43 Great Travel Gifts to Make Holiday Giving a Breeze

If you have a jet-setting friend or family member who always seems to be going somewhere, then welcome to the list of Great Travel Gifts to make your holiday shopping for them stress-free and inspired this year. Instead of wondering, “What would they actually use?”, discover thoughtful, practical and useful travel gift ideas from a professional wanderer. Make sure your family, friends and coworkers—and everyone in between—have the essentials for a smooth journey. This list is how to make holiday giving a breeze!

And if you are building YOUR ultimate travel bucket list as well, begin to think about the travel gift ideas for him, travel essentials for women, traveler electronics and gadgets, toiletries, and photography equipment you will need to make your travel experiences a breeze.

You deserve a little gift-giving love as well.

43 Great Travel Gifts

The nitty gritty of traveling—no matter how often you or your loved ones travel—is that it can be challenging. You have to consider the potential for long airport layovers, wall plugs that are different, and toiletry items that need to be just the right size for TSA.

Set yourself up for success this holiday season with all of the essentials and MAYBE some “really nice to have” big ticket items just for you. If you like to plan ahead for Christmas, the New York Times suggests that holiday deals are hitting the shelves as early as October.

Under $30 Stocking Stuffers Ideas for Travel

For a magical Christmas morning, stocking stuffers are just as important as the wrapped presents under the tree. While typically small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, these gifts are often meaningful and personalized.

Bombas socks make great travel gifts for everyone on your list. Bombas makes socks, shirts, underwear and slippers that are soft and comfortable to wear. Socks are definitely travel essentials for women and men.

“Your support helps put thoughtfully designed, essential clothing into the hands and onto the feet of those in need.” ~ Bombas

Protect your Apple Airpods with a silicone case that come in a variety of color options. The cases are made of high quality silicone that is lightweight and durable. If you are looking for adventure seeker gifts, headphones are handy and universally loved.

Mini umbrellas are designed to be compact, lightweight and perfect for travel. They should fit perfectly in your travel bag and come with a handy waterproof case.

In a travel world full of black luggage, help your travel bags stand out from the crowd with these colorful luggage tags. They make great travel gifts and stocking stuffers for travel. If you need gifts for travel couples, tags are a great idea.

Who doesn’t like a little bling? The compass necklace makes a great gift idea for the traveling woman. Wouldn’t your mom, sister, aunt, grandma, daughter or girlfriend love it?

Best Gifts for Travelers

Are you planning a surprise getaway this year? A trip for empty nesters? A trip to Disney (anywhere in the world)? Or maybe just sightseeing close to home? Consider these “adventure seeker gifts”:

Because, as my daughter informs me, not everyone is going to want a crossbody bag (see #11). Waist packs are easy to wear, adapt to various waist sizes, and tuck in perfectly as you travel.

Optometrists strongly encourage everyone to wear sunglasses everyday when you are outside, in your travels, and on adventures. You aren’t always mindful of the amount of time spent outside in the sunshine when you’re having fun all day long. Sunglasses are travel essentials for women, men, and kids.

Take care of your eyes. Besides, sunglasses make great travel gifts because they are fashion and function all in one!

PCA Skin Active Broad Spectrum SPF 45 sunscreen with zinc oxide, sweat and water resistant is awesome. Sunscreen should be one of the first things you put on your face everyday. I recommend it whether you are traveling or not, but with extra emphasis on those travel days when you are in the sun all day long. Sunscreen is another travel essential for women, men and kids—of all ages! Think of it as one of the gifts that keeps on giving.

When considering travel gifts, a collapsible water bottle is super nice to have on vacation and to include in your travel bag. Just make sure it is empty before going through security at the airport! Staying hydrated is always important. In fact, send along some single-serving packets of Crystal Lite or Zipfizz with your favorite traveler so they can add a little flavor or energy boost to their water.

If you haven’t tried these Built Bars and Puffs you might just be in for a pleasant surprise. They have great flavors, a nice texture, and are quite delicious. Giving your favorite people 1 or 2 bars or the whole box makes great adventure seeker gifts.

A crossbody bag—or messenger bag—is one of the great travel essentials for women AND men. Since crossbody bags hang in front of the body, it is easy to access all your valuables without having to take the bag off every time you need something.

>> Related: My Favorite Crossbody Bag for Travel

How to Make Holiday Giving a Breeze

Experiences and memberships are great travel gifts for Christmas and any other special occasion throughout the year. When you give the gift of a vacation, a luxurious day at the spa, or a subscription box, you are giving some of the best gifts for travelers AND a sentimental present at the same time… plus a little bit of anticipation for good measure.

Give the gift of Airbnb with amazing destinations all around the world. It makes for a perfect getaway to a lakeside cabin, a treetop hideaway, a secluded beach house, or an apartment in the heart of an old town anywhere in Europe. Some experiences are also available.

