Are you and your Valentine apart because one of you is traveling? There are times when its a bit harder to be away from your sweetheart, especially during holidays like Valentines Day. Here are a few ideas that will bridge the gap no matter how far apart you are.

Call the Concierge - Your best bet is to let the the hotel’s Concierge arrange flowers, chocolates, or maybe room service with Champagne  delivered right to the room. If your sweetheart isn’t at a hotel, then use the Concierge service in your credit card to help you handle all the details.

A Spa Treatment-  The hotel may have a spa, or perhaps there is one nearby.  Not sure what spa is best? You don’t have to decide, you can purchase an instant Valentine’s Day e-gift card from SpaFinder, the “global spa and wellness resource.”

Custom Perfume – Okay, you know she loves perfume but you aren’t quite sure which one to get. Featured in this months “O Magazine” is the unique bespoke fragrance kit from Scenterprises where she can create her own signature scent. And best of all, it comes with a travel friendly purse spray.

A Sweet Card – It’s always wonderful to get a card, but when your Valentine is away that can be a bit of an issue. Problem solved. Send a beautiful card with Paperless Post and perhaps include a belated Valentine’s Day celebration message…

The Apple of  Your Eye…  Is your sweetheart a techie? You can give her beautiful accessories that keep her devices ding-free or a new iPad, (maybe even an iou as the new iPad is coming out in March).

For Foodies! For the culinary enthusiasts, what would be more exciting than a plan trip for 2 to the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Event this April 12-15th! And for those who can’t easily get away, consider signing both of you up for a wine course or a cooking class.

Editors’ Note: Carolyn Paddock writes about products and services that are beneficial for travelers. The products and services mentioned are neither commissioned by nor written in cooperation with the product company or manufacturers.

I know how hard it can be to come up with just the right gift at just the right price, so I did a bit of research, and I’ve come up with 10 great gifts at a variety of price points and one great idea for the last minute shopper!

1. I love beautiful coffee table books, and perhaps it’s because I recently was in Rio de Janeiro that this book is especially alluring… Brazilian Style published by Assouline, is informative, inspiring, and visually stunning. It’s certain to have any armchair traveler wanting to fly down to Rio.

2. Grooming Lounge specializes in men’s grooming products, and “The Greatest Shave Ever” Try Me Kit includes four of their top-rated products—face wash, shave cream, shave oil, and aftershave—in small, TSA-approved sizes. A great gift for the traveling man in your life.

3. Winner of the 2011 Conde Nast Traveller “Favorite Travel Website” Mr & Mrs Smith are premiere bookers of boutique and luxury hotels. Now they’re offering a stylishly wrapped “Get a Room!” gift voucher sgood for use toward an accommodation at any of their more than 850 hotels around the world. Cards start at $50.00, and for $100.00 or more you’ll also get one of their best-selling travel guides of your choice. Add it to your gift to inspire the recipient to explore someplace new. [Read more →]

As an avid traveler, on both sides of the isle, it is my pleasure to introduce the incredibly interesting and insightful founder of Airlinetrends.com,  Raymond Kollau. Airlinetrends.com is an independent industry and consumer trends research agency.

Raymond has extensive experience in analyzing industry and consumer trends. For the past 7 years, he has been part of leading consumer trends agency trendwatching.com as a Consumer Trends Analyst, a position he still holds part-time today. Combining his travel industry expertise and his experience in consumer trends research, Raymond founded airlinetrends.com to bring inspiration and innovation to aviation professionals.  If you want to know more, Airlinetrends.com publishes a free newsletter every 3 weeks!

Carolyn:  I am absolutely delighted to be speaking with you Raymond. There is so much going on these days… Between smart phones, apps, and the iPad technology the way we travel has dramatically changed. What do you see as the leading force and or standout product that will continue to enhance and improve the travelers experience?

Raymond: The leading force that enhances and improves the travel experience is indeed personal digital devices, as they empower passengers to make better decisions (for instance access to real-time information), have more control over their travel experience, or share their experiences while on-the-go. Meanwhile, in the field of in-flight entertainment, airlines are increasingly teaming up with companies such as Apple and Samsung, instead of rolling out their own systems, in order to keep up with the fast developments in consumer electronics.

Carolyn: I am always impressed when Airlines offer innovative products and services. What 3 products and or services most impressed you this last year (or 2)?

Raymond: 1. Air New Zealand’s new B777-300s. Air New Zealand (ANZ), which tops our 2011 list of most innovative airlines in the world, has redesigned the long-haul inflight experience from scratch on its latest aircraft. Innovations include ‘Skycouches’ in Economy, ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ Spaceseats in Premium Economy, food and drinks ordering via the IFE system, while an inflight concierge hosts wine tastings and kids storytelling in the galleys. As ANZ is a small airline in a small country at the end of the world with powerful competitors everywhere, so it has to be innovative and nimble to gain an edge over larger rivals. [Read more →]