Happy New Year!

Dear 2015,
Thank you for the opportunities you presented me, both professionally and personally. While I spent way too much time on airplane for business, you helped me reach a milestone and personal goal of visiting my 6th continent. What a magical adventure! Australia and New Zealand were otherwordly and breathtaking. On the home front, work brought me some great clients, interesting projects, good colleagues, and more travel. It was a great year, filled with health, happiness, and love. I wish you, 2015, good bye. May 2016 be as kind and obliging and bring me more opportunities for travel, continued health and prosperity for me and my loved ones.

My deepest wish is for everyone to have safety, access to healthy food, useful endeavors to occupy the body and mind, and a willingness to accept others. May 2016 shine on all of us with good fortune, tolerance, and wisdom.
peace, love, and travel
the Map Pin Junkie

My 2015 travel recap in a few photos. As a reminder, these images are mine and protected by all applicable copyrights.

Merry, Happy, Good Wishes To All!

Hot chocolate in my reindeer mug (with mini marshmallows aplenty), loved ones near, and my favorite Christmas movies on the dvd, I feel incredibly fortunate to be safe, warm, well-fed, and healthy. I hope the same for you and yours. May goodwill and peace reign in your world, this holiday, and beyond.

Peace, love, and travel!

The Map Pin Junkie

The Map Pin Junkies 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 12

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family. 

Today, the last day in our 12 Days of Christmas Gift Recommendations, the gift is cash....but not in the 'oops-I-forgot-to-get-you-something' way. This cash gift is for a specific purpose!

Anyone who travels a lot (or even a little) will appreciate the gift of an expedited experience through the airport, right? Right, so give your travel the gift of Global Entry for $100. Of course, you cannot apply for the recipient, but you can creatively package the money in a box wrapped with a world map or tucked inside a globe ornament. There are a lot of creative ways you can designate the cash for the gift of Global Entry. Even cooler, is that approved Trusted Travelers get TSA PreCheck designation included in Global Entry!

To learn more about the program or to show your traveler the great gift he/she just received, click here! Heck, even Santa has Global Entry!

Santa courtesy of http://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry

 

 

 

Thanks for visiting our 12 Days of Christmas Gift Recommendations. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas, health, happiness, and a beautiful New Year.
peace, love, and travel,
The Map Pin Junkie

The Map Pin Junkies 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 11

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Most travelers I know make a point of keeping a travel journal close at hand during any and all adventures. Day 11 gives you a few journal options to choose from so you can pick the right one for your traveler. With iPads and cell phones available you may wonder why I recommend an analog way of keeping notes. Well, there is nothing like sitting in a far away place surrounded by strange smells, unusual faces, hearing foreign tongues, and writing it all down. The scratch of pencil on paper, the smell of the pages, tucking a train ticket stub between the pages....these are all tactile things you cannot get from an iGadget.

So, consider giving your traveler a beautiful journal. One of my favorites is the leather wrap journal from Leatherology, $85. Available in three colors, it has ivory pages with raw, unfinished edges. You can write in it, affix travel ephemera, or sketch what you see from that cafe chair. When you are finished with the day's thoughts, wrap the leather cord around the cover to keep your memories for another day. 

 

If you don't want to give leather, there are some great options from  Moleskine or just head to your local Barnes and Noble and check out their wall of journals.

Happy Gift Giving!!

The Map Pin Junkies 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 10

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Day 10 is all about the aviation enthusiast on your list. A handy tool for home or the road, today's recommendation is the Pan Am Boeing 707 Bottle opener, $135, on uncommongoods.com. Their copy is better than I could do, so read what they have to say:

Bring a touch of the friendly skies to cocktail hour with this industrial bottle opener, crafted from the fuselage top from an authentic Pan Am Boeing 707. Hand polished to highlight the shimmering aluminum, this opener still features the iconic rivets, integral to the airplane's construction. Handmade in Berkeley, CA. Get it here!

Happy Gift Giving!!
all recommendations are mine alone and I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

Get Your Yule On!

Today, December 22, marks the winter solstice for 2015. This means it is officially Yuletide, one of the oldest winter celebrations known. In some form or fashion it was celebrated by the Egyptians, the Romans, the Celts, the Vikings and all sorts of other civilizations that were here before us. With the advent of Christianity a lot of that Yule traditions were adopted to make conversion of the pagans a little bit easier for the church.

To celebrate a wonderful end to a good year, we will light up the fire pit this evening and reflect on Christmases past with laughter and love.

