Gifts for Travelers

Instant Photo Accessories

The Instax SHARE Smartphone Printer is the newest instant photo product from Fujimax. While it's a little on the pricier end at $149.99, the Instax SHARE Smartphone Printer is a great way for travelers to obtain that authentic polaroid feel straight from the images taken on their iPhone.

If your friend is already the own of the Instax SHARE or an Instax Mini 8 camera, the Fujifilm Instax wallet photo album is a great way for users to keep all of their polaroids taken in one convenient location and at only $10.99, it's a very affordable, but thoughtful, gift.

If you want to go a step further, the Instax Mini sky blue instant film is a fun way to add a little pop of color to any photograph. It works with the Instax SHARE as well as the Fujifilm Instax Mini 8.

Luggage Stickers

Luggage Stickers are an easy and affordable ($2.60/each) gift to give to any traveler. They can be stuck to luggage, laptops, tablets, cars, and many other items so that your friend will be able to display their love of traveling wherever they end up.

Help Out With Their Next Trip

To help your friend save for their next trip, check out these fun travel fund coin boxes by Splosh. The boxes feature a slot in the top where bills and coins can be inserted. The cute designs add an element of fun to saving and allow the user a visual aid as to how close they are to achieving their goal. These boxes run for about $21.99 on Amazon.

Adventure fund jars are also a great way for travelers to save for their next trip while being able to see their progress. These travel fund jars go for £5 (about $6.50) on the UK website Sass & Belle.

Scratch-Off World Map

Forget the push pins & string, the scratch-off world map is the newest and coolest way for travelers to keep track of all their travels. Once a country is completed, it can be scratched off with any coin to reveal a colorful background. The more places traveled, the more unique the map becomes! There are many different versions of the scratch-off map available ranging anywhere from $15-$45.

Travelogue Scratch Map

In addition to the scratch-off map, ONEVER has come out with a portable version for travelers to take on the go. The travelogue contains 8 scratch-off maps and a travel log containing pages for documenting trips as well as useful words and phrases. It can all be stored in the travelogue folder and is available on Scratchables for £18.95 (about $26).

Keep In Touch

Stationary is the gift that keeps on giving. It's a great way to remind your friend to keep in touch on their next trip abroad and their guaranteed to think of you when they go to use their new stationary set. There are plenty of great greeting card sets available online including this set from Kate Spade ($20.00) and Rifle Paper Co. ($22.00). For a more affordable set of greeting cards, check out postcard books, including ones that can be colored in, on Etsy.com.

The Dolder Grand: Zurich's Grand Hotel with a Hidden Secret

The bar located inside the Dolder Grand, many call reminiscent
of the Grand Dining Hall from Harry Potter

The Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich, Switzerland boasts a breathtaking view of the surrounding city, Alps, and Lake Zurich below. Built in the 19th century, this castle-like resort originally functioned as a "Curhaus," or "health spa." The hotel is filled with over 100 original works of art including pieces by Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol. With the most exclusive bars and restaurants headed by chefs with two michelin stars, The Dolder Grand is much to be desired.However, this hotel houses a dark secret that breaks the facade of this fairytale inspired resort.

"Sex Drive-Thru"

Zurich, located in the northern part of Switzerland, is known for its rapidly growing Red Light District. Buildings with prostitutes broadly on display in colorfully-lit windows, clubs geared towards finding guests "dates," and even the newly introduced "Sex Drive-Thru" all make Switzerland a highly sought after destination for those looking to engage in legal (although arguably immoral) activities abroad.

Women fill the colorfully lit windows of Zurich's Red Light District

Switzerland is one of the (surprisingly) many countries in Europe in which prostitution is legal. However, the Swiss government does more than most countries to protects its citizens engaging and working in the sex trade. Sex clubs tend to be popular as the hosts and workers act to set their customers up with dates for the evening. However, in 2013, Zurich issued new regulations for these clubs indicating that attendees who did not follow the strict rules in relation to health, social security, violence prevention, and tax regulations would not be allowed to participate. Attendees who attempt to put pressure on the sex workers are also asked to leave and denied participation. The Swiss government is very active in enforces these rules and regulations and inspects these sex clubs at least once per year to ensure they are adhering to these standards. Sex clubs in Zurich have been described as being "quite a safe environment for both prostitutes and customers" by InYourPocket.com in an article about the "Do's and Dont's" for travelers looking to engage in sex and prostitution in Zurich.

In 2014, a wealthy, Swiss investment banker by the name of Robert S. (Switzerland has very strict privacy laws and did not release the full name of the man) was arrested after Swiss police discovered the body of a woman in his Zurich home. The body was discovered in a wine cellar and was found to be the body of a 25-year-old Polish prostitutes named only as J.P. The man, Robert S., admitted to the murder once in police custody.

