Looking for ideas on the best travel gifts for travelers you love? Or possibly the ultimate travel gift for yourself?
To save you some time, and hopefully some money, I’ve created this list of the best gifts for travelers.
Below are travel items we personally own and use, or from items we are planning to purchase ourselves or that come highly recommended.
Whether you or your loved ones take a lot of long flights, road trips or cruises. Or whether you travel as a family like us or travel solo, there is a travel gift on this great list for everyone.
If you don’t have time to hit the stores to shop for things like new travel clothes, travel pillow, or even anniversary gifts, why not shop from the comfort of your home using our recommendations from years of travel?
All of these travel gift ideas are designed to make your trips more enjoyable and practical and to take the stress out of your next vacation.
I’ve broken this list of the best gifts for travelers into categories.
Best Gifts for Women
Just Crooon Reusable makeup remover pads
I absolutely LOVE my Just Croon. It’s my favorite travel discovery for 2019 and will definitely be the best Christmas gift for women!
It will save you money, hassle and help the environment.
I love how colorful these reusable makeup remover pads are – your chakras will LOVE you!!
Easy to use, soft on the skin and are machine washable. I also love that it includes gentle cleansing makeup remover pads and exfoliating makeup remover pads.
Such a clever item that can be used for travel as well as in your home.
The All-In Kit lasts up to 4 years and saves the planet from over 2,800 disposable wipes. 100% recyclable and plastic-free packaging. For every essentials kit in waves color, Just Croons will donate 10% of the retail price to Clear Blue Sea to help them clean plastic from our oceans!
The All-In Kit contains 7 cleansing fibers and 2 Exfoliating microfibers, and washbag, which are designed to remove all traces of makeup and refresh skin with just water.
I sometimes use a little rosehip oil to get my thick waterproof mascara off. Works way better than single use makeup remover pads.
Get the best travel gift for her right here.
Keen Hiking Sandals
Caz loves her Keen Sandals. She says they are high quality and like wearing a comfy pair of socks with holes in them so you have heaps of room to breathe.
She’s had her hiking sandals for 3 years AND they still look brand new and are as comfy as ever.
If these ones eventually fall apart, she’ll be buying Keen sandals again. One of the best gifts for the hikers you know!
You can read more in our Keen hiking sandals review.
Multi Pocket Small Crossbody Bag
A small crossbody bag is an essential travel item for me. I like easy access to my most important and often used items; wallet, phone and sometimes passport.
I don’t want to keep taking my day pack off my back to find it, nor do I want to have to carry a day pack or large tote bag when I go out for the evening.
I like a travel cross body bag with a few separate compartments and a design that suit different outfits like this one – Caz
Scarf and Shawl Wrap
I don’t travel anywhere without a scarf or a shawl. They have a wide variety of uses and are small and lightweight you won’t feel them in your luggage.
As a travel fashion accessory, shawls and scarves help you create multiple travel looks with only a few clothing items.
I use my scarf to wrap around me to keep me warm, even in warm climates when you don’t want to carry a sweater but know you’ll need something for freezing air conditioned places.
These are one of the best gifts for women and I even use it to cover my mouth or nose in smelly or polluted places. Check out this scarf and shawl for travel. – Caz
Compression Socks
If you find yourself sitting on planes often for long periods of time, or even on long road trips, consider these compression socks to help minimize swelling of your feet and promote circulation.
Compression socks are a great gift idea for someone traveling abroad.
Microfibre Towel
If you’re looking for a lightweight and compact towel that’s fast drying and easy to pack and carry on your travels, this Microfiber Towel could be the solution you need and a travel gift for travel lovers.
Jewelry Organizer
I’m buying this jewelry organizer for Caz so she no longer has to rummage around in her luggage and stuff all her jewelry pieces in various compartments and separate bags.
Update – she got the jewelry organizer and LOVES it.
It’s packing essential just like her underwear organizer featured below. You can read more luggage accessory organizers saving my sanity.
Ugg Boots
If there is one thing Caz never travels without in cooler climates it’s her beloved UGG boots.
Whether we are on the road traveling, camping or hanging out at home more often than not she’ll be getting around in her Uggies!!
They have made cool weather travel experiences so much more enjoyable.
She’s had hers for three years and still look brand new.
Gift Card from Prana
Prana are my favorite clothing brand, especially for travel.
Here’s a few things to know about my PrAna gear (which is at least half of my wardrobe)
- Every time I put a PrAna piece of clothing on, I feel giddy at how comfortable the item of clothing is. I don’t get how they do it, but there is something about the quality of their fabric that feels amazing.