So today celebrate Yule with a warm fire or a tabletop log and candles!

The Map Pin Junkies 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 9

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Day 9 features a gift I am giving this year (shhhhh!), a world scratch map from Luckies of London! What's a scratch  map, you ask? It's a map on which you scratch off the places you've been, sort of a travel log. This deluxe version features copper foil against a deep black background. Under the foil are vibrant country colors.

I love this gift because, at $32, it becomes unique and personalized to any recipient! Even better, it comes in a durable cylinder for shipping and easy gift wrapping! It is available on Amazon in time for Christmas delivery, too! Check it out here!

Happy Gift Giving!

all recommendations are mine alone and I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

The Map Pin Junkies 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 8

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Day 8 of the 12 Days of Christmas is for all the power junkies on your list. Named one of the best chargers around, the Anker Astro E4 13000mAh Classic Portable Charger has a huge capacity and supposedly can deliver five full charges to an iPhone 6. It is small, sleek, and is backed by an 18 month warranty. Even better, it has an LED flashlight, built in! Get it here.

It works on Apple phones and iPads, Android devices, some other brands of tablets and Bluetooth devices. Priced at $30, it weighs less than a pound and with outlets at a premium in most airports, the traveler on your list will thank you! 

Happy Gift Giving!

all recommendations are mine alone and I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 7

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas is more of a stocking stuffer, but one of my favorites so it still makes the list - a travel candle! For those of us that travel a lot, it can be nice to tuck a bit of home in our bag. The easiest way to do that is with a travel candle, specifically those from Henri Bendel ($15).

Small enough to tuck into your bag but with enough power to scent your hotel room, these charming little finds come in a variety of unique aromas. For winter travel, I love Firewood, but the Peony is great, too. Check them out here: https://www.henribendel.com/candles/travel-candles/

Happy Gift Giving!

all recommendations are mine alone and I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 6

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Day 6 of the 12 Days of Christmas brings you something practical for the frequent flier on your list. The Lucas Under Seat bag! This little gem could be called the TARDIS of luggage....it's bigger on the inside! In fact, I was able to fit 32 days worth of clothing in this bag for an international trip involving time in metropolitan and rural locations (see this post). It weighs 6 pounds empty and measures 15.7" x 15.7" x 9.8" (external).

It does have a clear plastic partition in the main compartment, but it that doesn't work for you, do what I did - carefully slice it out (just needs two cuts) to remove it. This makes the bag incredibly spacious and its compact size makes it adorable and wildly functional. I cannot rave about this bag enough and best yet it is priced at under $50!! Color choices are red, black, and a dark blue.

It has features that make it easy to zip through security lines at the airport and fit it under most airplanes seats (in the US. It does not fit under some European carriers seats). The inline skate wheels keep things rolling along, no matter how fast you are going. 

Give the gift of packing light with the Lucas Wheeled Under the Seat bag!

Happy Gift Giving!

all recommendations are mine alone and  I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 5

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Day 5 of the 12 Days of Christmas features another book. This one is eye candy for those looking to do some map pinning or for the armchair traveler on your list.

Lonely Planet's The Travel Book 2nd edition brings you 229 countries and destinations in full color. I have the 1st edition, but the 2nd edition promises 817 all new images and text. A bestseller, at $24, this is sure to delight any recipient. It is  available from several book sellers and looks great under the tree! Sorry for the poor photo, I took a hasty snap with my phone.

Happy Gift Giving!


all recommendations are mine alone and  I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

 

The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 4

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

For Day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas my gift recommendation makes a great package decoration! A globe ornament is one of the best gifts I've given. When I presented it to 'he who shall not be named' several years ago, I had it tied to a box that contained plane tickets for our next trip. Every year, it gets hung on the tree and we can reminisce about all the trips we've taken solo and together. 

Lots of retailers offer globe ornaments, but I particularly love the antique feel of this Age of Exploration version from 1WorldGlobes.com. At $20, it is a faithful reproduction of a globe designed by Didier R Vaugondy, cartographer to Louis XIV in 1745. Swap out the hanging string with a festive ribbon for even more holiday flair. I used a length of wired green velvet ribbon to give it extra 'zhuzh'.

Give your sweetie the gift of the world with this charming little orb! If you don't hang it on a tree, try hanging it on a door knob or drawer pull to add charm to your surrounds. I can never have too many globes and believe that having globes and maps around keeps world travel vibes in the air so opportunities to travel will come your way. So far, my plan is working! 

