‘Tis the season to be, I know, wracking your brain trying to come up with the perfect gift, right?! Who isn’t? So it’s the fun part of my job (seriously!) to let you know about great gift ideas have crossed my desk lately. Hopefully they will kick-start—and maybe even finish—your holiday shopping. These ideas are good for anyone, but may be of special interest for the traveler in your life—whether it’s something he could use on the trip or something she may enjoy coming home to.

This year, the most important shopping tip is to remember that traveler gifts must meet the newest guidelines in order to take it on the plane (see here for guidance).

Yummy: Coffee, tea or Tea-zer™—I love tea, but I like it hot. Forget the Styrofoam travel cups, this design award-winning Tea-zer™ lets tea lovers brew and drink their tea on the go. In blue, clear and red, it has double-wall construction which means it retains the heat longer. It also has a stainless steel basket that brews loose leaf tea or tea bags. Holds 10 ounces, fits most car cup holders; $14.99; www.pacific-cornetta.com and major retailers.

Double the fun: Add boxes of your traveler’s favorite tea, some biscuits and her favorite CD.

Exercise: Keep your traveler healthy while away. The Power Glove, $79.95 by Impact Sports Technologies, is a strapless heart rate monitor that displays calories burned, heart rate and target heart rate on an easy-to-read screen; www.impactsports.com. Double the fun: Add some Kettlebells DVDs to use when home (www.ironcorelajolla.com), a jump rope, a water bottle and some protein bars.

Clothing: Nobody really wants clothes for the holidays, but adventure travelers will want the ExOfficio line of clothing this year. ExOfficio clothing protects against the sun, bugs, cold and more, such as UV protective apparel that blocks 98 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays/30+ UPF, BUZZ Off ™ insect repellent apparel that fights tick and mosquito bites, MUMZ™ insect repellent garden apparel & accessories, and a Tofutech Soy Line "Sustainable clothing" (available 2/2007). Remains of soybean plant stock (a renewable resource) are transformed into performance travel wear. Visit www.exofficio.com. Double the fun: Add accessories; how about the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City chapter “forget-me-not” necklaces, earrings and cufflinks. Proceeds support the Chapter; www.alznyc.org; from $15 to $120.

Don’t forget the shoes: Buff 'n Shine—a hand-held, automatic shoe polisher. Can’t find a shoe shine guy, Buff 'n Shine is portable, shines shoes in about a minute ($9.99); gift version is available—two cans of polish, replacement buffer heads and a travel case; $19.99, www.buffnshine.com.

Say Cheese: Don’t lose video cameras on a trip. For short video highlights, the CVS One Time Use Digital Camcorder is a pocket-sized camcorder that records 20 minutes of digital video and sound with a 1.4-inch color playback screen. Yes, you can playback and delete videos. Return to CVS for the DVD. Double the fun: Add a gift card to a rental movie store and bags of popcorn.

Books: The Beauty Buyble: The Best Beauty Products—2007, published by ReganBooks (October, 2006 / ISBN:0060851635). It’s a reference book on what to buy from head to toe to fit every budget with more than 30 beauty products and giveaways in a bright pink keepsake box, tied with a matching pink ribbon. Includes a surprise from companies Sephora, Sally Hansen, Olay, Borghese, Iman cosmetics and Christo, so no two Beauty Buybles are alike! $19.95, www.amazon.com.

Double the fun: Add MyLight’s new MarkLight booklight: Bend and point exactly where you need it; flattens out when done; $14.95 nylon, $19.95 leather, www.mylight.com.
 
Fun, fun, fun: I love Bejeweled and Chuzzle, great PopCap computer games to pass the time at the airport or hotel. Give PopCap’s games as gifts, buy PC software available to most retailers or if you’re not sure of the traveler’s favorite game, purchase a gift certificate here.
Bringing photos of loved ones while traveling—I miss my kids when I travel, so putting their picture on this Treasure Knit tote bag (www.treasureknit.com) or a blanket to cuddle up with at the hotel room is a touching idea; prices vary. Egami’s personalized scarf is gorgeous (www.egami-lifestyle.com/products/scarves/hanoi_satin.htm), but a bit pricier at $230. Double the fun: Does she talk endlessly about her favorite part of her trip? Memorialize it with www.ornaments2remember.com.

Pack it up: Fun and function for Christmas are combined in Maddie Powers, Inc.'s (www.maddiepowers.com) mega-stylish line of Firefly messenger bags (a retro 1940s bag of thick rip-stock nylon that is eye-catching for $75), as well as the company's signature book purses, metal wallets, jewelry and yoga clothing. Also check out Maddie Powers, Inc.'s sister company, DIGchicago (www.digchicago.com), which has a new line of travel gear, from PDA holders to laptop holders, backpacks and more! 

Buff’n Shine: battery powered shoe polishing kit: Can’t find a shoe shine guy? This portable shoe buffer is a great gift for the traveler who needs to have that extra sparkle and shine on their shoes. Fits in the suitcase, comes with a replacement applicator pad, replacement buffing brush, two cans of shoe polishes and a travel case. For more info, visit www.buffnshine.com and don’t forget the AA batteries; $19.99; there is also a standard buff’n shine for only $9.99!

Be Beautiful: Hate to leave home but have to travel? Why not take a bit of home and comfort with you on the road. Some must-haves products from Bath Accessories Company, Inc. (www.bathaccessories.com) that will make you feel luxurious (and maybe not so homesick): Terry Spa Cover for Her ($29), Shaggy Flip Flops ($20), Silk Sleep Masks ($7.50; in a variety of colors including lavender, pink, navy, blue, black, celery), as well as Embroidered Silk Sleep Masks ($9.50) that come in stylish designs (Heavenly Angels, Cat Nap and more). Another must-have product is the T3 Tourmaline Overnight Hair Dryer (available at Henri Bendel, 1-800-Bendel, as well as Sephora and Nordstroms). This dryer is light and compact but packs a punch when it comes to drying your hair in seconds, something many hotel bathroom dryers can’t do. ($130; after January 1, 2007, price is $145.)