- Out of all my clothes in my wardrobes, my PrAna outfits are commented on the most by people I meet in real life. It’s uncanny how many people say they love what I’m wearing. Even to stop and talk to me in the streets or while waiting in line for coffee.
- They are hugely practical and diverse for travel. I have a gorgeous black PrAna dress that I can wear to the theme park for the day and then change into a pair of black sandals and wear out to dinner.
- They last a really long time, which is what the travel girl in your life really wants.
- They have clothes for comfortable travel, hiking, yoga, rock climbing, and even swimwear and denim. I love their yoga gear – even their mats are awesome.
- When you wear PrAna, you are helping the environment and communities. Their clothing is made from organic cotton and hemp, have minimal impact on the environment and are fair trade certified.
- They are also great clothes for the men in your life!
Best Travel Gifts for Kids
Leap & Hop Travel Guides for Kids
If you want your children to be engaged with the travel experience, you can’t go past Leap and Hop travel guides as one of the best travel gifts for kids.
Kalyra has the travel guide for New York. Even though we have not been there yet, she loves the book and has already done a lot of the activities. She can’t wait to visit NYC to see and do more.
These books will get your children excited to travel to a destination but are also filled with interesting and relevant activities, quizzes, and games to help them get more out of it.
Other cities include; Hong Kong, Paris, Bali, Singapore.
You can find out more on the Leap and Hop site.
Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
Our kids love watching movies, listening to music or playing games on their devices so finding comfortable headphones to travel with has been a priority.
Previously Savannah would have to hold the ear plug style headphones in which was never practical, and often they like to watch together so I like how these wireless headphones have a share port, no need for splitters!
These are not expensive noise canceling headphones, but a good start for young kids.
And if you want wired headphones for travel, check out these.
Kobo Reader
Nothing beats the feel of a book in your hand, but when you’re traveling you want to minimize the load you carry.
Kalyra and I love traveling with our kobo reader.
It was given to us as a travel gift and we use it all the time with hundreds of books loaded up ready to read when I travel. Buy the Kobo on Amazon.
Kids Travel Journal
Kalyra is at the age now (9 yrs) where she loves to write or draw illustrations about her daily travel experiences on the road. And she loves to be a part of the travel planning process.
If your kids like to preserve their travel memories, consider getting them a travel journal too.
Lonely Planet Kids Book
Even I found this Lonely Planet Kids Book educational and inspiring, and it’s perfect for exposing your kids to facts and fun info about the countries around the world (every country has its own dedicated page).
We love travel gifts that help kids learn!
Kelty Hiking Carrier
We got a lot of hiking miles out of our Kelty Hiking Carrier with Savannah riding on our backs.
The baby hiking carrier is perfect for nature walks or even just getting around town.
This kid’s hiking carrier fit comfortably and felt like Savannah was always secure with a 5-point harness system and was easy to get her in and out of.
The Kelty hiking carrier comes with a nice amount of storage for packing wipes, diapers, and change of clothes.
And it comes with a sun hood! One of best gifts for travelers who have toddlers. Buy one on Amazon.
Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier
When Kalyra was a baby, Caz had a Baby Sling.
She loved the idea of it, but it was bulky and awkward and constantly feared Kalyra would fall out or be smothered. Plus it hurt her back.
For Savannah, the Baby Bjorn Carrier was everything that sling was not – easy to wear and easy to put Savannah in, safely secured and designed to grow with Savannah allowing us to carry her in it until she is about 15 months old.
This is one of our favorite travel items and a travel essential for babies.
Micro Scooter
One of the best gifts for our kids we purchased on our road trip around Australia was one of these micro scooters.
Yes, they are a little expensive, but we never regretted our decision.
Savannah loves how the micro scooter has three wheels and a flexible handle for maneuvering.
Instead of demanding to be carried everywhere she happily rides her scooter. Check them out on Amazon.
Travel Packing Essentials Gifts for travelers
Best Travel Suitcases
If you are searching for new suitcases for travel, we created a shortlist of the 11 best suitcases for travel.
We compared hard shell vs soft shell travel bags, the sizes, wheels, handles and much more.
Hopefully, this list will help you narrow down your choice to save you some valuable time choosing the best travel gift for travelers you love!
And check out this review on the Desley suitcase – our personal travel suitcase that we love!
Best Travel Backpacks
If you are searching for a new travel backpack, we created a shortlist of the 10 best backpacks for travel.
We explain how to choose a travel backpack, researched the best sizes, front loading vs top loading, and share the best brands for travel backpacks.
Check out our suggestions here.
