HOTEL-OBSESSED
In love with the classics and sports their iconic emblems wherever possible

Le Colombe d’Or menu tablecloth – The chicest menu from the coolest hotel

Chateau Marmont Keychain Tassel and their branded t-shirts

The Ritz Paris bathrobe – The plushest robe in their signature apricot-hue 

Canned peaches from The Greenbrier 

These perfectly kitchy Madonna Inn glass goblets

Eloise at The Plaza matching slippers for parents and kids

The Hotel de Crillon’s Rivolta Carmigniani bedding – Sadly, the bed-making itself is DIY

A Bemelmans Bar Tote or these adorable branded linen cocktail napkins to spruce up cocktail hour at home

Mini Pellicano bag – Conversation starter meets flex, perfect for walking around other hotels with your sunscreen, glasses, and a book

Ritz luggage tag – Everyone needs a good luggage tag, right?

Raffles Singapore coasters – The birthplace of the Singapore Sling!

Bring Mezzatorre into the backyard with this umbrella

Claridge’s tote – To make schlepping groceries slightly more glamorous

The Mark Hotel slippers 

Villa d’Este monogrammed ashtray – If you didn’t steal yours during your stay

Eden Rock x Diptique Ylang room spray 

Hotel Splendide by Ludwig Bemelmans – A fun and gossipy read about the BTS of hotel life

COOKS & EATERS
Comes back from Marrakech with preserved lemons and saffron, books tables before flights, and always packs a tin of moshio salt

World Kitchen Explorer Subscription – Each monthly send comes with 7 or 8 spices and globally-inspired recipes to push your repertoire 

Millie’s Thai Lemongrass Sipping Broth – Brilliantly packaged in tea bags so you can sip broth on the go

Jacobson’s travel sized infused salts – A little goes a long way!

Crepe spreader – To step up your crepe technique 

TNFx Bialetti Travel Moka Set – Everything intrepid javaphiles need to make a proper pour in their Airbnb or on top of a mountain

Staub fondue pot – Channeling Swiss chalets at home

Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. Iconic.  

Brasserie Lipp espresso set – For a morning cup that transports you to one of our favorite Parisian brasseries

Tabletop hibachi grill – Inspired by traditional Japanese yakitori grills, an apartment-friendly grill that doubles as a griddle for pancakes or burgers

WM Brown apron – Made in a sturdy Japanese selvedge denim with dual front pockets 

Maison Masarin vintage French tea towels – Carefully sourced from around France, then revived in their Lyon artisan workshop. Durable, absorbent… and we’re a sucker for old French linens.  

These traditional donabe pots from Iga, Japan, are made with naturally high-heat resistant clay that has been used for open-flame cooking for hundreds of years.

Japan: The Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu. Essential. 

Moroccan tagine – The perfect vessel for making your own slow-simmered stew (with those preserved lemons you brought back)

Traditional Molcajete – This Mexican kitchen staple will seriously elevate your guac game, and looks so great on the counter.

PotLuck Market Sauce trio – A trio of Korean jangs—fermented sauces or pastes used for seasoning—that work as dips, marinades, or dolloped into soups

Le Fontaine de Mars napkin – “We have Fontaine de Mars at home”

Italian pasta chitarra – For that friend who took a cooking class in Italy and hasn’t made fresh pasta since

Ravioli stamp – The pasta accessory nobody knew they needed

Indian Cookery: A Cookbook (40th anniv. edition) by Madhur Jaffrey

CHIC NOMAD
Swears by our favorite (Yolo-approved) travel uniforms

Ancient Greek pony mule – They go with everything, and are dressy without taking up as much space as heels. 

Comme Si Cashmere Hooded Scarf – Perfect for keeping warm on the plane  

Our favorite cashmere turtlenecks on the high and low end of the spectrum

Kule “Over the Shoulder” Tote – A carry-all for flea or farmers market hopping that packs down flat in your suitcase 

Navy polka dot scarf from William Crabtree  

45r unisex long sleeve t shirt – Great layering pieces for a capsule travel wardrobe from a cult-favorite Japanese brand 

Birkenstock shearling slide – Keep your feet comfy on the plane and miles beyond! 

Gammarelli Papal Socks – Pure silk Italian socks that come Pope-approved

Ann Mashburn Safari Shirt – Equally rugged and chic, and a great travel shirt for all seasons

&Daughter Cashmere Triangle Scarf – For bundling up without the extra volume 

Dragon Diffusion bag – A bag that can go from beach to dinner 

Comme Des Garçons Polka Dot Clutch – To store your passport or take out on the town

Ann Mashburn Lara pants – The most flattering pants that hold their shape even after a red eye in row 34

Baggu Travel Cloud Bag – A well-designed personal item with a trolley strap and laptop sleeve that folds down to nothing if you need to stash it away

Alex Mill Pajamas – PJs you won’t be embarrassed to greet room service in

Olympia Le Tan passport clutch – Where to next? 

Clare V Grande Fanny – Perfect for wandering hands-free in a Moroccan medina or while biking along the Seine

Aime Leon Dore travel slipper – Comes with a smart zip-up pouch to store in your carry-on 

The Il Bisonte Yolo Bag – Duh!

En Route charm – A most elegant travel talisman

Silk Laundry blazer and pants – A 100% silk set that feels like pajamas, yet sleek enough to wear to a meeting straight from the airport

Malachite charm – A traveler’s stone said to bring good luck on trips

New&Lingwood Yolo smoking jacket – Combines the ease of a dressing gown and the elegance of eveningwear

These Asahi deck shoes slip on and off seamlessly to breeze through TSA

Métier Stowaway bag – Brilliantly designed to work as a clipped-in organizer within the larger Métier bags, or worn with a crossbody strap on its own. 

PRODUCT JUNKIE
Always optimizing their in-flight skincare routine or testing the latest K-beauty fad

Take it with you

YSE Brightening & Depuffing Eye Patches – Perfect to wear on the plane if you want to land glowing, but refuse to wear a full sheet mask in-flight

My Neighbor’s Facial Cleanser Bar – Liquid-free face wash for the friend who’s constantly maxing out their TSA baggies

Skinsheet Cleansing Coins – 1-inch coins that expand to a 10×10” facecloth with a bit of water

Jao Refresher Sanitizer – A multipurpose sanitizer spray that disinfects your hands (without drying them!), but also works as a zitzapper, aftershave or under-arm refresher

Dualist Balancing Oil Serum – The best oil-meets-serum that is absorbent, not greasy, and easy to throw in your bag for doubly-duty when packing carry-on. 

