# Gift for a couple planning a 2 week trip to europe **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637 "2014-03-01T22:32:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637/21 "2014-03-04T17:06:10Z")
GPS. If they have a smart phone, get them the TomTom app for Europe. Even when I don’t rent a car when I go abroad, I love knowing what’s around me and sometimes where I even am. The TomTom app is usable offline so won’t incur data charges. Or a standalone GPS is good too. It helps when finding a metro station, walking to a point of interest, or remembering where the car was parked. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637/22 "2014-03-04T17:14:45Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I am sure there are reasons and you are being nice, but I don’t think I have ever heard of someone buy a gift for someone taking a European vacation. I mean, they should pack as little as possible and obviously don’t need any other silly things to schlepp along. Personally I agree. I suppose a broke college student might appreciate money, or decent backpack or something, but it doesn’t sound like that’s the case here. As someone who has traveled a reasonable amount, I’m generally not really looking to bring extra stuff along, I want space in my luggage to bring stuff back. I appreciate _advice_ on good travel gear, but I still want to pick my own stuff. If the trip is to celebrate an achievement then I would give something in honor of that achievement, not the trip. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637/23 "2014-03-04T17:21:58Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > GPS. If they have a smart phone, get them the TomTom app for Europe. Even when I don’t rent a car when I go abroad, I love knowing what’s around me and sometimes where I even am. The TomTom app is usable offline so won’t incur data charges. Or a standalone GPS is good too. It helps when finding a metro station, walking to a point of interest, or remembering where the car was parked. Seriously? I’ve never needed anything other than a halfway decent map and some research in guidebooks before I set out. GPS is for pussies. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637/24 "2014-03-04T18:49:52Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Seriously? I’ve never needed anything other than a halfway decent map and some research in guidebooks before I set out. > > GPS is for pussies. What a really strange thing to be a complete dick about. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637/25 "2014-03-04T20:38:13Z")
> [@bump](#): > > GPS is for pussies. Says the guy that needs a strap for his camera. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637/26 "2014-03-05T04:35:50Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Says the guy that needs a strap for his camera. I meant it half tongue-in-cheek, but it didn’t come out that way. And no, I have the factory straps on my cameras. I said the theft resistant ones would make a good gift in that other thread not that I actually have them. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637/27 "2014-03-05T05:32:46Z")
I deeply love everything I’ve used from [Pacsafe](http://pacsafe.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637/28 "2014-03-05T12:31:45Z")
> [@sugar\_and\_spice](#): > > Personally I agree. I suppose a broke college student might appreciate money, or decent backpack or something, but it doesn’t sound like that’s the case here. As someone who has traveled a reasonable amount, I’m generally not really looking to bring extra stuff along, I want space in my luggage to bring stuff back. I appreciate _advice_ on good travel gear, but I still want to pick my own stuff. > > If the trip is to celebrate an achievement then I would give something in honor of that achievement, not the trip. I agree. What is wrong with giving them some money, folded in a postcard with the Eiffeltower on it, in wich you write some kind words amounting to: “Have fun?” ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637/29 "2014-03-05T13:28:50Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I am sure there are reasons and you are being nice, but I don’t think I have ever heard of someone buy a gift for someone taking a European vacation. I mean, they should pack as little as possible and obviously don’t need any other silly things to schlepp along. I carefully plan what I will be carrying with me on extended vacations - I’m not looking for friends to give me stuff that I would feel obliged to carry. Think intangible gifts or something they can use on the return. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637/30 "2014-03-05T13:36:53Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I carefully plan what I will be carrying with me on extended vacations - I’m not looking for friends to give me stuff that I would feel obliged to carry. Think intangible gifts or something they can use on the return. Actually, if they’re not frequent travelers, a gift certificate for the airline they’re flying for a(nother) check-in bag might be helpful on the way back if they buy some souvenir. OR, a day pass to the airport lounge at their returning city/ long layover city. My SO is a Delta Sky Club member and it really makes the journey just feel more civilized with free booze and snacks and lots of places to recharge your gadgets before a flight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-for-a-couple-planning-a-2-week-trip-to-europe/682637.md?page=1)