Best Carry-On Suitcases
Do you love to travel light and travel with carry-on suitcases only?
We’ve laid out what to look for in your carry on luggage, and share 8 of the best carry-on suitcases based on Amazon bestsellers.
Tortuga Setout Laptop Backpack
Digital nomads, frequent travelers and tech savvy business travelers will LOVE the Tortuga Setout Laptop Backpack.
It is my go-to travel item and one of my favorite travel accessories for 2019.
I use it even for going to the local cafe to work or on road trips. You will definitely make the person you love happy with this travel gift.
You can slide the Tortuga laptop backpack under the seat of most airplanes and carry all your electronics, chargers, a change of clothes, and your in-flight essentials.
This backpack for laptops keep you organized and your tech gear protected and it’s big enough to include clothes if you just wanted to travel with carry on only for a short trip.
You can read my full review here.
You may also like the Standard Luggage Carry on Backpack
Travel Packing Cubes
We’ve never really known how to pack a suitcase efficiently. Throw everything in the bag, sit on it, and then zip it up.
It wasn’t too bad when we had backpacks because the different compartments helped us stay a little organized. But now that we have two kids we mostly travel with suitcases.
Travel packing cells are a lifesaver and the perfect travel gift idea for travelers.
In each packing cell we roll up each item and arrange clothes based on type and season.
Grab your packing cells on Amazon.
Underwear Organizer for travel
I, Caz, have always had a problem when it comes to packing underwear. Even packing cubes did not help me with underwear.
I’d put them in the smallest packing cell I had, but still, it would be a jumbled up mess. But I found a solution, my underwear organizer now travels with me and has become my favorite packing essential.
It’s a one of the best presents for her you can give!
I still use packing cells, but I think this takes underwear packing to a more efficient and enjoyable level.
The Underwear Organizer rolls up and clips together like a little sleeping bag and sits in your suitcase neatly just like packing cells do.
I’ve had several readers contact me to let me know they’ve purchased this for loved ones as a gift!
You can read more in my review here.
Travel Toiletry Bag
Another must have packing travel item for us is a travel toiletry bag , or dopp kit, and one that has a hook so you can hang it up in your hotel bathroom.
And one that is functional with separate compartments with enough space for different items.
Give a gift for travelers you love that will save their sanity!
Travel Gear Organizer
It’s amazing how many cords, plugs, adapters, USB drives, and chargers we have and they usually end up in various pockets in various bags all over the place and we can never remember where we put things.
I like the idea of this organizer to keep things secure and in order. This is great gift idea for business travelers and digital nomads.
UPDATE:
We now have a cable and charger organizer, which is one of the best gifts for travelers who like to stay organized! No more cord headache.
I can easily and effortlessly find the charger and cord I need for my device.
3 Pack Travel Bottles
Carrying various liquids whilst traveling these days has become the norm, so finding bottles that don’t leak and are approved for carry‐on with airlines is necessary.
Check out these GoToob bottles on Amazon. This is the perfect gift for travelers who love to travel carry-on only!
Dry Bag
If you are like us and do your fair share of snorkeling, kayaking, camping or other water-based activities and carry a lot of gadgets around like phones and cameras, then a heavy duty dry bag is incredibly useful for keeping your belongings safe.
This dry bag is the perfect gift for travelers who love adventure and the outdoors.
SHIFTPOD Insulated Tent
Looking for a unique new tent for car/RV camping with guests? Check out the awesome Shiftpod Insulated Tent. Our friends from HoneyTrek took this to the Burning Man Festival and spent nine days in it in the hot (and cold) and extremely windy and dusty and inhospitable Black Rock Desert.
Best computers & accessories for travel gifts
Microsoft Surface Book
We work full-time online and obviously travel a lot, so a good laptop is essential.
We both use and LOVE the Microsoft Surface Book. It is so light and sleek.
I love that it is a hybrid tablet, lap top, which suits multiple purposes.
The stylist pen is awesome, especially for those who may want to do some design or photo editing work.
I’ve never been a die hard fan of any computer manufacturer before, but I am now. This will be the computer I use forever (with upgrades of course)
External Hard Drive
We take a lot of photos on our travels and have recently jumped into creating travel videos for our YouTube channel so we need a lot of storage space to keep all our files safe and organized away from our computer.
We actually carry three of these external hard drives of varying capacity when we travel.
And if you’re going to carry around an external hard drive, a protective case is a good idea.
Portable Battery Charger by Anker
Because we run an online business and travel more than most, our life revolves around our phones and gadgets and it’s not always possible to find a wall socket to plug into.
So a portable battery charger that is compact and fast charging is a life saver and is the perfect travel gift for business travelers.
