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40 Best Travel Gift Ideas For Frequent Travelers

Best Gifts for Travelers
Top Travel Gift Ideas for 2024
Travel Gift Guide

Looking for the perfect holiday present for that traveler in your life? It’s not always easy! These are best travel gift ideas for wanderlust lovers, no matter what your budget.

Skip the money-belt this year, and buy a birthday or holiday travel gift that your favorite intrepid globe-trotter will actually use on their next international vacation.

These popular gifts for travelers can help make any journey more comfortable and convenient.

There’s only so much room in your bag! Most travelers prefer to pack light.

I’m the same way, and choose to pack travel gadgets that have multiple uses, don’t take up to much space, and will improve my travel experience abroad.

So here are some of my best gift ideas for travelers that are guaranteed to put a smile on the recipient’s face!

Matthew Karsten

Hi, I’m Matthew Karsten

I’ve been traveling the world for 10+ years as a professional photographer & writer. I hope you enjoy my travel gift guide! If you find it useful, using my affiliate links will give me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

My Travel Gift Guide For 2024

Best Travel Gifts Under $100

1: LifeStraw Filtered Water Bottle

Water Bottle for Traveling

A must-have for international travel to keep yourself safe from sickness. The LifeStraw Filtered Water Bottle cleans up 99.9% of waterborne parasites & bacteria from water sources in many countries where water quality can be an issue.

The 2nd stage activated carbon filter reduces odor and chlorine aftertastes too. I also use mine for day-hiking trips. They have a minimalist straw version, for people who prefer their own container. This long-lasting filter handles up to 1000 liters of water.

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2: Anker Magnetic Battery Portable Charger

Gifts for Travelers: Portable Charger

We all use our smartphones, cameras, and other portable gadgets a lot. There’s nothing worse than running low on power when you need it the most. For travelers, this can be an extra headache if your ticket confirmations, directions, or translation app lives on your phone.

The Anker Magnetic Wireless Portable Charger is about the size of a thick credit card and with 10,000 mAh can charge an iPhone 13 Pro 1.8 times. It attaches to your phone via the magnetic back. USB-C and USB ports also allow you to recharge a camera, a Kindle, and more.

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3: Cabeau Evolution Travel Neck Pillow

Portable Travel Neck Pillow

Travel neck pillows are one of the most popular items to pack for long-haul flights. But many of them don’t live up to the job of supporting your neck comfortably. The Cabeau Evolution Travel Pillow is crazy comfortable, packs down small, and holds your neck in an ergonomic position for sleeping.

I never fly without mine! I’ve tried every travel pillow there is, and this is the best. However if you’re looking for something that packs down even smaller, the Sea To Summit Aeros is pretty good too. It’s just not quite as comfortable as the Cabeau.

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4: Sony Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Bluetooth Speaker for Travel

I love this thing! The Sony Bluetooth Speaker makes it easy to watch movies with other people on your laptop when traveling, throw an impromptu hostel party, or play your favorite songs on the beach.

There are a lot of Bluetooth speakers on the market, and I’ve tried many of them. The Sony simply has the best sound quality for its size, and the battery lasts up to 16 hours!

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5: Antique Ocean Desk Globe

Desk Globe Travel Gift

Can’t travel right now? A stylish desk globe is a perfect accessory to inspire future trips for the travel addict who works from home. The Antique Ocean Desk Globe is a quirky conversation piece and wanderlust-inspiring planning tool for your next travel adventure.

Your favorite traveler can day-dream about exploring Africa, South America, Central Asia, or any other destination from the comfort of their desk. I’m already planning new adventures just looking at this thing right now!

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6: Eagle Creek Packing Cubes

Travel Packing Cubes

Packing cubes! The best way to keep your luggage organized. My personal favorites are these ones from Eagle Creek. They weigh almost nothing and can hold a lot of clothing.

The garment folder, in particular, is a wonderful way to keep your shirts and/or pants wrinkle-free. I use the medium sized cube for my collection of t-shirts and sweatshirts, and the smaller cube for underwear & socks. It’s an important part of the travel gear I regularly pack.

