65 Brilliant Gift Ideas Travelers Will Love
- Updated: 11/20/2024
- Janice
Attention, wanderlusters, jet-setters, and those who shop for them! As a fellow traveler, I know the joy of finding smart, entertaining, and useful travel gear that makes every adventure better. This list of 65 brilliant gift ideas has it all—from clever packing solutions and pocket-sized games to time-saving gadgets, cameras, and courses to capture unforgettable moments. Get ready to become a gift-giving pro!
Table Of Contents
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14 Ideas for More Fun
Clever Luggage Tags
I love this collection of luggage tags from Airportag.com, a site offering cheeky aviation and travel-inspired gifts. My favorite is “You Won’t Look Good in My Clothes.” Nothing like an unsubtle reminder to errant fellow travelers to keep hands off stuff that is not theirs.
Nervy Laundry Bags
I used to pack two massive black trash bags to collect our laundry when we travel. The bags Airportag sells made me upgrade. Does the “Danger: Toxic” laundry bag send too strong of a message? I do not think so.
Statement Packing Bags
Sticking with the cheeky theme, I also love these all-purpose labeled packing bags. Find packs marked “sexy lingerie,” “lucky socks,” or phrases like “things you will not find where you are going.” These bags will not only have your traveler covered but also chuckling down the jet bridge.
The Best Travel Games
It is always good to have games while traveling—my family loves to play them, especially when waiting for restaurant reservations, or on long bus or train trips. Here are eight winning travel games to gift or bundle:
Or consider getting a puzzle book, like Lateral Thinking Puzzlers, or a book of hypothetical questions like If…Questions for the Game of Life. Each book offers a perfect activity to do in tandem while hiking or on the move and will get any travel group talking, interacting, and having more fun.
Looking for gift ideas for the littlest kids? Check out this great gift guide for babies (newborn to 18 months).
Portable Speakers
It is not a party without music. Help your traveler enjoy tunes on their next trip by using this high-end Bluetooth-enabled Bose speaker, this mid-range Sony, or this more affordable option.
3 Ideas to Instill More Zen
Foldable & Packable Yoga Mats
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Collapsible Water Bottle
Hydration for after Hatha. Or for anytime while traveling. I love the sturdy and collapsible construction of this Nefeeko water bottle. Users can stretch it to fill to its limit or shrink it to fit easily inside this practical Northface crossbody bag. As a nice perk, it comes with a carabiner for easy hanging and hooking, guaranteeing your traveler will hold on to this bottle for a while.
Kindle E-Reader
As a lifelong book lover and traveler, moments of zen while traveling have always included reading a good book. Offering instant gratification with easy downloads and minimal weight, a non-glare e-reader like a Kindle makes for an ideal gift—especially when outside lounging in the bright sun. If your traveler also prefers e-books, this reader is a must-have for maximum vacation enjoyment.
3 Ideas to Make Travel Safer
Secure Crossbody Bags
I love this unisex messenger-style bag from North Face. It is sturdy, secure with zippers, and has a comfortable and adjustable medium strap, making it perfect for bike rides or walking around town. Plus, it is roomy enough to carry all the essentials and properly unisex to make it a good fit for men or women.
Alternatively for travelers looking for more style, check out the colorful collection of sturdy and stylish bags from Certified B Corp ORI London. This bright orange Paddington B Crossbody bag caught my eye while traveling in Iceland. Its design drew me in and its heavy duty secure zippers and many interior pockets won me over. I use it interchangeably with my North Face bag above.
Door Stop Alarm
Cautious travelers may appreciate the extra peace of mind this door-stop alarm will give them while sleeping in a private hostel, hotel, or guest room. The alarm will make a disturbingly loud emergency noise impossible to ignore.
4 Ideas to Bring More Comfort & Ease
Wheeled Carry-On Backpack
After two back-to-back Europe trips to stairwell intensive Positano and the Bernese Oberland, I realized it was time to upgrade my luggage. My roller carry-on needed straps along with wheels. With backpack straps, traveling would be easier. No more banging my luggage around up and down stairs and train platforms. The ideal bag? This Osprey 36 Fairview Women’s Wheeled Luggage. For men—the Osprey Farpoint 36. Also available on the Osprey website.
Eye Mask
Soft and supple, this eye mask provides excellent and comfortable eye coverage and a sense of calm. It is perfect for traveling and in new environments where brighter lights make it harder to sleep.
Neck Pillow
To help your traveler get rest on overnight flights or long rides, get them a neck pillow. Since it folds nearly flat when not in use, this TRTL neck pillow offers the most support for the least amount of bulk—making it perfect for traveling.
Noise-Canceling Headphones
Until I first slipped these Bose noise-cancelling headphones on during an overnight flight, I had no idea how much easier it would be to sleep. The headphones minimized airplane noise, making me feel calmer and get more rest. Plus, and bonus, when I wore them, I no longer needed to queue up subtitles on downloaded movies. I could now hear everything perfectly. They make for a generous gift for any anxious flyer or music lover.
11 Ideas Perfect for Staying Organized
Packing Cubes That Impress & Compress
To keep the contents of luggage organized, these compression cubes are ideal. Plus, they are perfect for national park lovers with their cool park-inspired designs. I also like this transparent cube set, that allows travelers to see what they packed in which bags. Or, slightly more affordable, opt for this high-performing set.