The sex worker known only as J.P. was due to visit family back in Poland the following week.When she failed to arrive, family members became concerned and was reported missing to the Polish authorities. J.P. was allegedly strangled by Robert S. in his suite at the Dolder Grand Hotel before being taken back to his apartment in Kuesnacht where he then proceeded to keep her body in a "wine fridge." About a week after the murder occurred, investigators were able to track down the suspect where they then found the victim's body.

Robert S. (pictured above) admitted to strangling a Polish prostitute
at the Dolder Grand Hotel in 2013

While Robert S. initially admitted to the murder, it took the Swiss police over two years to officially close the investigation. The sex worker that fell victim to this crime often worked with clients who requested strangulation, making it difficult for investigators to conclude the exact events that took place during the murder. They concluded their investigation in November 2016, alleging that Robert S. had in fact committed the crime. He still remains in police custody.

Despite it's checkered past, the Dolder Grand Hotel remains one of the most luxurious destinations in Zurich. Whether it's for a one-week stay or just evening at the bar enjoying the view of the Alps, the Dolder Grand Hotel is definitely worth a visit.

Going Abroad While Abroad: How to Pack for a Short Trip

Throughout my travels, I've come to find that I generally have what I refer to as a "home base." A place where I spend the majority of my time while traveling. Usually, this place is my friend's home in France. Typically, I will start my travels in France and then work my way around Europe, occasionally returning between trips. This presents a problem because I constantly finding myself struggling with what items to take and what items to leave behind in France. I usually take cheaper airlines such as Spirit Airways or RyanAir, which are known to charge you for extra luggage and allow you only one small carry-on. This requires a bit of will power as you struggle against your most materialistic self to only pack what's absolutely necessary.

For students who are studying abroad, this can become a real struggle! So if you're a student traveling while studying abroad, taking a short trip to a far-off location, or maybe you've experienced a similar situation to my own, these tricks and packing list might help you minimize your luggage so you can maximize your next trip!

How to Minimize the Makeup

When it comes to makeup, I always have the most difficulty with packing light. However, I've managed to find some versatile makeup products over the years, which have allowed me to get away with packing a small cosmetic bag in lieu of an entire carry-on of makeup!

Foundation

Setting powder

Mascara

Powder brush: Choose a less voluminous brush so you can use it to apply setting powder, highlight, and contour with just one brush.

Foundation brush/Beauty blender: Obviously works well for applying foundation, but these tools also work for applying concealer & powder under the eyes.

Concealer: Concealer, while useful for covering up those pesky dark circles, it can also double as an eye primer before applying eyeshadow.

Liquid lipstick: A neutral liquid lipstick will go with any look and provide long-lasting coverage throughout the day.

Neutral eyeshadow palette: I emphasize the neutral part because most neutral palettes will include a very light color, which is great for highlighting, and a warm brown color, which is great for contouring.

Don't Get Weighed Down by Accessories 

If you're planning on going out, or to a nice restaurant, or meeting up with someone special, you might want to include jewelry, a purse, some heels and other accessaries in your packing list. But every girl knows the struggle of trying to pack jewelry without having to spend hours unraveling it when you arrive, and small purses on a tourist are a pick-pocket's dream. Here's a few ways I've managed to overcome these struggles while traveling.

Jewelry binder: With what I like to call "The Jewelry Binder" packing jewelry (especially necklaces) becomes less of a hassle. It has nifty little snaps that allow you lock your necklaces in place, ensuring that they stay tangle-free throughout the trip, and small pouches that allow for bracelets, earrings, rings, and more.

Crossbody wallet: The crossbody wallet is quite possibly one of the greatest inventions for the girl on the go. I always pack my crossbody wallet when I plan on having a night on the town or even if I just want to keep all of my valuable items available at hand. What's great about the these wallets is they are designed to be able to hold items ranging from your credit cards and cash to your cell phone and makeup. They typically come with a removable chain which allows it to be used as a purse for a night-out, or simply just a wallet to use throughout the day. Another advantage that these wallets possess is their zip-up feature. Having a wallet or purse that zips can prevent pick-pockets from easily accessing your personal items. It can also prevent items such as cash or even your phone from falling out while tearing up the dancefloor! Overall, it takes up barely any room and can always come in handy for a trip abroad.

Tech Talk

In today's age, it's difficult to go anywhere without the aid of technology, so it seems logical to want to pack all that's available. While I'll usually bring my laptop with me abroad in order to keep up to date with family and friends back home, I will usually leave it at my "home base" as I make my way further abroad.

In lieu of my laptop, I always bring along my iPad stocked with movies, TV shows, and eBooks (although sometimes I can't resist bringing an actual book along). A pair a headphones also goes a long way, as anyone whose traveled knows. Drown out plane chatter, play real-life background music to your adventures, and to avoid speaking to obnoxious men trying to solicit young travelers. Remember to pack a small pair of earbuds rather than a pair of bulky headphones, which will just take up unnecessary room in your luggage.

