How to deck the halls for a tropical Christmas? Below, find my best suggestions for Thailand treats and travel gifts. Thirty-six ideas include clever travel tech, Thai cookbooks … and portable almond butter. Enjoy!
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18 Thailand travel gift ideas
1. Dual-voltage travel steamer – Fill it up, plug it in and steam! I have this exact steamer – it fits both Thai and U.S./Canadian plugs.
2. Invisible Sunscreen (SPF 40) – My favourite face suncreen – it’s invisible and cruelty-free.
3. Thailand, The Cookbook – An encyclopaedic start to greedy-people Thai cooking adventures.
4. Lonely Planet Thailand – Perpetually Amazon’s #1 best-selling general Thailand travel guide.
5. Mosquito Repellent Wristbands – Waterproof mosquito protection with 15-day refills.
6. Travel Pillow – Over 1,000,000 sold! Easy to attach, adjust and looks like a cosy scarf when in use.
7. Travel Hammock – Just add rum to a coconut and crank up the ‘Mele Kalikimaka’.
8. Travel Blender – Treat yourself to smoothies while you travel – mixing up inventive combinations of Thailand’s incredible tropical fruit.
9. Reusable Travel Pouches – Silicone, snap-shut pouches for snacks or bits and pieces
10. LEGO Ship in a Bottle – Incredible! LEGO for grown-ups.
11. XL Foldable Duffel Bag – Folds up to approximately 12″x12″ but holds up to 80 litres when needed.
12. Anti-Theft Waist Pack – Lockable and RFID-blocking waist bag that can be secured to a table or chair when not in use.
13. Compression Socks – Merino wool compression socks to keep you warm (and your feet not fat) when flying
14. Thailand Map – A gold-foil map of Thailand, with your choice of frame.
15. Polaroid Instant Camera – Now with auto-focus and a self-timer
16. Compression Packing Cubes – A small and medium set to fit most standard carry-on cases
17. Sand-Free Beach Towel – This stripey beauty stays sand-free and dries three times faster than a normal cotton towel. In its travel pouch (included), it packs to 10″X6″. When needed it folds out biiiiiig.
18. Travel Espresso Machine – Show the world how much fun you are when caffeinated
18 travel stocking stuffer ideas
1. Maenam cookbook – Combine with a rice cooker and you’re an unstoppable kitchen force.
2. Mosquito Repellent Candle – Natural mosquito repellent in its own travel tin
3. In-flight Phone Holder – Supreeeemely useful foldable phone and tablet holder.
4. Tile Mate Phone Finder – Attach a tile to something you love and never lose it again.
5. Mini First Aid Kit – For the accident-prone. Band-Aids are rebranded ‘Bravery Badges’.
6. 101 Thai Dishes cookbook – At the time of writing, this new-in-2022 book is the #1 best-seller on all of Amazon for Thai cookbooks.
7. Lonely Planet Experience Thailand – Just published! Co-authored by Chawadee Nualkhair of ‘Thailand’s Best Street Food’.
8. Palm Tree Ornament – Deck the halls with a touch of tropical – just add a palm tree.
9. Toasted Coconut Chips – Thai coconut chips, toasted to perfection. Vegan and preservative free.
10. Airbnb Gift Card – Let your people choose their own palace/treehouse/yurt
11. Dr. Bronner’s Organic Magic Balm – The “Windex” of skin products – use on dry skin, sore muscles, pretty much anything
12. Almond Butter Travel Packs – For the person (raises hand) who would otherwise pack a 2 lb glass jar.
13. Travel Trivia Game – 50 family world trivia questions, for ages 8+
14. Wallet Ninja Multi-tool Card – All at once it’s a ruler, bottle opener, phone stand, screwdriver, fruit peeler, box cutter … this is very cool.
15. Thai Sweet Chili Banana Chips – Superb for anyone who likes spice
16. ‘Mai Pen Rai’ Thai mug – Do you need a “Mai Pen Rai” (“Nevermind”) mug? Probably.
17. Kin Thai cookbook – Kin Thai? It means eat Thai – and we should. Also available in a German language edition
18. Indoor Tropical Plant Stand – Treat your plant babies to a brand new view. The stand adjusts to fit your pot’s diameter.
P.S. You can find every tip for a Koh Samui Christmas in the archive, or subscribe by email and get all the details straight to your inbox. Enjoy!