Aesop Ginger Flight Therapy – The best roll-on pulse point therapy that soothes nausea and stress

Monastery’s Universal Balm – An all-in-one hydrating skin salve that’s great for the face, hands and body

OMAD Bio Cellulose Restore & Repair Serum Mask – Designed to heal compromised skin after laser treatments or chemical peels, this single-sheet mask is what your skin craves after hours of stale plane air.

Travel size La Bonne Brosse – The founders of this cult favorite French beauty brand swear brushing your hair after flying is like pressing the reset button for your scalp and your mood.

Egyptian Magic – Made with just six ingredients, this all-natural ointment is always in our bag to tame frizzy hair, use as a lip balm, or nourish dry skin. 

Saint Charles Propolis Candies – We love the immune-boosting propolis spray from this Viennese pharmacy, but these are a bit easier (and tastier) to travel with.

The chic, pocket-size French hand-mirror we swear by 

Transporting at home

Iris Hantverk Bath Brush – A gorgeous horsehair and oak body brush made by artisans in Sweden and Estonia  

Saint Charles Apothecary Hand Cream – This non-greasy cream smells like the Austrian Alps 

Lilis Korean Body Resurfacing Set – The best Korean body scrub you can find this side of Seoul

Blue Lagoon Lip Balm – Made with bioactive microalgae from Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, it’s one of the best hydrating lip treatments we’ve come across

Japanese onsen bath salts – A blend of hinoki essential oil and onsen minerals extracted from Mt. Yakedake in the Japanese Alps, which breaks down hardened keratin and smooths skin

Lavender Oil – Pure lavender oil with no preservatives or additives, sourced directly from a farmer in Mont Ventoux, Provence. Pour a bit into your bubble bath, spray it on your pillow, or dab it on as a natural mosquito repellent. 

Naxos Apothecary soap – One of our favorite pharmacies in Greece thankfully ships worldwide, and this bar of soap that smells like an outdoor shower after a day at the beach is the next-best thing to a flight to Naxos. 

Kama Ayurveda Body Oils – Abhayanga at home with oils specific to your dosha

Costa Brazil lymphatic massage duo – Firming body oil with a massage brush equals Brazilian-looking skin

Savonnerie Le Serail Olive Oil soap – All-natural and hypoallergenic soap made by artisans in Marseille that’s safe for skin and home 

ARTISAN WORKSHOP WANDERER
Can’t pass a loom or pottery wheel without bringing home a souvenir that needs its own carry-on

This marbleized ceramic plate from Totem Home, made in a female-led Portuguese atelier, would make such a pretty cheese or cookie plate.

Romanian Horezu vase 

A Kene tapestry representing ancestral memories—made by the remote Amazonian Shipbo tribe on a backstrap loom (whose designs inspired a Dior purse)—is so stunning, and is said to carry harmonizing energy!

Barrocal Handwoven blanket – These intricately patterned blankets are handwoven on traditional wooden looms by artisans in the Alentejo region of Portugal. 

The smoke-fired Oaxacan clay vase by master potter Rufina Ruiz Lopez has multiple handles and would look great on a mantle or stuffed with blooms. 

Maybe this is the year to get a Sicilian “Testa di Moro” from one of the best local sources?

The Elephant Way’s Ranger Parka comes in a rich oxblood red and is embellished with valor bars handbeaded by Samburu mamas. 100% of profits are returned to support indigenous communities and their sacred land. 

Norlha Split Cape – Made from softest yak down it’s definitely a splurge, but was handwoven by artisans all the way on the Tibetan plateau and is fantastic for travel. 

The Kashmir Loom Sariska Stole is another irresistible wrap from afar, made in Ladakh from Changra goat cashmere.

This smoky handblown ashtray could not be chicer (for holding nuts, not just butts) and was made in a NYC Chinatown atelier.

This signet ring crafted from lapis lazuli and 18k gold by a master metalsmith in Nantucket will make you feel like island royalty.

We’re obsessed with the elaborate ceramics style of Michoacán, Mexico, and have our eye on this gorgeous blooming barro vidriado-style vase by Studio Binat. 

An Egyptian royal palm plate – How cute is that? And it’s made in Fayoum! 

We’ve long coveted these elegant beaded cuffs made by Tanzanian women’s collective, Sidai Designs.

Still waiting for someone to buy us this wavy Ghanaian basket

Our favorite wicker-workers at Atelier Vime are offering their version of a 19th-century Provençal fruit-gathering basket filled with local olive oil, handcrafted trivets and soaps, and more.

Peruvian alpaca throw – Spiffs up the arm of any couch.

Threads of Time: This gorgeous new book is a journey in textiles across the globe, with photos by several Yolo contributors!

Oil paintings by Lotta Teale transport you to Provence, Venice, the Dolomites and beyond.

A VAWAA Gift Card is a down payment towards a “Vacation With an Artist” trip (weaving in Oaxaca, printmaking in Kyoto, traditional cooking in Greece…). Yes, please! 

LITTLE TRAVELERS 
To expand their world, keep them occupied, and get them there without a hitch 

​​Push pin globes – We love this as a gift for kids that’s really a keepsake for the parents, to commemorate a first international trip 

Hey Kids, Watch This – Dozens of adult and kid-approved movie recommendations that span decades, countries and genres, so in-flight screen time feels a bit more intentional 

Kid Travel guide books – A great gift if they have a specific upcoming trip to get excited about

Travel backpack – Manageable enough that kids can carry it themselves

Dusen Dusen Recycled Leather Luggage Tag

Baby Bjorn Crib – Yolo-tested: the best travel crib by far! 

Travel highchair – A portable chair that hooks right onto the table at dinner, then folds up after 

Cute packing cubes in punchy colors motivate kids to pitch in

Childrens travel pillow – Kid-sized with cheery sayings 

JetKids BedBox – A genius ride-on suitcase that turns an airplane seat into a toddler-size bed 

PJ sets that double as outfits—perfect for plane rides and cute enough for hotel breakfasts 

Mini Magnatiles– Game changer as a plane activity 

Non-rolling crayons – Made for kid-size hands, these are triangular so they won’t roll off the tray table! 