International Travel Plug Adaptor
Wouldn’t it be easier if each country operated using the same wall sockets and prongs?!!!
To rectify that we need an all-in-one plug travel adapter to be able to plug in our numerous chargers and phones and laptops when we travel.
We don’t go anywhere without one of these now and they are one of the most useful gifts for international travelers.
3-Outlet Surge Protector
Between us and our two kids, we typically travel with two phones, two laptops, a camera, and two tablets and it’s a constant fight over who gets to charge their devices.
So we require a power board with multiple sockets and USB ports and one with a surge protector to protect our valuables.
It’s one of the most handy travel gifts for families. Check out this Belkin charger on Amazon.
Travel Cameras & travel accessories
Canon Rebel T5i
My current camera body for all our travel photography and videos is a Canon Rebel T5i (700D).
Whilst I am looking to upgrade to a mirrorless camera with a bigger sensor, if you are looking for a good entry level DSLR I’ve been happy with this camera.
Check out its features and read the reviews on Amazon.
Canon 50mm f/1.4 Prime Lens
I love shooting with my 50mm prime lens.
It produces sharp images and teaches you composition as you don’t have the luxury of zooming in to frame your shot.
Besides food and portraits, this is a great all-around lens that I use for landscapes and sometimes take out for the day and leave the rest behind, as it’s small and light and has a great aperture range from f1.4 to f22.
GoPro Hero 8 Black
For all our underwater photos and videos we use a GoPro Hero8 Black.
We recently shot our snorkeling footage from the Great Barrier Reef using our GoPro. And if there’s one accessory we use the most it’s our 3-way that operates as an extension arm, camera grip or tripod.
A GoPro camera is great travel gift for those who love the underwater world and adventure activities!
Find it too expensive? Read on for a cheaper GoPro alternative receiving rave reviews.
A cheaper alternative to a GoPro is the AKASO v50 PRO, which is receiving good reviews and growing quite quickly.
Here is our AKASO V50 Pro action camera review and our AKASO Brave 6 Plus review
This is a fantastic gift idea for older kids. A travel gift idea for younger kids could be an cheaper waterproof camera. Savannah’s Nikon camera is actually a waterproof one.
Video Microphone by Rode
We’ve started taking videos seriously and if there’s one thing that can ruin a good video it’s poor sound quality.
Our Rode microphone has been a great accessory to our video production, and if you are going to shoot a lot of travel videos outside in the wind, I highly recommend the wind cover to minimize wind noise.
This Rode Videomicro is exceptional. I’ve used it for two years without a problem and the audio quality is great. I love how small and compact it is and I love how I don’t need to switch it on. It records automatically, which is awesome, as with other mics I’ve forgotten to turn them on and lost good recordings.
It does mean it uses the camera battery so drains it more, but I make sure I carry spare batteries with me and then it’s sweet. I’d much rather the battery drain then losing audio.
Memory Cards
We take a ton of photos and videos on our trips for our business so it’s essential we have good memory cards with plenty of storage space before we download to our computers and external hard drives.
And a memory card holder is a nice accessory for keeping them secure and protected.
It’s one travel gift you don’t want to be without and lose what could be precious memory capture opportunities.
Gadgets & Tech travel gifts for travelers
Portable BlueTooth Speaker
Listening to music and podcasts plays a big part in our lives and with the amount of moving around we do, it’s nice to have a portable blue tooth speaker. And one that’s super portable with quality sound.
We recently went camping and spent our days tubing, knee boarding and watching magic sunsets.
It all looked and felt much better with Bruno Mars blasting. It’s a great gift for those wanting to create meaningful moments with loved ones.
Head Lamp
You know what it’s like to have to rummage around in the dark whilst camping, or the disadvantages of having to hold a torch with one hand.
A head lamp with young kids always comes in handy so you are hands-free.
Don’t forget this travel gift for the travelers who love camping and wilderness activities.
Travel Guide Books & Journals
Lonely Planet are our guide books of choice. We’ve been using them since the 1990’s.
But we use them as they are intended to be used, as a guide, and don’t just stick to everything LP says. Buy them on Amazon.
If there is one travel gift that makes me happy, it’s receiving a Lonely Planet guidebook because I know amazing adventures are ahead. How could we not include them in our gift guides for the holiday season?
Moleskine Pocket Journal
Besides keeping a journal so we can look back on our travel memories and for planning our upcoming trips, we use one to take important notes at destinations so that we can include the information in blog posts, our videos, and in social media updates.
Check out the Moleskin Journal on Amazon.
