59 Travel Products that Make a Great Gift

Looking for gift ideas for someone that loves to travel? We’ve put together a comprehensive list of 59 travel products. We’ve done all the research, all you have to do is choose what gift works best for your loved one. We’re also sharing affordable travel gifts and creative ways to give the gift of travel. Enjoy!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. These sales help to run this blog without any additional cost to you. See our policy page for details. We were gifted products from KÜHL.

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Best Travel Gifts

1. Apple Airpods Pro

This year I purchased Apple Airpods Pro, and they are definitely game changers. My favorite feature is the Active Noise Cancellation. I love using this feature at the airport and on public transportation. I also appreciate that the Airpods are much less bulky than carrying around noise canceling headphones. Finally, I like these because they are wireless. No more undoing tangles or getting the wires caught while trying to move around. They have also held up great. I once accidentally put these in the washing machine, and after drying them out for 24 hours, they worked perfectly!

2. Universal Travel Adapter with USB

One of the more stressful parts about travel is figuring how to use your electronics in different countries. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve brought an adapter only to discover it didn’t quite work. The beauty of a universal travel adapter is that it is designed to work in multiple types of plugs. There are travel adapters that work in over 150 countries… I recommend getting one of those!

3. Weekender Bag

My weekender bag has a bottom compartment with a separate zipper. I think it’s meant for shoes, but I use it to put all my daughter’s things so I can easily find them in one place. I’ve also used this compartment to put in damp clothes after a visit to the beach.

4. Photo Map of the United States

Fill a map with your own photos as you explore the United States. It’s a beautiful momento from past travels, and it’s a great way to motivate you to see all 50 states! 

5. International Scratch Off Map

After you come home from visiting a new country, you can scratch it off on this large world map. 

6. National Parks Scratch Off Map

If you plan on visiting multiple national parks, then this print is a beautiful way to display which parks you have visited. Just scratch off each park you have been to. 

7. Nice Camera

Taking photos is one of the best ways to capture a vacation. Although cell phone cameras have improved so much, there’s still nothing like a high-quality DSLR. 

8. GoPro

Putting together a movie of your vacation is a fun way to capture the experience and share it with others. GoPros also take great photos, and they can be submerged under water for up to 33 feet. If you are planning on snorkeling, for example, a GoPro will be able to capture everything you see beneath the waves. 

9. High Quality Luggage

Having nice luggage can make such a big difference when traveling. I’ve been eyeing luggage from Away for a long time!

10. Packing Cubes

I didn’t use packing cubes until I had a baby, and they make such a big difference when traveling. I definitely wish I had used them years before! They make it so easy to find everything in one place. I’ve found these to be especially helpful when I’m sharing a bag with someone else. (For example, I’ll put all the baby’s onesies in one cube and my things in another.) They also keep my hotel room from looking like a disaster. These are the packing cubes I own. I bought two sets in different colors so I can easily distinguish cubes from my husband’s cubes. I like to use the drawstring shoe compartment as a laundry bag.

11. Comfortable Daypack

Whenever we travel, we always pack a small, foldable daypack. We use it to store snacks and souvenirs while we explore a new city. I recommend getting an anti-theft one.

12. National Geographic Book

National Geographic’s Destinations of a Lifetime features 225 bucket list places to visit. Browse through the pages and start planning your next trip. 

13. Large Backpack

When we backpacked through Europe, we used a large Osprey backpack instead of roller luggage. I liked using a backpack for Europe because roller luggages are prohibited in some cities, and they’re impractical for many of the European cities that have cobblestone streets.

14. Travel Hair Dryer

I always bring a compact hair dryer whenever I travel. I don’t like using hair dryers at hotels, so it’s nice to always have my own. I also don’t like bringing my nice hair dryer from home if I’m using a different kind of outlet in Europe. Even with an adapter, I don’t want to risk damaging my nice one, so I just bring a cheap one.

15. A Good Travel Book

Reading about travel is the next best thing to traveling itself. One of my favorite new books on travel is World Travel: An Irreverent Guide, by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever. It came out this year and covers some of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite spots to visit.

16. Travel Document Organizer 

I like to keep all of my travel documents in one place. Now that I travel with my family, it’s nice to have one organizer to keep multiple passports. 

17. Quick Dry Towel

I always travel with a quick dry towel in my day bag. I have used it to sit on the beach or if I need a clean place to sit on the ground. I’ve used it in torrential down pours, and I’ve used one when hostels didn’t include bath towels. These days I use it to wipe down slides at playgrounds after a rainy day.

