This year’s guide has been carefully curated by Guest Editor, @HeatherHauswirth + @OTPYM Founder @MichaelaGuzy

Here at OhThePeopleYouMeet, we focus on people, places and purposed from around the world that inspire us. This Holiday season, our annual Gifts That Give Back Holiday Guide for 2022 lets you spread holiday cheer while giving back to the deserving artists who’ve inspired us during our travels. If you’re going to give a gift, make it one with meaning. We’ve curated a selection of gifts created by local artisans from around the world. By making a purchase, you’re supporting a network of artists, craftspeople, communities of women and female-owned businesses, sustainable travel, and even doctors and healers among indigenous peoples from many lands.  

Our 2022 Guide features the finest pieces of work, which range in theme from the depths of the oceans to the frontiers of space. Many focus on self-care, health, and overall well-being.  

We’re also excited to introduce you to those we’ve met as we’ve filmed our special reports on Medical Tourism + our series SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY. Our program features notable doctors, healers, and creators from the many places we’ve been, along with the wisdom and inspiration they offer.    

We can also tempt you with discount codes for a few of our featured gifts! So, why not shop small and give a gift to someone you love (even if it’s yourself) and in so doing, support working artists and artisans around the world this holiday season. 

A special thanks to Allianz Travel Insurance for protecting us during our travels and for making OTPYM’s 11th annual Gifts That Give Back 2022 Holiday Guide possible.

Wishing you the happiest, healthiest and holistic of holidays!

@MichaelaGuzy, @HeatherHauswirth + The @OTPYM Traveling Team

ADVENTURES FOR SEA + SPACE

From the depths of the ocean to the perimeters of outer space, the unexplored is calling and worthy of discovery.

#1 TRITON SUBARINES 

Triton unlocks a new universe. A realm few have experienced. An immersive adventure into the hidden three-fourths of our planet. Let others go into space; the frontiers opened by Triton Submarines have alien landscapes and exotic life. They’re rich in natural beauty and epic mystery. Whether your thing is science, adventure, exploration, history, or living out a science-fiction fantasy—nothing on this planet matches the experience offered by Triton’s state of the art designs. Float in a bubble in comfort and safety into unseen depths. Hover along the bottom to explore a wreck, or cruise through brilliant schools of deep-sea life.  Triton offers the foremost 21st century pastime imaginable—technology to access the fascinating yet little-known environment that dominates our world and is key to our future. Contact Triton Subs for more information.

#2 RADINN JET BOARDS 

Imagine streaking over a tropical bay, racing alongside a pod of dolphins as you approach an exotic coastline. Make waves and redefine recreation on a sleek, fast Radinn electronic surfboard. Fusing the freedom of a conventional surfboard with the power and speed of a jet ski, this self-propelled marvel skims over lakes, ponds, and rivers, taking you to places no other vehicle can reach. Its versatility is only matched by the sheer joy of gliding across the water on your own two feet. Choose from the durable X-Sport, the premium all-purpose Freeride, or the lighter, more dynamic Carve model. Their portability opens up a world of possibilities as you soar across everything from broad rivers to arctic seas, with each board tailored to your individual skill level and style. 

#3 THE ZERO-G EXPERIENCE

Picture yourself floating freely in space—an immersive experience shared by only a handful of humans. Today, zero-gravity flight is a sensation that’s no longer just for astronauts. G-Force One, a specially modified Boeing 727, is ready to take you up on the same incredible zero-gravity ride experienced by astronauts in training. Soar through the air in the safety and comfort of an FAA-certified aircraft designed by NASA to prepare their teams for life in orbit. The flight will take you on 15 parabolic arcs that create 30-second bouts of weightlessness, or simulate the gravity of the moon. Hover, flip and tumble freely with your spacewalking friends in the roomy aircraft. You’ll get a flight suit for the trip, and a coach will guide you through the adventure—which includes eight full minutes of actual weightlessness. You’ll also receive a Flight Completion Pin and photos and videos of your experience. Take your step into the final frontier for an epic experience on the edge of space.  

MEET THE MAKERS

At OTPYM we love shopping local +  supporting other small businesses in the process. So whether you are getting ready for a trip or looking to bring a travel memory home with you, we’ve chosen some stand out gifts, handcrafted with love.

#4 TERESSA FOGLIA – Celebrity Hatmaker

Teressa Foglia’s unique hats craft sustainable materials into an iconic shape that’s perfect for travel and leisure. With a relaxed look and a dignified profile, each hat is hand made to order and each has a style of its own, making them suitable for literally any occasion. Teressa uses organic materials like felt and straw in a pallet of sophisticated colors and patterns.  This female-founded company has stores around the US from NYC to Malibu, Nashville to Dallas. Teressa and her creative team scour the globe for the perfect accessories for each hat infusing each one with Big Hat Magic.