This at-home DNA test kit links to 80 or more personalized reports. Using innovative ancestry composition, your ancestry is estimated to 0.1% over more than 2000 geographic regions. Research your family tree and discover just how you fit in; find out what makes you YOU. This is definitely one of the unique travel gifts your family will appreciate.

Great travel gifts that gives you the freedom to roam wherever Southwest Airlines flies.

Discover travel excursions, adventures and experiences all over the world. Give the gift of more experiences not things. You can sign up for guided tours, day trips, or water activities and be inspired for your next trip. This is one of the great travel gifts that gives the gift of anticipation and adventure.

Buy GuideAlong audio tours (formerly called GyPSY Guides) for yourself, your family, or your friends. The GuideAlong App is free to download on Apple and Google Play.

>> Related: Using the GuideAlong App for Awesome Narrated Tours

Adventure Seeker Gifts

If you are like me and find that international travel makes you happy, discover Christmas gift ideas that make traveling abroad so much easier. These travel gifts are great for you or as a gift for a friend going abroad.

>> Related: Check out ALL of My Favorite Travel Things under the SHOP tab in the menu or click the pic below to check out all of the Best Gifts for Travelers in my Amazon Shop.

Do you or your loved one plan to travel regularly to international destinations? The universal adapter works in a number of different countries and outlets across Europe. It is not only one of the great travel gifts for Christmas but it is also one of the travel essentials for women and men who plan to travel internationally.

Using a travel journal is a great way to remember the places you visit, people you meet, ideas for future travel, suggestions and notes for your next trip, funny moments that happen along the way, day-to-day experiences, mishaps, favorite destinations, day trips, and interesting tidbits of information.

AirTags are an efficient and super easy-to-use-gadget to help keep track of your luggage and travel bags when you travel. Attach one to your luggage. Add another in your backpack. Put one on your keychain if you have the incredible knack for losing things. Use the Find My App to track the tags and all of the Apple devices you and your family use each day. It makes perfect gifts for travel couples who travel.

The Travelon Passport Wallet with RFID is perfect for securely storing a passport, credit cards, and a little extra cash when you travel. If you are the keeper of the family passports during your journeys, this case can hold 3-4 passports quite nicely. It is one of the best gifts for travelers that gives you peace of mind as you travel.

Use Water Resistant Travel Bags for organization and peace of mind. I like to be EXTRA CAREFUL (I have had hair gel leak all over my toiletries in my luggage). These bags are versatile for your toiletries, snacks, and travel electronics and essential gadgets.

Lightweight, wheeled luggage is always a great option for travel, especially if you are having to lift the luggage overhead to store in airplane storage bins, walk long distances at the airport, carry it onto trains, or heft it up flights of stairs when the vacation rental you have chosen has no elevator.

This BagSmart Hanging Toiletry Bag is convenient and organizes essential toiletries. When space is limited, hanging your toiletries keeps them organized and frees up counter space. Add this to your list of travel essentials for women.

Add your travel photo memories to your Amazon Echo and turn your home screen into a digital photo display. Great travel gifts are perfect gifts all year long; the Echo sends you reminders, acts as an alarm, plays music, and assists in managing your Smart devices.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Road Trips

“As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.” ~ Donald E. Westlake

It is easy to bring a foldable cooler for road trips from home or tuck it into the bottom of your luggage without taking up too much space. Fill it with bread, sandwich meats, cheese, and fruit and enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.

Chris and I both travel with our The North Face Recon Backpacks. They have padded laptop sections, are perfect for a day trip pack which we fill with our lunch, snacks, the Camelbak, and extra water bottles, and mine works great as a camera back with the added camera insert.

>> Related: Best Travel Backpack for Europe, Adventures and Hiking

These magnetic car phone mounts are such awesome little gadgets and make fantastic travel gifts. You place a metal plate (included with your purchase) inside your phone case. The magnetized phone mount slides onto your air vent slat. Place your phone against the phone mount and voila! Instant attachment.

Travel Electronics & Gadgets

You will LOVE the convenience of Apple AirPods. They are wireless, connect via bluetooth to your iPhone, and come with a convenient charging and storage case.

Do you use a cell phone throughout the day on vacation (or even in the carpool lane) for taking photos, getting directions, checking maps, figuring out transportation, or researching on the internet? Pack a Portable Charger so you can recharge your phone when needed. It is in the top 5 of essential gadgets for travel. If you are looking for gifts for travel couples, consider one for each of them.

Whichever brand you choose and love, a smart phone really is an essential electronic device to travel with today. Consider it a security device, a navigational marvel, a transportation getter, a messaging link… If you aren’t already in the camp of owning and using a smartphone, get one. They make great travel gifts if your budget allows and are perfect if you want a camera handy at all times.

This charger is a great gadget for charging laptops in record time. It also has additional charging ports for extra devices. If you travel with electronics, this charger is one of the best gifts for travelers.

