Best Gift for Travel lovers: Gogo Unique world scratch off map

Ever since we started to travel more often we have always loved finding creative ways to display all of the different trips we have taken. Sometimes we had used the pin feature on iPhoto and at some point we had printed out a map that we put thumb tacks into to mark the countries we had visited. The World Scratch Off Map from GoGo Unique, however, has definitely become the easiest and nicest way to showcase the countries we have traveled to and it has become a point of inspiration for us to plan future trips in an effort to try to scratch off as much of the map as possible. Keep reading to learn more about our experience using the GoGo Unique Map (Note: I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased review).

Unboxing

The map arrived in a protective cardboard tube that had a nice design and also managed to help keep the poster from getting damaged or accidentally scratched while it was in transport. In order to provide additional protection against any of the map becoming prematurely scratched, the map came covered with a soft tissue paper on both sides. After removing the map from it's tube, I had to weigh the corners down for a while (had to get creative with the few heavy things I had close by) to prevent it from rolling back up into the shape it was packed in. After a little while, the map flattened out a bit and I was able to start testing it out.

whats included

The GoGo Unique Map includes:

• 23" x 33" World Scratch Off Map
• Pick Tool for scratching larger areas
• Precision Pen Scratch Tool
• Microfiber Cloth

How it works

Using the map was very simple and I almost felt like I was using a coloring book (it has been years since I have been so focused on staying inside the lines. The map allows you to scratch off the different countries that you have visited and it also allows you to scratch off the flags of those same countries along the bottom of the map. Thankfully, GoGo Unique included two different sized scratching tools to help scratch off larger areas faster. For the flags on the bottom the thicker tool worked great as it was not necessary to be as precise. When I was finished scratching off the flag, I was able to easily wipe away the residue with the soft cloth that was included with the map.

Certain areas on the map, however, were much tighter and definitely required the use of the precision tool that was included. It was also really helpful that the map includes an enlarged section for Europe that makes it much easier to showcase the countries that have been visited. On the main part of the map, Europe looks very small and even though you can scratch those areas off, it is difficult to really see the individual countries so the enlarged area was a really nice touch. 

Pros

• ​Quality: The map is made out of a pretty thick card stock that gives you reassurance you won't tear through it while scratching the countries out
• Size: The size is great as it is big enough to be easy to see, but not so big that it will take up too much space on a wall
• Details: The map is really well thought out in that it offers an enlarged view of Europe to make it easier to see the countries that are packed close to each other and it lets you scratch off the individual states in the US. The country flags along the bottom of the map are also a nice touch
• Tools: It is really nice that the map includes two different tools to help facilitate the scratching of the countries and a cloth to help clean off the residue that is left over.

Cons

• Scratching off countries perfectly can be difficult: It is easy to scratch off the majority of the different countries with the included tools, but it gets a little tricky once you get close to the borders between countries or into the smaller countries. Sometimes you end up scratching countries you didn't mean to which may leave the map with a few stray marks in different areas
• Colors: I personally like the look of the map, but the colors of the map are very bright once scratched  which may not fit in well with the way some people decorate their home.
• Tough to accept I may never finish scratching off all of the countries: This is more subjective and not so much a big con, but there are a few areas I feel I am unlikely to visit (I'm looking at you Antarctica) so I am sad I may eventually have to scratch an area I haven't been to or that I will have to leave an area unscratched.

Summary

Overall, I was surprised how much I liked using this map and how nice it ended up looking in my home office. It is a great way to display all of the travels that we have taken and is a great inspiration for us to check out places we may never have thought about too much before. I definitely recommend checking it out and it would definitely make an awesome gift for a friend or family member who loves to travel.

​You can purchase the GoGo Unique World Map from here and make sure to use GOGOUMAP at checkout for 10% off.