Some ideas for shutting out unwanted noise from your seat neighbors

It's getting down to the wire and I've got nothing," said Nancy, my old flying partner, who was panicking about what to buy for her pilot husband who has everything. "I saw something about a watch that stops people from snoring, I might get him that. Although that's more like a gift for me."

What Nancy was referring to is the SnorePro watch. It attaches to the wrist and uses a form of acupuncture to stop the snorer from cutting wood. It costs about $100. If it works, I would have gladly bought one for my seat partner on a recent flight to London. As soon as he sat down, this man donned eyeshades and headed to dreamland. Passengers seated within a three-row radius didn't. We spent the night listening to him compete with engine noises. He won.

If you can't stop the snorer, consider blocking it. Noise canceling headphones have been around for awhile. But they often cost as much as a round-trip flight. While Bose headsets can put you back $400. Less-expensive ones have arrived on the scene. Magellan's Travel Supplies sell a variety of priced headphones. The cheapest one is the Quiet Flight Noise-Reducing Headphones for $50, which is a real bargain if it works.

But enough about in-flight noise. 'Tis the season to spend money. And if you have a traveler on your list and are looking for a last minute gift, here are some ideas that might fly.

Travelers, who have ever suffered20from the proverbial Montezuma's Revenge, know firsthand the meaning of the poem, "Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink." Now ultraviolet rays have come on the scene and put some light on the subject. Literally. The SteriPen, which markets for around $80, purifies water. Use it to stir-up your drinking water and you may eliminate something else from stirring up.

And if fresh water isn't enough, you can also sterilize your toothbrush with ultraviolet rays. The VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer stores your toothbrush and sterilizes it after every use.

And that's not all. For cleaning dirty tray tables there are portable sterilizers you can carry in your bag. When frequent flier Jean Cowden travels, she packs her own blanket, which she uses to cover her airplane seat which is a haven for creepy crawlers.

Besides keeping your travels clean, there are a number of gadgets that add to your travel enjoyment.

For your entertainment pleasure, there are electronic books that can hold thousands of novels, letting you choose your reading material on the fly. There are also pocket-sized electronic games to keep you entertained. If you're interested in expanding your mind, consider a language program that promises to teach you a working knowledge of a foreign language before you touch ground.

And for the ultimate traveling outfit, there's easy packing from TravelSmith. A single bag carries four coordinating pieces that are wrinkle free and easily washed and fit inside their own bag. Slip them into your carry-on and you'll be covered for days.

To check out these ideas and more, visit the following Web sites: Magellan's Travel Supplies at www.magellans.com, Kaehler's World Traveler at www.worldtraveler.com, and TravelSmith at www.travelsmith.com and at Rosetta Stone, www.rosettastone.com. Some of them offer free delivery and promise to get the gifts there before the ultimate professional traveler loads his sleigh and hooks up his reindeer.

• Gail Todd, a freelance writer, worked as a flight attendant for more than 30 years. She can be reached at gailtodd@aol.com.