may never have discovered the likes of Loket, Kolin, Hradec Kralove and Pisek in the Czech Republic. And as long as we are locked down, we’ll discover more and more.

Travel the world while exercising with iFit

by Lizzie from Lizzie Lau Travels

My nine year old and I are signed up for iFit, and we’re traveling the world on a stationary bike and a rowing machine. Yesterday I was rowing in Portugal and she was mountain biking in Switzerland. I’ve been suffering from acute plantar fasciitis for several years, so I’m not able to make use of the treadmill right now. We got these fantastic NordicTrack machines just over a year ago, and they work with iFit, a subscription program that streams hundreds of workouts filmed in incredible locations around the world, led by world-renowned trainers. It’s so realistic that more than once when I’ve been riding trails I’ve leaned as if I need to turn the bike!

My daughter is currently doing a 19 ride mountain bike series through the alps in Switzerland, led by a Kiwi instructor with a great sense of humor. The scenery is outstanding. I’m doing a series in Alaska, cycling through breathtaking landscapes. I’m looking forward to finding some new family vacation spots for future travel. We’re both enjoying the virtual travel combined with endorphins and fitness.

Follow your favorite travel vloggers on YouTube

by Halef from The Round The World Guys

One great way to “travel without leaving home” is by watching your favorite YouTube travelers. By following a good YouTuber through their travels, you can feel like you’re traveling along with them.

Several great YouTube travelers have specific goals, from visiting all 197 countries in the world to something like a quest to do a trip in Indonesia without flying. Some channels combine their culinary interests with their videos, capturing their expressions and funny stories and giving you all the information you need for your future travels.

Great travel videos will also help kids to visually learn about other places in the world. Our channel, the Round The World Guys, captures our experience of quitting our full-time jobs to travel around the world – from East Timor to Svalbard and even Antarctica.

Give it a try. Pick your favorite YouTubers! In no time, you will be traveling around the world with them!

Learn a new language

by Diana from The Elusive Family

Being limited to the home can be difficult if you aren’t too sure what to do with your time. If you have a list a million miles long, it’s also hard to decide where to start and many people don’t do anything as they become overwhelmed. However, one thing that can help you, in travel as well as challenging your brain, is learning a new language.

Learning a new language does not have to be difficult. There are hundreds of resources out there to help you learn. Some of the most popular resources include Duolingo which I highly recommend as it ensures you are actually repeating the language and creating the proper sentence structure from the beginning. The app is designed to listen to you speak so that it can determine your progress. Rype and Verbling are websites that pair you with a personal tutor where you schedule calls and the instructor will teach you the language. Rosetta Stone is a well-known language learning program and works for many people. Finally, Memrise is a fun way to learn a language through games.

Watch Travel Movies

by Anjali from Travel Melodies

Have you ever experienced an urge or desire to travel to someplace after seeing it in a movie? It happens to me all the time!

Copenhagen is one such movie. I fell head over heels in love with Denmark’s capital city, so much that I mentally planned a trip before even the movie was over.

There are times when you can’t take a trip to your bucket-list destination and are stuck at home because of one or the other reason. Watching a travel movie is a great way to travel without even leaving your home. Travel movies have the power to transport you to the exciting and unique destinations from the comfort of your couch. We, as a family, binge-watch travel movies when we’re not traveling. The movies not only feed our wanderlust but help kids learn about new cultures while sitting at home. Plus, they help us add new adventures to our ever-growing bucket-list.

My daughter visited Salzburg many times by watching the movie “The Sound Of Music” even before we visited the city of Mozart in reality. She at once recognized the Pegasus Statue Fountain and the stairs leading up to the rose hill at Mirabell Gardens featured in the “Do, Re, Mi” song. She sang and danced around the fountain just the way Maria and kids did in the movie

Some of the best travel movies that made my daughter travel to exciting places while enjoying popcorn on our own couch include Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, Frozen, Moana, the Polar Express, RV: Runaway Vacation, and Coco.

No matter which of these you watch, you’re sure to explore new places and indulge in a fun adventure with your kids.

Visit a zoo on the other side of the world

Did you know zoos offer virtual tours as well? Take your kids on a virtual zoo visit!

Let’s take a trip to Atlanta to check out the Giant Pandas with Zoo Atlanta’s PandaCam. After Atlanta, why not travel to San Diego, to the famous San Diego Zoo. On the zoo’s many live cams you can see koalas, owls, giraffes, baboons, tigers and condors. Of course, since the cams broadcast ‘live’ you won’t see much when it’s night in San Diego.

Or go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to see sharks glide by, watch the jellyfish pulse, enjoy the frolicking sea otters, or see the penguins as they waddle across your screen. You can also check out the open sea exhibit or see the colorful and busy inhabitants of the coral reef. The aquarium offers 10 different live cams to choose from.

If your kids prefer ‘walking’ amongst the exhibits instead of watching live cams, the National Aquarium in Baltimore has a great virtual tour.

Go on a virtual field trip

If you can’t go on an actual field trip, these virtual ones are a great idea. Most of them don’t only include fun and interesting videos on various trips in different countries but also teaching materials and student handouts. Very suitable for teachers wanting to take their students on an online trip, but also for parents who homeschool or just enjoy exploring new places with their kids. Now you don’t have to limit yourself to the local forest, farm or museum, but can also explore places you normally wouldn’t go, such as the Borneo rain forest or the coral reefs of Palau.

These 11 amazing virtual field trips from Nature Works Everywhere, an initiative of The Nature Conservancy, take you all over the world. Learn about the biodiversity of the coastal ecosystem in Peru or the animals that live in deserts and grasslands of Africa.

Discovery Education also offers a number of fantastic online field trips. We especially like the ‘Tundra Connections’ where you can experience the tundra and polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Some of the teaching materials are only available in Canada or with a subscription. You can also check out Discovery Education UK for more online field trip ideas and resources.

Also, check out the Great Lakes Now virtual field trip and DPTV’s Winged Creatures In 360° field trips, with amazing 360° images of penguins, raptors and bats.

Watch wildlife around the world through live webcams

by Alexander from Gourmand Trotter

As an avid traveler, being on lockdown is quite frustrating, although it is necessary to save people’s lives. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get that wanderlust fulfilled in the meantime.

I believe watching live cams is highly underrated, and it’s a lot more exciting than one might think. Contrary to travel shows that are scripted, the live cams are non-censored and happen in real-time, giving the watching experience that extra feeling because you have no idea what will happen next.

It’s almost as you’re being out in nature, waiting for the animals to come forward. These wildlife cams are not always the highest quality though, but you can still see the animals clearly and some of them are filming live during nighttime as well.

My favorite website to find live wildlife cams from around the world is https://explore.org/livecams/ who list live wildlife cams from interesting places such as waterholes in Africa, Birds nests, Gorilla trails, Polar Bear territory and much more.

Nonetheless, for a moment I can picture myself in these places and get my daily dose of virtual travel inspiration. It’s a great activity to do with your kids as well and a chance for them and you to learn more about nature and animals.

The post 24 ways to travel without leaving home appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

If like me, you sometimes struggle a bit to come up with original and fun gifts for your travel-loving family members or friends, don’t worry. I’ve done the work for you! This list of the best travel gifts for kids offers you lots of inspiration. Great gift ideas for traveling children and travel-inspired presents for kids and families that love travel and explore. Looking for travel presents for your significant other? Check this guide with travel gifts for women.

This post contains affiliate links, you can read more about this in our disclaimer.

Experiences instead of toys

When you’re traveling, usually you’re trying to reduce the amount of luggage you have, instead of adding to it. You already pick up enough along the way, without adding a ton of toys. Experience gifts are the perfect solution. Even when you’re staying at home, the memories from a fun experience will stay while that toy car will lose their interest after a while. It seems counter-intuitive that a present we can touch and feel and that lasts longer will be less satisfying in the long run than a one-off experience. But research shows that the happiness gained from physical gifts declines over time, whereas the experiences become a part of our identity. As they say, we are the sum of our experiences.

Of course, for the gift giver, it might be less satisfying to give a coupon or a gift card, than a physical object. However, there are many creative ways to wrap such an experience gift and find the perfect experience to give is part of the fun. Why not get your kids a day pass for a fantastic water park, tickets for a sports event or a gift card to see a movie? There are also lots of fun online classes and workshops available that make a perfect no-clutter gift while you travel.

Experience gift ideas

This is by no means a complete list of experience gifts for kids, but maybe it helps to give you some ideas.

– Tickets to a fun kids museum
– Adventure activities, such as ziplining, mountain climbing, surfing or quad riding (see what’s available in your area here)
– A gift card for the movies
– Tickets to see a theatre performance or sports event
– Tickets for the zoo
– Amusement park tickets
– A cooking class
– A photography class or online photography course
– An online art or drawing course
– A dance workshop, learn how to belly dance or salsa dance
– PADI Open Water course to learn scuba diving
– E-book or audiobook subscription (consider Kindle Unlimited or Audible)
– App Store of Google Play credit
– An online coding and programming course
– A beauty treatment or massage
– An outdoor survival course

There are many many more experience gifts you can give, just think of what the person you’re buying it for likes. Are they into arts & crafts, cooking, music, photography, or are they more outdoorsy and active? What hobbies do they have?

Best travel gifts for kids: document your trips

Half the pleasure of traveling is in making all those wonderful memories and talking about all the cool things you did on your trips afterward. But it’s easy to forget all the details, so keeping a journal and taking lots of pictures is definitely recommended.

My Family Travel Map (Lonely Planet Kids)

Great way for kids to document both the places they’ve been and the places that are still on their bucket list. Kids can use over 180 colorful stickers to personalize this giant fold-out map. Use them to point out what places they went, what they’ve seen and where they still want to go. On the back of the map, kids will find all kinds of fun and interesting facts about various destinations.