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7: FlatPak Toiletry Bottles

Travel Gift Toiletry Bottles

Hate wasting plastic when buying all those travel-sized toiletries like toothpaste, shaving cream, or shampoo? Why not fill up these reusable FlatPak Toiletry Bottles from your own stash at home!

You can refill them as needed, they don’t take up much space in your bag and are super lightweight too. It’s time to start being more environmentally friendly when we travel. This is one way to start.

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Gifts For Travelers Under $25

Budget Travel Gift Ideas
We Actually Use Everything we Recommend!

8: World Map Wall Art

World Map Wall Art

Unable to travel right now? Want to reminisce about past adventures? Check out this super cool World Map Wall Art for your wall. It’s a fun way to strike up conversations with visitors, and showcase your love of travel.

Have kids? Here is another cool world wall map for kids that we bought for our son Dylan’s room too! Show your kids where you’re going next.

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9: Foldable Duffel Bag For Traveling

Duffel Bag for Traveling

Have you ever found yourself in a situation when your suitcase was too heavy to check on a plane? Or you bought too many souvenirs and ran out of space? I have. That’s why these days I carry a packable duffel bag as a backup.

But that’s not its only use! You can use it as a makeshift beach bag, laundry bag, or grocery bag too. I also use it when I’m hiking & camping abroad, to help store extra gear/clothing in a hotel’s storage room, so I don’t have to bring everything into the mountains.

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10: Lightweight Passport Holder

Travel Passport Wallet

If you travel internationally quite a bit, your passport is going to get pretty beat-up. That’s why I love my simple passport wallet. It gives just enough protection, without being too bulky. It comes in many different colors & style prints too.

You can also use it to hold credit cards, airline boarding passes, SIM cards, and extra cash. Keep your passport looking like new, so you don’t have any trouble at customs & immigration due to worn-out travel documents!

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11: International Travel Plug Adapter

Plug Adapter For Traveling

In order to use your electronics in foreign countries, you’re going to need a great international travel adapter plug for different sockets. I’ve tried them all, and this one is hands-down the best!

Not only does it accept 2 or 3 pronged plugs for use in over 150 different countries, but it also includes 4 (!) USB inputs, and a Fast-Charge USB-C for your mobile devices. Plus the design is super slick.

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12: Moleskin Notebook

Moleskin Notebook

I realize everyone has a smartphone now, but there’s just something romantic and unique about recording your travel adventures in an old-school style notebook. I always travel with a small Moleskin Notebook when visiting other countries.

At the end of each day, you can journal about what you saw, the people you met, and how a destination made you feel. Looking back on these entries years later is super fun to do!

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13: Portable Luggage Scale

Luggage Scale for Travel

Airline baggage fees are starting to get out of control. They want to charge you for EVERYTHING these days! To ensure you don’t get hit with paying extra, I always weigh my luggage with a portable luggage scale before checking in.

This way, you can pack your bags to the maximum weight limit every time without going over. This backlit scale from Bagail is lightweight and portable, with the ability to weigh luggage in both kilos or pounds.

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Unique Luxury Travel Gift Ideas

Airport Travel
Making Flying Fun

14: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Amazon Kindle Reader

The Amazon Kindle probably doesn’t need an introduction. It’s the ideal gift for a bookworm or even those who like to read occasionally. Travelers like me love it due to its small size and long battery life.

The “Paperwhite” version allows you to easily read in the dark, plus there’s no glare from the sun when reading on a beach (unlike trying to read on your phone). You can fit thousands of books on it — a library in your hands. Excellent for flights and long bus rides.

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15: Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones

Bluetooth Noise Canceling Headphones

The Sony WH1000XM5 Headphones are a frequent traveler’s best friend. Their advanced noise-canceling technology makes it feel like you’re all alone, even if you’re stuck on a packed airplane with crying babies!

Listen to your favorite music or podcasts wirelessly via Bluetooth, with deep bass and crystal clear highs. Control volume, ask Siri questions or take phone calls with the touch of a finger. Now that I own these, I’m not sure how I traveled previously without them!

