Looking for the perfect present for the traveler in your life? Something they might actually use? We’ve had the chance to road test a lot of unique travel gifts and gadgets in different situations around the world to find the things that will actually be awesome, helpful gifts.
These gift ideas are designed to be interesting and fun and to help make travel easier. Most items on this list are less than $50, so hopefully you can find some cool gifts for your friends and family (and yourself, too!).
Top choices
Pacsafe Anti-theft Backpack
Pacsafe makes the best safety-related travel products.
This daypack has enough room to carry a camera, laptop, and other essentials without being so bulky that it will weigh you down. It has slashguard embedded in the fabric and an RFID blocking pocket, so all your belongings and your information stay safe. The lockable exterior pockets and zippers are also a huge bonus.
Check prices for anti-theft backpack
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
These headphones make the travel experience more enjoyable. They block out the world and let your music stand out. Plus, they have a long-life battery and mics that make it easier for people to hear you on phone calls.
Check noise cancelling headphones prices
Personalized Puzzle
Reminisce about past trips and look forward to new ones while working on a puzzle personalized with your own image. This company will convert a favorite vacation photo or family memory into a 500-piece puzzle, making for a truly unique gift.
White Noise Machine for Travel
We always travel with a white noise machine because we’re light sleepers. It’s indispensable.
This machine has three settings to customize what kind of noise works best for you for inducing sleep. At just 3.5 inches wide and less than 4 ounces, it is super portable and easy to throw in your carry-on. It comes with a 101-night trial to make sure it’s the right fit.
Pix-Star Wifi Digital Picture Frame
A huge part of traveling is taking pictures, but so often, we leave them on our smartphones. The Pix-Star frame is a wifi digital picture frame that displays photos from your phone or camera–just email them straight to the frame or transfer from the app.
The frame is easy to set up and holds about 30,000 photos and videos. You can showcase your own photos or buy a frame for a loved one and send them photos from your activities. It shows the weather, plays music, and connects with social media so you can display photos shared on Facebook or Instagram.
Homesick Candles
If you’re traveling somewhere for a while, moving to a new state, or embarking on the adventure of being an expat, it’s nice to have things that remind you of home like these Homesick Candles. With a 60-80 hour burn time, you can enjoy the scent you miss whenever you want.
There are many options to choose from, including states, regions, specific cities, and many more.
Check prices for Homesick Candles
Presents under $30
Multi-purpose Passport Wallet and Organizer
There are a million things to organize when you’re traveling. Some people are very good at that (Lance), but others aren’t so much (me). That’s why I use a multi-purpose travel wallet. Especially when I’m traveling on my own, it helps me to know that I have all my important things in one place.
My travel wallet helps me keep all my essentials together, so I never have to frantically search for my passport, boarding pass, credit cards, and other things that go missing along the way. There’s even a spot for a SIM card. This passport wallet is available in 35 colors and includes RFID technology to safeguard your privacy. It’s the perfect gift for the (slightly disorganized) traveler.
Luggage Cup Holder
Wrangling luggage, a phone, passports, and drinks as you move through the airport can be challenging. If you’re someone who feels like you never have enough hands to hold on to everything, the luggage cup holder is really helpful. It’s big enough to hold two drinks in the front and several small items in the back pocket.
Check prices on the luggage cup holder
GorillaPod Tripod for Cameras or Phones
Full-size tripods are big and can be clunky, but tripods are an important part of taking photos. Low-light settings, selfies, odd angles, and other scenarios make one essential. To solve the problem, we use GorillaPods whenever possible. They are small, lightweight, and flexible so you can carry them easily and twist and bend them however you need.
Tile Mate Item Finder
Are you always asking yourself where your phone is or where you put your keys? That was me until I got Tile Mate.
Tile Mate is a Bluetooth tracker that you attach to things you don’t want to lose. When you can’t find them, you can locate them using an app on your smartphone, Alexa, or Google Assistant. It’s the only way I get out the door on time.
Scratch-off World Map
We admit to being those people. You know the ones–the people who count and keep a list of all the places they’ve been to in the world. And that’s exactly why we love this scratch-off map!
Scratch off the spots on these high-quality maps to reveal where you’ve been and get inspiration for where to go next. You’ll find all the countries of the world plus 210 national flags. In the US, Canada, and Australia, individual states are outlined, too.
Travel Phone Mount
Most airlines now offer in-flight entertainment via streaming, so having an easy way to watch on your phone is critical. This mount means you don’t have to hold your phone for hours or watch shows and movies at a weird angle. It’s a game changer.