#5 NAADAM  – Recycled Cashmere

How do you get the world’s most luxurious fabric at a lower price than ever before? You cut out the middlemen in the trade and go right to the guys with the goats. This is what college roommates Matthew Scanlan and Diederik Rijsemus in 2013, establishing Naadam, a cashmere company that deals directly with the Gobi herders. With no middleman, more money goes to the herdsmen while Naadam, and you, pay less. Naadam promotes ethical conditions for both workers and the animals they tend. They use recycled materials for packing and shipping. Naadam also gives back more than 10% of its proceeds to the Gobi Revival Fund and other non-profits that support Gobi communities and good animal stewardship. Sustainable style and luxury that spreads the wealth; it’s the way they do business.

#6 RACHEL KATZ JEWELRY – Custom Jewelry

This handcrafted jewelry line was originally inspired by a necklace passed down to Rachel by her mother. Rachel was so inspired that left her successful corporate career in advertising, commercial real estate, and entertainment to start the Rachel Katz Jewelry collection which appeals to women who desire classic pieces with a modern, architectural edge. Each piece is bold enough to make a statement, yet is wearable enough for everyday. Versatile, stackable, and cool, the collection elevates any look — from a plain white tee to a black tie gown. Committed to quality, each Rachel Katz piece is designed and made by hand in Los Angeles. Rachel is offering 10% off your purchase though December 31, 2022: use the code OTPYM10 for %10 off at checkout!

INSPIRED TO TRAVEL TO

Sustainable travel is the name of our editorial game, which most certainly includes companies who create jobs for local people, preserve traditional craftsmanship and make you look and feel fabulous in the process. We are excited to share some amazing gifts that we discovered in our travels this year and one special gift to bring the world to life right in your own kitchen.

#7 VALBISENZIO – Italian Cashmere

While filming our series, SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY in Florence, Italy OTPYM Founder, Michaela Guzy checked into @ThePlaceFirenze (a boutique luxury hotel that feels like a posh home and walkable to everything you’d hope to visit in this iconic Italian city). The stylish general manager, who was covered in cashmere, brought us behind the scenes to meet the iconic cashmere maker, Marco Cini, @Valbisenzio – we’ll just say that his dedication to the quality of his craft attracts all the top luxury Italian design labels. Note that the PLACE OF WONDERS Foundation is a special experiential immersion – free to the wheel heeled guests of The Place Firenze – any donations go to directly support the artisans, the museum etc. and contribute to scholarships for the students who will be the artisans of the future! Your curiosity will help preserve Florentine Human Heritage. Watch SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY in Florence, Italy for more information.

#8  ARTESANIA MAYA – Guatemalan Textiles

We fell in love with everything along the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala while filming our episode of SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY. Thanks to Casa Palopo, a Relais Chateaux hotel, we met so many inspiring locals living on this mystical lake. It’s not hard to be inspired when your day starts on a hike to view volcanoes at sunrise, follow that with the tastiest fresh made corn tortillas, coffee and cacao, shamans who bless your journey, next for a visit to a village wide beautification project! In order to remember this transformative trip, we stocked up on as many handcrafted colorful textiles as our suitcases could hold from the women’s co-operative Artesania Maya – when you buy, you buy direct which provides sustainable job development and economic opportunities for women in rural Guatemala, plus your inbound tourism dollars help support the education of their children. All the textiles are handmade with love, talk about #SustainableFashion!

#9 ARISTIDE NAJEAN – Venetian Hand Blown Glass 

Our local hosts from the iconic Venetian Hotel @LondraPalaceVenezia , insider guide @VeniceLuxury + world renowned glass blowers from the island of Murano @Aristide.Najean and his partner in life and work, Sylvie, take us behind the scenes of this city comprised of 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. Every building is worth a photograph + every meal one of the best you’ve ever had, especially if Avi told you so. Move over Aperol Spritz, because the Venetians toast with Select  Venice has become a mecca of art all year, including Venice Art Bienale + don’t miss the rotating collections at @ecc_italy at the Palazzo Bembo.

As we learn in this episode of SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY, just 50,000 people call Venice home, and yet 32 million people visit each year. With such a delicate eco-system and so much culture, art + history to preserve, it’s important to understand what travel companies are doing to be more sustainable + how you can be a responsible traveler to help preserve this special place and her people for generations to come. Give the gift of Venetian handblown glass this holiday season. Whether you need a custom chandelier, a vase or candlesticks, you are supporting artists like @Aristide.Najean + you will have a piece admired for generations to come.

