Most years, coming into the holiday season means offering advice for Koh Samui’s busiest time of year. Christmas party lists, New Years Eve suggestions – literally hundreds of ways to make merry. This year? It’ll be the holiday equivalent of “walking 20 miles backwards through the snow uphill” … or whatever torrid tale we’ll one day tell our grandchildren. In short, we’ll “have to make our own entertainment”. Below, find my best suggestions for doing just that – with as much tropical respite and hints at future travel as possible. Enjoy!
Note – every toiletry and beauty product below is 100% cruelty-free.
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Holiday Gift Guides: Quarantine Edition
Gifts for Grown-Ups
01. Quarantine Christmas Ornament – How better to sum up this prize of a year?
02. Fluffy Slide Slippers – Normally, I’m recommending flip-flops. This year? Fuzzy slippers.
03. Coconut Rum – Add it your cereal and keep going, no judgment here.
04. Monstera (Swiss Cheese) Plant – A surprisingly beginner-friendly tropical house plant.
05. A Promised Land by Barack Obama – Reasons to celebrate? Barack! is! back!
06. Mermaid Tail Blanket – The best way to turn your sofa into a vacation.
07. Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones – Drown out your family…
08. Dry Erase Elephant – For any relative who loves elephants beyond belief.
09. LEGO Ship in a Bottle – Incredible! LEGO for grown-ups.
10. 2020 Review T-Shirt – Would you recommend it?
11. White Christmas Coconut Coffee – Grab the aforementioned rum and …
12. Gold-Foil Thailand Map – A detailed map of Thailand (or any country) in gold-foil, with your choice of frame. *Get FREE shipping & FREE returns on fine art prints with code SHIPFREE.
13. Baggage Claim Eye Masks – Take the 2020 off your face.
14. SPF 40 Unseen Sunscreen – My absolute favourite sunscreen … if you ever get to go outside.
15. The Body Shop Coconut Gift Set – If you’re saving the coconut rum until later, start with a coconutty shower.
16. Thailand: The Cookbook – An encyclopaedic start to greedy-people Thai cooking adventures.
17. Anti-Theft Travel Backpack – Wear it around the house for now, pretend you’re going places
18. Palm Tree Ugly Christmas Sweater – Utterly hideous, with ample flamingoes.
19. Tile All-Purpose Finder (4-Pack) – Attach four tiles to four things you love, and never lose them again
20. The Everything Travel Blanket – Highly squashable, wherever you deploy it
21. Pineapple and Coconut Gin – Run out of coconut rum? Switch to gin
22. Maenam Thai Cookbook – A new favourite Thai cookbook – just released this summer.
23. Palm Print Pajama Set – Tropical PJs for your 2020 Bridget Jones moments.
24. Portable Espresso Machine – You’re not going anywhere … but when you do … you’ll be so caffeinated.
25. Amazon Halo –Start your post-quarantine healthier habits with a new fitness tracker
26. Ray-Ban UV Sunglasses – One day they’ll block Thai UV light … for now they’ll hide your COVID hangover.
27. “Good Vibes Only” Sun Care Travel Kit – You’ll need it in 2021. Please need it in 2021.
28. Jewelry Travel Organiser – Use the top half for general storage (phone charger, scrunchies, etc) and the bottom half for cleverly jewellery organisation.
29. Portable Travel Hammock – This guy packs down into its own travel sack, ready to visit beaches as soon as humanly possible.
30. Lonely Planet Thailand (2021) – Pre-order a copy for its August 2021 release … then wait patiently for The Future Times.
31. butter LONDON Nail Lacquer – A deep blue colour … to match beachy dreams, not COVID moods.
32. BarkBox Subscription Box – Finally, delight your dog and every problem goes away. BarkBox does amazing things for shelter pups (and then there’s this).
Gifts for Kids – Travel and Explore
01. Ocean Life Jigsaw Puzzle (1,000 Pieces) – From Little Tunnies to Weedy Sea Dragons, this puzzle is perfect for ages 8+.