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16: Carry-On Pro Luggage

Carry-On Suitcase Gift

The Monos Carry-On Pro is my favorite carry-on rolling suitcase. The wheels are fast, sturdy, and silent. There is a front pocket for quick & easy access to your laptop and other items you may have to pull out for the security line.

Extremely lightweight to maximize airline luggage weight limits, a strong telescoping handle, and a built-in compression pad to fit as much stuff as possible inside.

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17: Peak Design Travel Backpack

Peak Design Travel Backpack

The Peak Design Travel Backpack is the perfect stylish backpack to bring on the plane as a carry-on. Top, side, front and rear access makes it very easy to get your stuff, plus it’s loaded with pockets for your electronics and other travel gear.

Tuck-away shoulder straps and hip belt use unique magnetic catches to stay in-place, and the tough 100% recycled outer shell is water resistant to any weather you might encounter on your trip. Add a camera cube, and it turns into an awesome camera backpack too!

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Travel Gear

More Travel Gift Ideas?

Make sure to check out my ultimate guide to travel gear and peek inside the luggage I pack on all my trips.

Fun Travel Gifts For Men

Some of my favorite travel gifts for men, based on my own personal experience as a traveling man. Like most of this list, I personally own all these items because they rock!


18: Bluffworks Gramercy Travel Blazer

Blazer Jacket for Traveling

While I started traveling as a budget backpacker 10-years ago, these days I’m older and a bit more fashion conscious. Especially in major international cities or traveling though Europe. Packing a suit when you travel light can be difficult, but not with the Bluffworks Gramercy Blazer!

This fashionable jacket is wrinkle-free and can be rolled up and packed away easily. But it also looks and fits great, featuring a bunch of hidden pockets that help while traveling. It’s perfect for flying, or when you need to dress-up a bit on the road. In fact I got the Gramercy Travel Pants too, and use this combo as my regular “suit” at home.

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19: Outlaw Solid Travel-Friendly Cologne

Travel Friendly Cologne

Outlaw Blazing Saddles Solid Cologne is an excellent product for men who want to smell nice while they’re traveling. Because it’s not a liquid, you can easily pack it in your airplane carry-on. It’s very travel-friendly!

The scent is very masculine, like a mix of leather and sandalwood. Very strong stuff, a little dab will go a long way. Easily lasts all day.

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20: Toiletry Dopp Kit For Traveling

Travel Toiletry Kit

Every man needs a good toiletry bag for their adventures around the world. This Osprey UltraLight Roll Organizer is lightweight, durable and waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about wet surfaces in hostel/hotel bathrooms.

With 4 zippered compartments, plus a small mirror, it has plenty of room to pack everything the traveling man would need. You can attach it to a towel rack to free-up bathroom space too. This is how I pack enough shaving cream to keep my head shiny and clean!

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Fun Travel Gifts For Women

Women's Travel Gifts
Gifts for Traveling Women

Ok, I admit I’m not a woman. However, after consulting my professional traveler wife Anna, she has recommended the following travel gifts for women — based on her own expertise and advice from her traveling friends.


21: Portable Travel Jewelry Box

Travel Jewelry Box

Storing a few jewelry items when you travel can be a pain. Especially when it comes to earrings, many women complain about them breaking in their luggage. This pretty little Travel Jewelry Box from Vlando is perfect for your next journey.

Keep delicate and expensive jewelry items safe and secure in one place. It has room for earrings, rings, necklaces, and even bracelets. A super simple and compact design.

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22: TUO Origami Unicorn Organizer

Undergarment Organizer

TUO stands for Travel Undergarment Organizer. Its purpose is to store anything travel-related, like socks, underwear, electronics, jewelry, or other loose items that some women tend to pack when they travel.

Staying organized when you’re off gallivanting around the world is so much easier using this fun little bag. You can hang it from towel racks or doors and unfold it for full access to your stuff in hotels or bathrooms.

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23: BaByliss Pro Nano Hairdryer

The BabylissPro Travel Dryer is the perfect hair dryer to pack in your bags for a vacation. It’s both powerful and small, a rare combination.