18. First Aid Kit

Make sure you do not leave home without a first aid kit. Whether you get a blister or a more serious injury, you’ll want to make sure you are safe and prepared. 

19. Lifestraw Filtered Water Bottle

Getting sick on vacation sucks. If you’re planning on traveling internationally, a filtered water bottle can help keep your drinking water safe. The Lifestraw water bottle removes 99.9% of waterborne bacteria and waterborne protozoan parasites. 

20. Neck Pillow

A comfortable neck pillow can make even the longest flights bearable. The cheap ones often don’t work very well, so you’ll want to get a nicer one. 

21. Laptop Backpack

We like to travel with a backpack that contains a laptop compartment. The one we have is TSA-approved so we don’t have to remove our laptop.

22. Folds Flat Backpack

If you’re not sure if you’ll need a backpack (or just want one for when you land), you should consider the Tumi Voyageur Just In Case backpack. It folds up completely flat, so it’s easy to pack into luggage. If you find yourself in a situation where you bought a lot of things while on vacation, you’ll have an extra backpack to take more home with you. 

23. International Snacks

One of the best parts about traveling is trying new foods. With a snack box subscription, you can try snacks from around the world. 

24. Any Rick Steves Book

Rick Steves has guidebooks for many countries in Europe, which are excellent to read as you prepare for a trip. He also recently came out with a book all about his favorite places and stories. Any travel lover will surely enjoy it!

25. Mesh Pouches

Mesh pouches take up hardly any room in our luggage, yet they make it so much more organized. We use the large ones for dirty laundry, and the smaller ones for cosmetics, souvenirs, and office supplies. 

26. Portable Phone Charger

We use our phone while traveling for directions, phone calls, and for taking photos. Having your phone run out of battery can be a major bummer. This portable charger will make sure that you can charge your phone even while you’re on the go. 

27. Waterproof Phone Case

If you plan at being at the beach, kayaking, or boating, you’ll want to make sure that you have a waterproof phone case to protect your phone or anything else you want to stay dry. 

28. Shampoo Bar

You won’t have to worry about TSA liquids when you travel with a shampoo bar. They’re also more environmentally friendly because they don’t need a plastic bottle. 

29. Cocktail Kit

The cocktail kits by the Cocktail Box Co. include everything you need to make a craft cocktail except for the alcohol. They are TSA friendly. All you need to do is order the alcohol you want on your flight and you can use this kit to make your own cocktail on the go.

30. Homesick Candle

Order a scented candle from your favorite city or country. The Homesick line has tons of different cities, states, and countries to choose from. 

31. Moleskine Journal

I brought these small journals with me to India and to Europe. I used them to jot down notes, travel memories, and reflections. Today, I love looking back on those moments. There’s something so much better about having them in a book instead of on a digital file. 

32. Selfie Stick

Perfect for solo travel (you won’t have to ask someone to take your photo). It’s also great for groups, because you’ll be able to get the whole family in the photo. 

33. Headphone Splitter

My husband and I use a headphone splitter when we fly together so we can watch the same movie off one of our devices.

34. Luggage Tags

It’s easy to spot our luggage with colorful luggage tags. 

35. Sleep Mask

A good sleep mask is essential for sleeping on the go. I own several sleep masks, and I prefer the ones that are molded around the eyes. They block out the light a lot better.

36. Collapsable Mug

This type of mug collapses flat so it’s easy to pack in a purse or backpack. It’s an environmentally friendly way to drink tea, coffee, and other beverages. 

37. Portable Luggage Scale

If your luggage is too heavy, you’ll probably face an additional charge from your airline. But once you’re at the airport, it’s such a hassle to try to re-arrange luggage. (This happened to us one time in Australia and we ended up having to pay another $100 in fees!) As portable luggage scale will let you estimate your luggage’s weight ahead of time. 

38. Facial Mask

Fight jet lag with a purifying facial mask. It’s a nice way to relax on the go.

39. Travel-Sized Sunscreen

Sunscreen is one of the most important things to bring on vacation, and yet it’s easily left behind if it’s not the right size for flying. A travel-sized kit is perfect to throw in your luggage before your trip. 

40. Travel Toothbrush and Toothpaste

I always keep a separate toothbrush and toothpaste in my cosmetics bag so I never forget it.