Fahlo Plush Tracking – Sweet stuffed animals that track real lives ones, with proceeds going to support conservation efforts

United States wooden puzzle – A classic! 

Travel inspired legos – An Italian postcard? Cherry blossoms in Japan? We won’t judge if you buy these for yourself. 

Explorers Suitcase – Kitted out with a treasure box, binoculars, and everything they need to play “explorer”

John Derian stickers – So you can all pass a couple of hours in-flight without screens

Adopt a baby orphan elephant through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust! The funds directly support the Nairobi-based nonprofit’s care for rescued baby ellies, as well as their antipoaching conservation work in Kenya. Or sponsor a rescued cheetah through the Cheetah Conservation Fund, a giraffe through the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (both in Namibia), or a gorilla through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda—and all proceeds support these organizations’ impactful conservation work. 

THE CONSTANT TRAVELER 
Knows every airport lounge Wi-Fi password by heart and yes, they’ll take it to go

Portable speaker – Because a good playlist instantly makes a hotel room feel more homey 

Bose Frames Tenor – Sunglasses with built-in headphones for that person who is always losing both

Portable charger – The best one we’ve come across that can fully charge a laptop, or a smartphone four times over, with USB-A, USB-C, and wall charging ports

Airpods with live translation – So you can finally understand mass at the Vatican 

Airfly device – A genius invention that connects your airpods to the plane TV, so you don’t have to suffer through Crazy Rich Asians with tinny audio for a 12th time.

Travel Reading Light – Do not disturb thy neighbor

Portable steamer – Wrinkles are inevitable. Luckily this steamer is sleek, under 2lbs, and uses dry steam that won’t leave your clothes damp.

L’Uniform crossbody pouch – To hold your passport and phone in transit, or to keep some doggy bags handy on a walk

The chicest water bottle that looks like hand blown glass, without the added weight. 

Suri electric toothbrush – Uses the same charging port as an iPhone and has the coolest self-cleaning UV travel case

Ettinger Personalised Pill Case – Not your grandma’s travel pill case!

Smythson Passport Cover – Crossgrain leather in a lovely range of colors, with easy access pockets for your passport and boarding pass

Foldable, superlight travel yoga mat – If you just have to downward dog everywhere

Clare V travel domino set – For the analog traveler

These incredibly elegant, linen, made to order travel pouches. 

Travel-friendly incense – Tiny incense packets that fit in your wallet and are designed like matches, so no lighter needed!

Ettinger card case – Play hearts on the go, but make it chic

Longchamp Le Pliage Original – Iconic for a reason 

This and this dopp kit are made with waterproof zippers, NASA grade insulation, and a reflective surface that keep your cosmetics or tech at a stable temperature, even in a hot car or at the beach.  

Ralph Lauren Cashmere Travel Kit – For that friend who’s always cold on the plane

July trackable suitcase – You’ll never worry about forgetting to put an Airtag in your suitcase again! 

Rimowa carry-on – Our polycarbonate cases have circled the world with us many times over, and they only look better the more dinged up they get.

Wm Brown x Seil Marshall carryon – Family favorite, obvi.

Rue de Verneuil Traversée bag – Works double duty as a handbag or carry on, and expands/contracts with snap closures  

Cram packing cubes – These come in fun, bright colors and have an impressive amount of compression

Briggs & Riley larger format packing cubes are our go-to for checked bags

Cadence parcel & capsules – We have sung the praises of these before and we will again.

Métier Vérité Weekend Duffel – Perfect shape, and even has a laptop sleeve

Ries set of travel containers – For the friend who can’t live without their full haircare routine on the road 

Lexxola glasses & jewelry case – A cute solution for the sunglasses-obsessed

Parallelle toiletry bag – Our friends Pia and Natasha talked about this bag in a way we’ve never heard someone talk about a toiletry bag

A credit card and coin purse from our favorite leather shop in Milan, Pettinaroli

Smythson Chess roll – Portable board with two zip pouches for all 32 mini pieces 

ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT
Plans their trips around sunrise hikes, never caught without an extra layer, and believes “function” is its own form of beauty  

Sentier Italia hiking boots – Finally, a hiking boot so chic you’ll wear it off-trail

Sparkling water bottle – The coolest portable soda maker for your acqua frizzante obsessed friend

Amundsen Field blanket – Waxed cotton on one side, brushed flannel on the other, with a layer of cozy Norwegian wool in the middle to lay down for a picnic or wrap up around a campfire

Fieldbar cooler – This retro-looking cooler can keep up to three bottles of wine chilled for hours in the sun

Design-y rechargeable mini lantern – Rechargeable with a USB-C port—no batteries needed! 

Cold Plunge Changing Robe – Keep dry and warm after swims, surfs, or cold plunges

Wm Brown x Chatham Camp Blanket – Rugged and versatile, WM Brown collaborated with a family that’s been making blankets in this style since the 1800s, designed to go everywhere with you. 

Monogrammed Original Swiss Army Knife – What can’t this do?

Cold Joy on the art of the plunge and wild swimming, by Libby DeLana

Blundstone suede clogs – Something easy to kick on and off for airport security or at the entrance to your tent

Daiichi Raka Boots – Vulcanized (completely sealed) boots made in Japan with a helpful strap to tug them on or pull them off

Burton’s brilliant neck warmer magnets directly onto your ski goggles for fog-free warmth and no gap over the bridge of your nose

Alpine Refuges – Mountain hygge by Aaron Rolph

Mini theragun – To unwind after a day on the trails or slopes

Tracksmith ultra-lightweight rain jacket – “There’s no bad weather, only bad gear”

Binoculars – Maybe 2026 is the year to finally get into bird watching

Mini bike pump 

Yeti tumbler – Utilitarian for obvious reasons, but we love it because it doubles as a cocktail shaker in a pinch

National Park Foundation – Make a donation to the official nonprofit arm of the National Parks Service, which protects and improves more than 400 parks across the US and needs a lift now more than ever!

THE MEMORY-KEEPER  
Always stops to paint (or journal) the flowers 

Schmincke Retro watercolor set – For plein-air painting when the inspiration strikes 

Watercolor travel journal with postcard-sized paper to paint on 

Blackwing pencils – Ticonderoga who?

