Buying gifts for friends and family can be tough! We spend a lot of time thinking about whether they will like this item or use this item which certainly is both stressful and time-consuming. In order to help make those decisions a bit easier for you, we put together a list of the best travel gifts to buy for that special traveler in your life. The Travel Gifts listed below are based on our travel experience and a poll in the Basic Travel Insiders Facebook Group.
1. Carry-on Size Luggage with Spinner Wheels
The top recommended travel gift in our poll is carry-on luggage with spinner wheels. I have been a proud member of Team Carry-on for many years and a good roller bag can make all of the difference when you’re transiting through an airport. Disney fans will love the options from American Tourister! The options from TravelPro are my favorites due to their durability, usability, and look.
Fun Fact: TravelPro is the brand that a lot of Flight Attendants use.
2. Passport Holder
Any international traveler knows the stress that goes with misplacing a passport. The Passport holders certainly do help given they are often larger, eye-catching, and there’s space for other important documents like plane tickets, those Southwest drink voucher tickets, or a Priority Pass Card. There are tons of options out there for Passport Holders but one is my favorite. The Personalized Passport Holder is perfect. You can add your own photo to customize it and it even comes with RFID Blocking Technology to protect your cards, ID card, and driver’s license from skimmers and identity thieves.
3. Packing Cubes
A great travel gift indeed, the classic packing cubes are often an underrated option. As any seasoned traveler will attest, there is certainly an art to packing. Thankfully packing cubes were created to help aid in this delicate process. I personally find it nice to have my socks, underwear, shirts, shorts all separated in different cubes. Instead of digging through my bag looking for a pair of socks, I can just pull out my sock cube. The Hero Packing Cubes come with 5 separate cubes plus two laundry bags!
4. Travel Water Bottle
More and more countries are banning the use of plastic water bottles and requiring tourists to bring their own when visiting. It’s important for the environment and for your overall health. Carrying a water bottle with me ensures that I can stay hydrated while on the go. I always stop by a hydration station when transiting through an airport to fill my bottle up. The BPA Free options are the way to go! I am a fan of both the Giotto 32 OZ Leakproof Bottle and the Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle.
5. Portable Charger
Talk about a potential lifesaver! I can only speak for myself but for some reason, my phone always happens to die at the worst possible moment. Usually when I’m navigating a route using a map or trying to pull up my digital boarding pass when I’m going through airport security. Without a doubt, a great travel gift is a portable charger. They typically come with dual USB ports which allow you to charge more than one device at a time. The TOZO Powerbank is my go-to option which displays the percentage of power left and the status of charging.
6. Microfiber Quick Dry Towel
I have used these special quick-dry towels all over the world and don’t travel without them. First of all, they are compact which is great for team carry-on. Second, they actually work! I typically bring these along when I’m swimming or scuba diving. They also are great for hikes (where there’s a lot of sweating involved). Additionally, I’ve used them on the beach to lay down on when catching a siesta. The brand I use is Rainleaf Microfiber Travel & Sports Towel.
7. Foldable Duffle Bag
Have you ever traveled somewhere and realized that you don’t have enough room to bring back souvenirs? Even if I embark on a trip with no intention of coming back with anything additional, somehow I always end up coming home with more than I left with. The foldable duffel bag has saved the day many times, especially when compared to the price of luggage and bags in an airport (Yikes!). My go-to Foldable Duffel is the Currens 100L Travel Bag.
8. International Power Adapter
Have you ever traveled somewhere and forgot to bring a power adapter? I certainly have and it can be a costly mistake. For whatever reason, I often forget this simple necessity when packing. Learn from my mistake and be sure to send the traveler in your life off on their next trip with a quality International Power Adapter. I use the EPICKA All-in-one Travel Power Adapter which is compatible with over 150 countries.
9. Travel Toiletry Bag
My travel toiletry bag has certainly evolved over the years. There was a time when ziplock plastic bags were sufficient but now I go with something a bit more organized and secure. The travel toiletry bags come in all shapes and sizes but I prefer the simplistic Pantheon Hanging Toiletry Bag. I like the organization of this bag plus the hook can be a lifesaver. Sometimes travel leads us to brush our teeth in random places where I’d much rather hang my bag from a hook then let it touch the ground around me.
10. Travel Backpack
The number one rated Travel Gift from the Basic Travel Poll was a roller carry-on but I’m much more of a backpacker at heart. It’s a special and unique feeling to throw a bag on your back and set off for a far-away place. Without a doubt, my favorite Travel Backpack options are the Osprey Porter 46 and the Osprey Farpoint 55. I’ve carried both on and have only run into issues with size a few times when using the Farpoint 55. What I love about the Farpoint 55 is that it comes with a detachable day-bag which is great for hiking or having on you during the day. The Porter 46 is the safer option if you are worried about being stopped at the gate for an oversized carry-on.
11. Noise Cancelling Headphones
I’m bougie when it comes to noise-canceling headphones these days but I wasn’t always. Back in the day, I’d have an assortment of the free wired ones that I accumulated from travel over the years and you’d see me playing the untangle game on many flights. Now, I won’t travel without both my Bose QuietComfort 35 and Apple Airpod Pro wireless headphones. The technology has changed over the years and these products really do provide an exceptional listening experience. When flying, I prefer to use the Bose QuietComfort 35. When I’m on the move, the Apple Airpod Pro headphones are my go-to choice. If I had to choose one, the Apple Airpod Pro earbuds would make it into my bag due to their compact size.
12. Portable Travel Camera Tripod
I love shooting awesome photos when traveling which can often be a challenge when I’m in a remote place with no-one around. This is where the Portable Travel Camera Tripod has come to save the day. I use the PHOPIK Travel Tripod which is compatible with iPhones, Androids, GoPros, and Digital Cameras. The PHOPIK even comes with a wireless remote so you don’t have to set a timer and run like the old days!
13. Professional DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
Anyone who is considering photography should certainly be equipped with a legitimate camera. The difference in quality can’t be understated when it comes to shooting photos. We use a Sony A6400 and love it! It is a lot lighter than the Nikon DSLR we used to use, and I think it is even more fun to take photos with.
14. Travel Neck Pillow
The last thing you want after a long flight is a stiff neck! I’ve tried out a variety of neck pillows over the years and the memory foam ones are definitely my favorite. The BlueHills Memory Foam Neck Travel Twist Airplane Pillow is my go-to now when I’ll be spending an extended period of time in economy class.
15. Scratch Off World Map
The scratch-off world maps are a fun way to see all of the places you have been. I love the visual effect and memories that come up when scratching off those countries and seeing all of the other places that are on my travel bucket list. There are many variations of these scratch-off maps but I personally like the ones that include the scratch-off flags like this one pictured below.
16. The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small
This is a fun book that is sure to offer inspiration and wanderlust. I am truly an experience junkie and seek them out when I’m planning a trip. If you’ve read The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small let me know which ones are at the top of your list!
17. A Travel Journal
There is something special about handwriting your personal experience while traveling. It’s a great way to both document and later on reminisces about that particular day abroad. The Page-A-Day Travel Journal is a great option for recording thoughts and experiences!
Let us know!
What is the Best Travel Gift you’ve ever received? Did we miss one of the top travel items you would have loved to receive?