My Travel Journal (Lonely Planet Kids)

What a great travel gift for kids! Keeping a journal will help you remember all those fun details later, the foods they ate, the people they met, the animals they’ve seen and the places they’ve visited. With prompts and encouragements to write, draw, collage and color their experiences on the road. Great for kids age 5-8. Older kids may want a journal that offers a bit more free space for writing.

Scratch off World Map Wall Poster

I’d actually love to have one of these myself! Not only a great present for traveling kids but a great travel gift for adult travelers as well. This large poster map (35×25 inches or 90×60 cm) is a great way for your family to remember all the places you’ve been. Simply scratch off the top layer for each place you’ve visited. This map has all the US States outlined, although for a US or European road trip I’d recommend getting a map for only that region as some states or countries are very small on this true to scale map.

Waterproof camera for kids

Even though he’s still very young, our son loves to take photographs. How cool would it be if we didn’t have to worry about him breaking our phones or expensive camera? It would be so much more fun for him to have this shock-proof and dust-proof HD kids camera. It’s also waterproof up to 3 meters, so it would be a great addition to his kids snorkel gear or when he goes in the swimming pool. This is really a great travel gift for kids who love to take pictures. The 5-megapixel photos are good enough to put in a nice photobook or use for a journal or scrapbook. Or to print them poster size to hang in your child’s bedroom.

Digital PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO Course for Kids (Ages 10+)

This online photo course is a fantastic gift for photography minded kids. Very suitable as a kids’ birthday or Christmas present for families that are currently traveling and have limited luggage space. Your child, grandchild, niece or nephew can learn about photography in their own time. The only thing that’s required is a decent internet connection, a laptop and a digital camera. This photography course teaches the basics of photography, such as understanding your camera, photography terminology, and important lighting and composition techniques. If your child enjoys travel photography, this is the perfect gift.

Practical travel gift ideas for children

Gifts don’t always have to be toys or games, there are some really cool practical travel-related gifts as well. These useful gifts make fun presents for your children.

Set of 4 Avengers Luggage ID Tags

Luggage ID tags usually aren’t a very exciting Christmas gift, but these are awesome! Who doedn’t want to tag their luggage with these fun Avenger tags? They are made of high quality durable silicone and come in lots of different designs to choose from beside these Avenger ones. The perfect way to personalize your luggage!

Snug Play+ Kids Headphones

The perfect headphones for kids 3-8 years old. I love the volume limiting feature, it’s so much safer for those little ears. These headphones for kids are lightweight and have a comfortable fit. They’re also very durable and can handle some rough play. A great feature is that these have a sharing port, so you can connect multiple ones together and then connect them to the same device. They don’t come with a case, but they’re very compact when they’re folded. Great headphones for traveling kids.

KIDDIETOTES 3-D Hardshell Ride On Suitcase Scooter for Kids

We once saw a kid zip around Kuala Lumpur airport on one of these luggage scooters. It looked so much fun that we still remember it years later and will definitely get our son one when he’s a bit older. I’m sure no child will mind taking their own luggage or getting to a gate that’s a bit further away using one of these. Waiting at the airport can be so tedious, but with a kids’ suitcase like this, your children won’t mind at all. I wish I was a kid again so I could get one for myself! Amazon has different designs available.

Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet – 10.1”

I know, I know, responsible parents limit their child’s screen time. But while traveling, sometimes you just need to keep your kids entertained for a while. And especially when they’re a bit tired, a tablet can do wonders. A tablet is also great to use for educational purposes, with many apps that help your child learn to count, read, do math or find out more about your current destination. We have an iPad, but I’m always afraid our little one will break it. This Fire tablet comes with a 2-year worry-free guarantee, which includes coverage in case your kids break it. And it includes a Kid-Proof case, designed to protect against bumps and drops.

Folding kick scooter

Folding kids scooters for travel are awesome. Another one of those travel presents for kids guaranteed to be a success with kids and parents alike. Kids love scooting around and parents love that their kids are playing outside instead of being glued to a tablet. A kick scooter is perfect for longer walks too, especially the foldable kind that you can easily take with you. Obviously a kick scooter is most suitable for road trips but at 5-7 lbs you can definitely take it with you as checked-in luggage.

Best travel games & toys

Even though family travel means a lot of time together, it can also be stressful. It’s easy to lose track of why you’re traveling in the first place – to spend more time together. Games are a great way to create some quality family time. These lightweight and small games are perfect to kill some time while waiting at the airport, train or bus station or restaurant.

SET card game

This award winning game is very easy to learn, and good fun many hours of fun. SET is a great game you can play with the whole family. A fast moving visual perception game that trains the brain while you play. Practice spacial relationships, math skills, critical thinking, logical reasoning and visual perception, all while having some family fun. What we love is that adults and kids can play together and compete against each other. Age is not an advantage and there’s no luck involved, just skill.

Family Talk

If your family is into fun and games, getting one of these is really a no-brainer. This award-winning game will spark hilarious conversations and discussions in no-time. With 100 thought-provoking and silly questions, there’s always something to talk about. Get to know your family members inside and out. This game is small and easily fits in your handbag or daypack. Perfect to take with you while traveling and great to kill time while waiting for your flight to leave, when you’re on a family road trip or while you’re waiting for your food in a restaurant.

The Best Ever Backseat Games

This book offers a variety of entertaining games and trivia questions. Certain to make everybody’s road trip a lot more fun. Not ‘mommy, are we there yet?’ but ‘mommy, can we please play another game?’ Good fun to play with family and friends and great for people of all ages. Lots of entertainment in a small book that’s easy to take with you wherever you go. The perfect birthday or Christmas present for kids who love to travel.

Loaded Questions Junior card game

What don’t you ever want to be when you grow up? What would be your ring name if you were a professional wrestler? What two words best describe you? What are you great at? Another question card game, with hilarious but also thought-provoking questions. Suitable for kids age 6+. Card games are really my favorite, they take up very little space and are good for hours of fun on the road! Loaded Questions Junior contains 200 playful and creative questions to keep you and your family entertained.

Games on the Go (Lonely Planet)

The perfect stocking stuffer for travel-loving kids or a nice present for a birthday or farewell party. Games on the Go will spark your child’s imagination and test their memory and knowledge with lots of fun games to play. The 40 wipe-clean cards are stored in a small handy box, together with a dry-erase pen. Perfect to keep your family entertained during airport layovers, flights, long car or train trips or when you’re relaxing by the pool or at the beach. Break the boredom of a long trip by playing a few games, after all, time flies when you’re having fun.

Magnetic Board Travel Game Set

Twelve of your favorite retro travel board games all in one buy. Included are Checkers, Chess, Chinese checkers, Tic Tac Toe, Backgammon, Snakes & Ladders, Solitaire, NineMen’s Morris, Auto Racing, Ludo, Space Venure, and Racing. Each game is individually boxed, so for each trip you can make a different selection, to keep things interesting. These magnetic mini board games are only 5″ (12cm) and easy to bring with you and great to use as stocking stuffers. The pieces are really small though, so these games are not suitable for very young kids.

Uno Emoji Card Game

Everybody knows and loves UNO, right? This is a new version of the classic game. A fun combination of two favorites: Emoji’s and Uno. Uno is played worldwide, so it’s a great game to play with other kids (and adults!) you meet while traveling. The perfect ice breaker. Uno is a basic game that never grows old and can be played with the whole family.

Simon Micro Series Game

Watch, remember, repeat. A small-sized version of the original Simon game. Great to improve your memory and fun to play. Children can play by themselves in Solo mode or play together with family or friends in Pass It mode. This mini Simon game fits in the palm of your hand, so it’s easy to bring along. Kids as young as 4 can enjoy this game. The only downside is that this micro version doesn’t have volume control, so not great for playing in public areas.

Hot Wheels Marvel Avengers Die-Cast Vehicles, 5-Pack

These are such a big hit with our little boy that I just had to include them in this list of the best travel gifts for kids. These little die-cast toy cars take up very little space in our daypack and we take them everywhere, to restaurants, to the airport, to the beach… We have a special little pouch for him to put them in. He loves to play with his cars and can do so for hours. This is really the perfect travel toy for toddlers. Great as a small birthday gift for kids, as a present for a goodbye party or as a stocking stuffer. You can either get the Avengers or the Justice League version.

Travel presents for kids: survival tools

Didn’t you love survival when you were a kid? I know I did! And family trips are the best time to try out your new toys.

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Junior

Every kid needs to own a pocket knife right? Learning some basic survival skills is good fun and might come in useful one day. Our son is a bit too young for it, but he’ll definitely get a pocket knife when he’s older. Depending on how responsible your child is, 7 or 8 is probably the perfect age for his or her first knife. I remember my first swiss army knife very well. I used to carry it with me wherever I went and felt real ‘grown-up’. You could say getting a pocket knife is a bit of a rite of passage into adulthood. It really is an awesome travel present for kids. Just make sure that the family isn’t traveling with carry-on only because they wouldn’t be able to bring it with them.

Waterproof bright led headlight torch

With this headlamp, your child will feel like a proper little explorer! How awesome to discover caves or walk around the forest at night. Great for camping trips, but also when visiting countries where there are no streetlights. This head torchlight is rechargeable with mini USB, so you never run out of batteries. It has a hand wave sensor, you can turn it on by just waving your hand in front of it. Kids love it. Of course, you can also set it to be on constantly. The light is very bright and the headband can easily be adjusted to both child and adult size.

Ultimate Explorer Guide for Kids

This survival guide is really made with kids in mind. It contains less text and is a lot less overwhelming than adult field guides. The information is broken up in easy to process pieces, with vivid and desciptive pictures. It includes stories of the author’s own adventures too, which makes it come to life even more and adds to the imagination. With lots of tips and tricks for outdoor exploration. If your child is an outdoorsy type or if you want to encourage your kid to spend more time outdoors, this is the perfect Christmas present.