Oroblanco sketchbook – Really lovely textured paper and a flexible binding for sketching on the go

Color Block Pencil Set

Kyoto pastels are inspired by the light of the city, and made by a 4th-gen, family-owned art supply company in Japan

Sienna plein air pochade box 

Portuguese pencils handcrafted in the oldest pencil factory in the Iberian Peninsula

Mudle crayons that could easily be mistaken for colorful rocks 

The chicest gold-edged notebooks

Serapian notebook – Bound in an Italian leather that feels as soft as cashmere

Kodak 35mm Reusable Camera – See your vacation on film

Zero Waste Disposable Camera – Mail in the whole camera once you’re done to get your film back, and they’ll refurbish the camera for its next user

Smythson photo corners to add your pictures to an album once you’re home 

Leaf imprint kits – Place shells, leafs, or whatever you want to make a print of on the paper and in 15 minutes on a sunny day you have a mess-free keepsake

Malachite pen from Pineider

THE HOST WITH THE MOST
Offers a standing invitation to their amazing beach/ski/country house

Night carafe – Made by skilled glassblowers in Chiba, Japan for almost 100 years

Matt Hranek’s Cocktail Books – Negronis, martinis, and more! 

Carl Auböck Brass Candle Holders – These would certainly score you an invite back

Carte D’Armenia Incense – Perfumed paper that burns flame-free. Made in Italy and inspired by the Armenian tradition of “medicinal papers,” which burned benzoin resin to purify the air 

Cosi Tabellini Pewter Cocktail Shaker and accessories – For stirring up Bond-worthy martinis

Mark Thomas wine glasses – Mouthblown wine glasses made in Austria, with slightly angular walls that enhance the tasting experience

The Wm Brown x Another Country Bar Cart

A Lisa Corti or Autumn Sonata tablecloth – Channel al fresco summer dinner parties on even the dreariest winter days 

Haws Faseley Watering Can – The most stylish way to irrigate

Giannini Firenze Marbled Guest Book – Guess who came for dinner? Now you don’t have to!

3lb bucket of Maldon salt – This industrial-sized tub of the best salt that money can buy will not go unused

Handmade Dutch gardening tools

Gohar World personalized embroidered lace envelopes – We doubt postage stamps would stick to these, but they’d be great for some chic jewelry storage 

A lovely chalice fruit bowl from Henry Holland

Mclean’s of Braemar Roe Buck candlestick – For your friend who went to Scotland this year and is dreaming of retiring to a restored bothy

Côte Bougie Moroccan Candle – The herb-scented candle we buy over and over again, poured in ceramic jars made in Tamegroute, Morocco

Skye McAlpine, The Christmas Companion – For that friend who starts decking the halls on Nov 1

A transportable boule set that almost looks like a sculpture 

Mariage Freres Wedding Imperial Tea 

Signe Hytte Book Weight – This sleek almond-shaped book weight is so helpful to keep a cookbook open instead of constantly flipping pages with flour-covered hands, and is chic enough to leave out on a desk when not in use. 

Budd unisex nightshirt 

Monogrammed pillows with navy trim from London & Avalon  

Mokkamaster drip coffee maker – Impossible to brew a bad cup from this

Fornasetti Candle

Gohar World Host Rubber Gloves – Suddenly being on dish duty doesn’t sound so bad!

Ginori 1735 trinket dish

Sharland England rattan tray – Perfect to serve cocktails in the backyard or breakfast in bed

Bedside carafe and glass set handblown in Murano, Italy.  

“Words for the Table” French embroidered napkins

Glass ice bucket from Simon Pearce – A classic

G. McGee Towel – Super clever beach towels with chess and backgammon boards designed into them 

JAPANOPHILE
Came back from Japan and can’t stop talking about the konbini egg sandwiches and Shinkansen bento boxes  

Woven bamboo tea strainer – Arguably not as functional as a finer mesh strainer, but we just love the look of this old-school bamboo one. 

45 R bandana – Handiest headband, neck scarf, mouchoir

Ikebana kenzan – Throw out that soggy green foam and use this sleek kenzan for flower arranging

White and navy dot Tenugui – A traditional hand-dyed tengui that can be used as a kerchief, tea towel, or even as gift wrap

Mini straw broom – Crafted with sturdy bristles that are gentle enough for crumbs and dust, this mini broom makes the chore of sweeping slightly more enjoyable. 

Japanese incense

Wasabi Salt – For a hit of salt, spice, and umami all in one

Garden Scissors – Delicate scissors for delicate flower pruning 

Hand soap – A gentle, unscented hand soap that we’d buy just for the packaging

Japanese scrub brush 

Junpei Kawaguchi rattan baskets – Handbraided baskets that are more like functional sculptures 

Tamanohada fish soap – Soap on a rope in the shape of the Tai fish, a symbol of good fortune in Japanese culture

Matcha tea ceremony set – So your matcha-loving friend can learn to DIY 

Kintsugi repair kit – Turn that broken dish or mug into a soulful wabi-sabi object

Ikebana: The Art & Beauty of Flower Arranging by Frédéric Gerard. Skills!

Japanese snack subscription box – A mixed bag of 20+ candies, snacks, and teas to fill the Japanese 7-11 shaped hole in their heart

Japanese Pickle Stone

Snow Peak Coffee bean grinder – Japanese-designed hand powered coffee grinder that can be used camping or in your own kitchen

Kim Pan-ki Comb Pattern Celadon Lidded Mug

DOG PARENT 
Can’t leave home without their furry friends

 Dagne Dover Pet Carrier – Ticks all the boxes—folds down flat for easy storage, has a trolley strap, and a cozy interior bed that you can remove and use as a dog bed when you arrive at your destination.

A custom dog painting by our lovely friend and London-based artist Sophie Brinson, who painted Yolo’s mascot, Prune, last year! (She takes commissions by DM!)

Hay Travel Blanket – Honestly, all of the Hay pet accessories are great 

Tuft and Paw Porto Carrier – They say it’s for cats, but it works for a dog up to 30 lbs. It has a mat that opens out so it feels like a cave with an opening. Plus, there’s a trolley strap! 

Astier de Villatte chien bowls – Handmade in Paris, bien sûr!

Celine dog bag holder – Bathroom breaks have never looked so good

Ware of the Dog Crochet Squeaky Toy – Adorable and a fair-trade product made by craftswomen in Nepal

Car seat + travel bed – Perfect duo for road trips

Oscar de la Renta dog bow – Ok, yes it’s $200, but at least it benefits a rescue group

This Barbour fair isle sweater comes with a matching hat for the owner

Aesop dog shampoo – Just because. 

