Travel to wallet .. which one?

[Whiskeywithwater]

So my DD18 has her last A Level exam a couple of weeks before her 18th, and then is off on her post exam holiday with her friends a week before she’s 18. I’d like to get her a lovely travel wallet as a ‘well done on working hard, exams are over / early 18th’ present. I was bought a Smythson one for my 30th and love it - a real ‘last forever’ gift. For context it won’t be her only 18th present (not sure yet on other gift). Question is do I get the beautiful leather Aspinal one, or equally nice looking Katie Loxton one (not leather). Significant difference in price (£145 vs £40). If it was her only present would definitely get the Aspinal one .. but given as it’s not I’m conflicted. Getting the expensive one will mean it will last her forever … but will an 18 year old prefer Katie Loxton as a brand anyway (have NO idea if this an acceptable brand for older teenagers). For reference she’s an Urban Outfitters / Motel type girl. Opinions??

https://www.aspinaloflondon.com/products/zipped-travel-wallet-in-cornflower-blue-pebble?objectID=12533&queryID=2754f7e7597ea570eeab77d94c5903e9

https://katieloxton.com/travel-document-holder-in-black-klb2333

I don’t know anything about style but the blue one is beautiful and the black one looks like something my nan would’ve bought me off the market.

🫣

Hmm, I see where you’re coming from!! Lol
clearly I am also biased towards the blue one .. just a bit ‘eeek’ about the cost and unsure whether she would recognise or appreciate the quality ..

They do do the KL Kevin different colours. But not that blue .. which is lush

The Aspinal one is gorgeous and it could be used for forever.
I've no idea what teens are in to though and if she'd appreciate it.

Knowing teenagers... is she the sort liketo become vegan?

I quite like the second one in the sage green.

However... is the second one a lot bigger?

Very attractive wallets - but would she use it?

Personally i travel as light as possible. So I take my passport out of its cover. Everything else is on my phone bar a little bit of local currency.

That is a good point.. she has already been vegan a few times .. not currently though! Yes, the KL is bigger I think

This.

Back in the days of paper boarding passes/tickets/travellers cheques I used a travel wallet regularly, these days I have a tiny purse with my EHIC card, some local currency and debit/credit card and my passport. What would you use a travel wallet for?

I think she would. She’s a bit like me with constantly checking where things are .. which is why I was bought one in the first place as I drove a travelling companion to a near breakdown with my obsessive checking and rechecking, followed by panicked meltdown when I thought I’d lost stuff!

Good point though .. perhaps it won’t be something she’ll use forever like I do as it will all be paperless .. so I go for the cheaper option and could even make up the difference and put some Euros in it .. to be spent on shots and chips to soak them
up!

The Aspinal one is a beautiful thing but it looks like it's just open, or the cards aren't zipped inside anything. I'd be extra worried about theft or something falling out and just the general security of flashing that I had multiple cards etc in my wallet. As an adult on a business trip I can imagine having it in my work bag with my laptop, pulling it out in taxis and nice restaurants, etc; but I can't imagine using it as a tourist in my backpack on a bus from Barcelona airport into town or pulling it out to buy a snack from a market stall.

Sorry to put a damper in the works but what travel documents? I suspect within 10 years even passports will be on our phones. I never print out tickets or boarding passes. Perhaps a really good quality rucksack like the Nordace with lots of pockets?

Right .. decided. I would be choosing the spendy one as I like it .. but those that have said ‘what travel docs’ are right. They do a smaller version of the KL one that has space to put in passport & sone currency. I’ll get that (as more of a symbolic gesture of her starting to travel independently now) & gift her some euros in there .. thanks all! My next post will be ‘what the hell do I get for an 18th Birthday present??’

Good choice - I've had the Aspinal one for years and love it - ever since I saw Cameron Diaz with a travel wallet in The Holiday. Don't know my 18yo would have taken it travelling though or on a girls' holiday. It's just a bit grown up.

I have a lovely Smythson travel wallet, but honestly, it’s a few years since I’ve used it. They’re a bit unnecessary nowadays when you no longer need tickets, boarding passes or currency.