If you aren’t staying in fancy hotels all the time, you may not have easy access to a good hairdryer. This one folds up nice and small, so it won’t take up too much room in your bag.

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24: Security Door Stop Alarm

If you travel alone and worry about safety, check out this travel-friendly security door stop. The Sabre Security Door Stop Alarm requires no wires or complicated installation, powered by a single nine-volt battery.

Place the door-stop under your door before going to bed, and if someone tries to enter your hotel room during the night, this device blocks the door from opening. Plus its powerful 120db alarm wakes you up (along with everyone else nearby), scaring off any intruders!

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Travel Gifts For Kids

Traveling with Kids

New for 2023! Now that I’ve been traveling with my family for a few years, I thought it was time to add a section for kids travel gear. Because when it comes to kids, certain key items can really help make the travel experience much easier in an already difficult situation.

25: MiaMily Carry-On With Seat

Travel Suitcase for Kids

MiaMilly Carry-On Luggage is a lifesaver if you travel with small kids! It’s a spacious, sturdy carry-on suitcase that has a hidden backrest that pops up, allowing your kids to ride it through the airport! We own two of them.

It’s especially useful for kids aged 3-6. Old enough to not be using a stroller, but still may get tired or cranky easy when walking through airports on little to no sleep. There is a seat-belt type strap too, so you can strap them in for safety. It is sturdy enough for adults to sit on too.

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26: Cloud Sleeper Inflatable Mattress

Inflatable Travel Mattress for Kids

The CloudSleeper Inflatable Mattress is wonderful for saving money on accommodation. Not all hotels and guest houses offer kids beds, but if you pack one of these, your kids will sleep comfy in a hotel room with only one bed.

It packs down small, inflates without any bulky extra pumps, and has side bumpers built in so your kid can’t roll off it in the middle of the night. It’s great for home if you have guests over, or when visiting relatives too.

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Best Gifts For Outdoor Adventurers

Camping Trip
Gifts for Adventure Travelers

Know someone who likes to travel a lot in the great outdoors? Hiking, camping, and going on road trips? This list is for them!


27: Kammok Adventure Travel Hammock

A hammock is a great gift for travelers and backpackers. String it up in the woods or on the beach to relax and enjoy the view. I’ve even used my hammock on boats, between palm trees for beach naps, or as a comfortable swinging seat after a long hike.

The Kammok Roo Single is extremely strong, lightweight, and easy to pack, perfect for people who don’t want to waste space in their travel bag. Designed to hold up to 400 lbs, you’ll always have a place to nap.

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28: Leatherman Wave Multitool

A good set of tools is always useful when you travel, but it’s not realistic to pack a whole toolbox. The Leatherman Wave is the next best thing. Perfect for any job, adventure, or everyday task.

It includes 17 common tools, crammed into a simple compact package that can be opened and operated easily. Never be without a sharp knife, pliers, bottle opener, screwdriver, or scissors again! There’s also a smaller version called the Leatherman Squirt.

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29: Black Diamond Headlamp

Headlamp for Hiking and Camping

In my opinion, a headlamp is an absolutely essential piece of travel gear for adventure travelers. My favorite is the water-resistant and re-chargeable Black Diamond Revolt. You can recharge it from a USB, or insert traditional AAA batteries.

Headlamps give you hands-free access for reading a book in the dark, exploring a cave, returning from hikes after dark, or searching through your luggage in the middle of the night. It always comes in handy when I travel!

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30: Microfiber Backpacking Towel

Every adventure traveler needs a pack-able microfiber towel because it has a million different uses. It folds up super small and dries very quickly. Perfect for camping, or even staying in hostels.

The Sea to Summit DryLite Towel comes in a few different colors and sizes. I’ve used it swimming in natural hot springs, to wipe down camera gear after a storm, and even as sun & dust protection in the desert.

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Gifts For Travel Photographers

Gifts for Travel Photographers
Ideas for Photographers

Do you know a traveling photographer? Check out some of these great travel photography gifts that will help them craft the perfect postcard photo during their next trip.


