Happy Holidays, everyone! We are now in the full swing of the season, and that means that many have gift-giving on the brain. While I try to stay out of Christmas as much as possible each year, somehow, I still find myself perusing the aisles and wanting to give small, useful things to those I love.
I’ve never put together a gift guide before, but I figured, with 7 years of travel experience, I might know a thing or two about what girls who travel really want. This year, give the travelers in your life presents they’ll both love and actually use! I’ve done some extensive searching for all of the latest and greatest travel gear, tech, and accessories, and I think you’ll love what I found. The gift ideas below range in price from $7 to $300, so there really is something for every budget! Whether you’re just looking for some fun stocking stuffers or you’re searching for the coolest gift of 2019, this list should help you out:
Under $25
Luggage Tags
A set of luggage tags is always a great gift idea, especially if you have a smaller budget. Plus, there are so many different styles out there that you can choose a set which perfectly complements the style of the recipient. Some great options are these quirky holographic ones, a classy brown leather duo, and this pastel set, all from Amazon for less than $15!
Passport Cover/Travel Wallet
Along the same vein as the luggage tags, a passport case can be a fun way to reflect personality in a gift. Not only is it useful for protecting a traveler’s most important possession, it often doubles as a travel wallet with slots for credit cards and ID, pockets for cash, and sleeves for boarding passes. Amazon offers all the colors and styles you could ever imagine, but here are some of my favorites: pink holographic, burgundy extra tall, black and silver, blush and gold, and classic brown leather — all between $7 and $17!
For another great product like these ones, scroll down for the Pacsafe RFIDsafe passport wallet!
Universal Travel Adapter
This Castries Universal Travel Adapter is the perfect stocking stuffer for someone taking a trip abroad soon. This all-in-one converter has four USB plug-ins plus one regular plug-in, and it works for the UK, the EU, Australia, and the United States. Plus, it comes in this cute blue color! (It also comes in black, if you’re looking for something more neutral.) Grab it on Amazon for $22!
Travel-Themed Calendar
Stay inspired all year long with this gorgeous desk calendar. Each month features a beautiful illustration of a famous destination around the world. Not only does it help you keep track of the date, flipping over each new month brings that feeling of wanderlust all over again. Available from Rifle Paper Co. on Amazon, this little guy only costs $22.
Collapsible Water Bottle
This BPA-free reusable water bottle is a great item to take on the go. It is interchangeable between three sizes and takes up practically no space at all when squished down. Plus, the design is sturdier than the typical collapsible water bottle, which is made of thin plastic like a sandwich bag. This one actually holds its form! It doesn’t stop there, though: the lid doubles as a rechargeable lantern. The band in the middle even glows in the dark, a great feature for campers. You can find it on REI for only $15.
Reusable Travel Straw
Save the turtles one straw at a time, no matter where you are, with this cool contraption. The stainless steel straw folds in upon itself and fits right into its cute little carrying case, which also hides an expandable cleaning brush. Better yet, the case, which comes in four colors, comes with a keychain attachment so that you’ll never lose sight of it. This one reusable straw is designed to eliminate 12,000 plastic straws over the course of its lifetime. If someone in your life would love to take this on all their trips, snag it from REI for only $24.50!
Travel Jewelry Organizer
If you have a friend, sister, mom, cousin — or anyone, really — who loves her jewelry just as much as she loves to travel, this would be a great gift. Personally, cheap little handmade jewelry items are my most-purchased souvenir, yet they get all tangled up constantly! Each one of these little organizers streamlines the packing process and keeps jewelry neat for the entirety of a trip. Jewelry packers come in hard cases, soft covers, all kinds of sizes, and countless colors, so there is bound to be one which perfectly fits the gal in your life. Some good options are a petite black hard case, a soft, foldable jewelry mat, and a larger black hard case with a divider. These examples are highly affordable, ranging from $9 to $20 on Amazon.
My book, Conquering Mountains: How to Solo Travel the World Fearlessly
Did you know that I wrote a book?! Conquering Mountains is a fantastic gift to give the person in your life who just needs that little push to do something adventurous! In the book, I write everything women need to know about how to save up, plan, stay safe, stay connected, pack, and gear up for the solo adventure of a lifetime. It’s all in here! Order a copy on BMTM for $9.99!
