The Holidays are a time for giving! I’ve been putting together lots of gifts for family and friends. So, I wanted to put together a travel gift guide of some things I swear by. Whether you are traveling to see family, celebrating with a small group, or staying where you’ve been quarantining, this Holiday season is unlike any any of us have ever experienced.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and you can read my full disclosure here.
If you follow me on Instagram, you know I have totally caught the travel bug. My boyfriend Ryan is very well traveled, and I’ve been lucky enough to take some adventures with him this year. I’ve learned a lot from buying gifts for Ryan the past few years, and always looking for travel things for myself. Now that I’ve really begun to travel with him, I’m gearing up in style!
All right! No time to waste, the holidays are already here. This is a guide to 10 travel gifts anyone who can’t wait to travel again after the pandemic will love!
1. Toiletry Bag
The first thing on this gift guide has to be my new travel toiletry bag! I bought this bag for myself after packing all my toiletries in a little plastic baggy for too long. This was not a good system at all. (Shocking, I know.) I had to empty the whole bag to get what I needed. Then struggled to fit everything back in when it came time to go to the next destination.
Rookie mistake! Finally getting this item, was one of the biggest reasons I wanted to put together this travel gift guide.
You don’t have to make this mistake yourself, or let your best friend make it either. Getting a toiletry bag for travel was one of the best things I got for myself. Packing for the next trip was such a breeze! This bag fits so many things and folds up nicely to fit right in my backpack, and it is super affordable on Amazon!
Narwey Hanging Travel Toiletry Bag Cosmetic Make up Organizer
If you’re looking for something a bit more minimal, check out this Carhartt bag. It’s simple, roomy, and Carhartt makes a really good product!
Now, I don’t typically travel with a lot of makeup or toiletry products overall. So, if you’ll need even more space, check out this Large Hanging Toiletry Bag with amazing reviews on Amazon!
The Terrazzo Travel Wallet from Glass Ladder & Co.
2. Passport Wallet
Unfortunately, this exact wallet is not sold by Glass Ladder & Co. anymore. I actually got it last year in a Causebox I received as a gift! However, it is available second-hand on websites like Poshmark, Ebay and Mercari, from only $15! It is an absolute essential if you’re traveling with your passport.
I really love this wallet because it has every pocket you need: passport, credit card, cash, and boarding passes!
Amazon has a nice and simple black or brown leather option that is great no matter who you’re shopping for! If you want a winter theme for the holidays, check this simple one from Kate Spade. Or, if you want a bit more space, Lisa Angel has really beautiful designs.
3. Ticket Stub Organizer
This one is something I’ve actually been meaning to get myself and Ryan. So far, all my keepsakes are in a shoebox… As I mentioned before, Ryan has travelled a ton. He does have one of these ticket stub organizers already, but we need about 3 more I think! We not only save travel stubs, but we save tickets from everything. Concerts, sporting events, shows, and pretty much anything that feels sentimental.
This binder is perfect because the plastic sleeves keep everything clean, and honestly I love the design! It’s available on Amazon from a few different sellers in various conditions.
Just the Ticket: Ticket Stub Organizer
Uncommon Goods has a similar one that is specifically labeled for travel, if you want to check that out here! Or if you’re looking for something with more of a sleek and refined look, check out this album on mochithings.
4. Camera Bag
If you’re giving a gift to someone who loves travel and photography, this is the way to go. Ryan hardly goes anywhere without his camera, and especially wouldn’t leave it home for vacation.
Whether you’re buying for someone with a lot gear or just one camera, a good camera bag is necessary. Go for something simple, affordable, and yet durable like the Amazon Basics brand! They have various sizes and styles, and they are amazing quality.
Maybe your travel photographer needs even more space, or to have anything they might need for a full day on hand. You could then opt for a larger bag with a removable camera cube. These bags are perfect because they can be an every day backpack with an option for the camera cube. Check out the this bag from Brevite or any of their other highly rated styles!
5. Travel Jewelry Box
Vlando Macaron Small Jewelry Box, Travel Storage Case
This small jewelry box has been a staple for me since 2016. I really went and checked to see when I bought it on Amazon, because I felt like I’d had it forever! I’m not huge on accessories overall, but I do have a few earrings and necklaces that I wear regularly and always pack. I store almost everything in this little box all the time which makes it even easier to pack when I’m going somewhere.
This box has a space for every piece of jewelry you need to take with you. The dividers are removable, and it zips up to be cute and compact to fit in your bag. This is a must have if you don’t want to be digging in the bottom of your purse or losing an earring before you even get to the hotel!
