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Christmas time is fast approaching and it’s time to get out the list and check it twice! Some people are so dang hard to shop for – you know the ones I’m talking about. The person who has everything and needs nothing. The person who has it all together and is sporting the latest gear all of the time. But even if you have a shopping list full of “those” people, if they happen to be a travel lover, you will find the perfect gift idea for them in this gift guide.
When I do my Christmas shopping, I prefer a “one for you, one for me” method of shopping. So go ahead and add a couple of things for yourself to the cart too!
These are in no particular order because they are all great gifts, so without further ado, here’s the list of all the best gift ideas for the frequent traveler in your life!!
1. Compression Socks
I know, I know. This is a completely unsexy sounding gift. But did you know that being on long haul flights increases your chances of blood clots in your legs? Especially if you are starting to get a little older (I started putting myself in this camp in my late 30’s), or if you are on hormonal birth control. And companies make compression socks that are so cute and cozy now! I just keep a pair in my backpack and put them on while I’m waiting for boarding. They help prevent fatigue in your legs and blood clots. These are cute and soft and perfect!
2. Compression Packing Cubes
I have two traumatic experiences to tell you about: Once I flew to Orlando for a cheer competition at Disney World with my fam. I ended up checking my carryon bag because I was pressured into it by Delta employees; I was still really new at traveling and didn’t realize I should advocate for myself. And what did I find when I got to the baggage carousel? Nothing. My bag and another girl’s had been stolen right from the carousel. Mine had my laptop and two of my favorite Lululemon pants in it. I was devastated.
Another traumatic experience was on a return flight from Europe. My checked bag hadn’t made it onto my transfer flight from Frankfurt to Toronto. After Toronto, I was supposed to go through customs and then continue my flight into SLC. Well, since my bag didn’t make the transfer, I couldn’t clear customs in Toronto. I got stuck in Canada for an extra 3 days trying to get another flight into SLC.
The moral of those two stories: Travel insurance saved my bacon in Canada, and always travel carry on only. And besides all that, sometimes when you land, you are hungry or the duty free shop is calling your name and you don’t want to have to rush to the baggage claim to pick up your dang bag.
For those reasons, the compression packing cubes are the perfect gift for your travel loving friend. You would be surprised at how much you can fit in them, and how organized it makes you feel if you need to open your bag and dig something out. Not to mention keeping your chonies out of the eyes of all the people in line if security decides to rummage around in your suitcase for some reason. I really like these from Tripped because they are strong, have great zippers, and come in lots of cute colors. They make organizing your bag really easy and they are perfect for a carryon only luggage situation.
3. Apple Airtag
See my above horror stories ⬆️, but if you do decide to check a bag, throw an Airtag into it and at least you’ll be able to say to the lady at customs: “Yes ma’am, I know I don’t have my bag, but my tracking device says it’s on its way safely to my destination. Please let me go home.” Plus Airtag can help you keep track of lots of things – keys, wallet, a purse, your dog, a bicycle. So many options and they are not too expensive. I keep one in my carryon and personal items as well. Just in case.
4. A Fun New Carry-On Bag
This darling little bag is so freaking fun for a less expensive bag. It has a cupholder (actually, super duper handy!), a charging port that you use with your power bank (kind of gimmicky, but still fun because not all airports reliably have anywhere to charge a phone) and it is a hard case that is a TOP LOADER instead of a clamshell. This is the best feature of them all. I hate a clamshell bag: they are a pain to unzip in your room because they take up so much space, and they just don’t hold as much. I will die on this hill. This little bag fixes all of that mess and it has really smooth rolling wheels and fun colors. I LOVE it so much.
A couple of notes: *Carry-on luggage allowances vary from airline to airline, so be sure to check the parameters of your most traveled airlines. And if you are a very frequent traveler, you may want something more heavy duty, but if you are like most and travel a few times a year, you should be golden!
5. A Power Bank
I have been to a small handful of airports that have ample usb ports or outlets to charge a phone. The rest of them have you crammed together with a bunch of strangers at an uncomfortable table with too few outlets trying to get enough juice into your phone to take you through the next leg of your international flight. Or you’re sightseeing to your little heart’s content and snapping pics of your kids when the dreaded 20% battery signal flashes. What a buzzkill. A portable power bank is a total game changer for that. Never worry about a dumb dead battery again. And you can never have too many. I have several. From large heavy duty ones that I use to run my heated bleacher chair to smaller ones that easily fit in a small bag when I’m traveling.
