Top Gifts for Travelers In 2024

The holidays are almost here! Now is the perfect time to start searching for holiday gifts for the traveler in your life. It’s so rewarding to find that essential travel item that doesn’t take up precious suitcase space, or the perfect memento that extends the joy of a special vacation. Read on to discover top gifts for travelers!

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Travel Gifts New On Our Blog

As an avid traveler, I’m always on the lookout for great travel gear and gadgets. Here are some items new to us that we just discovered this year.

Apple Air Tag

Our favorite must-have travel item that we discovered this year is the Apple Air Tag. This device is about the size of a quarter, and it helps you keep track of your stuff. The Air Tag sends out a secure, Bluetooth signal that you can track in your Find My app on your phone.

Air Tags can help you find everyday items like your keys or wallet when you’ve misplaced them. If your missing item is nearby, your iPhone can lead you straight to it.

For us, the Air Tag has become a travel essential. You can slip it right into your passport holder to help you keep track of this important document.

It’s also a great way to track your bags if they happen to get lost or rediverted when you fly. You can buy a key ring to attach the Air Tag inside of your suitcase. When you go to lost luggage to file your claim, you can pinpoint exactly where your luggage has gone.

Here’s the link to purchase your Apple Air Tag.

Zero Gravity Chair

This reclining chair is a great accessory to throw into the RV for your next road trip. Zero-gravity chairs are designed to reduce muscle tension and are great for relaxation at the end of the day. They work by keeping your spine in neutral alignment and taking pressure off of your legs

This particular model has a padded head pillow, cup holder tray, footrest cushion and a shoulder trap for easy portability.

No road trips in your near future? We love kicking back in our chairs on our backyard deck. Order your Zero-Gravity Chair here!

Top Gifts To Prepare For Your Trip

TravelWise Packing Cubes

Packing for a trip became much more efficient once we invested in a set of packing cubes. Packing cubes are zip containers that organize your belongings and fit right inside your suitcase. They help compress clothing, therefore saving space in your luggage. They also keep clothing from shifting around during transit, resulting in fewer wrinkles.

Packing cubes also help you stay organized once you’ve reached your destination. Separating similar items into cubes keeps you from having to rummage through your entire suitcase when looking for a particular item. The cubes can go right into a drawer without unpacking. The zippers that go around the top of the cube make it convenient to access your items.

I love this five piece set by TravelWise. The mesh design allows you to easily see what’s inside. Not only does it make it easy for you to locate your favorite pair of shorts, it helps security travel agents check out your luggage without pawing through all of your loose clothing.

These packing cubes come in 10 different colors. Click on the image below to get yours!

Travel Planner

I love to travel, and for me, planning the trip and creating a photo album once we get back home are a huge part of the experience. Anticipation and reminiscing add to the joy. A travel journal is a terrific way to document your trip: before, during and after. 

I love the cover on this Erin Condren Designer Petite Planner.  Its petite size makes it easy to carry it along. The journal contains pages for creating a packing list and recording all of your flight details. There are also 28 spreads for recording and reflecting on your adventure, making it easy to jot down notes about the meals you’ve enjoyed, the sights you’ve seen and the unique interactions you’ve created with people you encounter along the way.

Travel Books

There’s nothing like a good book to fan the desire to travel and provide new ideas on places to go. You can splurge on a beautiful coffee table book, go with an efficient travel guide, or read a first-hand account of another traveler’s journey. Perfect for the avid reader/traveler on your list!

1,000 Places To See Before You Die

Need some inspiration to quit dreaming and hit the road? Patricia Schultz details a thousand places to visit, from sacred ruins to wildlife preserves, and small hilltop villages to grand castles. The beautiful photographs make this a perfect coffee table book.

Wild

Devastated by her mother’s death, Cheryl Strayed makes the impulsive decision to  hike solo more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. Her journey stretched from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State. This riveting memoir details both her physical and emotional journey. (This book was later turned into a movie starring Reese Witherspoon.)

Talking To Strangers Audio Book

 Is there someone on your list who doesn’t have much time to read but enjoys listening to audio books in the car? Malcolm Gladwell, author of the number-one New York Times best seller Outliers, has a great audio book called Talking to Strangers. Gladwell examines our interactions with people we don’t know. Not only a great book for travelers, this book can help us all avoid conflict and misunderstanding when we talk to strangers.

 

Top Gifts For Travelers: During Your Trip

TSA Approved Luggage Locks

It’s critically important to have a good luggage lock when you travel. It can deter thieves from rooting around in your suitcase, whether in the airport, on a bus or in your hotel room. We always travel with TSA approved luggage locks. TSA agents have a universal master key that fits into the bottom of all approved locks. They can get into your luggage for inspection without having to break your lock or cut into your suitcase in order to do it.

We purchased three digit combination locks so that we wouldn’t have to worry about keeping track of a physical key. We highly recommend them, as long as you don’t forget your combination! They’re great for both carry-on and checked suitcases, backpacks, briefcases and even gym lockers. For us, TSA luggage locks are an essential item, easily making our list of top gifts for travelers.