#10 EAT2EXPLORE

We know that sometimes life can get in the way of experiencing all the locations and cultures we want to visit. Luckily, with Eat2explore, you can bring the world to you! With both subscription plans and individual boxes, Eat2explore brings international cuisines and unique flavors right to your doorstep. They focus on education and sustainability, and are a great subscription food service no matter what your dietary restrictions are.

Eat2explore Founder Rowena Scherer left her successful Wall Street life to work with her passion, cooking, and was inspired to make Eat2explore after realizing how little her kids knew about cooking. Eat2explore was founded with the goal of educating families on cuisines and cultures worldwide. They ship boxes of food with instructions, unique global ingredients, cooking tools, and educational materials. This is a perfect way to get your young ones into cooking and global cuisines, and a perfect gift for armchair travelers everywhere!

INSPIRED FOR OUR TRAVELS

It’s crazy out there folks. The pent up demand to get into the world again, ie #RevengeTravel took hold this year. Holiday traveler numbers are projected to surpass 2019 levels (a record year for the travel industry) and with airline cancellations, lost bags and less routes, we can get behind anything that makes our travels less stressful and hassle free.

#11 VEGAN LUGGAGE

For those that swoon over old pictures of the golden age of travel with its stylish trunks and silk lined cases, HeyChesto is a new British luggage brand that offers a touch of bygone travel glamour for the contemporary traveler to stand out from the crowd. 

The HeyChesto collection has been inspired by iconic British destinations and come in four shades – The St Mawes in navy blue, The Cambridge in plum red (which OTPYM Founder, Michaela Guzy rocks regularly through airports around the world), The Padstow in cream and The Glastonbury in matte gold for a bit of rock and roll. 

Each chic HeyChesto suitcase is made by hand and built to last. The shell of the suitcase is made with ABS material and covered with PU which is a hard-wearing imitation vegan leather. HeyChesto was founded by Tanya Ames, a lifelong traveler and mother of four who was on the perpetual hunt for a practical and attractive suitcase to organize her and family’s clothes. 

Whether gallivanting for a weekend in the countryside or further afield, HeyChesto is a colourful, design-inspired luggage option for people of any age or gender. The question is where to go to first?

A HeyChesto suitcase is £395. Visit www.heychesto.com + use code: GUZY15 for 15% off your purchase, valid until the end of 2022.

#12 CINCHA TRAVEL BELT

Ever been running through the airport late to catch a flight and your laptop bag or purse falls off the top of your carryon? Well the Cincha Travel Belt has got you covered! Cincha secures your personal bag to your luggage, allowing you to maneuver from gate to getaway effortlessly. The brand offers a wide variety of designs that show off your personality, from modern prints to bold colors and even a personalization option. We aren’t the only folks who think Cincha is a necessary travel item, check out their viral video on TikTok. Even better is that Cincha is dedicated to reuniting families and recognizes the persistent migrant crisis in our country by donating 100 airline miles per travel belt purchased to Miles4Migrants. Grab your Cincha belt for $35 on Etsy

#13 ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE

Give the gift of travel insurance this holiday season! Travel insurance can cover things like lost/stolen luggage, trip cancellation and special COVID policies. Plus, certain destinations like Fiji require proof of travel insurance.

1. Proactive flight delay benefits; you can receive compensation for no receipt travel or baggage delays
2. Emergency Medical benefits – you don’t even have to file through your insurance first – Allianz can help take care of it all!

Allianz also offers a TravelSmart app. It is free to every traveler, you don’t even need a policy + it works internationally. The app provides:  

1. Real time flight updates + boarding gate info
2. International Hospital Search with nearby, pre-screened medical facilities in an emergency
3. Local emergency numbers
4. Rx and First Aid Terms in 18 languages

SELF CARE

The Global Wellness Institute has predicted a 21% annual growth rate for wellness tourism through 2025, and a recent survey by American Express found that 68% of world travelers are likely to base their next trip around improving their mental wellbeing. After all, you can’t be your best self for others if you don’t take care of yourself first…because at the end of the day, all you have is your health! 

#14 RESPLENDENCE MED SPA (Los Angeles, CA, USA) 

This is a sneak peek from OTPYM’s Medical Tourism series for 2023…we are proud to be featuring Dr. Sabour and his practice, @ResplendenceMedSpa. People come from across California, the USA and abroad for his holistic approach to wellbeing. In addition to anti-aging, the medical spa specializes in nutrition and sexual dysfunction for all genders. He offers everything from injectables, lasers, PDO thread lift, skincare, skin and face rejuvenation and more with the latest cutting edge technology. Gift ideas for yourself or someone you love include:

• The CoolPeel with the CO2 Laser for skin resurfacing, eliminating wrinkles, removing sunspots and shrinking your pores with just two days downtime. 
• Or to tighten up + strengthen your abs and arse this holiday season, check out iShape.