6. A Portable Car Jump Starter
This is just one more power bank for your consideration, but this one is really big and can jump a car. They are incredibly handy. They make the perfect gift for anyone who loves a good road trip, a college student, solo traveler, or even yourself. Throw them in all of your family members’ trunks for some added peace of mind. I mean, who thought of this good idea? I need to meet them and shake their hand.
7. Luggage Tag by Mark and Graham
This is a small stocking stuffer type item at a smaller price point, but a great luggage tag is a totally fun and unique gift. They help you quickly and easily identify your luggage, they add a little personality to your bag, and if your bags don’t quite make it to your next flight, they allow the airline to quickly and easily track you down. I love these from Mark and Graham, they are darling, beautiful quality, and personalized.
8. Bluetooth Audio Adapter
This is the perfect travel gift – you know when you board your flight and they hand you a little chintzy pair of headphones that are 1) not comfy 2) don’t have good sound quality 3) are just a waste, environmentally speaking, and you wish you could just use your own lovely comfy wireless pair? You actually can, you just need one of these handy little bobs that plugs into the headphone jack and then attaches to your own set of headphones. Genius. Small enough to fit in your personal item, handy enough that you will be ok with the space it takes.
9. Travel Gift Cards
Travel gift cards can be an incredible gift. Who doesn’t want to get some money to spend on a flight somewhere fun, or on an amazing hotel room. One of the best gifts I ever received from a boss of mine was a gift card that would cover 1 night at a fancy schmancy hotel in SLC. My daughter and I went and stayed there for a fun girls weekend and it was wonderful. I still remember receiving the gift too. They’re the perfect size if you have to mail a gift or if you just need to tuck it into a stocking. Good ones are Delta or Southwest gift cards.
10. Gel Under Eye Masks
I mean, I’m not wearing them on a plane, but I love to wear them in my hotel room. They are a great size to just stash in a pocket and keep them handy for when your eyes are all puffy from eating gas station hot dogs all the way across the country (kidding, but for real..), They make an ideal gift for anyone you know who is an avid traveler too, since everyone’s eyes puff when they’re traveling. I don’t care who ya are.
11. Small Bag for Essentials
When you’re on a trip, the last thing you want is to be packing your bulky purse that has everything under the sun in it, and weighs 20 pounds. I LOVE this little bag from Inikat. It fits everything I need; a couple credit cards, ID, lipstick, lip gloss, and chapstick, my car keys, a pen, gum, my phone (iPhone 16 ProMax), and a hand sanitizer. It’s like a clown car. It holds so much. They have a bunch of colors, and it is just so classy and compact. I really like the shape better than the classic fanny pack shape. And when the airline gets titchy with you about your personal item and how you only get one, you can stuff this thing into just about any bag you have and it will be small enough to fit. I highly recommend this perfect little bag as an amazing travel gift.
12. Compact Phone Tripod
You know how the person behind the camera is never in any of the pictures? I hate that. Sometimes I look back on my vacations with my family and it’s like I was never even there. And all of us are going to die someday. And our loved ones will be glad we were in some pictures. Yup, that’s where my mind goes, I can’t help it. And because of that, this handy little phone tripod is a game changer.
It is so compact you can stuff it anywhere, think umbrella sized, only slimmer. It extends way up so that you can get a good angle, and even if the kids cringe in embarrassment, everyone will be glad you pulled it out and got some great pictures of the whole fam. I promise. I have the earlier version of this that is not mag safe, but as soon as mine dies, I will be getting this one asap.
13. A Toiletry Bag or Kit
Most toiletry bags are too bulky. I had one that I loved for years that I finally had to give up because it simply took up too much space in my carry-on. If It is a long road trip, it is still worth bringing, but if I’m flying anywhere it stays home. The main considerations are: does it fit everything I need and not take up extra space? Does it allow easy access to liquids for international flights? Does it have a hook so that it doesn’t take up valuable counter space? My husband can roll with a tiny little bag. I need something a little more spacious, but I think this one is pretty great. This set comes with a quart size zip bag for your liquids, which is awesome. It lays flat to fit in your suitcase as well.
14. A Water Bottle
I debated putting this on here. Reallllllyyyyy hard. I always say I will only recommend products that I love AND use. I don’t actually love getting water bottles for gifts, I like my Blender Bottle. Period. I don’t want cold water, I don’t need your fancy Yeti cup or Stanley for a gift, and cups with straws gross me out. And forget about them if they spill. That is immediate grounds for removal from the list. But I recognize that some people LOVE a water bottle as a gift. And I do believe you should travel with a reusable water bottle so that we can eliminate some single-use plastics from our life. So I did the research for you.
