With only 16 shopping days ’til Christmas, every procrastinator and her daughter could use a few gift ideas for their favorite travelers. The Internet is overflowing with gift guides for the tech-savvy traveler, expensive-tastes traveler and even the pint-sized traveler, but this gift guide is just for you.
The practical, well-traveled traveler who is money-wise, sophisticated and savvy.
Sound like you?
Then here you go …. 10 Gift Ideas for Practical Travelers.
I was first introduced to the wonder that is earplanes by my
Travel Tip Tuesday teammate back in June. For less than $10.00 your favorite traveler can soar through the skies – literally – with greater ease. These make an ideal stocking stuffer or surprise Twelve Days of Christmas gift.
Imagine having a pair of slippers that fold up like socks. Travelers can save valuable luggage space and keep their tootsies clean with these bad boys. Sounds intriguing … you never know what could be hiding under the beds in some of those places!
Wall Calendar of his favorite destination or most-traveled country, from $10.39
Travelers love reliving their vacations and look for any excuse to retell funny stories, share interesting facts or talk about the incredible architecture and scenery. Imagine if they had a calendar that reminded them of their favorite destination that they could look at every day … aww, aren’t you a thoughtful gift-giver?
Document Holders and Luggage Tags, from $14.00 for a set
The students who worked with me at LU bought me a glossy red passport holder and matching luggage tag when I moved to Italy. I *heart* that gift … and most avid travelers would, too!
Savvy travelers know it is all about saving space, packing less and pairing necessities, so this all-in-one toothbrush/toothpaste contraption will be a sure-fire hit with your favorite traveler this holiday season … cool, huh?
Messenger Bag, from $23.99
While the messenger bag in this pic might be pretty nifty, I use a messenger bag purse for all of my flights. It keeps my money and passport safe – because it is strapped across my chest, it frees up both of my arms for other luggage, airport coffee or both. I’ll never travel without one.
Ever!
1000 Places to See Before you Die Book and accompanying journal, from $24.00 for set
It is true this book has been around a while, but I’ve always wanted the set … so it made the list! Plus, can you imagine a more inspiring way to dream about your next vacation or help you set your lifetime travel goals? (Come on, Mom, hint hint …)
Wow … one mini-sized charger for your cell phone, IPod, camera, MP3, Blackberry, and Bluetooth? Incredible. I wish I would have thought of that! If anyone has ever lugged all of their chargers – and most of us do when we travel domestically – they know how handy this little monkey could be for frequent travelers.
Checkpoint-friendly Laptop Bag, from $90.00
I bought a fabulous red (see a trend here?) laptop bag back in the old days – two years ago – before checkpoint-friendly bags were available. I’m still rather attached to my bag and I don’t travel with my laptop that often, but this is a must-have travel item for many leisure travelers and all business travelers.
As with my fabuloso laptop bag, I am pretty loyal to my rolling carry-on bag, as well. They say, however that this is *THE* lightest carry-on on the market and as those Grinch-like airlines continue to get all scoogy on us with our weight allowance, this will become ever more important!
Bonus: Splurge Idea (for when you are tired of being practical!)
Flip Mino Video Camera HD, from $206.99
Weighing in at just 3.3 ounces, this little Flip can record up to 60 minutes of video without a memory chip. Cool.
What are some of the travel-related items on your Christmas list this year? What are you buying for others?
Be sure to come back next week for 10 More Gift Ideas for the Practical Traveler. In the meantime, let’s go see what’s going on at Robin’s place today. Her gift guide features top gifts for travelers that are all under $25! Even I can afford that!
Until next time … Buon Viaggio!
Boston WorkStation Helps North Kansas City Hospital Expedite the Revenue Cycle. here north kansas city hospital
Health & Medicine Week April 12, 2010 Boston Software Systems™ (www.bossoft.com) announced that North Kansas City Hospital, a 451-bed, state-of-the-art facility on a 69-acre campus in North Kansas City, MO, has implemented Boston WorkStation™ to help automate several manual tasks throughout the finance department (see also Boston Software Systems).
For the past year, Tom Marquis, application analyst with the patient accounts department of North Kansas City Hospital, has been automating many of the time-consuming manual tasks that make up the workflow in his department. This has resulted in a dramatic time savings and increased data accuracy, which contribute to a smoother revenue cycle.
Marquis is using Boston WorkStation™ from Boston Software Systems to leverage the advantages of automation for improved workflow and a better bottom line. The patient accounts area of the finance department is a significant juncture for data that is directly related to the revenue process. For manual tasks, automation not only speeds the outcome, it ensures the accuracy of data. Any improvements to the workflow in patient accounts are bound to have a positive impact on the revenue cycle.
