Nearly half of all Americans say traveling is a top life goal.
With so many people experiencing wanderlust, someone on your Christmas list will probably embark on an adventure in the coming year.
Discover the best gifts for travelers to help them have an epic journey.
The Best Gifts for Travelers
Iryna Kalamurza via Shutterstock.com.
These gift ideas will show your favorite jet-setter how much you care.
Hey folks! Transparency Disclosure- Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. That means I’ll receive a small commission if you decide to click on it and buy something. Don’t worry, it doesn’t cost you anything extra!
Gift a Trip
Help your favorite traveler see the world by gifting them a dream vacation. Plan a surprise getaway for your partner, children, or parents.
Consider their top bucket list destinations and whisk them away on an adventure they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
If you can’t plan the trip for them, consider gifting them airline or hotel gift cards they can use when they book their travel plans.
Attraction Tickets
A getaway isn’t always in the cards. However, travelers seek fun and excitement wherever they find themselves, so tickets to local attractions make a fantastic alternative.
Score tickets to the trendy pop-up museum, a local theme park, or a quirky festival. Take them on a day trip to a local state park. If you live near a coast, take them on a water adventure, like deep sea fishing or whale watching.
Wherever you live, there are likely ample opportunities for day trips and adventures your favorite traveler will love!
Digital Camera
Although cell phone cameras have come a long way, they can’t compete with the perfect images a real camera can take.
If the traveler on your gift list loves exploring locales with historical architecture or breathtaking scenery, give them a camera that can truly capture the moment’s essence.
Travel Journal
Gift your favorite adventurer a small, lightweight travel journal they can take wherever their journeys carry them.
It will help them remember their trips for years to come.
For a creative take on this fantastic gift for travelers, make them a junk journal to hold scraps, receipts, and images from their favorite trips. Leave plenty of room for them to write!
Tablet
Help your traveler stay connected by gifting a Surface Pro or iPad.
These tablets make ideal gifts for travelers because they are lightweight and easy to pack, yet they have nearly all the same functionality as a traditional computer. They’re perfect for road trips, flights, and long waits in airports or train terminals.
House/Pet Sitting
Finding someone to watch a beloved pet is a massive burden that makes traveling difficult.
Offer to house-sit or pet-sit while they embark upon an adventure. It’s a low-cost way to show them how much you love them. You get to save money on gift-giving, while your friend gets peace of mind knowing someone they trust is caring for their best friend while away.
TSA-Approved Multi-Tool
Every traveler needs a screwdriver, corkscrew, or tiny scissors occasionally. How often have you wanted a bottle of wine only to find the hotel doesn’t have a corkscrew?
Multitools provide all this and more, but unfortunately, most come with knife attachments, which aren’t allowed by TSA.
Gift a TSA-approved tool that skips the knife to ensure your favorite traveler has all the gadgets they might need during their trip.
Universal Adapter
International travelers know that outlets worldwide differ. The three-prong plugs we use in the United States won’t work in European or Asian outlets.
Prepare your favorite traveler for an adventure anywhere with a universal adapter.
These handy gadgets have all the different connections needed for wherever they land.
Portable Charger
Have you ever thought, “I’ll charge my phone on the plane,” only to find no charging port and a dead phone mid-way through a trans-Atlantic voyage?
Help your traveler avoid this annoyance with a portable charger so they have a backup power supply on hand.
Guide Books
Guidebooks provide insider tips on the best things to see and do in a specific region. Find out where your loved one longs to visit, and give them a guidebook highlighting the best.
It will inspire them to start planning their trip.
Roadside Emergency Kit
A roadside emergency kit is the perfect gift for travelers who love road trips. The kits include flairs, emergency blankets, rations, first aid items, and everything they need to navigate any problem they encounter on the road.
Door Alarm
Solo travel is a magnificent experience that helps adventurers learn about themselves and see the world in new and spectacular ways. Unfortunately, it comes with the potential for unsafe situations.
Enter the door alarm. It’s the perfect solution to mitigate some of the safety concerns of solo travel. This handy item fits under or on a hotel room door and alerts you if anyone tries to open the door to your room.
You could also gift a simple door jam that doesn’t include an alarm but prevents the door from opening.
Flight Kit
The frequent flyer on your list will love anything that makes flying more enjoyable, so consider gifting them a flight kit.
Kits may include eye masks, earplugs, travel pillows, or toiletries and help make a long-haul flight slightly more pleasurable.