Of course, you have to bring your phone abroad, but don't forget the charger. That goes for the iPad as well. In addition to chargers, I always pack a backup battery in case I find myself without battery in the airport (this has happened before, lesson learned!). A backup battery can also be useful should you find yourself without the right plug adapter.

Sometimes when traveling, I will bring a zip up iPad case. This comes in handy, especially at the airport, as it can hold onto boarding passes, chargers, iPhone, and headphones all in one convenient location.

On-The-Go

When going abroad... abroad, chances are you'll find yourself on the move at one point or another. Whether it's exploring the city or hitting the beach, bringing along a small backpack is essential.

Personally, I prefer a drawstring bag with a securable flap. While it can be annoying to get open, it prevents thieves who target tourists from getting into your bag without having to hassle with a tangled drawstring. In larger tourist destinations like Paris or Athens, commonly known for their pickpockets, I would even go far as to tie the drawstring. You can never be too safe with your personal items abroad!

While it's impossible to predict every item you'll need while abroad, these are the items I have come to find to be the most versatile and useful throughout my traveling experiences.

Below I've attached a printable copy of my personal packing list for short trips abroad!

Abroad While Abroad Packing List

Le Comptoir Général: Hidden Nightlife in the Heart of Paris

"Dedicated to exotic ventures, out-of-the-box creativity, hidden secrets, lost causes, and ghetto exploration." This is how the team at Le Comptoir Général would describe the foundation according to Violeta Sturiale in an interview for Grey Magazine. During the day, the old museum is the home of several social projects. During the evening, it transforms into a reclusive gathering spot for the locals and tourists at the heart of Paris, France.

One of the projects on display inside Le Comptoir Général, closed off during the evenings

I was first introduced to Le Comptoir Général in the summer of 2016. I had just arrived in Paris, where my friend Victor made the annual trip to retrieve, but not after spending a few nights messing with my sleep pattern even more. As usual, mes amis welcomed me back to their country with a rounds of drinks at the Canal St. Martin. We spent the day catching up and exploring the city as we customarily do at the start of summer.

Later that evening, my friends had gotten enough alcohol in me to convince me to join them for a night out. Against my better judgement, and my body begging for a break from the 27-hours of sleep deprivation (I can't sleep on planes!), I found my way to a large, black wall and an uninviting man/giant hybrid (I assume) standing in front of a cutout in the wooden wall that I doubted he would be able to fit through.

My friends have a habit of leaving me in the dark when it comes to where they're taking me. They give me little details other than what type of shoes to wear and the assurance of a good time. When we arrived at Le Comptoir Général, all I knew was that my friends wanted to take me somewhere to drink. I didn't know if this meant a nightclub, a dive bar, or possibly just sitting on the canal with some 1664 and making friends with locals. The black wall I was greeted with did not help to much this. My friends greeted the man/giant as he stepped aside (almost like a human door) and allowed them to pass through while urging them to remain silencieux. When it was my turn to engage the man/giant I was greeted with "Avez-vous 16 ans?" "Are you 16-years-old?" 16 is the age in which French citizens are allowed to enter bars (your first experience seeing a 16-year-old in a bar is quite the culture shock). At this point I was 22-years-old, but I'm barely 5'0" ft tall and have been described as having a cherub face, so I can't blame the guy for ID'ing me (which is not a common practice in France and made it all the more embarrassing).

Once I was permitted to pass (after having to show my American ID and assure the bouncer that, yes, I was indeed 22 years old) I was issued the same warning silencieux. While walking through the tall stone building lining both sides of the winding path, I attempted to get some more information out of my friends. My first attempt was drown out by a hissing "Shhhhhh." I was surprised to see that the shushing had not come from my friends as they were just as confused as I was when they attempted to speak and were also greeted with a round of shushing. This time coming from more than one source. As we silently made our way up the path, I attempted to exchange confused looks with any of my non-Parisian friends (undoubtedly as curious as me) who were willing.

Inside the solid front door appeared a long hallways draped in velvet and vintage wallpaper. Walking down the hallway slowly begins to reveal the sounds of music and laughter. At the end of the hallways in the main floor filled with retro couches and mismatched furniture. Tropical trees line the walls and extend towards the ceiling to give the whole a place a private feel. At the far end of the room is bar that appears to be forged from an old ship and said to be "inspired by the Tiki culture."

The bar area in Le Comptoir Général is inspired by Tiki culture and made to look like an old ship

There were few drinks to choose from, but the ones that were offered were all unique and generally tasty. Even the beers on the menu, while sparse, were ales I hadn't heard of before. We ordered a round of drinks and passed them around making faces of distaste or going back for a second sip. Finally, we made our way to the dance floor and enjoyed the retro-mixed-with-house music blaring over the speakers.

