The Ultimate Travel Gift Guide (From Full-Time Travelers!)
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Welcome to the ultimate travel gift guide! If you love a traveler, then you already know how hard we are to shop for. We tend to be minimalists, value experiences over things, and half the time we’re not even home to enjoy the items our houses are filled with!
After nearly 9 months of full-time travel through 13 countries, we’ve finally figured out what we do (and do not) want to receive under the Christmas tree.
Some of these travel gift ideas are items we already use daily, some are on our personal wish list, and others are things we’ll be gifting to our world-traveling friends and family for years to come. All of them are practical, packable, and traveler-approved—and most are on sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Let’s get into it!
1: Airfly Bluetooth Audio Transmitter
As fun as those silly little wired headphones are on long flights, you know what’s better? Your own headphones. AirFly plugs into any audio jack and instantly connects to your Bluetooth headphones. No more tangled cords or crackling audio. Just plug it into the seatback screen, pair your headphones, and enjoy your in-flight movie in peace.
2: Powerbank
A power bank is one of the most essential gifts for travelers. Nothing is worse than boarding a red-eye and realizing the outlet doesn’t work—or discovering there’s no outlet at all. Or being in a foreign country at night with 5% battery trying to navigate public transportation. A high-quality power bank = safety + sanity.
Perfect for remote workers and long-haul travelers who deal with dry eyes from constant screens or airplane air. The easiest, most effective, and least invasive way to treat dry eyes is with heated compresses. A wireless heated mask provides gentle, hydrating warmth that actually lasts (unlike wet towels or microwavable compresses). Also great for puffy or dark under-eyes after disrupted sleep!
4: Code Wallet
This is the wallet Kyle has been carrying for well over a year and it holds up! Not only does it do the super fun “pull a lever and all your cards appear” trick, but it’s RFID protected and comes with a lifetime guarantee! It also takes up way less space than a traditional wallet which is great when you’re trying to travel light.
5: Subtl Staks
A makeup stack literally designed for travel. I’ll be honest, their earlier versions weren’t great. But they’ve gotten better over the last few years and now it’s a great space saver in your makeup bag! I usually carry this in my personal item so I can “freshen up” before landing and it hasn’t failed me yet! Use our link for $5 off your first purchase!
6: Alleyoop Travel Makeup Brush
As a perfect campanion to the Subtl Stak, a travel makeup brush! This is the only brush I’ve carried in my bag all year and it has served me well in these 9 months of travel!
7: Noise Cancelling Headphones
Once you go noise-cancelling, you never go back. I’ve used Bose QuietComfort headphones for years, but switched to AirPods Pro when we began traveling full-time to save space. Both are incredible. Choose your preference and you cannot go wrong.
8: Global Entry
You can’t register someone else for Global Entry, but you can gift the cost and make them a fun card with instructions! It’s one of those “luxury” travel upgrades that becomes essential the moment you’re stuck behind someone trying to bring a crab through customs (but we wouldn’t know anything about that…).
5-year membership: $120. Apply ONLY through the official DHS website.
The perfect middle-ground between microfiber and full-size towels. Sand-proof, fast-drying, and packs tiny. We’ve used ours as a blanket, beach towel, yoga mat, scarf, tablecloth…I’ve even seen it tied into a baby sling. 10/10 multifunctional traveler essential.
10: Stickers/Patches
This is a great “default” gift or stocking stuffer. Everyone carries water bottles these days. Travelers like to cover their suitcases. Patches are perfect on a denim jacket or backpack… If you don’t know what to get and you’re on a budget, stickers and patches are just as much fun for adults as they are for children. And anyone who says differently is sad. No button for this one–just search on Etsy and Amazon!
11: Airtags
AirTags are a non-negotiable for travelers. Tracking your luggage can save you hours—or days—of misery. Not to mention, money. Even if you never need them, the peace of mind is worth the price alone.
I LOVE a polaroid photo and was SO SAD to leave our camera at home. Something about a small printed photo is so sweet and honestly so versatile for scrapbooks, postcards, or even Christmas ornaments! This is the answer for your polaroid-loving traveler. You can take the travel photos you captured during the year and print them as if they were taken on a camera. No more digital-only photos for you!
13: Personal Alarm
TSA frowns upon you traveling with weapons and even some US cities ban pepperspray (I’m looking at you NYC). This is one of the easiest and most effective alternatives–just don’t accidentally pull it in a quiet space. People don’t tend to appreciate that very much.
It’s like washing your face with a deodorant stick—in the best way. Mess-free, lightweight, TSA-friendly, and perfect for quick airport bathroom refreshes without digging through your toiletry bag. Also super easy for kiddos to use and tested for sensitive skin.
15: Kindle
I’ll be honest, this one took me a minute to adjust to. I just LOVE holding a paper book. But when you’re bound by weight and space, it’s really hard to justify traveling with a physical book. I have since fallen completely in love with our kindle and especially love that I can read on red-eye flights without bothering my neighbor with the overhead light. You can also customize the font and text size to your personal needs!
16: Theragun Mini
People thought we were “extra” for bringing this—but 9 months later, I stand by it. Just as powerful as the full-size version but WAY more compact. Ideal for calves before and after long flights to help prevent blood clots and stiffness.
17: Charlotte’s Web CBD Gummies
Real talk, we ran out of ours about a month ago and I’ve been grieving ever since. These have been a LIFELINE while traveling: especially on long work days or when recovering from jetlag. Plus these are yummy and don’t taste like grass, which is something I can’t say about a lot of other CBD products.
18: Carabiners
The most underrated minimalist travel essential. Hook your water bottle to the seatback pocket, clip shoes to your backpack, secure zippers on public transportation, hang bags off tables… small carabiners perform miracles.
Water and sandproof–the best way to add “vibes” to a moment. Not to mention when life is chaotic, a little music while cooking lunch or unpacking can do SO much good to turn it around.
Last but absolutely not least: these silly little glasses. If you (or your kids) get motion sick, these are magic. Planes, trains, ferries—life-changing. Yes, you’ll look ridiculous. No, you won’t care.
If you’ve been searching for the best travel gifts for your favorite adventurer, we hope this list gave you plenty of practical, minimalist, and traveler-approved ideas. These are items we trust after months of full-time travel, and we truly believe they’ll make any journey smoother—whether it’s a weekend getaway or a year of backpacking across the world!
Wishing you a cozy, joy-filled holiday season and many unforgettable travels ahead!