Top Treatment for Toiletries
While traveling, many bathrooms have minimal countertops. So, it is convenient to have a hanging toiletry bag. This durable bag from Aussie outdoor company Sea to Summit with water-resistant fabric and solid construction is worth the notch-higher price tag. It is well-primed to give years of use.
And for the frequent fliers in your life, consider gifting these clear TSA-approved and reusable zip-top bags. Travelers use these bags to contain liquids likely to explode or leak while flying. Or frequent fliers can use them as stand-alone no-hassle toiletry bags for carry-ons on quick trips.
Another great way to minimize leaks and ensure TSA carry-on compliance is with these ingenious refillable Gotoob travel-size toiletry bottles. Their silicone exterior gives them serious durability—their wide screw tops make them a breeze to fill, or clean. And their hooks make them easy to position where your traveler needs them most. Plus, there is a label space to sharpie-marker the contents.
Jewelry Organizer
With clever magnetic snaps and hooks, travelers have a tangle-free place to store bracelets, rings, and necklaces. This affordable jewelry organizer will keep them packed flat minimizing bulk and space in luggage.
Tech Organizers
This bag from Tripped is roomy enough to carry all the chargers, USB cords, and adapters needed for travel. I particularly like its high-quality and durable fabric, stand-up construction, and multiple pockets. Pair it with a collection of these reusable silicone cord keepers to keep cords from tangling. Alternatively, and for something slimmer, this more affordable pouch makes for a great fit.
Tide Travel Sink Packets
A perfect way to help keep the vacation days of your traveler on track and organized—is by simplifying their laundry. I love these sink travel packets from Tide. The packs offer a huge improvement on the messy and leaky liquid laundry soap. Plus, these space savers make for an ideal stocking stuffer for travel lovers.
9 Ideas to Help Make Travel More Memorable
Smartphone Selfie Stick with Tripod
For any traveler who likes to take videos or photos of themselves without relying on the unpredictable skills of others, having a smartphone on a stick is a game changer. This well-rated and affordable one also comes with a wireless remote, helpful for setting up and capturing the perfect selfie shots.
Build Better Photo Skills
I bought this book for my 70-something-year-old relative with some trepidation for a gift. She is an artist, loves composition, and has not been able to translate it well to taking photos. So, I was unsure if she would be annoyed or pleased when I gave her The iPhone Photography Book about how to take better photos. She loved it. And then she raved about it so much that I bought one too.
Additionally consider gifting your loved one an online photography course, like from the iPhone Photography School. Or from Udemy, which offers this iPhone Photography Course or a Photography Masterclass.
Mirrorless Camera
If you know your traveler would like to upgrade from smartphone photos, and your gift-giving budget is generous, my local photographer friend recommends beginners start with this Panasonic G95 Mirrorless.
Go Pro with All the Accessories
I received a Go Pro as a thank-you gift, and I could not be more grateful. This tiny camera records video and takes photos at 4K definition, has a stabilizer to minimize shakiness, and is waterproof. I have used mine while snorkeling, kayaking, biking, and hiking. See the two photos below from a stay at Club Med Ixtapa Pacific in Mexico.
Buy the latest version, or an older more affordable model. Then, pair it with a Go Pro accessory pack. This pack includes a harness to use the camera hands-free and other attachments allowing users to affix the camera to helmets and tripods.
Also, be sure to get a high-capacity memory card, like this one, for your gift recipient. The minuscule capacity card the GoPro comes with is not usable.
Keep All Their Gear Charged
Get your traveler the latest gadgets to keep their electronics charged and functioning no matter where they choose to explore. If they do not already have it, this compact universal adapter—which I also own—will allow them to plug into 160 different countries. Pair it with this slim and powerful portable travel charger to keep them powered while on the go.
More Ideas for Travelers Who Love to Read & Cook
If the travelers in your life are also readers, I can help! I am an avid reader who loves linking my latest titles to locations. Get reading recommendations for places like Rome & the Amalfi Coast, Mexico, Belize, Switzerland, Ireland, Wisconsin (which happens to have great books), and more destinations in my Amazon or Bookshop.org shop.
And for those travelers filled with wanderlust but do not have a trip planned, check out this list of 150+ books to kindle travel-inspiration.
For travelers who love to cook, check out this 27-item cookbook gift guide.
9 Ideas to Help Fund Their Travel
Still not sure what to get the travel lover in your life—how about the gift of more travel? Search for travel gift cards on Amazon. Choose cards from Southwest Airlines, Airbnb, Hotels.com, Amtrak, and more. Or get them a Starbucks gift card—perfect for a caffeine kick at the airport.
Then get ideas for how to make gifts of cash or cards feel more personal with these bundled gift themes.
Even More Ideas for Outdoorsy Moms
If you know an outdoorsy mother, check out this 55-item gift list specifically for moms. It is full of travel- and park-inspired items they will love.
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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.
About the author: Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog, Gather and Go Travel. After attending the University of Michigan undergraduate business school and following a career in retail strategy and event management, she returned to focus on her first love—travel. Read her bio, learn how she became a blogger, and discover how to work with her. Sign up for her monthly Discovery Newsletter to get her latest travel recommendations and how-to’s.
Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, a world traveler to 50+ countries, a travel writer/blogger, and a book lover. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me. Get my latest updates, how-tos, and trip ideas in my monthly Discovery Newsletter.
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