Gift ideas for sister travelling abroad?
 

My younger sister is spending second semester abroad. She's leaving for Austria in the middle of the month, and I wanted to give her some kind of going away present...any suggestions? Did anyone spend time abroad and have something that they were really thankful they brought with them/didn't bring but wish they had? Thanks!

ETA: Sorry for the typo in the subject line!

If its a real little sister, maybe see if your parents could go in with you on a big or bigger memory card for a camera, or even a camera if she doesn't have one. I went to Australia three years ago, and I received a journal from my little sister that I wrote in every day there. Or even just something useful if she doesn't have it - a power adapter, phone cards, or a small photo album of her favorite friends and family at home.

Definitely a voltage adapter, also known as an ac dc power adapter, foreign voltage adapters, travel adapters plugs, electrical converter, foreign power adapter, universal voltage adapter, adaptor for uk, adaptor for asia, foreign power converter, travel electrical adaptor, adaptor plugs, ac adapter, dc adapter, power adapter, variable voltage adapter, 110v 220v voltage adapter, 220v 110v voltage adapter.

A cellphone with international capabilities (fwiw, an English one doesn't always work in other European countries).

At a photography store, you can usually get a sticky address side of a postcard, from which she can make her own postcards from photos she takes.

I'll stop there...

A jar of peanut butter to that she can take with her! I know it sounds really lame now, but all of my friends who've studied abroad have craved it like crazy. I tried sending it in a care package to one of my friends, and because it weighs so much, the shipping rate for it was just crazy.

Good answer! My uncle used to travel weekly, and he practically lived on peanut butter & crackers for years! Sometimes, the local food just doesn't agree with one's system.

I could have sworn I saw Penut Butter when I was in France (but then again - who needs penut butter when you have Nutella??:) ), do they not have it in other parts of Europe?

They have it, but apparently it doesn't taste as or as "authentic" as American peanut butter.

How about a nice journal so she can record her memories? :)

A Eurail pass - to get the "student deal", you need to buy them on North American soil, not European soil. Talk to a travel agent about this.
She might not have tonnes of time, but there are different options. The more extravagent the pass, the more $$$$$$$.

Also, if she is a contact lens wearer, tell her to stock up on solution here. When I was in Germany in 1993, contact lens solution was "sehr teuer". 27 Deutsch marks was the going rate (yes, it's Euros now). :)

Provided that she isn't allergic.

TRUE! Here's the deal. You CAN find it in some countries...definitely in the UK. But it is NOT GOOD. It isn't as creamy. It's actually kinda gritty and not nearly as sweet. My BF sent me a jar of Jif as a gift, and a sister brought me a jar when I met her in Italy, and then BF brought me another jar when he came to visit. It was always sooo welcomed.

But...and I know this is going to be "tacky" to some...but what I needed most when I got abroad was MONEY. Paying on a pre-payed cell phone, food, transport, etc etc was a big hit to the ol' pocket book. Especially since the exchange rate was horrendous when I first arrived. So a gift of $$ is always appreciated...maybe one of those prepayed Visa's or Discover Cards (note: not AMEX...really not as widely accepted as the other two).

-I got several journals as going away presents when I left for Italy. BUT...I found a ton of really nice ones in Rome and Florence that I actually preferred to the gifts I received.

-Travel alarm clock. This is something that I actually managed to remember, but it's good to have at least one.

-Some of the major health & beauty brands are either unavailable or stupidly expensive in Europe, like Clinique. A semester's supply of her staples would be a good idea, unless she's not choosy or doesn't have sensitive skin and can use anything.

-The deodorants were a little weird.

-Phone cards are usually cheaper in the host country. It was cheaper for me to buy the little 5 Euro cards (something like 250 minutes a card) from the tobacco store around the corner than to use the Sprint phone card my parents had given me.

-Batteries. The major brands are expensive in some parts of the Continent.

In short? Something that she can't get over there (either due to price or brand), something that's easy to pack, and something she'll actually use.

I actually got a ton of stuff before I studied abroad, and before I did my SE Asia tour, but most of stayed back stateside because it was impractical for me to take along.

Oooh! I had forgotten about that. I remember paying about 11 Euro for a bottle of foundation....not even Clinque, but the run of the mill drug store kind. Definitely a stock up on the daily items is a good idea.

The one thing I did not have or think to bring was a phone card. I phoned home way more than I thought I would and spent tons of money. Also I would suggest she stock on those little things she takes for granted but uses frequently, all of which has already been suggested :)

Yes - that I do remember, because I ran out and had to buy some in Paris. I don't really know how to describe the difference, though.

A good source for travel items is:

http://www.magellans.com/

Oh, one other thing...make her mix CD's (mp3 files) for the plane trip/successive trips. Up beat music works best.

And picture disks as well...slide shows of good times and/or a photo tour of the campus. People always asked what our campus looked like and it was hard to describe/get pictures.

Maybe a US map too, to illustrate where she's from. A sister sent me a Pennsylvania state flag, which was really nice :).

I liked the idea of getting her the EuroRail pass! That's something a bunch of people could go in together on. It's much cheaper to get it in the states before going than to try to buy it there.

Along the same lines, look into the low-cost airline websites (EasyJet, RyanAir, umm...Jet2, Zoom, etc). Some of those have "gift card" options, which would allow your sister to purchase a flight to another country for a little side trip/backpack. The flights are dead cheap (i flew to italy and back for under $30 USD) and it was nice to have a break. A note of caution: it may be hard for her to get a flight unless she's living in a major city...check this first because some of these airliners fly out of some really random airports.

Thank you guys SO much for all of the information and suggestions so far. It has been really helpful!

Your so right on this one! AMEX is horrible to travel over seas with, Master Card or Visa is much easier. I had a friend over in Australia who planned on using her AMEX for everything, anywhere we went that took it she paid for us all so she could get the cash cus so few places took it

Alarm clock is a great idea, I forgot mine this summer and because of that it became a pain in the ass.

I found shampoo to be really expensive over in Aussie, something the professor forgot to mention

I thought they were...stronger. Even the women's deodorants (not the unisex) seemed more appropriate for a man. This, however, is from a continent that openly sells "4-day deodorant."

I highly recommend a really cool journal and large memory card. You can always write her a note in the front about how much of an awesome time she will have and remind her to actually write in the journal. I went to Italy, Greece, and France 2 years ago and we were required to keep a journal (student ambassador trip) and it kinda sucked at the time, but now one of my biggest regrets is not writing in it enough or in enough detail!