41. Ponchos

Don’t be caught in the rain unprepared. Ponchos come in handy for unforeseen downpours and for theme parks. We’ve used ours while hiking in Peru and also at Disneyland.

42. Travel Pants

I prefer travel pants that repel moisture and don’t show many wrinkles. They also have to be lightweight and very packable. The ones I own also have sun protection. You can read all about my travel pants on my review of KUHL products.

43. Infinity Scarf

It’s always nice to travel with a comfortable scarf to keep you warm. There are infinity scarves that also have built-in hidden pockets. You can store your passport and money within the zippered pocket and keep it away from thieves. 

44. Travel Wallet

I recommend getting a travel wallet that is RFID blocking to protect your financial information.

45. Jewelry Organizer

A jewelry case will organize your necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings. It’s definitely nice to arrive at a destination without tangled necklaces.

46. Toiletry Bag

I prefer a sturdy bag to keep all my cosmetics organized.

47. Packable Rain Jacket 

I always travel with a packable rain jacket. It folds up really small, and I throw it in my purse in case it rains unexpectedly. 

48. Comfortable Walking Shoes

While on vacation, I wear my Brooks running shoes. I’ve put hundreds of miles on them and they’ve held up great! 

49. Comfortable Sandals 

For warmer destination, I wear my Tevas. I’ve owned them for years and they are super comfortable. 

50. Base Layer

If traveling during the colder months, pack a couple of long-sleeved base layers. I like to wear a base layer that retains body heat, wicks away moisture, and is very comfortable. 

51. Washable Ballet Flats

Washable flats are amazing because you can clean them on the go. After a trip or even while you’re on the road, you’ll be easily able to clean your shoes.

52. Travel Shirt with Hidden Pockets

Shirts that are designed for travel often have hidden pockets. It’s a good way to keep a credit card or passport safe while walking around town.

53. Inflatable Toddler Bed

We recently bought an inflatable bed for our toddler. It was easy to use and our kiddo loved sleeping on it. I didn’t like the pillow because it has a hard seam on it, but the bed itself was perfect! I wouldn’t take this one for a trip with a flight, but we took it on our road trip and it was perfect.

54. Portable Travel Crib

We were gifted a Phil&Teds Travel Crib and it has been one of our favorite baby travel items. It’s super lightweight (weighs less than 8 pounds), and we were able to fit it in our checked luggage.

55. Doona Carseat/Stroller

The Doona Carseat/Stroller combo is perfect for young babies. It’s the only carseat that has retractable wheels so it can also double as a stroller. Instead of bringing two bulky items, we only needed to bring this one. It’s also very convenient for when baby falls asleep in the car (or on the plane). Instead of waking them up to take them out, we seamlessly transitioned to stroller mode. We think it was worth every penny!

56. Snoozeshade

We were gifted a Snoozeshade and we loved that it kept the crib nice and dark. It easily fits over a pack’n’play. We have stayed in a number of hotel rooms that didn’t have good window coverings, and we were so grateful we brought the Snoozeshade.

57. Stroller Shade

Naps on the go were a breeze during the summer when we had a stroller shade. The fabric was breathable, but it kepts the stroller dark and distraction-free. 

58. White Noise Machine

Everyone will sleep better with a white noise machine. We always bring a compact one for travel.  

59. Car Seat Tray

A car seat tray fits over a child’s car seat and gives them a work station on the go. I wish we would have had this for our three week road trip!

How to Surprise Someone with Travel as a Gift

So you have the wonderful idea of gifting someone a trip, but now the question is, how do you present it to them? We share a few creative ways to give your loved one the surprise of a lifetime.

1. Create an Explosion Box

When your loved one opens an explosion box, a bunch of photos will fall open. You get to choose the photos, so you could include photos of the location you plan on taking them to visit.  

2. Ornament

If it’s during Christmas time, you can choose an ornament specific to that location and attach a note to it saying that their gift is a trip to that place. They’ll also have the ornament to keep forever to remember the sweet gesture year after year. 

3. Gift Box

Put together a gift box or bag and fill it with things characteristic of that region, or fill it with things they’ll need to have when they get there. For example, you could fill a beach bag up with beach essentials for a trip to Hawaii. 

4. Don’t Tell Them Where

Give them a piece of luggage and tell them what they will need to pack for the trip. Just don’t tell them where you will be going! The anticipation will be as fun as the trip itself. 

Summary

I hope this list helps you find the perfect gift for the traveler in your life!