02. Shark Blanket – A whale shark “blanket tail” available in three sizes, from toddlers to adults
03. Little Passports Subscription Box – A monthly subscription box for “little passports” ages 6-10.
04. Portable Travel Bed – Perhaps more for parents … this roll-on case turns an economy plane seat into a child-size bed.
05. Stretchy Noodles – Great for busy hands
06. Elephant Slippers – Available in kids’ and adult sizes
07. Mermaid Tail Blanket – As with the shark blanket, available in three sizes
08. LEGO Suitcase – A mini LEGO kit with a small suitcase. A nice stocking stuffer for a quick activity.
09. Fort Building Kit – Build forts, boats, castles and more.
10. Family Treasure Hunt Game – Play indoors or outdoors. Ages 3-10.
11. Guess in 10 World Trivia – Ages 8+. Choose from world cities or countries versions of the game.
12. Everything & Everywhere – Ages 4-9.
13. Under The Sea Coloring Roll – Ten feet of under-the-sea colouring (ages 3+).
14. LEGO Airplane – Ages 7+
15. LEGO Travel Pouch – Use as a pencil pouch, travel case or to store a new LEGO kit.
16. Paper Flower Science Kit – Ages 7-10.
17. Wikki Stix Travel Set – Ages 3+.
18. Your World Jigsaw Puzzle (1,000 Pieces) – Ages 8+
19. Elephants of Thailand – Available in a two-part series, in paperback and for Kindle.
20. Sparkling Play Sand – Includes 6 moulds and two pounds of sand. Ages 3+.
Games, Books and Things to Do (At Home Edition)
01. Travel Trivia – 50 family world trivia questions, for ages 8+
02. Drawing Without Dignity – for grown-ups only … a much ruder, much funnier take on Pictionary
03. Phuket Jigsaw Puzzle (3,000 Pieces) – spend hours staring at Thailand … with this 3,000-piece puzzle
04. Atlas Obscura – “A wanderlust-whetting cabinet of curiosities on paper.”— New York Times
05. Unstable Unicorns Game – “a strategic card game that will destroy your friendships.” Play with 2-8 people, depending who’s currently in or out of your bubble.
06. Underwater Puppies – The only puppies you should buy for Christmas.
07. Maslow’s Pyramid of Needs – Food? Water? Sleep? Spontaneity? Rearrange and reorder whatever 2020’s done to you.
08. Inside3 Blind Maze (Level 3) – A novice-level puzzle ideal for patient people ages 12+
09. What Should I Do with My Life – Asking for a friend…
10. How to Traumatize Your Children – The reviews alone sell this book more than any other recommendation here.
11. Scribbles That Matter – Bullet-journal your way to 2021…
12. The Loser Game (Learn How to Fail Well) – Topical! Buy one for yourself and another for the Golfer-in-Chief.
13. What Do You Meme Game – Another game that’s grown-ups only. (“There are some things you just can’t unhear. Trust us.”)
14. Travel + Leisure Subscription – Plot your way out of your house, one issue at a time.
15. Confidence Prompt Cards – Been a while since you needed confidence? Or real clothes that weren’t yoga leggings? Start here and re-enter 2021 life with new sparkle.
16. Conversation Menus – Nine months of COVID and running out of stuff to talk about? Add one of these to dinner and see what you learn.
17. The Ultimate Game for Couples – Use as conversation starters, or play as dares.
18. Scratch Off World Map – Tim Robbins scratched his way out of Shawshank… you can scratch your way out of 2020.
19. Rainforest Coloring Book – Pure escapism. Just add Enya.
20. 100 Questions Conversation Toolkit – Think you know everything about your household? Think again.
