· · · · ·

Top 10 luxury travel gifts for him this Christmas (UK & Europe edition)

What a year it has been. We’d like to take this opportunity at A Luxury Travel Blog to wish you all the very best this festive season. And whilst travel may not still be on everyone’s mind just yet, there do look to be some signs of hope around the corner. That doesn’t mean you can’t still spoil the loved one in your life, of course, and we hope these ideas for men will give you some much-needed inspiration for anyone who is difficult to buy for. We have everything from luxurious time and luggage pieces to some really useful travel gadgets and other accessories to make his next trip that little bit more special. Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch from Longines £3,930.00 Among the exceptional pieces in Heritage watch range from Longines, the most famous is without question the Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch, a re-issue of the timepiece developed for the American pilot Charles Lindbergh in 1931. The Heritage watch models are a tribute to the pioneering spirit that has inspired Longines designers since the company’s early days. The brand’s products accompanied many pioneers in their adventures in the air, on land and under the sea. The very core of Longines timepieces is based on this expertise. They demonstrate the continuity of a brand and that brand’s continual ability to pay tribute to history through refinement and elegance. Online photography course from Photography Concentrate from £72 For the person who wants to take their photography skills to the next level, an online course with Photography Concentrate is a great way to learn and makes the perfect gift for that difficult-to-buy-for person who already has everything they might want or need. With this course, you can download materials that you can read (and watch – there are some videos, too) at your leisure, regardless of whether you have an internet connection. Tips are presented in a really clear and straight forward way, and beautiful packaged for photographers of all abilities. The diskAshur M2 from iStorage UK £129-£429 The diskAshur M2 is a portable SSD that is perfect for travelling, keeping your data safe whilst you’re on the go. But what’s its technical specification, did I hear you say?  Well, it is FIPS 140-3 Level 3 compliant and encrypts data using FIPS PUB 197 validated and AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption. The device incorporates a Common Criteria EAL4+ ready microprocessor, making iStorage UK products the first and only PIN-authenticated, hardware-encrypted and portable SSDs that incorporate this essential security attribute on the market.  I hope that answered your question! What’s more, the diskAshur M2 is dust and waterproof (IP68 certified) and shock/crushproof, making it extremely rugged. Users can enjoy the slim, sleek and lightweight design, with the diskAshur M2 being smaller than the size of a phone, making it ultra-portable and a must for any luxury traveller who needs safe and secure data on the move. The AlcoSense Ultra from AlcoSense Laboratories £249.99 This festive season, watch your alcohol intake as it’s very easy to drink too much the night before, only to get behind the wheel the next morning and inadvertently drive with alcohol still in your system.  Alcohol slows your reaction time, inhibits judgement, reduces concentration and affects eye, foot and hand co-ordination increasing the likelihood of an accident. Remember one in five drink drive accidents happen the morning after! A personal breathalyser helps you tell easily when alcohol has cleared your system the next day. It could be a life-saver for you, your passengers and other road users. The AlcoSense Ultra uses exactly the same professional 200mm2 fuel cell alcohol sensor as several UK, US & European Police breathalysers, taking accuracy, features and ease of use to a new level and is the culmination of three years of research and development. The device features a full colour 1.8 inch screen which gives you clear traffic light coloured screens with detailed readings of your alcohol level in both blood or breath readings. The Ultra not only alerts you NOT to drive if you’re close to or over your chosen limit, it will even calculate how long it will take until you’re sober and set an alarm to re-test you again later. Mono Material Insulator from Helly Hansen £160 Regular readers will already be aware of me regularly extolling the virtues of Helly Hansen apparel here on A Luxury Travel Blog, be it for sailing or for skiing. The brand has been at the forefront of design for cold-weather climates for more than 140 years, without compromising on style or function. Its urbanwear range for this Winter is no exception and takes it one step further with the launch of its environmentally conscious Monomaterial line. Featuring garments with singular material construction, the new collection takes a garment’s entire life cycle into consideration, resulting in apparel that is easy to care for and easy to recycle. Made with insulation composed of 100% recycled downfeel polyester, the Mono Material Insulator has been made with