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What would you teach your child if all this was possible? And how would you teach your child?

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What is worldschooling?

Worldschooling is the best of education and travel with kids mixed together. It’s just that, and so much more! Worldschooling doesn’t mean you pack a suitcase and go for a vacation, where you dutifully visit a museum or two, and show your kids some landmarks. No, it doesn’t work like that. Families who choose to worldschool take their child’s education seriously. They pick this lifestyle because they question the traditional 9-5 way of life and they want something more. They want their children to learn from the world and experience this knowledge on their own. There is nothing better than to experience things by yourself!

Think about yourself when you were a child. When you sat in that classroom, listening to your teacher talk about history… Did you remember it a month later? Did you feel as if you were right where the history happened? I don’t think so. But now imagine yourself standing in the very place where the history took its course. Imagine reading about it right there and seeing the place where it all happened. Would you remember it a month later? I think there is a pretty good chance you would!

That’s what worldschooling is all about! It’s about giving your child the best lessons you could possibly afford. And just like any schooling, it’s hard work.

Worldschooling tips

Worldschooling is such a complex way of educating children. It starts at home, long before you take off. It continues at the destination and it lasts long after you come home. There are just so many valuable lessons world schooling can give us. And there are so many lessons you can prepare for your child to boost his knowledge!

Some hardcore worldschoolers will say that you can only truly worldschool if you travel fulltime. But the philosophy of worldschooling and the worldschooling mindset can also be implemented on shorter trips or even at home.

Unschooling or formal homeschooling

There are many ways you can do worldschooling. Some people unschool their children and let them figure things out on their own. Unschooling is child-focused and child-supporting learning. Unschooling parents introduce ideas, objects, experiences and opportunities, but let their kids choose what they want to explore. They believe in stimulating a child’s intrinsic motivation to learn. Every child will eventually learn everything he wants and needs. Children love to learn and they soak up the information like a sponge!

Some worldschoolers still want their children to have some type of formal education, and they chose a more traditional way of homeschooling, following a set curriculum or a combination of methods also used in school.

Whichever type of homeschooling or worldschooling you decide on, you might not have all the materials you need at home. Take a look at this list of affordable school supplies for some ideas of what you might need.

Be flexible

This is one of my most important homeschooling or worldschooling tips. Be flexible and go with the flow! It’s good to plan your day and kinda plan your lessons. But If something unexpected happens and your child is interested in learning about it, just let him or her explore! Let’s say I planned the lesson about rocks today. I took my kids outside to see this amazing little rocks by the lake, but out of nowhere a ladybug landed straight on my child’s hand and she’s never seen a ladybug before. I will forget the lesson about rocks for now and teach my child about the ladybug!

There are many ways you can educate your kids and it doesn’t have to involve worksheets and sitting at the desk 100% of the time. Check out these tips for fun learning activities while on the go

Worldschooling: before you leave

Budget your travels

Finances play a big part in worldschooling (and homeschooling in general). Traveling with kids is not cheap! Transportation, restaurants, hotels, car rental… it all costs money and it all adds up. Do a little research and write down your expected expenses. This way you have at least a general idea of the cost of each trip and you can plan accordingly. Of course, you can also worldschool on a budget. Not all your trips have to be to far away destinations.

Pick a destination

Think about what you would like your child to learn and what would be the best place to learn it. What is your objective for this trip? If you want to teach your child about art, Paris is a good choice. Louvre is an amazing place that will not disappoint when it comes to art. Do you want to take a lesson of italian cuisine and culture? You can’t find better place to learn about Italy than, well, Italy.

Whatever you want to teach your child, there is a destination that is perfect for it. You can also turns this around. Pick a destination on your bucket list and think about what you can teach your child when you visit this particular destination. Even a tropical beach holiday can teach your kids about marine life and conservation, climate and local culture.

The planning process

Involve kids in your planning process. It’s a great source for lessons about finances, planning and management. Don’t limit learning just to a travel destination. Make everything a lesson and teach your kids important life skills. When you are planning your next adventure, talk to your kids about it daily. Let them be a part of everything, even such complex matter as finances, because there is never going to be a better lesson about money. Teach them the value of money, how much things cost and how to budget. They will be grateful for these lessons when they are grown-ups trying to budget themselves! Let kids observe and learn how to plan the trip. Planning and time management are important skills in many professions which makes mastering these skills very valuable.

Worldschooling activities at home

Videos

Watch some videos about your next destination on YouTube. There is a lot you can teach your kids from the videos and it shows them where you are all heading. It will also allow their little mind to soak up information about the country so they know what to expect and what they would get out of this trip as well.

Arts and crafts

Another fun activity you can do with your children is coloring. Print out coloring pages that are related to the location you’re visiting. Are you going to Paris? Print out coloring pictures of Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame de Paris and Arc de Triomphe. Talk about these landmarks and let your children explore. You can also explore local art forms, such as the aboriginal way of painting with dots if you’re visiting Australia, trying your hand at Japanese calligraphy or making Wayang puppets when you’re visiting Indonesia.

Maps

Look at the map! One of the simplest yet overlooked ways to teach is to just simply take the map out and explore. Where is the place we’re visiting? What countries are surrounding it? Is it close to the sea or the ocean? What ocean? Is it in northern or southern hemisphere?

Books

Visit your local library and pick up some books. Go to the children’s section as well as to adult section. Children’s section usually has many easy to read books that are full of colorful pictures and fun facts. These are great books to read to your children on a daily basis. Read them as a bedtime story before you go sleep or during the quiet time during the day. Adult section is a great resource for learning about history, culture and other useful informations about the country you plan to visit.

Language

Being bilingual has lifelong benefits for your brain. Did you know that bilingual people are less likely to get dementia and other brain affecting conditions? I am trilingual and I’m raising my daughter to be as well, so I hope it is true!

Being bilingual also opens up the door to better understand other cultures and being able to speak to more people (because not everyone speaks English).. Of course you can experience the culture without speaking the language! But there is just something about knowing the native language when exploring a certain country. Even if it’s just a couple words or phrases. It’s almost like you get the people better. You connect on a different level.

Before you go, take mini language lessons at home and learn some words from the language spoken at your destination. Are you going to Spanish speaking country? Here’s a fun game. Take sticky notes and label all items around the house with spanish word! Then everytime you go do something, there is the spanish word looking at you! Let’s say I’m going to get the snack. I open the Frigorífico (fridge) and I grab yogur (yogurt). Once you are at your destination, your kids will remember some words and they will have easier time communicating and learning new words. What a great way to learn a language!

Worldschooling at your destination

Journaling

A great way for your kids to remember the trip for many years to come is to write a journal! Have your children write down everything they learn and draw some pictures! Ask them to draw anything they’ve seen or they want to remember. Let their creativity go wild and let them use anything you can find during your trip. You can go pick some leaves for the “nature” picture or use sand and glue for a beachy masterpiece.

Visit museums

Take your kids to local museums. Let your kids explore and learn at their own pace. Don’t rush learning! As you will find out, every museum will be different from the last one. Most of the museums will have staff that will be happy to fill in the knowledge gaps. Ask away!

Immerse in language

There will never be a better way to learn language than going to the country that speaks it. There just won’t. Remember those mini-lessons you and your kids took at home before you left? Use them and speak! A lot of people are shy to speak another language because they are worried they don’t speak good enough, no one will understand or they sound weird. So what? I didn’t exactly sound like an American when I moved from Europe to the USA! In fact, I could hardly ask for directions and my accent was so strong that those few words I did speak, nobody could understand. But I was forced to learn because everyone around me spoke English, and I did!

Read labels when going to the grocery store and learn how to name food, fruits and veggies in the other language. Learn basic common phrases such as “Good afternoon” and use them everywhere you go. Ask locals to speak slowly and teach you and your kids some words. Immerse yourselves into the language!

Go sightseeing as much as you can

If you borrowed some books when you were preparing for your travel, I’m sure you read about landmarks you can go see once you’re there. Go see them! Visit all historic buildings, monuments or UNESCO sites. You can find a list of UNESCO sites on their website.

Explore local flora and fauna

Every country is different. While you might have palm trees in your backyard, people in the country you’re visiting have maybe never seen one. Get out for walks and explore what grows and lives there. You might see different kinds of lizards, frogs or plants that you usually don’t see where you’re from. Ask locals about trees and plants you and your kids don’t recognize. Maybe go for a tour out into a nature reserve. Take a local with you and ask him to show you animals and plants typical for the area.

Try to visit places that are different from your home. Do you live up north in the snowy winter-wonderland? Go visit tropical country or jungle! When things are diverse is when we can compare and learn the most. Take time to educate your children about agriculture as well. What grows here and what animals are being raised for meat or for sell? Is it different from your country?

Weather and climate

What is the weather like where you travel? Is it different from the one at home? Why? Pull out the map and teach your kids why some countries are warmer and some colder in general. There is a lot to be learned here. You can teach your kids how the Earth rotates around the sun and affects the warmth. Not every country is warm/cold as your hometown.

Foreign currency

When you travel overseas, you have to find out what currency is used at your destination. Teach your child how to exchange money for the new currency and why it’s done. Why is the other country using different money from yours? What currency is it?
Show your child how to calculate currency and show them what the coins and bills look like. Kids at school usually just look at a few pictures of different currencies, so it is really cool your child can actually help calculate the currency and see what the individual coins and bills look like.

Observe people and the culture

Culture is a big part of every country. Observe the culture of the country where you’re in. Your kids will never learn this from books! It’s great to read about other cultures, but it doesn’t compare to actually seeing it and experiencing on your own. Observe people and the religion as well. Are people more open and loud, or maybe more quiet and private? Is the country and its people rich or poor? Are they one race? Is most of the country christian, muslim, buddhist or another religion? Go visit local churches, mosques and temples. Local people will be more than happy to share and they will tell you a little bit about their religion. What a great lesson!