6. Space Saving Bags
These are an absolute lifesaver when your baggage is limited. We’ve all snagged that deal from a discount airline, just to realize anything past a backpack is going to cost almost as much as buying another ticket!
If you think someone on your gift list might struggle packing light (like I do), these are a must! We recently went on a trip where we started in Colorado, and then went to Belize, Central America! We had to pack for hiking, snowboarding and general cold weather in Colorado. Then also have everything for the jungle and the beach in Belize! Luckily Ryan has a few sets of compression bags we used to pack for this trip. We got everything packed with only one checked bag for the both of us, which was a huge feat.
They come in many sizes and styles, even some with an attachment for an actual vacuum. For travel, though, any that you can compress by hand or by rolling, are definitely the way to go!
Check out this set on Amazon with awesome reviews!
Cabeau Evolution Classic 100% Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow
7. Cabeau Neck Pillow
Before beginning to travel with Ryan, I had never actually used a neck pillow before. I had flown various times around the US. The longest flight I’d been on before flying international was from NYC to San Francisco. Which is still a pretty substantial flight.
Well, not have a neck pillow was another rookie mistake! Honestly, I wish I had one for all the long road trips my family took growing up. Where was this luxury in my life? It seems so simple, but it makes such a difference!
Now, the longest flight I’ve done was from NYC to Turkey, about 10 hours. I slept the entire way with a great neck pillow. If I ever forget to pack it, I’ll have to consider paying a premium price at the airport because it is necessary now.
The Cabeau Neck pillow is affordable on Amazon, and is really nice memory foam which is super comfortable. It also comes with a carrier bag, a pocket on the side for ear plugs, headphones, or anything else that’s small you might need to put in or take out while trying to tune out the crying baby in the row behind you.
8. American Tourister Luggage Set
I received this luggage set as a gift last year, and it was the best! I had some old luggage I’d been using forever, and wanted to upgrade to a hard shell suitcase for so long. Thanks, Ryan! As the first travel gift I received, I had to include it in the gift guide.
I have this American Tourister Luggage 2 Piece-set, and I love it! They’re super easy to pack with lots of space, roll nicely through the airport, and can actually take a beating. I checked the smaller of the two, to and from Turkey, and it came back with a few scuffs, but the integrity was not compromised in the least. Mine are rose gold, and since you never know what will happen to your bags on the journey, opt for a darker color and you won’t see a thing!
9. Scratch Off Map
Now this is not a gift someone would take on a trip, but if the travel lover in your life is working on completing a long list of destinations, this is the gift to get! This is the first travel gift I bought for Ryan. We are far from having scratched off all the countries Ryan has been to (it’s a lot… 73 to be exact!). It has gotten lost in the mix recently, but now that I hung it up for this picture, I really want to finish it and get in a frame. It looks gorgeous!
I really like that it comes with a bonus map of the US so you can scratch individual states, too. While Ryan has his long list of countries, I’m excited about having been to almost every state in the US! I can’t wait to scratch off more and more places as we travel.
This gift keeps on giving. It’s exciting to see the map come together, and inspires new ideas for where to travel. Plus, scratching off a new destination is something to look forward to with every trip.
Grab it on Amazon now!
10. Birkenstocks
This might seem silly, but there is one thing I could not leave out of this quick travel gift guide, and that is my pair of Birkenstocks. I don’t know what I did without before I got them. These had been on my list for a long time, but never took priority. I really wish I had gotten them sooner, but now that I have them they are an absolute staple.
Of course these aren’t going to be the best option for colder climates, but why are you traveling somewhere cold anyway? …just kidding!
Really though, I have worn my Birkenstocks on every trip as one of three pairs of shoes I let myself pack: Sneakers, Hiking Boots, Birks.
I have a very hard time not bringing 7 pairs of shoes on every trip. But, since I got my Birkenstocks, it’s been a little easier. They are perfect with dresses, jumpsuits, shorts, pants, on the beach, to the pool, with everything and everywhere! Ryan and I both take them everywhere.
I think this is a perfect gift that will become a travel essential and an everyday shoe at home.
These 10 gifts will make any travel lover on your list happy. They will be even more excited to get back out there when the pandemic is over! It’s been quite a hard year for all of us. So, let someone know you’re thinking of them with a thoughtful and practical gift like one of these.
Send this to someone as a little hint, grab a last minute gift, or finish stuffing that stocking!
What are some travel related gifts you’ve given or received ,that you would add to my travel gift guide? Let me know in the comments!