environmental responsibility in mind. With its doubleweave stitch free channels, this liner is lightweight, comfortable and a perfect option for everyday style and added warmth. Gassano medium bag MaxwellScott Bags £780 No adventure should be undertaken without the very best luggage – it is the ultimate travel luxury gadget. Maxwell-Scott’s Gassano medium leather Gladstone bag is the pinnacle of premium luggage. An Italian leather holdall with a classic design, this is a travel companion to last a lifetime. Each Gassano medium bag is handcrafted in the heart of Tuscany by skilled artisans from the finest vegetable-tanned leather. This durable western cowhide has a natural finish which will only improve with age as the leather develops a unique patina over time – mapping your many journeys around the globe. The practicality of this timeless British design is crucial. The Gassano medium holdall has a 38 litre capacity and features a spacious durable faux leather-lined compartment and an internal zip pocket to separate out essentials. The hinged metal frame opening is then fastened with a lock and lastly, twin leather buckle straps provide added security. There is also an adjustable and detachable shoulder strap so that the Gassano travel bag can be easily worn over the shoulder. Thoughtful and functional in its design, this luxury holdall easily adapts to every adventure. For years of travelling around the world, the ultimate travel luxury gadget at your disposal therefore should always be the Gassano medium Gladstone luggage bag. Celebration of Christmas hamper from Harrods £750 What better way to celebrate Christmas than with a luxurious selection of festive favourites from Harrods? Dive into the pair of wicker baskets to discover fine wines and warming spirits, an exquisite selection of tea and coffee, and the all-important Christmas pudding and brandy butter. As well as receiving two hampers, the contents include Médoc 2016 (75cl); 15-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (70cl); Cuvée Royale NV Brut Rosé (75cl); Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2017 (75cl); Bourgogne Chardonnay ‘La Jumalie’ (75cl); Cederberg Chenin Blanc 2018; PSI Ribera del Duero 2017 (75cl); 20-Piece Chocolate Selection Box (140g); Golden Cocoa-Dusted Nut Mix (325g); Christmas Cake; Boxing Day Chutney (290g); Cranberry Sauce with Port (270g); Chocolate & Hazelnut Biscuits (200g); Classic Panettone (750g); Brandy Butter (220g); Whisky Marmalade; Christmas Biscuit Selection Box (475g); Classic Mince Pies (380g); Christmas Spiced Black Tea Loose Leaf (125g); After-Dinner Christmas Coffee (250g); Hot Chocolate (300g). If that’s not indulgent enough for you, Harrods’ Ultimate Christmas Hamper is available from 15th December and priced at £5,000. Pocketalk “S” from Pocketalk £249 The Pocketalk “S” is a multi-sensory, two-way translation device designed for conversations to help you when you travel. Complete with 82 different languages, it has a sleek design with a large touchscreen that provides text translation for additional clarity. Its one-button translation feature enables simpler translations in fewer steps and, with high quality noise-cancelling microphones and two powerful speakers, those difficult conversations suddenly become a whole lot easier. Furthermore, the text-to-translate camera instantly recognizes and translates text, the written word, and signs. The device even computes exchanges for currency, length, width and temperature, and comes with a complimentary 2-year cellular data plan that provides coverage in over 130 countries/regions. Research serum concentrate from Tom Ford £255 Perfect for the man who is constantly on the go, this luxurious, highly potent serum from Tom Ford absorbs instantly into skin to revitalise the look and texture, and to improve skintone. Travel can take its toll on the body, yet the appearance of pores, lines and wrinkles is diminished while skin looks healthy, vibrant and reslient. Mavic 2 Pro drone from DJI £1,349 Get ready to see the bigger picture this Christmas with the Mavic 2, DJI‘s flagship consumer drone built for pros and enthusiasts. The Mavic 2 Pro is equipped with the Hasselblad L1D-20c camera, which sports a 1-inch CMOS sensor, allowing you to explore more of the world smoothly and safely. Capture stunning aerial photos at 20MP with extreme detail. Mavic 2 Pro supports a 10-bit D-log in-colour profile that yields higher dynamic range for more flexibility in the creating room. It also supports enhanced HDR photo, an improved technique that blends a sequence of photos for greater dynamic range and image quality. It wouldn’t be a Mavic if it couldn’t go with you anywhere, anytime. DJI kept that same foldable design and tweaked a few things that made a world of difference and make it DJI’s most advanced aerodynamic aircraft to date. Want to feature in one of our gift round-ups? If you have a luxury travel related product that you’d like to see featured, please contact us. Please also sign up to the channel for luxury retailers on our mailing list in order to receive an alert when we are compiling similar articles.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.