I asked trusted friends about their favorites. I have some criteria: no spillage, has to fit in a cup holder or most backpack water bottle pockets yet still be a great size, I bet this one fits the bill for that travel loving friend of yours. They come in beautiful colors and will keep your ice overnight. This one was overwhelmingly recommended by my friends. If I was looking to replace my trusty Blender Bottle, I would pick this one.
15. An Epicka Universal Travel Adapter
If someone you know is planning to travel internationally this year, this could be the ideal gift. It does what it says, has lots of places to charge all of your electronics, and is small enough to fit in the luggage without taking up precious space. It’s the perfect little thing to keep around so that you can be sure your gear stays fully powered no matter where you are.
16. Pacific Coasting by Danielle Kroll
I love this book. I have used it in my branding photos and to plan a vacation up the coast. The watercolor illustrations are darling and the advice is wonderful. This is not an exhaustive list of every single thing you could do on the Pacific Coast, but it hits all the highlights while being a completely delightful read. It will take you on a journey from San Diego all the way up to Seattle and everywhere in between, with sections about California, Oregon, and Washington. Perfect for anyone planning a west coast road trip or anyone who just wants to take one in their dreams.
17. An Assortment of Toiletry Pouches
These toiletry pouches take up much less space than the hard bottes and silicon tubes they replace. When you are trying to stay within a quart size ziplock to travel internationally, you don’t have room to waste on bulky travel bottles, especially when you know you will only need a few pumps of something. I love these little pouches. They’re not a flashy, but this thoughtful gift will be well appreciated in someone’s stocking on Christmas morning.
18. A Travel Pillow or Blanket (or Both)
This is going to get controversial with my frequent flyers out there. I find they tend to be in two camps. The “travel pillows are dumb” camp and then my camp, the “travel pillows are a necessary evil” camp. A lot of people who fly a lot, especially if they are traveling carry-on only, see a travel pillow as an extra thing to lug around that may or may not be useful. And you can always repurpose a jacket or sweater into a travel pillow (which is technically true).
Here’s why I’m pro travel pillow: they keep my neck from kinking horribly. They keep me from snoring on the plane. I can use them to prop up my phone when I read. I’m usually wearing my sweater to keep from freezing on the plane, especially if my neighbor needs to turn the ventilation up to full blast. This one does double duty. Both pillow and blanket (though not at the same time). It is incredibly soft and fluffy (wash it before you take it anywhere to cut back on fuzz), and it folds easily into its pouch and has a trolley strap on the back so that it sits easily on your carryon. I think it will make a beautiful travel gift.
19. A Cute Cashmere T-Shirt or Sweater from Quince
Of all the incredible travel gift ideas in this post, this viral sweater is my favorite one. You can always, always use a cute cashmere t-shirt or sweater. It is a beautiful part of a capsule wardrobe if you are trying to travel light. It can be casual or elevated. Pair it with a skirt, jeans, or leggings. It’s a natural fiber so it is breathable and doesn’t smell like b.o. after a couple of wears like synthetics and polyesters can. And Quince’s stuff is so reasonably priced. And gorgeous quality. This is definitely going to need to be a “one for me, one for you” situation. And cashmere is not all – they have beautiful bedding, coats, and basically everything.
20. A Travel Journal
There is no better way to keep track of your travels than a small journal. It’s so fun to look back and see where you were and what you were doing (and where you ate). It’s also a good place to write your misadventures and how you solved them. As a blogger or travel writer, a journal is a must, but even if you’re not; if it isn’t written down, it will be forgotten. I tend to prefer something small, not bulky, that fits easily in my carryon. You don’t need to write books and books, just jot down a few thoughts and feelings so that you can remember next time you plan a vacation. These are perfect, so slim, inexpensive but good quality.
21. (Bonus Gift – Girlfriend Getaway Planner)
Yes, it’s a shameless plug for my Girlfriend’s Getaway Planner. Whether you’re planning a trip for your girls or your fam, this planner is incredible. It’s got everything you need to organize the planning of that experience trip you’re gifting – itinerary, journal, arrival, and departure pages, along with a handy packing list. And it’s all delivered straight to your inbox so you won’t even have to wait to start planning.
Hopefully you found something useful and beautiful and I made your gift shopping easy! If you decide to purchase one of the items linked in this post, please use my links, it helps support my family and blog!
xoxo, Morgz
Do you have any favorite travel gifts to give? Leave me a note in the comments!
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