Check prices for the phone mount
50 States, 5000 Ideas
50 States, 5000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do will help feed your US-based wanderlust. From main attractions to things to do off the beaten path, this book will help you discover them all. It’s inexpensive and great for people looking to discover somewhere new.
Check prices for 50 States, 5000 Ideas
Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow
Not your typical travel pillow. You can bend and contour it into almost any shape you need to support your neck, back, head, or shoulders. It’s great on the road but works at home and at the office, too, if you need additional support while reading in bed, sitting at a desk, etc.
I love the Twist pillow most because I always found traditional travel pillows a little too bulky. But I can shape this one just perfectly. It’s also great because the memory foam inside is firm, but it’s covered in breathable cotton. The cover is machine washable, which is ideal because–let’s be honest–traveling can be dirty sometimes.
Sleep Mask and Ear Plugs
Traveling means often finding yourself in places where you need or want to sleep but where sleeping may not be that easy. (I’m looking at you, uncomfortable airplane seat and too-bright hotel room).
An eye mask and ear plug set is the best combination we’ve found yet to help with sleep in these challenging situations. The contoured, lightweight eye mask feels natural, doesn’t put pressure on your eyes, and blocks every speck of light. And the earplugs are a must.
Check prices for the sleep mask set
Wine Protector Sleeves
Bringing wine home from vacation is one of our favorite ways to make a trip last in our minds. From Alsace to North Carolina, we’ve found ourselves needing a safe way to transport wine while protecting our clothes. Sometimes, if stores know we’re traveling, they’ll give us a wine bag as an incentive to take something home. But they’re always one-use bags, which feels wasteful. That’s why we love these bags–they’re reusable.
Refillable Leather Journal
Electonic devices are great, but sometimes you just want to go old school with pen and paper. Refillable leather journals are ideal for someone who wants to have a tangible memory of their thoughts and impressions while traveling. Write, sketch, doodle, or plan in this convenient journal.
Check prices for the refillable leather journal
Soft Travel Blanket
Whether you’re napping on a road trip, keeping warm on a flight, or simply looking for a bit of extra comfort, this light-weight, plush travel blanket does the job. It’s easy to fold into its carrying case that can double as a pillow when the blanket is stored. It folds up small and comes with a hand luggage belt to easily attached to a carry-on.
Check prices on the travel blanket
Insanely useful gifts
OtterBox Defender iPhone Case
I’m a klutz by nature, and I’m often taking photos at weird angles. Plus, I live on my phone. All of that adds up to the fact that I drop my phone. A lot. With the Otterbox Defender, I’ve never worried about damaging my phone or cracking my screen.
The Otterbox Defender is one heavy-duty phone case, so it’s a great option for people who aren’t great at hanging on to things. It has layers that spread out the force of any drops or dings, and it’s practically indestructible. I would never use my phone without it.
Check prices on OtterBox Defender
Diversion Safe Hair Brush
There are many reasons to be cautious when you travel. If you have extra cash, jewelry, or other small items that you don’t want out in the open, a diversion safe like this hair brush with a hollow core can be the perfect solution. It’s a great gift idea for people who stay in hostels, who prefer not to use a hotel safe, or those who just want to be discrete.
Insulated Coffee Mug
Easily take your favorite beverage with you in this insulated mug. It keeps hot beverages hot for at least 3 hours and cold beverages cold for 9 hours or more. It’s stainless steel, has a BPA-free lid, and won’t burn surfaces or leave condensation rings.
Quick-drying Microfiber Towel
We love being around water. Beaches, waterfalls, hot springs, oceans — you name it, and it’s probably on our list. We even travel with our own snorkel gear. That means we also spend a lot of time wet on our trips, which isn’t very convenient when you’re renting a car or otherwise traveling around.
This microfiber towel makes it a lot easier to continue our adventures without having to worry about air-drying or soaking our clothes or car seats. The towel is compact and dries quickly, which is perfect when you’re moving around. It’s also great as a bath towel if you’re renting an apartment or staying in a hostel.
Infinity Travel Scarf
This travel scarf–which comes in five different colors–has two cool features. First, it can convert into a wrap or blanket, which is super useful for air travel. Second, it has two hidden pockets, so you can have your valuables with you at all times without needing to keep your eye on a purse or bag. They’re big enough to hold a passport, ID, phone, and other important items.