This dog bed from Airelles Le Grand Contrôle at Versailles, because your pet should be treated like royalty. 

Fern green rope leash – Made of marine-grade cotton rope with an adjustable design that you can loop around your waist or turn into a shorter handle 

Loaf’s incredibly chic dog bed – Cute and functional—all the covers are fully removable so you can throw them in the wash 

Gucci heart dog charm – Jewelry for dogs, why didn’t we think of this sooner?

Hermes dog brush – Because they deserve nothing but the best!

Perfect dog-walking cross body which holds poop sacks, a phone, and a pair of glasses! 

The Mark Hotel’s pooch provisions include Prune’s favorite, The Mark Dog Kit. 

Bonus! STOCKING STUFFERS

A 12-in-1 kitchen tool is really all you need to cook at your weekend rental

Spice passport – The size of a real passport, only instead of stamps it’s full of single-origin spices from small farms around the world. 

Beverly Hills Hotel bottle opener – Under $20!

Egyptian Magic Mini Skin Cream – Our favorite, to go.

Falke Socks – Super breathable socks perfect for logging 20,000 steps exploring a city 

Officine Universelle Buly Personalised Lip Balm – Who wouldn’t want that?!

Trudon The Night-Light Candle 

Maison Louis Marie Mini Perfume Oils

Fortnum & Mason Mint Chocolates – Individually wrapped after-dinner chocolates made in Tuscany with Italian peppermint

Nécessaire The Body Essentials Mini – Probably the chicest travel sized toiletries

Smythson Weekly Planner – Our North Star planner that we buy year after year 

Hedgehog table brush – A charming tool for sweeping up crumbs, made with beechwood and horsehair in Germany

French Hair Pin – Move over claw clips!

Gold Stork Scissors – Italian embroidery scissors that have been made in the same style for over 150 years

Wooden herb stripper – Run mint branches through this to strip the leaves quickly when mojitos are in order and time is of the essence

Curaprox Travel Toothbrush Set 

Terracotta bread warmer – Embrace your inner French innkeeper at breakfast and keep croissants warm for hours

Malachite place cards – Malachite is the traveler’s stone, so even if you’re hosting at home you can surround yourself with good travel juju.

The post YOLO’s 2025 Gift Guide appeared first on Yolo Journal.

Analog memory keeping

Cameras

A Fuji Instax Mini Polaroid for the immediate gratification, and a nice souvenir to give whoever you’re with.

Ricoh GR111 is a super compact option, with really pro quality.

The Leica Q2  camera makes digital feel like film! 

Watercolors

A watercolor travel set from Sennelier, the steeped-in-history Parisian art store

This handmade watercolor set from San Francisco’s Case for Making is on the splurge side, but in a very special palette.

A Japanese brush-pen set is a neater way of carrying your colors.

This Japanese watercolor set has a lovely palette and a nice price.

A rectangular travel watercolor journal like this one or this one easily slips into a bag. 

Mail your memories with this watercolor postcard pad.

Journaling

A timelessly elegant-meets-bohemian Florentine notebook is always a good idea.

This perfect horizontal sketchbook closes with a black ribbon—I gift them in threes for a year of travel journaling, and they are only $6!

A leather-bound pocket sketchbook looks ready to fill with your Grand Tour notes.

These photo corners make a sweet gift in a blue Smythson box for under $20! 

A leather pen & pencil case is an upgrade from loose pens banging around your bag.

The Traveler’s Factory is a trove of stationery, tape, customizable journal inserts and vintage travel ephemera. Their Tokyo store in Marunouchi is a must visit, too. 

Postcard in a bottle

Incense Kyoto by Comme des Garcons

Ett Hem by Fueguia

Delhi by Astier de Villatte

Marfa by Memo Paris (rabbit-hole alert–they have so many scents with location names!) 

Mumbai Noise by Byredo

Fumerie Turque by Serge Lutens

Aqua Como by Sense of Lake

Cairo by Penhaligon’s

Tam Dao by Diptique

19-69 Capri 

Timbuktu by L’Artisan Parfumeur

Radio Bombay by D.S. Durga

Un Jardin sur le Nil by Hermes

Incense Ouazararte by Comme des Garcons

Eden Roc by Christian Dior

Palermo by Byredo

Casablanca Lily by Byredo

Acqua di Sicilia by Santa Maria Novella

Un Jardin a Cythere by Hermes

Sydney Rock Pool by Arquiste

Calgon, take me very, very far away!

Turn your tub into an onsen with a handmade Hinoki bath bucket and bath stool.

You’ll want these cypress-scented Japanese hinoki bath salts, too—or at least these reusable hinoki bath flakes, which you hang to dry. 

Or try these traditional Turkish hammam kese (exfoliating mitts) with a jar of organic black soap.

This Morihata Binchotan charcoal body scrub towel actually detoxifies, or try this Korean bathhouse exfoliating towel for the full-body polish.

This milky hot spring mineral mix comes straight from the Japanese Alps.  

Iris Hantverk makes these Swedish body brushes that are perfect for travel.

A cheerful soap on a rope that brings good luck—or this fancy, tomato-scented one from Loewe 

These culty therapeutic bath oils were created in 1931 by a German couple inspired by Baden-Baden.

What does your friend with the hard-core sauna habit need? A felted hat.

Presents to help everyone be more present

We love this lightweight and très chic travel backgammon set from L’Uniform.

A retro edition of Uno sends us back to slumber party days.

Skip the small talk with the We’re Not Really Strangers card game.

A stylish set of dominoes in a leather case from Ettinger

Eames Playing Cards are fun to look at, whether you hold them or fold them.

Issimo x Modiano playing cards by a classic Neapolitan maker

One of the better travel chess sets we’ve seen—in wood, not plastic!

Mahj to Go—a lightweight mahjong set fits into its own cute canvas tote

These hand-cut wooden Stave puzzles are perfect for a weekend house or vacation rental (or gift a subscription to their puzzle rental program). 

A few great things in travel size 

This face and body travel essentials kit from Francesco Costa has everything you need.

We’ve been fans of this Austrian cream since forever.

To-go versions of those bath oils our friends obsess over

Our favorite Augustinus Bader minis for dry/airplane skin

Pack these single-use bath soaks from Japan’s Mount Nyuto onsen

The chicest bathroom kit with skincare, shampoo, and a monogrammed toothbrush

A unisex roll-on perfume we just discovered and love

Jet lag who? Look fresh with these depuffing undereye masks

These Skinsheet Cleansing Coins are magic—just add water and the 1″ coin expands to a biodegradable 10×10” face cloth. 

Our clean beauty expert Larissa Thomson always carries Monastery’s Universal Balm. 

Channeling that far-away feeling at home

This Pellicano ashtray/catch-all is a very chic transporter.

This Japanese Serizawa calendar and this Italian one sync you with your favorite places.

Deck your halls with these paper marigold garlands from India.

We love Yolo contributor Tess Ramirez’ illustrations on hotel stationery (she takes commissions, too!).

A Japanese at-home matcha tea ceremony set for someone’s daily moment of zen

Your favorite mezcal will taste better sipped from a Oaxacan clay set, infused with sap and leaves.

For chilly nights, this colorful hot water bottle & cozy from Hampshire gives British cottage vibes. Or see this ridiculous but amazing one from Johnstons of Elgin.

This Tibetan blessing fire set includes neck and wrist warmers, a butter lamp and your own mantra.

Here’s a nostalgic selection of vintage travel posters, from SoCal to Ceylon

Travel-themed washi tape! Use it everywhere.

…And making far away feel more like home

If you can’t live without your French press, a friend swears by this travel version.

A little palo santo smudges the weird juju out of a hotel room. 

This natural clay and wood diffuser with a Japanese essential oil blend will ground you on arrival. 

No flames allowed in your room? This Japanese cypress 2 oz room spray or California-ish Sun Moon Floral mist (our stylist-friend Kim Ficaro swears by it) will brighten things up.

You didn’t buy that giant ceramic plate and now you can’t stop thinking about it…

Our favorite Schostal pajamas from Rome—always.

We dreamed of dragging home these ceramic pineapples from Michoacán, by Arte Ananas—DM them for info!

These Lrnce framed textiles and ceramics from Marrakech with the sunniest palette

Vintage Navajo saddle blanket from Shiprock in Santa Fe would look great over the back of a couch.

Linen placemats from Chiarastella Cattana in Venice to pretty up your table

These Murano drinking glasses from master blower Giberto conjure summer days in Italia.

A Oaxacan clay vase by Rufina would look cool with or without flowers.

Sturdy Portuguese pottery from the Algarve coast—perfect for storing kitchen utensils

This incredible basket from Ghana commands a room. 

Blessings beads from southern Mexico would look great on any coffee table…as would this chain paper weight, handmade in Austria.

Hand blown glass carafes all the way from Afghanistan

These hand-thrown mini vases by potter Yuta Segawa are so sweet.

A set of cheerful cotton cushion covers made by an asylum-seeker from Gambia now based in Milan. 

This striking Bulgarian mandala plate, made by fourth-generation artisans, is almost too pretty to use.

Yolanda wrote about her Fede Sarda ring from Sardinia here.

Consider this Cali-cool Erin Irber driftwood brush handmade in Mendocino

We went down a candle rabbit hole!

A twisted beeswax candle from central Italy

Oaxacan floral candles by Doña Viviana – also these super colorful versions 

Fjørn Iron berries candle holder and Swedish natural oil, no-drip candles for a hygge effect

Tiny colorful rice wax candles from Japan 

Indian clay oil lamps and wicks from Rajasthan

The OG Trudon, made in Normandy

The best Japanese candles made with sumac wax, washi paper, silk fiber, and “salt from a spring tide during the daytime under a full moon.” 

Also, these insanely beautiful Takazawa candles

Palo Santo candle from Ortigia

The Of Gardens candle, in a reusable stoneware vessel fired in an English kiln, was inspired by Francis Bacon’s essays on flowers. 

Sending treats from faraway lands

The oh-so-elegant Sacher Torte from Vienna

These dark chocolate-covered candied clementines from Romanengo, the oldest candy shop in Italy, are incredible—don’t balk at the shipping costs, order in bulk! 

Amatriciana Pellicano-style comes with one of their IYKYK totes.

Realmuto Panettone – Yes, it’s made in NYC’s West Village, but by a maestro pasticcere named Giuseppe Zito, so you know it’s the real deal! 

Moroccan preserved lemons make everything from couscous to cocktails a bit more special.

Sardines, mackerel and mussels from Galicia—and the packaging is so pretty.

Portugal in a box! 

A whole serrano ham for when you’ve got a house full of guests for the weekend

Sicilian cream of pistachio – aka “green gold” is our constant craving.

Japanese snacks and sweets or ”otsumami” — foods that pair with alcohol

Gifts that keep on giving

Cúrate Spanish Wine Club ships small-production wines that you otherwise wouldn’t easily find at your local bottle shop.

Noma’s Taste Buds program sends test-kitchen products, and invites you to members-only events. Use the code yologift for a free Mushroom Garum and Corn Yuzu Hot Sauce welcome gift when you buy a 2025 membership.

Erda Tea, handcrafted in the Napa Valley, sends herbal tea to your door monthly.

Murray’s cheese of the month, with wheels from Burgundy to Vermont

For our European readers, this Surprise Box of niche Portuguese products would be great to look forward to each month.

A year of Bellocq teas–the prettiest packaging!

The essential travel uniform—women

These Dosa silk pants work for the plane, a party, or even as pajamas 

The Lara pant from Ann Mashburn gives High Sport serious competition. We also love their Faye pant!

Love a vest on a plane—this one from Margaret Howell has a great neckline and color.

Bergfabel from Sud-Tyrol makes chic but forgiving shirting.

The Uniqlo cashmere turtleneck in navy, or actually in any color, is never not in my bag.

Neck scarves, wool kerchiefs… whatever you call them, we love them for the plane. There’s this one in cashmere from Issimo, these from Margaret Howell in great colors, this wool bandana from Scottish brand Kestin, and this thick neck warmer–Tibetan made from yak wool by Norlha.

This knitted hood for winter or for your friends who are chronically cold on planes. 

A good bandana can be an impromptu headscarf, knotted at the neck, or tucked into your bag. Ozma’s 1930s bandanas come in a rich, earthy palette. 

A cape is great for the plane and will make any outfit somewhat presentable. This one from Norlha is so chic. 

