Seeking the perfect gift for a traveler? Here's some inspiration from road warriors and travel professionals:
• Writer Paul Theroux's most recent travelogue is Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads.
MUST HAVES: "I never travel without at least three books, usually novels, not current ones but classics -- nearly always paperbacks that I will give away after I've read them. Always two or three pens -- specifically Lamy ballpoints."
COULD USE: "I could use a new hat, called the Voyager -- made by Lock & Co. Hatters in London. Mine is very battered. You can roll them up and pack them."
GIFTS: "For a new friend, my novel The Lower River [set in Africa] or The Elephanta Suite [set in India]. For an old friend, a classic book, Madame Bovary. For someone I loved, I would buy a piece of luggage from Glaser Designs in San Francisco."
• Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television; also founded Salamander Hotels & Resorts.
MUST HAVES: "I pack things that are easy to carry and fashionable at the same time -- items that make me feel good and look good, without complication or stress. A cozy black sweater. Elegant flats. And a wrap from my scarf collection [sheilajohnsoncollection.com], which is great for staying warm on the plane and can accessorize any outfit."
COULD USE: "I'd love a warm, oversize bathrobe."
GIFTS: "A great, versatile piece of luggage is the best gift I can imagine."
• Irfan Ahmad created the Irhal app for Muslim travelers, which includes 90-plus city guides with halal restaurants, mosques and prayer timings for each city.
MUST HAVES: "My No. 1 travel partner is now my phone. In the past, I needed a compass to find the direction of Mecca to say my prayers in a new city. Today, my phone with the Irhal app has a built-in compass.
"My navy blue Sperry top-siders -- the original two-eye boat shoe that can look cool on the beach and casually elegant in any party."
COULD USE: "I am looking for that perfect saddle-leather antique-looking, weather-beaten bag with modern spinner wheels that glide across the aisle with ease."
GIFTS: "A GoPro for the adventure-seeker who loves bungee-jumping or zip-lining. A phone battery backup for the always-connected millennial."
• Karen Magee, hotelier and founder of Young Travel Professionals
MUST-HAVES: "Moisturizer. To go from a long plane ride straight to a day full of meetings, especially when it's a red-eye, I'll use my favorite Fresh Umbrian Clay oil-free lotion."
"A sapphire blue Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Saffiano tote bag ... it's light and sturdy enough to fit everything from my laptop to my makeup bag -- plus, it slides underneath the seat. I always pack a change of clothes in my carry-on. My usual? A Black House White Market slip dress. The material doesn't wrinkle and the dress can easily roll up into a tiny ball, perfect for a small bag."
COULD USE: "A technology company called Bluesmart is creating a carry-on bag that connects to your phone. It can weigh itself, charge your devices in an easy-to-access front pocket, alert you if you are outside of a certain vicinity and track the bag if you can't find it."
GIFTS: "For ladies, a travel jewelry case. For guys, The Art of Shaving has travel kits that my husband can't travel without."
Travel on 12/06/2015