Gifts Under $20 (£15)
01. Coconut Cremes – Stocking stuffers made with coconut milk
02. Thai Sweet Chili Banana Chips – Superb for anyone who likes spice
03. Salt and Sea Soy Candle – Sail away, as best as 2020 will allow
04. Flamingo Pool Float Tea Infuser – A more tropical way to brew your tea
05. Quick Dry Hair Towel/Beach Turban – A segue between the shower and the next messy bun
06. Seagrass “Belly” Basket – Ideal for storing blankets, dog toys, or a new plant (add a drip-tray within)
07. Dried Thai Mangoes – Chewy in the best kind of way
08. BYO Sriracha Keychain – The easiest (and least weird) way for a sriracha addict to bring their favourite sauce
09. CALM Bath Salts – How many pounds of these are required between now and January 20th?
10. Sand-Proof Quick-Dry Beach Towel – Available in watermelon and even ‘Songkran’ print
11. butter LONDON Nail Lacquer – Add some sparkle to a not-so-sparkly year
12. 100% Natural Lip Balm Set – Choose from a dozen flavour combos – with plenty of tropical choices
13. Collapsible Coffee Cup – Save the planet, one cup at a time
14. Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World – This book is superb, and an ideal place to start a New Year digital detox.
15. Foldable Pocket Backpack – Over nine thousand reviews!
16. Pomelo Pine Soy/Beeswax Candle – Not quite Thai pomelo salad on the beach … but close?
17. Starry Night Sleep Mask – Block it all out. All of it.
18. Coconut Toiletries Gift Set – A sweet gift set of coconut water bath products in a cork pouch.
19. Fruit Infuser Water Bottle – An inevitable departure from the coconut rum and gin suggested earlier
20. Coconut Bowls – Blend something smoothie-bowl-shaped and add it to these. Bingo. Vacation mode.
Gifts Under $15 (£11)
01. Adulted Really Good Ribbon – Need a prize? Yes, you do.
02. Wallet Ninja – Ruler, bottle opener, phone stand, screwdriver, fruit peeler, box cutter … this is very cool.
03. 2020 Christmas Ornament – Soooo wouldn’t recommend.
04. Coconut Milk Caramels – Dairy-free, with pure coconut milk.
05. Hidden Pocket Scrunchie – “Her hair is full of secrets”
06. Monstera Leaf Wax Seal – Seal cards, gift wrap or anything you find in your path
07. Butterfly Pea Flowers – Bake the bluest things you’ve ever imagined, infuse cocktails and more.
08. World Travel Laundry Bag – Use as a laundry bag or even a Santa sack.
09. Monstera Earrings – Just $8! Available in rose gold or silver.
10. Portable Reusable Drinking Straws – Telescopic straw adjusts to three lengths to fit any glass.
11. Dr Bronner’s Organic Magic Balm – The “Windex” of skin products – use on dry skin, sore muscles, pretty much anything
12. Phone & Tablet Holder – Supreeeemely useful foldable phone and tablet holder. Use on your coffee table today, and a plane table next year?
13. Tropical Santa Pop-Up Card – The only card I’ve seen where Santa’s drinking out of a pineapple.
14. Dragonfruit Loose Leaf Tea – Caffeine-free dragon fruit tea; bright pink.
15. “Corona Extra” Christmas Ornament – Combining COVID, Christmas and alcohol in the very best way.
16. Hand-Made Dragon Fruit Soap – Exactly how I like my soap: tropical, paraben- and SLS-free. (As with everything on this list it’s cruelty-free too).
17. Grow Your Own Avocado Tree – Get growing!
18. Tropical Face Mask – Mask up with palm prints.
19. “I’m Over It” Daily Sampler – Share your feelings for the day, choosing one of thirty-two “samplers” including “what fresh hell is this” and “let me Google that for you”.
20. Tropical Socks Set – Trot to your home office in style. It’ll be the dressiest thing you’ve got on.
2020 Cards and Wrapping Paper: COVID Edition
Get 20% off Minted holiday cards when you choose recycled paper; 15% off all holiday cards with code JOYFUL (through Tues, Nov 24).
01. Under the Sea Wrapping Paper – Customizable with names, family photos, unique messages and more
04. Christmas Dogs Wrapping Paper
06. Tropical Jungle Wrapping Paper
08. Tropical Santa Wrapping Paper
09. All of the Above
10. Personalised Wrapping Paper – Customizable with names, family photos, unique messages and more
12. You Are Great at Petting Dogs
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