Staff Picks: Unique home and travel holiday gifts
By Patty Burness




Frommer’s Trolley Tote
800-820-6126, www.ebags.com; 800-675-3451, www.luggage.com
Lightweight, compact and on wheels, you’re always ready to go. With lots of pockets, this little gem holds everything you need and comes with a 10-year warranty. $79.99.

La Fresh Travel Towelettes
888-552-3737, www.lafreshgroup.com
If you’re tired of those pesky three ounce bottles, you’ll love these premoistened towelettes made with biodegradable cloths. From make-up remover, deodorant and hydrating cloths, to lens cleaners and shoe shiners, each product comes in a compact, hygienic single-use packet. Check the Web site for packet combinations like “Travel Packets for Her Limited Edition,” $8.99, on sale.

TravelRest Pillow
415-986-5111, www.travelrest.net
Shaped like a candy cane, this inflatable pillow lets you nap peacefully without waking with a stiff neck. Perfect for airplanes or even in the car (passengers only!), you won’t ever leave home without it. $26.95.

Unforgettable Doorganizer
800-962-4943, www.magellans.com
Forgot where you put something as you’re on the way out the door? Not anymore with this convenient organizer that holds your keys, glasses, papers, and letters and hangs right on the door handle. And you don’t have to leave home to experience the benefit. $16.85.

Hotel Adagio Pursuit of Happiness Package
550 Geary Street (at Shannon), 415-775-5000, www.jdvhotels.com/adagio
Combine an overnight stay at Hotel Adagio with an opportunity to give back to the community. The hotel has teamed up with Glide Memorial Church to offer interested guests the chance to volunteer with the Glide Meals program. Help the less fortunate and have a great time doing it. Rates start at $189 (use the code GLIDE to book online).

Hyatt Regency Department 56 Snow Village
5 Embarcadero Center (at Market), 415-788-1234
Enjoy the largest minature village collection of its kind at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Children and adults alike will marvel at the country’s leading display with over 3,000 handcrafted ceramic pieces including trains, carousels, ski slopes, and much more. All of this in the “largest hotel lobby” as listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Free.

Take a Break – Dolce Ripasso at InterContinental San Francisco
888 Howard Street (at 5th), 415-616-6500
Need a breather from the wear and tear of holiday preparations? Head to Bar 888 at the InterContinental for savory and sweet delicacies with coffee or tea paired with either a holiday cocktail, grappa or wine flight or a 15-minute foot massage at the I-Spa. $35, available through December 29.

– P. Burness