$25 to $50
RFID Safe Passport Wallet
In function, this RFIDsafe passport wallet from Pacsafe is much like the ones from the very beginning of this post. The difference, though, is its technology: special material and an RFID blocking pocket work to prevent electronic scanning theft while you’re traveling. Plus, it still has tons of organization, with eight card slots, big pockets, a passport window, and even a pen holder. Find it on REI for $30!
Travel-Proof Sunglasses
Every traveler needs a reliable pair of sunglasses, and the “goodr OG” sunglasses from REI are a great option. These polarized lenses include protection against 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays, and the lightweight non-slip frame — designed for being on the go — flatters practically any face shape. Even better is the price tag: $25! Who knew that such high quality specs could be so affordable? They come in countless colors, so there is bound to be a pair that matches the style of everyone on your list.
Inspiring Travel Book
Give the gift of inspiration with this colorful travel book from Lonely Planet. With 850 images telling the stories of every country in the world, this is sure to spark some wanderlust. But be sure to gift it before the New Year so that your friends and family can use it to make all their resolutions for where they want to travel in 2020! Grab a copy on Amazon for $37 (hardcover) or just under $21 (paperback)
Portable Charger
Another must-have for any traveler is a portable charger. One of these can save the day when your phone dies on a long flight or in the middle of nowhere. This Anker PowerCore charger from Amazon comes in fun colors, is small and lightweight, and can charge an iPhone 8 nearly three and a half times! Plus, it comes with a cool travel pouch to toss in your bag and an 18-month warranty for peace of mind. Equally exciting is the price: only $32. ($26 if you choose it in black)
$50 to $100
Travel-Friendly Backpack
This backpack, on sale at REI for $90, is a travel superhero. With a padded laptop sleeve, a luggage strap to connect the bag to a roller suitcase, and tons of small compartments for all the little things that get lost in the bottom of your bag, it makes the travel process uber-organized. More importantly, it keeps your possessions safe with locking zippers, Pacsafe RFIDsafe material, slashguard straps, and turn-and-lock security hooks. (Not to mention that it comes in this gorgeous navy blue, as well as a fun purple color!) What more could you ask for in a backpack?
Cute & Comfy Shoes
Give the gift of both fashion and functionality with these Superga Cotu sneakers, named the most comfortable canvas sneaker for traveling by Travel and Leisure. They’re good for practically anywhere, anytime and can be dressed up or down as needed. They make for an easy on-off when going through airport security, while their streamlined and lightweight design takes up little space in a suitcase. They are available on Amazon in 14 different colors for less than $60!
$100 and up
Weekender Duffel
This Patagonia duffel has some great features which make it the perfect gift for the weekend traveler. The large main compartment can hold several days’ worth of stuff, and the separate compartment on the bottom is useful for things like dirty shoes. The recycled polyester material is easy to clean, and adjustable double handles even allow you to carry it as a backpack! Purchase one on REI for $140.
GoPro
A GoPro Hero7 is an awesome gift for the adventure junkie in your life. Its small size makes it easy to bring along on trips, its durability makes it a reliable tech choice, and its high quality video footage means that there will be awesome memories for years to come. (In that sense, it’s the gift the keeps on giving!) This model has some great new features like video stabilization, voice control, time warp video, and noise reduction. Find one on Amazon for $300.
Luggage Set
Luggage is always a great item to gift because it will absolutely be put to good use! For the friend or relative who needs a new set of hard luggage (or maybe even their first set), consider this two-piece AmazonBasics set which has received stellar reviews. It comes in five colors and is also available in a three-piece set or as individual pieces. Adjustable handles, sturdy hard outer shells, 360-degree spin wheels, and TSA locks make this set just as fancy as any of the name-brand sets out there, but for a fraction of the cost. Grab it on Amazon for only $111-$170!
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Any traveler knows that airplanes can be the absolute worst sometimes. The one thing that can turn any flight experience around, though, is the right pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Not only do they provide you with great sound for your music and movies, they can eliminate all that awful extra noise, from the loud hum of the engine to the crying baby a few rows back, and everything in between. Two fantastic options are the Beats Studio3 and the Bose QuietComfort 35, both of which you can find on sale on Amazon for just under $300!
I hope wherever you are this holiday season, that you’re feeling loved and cherished and that this gift guide helped you pick something out that you’re excited to give. Happy holidays and travels!
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