Check prices for the travel scarf
Sea to Summit Dry Bag
If you do a lot of water-related activities, having a dry bag can be critical. If you’re snorkeling, rafting, fishing, or just hanging out at the beach for the day, a dry bag lets you keep important things away from splashes.
It’s great to keep items—like your phone, camera, or wallet—dry and safe. But it’s equally convenient to have a completely dry change of clothes or towel when you’re done enjoying your day on the water.
Portable Power Bank
Whether you’re using a tablet for in-flight entertainment, posting on social media, or using your phone for a GPS, there are lot of opportunities to run down your batteries when you’re traveling and often fewer chances to get a full charge. Having a back-up power bank means you don’t have to worry if you’re not near an electrical outlet.
This power bank can charge your phone or tablet multiple times without having to be re-charged itself. That means you’ll never miss the end a movie or get stuck without a map or a camera while you’re on the road.
Check prices for the power bank
Laundry Bag
It’s always a little bit of a challenge for me to separate my dirty clothes from my clean clothes in my suitcase, even when I feel like I’ve planned ahead. This laundry bag has helped immensely. It folds down small and expands when I need it either for doing laundry on a trip or taking it straight to the washing machine when I get home. Highly recommended for trips longer than a quick weekend getaway.
4TB External Hard Drive
When you’re traveling, it’s best to back up your photos in two separate places–online and on an external hard drive–so nothing ever gets lost. And because slow Internet speeds are often a problem, a high-quality external hard drive is even more important.
This hard drive has fast transfer speeds, and with 4TB of storage, you can photograph an around-the-world trip and never run out of room.
Check external hard drive prices
Packing Cube Set
Packing cubes are the easiest way to stay organized when you travel. They also help keep your clothes from wrinkling so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of ironing.
Worldwide Adapter
If you visit different countries, it’s easy to end up with a large collection of electrical adapters. This all-in-one worldwide travel adapter makes all the other ones unnecessary. In fact, it’s the only one we travel with now.
In one small package, you have an adapter that works in the US, UK, EU, Australia, and more. In total, it works in over 150 countries. The adapter also has 2 USB ports for added convenience. Doesn’t get much simpler than that.
3-Speed Folding Fan
We got this fan as a gift, which is how I know it’s the PERFECT thing for going to very hot places. Yes, when we went to Egypt in the summer, it came in quite handy. But conditions don’t have to be that extreme to enjoy a handheld fan. A little breeze makes everything better. It’s the number one thing you never knew you needed.
Must-have luggage
Osprey Farpoint
While we do like to pack in only carry-ons when we can, that’s not always possible. When we need more room, the Osprey Farpoint is our go-to bag. We love it so much that both of us have one.
The Osprey Farpoint has large, heavy-duty wheels for rolling over uneven surfaces and is made of fabric that lasts. The most important feature of the Osprey is that it has convertible straps to turn it into a backpack. This is particularly useful for managing your luggage in hotels without elevators, when walking over rough surfaces like cobblestones, and a variety of other scenarios. We’ve traveled with ours for seven years so far and would never give them up.
Check prices on Osprey Farpoint
Hardside Carry-On
We pack carry-on only whenever possible, which means we want to fit in as many items as we can without having our suitcases feel like we’re carrying rocks. Having a lightweight, easy-to-manage bag is an important part of that equation. That’s why we love this hardside suitcase.
This bag is light and compact enough to use as a carry-on on international flights, but it also expands to add 15% more room when you need it. It’s the ideal carry-on.
ZOMAKE Day Pack
Light, durable, and waterproof, this Zomake day pack is great from carrying your most needed items around the city, on a hike, home from a local market, or anywhere else you need a day pack. As a bonus: it’s waterproof, so your things stay dry even is you get splashed or rained on.
The ZOMAKE day pack folds up small and comes in 11 colors.
Check prices on the ZOMAKE day pack
Laura Longwell is an award-winning travel blogger and photographer. Since founding Travel Addicts in 2008, she has written hundreds of articles that help over 3 million people a year get the most out of their travel. In that time, she has visited nearly 60 countries on 5 continents, often returning to favorite destinations over and over again. She has a deep love of history, uncovering unexpected attractions, and trying all the good food a place has to offer.
In addition to Travel Addicts, Laura runs a site about her hometown of Philadelphia—Guide to Philly—which chronicles unique things to do and places to see around southeastern Pennsylvania. Her travel tips and advice appear across the web.
Mary
Tuesday 11th of July 2023
Great finds