To start, keep things easy by bearing in mind some basic themes. First, no mementos or tchotchkes: your intended recipients have probably already bought the souvenir (or don’t want one in the first place). Instead, give them a way to capture memories on their next trip: the Instax Mini 7s camera provides the same instant-film gratification as a Polaroid. Or step up the tech level with the V-Lux 20 camera from Leica, which not only takes 12.1mp shots and records HD movies but geotags them via GPS.

Next, keep it portable: it has to fit neatly in a suitcase and not weigh anybody down. The Shure se535 noise-canceling earbuds will ensure a happy listening experience even when surrounded by a racket. And a pair of portable folding speakers from Muji will bring the noise anywhere.

Also, make sure your gift is practical: adventure travelers in particular love the latest gadgets that will help them stay safe and in touch while venturing far and wide. Check out Tivoli’s water-resistant satellite travel radio, which will pick up stations almost anywhere. Adventurers also love cool footwear, like self-heating, waterproof boots from Columbia.

If your footwear-lover is a bit more style conscious, give a pair of cashmere-and-deerskin slippers from Hermès—nothing better than kicking off your shoes once you settle into an airplane seat or hotel room.

Do the travel-obsessed on your list just need a place to dream about? Consider the talking city globe from Pylones; press a location on its surface and hear about local landmarks.

Read on for a sackful of other great ideas for all peripatetic types. Once you’ve found that perfect choice, remember to ask for a postcard from your recipient’s next destination ” (via travelandleisure.com) by Soren Larson

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No purchase necessary to enter or win this giveaway. One entry per person. The Rick Steves European Cities Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm PST on December 31, 2010.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to enter  - Win a week-long tour of Paris, Rome or London! Your choice of a fully-guided Rick Steves Tour

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Best of Paris in 7 Days
Your week in Paris will include a monumental mix of the city’s greatest sights: the Louvre, Orsay and Cluny Museums, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle, and Versailles Palace. You’ll also enjoy guided neighborhood walks through the city’s historic heart — and quieter moments to slow down and savor the intimate cafés, colorful markets, and the joie de vivre that brings life to the City of Light.

Best of Rome in 7 Days
During your week in Rome, you’ll tour Ancient Rome’s Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, and the Roman seaport of Ostia Antica. From the Renaissance and Baroque eras, you’ll see St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and Borghese Gallery. You’ll also enjoy today’s Rome, with a cooking demonstration, neighborhood walking tours, memorable restaurants, and time to wander on your own.

Best of London in 7 Days
During yourweek in London, you’ll tour The Tower, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, and the Cabinet War Rooms. You’ll see priceless art and artifacts at the National Gallery, British Library, and British Museum. Your guide will take you on neighborhood walks, a Thames cruise, and a train trip to Windsor Castle — and you’ll have time to rub elbows with London’s colorful street life and pubs.

Thank heavens most visitors to Yosemite don’t think outside the box – or the park boundary. This keeps the crowds down in places like the 20 Lakes Basin, a glacial lake wonderland near some of the Sierras’ highest peaks. From the Tioga Pass entrance station, drive two miles north-east and turn left up the dirt road to Saddlebag Lake.

Then hike the nine-mile 20 Lakes Basin loop trail which winds through meadows swathed in wildflowers to some of the region’s most spectacular lakes. At the end of the day, drive down Highway 120 to the town of Lee Vining and the Whoa Nellie Deli. Unpromisingly located inside a Mobil Gas station, the deli serves some of the best food in the Yosemite region: buffalo meatloaf, grilled pork tenderloin, fish tacos, chicken jambalaya – all post-hike meals you’ll find yourself dreaming about on the trail for years to come.
Fly to Fresno Yosemite Airport
Stay at Curry Village, within the park, tent cabins from $95
Danny Palmerlee, author of Lonely Planet’s guide to Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

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Volcano biking, Hawaii Volcanoes NP

Kilauea volcano has been erupting pretty much constantly since 1983, creating a moonscape of lava fields, smoking craters, cinder cones and steam vents. Most tourists satisfy themselves with a quick drive around the crater rim, stopping for photos at the viewing points, but if you really want to smell the sulphur, feel the heat of the lava and hear the hissing of the steam vents, a bike tour is perfect. A classic ride – mostly downhill – starts at the summit of Kilauea where you can explore the rim of the caldera on off-road trails before dropping through rainforest to a 500-year-old lava tube. Then it’s on to Chain of Craters Road for a freewheel down to the coast where you can sometimes see lava pouring into the ocean in the distance.
Fly to Kona airport, a three-hour drive from the park
Stay at Volcano Village Lodge, from $195, or camp for free
Gwendolyn Hill, president, tour operator Volcano Bike Tours, Hawaii

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Point Sublime, Grand Canyon NP, Arizona

