3 gifts for travellers

When one of your top clients is planning a resort vacation or cruise, you might want to surprise her with an unexpected gift. Here are some ideas.

1. Branded luggage tags and luggage locks

In Montreal, luggage tag-and-lock sets will cost $14.58 each, with a minimum order of 50 ($729). In Saskatoon, a similar set will cost $11.90 a piece, with a minimum 50-piece order, and a $58.85 set-up fee for the brand engraving ($653.85). In Mississauga, Ont., a set costs $20.50 per piece, again with a minimum 50-piece order ($1,025).

2. A travel book

Lonely Planet guidebooks cover 500 destinations in 195 countries, and include phrase books, e-books and activity books. Lonely Planet PDFs and ebooks cost approximately $12 to $19. Books average $15 for city guides, and $27 for countries. Fodors offers free mobile apps with city guides for popular destinations, and hard copies average $15 to $25. So you can send a well-regarded resource for the same cost as a set of luggage tags your clients will likely toss in the trash.

3. A surprise upon arrival

You can arrange a surprise for your clients at most resorts or cruise lines, but you’ll need a reservation number, exact travel dates, the name of the resort or cruise ship and name of the travel agent. For example, Crystal Cruises, a luxury all-inclusive cruise line, offers add-ons that include a selection of connoisseur wines for $450, gourmet truffles for $20, or shipboard, spa and excursion credits in $50 increments. Travel agents warn that more economical cruise lines or resorts may not honour gift requests in a timely manner. Read more: Gifts for travellers>