Did you enjoy this article?

Receive similar content direct to your inbox.

20 Comments

  1. Most of us fail to appreciate how much we rely on our data. One of the consequences of 2020s WFH and lockdowns is that we’ve become even more digitally dependent. Nowadays the three wisemen would be protecting their data with a diskAshur M2.

    1. Indeed, Phil… and where that device really comes into its own is in its portability, making it perfect for ensuring your data is secure when you travel. It’s smaller than the size of a phone and only 12mm thick!

  2. It’s getting to the stage where you’ve got to have a drone so thanks for the recommendation. Back in 2019 a friend’s daughter got married. Some of his aerial film of the reception was priceless, such a great way to remember a perfect day.

    1. Yes, you really can get some amazing footage. I must get mine out more in 2021. It would have been handy on my sailing trip earlier this year but, to be honest, when we were on the move was when the wind tended to be stronger… and then we were rather busy anyway!

  3. I’ve always had my eye on getting an SSD drive that’s big enough to store my work files in whenever I travel. I use the regular hard drive but with all the jostling that happens when you travel, it’s a hazard to my files. The required pin entry is awesome for security, too.

    1. Yes… SSDs are much safer than a hard disk drive if that’s what you’re using as they have no moving components. They also tend to be smaller, more lightweight and admittedly a little more expensive (but that additional security is more than worth it IMHO).

  4. I heard a telling stat something like “There are now more photographs taken every day than in all the years before.” What that really means is that there are more really bad pictures taken than ever before and it’s such a pity when someone wastes the opportunity to take a photo that could have been a great memory. A photography course is a gift that keeps on giving.

  5. Some interesting gift list you have here. The Tom Ford serum suddenly reminded me of one long-haul flight to Asia. I was sitting across the aisle from a lady doing some skincare routine during the flight (about bedtime or so) and even put on a mask. I know that airplane cabin air can be so drying on the skin, so I get the need for in-flight skincare. I could do with a men’s moisturizer or this Tom Ford serum when regular travel resumes.

    1. I think people often underestimate the toll that a lot of travel can have on the body. Of course, we notice it immediately with things like jet lag, but skincare neglect, I guess, is just something that creep up on us over time if we’re not careful!

  6. I always believe that you can’t go wrong with gifting a loved one or significant other with a watch or jewellery. Not only will it last for years and years and become heirloom pieces later on, but it never goes out of fashion and value goes up. Who wouldn’t want a gift like that, right?

  7. We’re staying with our son and daughter-in-law for 3 nights over Christmas. We’re very grateful and know that it’s hard work and expensive to host people for that long. Giving them a hamper like that would be a very appropriate thank you.

  8. I would love to receive a Christmas hamper from Harrods. One year I was gifted with one and it had wine, jam, tea, coffee, and biscuits. And wow brandy butter, I don’t think I had it last year, though. Wondering what else could there be in that 5,000-pound hamper. Interesting.

  9. Yeah, it’s time for men to know that skin care is a must for them too. Even just the simple sunscreen at the minimum. The problem I see is that there isn’t a lot of skincare products out there for men. I’m not sure if what works for women will work for men either. Tom Ford’s serum can be a good introduction for men to get into skincare, as it’s a trusted brand by many.

    1. I think you’d be surprised. There are quite a lot of products on the market nowadays. But yes, you won’t go too far wrong with this one as it’s a reputable and respected brand.

  10. That pocketalk translator is a good gift idea! When I was in Taipei 2 years ago, I used a scan and translate app to find out what the ingredients are of this snack I was buying. It took a long time. The pocketalk S not only translates speech but text as well, which is totally awesome. I wish I had this when I was in Taiwan. I could’ve saved a lot of time.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *