Here are some great suggestions for great travel gifts that your friends and family will actually WANT and will use!
I’ve tried to make budget-friendly travel gift suggestions. Plus, many make excellent stocking stuffers, or in combination, would make up a fun travel gift basket (maybe pick up a small carry-on sized bag that the budget airlines accept, and stuff it with small travel gift goodies!).
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Note that some of the electronic items below have newer models available, so many of the ones I list are currently ON SALE!!!
Travel Security Locking Cables – 2 Pack
These two 3.3’/100cm braided steel luggage locking safety cables can keep your belongings from ‘walking away’ while you are napping in the airport, or while sitting on a train or bus while traveling and your bags are often not right by your side. Be sure to pack along a lightweight lock so you can relax and snooze in peace without worrying about someone stealing your stuff.
$6.99 BUY HERE
Lightweight Microfiber Travel and Sports Towel
Whether you sometimes stay in a hostel, need to wipe off some sweat after hiking or biking, or just like to get out in the wild and take a swim in the river, packing this quick drying 40″ x 20″ travel towel comes in handy!
It is super absorbent and is available in six bright colors and comes with a travel pouch and caribeener. Three other sizes available from 16″ x 16″ all the way to a large 72″ x 32″ beach towel.
$8.99 BUY HERE
4 Pack – Silicone Travel Luggage Identification Tags
Heavy-duty baggage tags in bright green will help your bags stand out! The stainless steel cable securely attaches the ID tag to your bags. It’s 3 ½” x 2” design has cropped corners to prevent snagging. For security, only your name shows through so no one can see your address and know that you are traveling. Also available in black.
$9.99 BUY HERE
Travel Cable and Charger Electronics Organizer Case
Tired of fumbling through your bag looking for your charger or earbuds? Check out this handy organizer that keeps your electronic accessories easy to find. It’s waterproof and has two main sections with see through webbed pockets to hold all your cords, cables, USB drive, earbuds, cellphone, charger, mouse, flash drive, and other accessories. Measures just 7.5″ x 4.3″ x 2.2″ when zipped up, and comes in more than a dozen fun colors.
$12.99 BUY HERE
Portable Luggage Scale
Stop paying overweight baggage fees! Check your luggage weight before you head to the airport with this handy and heavy duty baggage weigher. The battery operated suitcase digital weight scale can hold up to 110 lbs/50 kg. (battery included!). Accurate to within 0.1 lb / 50 g. Comes in four colors.
$11.98 BUY HERE
Cross Shoulder Mini Travel Bag for Men and Women
If you love the idea of a fanny pack, but not its style, why not consider a cross body bag instead? You’ll still have the added security of keeping your belongings close and in front of you, but you won’t feel like a dorky tourist. This bag is water-proof and can hold your keys, phone, earbuds, wallet, etc. and keep everything at your fingertips. The comfort strap breathes, and the zipper opening smoothly and quietly.
$16.99 BUY HERE
Portable Travel Jewelry Case
This compact jewelry travel case can keep your accessories organized, untangled and easy to find. The case unrolls to three 2.75″ W x 2″ H compartments, and measures just 3.3″ x 3/3″ x 7.3″ when closed. It’s made of faux leather and comes in more than ten colors for a stylish way to pack your rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, hair clips, watches and more.
$15.99 BUY HERE
Anthony Bourdein’s “World Travel : An Irreverent Guide” Book
World Travel features a cheeky collection of the late, great Anthony Bourdein’s essays on his travels plus a collection of additional insights from friends and family. This collection, post-humously put together with Laurie Woolever, helps convey what made each destination special to the famous writer, chef and travel documentarian .
Just like Bourdein’s Parts Unknown and No Reservations, this book will spark your imagination and encourage you to explore your own parts unknown around the globe.
$17.60 BUY HERE
Smart Luggage Tag Helps You Retrieve Lost Luggage
If your bag ever gets lost, this waterproof aluminum luggage ID tag can help the finder find YOU! He or she simply scans the QR code which tells them how to reach you. For security, hide the tag inside your bag so strangers can’t randomly see your contact information. You can update the contact information as needed. The company notifies you whenever the tag is viewed, giving you location information. You can also use these helpful tags to let EMTs know important health information, or attach to a pet collar so if Fluffy or Fido go missing, whoever finds him can reach you.