Worldschooling after you come home

The learning experience doesn’t end when you return. In order to make the most of what you and your kids have learned, incorporate it in future lessons.
Regularly talk about your trip, what everyone saw and what everyone learned. Now you can all see things more clearly, the first excitement is gone and your brain had time to process everything.

Read in your journal

If you’ve kept a journal, reading to your kids from it is an excellent way to remember all those fantastic learning experiences and wonderful family memories. You can ask your kids questions about the things you saw and did.

Create a photo album

Online photo albums are so easy to create these days and are wonderful for years to come. You’ll see that your kids will want to see them again and again. Don’t let all those wonderful pictures waste away on your laptop. Let your kids help you select which pictures to put in and what to write in the comments.

Make a poster

Create an infographic type poster for each country or destination that you’ve visited. Make it a learning tool by adding interesting information about the country. You can start with the basic information such as the number of people living there, the language they speak and the currency they use. Either use your own pictures or find pictures and icons online.

Make a collage

Select your favorite pictures and make a collage. Let your kids decide how to group the pictures. This could be by country, but also by location (inside, outside, at the beach, in the jungle), by type of experience (nature walk, landmark visit, workshop), or even something like color or shape. Or completely random. You can also add keepsakes of your travels, such as receipts, attraction tickets or local money.

Plan your next adventure

The best thing about coming home is that you can leave again Start planning your next adventure and get your kids involved.

The post Worldschooling: how to make the world your classroom appeared first on FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com.

Also read:
Family friendly restaurants in Haarlem
Haarlem city trip with kids 1-day itinerary
Visiting the Teylers Museum with a toddler
Favorite things to do in The Netherlands with kids

Petting zoos in Haarlem

Holland has around 550-600 petting zoos (kinderboerderijen). The literal translation of the Dutch word ‘kinderboerderij’ is children’s farm. A lot of them started in the 1950’s when The Netherlands started to become more and more urbanized. Their purpose was to give both adults and kids in the cities the possibility to interact with farm animals and to teach them where our food comes from. Most of the petting farms in Holland can therefore be found in the urbanized provinces of North and South Holland (Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland). Animals you can typically find at Dutch petting zoo’s are goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, cows, sheep, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small rodents.

In random order, these are our favorite places in and around Haarlem where kids can play with animals.

Kinderboerderij Houthoeve

Holland has a lot of petting farms or petting zoos (‘kinderboerderij’ in Dutch). Most kids love animals, so it’s a great idea for a nice family activity. The biggest one in Haarlem is Kinderboerderij De Houthoeve, located in the Haarlemmerhout park. It also has a small playground. Entrance is free, check their website for opening hours. Wednesdays til Sundays you can combine your visit to the petting zoo with eating a great pancake at a cozy little restaurant called Nurks in de Hout, located less than a minute walk from the petting zoo’s entrance. Keep in mind that it doesn’t open until 14:00. Across the road from the park you will find La Place Dreefzicht which is a self-service restaurant that’s open every day from 8:00 til 21:00. There are several bus stops near the Haarlemmerhout. Check 9292.nl/en for bus schedules. The address is Hertenkamplaan 3, Haarlem.

Kinderboerderij ’t Molentje

Another great petting zoo is Kinderboerderij ’t Molentje in Heemstede. It’s right next to a great forest area called Groenendaalse Bos and a large playground Speeltuin Groenendaal. The entrance to the petting zoo is free, it’s open every day from 10:00 til 16:30. For the playground you pay €2,50 per person, including a drink or ice cream. Make sure to check the playground’s website for opening hours. There are several options to get there by bus from Haarlem, it takes about 30 minutes. Check 9292.nl/en for bus schedules. The address of the petting zoo is Groenendaal 1, Heemstede.

Geitenboerderij Ridammerhoeve

In the middle of the Amsterdam Forest (Amsterdamse Bos) you will find the organic goat farm Ridammerhoeve. Besides goats, the farm is also home to lambs, chickens, pigs, cows and horses. It’s a fantastic place to visit with kids. Most of the stables are accessible and for a small fee you can buy a bottle of milk to feed the little goats, quite an experience! There’s a small playground and the restaurant serves delicious homemade organic food. At the attached store you can buy various different kinds of organic cheeses, meats, vegetables, and herbs. We recently visited there ourselves for the first time and I’m sure it won’t be the last. The address is Nieuwe Meerlaan 4, Amstelveen.

Boerderij Zorgvrij

Boerderij Zorgvrij is a livestock farm with an educational purpose. During the winter months the cows are inside and can be fed. Very often there are calves, but also they have goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits. The farm offers numerous activities for kids and has an interesting educational program for schools. At the farm you can also find the information center for recreation area Spaarnwoude, which offers maps with bicycle and walking routes. There’s a large playground and numerous gardens and forested areas where kids can play. At the site there’s also a pancake restaurant called ‘Onder de Platanen’. Entrance to Zorgvrij is free. You can find Boerderij Zorgvrij dat Genieweg 50, Velsen-Zuid

Garden center De Oosteinde

While not a proper petting zoo, this garden center located in Vijfhuizen has a small animal enclosure that offers kids the chance to see goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens. It’s worth mentioning because besides the petting zoo it also has a nice outside terrace and a playground. The playground is free of charge and has a bouncey castle up in the summer, a trampoline (our little boys favorite!), a wooden structure with a slide, some swings (one is suitable for very small kids as well!) and a small sandpit. The garden center is very easy to reach by car. The play area is only accessible via the garden center. The address is Schipholweg 1088, Vijfhuizen.

Museums in Haarlem

Haarlem doesn’t have any ‘real’ children’s museums, such as Nemo Science Center in Amsterdam or the Miffy Museum in Utrecht. However, there are a number of museums in Haarlem that are nice to visit with kids. They aren’t as interactive as museums that are designed specifically for kids, but most of them do offer a treasure hunt to let kids interact and discover the museum’s collection in a playful way. If your kids like museums (our son LOVES museums), these ones are worth a visit.

Archeology Museum Haarlem

Our son’s favorite by far is the Archeologisch Museum Haarlem. It’s a small museum which makes it perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, but it’s interesting for slightly older kids as well. The Archeology Museum is located, quite appropriately, underground. The old cellars of De Vleeshal (‘meat hall’), on Haarlem’s central square the Grote Markt, are the perfect location for this charming little museum. All the displays are the perfect height for kids and there is a small digging pit for little archeologists to be. At the determination table kids can figure out what people used to eat by going through waste found in a cesspit, just like real archeologists.

Teylers Museum

The Teylers Museum calls itself the ‘museum of wonder’ and this is very true. This 18th-century museum definitely houses all kinds of weird and wonderful. From a cave bear skeleton to a massive collection of fossils, and from fluorescent rocks to old scientific instruments and impressive paintings. The building is very old and part of it is the original museum interior of 1784. It’s a proper museum, so not very suitable for really young kids (we first visited Teylers Museum when our son was 3,5), but from age 4-5 the treasure hunt is fun to do and every Sunday they offer great creative workshops for kids.

Frans Hals Museum

The Frans Hals Museum is the oldest art museum in The Netherlands, with a collection that’s over 400 years old. Not a museum for grabby little hands, but a nice place to visit with kids age 4+. The collection is a great combination of the historic Dutch masters and modern art. The museum has two locations, the former old men’s home at Groot Heiligland called ‘het Hof’ and De Hallen at the Grote Markt. Discover all the fun details of the paintings and art objects by doing the treasure hunt.

ABC Architecture Center

The Architectuur- en Bouwhistorisch Centrum (ABC) Haarlem the center of Haarlem, close to the Frans Hals Museum, is not that interesting to visit with young kids. But… they do have over 60.000 lego bricks for kids to build and play with! Who doesn’t love playing with lego? At ABC there are enough to keep kids occupied for a while.  For older kids (and parents!) who are interested in architecture and urban development, this is a good place to learn more about various aspects of Dutch architecture. ABC is open all afternoons except Sunday.

Museum Haarlem

If you want to learn more about the history of Haarlem, Museum Haarlem is the place to go. Start with a short introduction film (in Dutch or English) which tells you about important events in Dutch history and the people that were important in Haarlem’s history. Such as plane builder Anthony Fokker, Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer (who played an important role in the defense of Haarlem during the Eighty Years War with Spain) and Laurens Janszoon Coster (the purported inventor of the printing press). Then go on to discover lots of objects, paintings and photos that tell you all about Haarlem’s history. For each exhibition, the museum creates a sheet with questions and assignments for kids.  Don’t miss  the ‘weeshuiskamer’ (orphanage room) and discover what it was like when the Haarlem Museum’s building was an orphanage, not even that long ago. There’s a chest with dress up clothes for even more pretend play.

Pieter Vermeulen Museum

A bit outside of Haarlem, at Driehuis, you’ll find the Pieter Vermeulen Museum. It’s a small museum, specifically for kids, which has about 3 or 4 different exhibitions during the year. It’s only open on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday afternoons (more often during school holidays). We’ve been twice and learned about waste & recycling and about the various aspects of water. The exhibitions are in Dutch, so if you don’t speak Dutch make sure to use Google translate app (tip: there’s an option to scan a written text your phone’s camera and immediately translate it to English). We do recommend you to do the assignment sheet, because otherwise you’ll be done is less than 30-minutes.

Playgrounds in Haarlem

Haarlem has a lot of playgrounds (playground = speeltuin in Dutch). Quite a few of them are run by playground associations and operated by volunteers. On the one hand this is fantastic, on the other hand this reliance on volunteers means the playgrounds have limited opening hours and aren’t completely free to visit. Usually you pay a small entry fee of €0,50-€1 per child. Make sure the playground is open before visiting! Search online for ‘speeltuin  Haarlem’ and you’ll find them all.