31: Portable Travel Camera Tripod

Whether you want to take photos of yourself when traveling solo or capture the magic of the northern lights, a tripod is a necessary tool. The Peak Design Travel Tripod is small enough to take anywhere and strong enough to hold large cameras.

The innovative design allows it to be packed down very small for travel, yet extends to a full size tripod. It also includes a handy attachment for your smartphone!

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32: Peak Design Camera Clip

One of my favorite pieces of camera gear, the Peak Design Capture Clip allows you to wear your camera on your belt, or on your backpack straps, keeping your hands free for other tasks. The camera adapter fits into most tripod heads too!

Clipping in and out of the device is very quick and easy. You can even run with your camera strapped to your belt wearing this thing. Never miss another shot due to messing around with a camera bag. It’s a fantastic accessory for those who go hiking with their camera.

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33: Sony Wireless Remote

Traveling solo a lot? Want to get some great selfies or group shots without giving your camera to someone else? Own a newer Sony camera? Check out this Sony Wireless Bluetooth Remote!

Once paired to your camera, you can use the remote to focus and shoot photos or video from up to 60 feet away from your camera. The perfect accessory for an Instagram addict who travels!

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34: Sony RX100 Camera

Compact Travel Camera

If you want to up your travel photography game, but don’t want to lug around a massive camera, the Sony RX100 is the perfect pocket camera for traveling. It’s super powerful with manual control, RAW format shooting, and 200mm of zoom!

I know smartphones are getting pretty good at photography, but they still can’t quite compete with the larger sensor and a physical zoom capability of an actual camera like this one.

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Essential Books About Travel

Obviously there are MANY great books about travel out there. Both useful how-to type books, as well as amazing novels set in far-away places. I’ve highlighted a few of my favorites below, but you can see all my best travel books here too!


35: Vagabonding

Vagabonding Book

The book Vagabonding is an excellent read about how to travel more, no matter what your budget or background. This book inspired me to take my first international trip!

Learn how to take a break from your normal life and travel for a few weeks, or even a few years, while experiencing the world on your own terms. Get ideas for how to make traveling long-term possible, from others who’ve done the same.


36: The Best American Travel Writing

Best Travel Writing 2021

Ready to be inspired by other people’s travel stories? You can’t go wrong with a collection of The Best American Travel Writing Of 2021. Each year, the best of those stories are collected in this great series.

You’ll find stories about all aspects of the travel experience here. Stories were curated by Padma Lakshmi.


37: How To Travel The World On $50 A Day

Travel The World Book

My friend and fellow travel blogger Matt Kepnes (also known as Nomadic Matt) has written an awesome New York Times bestselling book How To Travel The World On $50 A Day.

He goes into detail on how he’s stayed on the move for so long on a shoestring budget, with tips and tricks coming to life through relatable stories. Also seeping through the pages is a heavy dose of modesty, a necessity when venturing off the beaten path abroad.


40: 100 Hikes Of A Lifetime

Hiking Travel Book
100 Hikes of a Lifetime

Ok, there’s a bit of self-promotion involved with this gift idea. National Geographic’s 100 Hikes Of A Lifetime by Kate Siber is an excellent book full of awesome hikes around the world.

From short day hikes to multi-week backpacking trips, this great travel book will inspire you to get out into the wilderness on your next adventure.

Make sure to turn to page 148 to see my own personal contribution, photography from my trek along Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail!


Happy Holidays This Season!

Well, that’s it for the best travel gifts for 2024. I hope you found some unique gift ideas for the traveler in your life who likes to pack light.

Whether you’re travel shopping for a birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwansa, or even Festivus — you can’t go wrong with these fun gifts for travelers!

I actually own and use most of these products regularly during my travels.

Happy shopping this holiday season, and remember to get out there and explore the world yourself a bit too (when it’s safe to do so)! Think of it as a little present to yourself after all we’ve been through this year…

Because we all know that travel is the gift that keeps on giving! ★

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READ MORE BUDGET TRAVEL TIPS

I hope you enjoyed my guide to the best gifts for travelers in 2024 Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:


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