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- Georgina D'Angelo
30 Fun & Useful Gifts for Travelers
Updated: Jan 19
Don't know what to buy your travel-loving friend? Maybe it's a birthday or a holiday, and you're trying to find the perfect present. From international nomads to van lifers to weekend warriors; these fun and useful gifts for travelers are perfect for any type of adventurer!
Travel-obsessed people often already have many essentials that make their lives easier while on the go, so along with some travel must-haves, I've included fun gifts for travelers that can keep their wanderlust ignited while at home.
With holiday gift-giving, birthdays, and more, figuring out what to give someone can sometimes be challenging. So I’ve taken the stress out of gift-giving, and narrowed down the list to the following fun or useful essential travel items!
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30 Fun Gifts for Travelers
Under $25
A fun way to track their travels, gift your friend a scratch-off map. They can scratch off the places they've already visited, and it doubles as travel-themed home decor!
Under $15
If your travel-loving friend also loves wearing jewelry, a travel case will come in very handy for them. They can pick several pieces they wish to travel with and have them available while on the go.
Under $50
Coffee and travel are the perfect pair. If the traveler in your life is also a coffee snob, chances are they're picky about their coffee even while traveling. Don't let them miss out on their morning coffee and become a grump. Gift them a travel French Press!
Under $25
Along with a handy dandy travel-sized French Press, your coffee-loving traveling friend will also need the coffee to go with it! Give them delicious instant coffee they can make in any hotel, hostel, or campsite.
Under $25
Fun and helpful, these travel-themed socks will put a smile on their face when received and let them be the coolest kid on the plane. Perfectly paired with any outfit, travel socks are a yes!
Under $15
Maybe your traveler friend enjoys cozying down with a good book, or maybe their favorite way to pass time on the plane is with a captivating read. Whatever the case, "Lands of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road" is bound to inspire them!
Read Next: 10 Great Books for Travel Lovers
Under $15
Don't let your friend get bored on the plane! Buy them this super-fun activity book for adults so they always have something to do. With a plethora of activities, it's bound to entertain them.
Under $25
Help your travel-loving friend avoid smelling like dirty laundry. Gifting them a travel-sized laundry bag will let them separate their dirty belongings and keep their clean clothes fresh. Their fellow plane, train, and bus passengers will thank you.
Under $25
From noisy hostel rooms to buzzing plane rides and anywhere in between, a nice pair of earplugs will come in handy for those who travel often. These reusable earplugs are convenient to throw in any suitcase and come with multiple sizes for the perfect fit.
Under $25
Looking for something your traveling friend can use at home? Gift them a fun travel-themed puzzle. They can even frame it for a wall decoration once complete or use it to entertain other travel-loving friends.
Under $25
You know those large books you often find on someone's chic coffee table? This is the perfect addition to those easy-to-browse yet endlessly entertaining books. "Unforgettable Journeys" takes you to some incredible, lesser-explored places on Earth providing the perfect wanderlust inspiration.
Under $15
The perfect touch of travel decor, these travel-themed coasters are a fun, hassle-free gift. They'll be a little reminder to your travel-loving friend of all the great adventures they've been on and those that await them.
Under $25
Don't forget the wine! Maybe the adventure enthusiasts in your life are also wine lovers! This travel wine glass will be the perfect addition to any of their road trips, international journeys, and any trip in between.
Under $25
What frequent traveler doesn't enjoy taking lots of photos of all their wild adventures? The Joby tripod is a fun addition you can gift that will elevate any travel photo shoot, and it's small and bendable!
Under $100
Make your traveling friend the coziest person on the plane. This Rumpl travel blanket packs compactly and weighs only 0.7 lbs! It's perfect for long plane journeys, camping trips, sunrise hikes, and so much more!
Under $25
Looking for a non-physical gift? Express VPN is the perfect gift, especially if your friend is traveling abroad. It protects their personal data online and allows them to use public wifi safely by encrypting their information.
Under $100
Between travel days, remote work, free time, and commutes, a pair of headphones is something every traveler wants to have with them! Grab a pair of these wireless headphones or wireless earbuds for your travel-loving friend.