I love looking back on my travel adventures from years ago. It’s amazing how much you forget.
Don’t let the travelers you love leave without this.
Travel planning Journal
If you the travel addict you love enjoys planning and recording specific details of their trip, then a travel planning journal will elate them and be one of hte best travel gifts you can give!
I love the fun and beautiful design of this one. Also great for older kids.
For business travelers, digital nomads and entrepreneurs, these yearly planners are exceptional. I’ve used it for three years in a row and will not change. It helps me dream, plan, and act efficiently. It’s the perfect Christmas gift.
Comfortably Wild
Do you know someone who loves glamping? By that we mean enjoying the wilderness but with a little extra comfort and style.
Our friends, Mike and Anne from HoneyTrek spent three years roaming the USA to uncover the best glamping experiences. They have put all their wisdom together in this beautiful book that will inspire and give you all you need to plan the perfect glamping experience.
This coffee-table-meets-guidebook offers over 70 dreamy destinations, plus inspiring stories, practical tips, and a lifetime worth of adventures.
Oh sorry, you’re buying this travel gift for someone you love right? I know you want one too!
Get a copy for the traveler you love today (and yourself)
Ultimate Journeys for Two
Again, from our friends Mike and Anne, their first travel book Ultimate Journeys for Two is designed to inspire love all around the world!
After the worlds longest honeymoon (6+ years), they collated all their insights into the ultimate journeys couples can take around the world.
This coffee table book is shown to all guests that visit our home and they all rave about the quality of the information and the stunning design and inspiration.
Chapters are organized by type of destination (for example, beaches, mountains, and deserts) to help travelers discover new places and experiences based on their interests.
Each entry focuses on a specific region, getting to the essence of each locale and its one-of-a-kind offerings. I wish I had this when Craig and I were on our five year honeymoon!
Grab the perfect travel gift for the couple you love here
Travel gifts for on the road
High-Speed Blender
This may seem like a unique travel gift, but, if someone you know is about to embark on a road trip and has room in their car, give them a high-speed blender, especially if health is important to them.
We carried one for 18-months around Australia and it meant I could continue my obsessions with green smoothies, make healthy snacks like protein balls, and whip out the odd soup.
One of the best gifts for the long-term road tripper.
Water Purifier Bottle
Traveling somewhere you know the water isn’t safe to drink?
This Camelbak Purifier Bottle has a purification system built right into the water bottle.
We used a similar bottle for our 5 month trip in Africa, and your health is not something you want anyone to compromise.
This is one of the essential travel presents for those who love health, the environment and saving money on the road.
Stainless Steel Beverage Bottle
If you like to keep your coffee or your leftover soup concoction warm, or keep your drinks cool, then it’s hard to go past the old Thermos. Read more about it on Amazon.
Travel Subscriptions
Tripit Pro
Tripit is one of the best travel gifts for the unorganized and stressed traveler.
I’m an organizationally challenged person so I’m often fluffing about at the check-in counter trying to find booking numbers and check in tickets.
Now I just open the Tripit App and pass my phone over to the assistant.
We have the pro version and it also lets us know if there are any flight changes, gate changes, if they are delayed and reminds me to web check in.
There’s a free 30-day trial, but consider giving your loved one the pro version. It really is an AMAZING gift for the frequent traveler.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Staying connected to the internet is a priority for most travelers.
But it comes with some risk – leaving our data open to hacking, especially when using free wifi. A VPN is an essential travel item and a great gift idea for business travelers and digital nomads.
It will allow you to use the free Wifi but in a secure and safe format so no one can hack into your personal data and steam important things
Plus, it will also help you access sites which may be blocked in other countries and allow you access to your favorite movies via Netflix if in a different country, and why we recommend it as one of the best travel gifts.
You can read more in our review here.
Gift Cards
And if you can’t think of one of the best travel gifts to buy, how about an Amazon eGift Card and let them choose something themselves!
Travel Experiences Gift Voucher
The people you care about crave memorable experiences more than possessions. Give the gift of a dream travel experience. It will be remembered this for the rest of their life – material things can be easily forgotten, used up and tossed away.
You could go all out with an all expenses paid vacation – go you! Or, you can simply give a travel experiences gift voucher for a tour or attraction of their choice.
We love Get Your Guide, a premier tour and attraction booking site. You can find hundreds of travel experiences for hundreds of destinations around the world.
It’s an easy, rewarding and joyful gift for the traveler you love and perfect for your stocking stuffers!
Click here to grab your Gift Voucher from Get Your Guide.
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Can you recommend some of the best travel gifts for travelers? Do you already own any of these products? Share in the comments.
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