“Boston WorkStation helps us automate time-consuming tasks and is doing about eight staff-hours worth of work a day,” said Marquis.
Here are just some of the tasks that North Kansas City Hospital has successfully automated: Reduce Bad Debt To more efficiently process accounts on payment plans, Marquis developed a process that will automatically send plans that are in default to the bad debt category. Accounts in this category go to a report which Boston WorkStation runs unattended every Monday. Boston WorkStation then scrubs the report to remove the pre-collection agency and sends the accounts to the bad debt category. Additionally, a note is automatically put on the account indicating its bad debt status so that customer service staff is aware of the outcome in real time.
“Automating the process of moving accounts into an actionable category allows staff to redirect their time in a more valuable and profitable way,” said Marquis. Automate Payment Posting Marquis uses Boston WorkStation to automatically post private pay payments. Boston WorkStation automatically runs through a file of payments the bank sends and posts the payments into McKesson STAR. Automating this task saves an average of two staff hours per day, and has increased the accuracy to 100%. Automate Price Adjustments Updating the Financial Index Master (FIM) and Service Index Master (SIM) can be manually-intensive projects, taking two to three days and requiring accounts be put on hold while prices are adjusted. Using Boston WorkStation to update the FIM/SIM pricing, Marquis is able to complete the upload in a few hours with reduced inconvenience from accounts on hold and increase accuracy throughout the system. Reduce Errors on Medicare Claims Marquis uses Boston WorkStation to hold Medicare accounts as they discharge and then to take them off hold when the update has been installed to ensure they get the correct edits. Getting claims right the first time reduces the staff workload, ensures the hospital sends more accurate claims and improves the revenue cycle process.
“Hospitals spend too much time on manual, time consuming tasks, which slow down clinical and financial workflows. North Kansas City is another proof point that information technology can advance the efficiency, accuracy and effectiveness of the hospital’s operations to better meet patients’ needs,” said Steve Cohen, executive vice president of Boston Software Systems. About Boston WorkStation™ Boston WorkStation is a workflow automation and integration technology that provides an environment for on-demand process innovation and development. Boston WorkStation allows organizations to automate common tasks throughout the organization including revenue cycle projects, interactions with Web sites, integrating new applications, systems and devices, and electronically monitoring and managing user activity. About Boston Software Systems Boston Software Systems is the leading standard for workflow automation and system integration software, enabling organizations to streamline complex business processes and improve productivity. Hundreds of organizations worldwide respond to regulatory and business initiatives by using Boston WorkStation technology to automate and improve processes throughout a variety of departments. Customers include more than 50 HCA hospitals, Mayo hospitals, Stanford Medical Center, CHRISTUS Health, Lutheran Health Network and Catholic Health Initiatives. Boston Software Systems partners with leading application, technology and system vendors such as McKesson, Siemens, 3M, NCR, Emdeon and The SSI Group. For more information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.bostonworkstation.com or call 866.653.5105. go to site north kansas city hospital
Boston Software Systems, Boston WorkStation are trademarks of Boston Software Systems, Inc.
Yes, I will take one of each, thank you! Talk about making a girl want to travel….
Why thank you… that was my goal, after all!
michelle of bleeding espresso’s last blog post..feast of the seven fishes guest post and book giveaway
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These are all thoughtful gifts.
I think a nice wrap a woman could use as a blanket would be a good gift especially if they travel over night.
I agree. I am always cold on the planes. Something like this will be on next week’s guide for sure. Do you have one??
nyc/carribbean ragazza’s last blog post..Finally the scaffolding is down from Bernini’s “Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi/Four Rivers Fountain”.
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Howdy Partner
Those earplanes are great aren’t they?? And you know I want that Italy calendar, don’tcha?
I actually checked out that wheelie carry-on you have there, but in the end, I decided on my Tumi. I liked the one you have ’cause it is a hard case too.
Great list!!
I don’t have this hard case carryon, but I do like it. I got a new one last year that has LOTS of room!
My Melange’s last blog post..Travel Photo Friday : Trier Cathedral
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i’ll just forward this convenient list to my hubby…
That what it was for. Send it to mine while you are at it!
qualcosa di bello’s last blog post..home from rome
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[...] and tie those last ribbons. What? You still need ideas? Well last week Robin and I offered you 10 gift ideas for practical travelers and gift ideas for under $25. Well, ok then. Here are 10 More Gift Ideas for Practical [...]