Playground Paradijsje

Het Paradijsje used to be our favorite playground when our son was young. Perfect place to spend an hour or two with your little one (up to age 5). It’s a city playground and unless you know it’s there it can be a bit hard to find.

Playground Glasblazers

Playground de Glasblazers was recently renovated and great for both young and older kids. It’s not a large playground, but there’s enough space to climb, jump and play.

Playground Groenendaal

Open year-round (not when the weather is really bad!) Playground Groenendaal is a commercial outdoor playground. At €3 per person (including a drink or ice cream) the entrance fee is very reasonable. It’s not in Haarlem itself, but in neighboring town Heemstede. This playground is located right next to the Groenendaalse Bos, in the middle of a forest. We love combining an hour or two of exploring in the forest with some playtime at this playground. This playground is also very close to Kinderboerderij ‘t Molentje.

Play forest Meermond

Also in Heemstede, this free play forest is a great alternative for families on a budget. It’s best for kids 4 and older with some great climbing structures, a slide and surrounding forested area to explore. Our son loves it there. There are no restaurants and toilets close by. The entrance of the play area is at Cruquiusweg 49, Heemstede.

Indoor and outdoor swimming  in Haarlem

There are a two indoor swimming pools in Haarlem, zwembad Boerhaavebad and zwembad De Planeet. Both have limited options for recreational swimming, so do check the website before visiting. Water Park Aqua Mundo in Center Parcs Zandvoort is more expensive but you can easily spend a few hours there and it’s a great alternative that’s open every day. Haarlem also has an outdoor pool called De Houtvaart (open every day from end of April to end of August). For open water swimming the Molenplas (Waertmolenpad 1) in de southern Schalkwijk area of Haarlem is great. There are some play structures as well as a restaurant. An alternative in nearby Hoofddorp is the Haarlemmermeerse Bos (IJweg 961, Hoofddorp). Haarlem is very close to the beach too. Zandvoort is only 15 minutes away by train or about 45-60 minutes by bike. During the summer holiday in July and August it can be very crowded on the beach on hot days.

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Further reading:
Review of family friendly Happy Gecko Dive Resort
Our favorite dive sites in Dahab, Egypt.

Mau and I both learned how to dive in 2001. I got certified in Australia on the Great Barrier Reef, he stayed on Koh Tao for a while and became a PADI Rescue Diver. We didn’t know each other back then. But ever since we met each other in 2002, we’ve been dive buddies on 99% of our dives. We’ve visited many fabulous dive locations, like SeaVentures refurbished oil rig in Sipadan, Malaysian Borneo, did a wonderful live aboard at the Similans in Thailand and a trip to Bunaken Island in Indonesia. We also have our own holiday house in Dahab, Egypt, a fabulous place for shore diving.

Travel changes when you have kids

Lots of things change when you travel with kids. As far as diving was concerned there were two major changes. One was that we couldn’t dive together anymore. And the other was that with all our son’s things taking up about half of our baggage space, taking two complete sets of dive equipment was out of the question. So we just packed our dive watch computers, as they take up minimal space.

Taking your own snorkel set for kids is a good idea. Finding a good kids snorkel mask that fits well can be a challenge while on holiday. Check out our detailed buying guide for best kids snorkel gear. It tells you why you need child-sized snorkel gear, what to consider when you want to by a kids snorkel set and how to select the best set for your kids.

Taking turns diving

We felt it was important that one of us stayed with our little one at all times. So we searched for diving locations where the one diving didn’t spend all day on a boat. That’s fun when it’s just the two of you, but not when your partner and child stay on shore. Taking our little one on board wasn’t an option for us just yet. He was too young and most boats we went on offered little to no shade. So we looked for dive destinations where there was great diving, but also enough to do on shore to keep our little man occupied during the day.

Family diving holiday tips

To make your diving holiday a fun experience, both for the person diving and for the kids, this is what you need to consider:
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• Find a dive destination where the dive spots aren’t too far from shore or where there’s shore diving. It’s ideal if you can do two dives in the morning and be back on shore in the early afternoon.
• Find a dive destination where there’s plenty to do outside of diving, so that both the parent staying behind and the kids don’t get bored.
• Look for accommodation with a pool or close to a beach suitable for swimming with kids. We didn’t need much more to keep our son entertained.
• If your kids are a bit older and able to swim well, then it’s a great idea to find a location that offers snorkelling from the beach. Make sure to bring snorkel gear for kids
• If you want the chance to go diving together, try to find a dive centre or a hotel that offers babysitting services.

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Dive locations that we’ve visited

During our 10-month trip with our toddler we’ve naturally done less diving than we would have done if it had been just the two of us. But we’ve visited some fantastic dive destinations nonetheless.
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• Dahab, Egypte
• Amed/Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
• Nusa Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia
• Unawatuna, Sri Lanka
• Manado/Bunaken, Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Alona Beach, Bohol, Philippines
• Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines
• Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines

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The USAT Liberty at Tulamben (Bali, Indonesia) was absolutely amazing. Bunaken (Sulawesi, Indonesia) is one of the world’s best diving destinations for beautiful wall dives. Moalboal regularly stars in diving magazines and the Dauin coast (Negros Oriental, Philippines) is very well known because of its awesome macro life.

Suitabledive destinations with kids?

Of all the dive locations we’ve been, Dahab (Egypt), Nusa Lembongan (Bali) and Moalboal (Cebu, Philippines) are most suitable for a family diving trip. Liquid Dumaguete Dive Resort in Dauin on Negros Oriental in the Philippines is also a wonderful place to spend a few days. On Bunaken we stayed at Happy Gecko Dive Resort, a wonderful place. In front of the tiny 5-bungalow resort you can swim and snorkel at high tide and explore the mangroves during low tide. Lovely Dutch owner Willeke offered, without us even inquiring about it, to babysit our little boy so we could go diving together. He was immediately at ease with her and her two kids, so we gladly accepted the offer. It was wonderful to dive together again!

Accommodation recommendations

Sinai Sun Villa, Dahab, Egypt
Lovely 2-bedroom holiday house in the old part of Dahab, 3 minutes walk from the sea. Check latest price on AirBnb >>

Liquid Dumaguete Dive Resort, Dauin, Philippines
Professional dive resort with bungalows in a nicely landscaped garden with a great pool. Check latest price on Booking.com >>

Happy Gecko Dive Resort, Bunaken, Indonesia
Basic but lovely and friendly all-inclusive resort with 6 wooden bungalows with sea view. Check latest price on Booking.com >>

Taos House, Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia
Bungalow style accommodation in a lush garden with a nice swimming pool. Check latest price on Booking.com >>

Our verdict about diving holidays with kids

Traveling with kids is very different from traveling as a couple or traveling solo. It’s a challenge, but a lot of fun. This also goes for diving holidays with kids. You will make less dives than you did before, but even though we were traveling with our little world traveler, we still did some wonderful dives. There are a lot of great dive destinations that are suitable for non-diving family members as well and offer plenty of activities for kids. Of course we’re hoping that our little man can and wants to dive when he grows up. As soon as he can swim we’re going to teach him how to snorkel and when he’s eight years old he can do the PADI Bubblemaker course in the swimming pool.

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Our son has just turned 4 and we clearly see how different ages require different travel approaches. And different travel accessories too. When our little world traveler was really young, a baby carrier and/or stroller were on our packing list, but this has now changed to good walking shoes and toys… lots of toys. We have definitely developed a love for affordable travel toys! When traveling to European destinations, we travel with carry-on only, which is a whole new challenge for us. This list with hand luggage essentials for kids is an awesome resource. As he grows older, our little world traveler has a better idea of what he wants and how he wants it. Which can sometimes make life more difficult, but is also fantastic to observe. In our experience, it’s definitely easier to travel with a baby than with a toddler or preschooler!

Also read:
6 top things to do in Milan with kids
Things to do in Vienna with kids
The best places to visit in Europe with kids

Age 1,5: visiting many cities in South East Asia

As part of our 10-month adventure in South East Asia, we visited many large Asian cities, such as Hanoi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Check out this post about things to do in Kuala Lumpur and you’ll see why it’s a great place for a city trip. However, we started our adventure with a stopover in Dubai. A city that’s becoming more and more popular for family trips to the Middle East. Although our first time in a big Asian city with our little one was a bit overwhelming, we were experts by the time our Asian adventure ended a good few months later.

The Manduca baby carrier was a lifesaver during these city trips. In many cities baby carriers for travel are much more practical than strollers. It’s just that much easier and safer getting on and off trains and metros when you have your hands free. Food markets in Bangkok, which are our absolute favorite, are also much easier to visit with your little one in a carrier (trust us, we have experience :-)). Our little boy enjoyed being at eye level, safely strapped to my back but being able to see what was going on around him. While we tried to follow his routine as much as possible and therefore restricted ourselves mostly to sightseeing during the morning, we still greatly enjoyed these city breaks with our toddler.

Check latest prices for accommodation in Bangkok on Booking.com >>
Check latest prices for accommodation in Kuala Lumpur on Booking.com >>
Check latest prices for accommodation in Hanoi on Booking.com >>

Age 2,5: Family city break to Berlin, Vienna and Prague

When we went to Vienna, Prague and Berlin for two weeks, our little world traveler was 2,5. All three of these European cities are great for young kids. We feel that especially Berlin deserves a spot on the list of best European cities for kids. Check out this guide for visting Berlin with kids and you’ll see why. For this trip we brought a buggy and a Tula toddler carrier for our son. Even though our little man stopped doing naps a few months before, while en route he started napping again and city tripping was easy. Although I have to say, we’ve never before seen so many playgrounds.