Through 12/31/22, there is a special rate for CoolPeel and Resplendence Med Spa also has a two tier membership program which provides discounts on their products + services. Call USA: +1.310.715.8539 or visit their website ResplendenceMedSpa.com for more information or to set up a consultation. Check out our Instagram highlight for some #BehindTheScenes footage with Dr. Sabour while we edit our Medical Tourism feature for the new year!

#15 THE VEIN TREATMENT CENTER (New York City, NY, USA)  

Since 1982, the Vein Treatment Center has been providing vein treatment for the legs, face, hands, and other areas of the body. As the first clinic in New York City dedicated to exclusively treating venous conditions, founder and pioneer in treating venous disease, Dr. Luis Navarro M.D., FACS, FACPh, along with his top-rated vein specialists have successfully treated thousands of patients from around the world – including OTPYM Founder Michaela Guzy. 

Like many women entering their 30’s/40’s or after childbirth, Michaela became increasingly self conscious about the spider veins developing in her legs. This can be a result of genetics and/or hormones as we age. Michaela eventually stopped wearing shorts + bathing suits – which is not ideal for a travel journalist and filmmaker! Dr. Navarro treated Michaela with sclerotherapy, or ‘injection therapy’, which is the most common treatment for spider and varicose veins on the legs. As we show in our Medical Tourism special featuring Dr. Navarro, during treatment, a mild chemical solution is injected into the incompetent vein or capillary. The sclerosing agent irritates the walls of the vessel, causing it to collapse. The body then reabsorbs the vein and blood is re-routed to a healthy vein, restoring proper venous circulation in the area. Happy to report, Michaela is rocking shorts + bathing suits on all her warm weather travels. Watch our Medical Tourism special for more information, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Navarro check out: VeinTreatmentCenter.com.

#16 CHENOT PALACE (Weggis, Switzerland) 

A week of wellbeing is exactly what we  needed after a busy year on the road filming our show SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY and our Medical Tourism special reports. OTPYM Founder, Michaela Guzy dug deep into a total detox at the @ChenotPalaceWeggis in Switzerland right on Lake Lucerne at the base of the Swiss Alps. Chenot Palace is the leading health wellness retreat.

We worked with Dr. Shirin Karimi Hund about the globally acclaimed Chenot Method advocates a holistic approach to lifelong wellness of both our bodies + minds. With an effective and personalized array of protocols, treatments and diet plans developed by a team of experts in almost fifty years of research and professional experience. It combines the principles of traditional Chinese healing with the latest scientific advances in Western medicine.

From a personalized nutrition plan, spa treatments, exercise plans, it was a full week of total wellness. We even got to sneak out and explore the nearby skiing + markets too. We left feeling balanced, rejuvenated + ready to take on the world reopening by storm. Please watch our Medical Tourism special featuring Chenot Palace for more information.

#17 CASA SANDRA (Holbox, Mexico)

 At OTPYM we are fans of all things Mexico and we can’t can’t get enough of the carless island of Holbox in the Mexican Caribbean. One of our favorite things to do is grab a bike and head into town. So much great locally made Mexican food and nightlife under the stars to enjoy + fabu boho chic Mexican fashion. The rolling white sand beaches + crystal clear ocean that is shallow for days is most def the main attraction. Head out on many sustainable adventures – kayak past crocodiles, swim in cenotes, visit bird island with flamingos and sail at sunset to Coco Point. Grab a fresh coconut or a cocktail and claim your over-water hammock.

Stay at @CasaSandra who marry art + poetry to their eco-chic hotel. They have an extensive wellbeing program with complimentary yoga + meditation for guests and a spa with traditional Mayan healing practices. Check out OTPYM Founder Michaela Guzy’s recent experience with the healers behind the luxury hotel’s wellbeing program HERE. Visit Mojito on their beach or dine in for a culinary journey. Watch our SLEEPING AROUND SAFELY in Holbox episode for more

Gifts That Give Back 2022 Video

THANK YOU!

Thank you for supporting small businesses and the entrepreneurs behind them, local communities + for giving yourself some extra special self care this holiday season!

Pack a bag + journey on with us,

@MichaelaGuzy @H2thehaus + the @OTPYM Traveling Team