Happy Gift Giving!

The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 3

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Here we are on Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas and today brings us pure luxury in the form of a cashmere wrap from The Travel Wrap Company. 

100% pure cashmere and made in Scotland ($229 US), these sumptuous wraps are the perfect gift for the frequent traveler or the homebody. Imagine snuggling up in this on a cold airplane or zipping through a chilly train station wrapped in elegance! This is the one item on my list I may have to give myself! 

There are lots of colors and looks to choose from, so you are sure to find the hue you want. You'll be hard pressed to find a travel gift that is as versatile as this. Blanket or fashion statement, the cashmere wrap is sublimely useful! If you don't have enough time before Christmas, I am sure an IOU for a cashmere wrap would be just fine. =)
Happy Gift Giving!



all recommendations are mine alone and  I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 2

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family. Today's recommendation comes from the amazing gang at Moon Guides. 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in another country? Well, Moon Guides aims to prepare you with their Living Abroad In series. The authors of each guide not only 'talk the talk' they have 'walked the walked' of living abroad and provide detailed information on visas, finding work, deciding on housing and more.

One or more of these would be a great gift bundled together for the college graduate with wanderlust, the near-retiree, or anyone with far flung dreams (like me)!

Choose from 19 countries, 2 cities (London and Paris, of course) and get the books in analog (an actual book) $19.99 or digital format $9.99. I can't say enough good things about Moon Guides. There is something about setting off with one of their guides that has always made me feel like an intrepid explorer from the late 1800s, with long skirts, a leather valise, and a parasol. Check out Moon Guides Living Abroad In...and start planning your escape!

 all recommendations are mine alone and  I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 1

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Each of the next 12 days, I will post a gift recommendation targeted to the traveler or travel dreamer on your list.

My list includes items at most price points and most are suited to men or women.  Finally, all recommendations are mine alone and  I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

Okay, first up, a gift for the iFanatic on your list.

Geared towards travelers, the Zoom Lens for iPhone kit comes with a 12x optical lens , a mounting bracket, a tripod and a drawstring carrying bag.  $22 and available here:Zoom Lens for iPhone

 

Happy gift-giving!

Guatemala City - Business Travel And Time For A Little Fun!

I've been out of the loop the past couple weeks as I prepared for, and traveled to some client meetings in Guatemala City, Guatemala but am back from a successful week of meetings, albeit a little worn out from 9 crazy days of near-constant work.

I was lucky enough to visit Guatemala before but was limited to the northern part of the country, near Peten and Tikal. So, I was looking forward to seeing the capital city this time and it did not disappoint. I stayed at the Westin Camino Real in Zone 10 and the limited time I did have, I walked around enjoying the architecture and friendly people of the city. Of course, the highlight was getting amazing Guatemalan coffee everywhere I went. So good!

The trip was definitely focused on business, so I didn't get to see as much as I wanted to, but was treated to an evening in Antigua, about an hour from the city center. As always, I took my trusty little micro 4/3 camera and, wow, am I glad I did! Every turn was a photo opportunity in Antigua. I hope I can go back and take 'he who shall not be named' for a week in Antigua to climb La Horqueta (the collection of volcanoes there). Here are a few of my favorite shots from the evening.
Peace, love, and travel!

Beauty shot of Volcan Agua

 
Looking at Volcan Agua from ground level

 

Catedral de San Jose, in the center square of Antigua

Home At Last - 2015 Travel Concluded

2015 was a great year with a lot of travel opportunities for work and for pleasure. Coming back to the States from my last business trip late Friday night, I was once again thankful for all those that helped me get where I wanted to go. So, thank you United Airlines (international business travel), American Airlines (domestic business travel and HUGE mileage to get me to Oz), and Marriott Hotels (domestic stays in high style). Each of you made this year's travel special!

Holiday Giving - Spotlight on Heifer International

Last year, a client introduced me to the good works of Heifer International and since then I've been an advocate of their guiding philosophy which promotes self-sufficiency. Their mission is to empower people to change their lives and each donation of each animal gift provides the recipients with training and resources that help them become self-reliant.

I especially like the fact that I can choose non-edible animals, like bees, to donate. A hive of bees generate honey that can be sold to create an income. A flock of chickens provide eggs with much needed protein to undernourished children and the eggs can also be sold. They offer a variety of gifts, so check them out at Heifer.org and see how your gift can change the lives of those who need it most.

Heifer.org