Check latest prices for accommodation in Berlin on Booking.com >>
Check latest prices for accommodation in Vienna on Booking.com >>
Check latest prices for accommodation in Prague on Booking.com >>

Age 3,5: family getaway to Milan, Italy

Our little one is four now and we haven’t used a buggy or back carrier in over a year. When he was 3,5 we spend a family break in Milan, and we really should have brought a carrier. Our little man is a pretty good walker, but he’s not up to walking around a city for hours. We clearly overestimated his ability to walk these long stretches. That’s a mistake we’ll try not to make again. Still, we managed to see quite a bit of fashion city Milan, and all three of us enjoyed it. In fact, our little one keeps asking when we’re going back!

Check latest prices for accommodation in Milan on Booking.com >>

Best cities for family city trips

Being from the Netherlands, European city breaks are a great and relatively inexpensive way for us to escape for a bit and discover new places. How about spending some time in Paris, Barcelona or Lissabon with your family? Or taking your kids to London? Capital cities are an obvious choice for a city break, but you can often get a better deal visiting smaller cities. Not unimportant for budget travelers like ourselves. Take a look at our post about best places to visit in Europe with kids or check out these great ideas for one-week Europe itineraries for inspiration. We chose Milan over Rome and Venice because it’s much cheaper to fly there and accommodation is less expensive too. To be honest, we feel city trips with kids to well-known destinations can be a bit disappointing. If you’re only visiting for a short break, you’ll never be able to see all the city has to offer with small kids in tow. It’s actually our experience that almost every city is suitable for a city trip. You might not experience the ‘wow’ factor that you get when seeing the Eiffel tower, the Sagrada Familia or the Colosseum, but the experience of being abroad will still be worth it.

Our tips for city breaks with children

Weekend breaks with kids are an excellent way to spend some quality family time and can be a great learning experience for kids. So, how do you prepare for short breaks with kids?

1. Relax and enjoy

This really is our number 1 tip for any type of travel with kids. As long as you are relaxed, your kids are as well. Where city breaks as a couple can be quite stressful and filled with long days of touring all the important landmarks, that simply is not an option with children. So you might as well relax and enjoy. Take many breaks to let the kids run and play, and they won’t mind sightseeing a bit.

2. Adjust your expectations & choose

Sure the Eiffel tower is worth seeing and when visiting Berlin you surely want to go to the Wall, but when you go on a city break with your kids you have to adjust your expectations. Pick one or two things that you absolutely want to see and be happy if you can fit anything more into your schedule.

3. Do your homework

Do your homework, check some local blogs, ask around in local Facebook groups, but be sure to find out where to find the best playgrounds, kids’ cafes and other kids activities. If you plan this right, you can even slip in a landmark or two if they are close to a cool playground! Our son now also loves visiting museums, so I always check the best kids’ museums in the area.

4. Slow down & enjoy local life

City tripping as a couple was mostly about seeing as much of the city as possible. Now that we travel with our son, I find that I really enjoy slowing down and soaking up the local culture. When traveling with a child, it’s much easier to meet and talk to locals! And even a simple trip to a supermarket can be fun! I’ve never seen so many types of pasta in my life as when we were in Milan. We also try a lot more local eateries in the area where we’re staying and see more of the neighborhood.

5. Bring toys

Having some toys to play with can make life so much easier when you travel with kids. When we were in Asia, we always made sure to put some toy cars in our daypack. And we notice other parents doing the same. When we hiked up Little Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka, we met another family at the top. Their boy and our little guy played with some toy cars they had brought with them, while we parents shared stories of our travels. In restaurants, the toy cars have often been a lifesaver, especially if the food took a while to reach our table. Our son also enjoys reading, so we always bring a few books to read to him.

Do you enjoy city tripping with your kids? What tricks do you use? What tips for city breaks with kids do you have for other parents? Leave a comment; we’d love to know!

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If you’re looking for some great travel-inspired DIY gifting ideas, head over to Pinterest. You’ll find lots to inspire you there!

Do-It-Yourself Travel Album

Most travelers simply visit new places and explore the areas. However, there are some who also maintain travel journals and scrapbooks with information, pictures, memorabilia and other such collectibles. This does not only help them to create memorable moments but preserve those moments for eternity. A DIY scrapbook album will make a great gift for the festive season, and also ensure that you are able to put your creativity to good use.

By making the album or journal yourself, you will not only be presenting your loved ones with a gift that they can use, but you are also expressing your love through the extensive efforts needed in making such items.

Travel Themed Card Making Kit

A card making kit that can help your traveler friends to create beautiful cards while they are on their travels. Buy a ready-made kit or buy the components you like and put one together yourself. Think of cardstock, stamps, colored pens, stickers and glue to add to your kit. Using this kit along with pictures and items that they collect during their travels, they can make amazing greeting cards, and send them to their friends, family and loved ones. If you are looking to use your own creativity to invoke the creativity of the person you present the kit to, this is a great Christmas gift idea. Who wouldn’t love a handmade card that was sent from overseas!

Vinyl Cutter

A vinyl cutter, also known as a craft cutter machine, a die cut sticker machine or a stencil cutting machine, is a machine that helps in vinyl cutting. It’s a great tool to design creative scrapbooks and albums. Your friends, family or loved ones can create their own scrapbooks and albums, and use them as travel journals. They can also use this item to make stickers and cut material to use in their scrapbooks and journals. A vinyl cutting machine is super versatile, it will allow your friend or family member to create their very own die cuts, titles, accents, stickers and more! The perfect embellishments for any travel themed scrapbook album. You can even use custom stickers made with a vinyl cutter to personalize travel gear, such as suitcases, backpacks, water bottles, lunch boxes and even t-shirts and jackets.

Heat Press Machine

A heat press machine might not be the first gift that comes to mind, but it’s a great gift for those who love crafts and travel. You can use this machine to heat press vinyl designs on various items. Turn your favorite travel quote into wall art, place your favorite travel saying on your coffee mug. Think a step further and personalize your luggage with some unique vinyl designs. Create your own travel-themed clothing items and why not personalize that boring passport holder to be more exciting! The crafting opportunities of heat press machine are almost never-ending!

Glue Gun

Travelers love to collect various memorabilia whilst traveling around the world.  What can you do with all these trinkets and souvenirs? Travelers can also use a glue gun to decorate their backpack or luggage with attractive memorabilia from the places they visit. Maybe they can put it to use to create a unique memorabilia box to store all these trinkets in.

There are plenty of other travel-inspired gift ideas that you can use to create that perfect present for your loved ones in the upcoming festive season. All of these items might be a bit different and more unique in comparison to your typical travelers Christmas list, but if they love crafting, these options might just be perfect for them!

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After reading lots of reviews and seeing a few demonstrations I decided on the Manduca baby carrier. I bought it when our little one was just four weeks old and to be completely honest, the first 1,5 years we hardly used it. My shoulders are quite narrow and when carrying our son at my front, the shoulder straps kept sliding off. I’ve since learned that the trick is to cross the back straps to create a narrower fit, but I didn’t know this back then. If being too small for a comfortable fit isn’t your issue and you’re leaning towards the other end of the spectrum, it’s good to know there are also great baby carriers for plus size parents.

Baby carrier: an essential travel accessory

Why do you need a baby carrier? Transporting your child is a whole different matter when you’re on the road. During our 8 months in South East Asia we’ve used our Manduca baby carrier practically every day. So you could say we’ve thoroughly tested it! Travel with babies and infants is so much easier if you have a baby carrier! We almost left ours at home and I can’t tell you how happy I was that we decided to take our Manduca.

Baby carrier comparison table

Brand	Boba	Manduca	Ergobaby	Tula
Image
Type	Boba Air	New Style	Original	Urbanista
	Check latest price >>	Check latest price >>	Check latest price >>	Check latest price >>
Features	Small and lightweight travel carrier Not suitable for extended use Made of 100% nylon (quick dry & breathing material)	Integrated newborn pouch 100% organic cotton inner layer Can be extended to support toddler with Manduca Extend	Can be used from 7-12lbs with newborn insert (sold separately) Easy breastfeeding & UPF 50+ tuckaway baby hood for sun & wind protection Extra large zippered pocket	Can be used for newborns with Tula infant insert (sold separately) 100% OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified canvas Removable hood
Weight	0.9lb (0,4kg)	1,3 lb (0,6kg)	1,9 lb (0,9kg)	1,6 lb (0,7kg)
Positions	front and back	font, back and hip	font, back and hip	front and back
Child's weight	15 - 30lb (7 - 15kg)	7 - 44lb (3 - 20kg)	12 - 45lb (5 - 20kg)	15 - 45lb (7 - 20kg)

The importance of an ergonomic baby carrier

Before I start with our experiences and the pros and cons of the Manduca carrier, just one more thing… Whichever baby carrier brand you buy, please make sure you get an ergonomic carrier! If you know how to tie them, wraps can also be a great choice. The best position for your baby in a carrier or wrap is the so-called ‘M’ position, with their bum lower than their knees (which should be flexed) and hips spread to 90 degrees. This minimizes the stress on your child’s lower spine and evenly distributes their weight. Ergonomic baby carriers by design also make it much easier for you to carry your baby for long periods. Your child sits close to your body and this, combined with the padded waist strap, minimizes the strain on your lower back by letting you carry the weight on your hips.

So often I see parents carrying their baby’s in a forward facing-out carrier, like the Baby Bjorn. With little legs that are dangling, back forced in an upright position and hips not supported they look so uncomfortable. And the kids are often definitely not close enough to kiss (the trick to know if your carrier is adjusted correctly). I really have to fight to keep my mouth shut.

The best baby carrier for travel

Which baby carrier you can best use for travel depends on your needs. You can buy lightweight travel baby carriers, such as the Boba Air and the BityBean. They might work if you’re only using it for short stints, such as boarding and embarking an airplane. These travel carriers are lightweight and pack small, so you can easily put them in your daypack and they can also be used for infants and toddlers. Making them as small and lightweight as possible has a downside. They offer less support for both child and wearer.

If you’re into the outdoors and hiking it might pay off to invest in a proper baby back carrier for hiking, such as the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro. We’ve had no trouble using our Manduca for hikes, but then we’re not into hardcore hiking. Baby hiking backpacks are more suitable for use on the trails than in the city. We love that the Manduca can be used for both, but if your travels have a high outdoor component a baby carrier hiking backpack might make more sense.

Another great option for a travel carrier is a ring sling, such as the Kol Kol ring sling. Basically, this is just a large piece of fabric held together with two metal rings. The fabric can also function as a picnic area, a shawl to cover yourself etc. So perfect for travel.

If you plan on using your carrier for longer periods a proper, ergonomic carrier, such as the Manduca, Ergobaby or Tula, really is the best choice though. Not only does it support your baby better, but it also distributes the weight more evenly making it easier to carry your child. Ergonomic baby carriers are a bit bulkier than a travel carrier, but still small and easy to pack compared to a pram or stroller. I used to just clip the carrier around my waist and let it hang down when we weren’t using it. Not the most fashionable look, but definitely practical.

Our experience with the Manduca baby carrier

Since we didn’t use the carrier much when our little world traveler was really young, we weren’t even sure if we were going to bring it for our big trip. We had way too much luggage and weight already! But on a whim, we decided to take it anyway. Our first two months in Dahab, Egypt we didn’t use it at all as we could borrow a pram with air tires, which worked very well on the beach and sandy roads. But from the moment we arrived in Indonesia, our first destination in South East Asia, we’ve used the Manduca almost every day. I think we qualify as experts by experience!

Baby carriers: ideal for air travel

Have you ever tried boarding a plane carrying maximum sized carry-on luggage and your baby or infant at the same time? Or handling a toddler who’s just started to walk, while at the same time pushing or carrying your suitcase? With budget airlines you often have to walk a bit across the tarmac to enter the plane by a staircase, or take a bus to the airplane first. At 2 years old our son weighed a healthy 12 kgs and he was definitely getting too heavy to carry in my arms for longer periods. Carrying him on my back was a piece of cake though! I also found it quite reassuring to have him close-by and safe while in busy airports. It’s only too easy for a little one to wander off and get lost in unfamiliar places. While you can usually take your stroller all the way to the airplane, very often you have to pick it up at the baggage claim at the other end. Sometimes the airline offers complimentary strollers, but in our experience there usually aren’t any when you need them. With a baby carrier you don’t have this issue.

Hiking and visiting busy places

Baby carriers are ideal in any situation where you want to keep your little one close. Even when they start to walk by themselves kids can tire easily and a baby carrier is an ideal way to carry your child for long periods of time. Crowds can be quite scary (for both kids and parents!). We visited many busy (night) markets with our little boy and never had any issues. He’d snuggle safely on my back and had fun looking around. Sometimes he’d even fall asleep. Also, if you enjoy hikes, a baby carrier is the way to go. Our little one liked to practice walking whenever he had the chance and whenever possible we’d let him walk, but very often hikes were just too long or too difficult. We visited many waterfalls and did a lot of walks that wouldn’t have been possible without the carrier.

Motorbike rides with a baby carrier

The Manduca carrier also allowed us to take our little one on the motorbike. A very practical means of transportation when you’re traveling around Asia. I’m not sure if this is what Manduca had in mind when they designed the carrier, but we loved it We definitely would not have seen as much of the places we stayed without the bike and I definitely would not have felt safe driving around with our little one without the carrier. The locals thought it very funny that I carried our boy on my back and kept waving and taking pictures of us when we were driving around. Still it seemed a lot more safe than the way they transport their kids, the little ones standing between their parents’ legs or sitting in front of the parents on the seat holding themselves steady with their feet on the dashboard. Now that’s a sight! Our little one really enjoyed himself on the bike and would often spread his little hands Titanic-style, trying to catch the wind while sitting comfortably on my back.

Manduca baby carrier: our verdict

From the above it’s not hard to conclude that we are very happy with our Manduca and would recommend it to all families that travel with small kids. Our baby carrier easily survived 8 months of very intense use. We’ve washed it a few times, but even with being in the sun all day every day the colors have only faded a tiny bit. The Manduca is very well made and the material is incredibly sturdy. I was a bit worried the plastic clips would be the weakest part, but they’re not showing any signs of wear. We payed €89.90 for our Manduca when our son was just born. It seemed a lot of money at the time, but considering that we’ve used our Manduca until our son was 2,5 years old it’s actually really good value for money. And it’s so sturdy that it can easily go another round.

At 2,5 years old our little world traveler had definitely outgrown the Manduca, his legs were no longer supported properly. But by then he could easily walk longer stretches by himself. A great option however, is to buy the Manduca ExTend, which will enlarge the seat from the usual 32cm till 50cm, allowing you to carry your child in the carrier even longer. We didn’t buy this, but it’s a terrific idea. We tried the Tula Toddler carrier and it was great, but this solution is much cheaper than having to buy a toddler carrier. We’d love to hear from people who’ve tried the Manduca ExTend!

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Luckily many travel destinations are becoming more and more familiar with coeliac disease, an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Most countries in Europe along with the USA, Australia and New Zealand have many gluten-free dining options. As do some countries in Southeast Asia whose cuisines largely use rice as the main grain, such as Vietnam and Thailand.

We’ve listed our 10 top tips to make your life easier while traveling abroad with coeliac children.

1. Plan before you go

The internet is a wonderful thing, so use it to its best advantage and research your destination before you go! There are many dedicated gluten free travel sites that list the best places for a coeliac traveler to eat, so take a look! There are lots of places that are gluten-free friendly, you just need to know where to find them – and if someone has done that hard work and found them for you, take advantage!

2. Pack gluten-free essentials

Whether you’re staying in a hotel or going self-catering, packing a few essential gluten-free items in your suitcase is never a bad idea. Things that travel well and come in handy are gluten-free crackers, gluten-free cereal bars, gluten-free biscuits and gluten-free crisps. By taking these tasty gluten-free snacks with you, you’ve always got something to fall back on if you’re stuck. You know that your child likes what you’ve brought, so will be happy with eating the alternative.

3. Carry a medical note

If your child is medically diagnosed with coeliac disease or needs a gluten-free diet, it’s a good idea to carry a letter from a medical practitioner stating any prescription medication being taken, as well as advising of your medical condition which requires special dietary food. Most countries have a customs website with regulation information. Make sure to check the site for any restrictions on bringing food and medication into the country.

4. Ice cream!

Finding gluten free desserts in restaurants can be tricky, with the usual variety of cakes and other baked goods being popular choices for restaurants to serve. Ice cream is always a great option and many countries in Europe (and beyond) have dedicated ice-cream parlors that serve up delicious, you guessed it, ice cream! So instead of waiting to have a dessert at the restaurant, make it an event to go to the local ice cream parlor afterward. Many children will be thrilled with this in itself, but those with a gluten intolerance or allergy will be even more so as they are included in something that everyone else can eat!

5. Communicate the allergy

If you are staying at a hotel it’s worth asking at the front desk when you arrive who’s the best person to speak to regarding your child’s gluten allergy. When you do speak to said person, explain the situation and find out dining options for your child. I have always done this while staying at hotels and never had any problems. The staff always seem willing to help, especially so if it’s for a child!

6. Avoid cross-contamination at buffets

Buffets are a minefield when it comes to cross-contamination. Not only for coeliacs but for people with any type of food allergy. Try to opt for accommodation that doesn’t have buffet meals. Equally, don’t feel limited by restaurant menus, it’s often possible to discuss other options.

7. Carry translation cards

When visiting a country where you don’t know the native language, carry translation cards describing the medical condition to avoid any confusion and unnecessary stress when arranging gluten-free meals. Learning helpful words and phrases before arriving is also useful so that you recognize them on food labels and menus and to help you explain which foods your child cannot eat in more detail if necessary.

8. Book a gluten-free airplane meal

If you’re traveling long-haul (or any flight where you’re provided with a snack or meal), make sure you reserve a gluten-free airplane meal for your child. To be sure they will have a special meal for your child on board, you need to do this before your flight! Booking a special meal can usually be done by logging into the online booking section on the airline’s website, where you will see a variety of dietary meals that airlines offer and are available for you to pick. Please remember for most airlines you must do this before you travel.

9. Travel insurance

When applying for travel insurance, those with coeliac disease should disclose their condition. Having coeliac disease shouldn’t affect your insurance cover. A number of companies provide insurance without adding a surcharge for coeliac disease, protecting you in the event you need medical care while overseas.

10. Medication

If your child requires any medication, be sure to take enough for the trip, there may not be a gluten-free equivalent of the medicine in the country you’re visiting. Alternatively, if you’re on holiday for a longer period or traveling long-term, make sure you know which ingredients to avoid. Or have your local pharmacy back home on speed dial so you can have them check for you.

No matter your holiday destination, follow these travel tips to make your gluten-free family holidays worry-free!

  

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When on our big trip through Asia, we encountered this problem when we wanted to travel to Sri Lanka. We read on the internet that we needed to show proof of exit to enter the country. But how do you do that if you have no idea about your future plans? We really didn’t know how long we wanted to stay, so this posed a problem. After searching the internet we found an easy solution: find an airline which will give you a 24-hour time period to pay for the booking you make with them.

What is proof of onward travel?

Proof of onward travel, an onward ticket, proof of return travel or proof of exit, however you want to call it, means that you can show evidence that you’re leaving the country. In some countries, proof of onward travel is a visa requirement or otherwise required by immigration, but it might also be that the airline requires it and won’t allow you to board the plane without it. Airlines want to avoid having to pay for your return trip if you’re denied access to the country for whatever reason. If you can’t provide proof that you’re leaving again, they could think you’re planning to overstay your visa.