Forget the guard rails, car parks, visitor centres and lodges. If you want to see the Grand Canyon as it used to be, head for the North Rim village, hire a sturdy 4WD and take the 16-mile, restricted-access trail to Point Sublime. It was named by the first surveyor of the Colorado plateau, Captain Clarence Dutton, who described it as “the sublimest thing on earth”. It’s a tough trip on rough roads through the vast Kaibab national forest. But the rewards are breathtaking.
Fly to Grand Canyon Airport, Tusayan
Stay at The Grand Hotel, from $169, or the Grand Canyon Lodge cabins(grandcanyonlodgenorth.com) in North Rim, from $118
Roly Smith, author of National Parks of Britain

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Ancient petroglyphs, Saguaro NP, Arizona

The park is named after the giant saguaro cactus forest, unique to the Sonoran desert. But, for me, the real highlight is the ancient petroglyphs at Signal Hill. It’s a little off the beaten path – you have to take a dirt road known as the Bajada Loop Drive, but it’s a short trip to make a journey 1,000 years back in time. It’s believed the Hohokam people carved these images and patterns into boulders while on hunting and gathering expeditions. Nobody knows what they mean: they may be solstice markers, clan symbols, decorative motifs or simply ancient graffiti.
Fly to Tucson airport
Stay at The Suncatcher Inn, (suncatchertucson.com), from $115, or camp at the Gillbert Ray Campground, the closest to the park, from $10
Bob Love, chief ranger

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Beach camping, Olympic NP, Washington

Shi Shi beach is the most beautiful in the Pacific north-west, but you can reach it only on foot or by kayak (for expert paddlers – it’s very exposed). From the town of Neah Bay, follow the footpath through forest for two miles to a sweeping stretch of sand. It can get busy on summer weekends but at other times you may have it to yourself. There are campsites in the woods or you can camp on the beach (make sure you’re above high-tide line). The Point of Arches is a system of towering sea stacks and arches to explore at low tide. In spring and autumn you may see a grey whale, and the sunsets are unforgettable.
Fly to Seattle/Tacoma airport
Stay at One of the campsites, from $10 (see nps.gov/olym), or on the beach
Tammi Hinkle, owner, tour operator Adventures Through Kayaking, Port Angeles, Washington

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Snorkelling and camping, Dry Tortugas NP, Florida

I was inspired to visit the Dry Tortugas by an aerial photograph I saw of Fort Jefferson, a hexagonal fortress that appears to be floating in the ocean. Originally built to protect the Florida Straits, it was later used as a military prison. It’s now a seabird sanctuary and the focal point for this national park. The main attraction lies in the sea – angelfish, barracuda, parrotfish, colourful coral and the turtles that inspired its name. Ferries and seaplanes make the 70-mile trip from Key West, but once the day trippers leave, you can camp on the beach (permits required) and have the islands to yourself. You’ll see lots of marine life by snorkelling or even in the seawater moat. It’s a world away from Florida’s sweaty cities and themeparks.
Fly to Miami International airport
Stay at The Dry Tortugas beach campsite ($3). Contact +1 305 242 7700 for a permit application
Jeremy Cuff, underwater photographer and contributor to Sport Diver magazine

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Greenstone Ridge Trail, Isle Royale NP, Michigan

Isle Royale is a roadless archipelago in Lake Superior on the Canadian border. One of two national parks accessible only by water, it offers a real wilderness experience. Take a seaplane to Rock Harbor or Windigo and follow the Greenstone Ridge Trail, a 40-mile hike along the spine of the island, which takes four or five days. By day you can look for signs of moose, pick berries in the forest or fish in one of the many inland lakes. Camp at one of the designated wilderness campgrounds and listen for the sound of wolves calling. At Rock Harbor a “water taxi” can carry hikers back to their starting point.
Fly to Minneapolis St Paul airport
Stay at One of the Isle Royale campsites for free, or at Rock Harbor Lodge, from $223
Nathan Hanks, park ranger

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Saline Valley Warm Springs, Death Valley NP, California

Miles of rough track take you well away from Death Valley’s asphalt roads. Just as you begin to worry you’re lost, you see a bunch of palms in the haze. No mirage, this really is a desert oasis with warm springs irrigating lawns occasionally dotted with pink plastic flamingoes. Dozens of people come for long weekends in spring and autumn, set up little campsite fiefdoms and spend the days chilling out in the hot pools. A cooler full of beer is usually at hand, though swimming attire typically isn’t.
Fly to Las Vegas McCarran airport
Stay at Saline Valley Hot Springs campsite (first come, first served), or at Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley from $128
Paul Whitfield, co-author, Rough Guide to California (£14.99)

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Amtrak’s Empire Builder, Glacier NP, Montana

Many of America’s national parks were created by railroads, and “Trails & Rails” guides often board trains to share their knowledge. Amtrak’s Empire Builder, for instance, crosses Glacier national park (celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2010) and allows exploration of a national park without a car. The train, from Chicago to Seattle, stops at East Glacier Park in summer, allowing you to hike directly into the park. To be sure of seeing the spectacular Rocky Mountain vistas by daylight, travel in the summer or take an eastbound train.
Fly to Glacier Park airport
Stay Glacier Park Rising Sun cabins, $119
John Pitt, author, USA by Rail ” (via  guardian.co.uk) Compiled by Louise Dale

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First there was the woman who runs the leather school at the Church of Santa Croce (established by her family and Franciscan monks after World War II to give orphaned boys a trade)…

Then there was the likeable congressman from Florida whom I met while dodging a horse carriage near a Donatello statue. And while eating alone at one of my favorite restaurants, I chatted up a conductor from Switzerland with “Young Frankenstein” hair. All night we talked about pianos — a passion we both shared.