Have you ever thought to travel with a Power Strip with USB Ports? The options are varied when you search online, so find the one that best suits your needs. Invariably, with all of the devices to be charged, this power strip comes in pretty handy anywhere in the world as you can plug it into an international plug adapter and maximize your charging space. It is among the best traveler electronics for international travelers.

When you return home from vacation and unpack, leave the power strip in your luggage until the next time. It is definitely one of the travel essentials for women and men that makes a perfect Christmas gift for travel.

Traveling with an electronic tablet is surely a convenience. It is great for:

• Storing all information related to your vacation—dates, locations, activities, booked flights, confirmation numbers, hotel reservations and information, and transportation
• Reviewing in the evening for the next day
• Unwinding or relaxing while reading an eBook
• “Facetiming” with family at home
• Watching a downloaded movie. Check out the options from Amazon Prime Movies 
• Journaling throughout vacation

My husband loves cool gadgets that not only work seamlessly with his electronics but also have great function too. With all of the gadgets and electronics, an organizer is essential and makes for great travel gifts for men (and women!).

Smart watches come in a variety of shapes, colors, and tracking abilities. Perfect for making sure you and your family are always on time. There is even a pedometer app you can download to track your steps (or mileage) as you sightsee on vacation.

>> Related: 14 Genius Gadgets for Travel

Christmas Gift Ideas for Photographers Who Love to Travel

Are you shopping this holiday season for someone who loves photography and travel? There are plenty of options to delight all photography skill levels, whether it is a stocking stuffer or a big budget surprise gift that will make their jaw drop on Christmas morning.

If you have ever had a rain-soaked backpack, you will understand why adding a waterproof lightweight Backpack Cover to your essential travel gear is necessary. When downpours hit, you want to be prepared to keep your backpack and gear dry.

Who doesn’t love a little more bling? The camera necklace is perfect for the hobbyist photographer as well as the professional.

I think you would be surprised how often you use an underwater camera or GoPro. They are perfect for cruise vacations, whitewater rafting trips, snorkeling excursions and fun in the pool.

This camera is great for many hobby photographers who are comfortable with a point and shoot. It gives options for shooting in manual mode if you want to begin expanding your skills.

If your first inclination is to proclaim, <GASP> “Never!”, don’t be so quick to rule out a selfie stick, especially if traveling solo is your gig.

There are tripods that are small and flexible for travel, but if you are traveling solo (or even with a group), you may wish to have the added benefit of the Fugetek selfie stick in your travel gear.

If you are a photographer, you know that sometimes traveling and exploring all day with a camera around your neck can cause a lot of neck strain. While the Peak Design Camera Clip may not be on everyone’s essential travel gear list, it sure does make travel easier.

The clip easily attaches to your backpack strap; your camera then clips on and off as you need to use it throughout the day.

Because I am a adventurer who is also all about taking pictures when I travel, my Canon 6d Mark II camera, lenses and accessories are essential to bring along when I travel. Seriously, I don’t leave home without them!

I know everyone has a different opinion about which camera is the best. Pick the brand you (or Mom if you are gifting one to her) love the most.

My North Face Women’s Recon Backpack isn’t designed specifically for transporting camera equipment, but this handy dandy camera insert transforms the inner section of the backpack.

The insert has three sections, and the size of those sections can be easily changed as the dividers velcro in place. Leave the middle section of the insert for your camera and fill the two outer sections with lenses. It is seriously the best gift for travelers and photographers.

If you or your friends and family are looking to learn or improve your photography skills, how about giving the gift of a photography class?

Check out the available courses here: 5 Best Travel Photography Courses for Beginners

How Do I Make An Amazon Wish List?

Create an Amazon wish list to keep track of items you want to purchase later and then share with others who may ask “What would you like for… ?”

How does Amazon Wish List work?

1. Hover over Account & Lists at the top right of your Amazon page and select Your Lists.
2. Select Create a List and add a list name.
3. Tap the Create List button.
4. Hover your mouse over the three dots menu … on the top right side of the screen and select Manage List to update your shipping address and other preferences.
5. Select Save Changes. You can repeat this process and create any number of lists.
6. Have family and friends create their own lists and then share them with you.

When viewing a product that you would like to add to your Amazon Wish list, select the Add to List button on the right side of your screen.

If you find items you wish to add to a list for a family member or a friend, select the Add to List button with its dropdown menu and scroll down within that box until you see the name of the person you wish to select.

Note:

• Only list owners can make changes to their lists
• Only the name, city, and state of your address is visible to gift givers
• Update your info at any time
• Items are added to your default list when you select Add to List
• Both list owners AND invited people can add items to lists

Frequently Asked Questions

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Final Thoughts on 43 Great Travel Gifts To Make Holiday Giving a Breeze

Ahhh, so many great gift ideas for travel and for the holidays. You might find it hard to just pick one!

Whether you are looking for gift ideas for the business traveler, gifts for travel couples, or gift ideas for the women who love to travel, this list will surely spark some interest and ideas.

Happy shopping!

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