A cashmere shawl woven in Kashmir from the changra goat is as light as cream but warm as anything. 

The perfect water sandals for vacation that are actually cute, from Landline General Store.

These espadrilles from Flabelus pack well in a suitcase, plus they work in just about every setting/climate (except rain!). 

Sanders Chelsea boots are great for a country walk, but can also be polished up and worn with a suit, or tights and a skirt.

These Aimee Leon Dore travel slippers come in the perfect travel case and work just as well in the window seat as they do walking around town.

A compression sock that doesn’t look like a compression sock, from Bombas

A Colhays cardigan is the most versatile piece to keep you warm when you travel.

Our friend, swimsuit designer Malia Mills, says this hat from Kin the Label is her current fave for travel. Designer Nikki Kule swears by one from Mature Ha, made by a Japanese husband/wife team. Pia Baroncini loves her Teagen bucket hat from Janessa Leone, while we’re partial to this roll-up Borsalino hat that slips into a purse, with a very cool band! 

The essential travel uniform—men

Velvet slippers that pack well and work for breakfast at the hotel, or out to cocktails. 

Matt swears by this sweater, which he wears on the plane and throughout every trip, no matter the season.

The Sunspel cashmere lounge pant for the plane does not read sweatpant.

This navy polka-dot neck scarf is great for the plane and wears well throughout any trip.

Compression socks really work, and these from Falke are pretty good looking! 

With its many pockets, this safari jacket is perfect for travel, and dresses up or down. 

A double-breasted navy blazer from Giuliva Heritage is so versatile. 

The things we carry 

This Rue de Verneuil flannel bag is my new favorite for travel—it fits on a trolley and expands/contracts with snaps. It’s a handbag or a carryall, depending on your needs.

The only bag I don’t travel without—the Métier crossbody. It’s lightweight and carries just enough—remove the strap for a very chic clutch. Love it in this glossy red. 

Also in red, this lightweight Rimowa cabin carry-on means you’ll always spot it first!

This striped collapsible bag by Il Bisonte is an elevated solution to the emergency back-up bag.

How about these brightly colored wallets that anybody would want to have—and are just $70?!

The Kilometre Undercover basket bags, designed by explorer Alexandra Senes and handcrafted by artisans in Morocco, have travel in their DNA long before they reach you. 

This Passalacqua bag has all the pockets (plus a key ring!) and holds a ton if you need to max out your personal item. 

Marlien Rentmeester likes this Rothy’s weekender because it’s soft and malleable with plenty of side compartments.

Ofc the LL Bean zip-top Boat & Tote—get your monogram orders in before Dec 3, or NYC residents can hit up Abbode in Nolita for embroidery. 

This glasses case with neck strap from Il Bisonte is perfect for readers and is affordable!

A chic fanny pack alternative for those who are allergic, from Mansur Gavriel.

If you can’t swing a cabin bag this year, a Rimowa phone case is the next best thing. 

And a few stocking stuffers

An Austrian Christmas ornament that becomes a moth repeller afterwards

These Japanese nail clippers in black are the most elegant pair we’ve ever seen.

On that note, these Hermès nail files are most definitely the least expensive and most unexpected things on their site. 

This pill box is actually chic!

Delicate paper incense leaves that are way too pretty to actually burn

Lavender lip balm from Los Poblanos in New Mexico

Hojicha tea for a transporting afternoon pick-me-up

These handmade Tampico desk brushes are beautiful, practical, and made from fibers harvested from agave plants. 

The coolest sticky notes we’ve ever seen

The post The YOLO Gift Guide 2024 appeared first on Yolo Journal.

HOTEL MERCH

The Pellicano ashtray/trinket bowl, and their long-handle tote bag

Cocktail napkins from everyone’s favorite bar, Bemelmans, at the Carlyle

The best peaches in an old-school huge tin from the Greenbrier!

Keychains, caps, trinket trays—we love merch from Le Sirenuse

A terry bucket hat from the Lowell, one of my favorite NY hotels

A chic wine pull from the Beverly Hills Hotel, or their pink/green coffee mug (which is a surprising/refreshing $20!)

A Mauna Kea visor with their classic logo and orange plumeria 

Mini vintage Citroen that represents the house car of the Hotel Crillon in Paris

An amber-scented candle from Airelles that you’ll want to binge-burn

How about a sheepskin hot water bottle or a forager’s hamper from the Newt in Somerset, dropping you into Britain’s West Country?

HOME/DECOR

Grand Tour intaglios, handmade in the UK, for those who love old-world travel souvenirs

Vintage French gallery posters from Studio St. Lazare

Anything from The Old Map Shop

This tablecloth makes any meal better 

Mexican ceramic candelabras and piñas 

A set of brass Florentine coasters

Globe domed paperweight from John Derian

Casa Velasquez’s absolutely non-frumpy aprons

The Yolo Collection of photo prints on Sonic Editions 

DS & Durga “Roadtrip Hits” auto fragrance set

A magic box that connects you to the world’s live city radio stations

The best Italian tree ornaments from our friends at Issimo

ACCESSORIES

Leather phone case made from Hermès-like leather

Best eyeglass case from Milan

Perfectly sized chic-casual crossbody for travel

A good-looking thin travel wallet that holds your passport, boarding pass and most-used credit card

Cute leather Air Tag holder for luggage

Binoculars that look almost as cool as whatever they’re pointing at

Smythson’s twin set of playing cards in a travel case

Travel bar tools set with a leather pouch to bring to your AirBnB

Soft travel sets that get the Lingua Franca custom treatment—for anyone who gets cold on the plane

A bluetooth adapter so you never have to use those cottony airline-issue earphones again

BODY/WELLNESS

Grand tour soaps that may be a little too beautiful to use 

Body balm, or pretty much anything from Naxos Apothecary

Splurgy sheet masks for the plane 

Officine Universelle Buly lip balm in nice packaging that you can have your initials embossed on

Also from Buly, the chicest travel toothbrush 

Unisex fragrances inspired by global history, from a 17^th-century Mexican convent to the Sydney Rock Pools

Foam ball to work out your sore hip after a flight

Matt’s favorite travel shave kit

Little Wonders “microbiome friendly” skincare set, all TSA approved

Travel-size laser device we covet

Incense sticks with a lightweight pumice holder to fumigate any stanky hotel room

Another incense we love–this one handmade in Kyoto

Lip salve from our favorite lavender farm in New Mexico

The travel set from Vintner’s Daughter

MEMORY KEEPING

Colorful notebook from Milan with a gold monogram 

A Florentine photo album

Travel-friendly watercolor sets in palettes like “California Coastal” and “All the Feels”

Favorite travel journals from Muji

LUGGAGE/BAGS 

The Yolo sticker collection for your bags, or just one for the back of your phone!

