Door Belles and Sleigh Belles

Before we get started, I think pretty much any of us would love to pack up Maria's awesome vintage bag and head for Salzburg, Austria... AND walk around singing.

…. or a few of our favorite things the Travel Belle certainly wouldn’t mind showing up under the tree this year.

When it comes to compiling our holiday wish lists, your average Travel Belle (not that there’s anything about us that’s average, thank goodness) would best be described as being a little bit frivolous and a little bit frugal; mostly girlie, but sometimes not. We asked some of you to share a few of their favorite things on their holiday wishlists. ( Psst… Any males out there struggling with what to get your wife or girlfriend, we may just have the answer.)

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Tuula of Le Petit France Blog:

I’ve found myself doing many more weekend trips & short getaways lately and the one thing that’s missing from my quickie-travel equation is a good, sturdy, carry-on bag. With the cheap flights you can get in Europe through many discount airlines (Rome for €35 round-trip!), I’m trying earnestly to take advantage of budget travel while living in France. But my 5 year-old Adidas roller-bag doesn’t quite have the same agenda (broken zippers & all).

We had some good times roaming the streets of Italy together, but it’s time to upgrade to lighter-weight, slicker version, and dare I say it – I’d love a lux travel bag! So, if we’re going to dream, let’s dream big. I’m hoping Santa (aka. one well-intentioned boyfriend) brings me just about anything from the Titan line of carry-ons.

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Kate of This Reluctant Londoner:

As winter has well and truly set in in the UK, I’d love some good cookbooks to pore over in the evenings. I like the look of Cook in Boots; it sounds fun, but as if it could stand up to real use in the kitchen too.

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Cailin of A White Picket Fence:

There are two things in life that best define me: traveling & cooking. And the best way to my heart this Holiday season would have to be a Le Creuset dutch oven. Hard to believe how I have managed to cook my way through Julia Child’s The Art of French Cooking Vol. 1 without it, but it’s coming to a point where I don’t think I can continue on without it. I have to walk to work through a large department store everyday. Ironically I HAVE to walk through the cookware section. As I pass by the Le Creuset section and stare longingly at all the pretty colours and different styles I hope that one is under my tree this Christmas.

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Holland:

Of course I’d love the Bose® QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones, but have you seen how expensive they are? I’m headed off to college next year and I’m afraid that either they would get stolen or I’d leave them somewhere! That’s why I’m really asking for this under $40 and decently reviewed alternative, the Philips HN 110 Folding Noise-Canceling Headphones

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Kathy of Food Lover’s Odessey:

Cookbooks/Travel books and an Amazon gift card always work for me! Here are a few on my wishlist for this year:

Cooking with Italian Grandmothers: Recipes and Stories from Tuscany to Sicily

Laduree: The Sweet Recipes

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I also devour books of historical fiction based anywhere in Europe, especially if a Courtesan is involved – I’m certain I had an ancestor who was one – so an Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Half Priced Books, or Borders gift card is ALWAYS a cherished gift for me.

Then there’s always more camera equipment! I’m asking for the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AED IF F-S VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

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With her choice, Tamar,our resident teenage fashionista, and editrice of her awesome new fashion blog, Loose Elegance the Accidental, reminds us all to wear fancy four inch heeled Christian Louboutins while you can. You may just find yourself navigating the cobblestones of Paris from hotel to the restaurant next door with more aplomb than you knew you had in you.

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They’re an “investment” shoe, right Mom and Dad?

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Margo:

Maybe I am knocking that inferior coupling-dependent February holiday we know and love and love to hate, but my theory is that it’s kind of silly how the combo of flowers, sparkling and chocolate all traditionally are relegated to February 14. The champagne definitely doesn’t have to be pink, but it should really be from the Champagne region of France, so I can close my eyes and be whisked back in memory to my last visit.I might think I know exactly what it is based on shape and density, but the pretty bottle of pink Veuve Clicquot nested in wood wool would be a wonderful surprise on Christmas morning.

After months of weighing the pros and cons of the iPad and the crop of portable readers on the market, I find myself leaning towards wanting one device above all the rest. Now with free global 3G service and wifi, and plans for a lending program the Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6 has taken the top spot on my wish list. A fluffy reading choice I wouldn’t mind coming on it? I’d choose The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It

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There you go! Now have fun shopping and always remember:

It isn’t the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it. ~Quoted in The Angels’ Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

What would you add to our list? What do you really want?

Note: As a service to our readers links to products that are available via Amazon are provided. Should you purchase anything through these links, The Travel Belles receives a small commission that will be used to cover our expenses.