A Traveler’s Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Years of travel and fine wines have made this loved one quite the wine snob (though you lovingly call it their refined palate). While you usually spend this holiday abroad sipping a regional wine over an aged cheese, this year you can surprise your loved one by bringing that very experience to them—monthly! Winc brings quality wine to your doorstep every month, catering to your taste and preferences. By filling out a questionnaire, they can customize a wine selection, making sure each month’s selection is more than just drinkable—these will be booze shelf staples.

To make this Valentine’s Day at home extra special, turn their bedroom into a luxurious hotel room for the night. Because, depending on the city, hotels in your area might not be a good option, creating this space for them to relax as they take in the finer things will be the gift they didn’t know they needed. This robe from Serena & Lily is designed to keep you cool on hot days and warm on cold and happens to be quite beautiful. A spa gift set will allow them to relax as they soak in a well-deserved bath, and these cocktail packets from CraftStirs will seriously elevate your minibar.

If they tend to enjoy a bed-and-breakfast type experience over a hotel stay while abroad, there’s nothing quite as practical as an Airbnb gift card. This gift is versatile, as it gives them the chance to travel wherever their heart desires and their mind can dream up—there are no hotel chain limitations, the world is their oyster (and always has a bed)! And while you can use it on your next stay, you can also use it on your next experience while there.

A Classic Valentine’s Day gift upgraded. A box of chocolates is about as traditional as it gets but, for your sweet tooth who has traveled the world indulging in the best chocolate there is to offer, it can be hard to find something that lives up to their standards. For something personal, order from a candy shop the two of you visited during your travels, whether in France or Switzerland. The thoughtfulness will warm their heart while the delectable treats will fill their stomachs.  And if this box of chocolates is simply to hold them over until their next chance to jet-set, give them a taste of the trips to come; this gourmet assortment of truffles is sure to satisfy.

Because nature seems to be one of the few places we can escape to at the moment, parks, lakes, and our favorite, typically quiet places are seeing a heavy influx of visitors. Where they were once respites to escape crowds, many natural spaces have become tourist hotspots. Rather than taking them out into nature, bring it into their home with a touch of green. The Sill offers a monthly subscription service that provides your special someone with the perfect piece of greenery for their home (this is like a dozen roses, but better). Choose between a beginner’s subscription and expert level depending on your SO’s green-thumb, and turn the home they’re getting a little sick of into a place they don’t want to leave.

Because this might be a new, quarantine-inspired hobby, there’s a chance they don’t yet have all the equipment they want. While a new water bladder might not seem that romantic, buying them the nice, quality CamelBak they’ve been eyeing but not been willing to drop the big bucks will mean a lot (they want the nice things, they just don’t always want to be the one buying them). There’s also the option to upgrade their hiking boots with new insoles or getting them new ones entirely, which are recommended to be replaced every 300-500 miles.

With the world being a bit of a mess at the moment, maybe your loved one has found serenity at the beach, listening to the waves roll in as they bask in the warm sun. But maybe what they really want to be listening to as the waves roll in are not the seagulls swarming beachgoers food or the waves crashing feet away, but instead their favorite album or podcast. Complete their day at the beach with a portable speaker that they’ll love now but will get even more use of post-pandemic when it’s not just you two on a blanket but your closest group of friends (plus some!). This one is great as it’s not only waterproof but can be attached to a bike—a speaker as versatile as your partner.

They’ll never check a bag—they’ve got places to be, and those places don’t include baggage claim. To make their trips all the easier, give them the gift of a new and highly-reviewed bag. This luggage from Travelpro’s Platinum line ranked first in The New York Time’s ranking of 2020’s best carry-on luggage for its ease of use, durability, and price. But if they already have a suitcase they swear by and are unwilling to part ways with, this fun duffle bag is a statement piece absolutely perfect for easy weekend trips.

It’s always been their dream to have a romantic day laying out on a gingham blanket below the Eiffel Tower, a spread of fresh food surrounding them. Though that fantasy destination might not be possible for many at this time (you can forgo the Parisian landmark for something equally stunning but more local), the romantic picnic is still more than achievable. Many local wine bars and restaurants are offering prepared picnic baskets, so check with your favorite businesses first and foremost. But if no one around you is supplying a picnic package, don’t worry because there are places online committed to it. This antipasti set, though on the pricier side, is perfect for the couple forgoing their traditional date night out (with some restaurants closed to dine in) but still wanting something fancier than take-out.