Global Rescue’s 2023 Winter Holiday Travel Gift Guide

Is there a loved one in your life who is planning travel to a new, remote destination? Is someone in your family heading for a tried-and-true locale? Are you bound for an international excursion or a nearby staycation? Whoever is on your winter shopping list – including you – the Global Rescue 2023 Holiday Gift Guide provides curated recommendations from the world’s most experienced travelers, our in-house medical and security professionals, and Global Rescue’s Safe Travel Partners.

Check out our 2023 holiday gift guide for people who love to travel:

Airfly Wireless Adapter

AirFly is a wireless adapter that lets you use your wireless Bluetooth headphones or earbuds in places that only have a headphone jack, like airplanes. Plug this tiny transmitter into the headphone jack to listen to in-flight movies, TV and music. “There’s nothing worse than a long flight with poor sound quality,” said Global Rescue’s Operations Manager Dan Stretch. “Airfly also means you can use your noise cancelling settings to drown out any engine noise,” he added.

Airport Lounge Access

Sometimes the worst parts of travel are the long lines, delays, and all the hustle and bustle that’s associated with getting there and going home. But airport lounge access can make transit time much easier and enjoyable. You can purchase a Plaza Premium airport lounge gift card or you can gift a Priority Pass airport lounge access membership.

Bug-Out Bag

The Seventy2 Survival System is called Seventy2 because the first 72 hours of a survival situation is extremely critical, and these kits have been designed — with the help of first responders, doctors, special forces operators and mountain guides — to provide the gear you need in a potentially deadly situation. This bug-out bag, made of heavy-duty waterproof canvas, comes with a tent, water filtration system, fire starter and first aid kit, to name a few items.

Extra Battery Power

The INIU Portable Charger is an Amazon bestseller and has 10,000 mAh, the minimum recommended by Global Rescue’s Associate Director of Medical Operations, David Koo. It’s slim and light, USB-C in/out port and comes with a USB-A to USB-C Cable. The Clutch Charger has 5,000 mAh and magnetically attaches to iPhone 12 (and newer models) or to MagSafe cases. It features a built-in cable and LED battery level indicator so you know how much charge is left.

Mealtime Multi-Tool

Whether you’re living on quinoa while trekking across the Swiss Alps or car-camping in the Shenandoah Valley, the ChowPal by Outdoor Edge is the mealtime multi-tool that makes eating easy and convenient. The ChowPal slides apart to reveal a full utensil set — folding knife, fork, spoon, can opener, bottle opener, flathead screwdriver and graduated wrench — then slides back together for storage in a nylon pouch.

Packable, Slip On Walking Shoes

Whether you’re saving luggage space, easing through security, walking all day, or seeking footwear versatility, the options today are better than ever including FitFlops, Allbird Loungers, Kiziks, OluKai Pehuea Slip On Sneakers or Dr. Scholl’s Madison Slip On Sneaker. The smart traveler can minimize the number of shoes packed for a trip by getting footwear that’s easier to slip on and off yet has support for all-day walking and is suitable for casual to smart-casual settings.

Portable Door Locks

“I always bring with me a portable door lock that I use in my hotel room for extra security,” said Global Rescue’s Medical Operations Senior Specialist Princess Celmea Aspuria. There is a wide variety of portable door locks. CNN lists the top-15 here and adds, “No matter where you decide to stay or the type of lodging you book, a reliable travel door lock can make you feel even more protected from intruders and unwanted guests.”

Power Adapter

The Epicka TA-105C Universal Travel Adapter is an all-in-one adapter equipped with four different plug types covering 200+ countries and regions. It has three USB-C and 2 USB-A ports for charging iPhone, Samsung and other Android phones, smart watch and fitness tracker, tablet, power bank, camera, handheld game console, headsets, and everything else that is charged through a USB port. The Epicka travel adapter is the top choice for Global Rescue’s IT Quality Assurance Engineer Ayesha Usman. “There are a lot of items that I never travel without, but I believe that the Epicka adapter is one of the most essential items that I cannot imagine people traveling without,” she said.

Smart Watches

There are overwhelming shoutouts for smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Google Pixel Watch 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic. People who have them swear by their travel usefulness. Global Rescue’s Senior Manager of Quality Assurance Ammad Aslam said he never forgets to take his smartwatch while travelling. “It is my silent travelling partner. I don’t have to continuously look at my phone because it vibrates to let me know when to turn right or left. It’s like having my own personal guide,” he said.

The “Best” Wine Bottle Opener

The Makupon Multi-Tool Waiters Corkscrew is the “best corkscrew for your carry-on travel,” according to Minimalist Travel. “In our personal experience, the corkscrew…is so small that it has never even been given a second glance at a variety of American, Canadian, and European airports, who if they even see it probably don’t understand what it is.” That makes Global Rescue’s Marketing Director Meghan Mahoney happy. “I don’t know how many times I’ve shown up at my hotel or Airbnb jet-lagged with a beautiful bottle of wine and just wanting a glass and there is no wine opener. I only travel with carry-on luggage and this corkscrew is a must have for me,” said Mahoney.

Travel Garment Steamers

Wrinkles, ugh! You packed so carefully only to unpack and discover a wrinkled mess. Garment steamers are a “must have” for Global Rescue’s Associate Marketing Director Samantha Hosking. The handy travel tool is not available at all lodging establishments. Some places provide steam irons but if you have delicate fabrics, a traditional iron can ruin your clothes. Travelers today are learning that compact travel steamers are light, packable and deliver powerful steam to smooth out wrinkles. The Spruce named the True & Tidy Handheld Garment Steamer “best overall” and included half a dozen others for travelers with specific preferences.

Travel Medical Kit

The MyMedic Mini First Aid Kit is a top pick by Global Rescue’s CEO Dan Richards. The kit comes with the things you will need for day-to-day minor injuries, diarrhea, headache, cuts, burns and more, all packed into a small, sleek and compact carrying case. Add azithromycin (antibiotic) and zofran (prevents nausea) for extra protection.

TSA-Approved Multi-Tool Wallet

The Nite-Ize wallet is also a multi-tool, and it’s TSA-friendly. “I’ve used this for years and it always clears TSA security. The tools I use most are the bottle opener, scraper, and screwdriver. I won’t travel without it,” said Bill McIntyre, Global Rescue communications director. The lightweight wallet includes a seven-in-one multi-tool including: bottle opener, scraper, three wrench sizes, flathead screwdriver, phillips screwdriver/tape cutter and metric + standard ruler.

Water Bottle With Built-in Filters

The Salomon Soft Flask XA filters bacteria and protozoa from natural water sources, so you can drink easily and safely without needing to carry huge volumes of water. Shrinking as you drink to limit water bounce, the flask lets you know exactly how much you have left. It features a wide 42mm cap that is built into the bottle cap.

Travel Protection Membership

Give the gift of peace of mind to the traveler in your life. A Global Rescue membership ensures your loved one is not alone when they board that plane, train or ship. In fact, they are traveling with a virtual team of experts — a paramedic, a translator, a logistics expert, an intelligence analyst and a security advisor. It’s like having a protective detail on standby, prepared to help when you need medical or security advice or a field rescue.