Many travelers found themselves having to buy super expensive onward tickets just so they could enter the country. Sometimes it’s enough if you can show a ticket out of another country at a later date (if you’re planning to travel there overland) or a train or bus reservation to cross the border. Please, do your research!

Finding an airline that allows reservations with delayed payment

So how do you go about finding such an airline? We used Skyscanner to check which airlines were flying from Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo) and then we checked the payment options for each one. Cathay Pacific was the first one we checked that allows ‘book now, pay later’. They give you the possibility to pay for your ticket within 24 hours after you make your booking (they call it Pay Later). One thing to note is that this only works if the departure date and time for the ticket you want to reserve is at least 72 hours away.

UPDATE June 2019: Cathay Pacific doesn’t offer this option anymore. There are other airlines that still allow you to pay later. It’s also good to know that US law allows you to cancel your flight to or from the USA at no additional cost (even non-refundable flights!) withing 24 hours of booking, provided it’s booked seven days or more in advance.

Book now, pay later. How does it work?

There are more airlines out there that offer this ‘book now, pay later’ option. Just Google it and you’ll find them. When you have found the airline of your choice, go to their online booking page and find a flight for the latest date that your original visa will allow you to stay in the country. Price or other details don’t matter, you won’t be using the ticket. Proceed with making the booking, include some nice food and seat choices if you like a comfortable flight with a nice dinner (you’ll never use it, but still…).

After filling in all your details and passport number go to the payment page of your booking. Check the box that gives you the option to makes it possible to pay for your booking within 24 hours of your initial booking (don’t put any payment information, they don’t need it). Finish the rest of your booking and check your e-mail. In your inbox you’ll find a message from Cathay Pacific with your full booking information just like you would get if you already paid. Print the details out and put them with your other travel documents and you’re good to go. You can now forget about Cathay Pacific because after failing to pay for the booking within the 24 hours they will automatically cancel the booking.

Renting an airline ticket

We provided a free solution for your ‘onward ticket’ problem. Another option is to use a service such as TopOnwardTicket or OnwardTicket and rent an airline ticket. What? Rent a ticket?? Yes An airline ticket rental service, brilliant, isn’t it? You pay them a fee and they buy a refundable airline ticket for you with their money. You use the rented ticket, and the ‘proof of onward travel’ it provides, to enter the country and after a maximum of 48 hours the ticket is canceled.

Super cheap or refundable tickets

Of course, if you don’t feel comfortable with either of the two solutions above, you can always book a super cheap ticket out of the country. Depending on which part of the world you’re traveling at the time, there are always budget airlines like AirAsia or Easyjet that offer tickets that don’t break the bank. Since you won’t be using the ticket anyway, things like flight time or departure time don’t matter. Just select the cheapest option available. Make sure to check multiple dates using Skyscanner or Kiwi to see which option is the cheapest.

Another thing you could do is buy a refundable ticket. It often happens that you have to wait a long time to get your money back though, so this is only an option if you don’t have any money issues. Also, make sure to check the small print, so you know that you’ll actually be refunded in cash instead of flight coupons or such.

Using a fake onward ticket generator

This is something we thought of before we knew any better. Obviously, this could get you into real trouble if you have to show your ‘ticket’ to an immigration officer. Lying at immigration could have you end up in jail. We wouldn’t recommend this solution, but it IS an option so we thought we should include it. There are services that let you create a fake flight itinerary. Use at your own risk!

Did this post help you solve your “proof of onward travel’ problem? Or have you already found your own solution? Let us know in the comment section and help your fellow travelers.

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Visiting Haarlem should definitely be on your list of things to do in The Netherlands. Since it’s very close to both Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport you can easily fit it into your Netherlands itinerary.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, check out this cool video explaining the difference between The Netherlands and Holland.

Seasons in the Netherlands

The Netherlands in the wintertime are either cold and wet, or just plain cold. And often windy. In January and February temperatures can be around 0 Celsius. Sometimes we even get a bit of snow. Of course, you don’t want the weather to spoil your city trip to Haarlem, Netherlands. So dress appropriately, wear a warm coat, warm shoes and bring a winter hat and gloves. Oh, and don’t forget a raincoat or umbrella as The Netherlands generally gets a lot of rain. By far the best time to visit is April-June, when the weather is a bit milder. Although September can have some really nice days too. Haarlem is definitely worth a visit in any season and luckily our city offers plenty of indoor activities for those rainy days!

Breakfast

Since especially in the morning it can be cold, you’ll want to find a nice cosy place for a proper breakfast. Some good options are By Lima (Zijlstraat 65) and Anne&Max (Zijlstraat 68). If you have young kids and are looking for a restaurant with a nice play area, try Yoghurt Barn (Kruisstraat 15). It has a great wooden play kitchen. All three restaurants are open from 8:00, 9:00 on a Sunday. If you’ve already had breakfast at your hotel, quickly skip to the next step.

Spend the morning exploring

When the hungry mouths are fed and everybody’s happy, it’s a great time to go exploring for a bit. Walk to the Grote Markt (big market square) and take a look around. There are some beautiful buildings in this old central square, such as the old Town Hall (people still get married here!) and the Grote or St. Bavokerk. The large and beautiful church is well worth a visit. It’s open Monday-Saturday from 10:00 -17:00. Inside you’ll find the famous Müller organ, dating from 1738, which was played by both Händel and Mozart. Our toddler was very impressed and often asks to go again. One of the other old buildings lining the square is the Vleeshal (meat hall). This building was built early 1600 and used for selling fresh meat. Now, it’s a gallery. If your kids are past the toddler stage, it’s fun to visit the Archeologisch Museum Haarlem (archeologic museum) in the cellars of the Vleeshal.

Lunch

Around lunch time your kids are probably tired of walking around and ready to play for a bit. So it’s a good there are some great family-friendly restaurants in Haarlem’s city center. Meneer Paprika (Koningsstraat 19-21) and Brownies & downieS (Schagchelstraat 26) are great choices. Brownies & downieS is more suitable for younger kids, with a nice play kitchen (our 3,5 year old really enjoyed it last time we were there). Meneer Paprika is always a good choice. It has a wooden train track and lots of other toys to play with (be advised, it’s both a café and a toy store ;-)).

Some culture

After playing and eating a nice lunch, your kids will be energized enough to continue your city trip. Of course, they might not want to leave the nice play areas… If your kids are still very young and happy to be in the back carrier or stroller, or past the toddler stage, you could visit one of the many art museums or galleries. The Frans Hals Museum is no. 1 on TripAdvisor for a reason! But a lot of things kids aren’t supposed to touch are within easy reach, so avoid it if your kids are in the ‘I want to touch everything’ phase! Another great museum I recently visited with our toddler is the Teylers Museum. Our tot was a bit too young to really appreciate it, but he enjoyed it anyway. The museum holds a curious mix of fossils and bones, rocks and gemstones and old scientific instruments. And the building it’s in is absolutely stunning.



… or nature

With infants and toddlers, visiting a museum might not be such a great experience. Luckily there’s a great little playground tucked away between the houses in the city center, it’s called Het Paradijsje (little paradise, Witte Herenstraat 36). Our son loves it and we go there pretty much all year round, provided it’s not raining. It’s open Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00-17:00 and you can play there for €1 per child.

There’s also a petting zoo within easy walking distance of the city center. Kinderboerderij De Houthoeve is located in park The Haarlemmerhout (Hertenkamplaan 3). Check out our post about petting farms around Haarlem for more info. If you do visit this petting zoo, you might also consider Theehuis De Haarlemmerhout for either lunch or dinner. It’s located next to De Houthoeve and open every day from 9:30 – 17:00 (18:00 on weekends). This cute little place serves great Dutch pancakes, but also sandwiches and burgers. You can also just have a coffee or tea with cake.

Afternoon exercise… shopping

Later in the afternoon and before dinner, why not go back to the center for some shopping. Haarlem has won multiple awards for Netherland’s best shopping destination. Fun shops for kids toys are Meneer Paprika (Koningstraat 19-21), Krokodil (Gedempte Oude Gracht 84) and Tante Steef (Zijlstraat 66). Kiekeboek (Gierstraat 29) is an awesome kids book store. At Kruisweg 66a you will find Het Spellenhuis, where they sell every board game and role playing game you can imagine. Definitely worth a visit if your kids are a bit older.

Of course, don’t forget to bring some snacks for your kids to munch on in the afternoon, hungry kids are no fun. You will find some supermarkets in the city center: DekaMarkt (Gedempte Oude Gracht 56-58), Albert Heijn (Drossestraat 11 and Grote Houtstraat 182).

Plan B

Of course, if the weather turns really bad, you can always spend a few hours at the cinema. You can find Pathé Haarlem on Zijlvest 41-43.

Dinnertime!

After a full day of city tripping your kids are probably up for an early dinner. Haarlem has so many restaurants it will be hard to choose! Italian, Japanese, Moroccan, Thai, Indonesian, Indian, Chinese, Mexican… Haarlem’s city center has plenty of restaurants to choose from. The Netherlands is generally pretty child-friendly. Most, if not all, of the restaurants will have high chairs for you to use and most have an area to change diapers. If you fancy a burger, try Rubens Burger (Drossestraat 3), guaranteed a lot tastier than McDonalds! Otherwise, you could go to Tatsu (Oude Groenmarkt 14-16) or Nagoya (Spaarne 48) for all-you-can-eat sushi. It’s fun to let the kids choose which types of sushi or other Japanese dishes they want to try. La Cubanita (Grote Markt 21) is a nice place for tapas. If you like bbq try Roast Bistro (Turfmarkt 26) for some tasty chicken or other roasted goodies. Budget option: Cafe Bruxelles (Lange Wijngaardstraat 16) offers a daily meal for €9.

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