Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

DC going off on gap year - any present ideas?

58 replies

jocktamsonsbairn · 28/09/2022 22:17

Starting in US then Australia, will be leaving next May. No definite plans as still putting all together. Main gift will be cash but any 'must have' things you can think of?
Other DC travelling too for 3 months uni holiday, so similar gifts for both.

OP posts:
MrsLargeEmbodied · 30/10/2022 12:06

first aid, including anti histamine

Barleysugar86 · 30/10/2022 12:15

Space is sooo tight when packing for a long trip so although these are all good ideas I'd 100% not surprise her with them- let her pick. I know it feels less satisfying for you but if you are thinking of gifting the day of them about to be leaving they will likely have thought and bought many of these items already.

The things i wished I had brought with me-

  • Yorkshire tea bags. I am a big tea drinker at home. I wasn't able to get a nice cup of tea for months (Asia), I actually had dreams about coming home to pack tea and go back to travelling. I would take hundreds if I repeated my trip!
  • Water shoes. Some of the beaches were very sharp underfoot at the water line and made it hard to paddle/ snorkel. They were also very good for white water rafting trips. I found some eventually but months after I'd first have liked to use them.
  • Quality thermals. We started in northern China in February. I have never been so cold in my life.
  • Hair dye. This one will sound ridiculous. But I was away for 6 months. Asian hair dye is made for black hair. Buying an alternative from a local supermarket did not go well.
guineafowl · 31/10/2022 18:23

Universal sink plug

MrsTerryPratchett · 31/10/2022 18:31

chesirecat99 · 29/09/2022 18:42

A convertible backpack with wheels and a zip on day pack. I have an Osprey one.

Unless he is trekking in the middle of nowhere and carrying camping gear, you really don't need a rucksack. My backpack has been wheeled along dirt roads in rural Africa and lived to tell the tale. The convertible ones give him the option of both (although they are heavier than conventional backpacks so not great if he is doing a long trek). TBH, I bought mine because I have had to go to some fairly remote places but I barely used it as a backpack because it was just fine being wheeled.

www.ospreyeurope.com/gb_en

Travel cubes/shoe bags/laundry bags are handy if you are living out of a backpack, especially the top opening type of backpack, so you ony have to take a few things out rather than rummaging through your entire belongings to find something, rumpling everything up and risking dropping/losing things. A friend has one that came with an integrated folding board to make it easy to fold clothes to fit in perfectly. I am a little bit jealous...

I think you're me. Osprey and packing cubes. Lovely things to keep everything organised.

MrsTerryPratchett · 31/10/2022 18:32

The most useful thing my mum did though 1000 years ago, was get my intrepid Navy uncle to go through my stuff with me to cut down weight and talk about dual use.

Drill holes in your toothbrush handle anyone!

Lulu1919 · 31/10/2022 19:42

Small travel journal and pen
A voucher for a photo book they can do on their return
Solid shampoo etc

ivykaty44 · 01/11/2022 10:05

2 x Imodium instance would be near the top of my list for first aid, along with antihistamine as a pp stated

Falifornia · 01/11/2022 10:09

Penknife (as long as rucksack won't be cabin baggage anywhere). Mine is 35+ years old and has sliced many a pineapple . . .

New posts on this thread. Refresh page