AIRPLANE SEAT COVERS

So many of us are feeling cautious about travel due to the pandemic. An ever-present question for travel lovers is “When can I safely fly again?” If a flight on an airplane is in your future, having airplane seat covers will help bring peace of mind as you once again take to the skies. These Kehei Traveler Protective Airplane Seat Covers offer some protection by reducing the chances of picking up any unwanted dust or germs. This particular set includes a seat cover, arm rest covers and an airplane tray table cover. The set also comes with a protective pouch with an external clip for easy transport. Velcro straps ensure easy application and a good fit. They can also be used for seats on trains and busses. Best of all, these covers made of cotton poly blend that is machine washable and reusable. Product details claim that this set weighs in at only 5.5 ounces, perhaps making this a possible stocking stuffer.

Airplane Footrest

Being a short person, I’ve struggled to sit comfortably on long flights. If I sit back in the seat, my feet dangle in the air. I had to be mindful of the carry on I chose to stowe under the seat in front of me, as I ended up having to rest my feet on it in order to avoid back pain. Nothing like having foot prints all over your travel bag!

I love this portable foot rest , as it folds up into a compact rectangle that can easily fit inside a backpack, over the shoulder bag, or in the front pocket of a suitcase. It’s essentially a sturdy little bench, and quite durable: I’be been using mine for about 10 years now. One thing I like about it is that it doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s experience on the plane, unlike some of the hanging foot hammocks that I’ve seen. This foot rest is lightweight and about 1 inch high when folded up and about 5 inches in height when unfolded.

It’s definitely a must-have item for anyone who is 5’3″ or under!

RUBBERNECKERS TRAVEL GAME

Taking a road trip instead of a flight? Dreading the “are we there yet?” syndrome? If you’re looking to entertain your kids while in the car, camper, or RV, check out the Rubberneckers game. It’s like the “I Spy” game that we played in the car when we were kids. Players are each dealt a had of cards, and then must spot the items that are in their hand. There is a point value for each item, such as earning five points for spotting a dog in a vehicle. There are also some specialty cards mixed to keep things interesting, like trying to engage someone in a different vehicle. The cards are illustrated with colorful, cartoon-like characters that add to the fun.

OLYMPUS TOUGH T-6 CAMERA

Wanting to upgrade from your cell phone camera to a more professional one, but don’t particularly want to lug around the weight of a DSL camera? Not to mention hoping to avoid shelling out a couple of thousand dollars? Check out the compact, travel-friendly Olympus Tough T-6. It’s a rugged, waterproof camera that gets sharp images while being incredibly easy to use.

It’s a great lightweight camera both for beginners and more advanced photographers. It’s possible to get great photos just by keeping it in the automatic setting and using it as a point-and shoot camera. There are many other shooting modes to choose from, including manual aperture settings, microscope close-ups, landscape scenery, nightscapes, indoor portraits, underwater modes and high speed movies. Like all Olympus cameras, there are a ton of great interchangeable lenses available for for the TG-6.

I’ve had several people compliment me on the photos in my blog posts, asking what kind of camera I use. The majority of of them were taken with my Olympus Tough. This little camera has accompanied me into the Amazon rainforest, through the towers of La Sagrada Familia in Spain, and braved the rides at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’s been dropped on the pavement and covered with dust with no ill effects. The TG- 6 is made to be an underwater camera, waterproof up to 50 feet. While I haven’t taken mine snorkeling yet, I have taken it out on my paddle board and getting splashed didn’t impact my photos in the least.

I purchased a protective lens filter and carrying case for mine. I’m not big on having to hold on to something in my hands or having something hanging around my neck while I’m hiking. I use a carabiner to attach the camera case to my belt loop and I’m good to go.

Electronics Organizer

Tired of tangled-up cords misplaced chargers? Me, too. When I first started traveling around, the only real device I carried around with me was my camera, complete with rolls of film. The world of electronics has changed so much since then, and now, in addition to my digital camera, my carry-on usually includes my cell phone, laptop, and noise cancelling headphones. And in this novel days of living during a pandemic: my PhoneSoap machine! Naturally, they all come with chargers, power cords, batteries and memory cards. My system of organizing my electronics with rubber bands long ago became outdated.

Add a little organization to your travels with a Bagsmart Electronic Organizer. It’s small size makes it portable and it can easily be thrown into a backpack or carry-on luggage. The bag is made of water-repellent nylon for extra protection and is available in a variety of colors. There are elastic loops for holding cables, computer mouse, and pens, a  mesh zippered pocket, and 5 elasticized mesh segments to hold smaller items such as batteries, flash drives, and memory cards.

Blue Light Blocking Glasses

Blue light blocking glasses are the perfect gift if you have a travel blogger in your life, or for anyone who needs to be on their laptops while traveling. They’re also great for watching an in-flight movie while on a plane and still being able to sleep afterward!

Blue light blocking glasses are made to filter the light that is emitted from electronic devices. At first I thought I wouldn’t need them, as I have my computer, laptop and iPhone set to eye saver or night mode already. But once I started long hours of remote teaching and Zoom meetings, I definitely felt eye strain at the end of the day.

