YOUR JET-SETTING loved ones might not be swanning off to Gstaad this winter, but you can still help them indulge in more practical, more immediately accessible escapes. We’ve compiled 8 gifts—all under $300—that align with a range of sojourns, whether that’s curling up in a secluded cottage, finally scratching national parks off their bucket list or simply settling in for an armchair adventure. We even suggest a few presents for vacationers determined to venture farther afield, whether by plane or car, this holiday.
A Hotel Perk That’s Suitable for Your Own Bedroom
The secret to a great staycation is, of course, snacks. Specifically a bedroom minibar from which, unlike its hotel equal, your giftee can grab cookies and beer for less than a Benjamin. Presenting: the Cooluli Concord 4 Liter Mini Fridge ($50, cooluli.com). Stock it for the place he or she would rather be. The “Can I Get a Who Dat?” basket, say, exudes Big Easy vibes with Cinnamon Bourbon Pecan Popcorn, Nola-brewed beer and more. $45, thebasketry.com
A Stylish Stocking Stuffer for Germaphobes
Pre-pandemic, most of us just snuggled into our airplane seats, avoiding the thought of how many travelers had sat there before. Now, fastidious folks won’t board a plane without Lysol wipes. Ideal for such worriers: These sateen-cotton covers—in peppy colors and patterns from chevron to gingham–that tuck tightly around a plane, train or bus seat. Cleverly, they come folded in a small pouch that can double as a personal seat pocket. $68, niceseats.com
A Key Ingredient for the Ultimate American Vacation: The All-Access National Parks Pass
“Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life,” said naturalist John Muir. Why wait? The “America the Beautiful” annual pass ($80, store.usgs.gov) will give the most outdoorsy, peripatetic person on your list a skeleton key to those doors: free admission to all 62 of America’s National Parks. For a striking record of each visit, throw in this National Parks Scratch-Off Chart (shown). From $25, popchart.co
A Book Devoted to Whimsical Wanderlust, À La Wes Anderson
Just as surreal moments are dubbed “Kafkaesque,” quirky places can now be labeled “Accidentally Wes Anderson,” the name of a transporting coffee table book by Wally Koval, inspired by an Instagram account he created in 2017. Lollipop-hued photos reflect the director’s idiosyncratic vision, from a pancake stand in Croatia’s Krka National Park to the pink Mills House hotel in Charleston, S.C. A nice way to satisfy a housebound traveler’s whimsical wanderlust. $35, barnesandnoble.com