The perfect leather tote with trolley strap

Lusting after this bag from French brand L’Uniform, which you can customize and monogram

Kule shoulder strap tote bag and short handle tote—the best colors and they sit on your rollerboard.

LL Bean tote with zip top in all white—the travel patina just adds to the character 

Rimowa carryon roller, which is lightweight and just so perfect. Price-per-use justification! 

Extra fold-up zipped bag for the overflow stuff you buy abroad and check when you fly home

Small Liberty print bag—so cheery and just the kind of thing I want to see on a plane 

Toiletry bag from a small company in DC for a great price 

A travel pill case that I will actually be excited to carry with me 

A hand pillow perfect for naps on trains or planes, a Bordeaux startup!

FOOD + DRINK

Portugalia Marketplace for the creative gift box win

A wine club that demystifies Spanish wine

Insane dark chocolate-covered peanuts 

The perfect chukar cherries for Manhattans

Filipino kitchen staples you didn’t know you needed: calamansi marmalade & coconut spread

Mediterranean Essentials herbs set from an Athens-based workshop

A giant tin of Spanish potato chips

A provisions package (olive oil, vinegar, honey) from our friends at Hudson Ranch

The Wm Brown chocolate bar trio–trust me we did a lot of market research!

TRAVEL UNIFORM

Vest that is warm but not so puffy that it doesn’t work underneath a blazer. 

Polka dot scarf from Drake’s that dresses up a sweater but also just keeps you warm on the plane

It’s a scarf, it’s a poncho, it’s a blanket for the plane!

Another great poncho

Most flattering swimsuits that double as workout gear/bodysuits 

The goes-with-absolutely-everything-in-your bag cashmere sweater

Cute PJs with adventure in their DNA—and you’re presentable when room service arrives

Normally not fans of t-shirts with words on them, but the Il Dolce Far Niente from Issimo is a clever conversation starter.

Original Explorer’s Club Cousteau-esuqe “watch cap”

BOOKS/ARMCHAIR TRAVEL

This book with best packaging of European products, from Paul Rand

Road Trips series box set of books from the always on-point Wild Sam 

For the traveler who loves France, this beautifully illustrated book 

And this South of France for Art Lovers book

Just discovered this guidebook series and love it

Matt’s latest, A Man & His Kitchen…or get it with a bottle of wine!  

A subscription to Yolo Journal our 3x a year printed magazine

And these cookbooks are all so transporting and/or so connected to place. I want to order every single one… 

Asada The Art of Mexican Style Grilling

Simply Scandinavian

Getaway

Taverna

Diner Day for Night

CDMX: The Food of Mexico City

Pomegranates & Artichokes, A Food Journey from Iran to Italy

Strudel, Noodles & Dumplings: The New Taste of German Cooking

Chimi Nu’am 

Rintaro

Food of the Italian Islands

Andaza: A memoir of food, flavour, and freedom in the Pakistani kitchen

Slavic Kitchen Alchemy

Gohan, Everyday Japanese Cooking

Taste the World in Marseille

Vietnamese Made Easy

East Winds

The Global Pantry Cookbook

…And commemorative editions of Julia Child’s first solo book, The French Chef Cookbook, and An Invitation to Indian Cooking by Madhur Jaffrey, just reissued by Knopf.

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS

A thoughtful but couldn’t-be-easier transporting gift. These are just some of our favorites—tell us yours in the comments! 

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux 

Matriarch Eats

Elizabeth’s Newsletter from Italy

Notes from Emiko’s Kitchen

Understanding Rome

Paris by Mouth

The Wm Brown Weekly

David Leibovitz: A Tasty Mix of Food, Paris, Life and Travel

In Hand

AOW Handmade

A Small and Simple Thing

w-report

The post Our Yolo Gift Guide appeared first on Yolo Journal.

FOR THE BOOK COLLECTOR

We all know them—you might be one, I know I am…. I confess, I collect more books than I actually read!

Come Fly With Me: Flying in Style, by Jodi Peckman. I love these photos of celebrities in airports with a focus on what they wear to fly, from a nattily dressed Frank Sinatra on Pan Am, to Dolly Parton in a pantsuit. 

The Grand Tour: The Golden Age of Travel, by Sabine Arqué. I feel like I could spend hours with this new book of vintage travel ephemera evoking classic journeys from 1869-1939.

Ma Vie a Paris, Astier de Villatte. A guide from the founders of one of my favorite shops in Paris, from the eccentric to the obscure.

Italian Chic, by Andrea Ferolla and Daria Reina. Beautiful and useful. Make sure you look at it with Google maps open—ready to save some ideas.

Speak Italian: The Fine Art of the Hand Gesture, by Bruno Munari. Beautifully photographed and designed, and incredibly charming—this guide is a good stocking stuffer, and small enough to bring along on a trip to Italy.

The post Gifts for the Armchair Traveler appeared first on Yolo Journal.

The Il Pellicano tote bag: Probably the easiest, crowd-pleasing, one-size-fits-all present.

This Maison Louis Marie candle is my favorite to gift. It’s the right price for a candle ($36! I don’t know why candles have started inching into the $100 range!), made in Los Angeles, by a woman-owned company. My favorite scent is the Bois de Balincourt. I’m also a fan of their roll-on perfumes.

I’m a notebook person, and I love these ones that I found at my favorite store in Los Angeles, OK Store.

The post Small Gifts That Transport You appeared first on Yolo Journal.

The California Coastal Palette: All the sets watercolor from Case for Making in San Francisco are so beautiful, but this one is particularly transportive.

The Eye Ring, Greece: I never take mine off, and I give it as a gift to all my friends.

Flower scissors, Japan: I love the hyper-specificity of these traditional ikebana scissors, perfect for cut flowers.

Surprise balls, Northern California: Artist Anandamayi Arnold makes these works of art and sells them only through my favorite store in Berkeley, Tail of the Yak.

The post A Sense of Place: A Transporting Gift Guide appeared first on Yolo Journal.