Overall, the ambiance of Le Comptoir Général is laid back and parlor-like, rather than a nightclub or bar. The unique artwork and social projects littered throughout the museum, along with the privacy and secludedness of the building, makes Le Comptoir Général a great stop while making your way around Paris.

Summer Travel Reading List: Books About Travel & Adventure

Personally, I get most of my reading done during the summer. I like to use the added free time to catch up on my ever-growing list of "Books to Read." I thought I'd share with you guys some of my favorite summer reads centered around travel and adventure!

The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith: The Alex Crow was a last minute purchase I made before boarding my flight home from Paris last summer and has proven itself to be one of the best impulse buys I have ever made. It centers around 15-year-old Ariel, "pronounced Ah-riel," and his "many lives." Beginning in an undisclosed, middle-eastern village torn apart by war, Ariel reminisces, or rather recalls, how he ended up at a summer camp for boys in the United States within just a year. While this novel is heavily male-dominated, there's a struggle between the sexes, which eventually introduces the science-fiction plot line of the story. Sci-fi isn't generally my genre of choice, but Andrew Smith does an excellent job of blending a plausible scenario with science-fiction in a way that allows the storylines, while some set in different time periods, to successfully intertwine and relate in a way that doesn't always obviously present itself to the reader. If you're like me and enjoy a book that allows you to make your own inferences and conclusions, while enjoying some satirical commentary about American boys from a 15-year-old refugee, then I highly recommend The Alex Crow.

Time it took to read: 2 weeks

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: My tried and true! I first read this book when I traveled to France for the first time at 19-years-old and have yet to travel without it. I'm not someone who can usually reread a novel, but every time I read The Alchemist I find a renewed passion for travel and discovery. The story takes place across Spain & northern Africa and follows the journey of a young shepherd by the name of Santiago. While he was well educated and is able to read & write well, Santiago chose to be a shepherd in an attempt to satisfy his insatiable wanderlust. One day, he returns to a town in the south of Spain with the hopes of meeting a beautiful girl that he had spoken too and become fond of the previous year. However, before he's able to reconcile with her, he begins a conversation with an old man who claims to be a king and who speaks of "Personal Legends." This conversation is the first of many experiences that lead Santiago to sell his flock and journey across Spain, Morocco, and Egypt in order to discover his "Personal Legend." Hands down, my favorite book. Highly, highly recommend for those who can't shake that feeling that they're a long way from where they were meant to be.

Time it took to read: 4 days

90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis: The semi-true story of a young boy forced to leave his home country of Cuba, along with his two older brothers, as a part of the Pedro Pan Project during the rise of Fidel Castro in the early 1960's. After being shipped off to Miami in a desperate attempt to escape the possible child labor many parents feared would be inflicted upon their kids, Julian finds himself in a refugee camp along with other Cuban children waiting to be reunited with their families. What makes this novel interesting is Julian's comparisons on the camp with the political events taking place in Cuba during the Castro uprising. Throughout the novel, Julian attempts to navigate through the camp without disrupting the nasty camp bully while devising a plan to reunite his family. The story is loosely based on the experiences of Flores-Galbis, who was a member of the 16,000 Cuban children sent to the United States during the Pedro Pan Project, which makes it all the more interesting.

Time it took to read: 1 month


Perfect Days by Raphael Montes: This book was first described to me as a tale of an awkward premed student who becomes infatuated with a girl and, through some odd turn of events, is forced to kidnap her as they engage on a road trip across Brazil. A little humor, a cross-country journey, an expected romance, sounds like all the makings for a good summer read! Wow, was this book so much more than that! It's much darker than it's portrayed to be as the "protagonist" Theo turns out to be a mentally unstable sociopath who unlawfully forces a young woman to engage in some twisted road trip in order for him to live out some sick fantasy. Perfect Days gives readers a look into the mind of a lovestruck sociopath as he rationalizes his way through his would-be-obvious illegal and inhumane actions.

Time it took to read: <1 week

1,000 Places To See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz: While this one is the only nonfiction book on this list, I wanted to include it because I oftentimes find myself skimming the destinations and planning my future trips. What's great about this book is that it not only includes the major tourist locations (i.e. Venice, Paris, Munich, etc.) it includes those cities most often disregarded by short-term visitors. The city in which I generally stay in France, Beaune, is a very petite ville close to Dijon (a popular city for tourism), but is often overlooked due to its inferior size. However, the city has many historical building, vineyards, wineries, wine cellars, and events that make for an unforgettable summer vacation. I was surprised the first time I saw Beaune mentioned in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and have since trusted it to help me decide where I'll jet off to next!