This week I've planned a much needed trip away from my home town of Ottawa down to Toronto, Canada's metropolitan hub. My train just departed and thankfully the in car wi-fi is working, because even though I'm traveling, I still have a busy week of work ahead. More

We asked, and you answered. Inspired by the travel-friendly finds you hope to unwrap this holiday season, we pulled together a list of no-fail gifts that are passport approved. Here's what the jetsetters among us want most: More

Our son is only three years old, but he's already traveled with us quite a bit, even traveling continuously on an extended trip from the time he was 5 months old until he was 10 months old. I've discovered a number of products that have made my life easier as a parent juggling a squirmy child from airport security to restaurants, but it took some trial and error to find my favorites. More

I just returned from a sunny Florida vacation and have yet to see any snow in the mid-Atlantic, but I'm already jonesing for a little sun therapy. It's sad, really, but once I bring that last house plant back inside for the season, I go into "but I need to garden" mode! Fortunately I have the internet to keep me company, as well as offer up inspiration for the future. And lo and behold, look what I found — the World's First Cactarium! More

AViiQ Portable Charging Station
• $59.99
• AViiQ

If there's any time during the year when you might find yourself in dire need of a power source to recharge your mobile device(s), it's during the holidays. The prepared traveler might do well to pack one of these Portable Charging Stations from AViiQ, which includes a 4-port USB hub (3 ports for charging) with a retractable USB port, alongside plenty of storage to hold mobile devices and their required cables/cords. Better safe than sorry!

I wish we could blame Jonathan Adler whose life-size fantasy beach house for Barbie in Malibu garnered plenty of press (parts of which were later relocated to the Palms Hotel in Vegas), but the first Barbie-themed hotel room seems to have sprouted its girly, pink head back in 2004. More

If you're a commuter who carries around a lot of tech, you've likely been through a few rounds of trial and error to optimize the essentials inside your laptop bag. The ideal setup has everything you need minus any extraneous items, so wherever your travels lead you, you'll be armed with tools for work, play, and a great first impression. Here's a peek inside my tech travel bag... More

To pull together our ultimate gift guides this year, we're asking the experts: YOU! If you'd rather be off exploring, what globetrotting gear do you already love? What do you hope to unwrap? From luxe luggage to pretty passport wallets, let us know what will make your travel dreams a reality in 2013!

So jetsetters, share with us in the comments: what travel-related gifts do you hope to get? More

From time to time and in spite of one's best intentions, a person may occasionally become a couch-surfer. Sure, if we had the resources we'd all stay in a hotel and drink Champagne and order room service and smutty movies on pay-per-view. But if, for whatever reason (maybe an interview in another city, inclement weather, a sudden breakup, a fumigation, or just a visit), you find yourself staying on someone's couch, here are some ways you can make your stay better for everyone (but mostly your host). More

If you know Amsterdam at all, you most likely are familiar with the Damrak. It's one of the major thoroughfares, leading you from Central Station right into the heart of the city. For years the section close to the station has been touristy and not super fashionable, but that all changed this year with the opening of The Exchange, an unusual boutique hotel with an eye on the worlds of fashion and design. More