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Finding the perfect gift for the travel enthusiast in your life can feel like a journey in itself. Whether they’re jetting off to explore far-flung destinations or embracing staycations closer to home, travelers appreciate thoughtful gifts that enhance their adventures.
From must-have gadgets to comfort-boosting essentials and personalized treasures, these 26 best gifts for travelers are guaranteed to spark wanderlust and make packing a little more exciting. No matter your budget or the type of traveler you’re shopping for, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s dive in and find the gift that will have them ready to say, “Bon voyage!”
Travel Accessories
Apple AirTags
Sometimes, practical items make the best gifts! With all the horror stories of missing and lost luggage, tracking your checked bag has become absolutely essential. That’s where Apple AirTags come in! It’s very easy: you pair your AirTags to your phone in the Find My app, then place an AirTag in your luggage or anything else you want to keep track of. Certain airlines, including Delta, United, British Airways, Qantas, KLM, and Lufthansa, announced that they will be partnering with Apple to use AirTag information to assist customers with finding their lost luggage.
Anker Portable Charger
Anker’s portable charger has been one of my top travel essentials since we moved to France in 2016. It charges my phone super fast and lasts for multiple charges. I really don’t have any complaints. The Anker portable charger is an ideal gift for jetsetters who are always on the go and don’t have time to find a charging outlet during the day. It comes in a magnetic version for wireless charging and a standard wired version.
Universal Plug Adapter
One thing to always check when traveling out of the country is what type of plug the country you’re going to uses. Without a plug adapter, you may not be able to charge your electronic devices, including your phone or laptop. Whenever I’m traveling overseas, I always bring a couple of TESSAN Universal plug adapters. These adapters are suitable for use in the EU, UK, US, and Australia. They also feature two USB and two USB-C outlets to charge multiple devices with a single adapter.
Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones
I’m an anxious flyer, and nothing changed the game more for me than my Soundcore Q45 Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones. These headphones cancel out all those scary plane noises, noisy seat neighbors, and similar. You can also adjust the settings to turn off noise-canceling mode if you need to hear the sounds around you. Additionally, these headphones come equipped with a wire to plug into the in-seat entertainment and a USB charging cord that quickly charges headphones to provide 40 hours of use on a single charge.
Kindle Paperwhite / Kindle Colorsoft
Reading is one of my favorite ways to pass the time while traveling between destinations. And as much as I love an actual book, they just take up so much space, especially when you want to read more than one. The next best thing is the Kindle Paperwhite, or Amazon’s newest Kindle: the Kindle Colorsoft. Both of these are as close to real books as possible. The Kindle Colorsoft is perfect for those reading books with beautiful art or photographs. If your traveler simply reads for the text, the Kindle Paperwhite will do.
Passport Holder
A passport holder is a stylish yet practical gift for your favorite jetsetter. This passport holder from Melsbrinna includes excellent organizational features to hold a passport, credit cards, cash, and more. It is also made with RFID-blocking technology, ensuring your cards are safe from thieves. This beautiful passport holder also comes in many colors and patterns, so you’re sure to find the perfect one.
Portable fan
Portable fans have become increasingly popular over the last few years. I mean, why didn’t we think of these sooner?! They’re fantastic for tropical destinations and beach getaways. I also think they’d be great for those summer trips to Disney World. The JISULIFE Portable Fan goes around your neck, keeping you hands-free as you go about your day. It offers five different fan speeds and can last up to 16 hours on a single charge.
Luggage & Travel Bags
Taygeer Travel Backpack
I swear by the Taygeer backpack for carry-on-only travel. It’s perfect for a long weekend trip away from home. The interior organizational features allow you to pack it like a suitcase. It has several useful compartments, including a laptop pocket, waterproof pockets, and an interior water bottle compartment. It also features a trolley sleeve so you can conveniently place it over the handle of your suitcase. This bag fits even the strictest personal item restrictions, including Frontier and Ryanair — I’ve tested it myself. You can read my full review of this backpack here.
Away Carry-On Luggage
For years, we have used the Away Carry-On suitcase. It’s simple, stylish, and reliable. I love that it features a built-in TSA-approved lock and comes with a mesh laundry bag and a fashionable leather tag. While Away became well-known as one of the first luggage brands to feature a built-in portable charger, it’s worth noting that the brand no longer includes this as an option.
Makeup & Skincare Organizers
These makeup organizers are so cute and one of my favorite purchases from Shein! Each pouch has so much room, and they are fantastic for long vacations. You can mix and match to organize your belongings on shorter trips. The waterproof lining ensures that any possible leaks won’t ruin the other things in your suitcase. They’re also easy to clean — just wipe them with a paper towel or makeup wipe!
Cadence Travel Containers
This splurge item makes an excellent gift for travelers who wouldn’t think to get these travel containers for themselves. The Cadence Travel Containers have gone viral on social media for good reason. They’re magnetic, high-quality, and aesthetically pleasing. The set comes with four medium and four small containers, which can be used to house your own shampoo, conditioner, pills, or any other travel-size items you’d like to bring on your trip.
Osprey Dry Bag
This was a birthday present for my husband when we were in France and we were frequently out on the water. It is a lifesaver if you’re exploring the great outdoors and can’t leave your important belongings behind. In our case, that meant having our phones, wallets, and keys by our side rather than on the beach, where theft is easy and common. It’s an inexpensive and important investment for almost anyone!