$18.75 BUY HERE
Uber-portable Travel Journal Watercolor Sheets
Creating a travel journal while you are on the road is a fantastic way to record your impressions while they are fresh. But who has room for a full watercolor set? Check out these beautiful watercolor sheet sets! Features sixteen beautiful, no mess, non-toxic colors, and fits in your pocket! Weighs just a couple of ounces.
$19.00 BUY HERE
Gel Under Eye Masks Reduce Puffy Travel Eyes
Still get baggy eyes, dark circles and/or excess wrinkles when traveling despite drinking lots of water? Try these refreshing under eye masks to hydrate and brighten your face. 24 pack made with vegan, paraben and sulfate-free Sea Moss.
$21.95 BUY HERE
6 pack Colorful Compression Socks for Men and Women
Add a splash of color and pizzaz to your travel compression socks! Wear whenever you’ll be sitting a long time (4+ hours) to help prevent deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism. Both are VERY serious and often life-threatening, and can affect even the most fit (just ask my friend Sherry!). Whether sitting on a plane, train or taking a long road trip, these copper infused compression socks are your friend. Huge color choices!
$19.99 BUY HERE
iOS and Android Compatible Blue Tooth Luggage Tracker
Keep your eye on where your luggage and other important possessions are, and help find them when they are lost or stolen with these handy and affordable item trackers.
If you are forever misplacing your phone, keys, remote, etc., you can make the tracker ring, even when silenced so you can find it. You can also aleert loved ones with an SOS push of the button. Comes in lots of colors and measures just 1.49″L x 1.49″W x 0.28″H.
$27.99 BUY HERE
Blue Tooth Adapter Makes non-Blue Tooth Devices into Blue Tooth Ready
Want to listen to an in-flight movie on Blue Tooth? This will do it. Want to stream a non-smart TV from your phone or ipad, check this out! It’s wireless, so you can turn that gym treadmill screen to what you actually want to watch, without worrying about dangling cords. Stream your music from any non-Blue Tooth device. Easily portable and available in black or white models.
$29.99 BUY HERE
Portable Power Bank Charger
Don’t panic if your phone dies when traveling! Take along this super slim portable charger with USB-C portals. Fits easily in a pocket or purse and can top up iPhone 8 3.6 times, Samsung S22 1.8 times, or AirPods Pro 13.2 times. It weighs just 7 ounces and measures 5.2″ x 2.7″ – the market’s thinnest 10000mAh. Comes in four colors.
$29.99 BUY HERE
Portable Neck Fan
LOTS of countries don’t offer regular air conditioning (as do many forms of public transportation), so whether you are traveling to warmer climes that might not be as comfortable as you’d like, or you’re watching a game in the hot sun, consider packing along a portable neck fan for comfort!
Rechargable, battery operated neck fan has five speeds and comes in five colors. Fully charged, it can run for 3 -1 6 hours, depending on which speed you have it on.
If you have temperature control issues like me, this is a winner!
$31.99 BUY HERE
Ultra-light Silk-like Travel Sheet
Some places are just too HOT to sleep – and many countries, like in Europe, offer a duvet with no top sheet. (Try getting a good night sleep in August in southern Spain sleeping under a duvet). So I pack a light weight sleeping bag liner to use as a top sheet. It’s also great for whenever I sleep in a hostel.
It can double as a light blanket on a plane or train. This model even has a pocket for the pillow, yet folds down to just 6″x 8″ and weighs about 8 ounces. It’s nice and big, too, at 41″ x 86″ (105 x 220cm). Of course, you can also use it with your sleeping bag to help keep it clean. Available with a velcro or zipper side opening for those with temperature control issues like me:) Choose from three colors.
$28.99 – $33.99 BUY HERE
3 pack Leak-proof Toiletry Containers
Finally, a quality TSA-compliant LEAK-PROOF liquid containers!!! Each holds 0.56 ounces and come labeled moisturizer, cleanser and sunscreen. I like the wide mouth so they are easy to fill and I don’t waste any of my expensive night creams! Magnets connect them together to make them easy to find in your bag. Four color combos available. These are a bit pricey, so it they cost too much for you, here is a more budget-friendly 18 pc Travel Container set for $9.99, not as snazzy looking, but these are also waterproof.
