<p>My son will be doing a study abroad in January and I’d like to get him things that would be especially handy while he’s there. He’s going to Ireland and plans to travel quite a bit. He has a new tablet/laptop and smart phone. I personally like travel books and maps, but he prefers to get that stuff on his phone or tablet. Suggestions?</p>
<p>kathiep</p>
<p>travel towels
[Towels</a> at REI - FREE SHIPPING With no minimum purchase.](<a href=“http://www.rei.com/category/4500614]Towels”>http://www.rei.com/category/4500614)</p>
<p>My d studied abroad twice and the second time someone recommended these. She rolled her eyes when I bought them, but she commented that was one of the best things she took, especially if he is planning on staying in hostels when he travels.</p>
<p>A good rain coat is a must as well as an umbrella. What fun he will have! I would also say a camera but I know everyone but me likes to use their phone. Pants that dry quickly are also good. We got some at Gander Mountain. Waterproof shoes if he plans on walking in the countryside. It is a wet country!</p>
<p>If he plans to travel a rail and/or bus pass will be useful.</p>
<p>[Ireland</a> Rail Passes by Rick Steves](<a href=“http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/ireland.cfm#local]Ireland”>http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/ireland.cfm#local)</p>
<p>There was a thread a while back that mentioned special lightweight easy to travel with sheets for using in youth hostels. I wish I could find the thread, maybe someone with more skill at searches can help.</p>
<p>besides euros 
get a phone case that is a battery charger–doubles the life of iphone battery. Very useful when traveling!
this is an example…
[Amazon.com:</a> [iPhone 5 Battery Case] TopG Atom Power Pack 2400 mAh External Protective Battery Case Rechargeable Battery for iPhone 5s / iPhone 5 - MFI Apple Certified - Black: Cell Phones & Accessories](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Battery-TopG-External-Protective-Rechargeable/dp/B00G6DQIFG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_cps_11]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Battery-TopG-External-Protective-Rechargeable/dp/B00G6DQIFG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_cps_11)</p>
<p>Exofficio underwear. $15 a pair but they dry very quickly and are very light weight.</p>
<p>What about a good, medium sized internal frame backpack? He could use this as his carry on bag when he flies there. Then he could use it when he travels. Both of my kids had this when abroad. </p>
<p>DD never used the umbrella she had…but she DID use her Gore Tex jacket from REI. It was the kind with a fleece that was removable. So she had two jackets in one. It got a ton of use. </p>
<p>An ereader? Even though DD had a computer, she loved her Kindle for reading.</p>
<p>A travel jacket like Scott’s Vest with lots of inside pockets–handy for keeping just about everything handy and out of sight of pickpockets.
That travel underwear is a life saver for lightweight travel. Socks that dry fast are great too.
A good jacket like mentioned above,. Doesn’t have to be fleece but lightweight and able to withstand some light rain is a must. Something easy to layer.</p>
<p>A <strong>European</strong> size carry on bag. It is smaller than the standard US size, and the cheap carriers like Ryanair are fanatic about it. Rick Steeves’ website is a source. (I actually found a Rick Steeves bag at the local Goodwill for $8 right before leaving for Europe this summer, but I wouldn’t count on that kind of luck. 
)</p>
<p>Patagonia also makes travel underwear as dues REI.
A waterproof phone case. REI sells some that are not hard cases but waterproof sacks. You can use the phone through them. I use it when I go sailing but it would be good in a rainy climate.
A head lamp.</p>
<p>Excellent suggestions! We actually have a waterproof phone sack, but we use it for canoeing. I’ll see if he wants to take that. Love the idea of a better rain jacket and the smaller carry bag for traveling or an internal frame backpack. He travels via train a lot and I had assumed that that duffel would work, but now I will check.</p>
<p>Great idea also about the phone charger. I had one for my older model iPhone and found it really handy. He has a different model though, so something to look for.</p>
<p>I got my older son a sleep sack thing for hostels. I had forgotten all about it. Will look for that and I know that I’ve also bought backpacking travel towels. hmmmm where are they?!</p>
<p>Really appreciate these ideas!</p>
<p>You have all just helped me so much. Any ideas that might help with Peru? DS will be conducting medical tests in the slums of Lima, the villages in the rain forest and the Andes mountains. He will be limited to a backpack, but surely there is something that would make him more comfortable.</p>
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<p>There are different external battery packs that have a USB port so that he can plug a phone into it. Maybe not as convenient as having it in the phone’s case, but they can often hold a larger charge, are easy enough to carry in a backpack or other bag, and can work with a wider variety of phones and tablets.</p>
<p>If he’s a tech-minded person when on the go, I’d definitely recommend getting him something like that. Having some extra battery life in a pinch is a huge life saver when traveling.</p>
<p>I agree baktrax. I’ve bought several external chargers for my phone because I have been caught short on a charge and hate that. Since my son is a tech junkie I am a bit hesitant about buying anything for him as he usually knows just what he wants and there’s not much time between Christmas and when he leaves. Probably better off not being a surprise.</p>
<p>MizzBee, My older son has done extensive backpacking in New Mexico and the two things that we spent time researching and money on was a backpack and hiking boots. Dry, sturdy, comfortable shoes can make a big difference. </p>
<p>And that reminds me, this same son bought himself a really nice smaller backpack for a European backpacking/couch surfing trip. Perhaps that would work for his younger brother or we could buy him something similar.</p>
<p>I recommend a good hat, especially if your skin is fair.</p>
<p>mathmom, I’m guessing your suggestion is for Mizzbee whose son is going to South America. Great suggestion too. I have the skin damage to attest to not wearing a hat for years and years and being outside too much.</p>
<p>Actually, it might be a bit chilly in Ireland in the winter. Some kind of warm hat and gloves might be appreciated too.</p>
<p>I was thinking more of mizzbee’s son, but the truth is even in rainy Ireland we fair skinned people should be wearing hats! And a warm stylish hat would definitely be welcome. When we lived in Germany, I never brought enough warm clothes when we went to the British Isles!</p>
<p>My son is in college in Northern Vermont and it gets colder there than it does in Ireland, so I think he has the cold weather part covered. It will be interesting to hear how his laid back New England style translates to Dublin!</p>