I purchased these glasses from Amazon, and immediately noticed a difference once I started using them. I definitely felt less drained at the end of the day. Best of all, I started sleeping better at night. I’ve struggled with insomnia for years, and have long made it a point to end all screen time a few hours before bed. Apparently the blue light from electronic devices interferes with the body’s production of melatonin, and even working in night mode kept me awake for hours.

This pair that I purchased are reading glasses. They can be ordered in a variety of strengths, or without any magnification at all if you aren’t yet ready for readers.

MEGNYA WALKING SANDALS

I strive to pack light when I travel. (there are definitely times when I am more successful than others!) One thing that can weigh down your luggage in a hurry is carrying multiple pairs of shoes. I’m always on the lookout for footwear that is great both for long-distance walking and stylish enough to wear with a dress in the evening. Finding decent sandals is a challenge for me, as I have high arches and get irritated with a flip flop that has a little strap between my toes. I was happy to have my requirements met when I discovered Megnya walking sandals.

These lightweight sandals have a cushioned sole that make them comfortable to walk in as well as providing a good grip. I love the arch support and the unrestricted toes. It’s also possible to adjust and tighten the straps for a better fit. I’ve worn them to the beach and while paddle boarding without having to worry about getting them wet. It’s easy to hose off the sand afterward. They are great are to wear around the pool or while biking, aboard the cruise boat or into the resort hotel.

There are 25 different colors of Megnya Sandals to choose from! They are available in sizes 5 -11. (no half sizes) Not traveling at the moment? Megnya sandals are the perfect casual sandals no matter whether you are going on vacation or hanging out at home.

TravelOn Laundry Soap Sheets

Anybody out there who loves spending time in the laundromat while on vacation? We certainly don’t. That’s why we plan on washing a few items in our hotel sink.

These laundry soap sheets are great for washing clothes in the midst of a trip. The thin sheets dissolve when they come into contact with water. The instructions caution you to remove the sheets from the package with a dry hand. We like to carry a Ziplock bag to assist in the dissolving process. We put a laundry sheet into the Ziplock, add some water and shake it a bit before dumping it into the sink. Another great tip is to carry the pack in a dry Ziplock along with moisture control beads you get when purchasing new shoes or vitamins. This helps you keep the pack from getting wet, which will result in all of the sheets dissolving.

Travel Clothesline

Now that you’ve got some freshly washed undergarments or a bathing suit wet from a swim, the question becomes how to dry them. We found our answer in an easily portable travel clothesline. Our is an older model with adjustable Velcro loops on the ends that makes it easy to attach to shower heads, doorknobs or even hotel window latches. We have had occasions where we’ve looped one end over the shower head and have nothing to attach the second loop to. This issue has been addressed with newer models that comes with both hooks and suction cups at the ends. It makes it easy to wash clothes out at night and have them dry by morning!

Travel Head Lamps

These hands-free flashlights can be a lifesaver for hiking at night, setting up camp in the dark or for to keep in your car’s glove box for emergency situations. The  washable, removable headband can be adjusted to fit adults and children. These headlamps are sturdy and weather-resistant, and feature 7 different lighting modes from white strobe to red beam for safety.

Top Gifts For Travelers: After Your Trip

A huge part of the joy of traveling is reminiscing about your trip for years to come. Here are some great gift ideas for bringing back joyful memories.

Digital Photo Frame

Once you’ve taken some really great photos, it’s time to think about how to display them and share them with loved ones. The days of driving down to the pharmacy to print out photos are long gone. The Nixplay Smart Digital Picture Frame makes it easy to share unforgettable moments as you send photos and videos from your phone or by email directly to the picture display. No need to mess with a computer or printer. Travelers can send photos from their journey anywhere in the world back home so that family members can view their experiences in real time. It’s also a great way to share special occasions such as a birthday, bridal shower or a baby’s first steps. Our family has certainly made good use of the Nixplay frame this year when travel restrictions due to COVID have made it impossible for us to visit each other in person.

The frame gives you several different options for viewing photos. You can program the display to show one photo, or perhaps a collage of photos, and change it manually once you are ready to move on to a new one. It’s also possible to program the frame to cycle through your photo collection. In this scenario, you can program the interval between each photo, switching photos as quickly as every two seconds, or stretching it out to every twelve hours. Feeling a little uncertain due to possessing limited tech skills? No worries. When you purchase the Nixplay digital frame, you’ll have access to their Customer Service Team in case you have questions about how to set it up.

TRAVEL CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

We love to pick up a Christmas ornament as a keepsake whenever we travel. It’s always a trip down memory lane as we decorate our Christmas tree and reminisce about the wonderful places where we have been. We traveled to Spain in the summertime, and at that time of year wehad no luck scoring a Christmas ornament anywhere. Luckily, great destination ornaments can be found on-line.

If you’re uncertain of which destination to choose, a bon voyage ornament is sure to please any traveler in your life.

Push Pin World Travel Map

Here’s a twist on “pinning your travels!” This beautiful push pin world map will help you keep track of all of the amazing places that you have been. It’s a great conversation starter, and it will help you contemplate about where to go next.

We love hearing from our readers. Let us know which travel items are on your list: please leave a comment!