$42.00 BUY HERE
Phone Charging Passport Holder Wallet Combo -RFID Blocking, too!
Here’s something we ALL need, in one handy dandy holder:
Stop thieves from stealing your credit card info with the RFID blocking capabilities. And when your phone starts dying, pull out the lightweight 5000mAh power bank. Keep your passport, credit cards, cash and travel documents safe and handy in this all-in-one holder! Over a dozen colors available. If you don’t need a power bank, here’s a less expensive wallet, and a neck wallet with RFID blocking.
$43.99 BUY HERE
Portable Expresso Ground Coffee Maker
When I did my Camino, I wanted to hit the road early, but the restaurants didn’t open until 8 or 9am! What? No coffee for a few hours? Next Camino, I’m packing this manually operated coffee maker – NO batteries needed! It weighs just a third of a kg, and measures just 2.76″D x 2.36″W x 6.89″H, yet it makes 70 ml. Great for camping, too! You’ll need hot water (if you think that will be a problem, I like the Esbit system). Another coffee maker I like is this portable travel French Press.
$54.90 BUY HERE
Portable Router WiFi Tether for Easy Public WiFi Sharing
Here’s how to turn a public WiFi into a private secure network! This compact router delivers fast wireless speed (1201 Mbps on 5 GHz, 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz) for gaming, streaming, etc. Use it as a Router/Access Point/Range Extender/Hotspot so you can create Wi-Fi in various scenarios: at home, hotel rooms, cafes, RVs or on the road. Sweet! It measures just 4.09″ × 3.54″ × 1.10″ so it can fit in your pocket. Plug in an external USB hard disc for easy file and internet sharing.
$59.99 BUY HERE
Travel Pillow : Look Ridiculous, but Get Some Sleep
I bust a gut everytime I see this travel pillow: I’m not sure I have the nerve to wear it, but I can see the quality design and that it would be effective no matter what your seat is like. Plane pillows always slide down between the wall and seat. This one can’t: it’s like a fluffy boxing glove that slides over your head with an opening for your nose and mouth. And if you want to rest your head down, it even has holes for your hands. I do believe they have thought of everything. It’s design blocks all light and allows you to move your head however you feel comfortable. Genius even though it looks hysterical! Filled with lightweight microbeads, it weighs nothing and is easy to clean. Sure to be a conversation starter
$99.00 BUY HERE
iOS Polaroid Portable Blue Tooth 2″ x 3″ Photo Printer
Wow – what an amazing idea! PRINT the photos you like instead of keeping them stored deep in the bowels of your phone. And just like in the old days, you only print the ones you truly love, making your favorite pics easy to look at and share.
Meet a delightful child in a hutong in China? Snap a pic and you can share it within a minute. Then watch the giggles. What a fantastic way to enjoy a cultural interaction!
This travel printer kit includes two cartridges (40 prints) and a cleaning cloth. The printer weighs just 1. 32 lbs.
$109.99 BUY HERE
Aura 10.1″ Digital Revolving Picture Frame
Enjoy your photos all day long by uploading your favorites and watch them rotate. Friends and family that you invite can also upload directly to your frame – a great gift for grandparents that aren’t techie! I tried the competing Frameo and it was too buggy. This one costs quite a bit more, but is the gold standard.
It turns off at night automatically and has a speaker for videos.
Works with iOS and Android phones and the free app. Unlimited storage without fees. Easy Wifi setup.
$149.00 BUY HERE
7″ Glare Free Paperwhite Kindle Reader
Books are heavy, so instead, pack a Paperwhite Kindle. Upload the books you want to read before your trip – you can even borrow books from the library with the Libby app and a library account. Or get a Kindle unlimited account for access to all you can read, including many best sellers. Of course, you can buy Kindle books online, too.
A 7″ glare-free screen. It’s waterproof, so you can read safely at the pool or beach. You can adjust the light and type size to your liking. The battery lasts for ages – they say up to 12 weeks with a single USB-C charge! Three colors available. Save 20% with a trade in.
$159.00 BUY HERE