Headphones
When flying or waiting at an airport, you sometimes just want to drown out the world. Noise-canceling headphones are just the ticket!
Consider Bluetooth headphones to minimize the nuisance of tangled cords.
Travel Games
Long waits and flights get boring. Travel games give people something to do while waiting.
Sudoku, crossword, and puzzle books are ideal because they don’t require electricity and offer hours of entertainment.
Portable electronic games like a Nintendo Switch Lite will be a hit if charging stations are readily available.
Hydration Pack
AYA images via Shutterstock.com.
The hiker on your list will love an advanced water-carrying system. A hydration pack is a small backpack you can fill with water for hands-free drinking while hiking, kayaking, or adventuring.
It’s the perfect gift for the outdoorsy traveler on your list.
Water Bottle
Camelbacks are ideal for hikers, but all travelers can use a water bottle. Collapsible water bottles are lovely gifts for flyers, while campers may prefer a more rugged option.
I love my Yeti water bottle, and as more and more airports offer water refilling stations, it’s the perfect tool for saving money at the airport.
Waterproof Phone Case
Getting caught in a rainstorm while traveling is miserable, and it’s even worse when your electronics get soaked.
A waterproof phone case will protect essential items from the elements.
They also make great gifts for travelers who love outdoor adventures like kayaking or rafting.
Solar Charger
Some folks spend days or weeks in the wilderness without access to electrical outlets. Although the isolation is part of the charm, it can be dangerous.
A solar charger will ensure they can plug in and connect in case of an emergency.
Travel Planner
Planning a trip is a massive part of the fun! A travel planner is a specialized journal that helps users arrange itineraries and budgets for their trips.
Although regular journals can act as travel planners, a new trend on Etsy offers journals specifically crafted for travel planning.
Travel Organizer
A travel organizer helps secure and organize all your essential travel gear for easy access. Organizers have space for documents, journals, sunglasses, toiletries, and other useful items. They’re typically designed for a specific type of item, like toiletries or electronics, but can be used for a variety of things.
Travel organizers make lovely gifts for travelers who want to have all their essential items in one easy-to-access place.
Document Case
A document case keeps passports, visas, credit cards, and other necessary paperwork safe and secure while traveling. Many cases include lanyards, allowing tourists to keep their essential papers safely around their necks.
A document case is an ideal gift for travelers who frequently visit international locales and may need to keep various entry documents safe.
TSA-Approved Toiletry Kit
The worst thing about traveling is getting through TSA’s arbitrary rules. Light packers don’t want to check a bag just to take shampoo with them!
Help them by gifting them a TSA-approved toiletry kit with perfectly sized travel bottles for TSA’s standards.
Luggage Set
Everyone who travels needs luggage. Consider how your favorite globe trotter likes to travel and gift them luggage that matches.
Give outdoorsy types a durable new backpack, luxury travelers a fancy set that fits all their accessories, and those who love to pick up and go a lightweight carry-on.
Portable Hair Dryer
A portable hair dryer makes a perfect gift for ladies on the go. It will ensure they can always keep their hair dried and managed, regardless of whether the hotel offers a free in-room dryer.
Portable hair dryers are lightweight and easy to take on any adventure.
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are small suitcase bags that help you stay organized while traveling. They make a perfect gift for the organized traveler who likes to have everything easily accessible and where they want it.
Kindle
Kindles make great Christmas gifts for everyone, but are ideal for travelers because they give them various reading options in a lightweight format. Allow them to take their favorite books everywhere they go without having to pack a library with this gift idea.
Selfie Stick
A picture is worth a thousand words, and most travelers love getting the perfect shot. A selfie stick will help them get the perfect angle, whether out on the beach or exploring ancient ruins.
Selfie sticks are ideal gifts for travelers who love posting their adventures on Instagram.
Go-Pro
Give the gift of epic videos of their kayaking, climbing, and biking adventures with a camera designed for the outdoors. These cool gadgets are small, easy to use, and take fantastic action videos.
Go-Pros make perfect gifts for adventure seekers.
Anything that Makes Their Trip Better
Gift-giving for your favorite adventurer doesn’t have to be complicated. Anything that helps make their trip more enjoyable or planning easier will make a perfect gift for the traveler on your list. They may want an airplane blanket, a portable pet carrier, or a houseplant that doesn’t mind being ignored for weeks at a time.
Regardless of your choice, they will be thrilled to know you care enough to give them a thoughtful present based on the things they love to do.