It's no fun to sit on a plane with no music to listen to or audiobook to finish. And if you're travel-loving friend is also a digital nomad, a pair of headphones is essential for on-the-go work.
Under $25
Often the most stressful part about traveling is packing. You can organize all your belongings, and then somehow it just ends up in a chaotic jumble. Help keep your disorganized travel-savvy friend organized with packing cubes! It’s so nice to have a specific bag for different things, like one for shirts, bottoms, etc. Packing cubes are a game changer!
Read Next: 30 Women's Travel Essentials
Under $25
Whether you’re exploring Tokyo, hiking in Oregon, or kayaking in the Philippines, it’s important to always have water on hand. Gifting your travel friend a high-quality reusable water bottle will make them incredibly happy. They will always be able to have cold water with them!
Under $15
Everyone wants to take pictures when they’re traveling! It might be for memories, for the gram, or for the fam; whatever the case, an adapter will be necessary to keep that phone charged! Grab a nice wireless charger and a universal adapter for your next gift-giving.
Under $25
A charger and adapter will come in handy at hotels, Airbnbs, etc, but while you’re on the go, a portable charger will be very useful. Your travel friend will be able to charge their electronics while on the train, wandering around a new city, and more. Help them keep their electronics charged while traveling so they can send you photos!
Under $25
This is another organizing game changer. Having a toiletry bag will make anyone’s life easier while on the move. They can store all their toiletries in one place, making it easier to carry everything to the bathroom when they're moving from place to place, and especially if they're staying at a hostel with shared bathrooms.
Under $15
Okay, this is a fun one because there are so many cool patterns and designs available. But passport holders are also useful! Especially with some countries still requiring a covid vaccine card, it’s nice to have all of your required documents in one place.
Under $50
The chance that your traveling friend goes on day adventures is very high! Every traveler will find a day bag useful, whether it’s for a hike or a trip to a nearby city, having a smaller bag to keep necessary items, like a water bottle and a jacket, will come in very handy.
Under $25
Who doesn’t want to have a pair of insanely comfortable joggers? If you’ve ever been on a long flight or a long road trip, you’ll know that what you wear makes a huge difference. Gift your traveling friend a pair and they’ll love you forever. Plus, they double as pajamas!
Sunglasses and Case
Under $15
So important, yet so easily forgotten. Sunglasses and a travel case are must-haves for every trip! It’s not fun to squint all day while adventuring and struggle to admire your surroundings. And these are useful at home as well!
Under $25
Is your traveling friend fond of adventures? Then a travel towel will come in super handy. Available in so many colors and patterns, this item is useful for beaches, camping, hostels, and more! These travel towels are quick-drying and compact, perfect for life on the go.
Under $150
Along with listening to music and watching a show, reading a book is a great way to spend your time while on a long flight. It’s also nice to have a book to read and chill out after busy days of adventuring. But lugging around physical books takes up space and adds a lot of weight. So a Kindle is perfect for reading while traveling!
Under $25
Checking a suitcase can cause a lot of stress. There are so many stories of airlines losing bags, and travelers reaching their destination to find out that their belongings didn’t make it. To ease the mind of your traveling friend, gift them a Tile Tracker so they can throw it in their checked luggage and always know where their bag is!
Under $25
One thing most travelers have learned is that the weather is unpredictable, especially when you're on the move a lot. Having a compact umbrella to throw in a day bag will make any adventure more enjoyable if it happens to rain. Help your friend keep exploring no matter the weather!
Your travel-savvy friend will be so excited when they open their gift from you! These gifts for travelers are fun and useful and will come in handy on any trip, or bring a spark of wanderlust to their home. You might want to buy some for yourself too, and get planning your next trip, wink wink.
Read Also: Tips for Beginner Travelers
The next gift-giving party you attend will be a blast with any of these gifts for travelers. Maybe you’ve been bitten by the travel bug yourself, and you want to spark the light in a friend. Or maybe you know they’re already obsessed!
Gifts for Travelers
These are some of our must-have travel items that any travel lover will enjoy receiving! They either make traveling less stressful or more fun or bring a spark of travel to their home. If you’re a travel fanatic, what is something you can’t travel without?
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