The maestro and I had a wonderful chemistry. He was the kind of person I knew I could be great friends with —

and someone I probably never would have met had we not been dining alone that night. The nature of my job means that I spend a lot of time in museums, restaurants, and bars by myself. But that’s also the way I prefer to experience Europe.

When you’re with a companion, it’s easy to focus on that person and forget about meeting Europeans and other travelers. With out the comfortable crutch of a friend, you’re more likely to know the joys of self-discovery and the pleasures found in the kindness of strangers. You’ll be exploring yourself, as well as a new country and culture.

Solo travel gives you complete freedom and independence. You never have to wait for your partner to pack up. You decide where to go, how far to travel, how much to spend, or when to call it a day. If ad-libbing, it’s easier for one to slip between the cracks than two.

Of course, there are downsides to traveling alone: Accommodations typically cost more because you’re not splitting the bill, and you may be more vulnerable to theft when you’re alone. But the biggest struggle is loneliness.

Fortunately, the continent is full of lonely travelers and natural meeting places. Staying in hostels gives you a built-in family (hostels are open to all ages). Small pensions and B&Bs often have owners who have time to talk with you. City walking tours provide an easy opening to meet other travelers. ” (via msnbc.msn.com) by Rick Steves

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STA Travel is a one-stop shop for every student’s travel needs. (these offers are for USA residents only)

• Student airfare: STA’s Student Exclusive Ticket provides students with competitive airfare pricing and unmatched flexibility and ease when booking their travel. It’s what sets us apart from the rest!
• Adventures:  We distribute more than 1,500 products for accommodation, tours, work, study and volunteer programs, making it clear and simple for students to plan their trip. It’s easy to organize your ideas and put them into motion.
• Discount cards: The International Student (ISIC), Teacher (ITIC) and Youth Travel (IYTC) ID Cards provide access to over 35,000 international and domestic discounts including airfare, accommodations, tours, shopping, dining and entertainment with partners such as Target.com, Apple Store, Virgin Megastore and The Body Shop.
• Travel insurance: Insurance coverage is offered for trip, baggage, medical and accident protection as well as providing 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance.
• Global cell phones: Provide students an easy and cost effective way of keeping in touch with friends and family while touring the world.
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Free Long Distance

Sure, you can call someone for free with something like Skype (as long as the person you’re calling is also using Skype), but what if you want to reach out to someone without a computer? There are other services likeTalkster that allow you to call a land line forfree… with a few caveats.  The service supplies their own local numbers that you have to call first, you might have to listen to an ad before your call beings and it’s only free if you’re calling one of some 50-odd countries, but free is free.

Free Faxes

As long as you’re not a power faxer, you can probably ditch the old fax machine in favor of your email inbox. Both Qipit and FaxZero let you send a limited number of free faxes. The catch is relatively benign, the fax cover sheet has the name of the service on it.  Efax Free, a more popular alternative, will let you receive (but not send) a limited number of faxes through their site.” (via moneytalksnews.com ) by Stacy

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Dear Traveler…

Next week I’ll be taping a few new radio shows and I’d love to hear from you…

Take a look at our recording lineup – click link below…
If you have a comment or question you’d like me to answer, please follow the simple instructions on our website… If your comment or question is used on the air, I’ll send you your choice of a free autographed Rick Steves’ guidebook.

You’ll also be able to listen-in on our live, unedited taping sessions this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (a special audio link will appear on our radio web page when we’re recording).

I’ll look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for traveling with me…on the air.

Rick Steves

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After spending millions to spruce up their first- and business-class cabins and add premium-economy seats to their planes, airlines are facing huge losses as recession-hit corporations around the world slash their travel budgets.

In fact, the International Air Transport Association reports that premium-class bookings have dipped as much as 18 percent on some long-distance routes — nearly double the slump in air travel bookings overall. In December, premium-class traffic fell 13 percent worldwide. But the airlines’ bad timing is a boon to leisure travelers looking to fly in comfort: Carriers are now offering their premium-class seats at bargain-basement prices rather than see them go empty.

I was able to enjoy this largesse not long ago on a flight from New York to Amsterdam, lazing in a capacious leather business-class-style seat and dining on smoked salmon and beef bourguignon washed down with a vintage Château Margaux.

After dinner, I drifted off to sleep, for once arriving in Europe without feeling I’d spent the prior eight hours on a rack. The fare for all of this cosseting was $1,100 round-trip, just $320 more than what I was quoted for a cramped seat in coach on another airline — and thousands less than a conventional business-class seat would have cost.” (via msnbc.msn.com/ ) by Barbara S. Peterson

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Plus reduced prices on cd’s and audiobooks

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