A Gift Guide for Those Studying Abroad

By Madison White on November 19, 2016

Do you know someone who is absolutely pumped to study abroad soon? You’re excited for them, but you know that they can’t take their whole life with them on their travels. So, what do you get someone with little room in their suitcase?

Image via pixabay.com

The best times await them and you don’t want to waste this special holiday season on something that doesn’t matter. You’re in luck, studying abroad provides wonderful gift-giving opportunities for any traveler.

1. A passport/visa

Your traveler may have their passport still ready from years back, but in case this is their first adventure abroad (mine was!) paying for their passport would be a wonderful gift. Some people underestimate how much they can cost, usually about $150-$200, and how long they take.

So if this is your choice of gift, be sure to plan well in advance so that all the documents will be in and delivered in time.

2. Travel accessories

By travel accessories, I don’t mean the neck pillows or the blankets that cover your entire face. I mean normal accessories that are easy to travel in. Of course, this depends a lot on where and when your traveler is going.

However, wherever they’re going, it’s assumed they’ll be walking a lot. It might be a good idea to invest in some nice and stylish walking boots; I prefer the Chelsea style. Perhaps a versatile scarf that goes with anything and can be used in many ways. Accessories like these make travel simple and fun.

3. Converters

An unfortunate shock many people have when landing in a new country is their inability to charge anything. Electrical outlets are generally something we take for granted and rarely think about when packing up our suitcases. However, almost all countries will require a different type of plug-in.

Now, you can find these in most airports but they’re generally overpriced and sometimes faulty. If you plan ahead, you can get a larger pack of converters for less money. If you know they’ll be traveling to loads of places, it may even be wise to get them a universal converter that will work almost anywhere!

4. Different currency cash

In the digital age, credit and debit cards are the norm for any kind of payment. When actually using cash, most will choose relatively low amounts. While many card companies are compatible with international travel, sometimes their rates for international fees can really put a hefty price-tag on your trip abroad.

A great way to sidestep the extra fees when using your cards is by having some cash on you for the smaller purchases. Getting different currency is actually pretty easy — you just have to show up to your bank and make a request and they’ll get it to you usually within a week. It also usually comes with little extra charge outside of the conversion rate.

stocksnap.io

Plus, if anything unfortunate happens to your traveler in their first few days, they’ll always have some money to pay for necessary things.

5. Small memories

An unfortunate truth of studying abroad is the inevitability of being homesick. Sometimes this happens soon and often, but sometimes barely at all. Either way, it is comforting for anyone living abroad in a totally new place to have some comforts of home. You may want to print out some pictures for them to hang in their dorm room or even get some small and sturdy frames to put them in. You could get a small necklace with some meaning of home. You could perhaps even just write a letter that states how much you love and care for them to read over whenever they’re feeling a little low.

6. A guidebook

Undoubtedly, your traveler has probably done loads of research on the place they’re going to. However, don’t underestimate the power of a good travel guide. They might not yet have a clear idea of where they’re going to visit. An intensive guide of a city or even continent may help them decide which places to go. Also, finding internet access while traveling can be difficult so something sans-technology may be, in fact, a life-saver.

7. Luggage

The last and perhaps most obvious gift for your traveler is some great, quality pieces of luggage. When deciding on luggage to buy, make sure to consider the most versatile size. Usually, these will be carry-on sized suitcases. You could also look into special bags for jewelry, clothing, or toiletries. The travel industry has loads of options for making your experience as convenient as possible.

Nothing is more exciting than studying abroad, but that doesn’t mean your gift to your future traveler has to seem completely lackluster in comparison. Giving them something worthwhile and meaningful will be something they ultimately treasure forever. They’ll remember it while they’re having the time of their life.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format