Clothing
UNIQLO Packable Jacket
The UNIQLO packable jacket has been one of my top travel essentials for almost a decade now. It’s small, compact, and lightweight but provides enough warmth for a chilly fall, spring, or early winter day. It comes in many different colors to suit any style and can easily fit under larger coats and jackets for an extra layer of warmth during the coldest winter days. A practical gift to satisfy any traveler!
Quality Basics
Quality basics are such an underrated gift. They make excellent gifts for travelers because they are versatile, durable, and ideal for adapting to different destinations and activities. Thoughtful essentials like cozy layers or sturdy accessories help streamline packing and ensure comfort on the go. My favorites include the Quince cashmere shirt and the UNIQLO heat tech leggings. Both are great for layering and come in at an affordable price point.
Fleece-lined tights
This one is specifically for the girls who love visiting winter destinations but hate being cold: fleece-lined tights! I can’t tell you enough how much these changed the game for me. I love cute winter outfits, but I also get cold easily. These tights solve everything! They keep me warm all day but aren’t bulky. It’s a great clothing item to gift because they’re stretchy and come in only a few sizes, so it’s easy to pick the right size for someone else. It also might be something they haven’t thought of getting for themselves.
Darn Tough Wool Socks
I bought the military version of these for my husband last year, and can confirm that they are extremely high-quality socks that keep you warm. He was amazed at how keeping your toes warm helps keep your whole body warm! Plus, the extremely thick fabric makes it comfortable to be on your feet all day. We wear this brand when we go out in the Colorado snow, and they are a must-have for anyone in a cold climate, who is active on their feet, or both.
Skincare & Toiletries
Touchland Hand Sanitizer
I love a good scented hand sanitizer — always have! I’ve recently started using Touchland hand sanitizers, and I’m absolutely obsessed! The shape allows it to fit into any size purse, and the scents are fantastic but not overpowering. This limited-edition holiday set comes with five of Touchland’s most popular hand sanitizers. It’s a great gift in itself, or the individual sanitizers can be perfect as stocking stuffers!
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask & Moisturizer
Another beauty favorite of mine that is great for all travelers is the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask + Moisturizer. It’s fragrance-free and super-hydrating without leaving the skin feeling gross and greasy. The travel size is perfect for mid-flight pick-me-ups or moisturizing in the dry winter atmosphere. Pair this with the Jet Lag Deep Hydration Serum (my #1 favorite Summer Fridays product), and you have a winning combo.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
This lip balm is sure to please as a gift or stocking stuffer. As you can tell, I’m a huge Summer Fridays fan. While their products can be a bit pricey, the quality is absolutely there. Another one of my faves is the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. This balm is more of a gloss and keeps my lips hydrated all day long. I love the vanilla beige scent and color, but the other flavors are amazing as well.
Tarte Cosmetics Undereye Patches
The last beauty gift recommendation I have is the Tarte Cosmetics Undereye Patches. As soon as I put these bad boys on, I immediately feel my skin being soothed and hydrated by the patches’ mix of moisturizing ingredients. They’re great for traveling because your skin can get so dried out by being in different climates and even on a long flight. I love to have these with me in my carry-on to use before getting off the plane.
Travel Memories and Souvenirs
Scratch-off Map
If one of your missions is to check off states and countries, one of the most fun ways to visualize your progress is with a scratch-off map. It’s so satisfying to come home and uncover the colors of your newest accomplishment, and it’s inspiring to see where you might go next. This was one of the first travel-inspired gifts we were given, and it’s a great conversation-starter when you have guests over.
Digital Photo Frame
Combined, we literally have tens of thousands of photos of our travels over the years… that unfortunately rarely get much attention. Displaying them on a digital frame is the perfect solution and a way better alternative than printing and framing even a fraction of them. Wifi-connected and super easy to set up, your memories will constantly be on your shelf, and not banished to your iCloud forever.
Travel Journal
One of our big travel regrets is having not started a travel journal from the very beginning. After hundreds of trips, it gets difficult to remember all of the wonderful details, and being able to go back to them (in our very own handwriting) brings back so many nice memories. You can even include photos and other little souvenirs. You will appreciate this little book a few years later!
Travel Posters
Collecting fridge magnets from each place is always fun, but admittedly not the best way to display your top destinations — that’s coming from a couple who does indeed hoard them. We commemorate our absolute favorites with frame travel posters to hang at home. You can find everything from abstract paintings to high-quality photographs. Our favorites are retro-style landscapes and cityscapes, and even if you don’t have room in your luggage, you can order them online after the fact. They’ve been great reminders of where we must go back to!
National Parks of the USA Bucket List Travel Water Bottle
Since moving back to the US, we’ve been on a mission to hit all the national parks we can. We purchased the National Parks Service’s Passport Book, which you can stamp and stick on official stickers from each park. And while this is cool, the truth is that we rarely open it or show anyone our accomplishments! This bottle is a great solution, allowing you to show off where you’ve been along with what’s still on your to-do list. It’s also high-quality material for keeping your water cold while exploring caves or trekking through mountains.
Experiences
Finally, there’s no doubt that most people nowadays would rather spend their money on an experience rather than a product. While we’ve covered some really useful and great items on this list, you might want to consider an experience for an exceptionally special gift.
This doesn’t have to be a several-thousand dollar helicopter tour of the French Riviera or luxury Hawaiian catamaran charter (although I’m sure your person would really appreciate that). Activities for less than $100 in popular destinations include visiting the swimming pigs of the Bahamas and cruising the Potomac River past the capital’s most iconic sights. Even if your friend or family member isn’t traveling, sites like Viator and GetYourGuide are packed with local experiences close to home that they might not have considered before.
