Shopping
From shiny new luggage to trendy mini cameras, these gifts will impress any traveler.
The best gifts for travelers occupy a particular sweet spot: they’re personal, but also useful enough to take up some precious carry-on space. The frequent flier in your life probably has much of their travel kit on lock, so they can be a tricky person to shop for. Your gift has to work that much harder: A clever piece of gear they never knew they needed, a skincare fix that makes their next long-haul flight a little more civilized, or a small luxury they may not consider buying for themself.
From smart tech to hard-working accessories, I’ve rounded up 50 thoughtful gifts travelers will genuinely want to pack on their next trip. These are the gadgets and gear they’ll appreciate every time, with options to impress every type of journeyer. Whether you decide to upgrade their luggage or help them capture their favorite travel memories with a curiously small camera, these gift ideas have you covered.
Andrew Bui
Andrew Bui
Madison Flager
Away
The Bigger Carry-On
When it comes to luggage, Away is a solid choice—you can find this bag in the closets of many a Traveler editor. Treat the graduate, new traveler, or family member in need of a suitcase upgrade to this larger-than-average carry-on.
Cuyana
System tote
Cuyana's System Tote is the ultimate everyday bag. It's great for city commutes or day trips when you need room for a laptop, wallet, and makeup bag. Plus, the gorgeous leather only gets better with age.
Apple
AirTag
Even the most seasoned travelers have been known to panic over the whereabouts of their checked luggage, and these affordable, highly portable trackers are an easy way to assuage those fears. The second generation came out this year, featuring more precise tracking and an even longer-lasting battery life.
Julia Abbonizio
Julia Abbonizio
Kodak
Charmera keychain digital camera
Kodak's mini keychain camera fits in the palm of your hand, meaning the traveler in your life can bring it everywhere they go. It also takes video, and offers a variety of different filters to bring a little ’80s whimsy to their shots.
Ōura
Ōura Ring 5
Traveler editors count the Oura Ring among one of those must-have accessories that every traveler can benefit from. It tracks sleep, activity, and recovery cycles, and can help wearers better understand the impacts that travel can have on their biological rhythms.
Aeropress
Original coffee maker
For the itinerant coffee snob in your life who is often camping or skiing but refuses to compromise on a good cup of joe, the Aeropress is an ingenious, highly portable, high-quality brewing system. Just add some hot water, pull its easy-to-use fuselage, and good coffee is seconds away, wherever they are.
Amazon
The Inn Crowd
The coffee table book everyone in my circle has been talking about this year makes for a pitch-perfect gift. It provides a peek behind the curtain of some of the Northeast’s most beloved owner-operated inns, and is a reminder of all the things we love about travel in the first place.
Pooja Nayyar
Meaghan Kenny
Meaghan Kenny
Dyson
Supersonic travel hair dryer
Introducing the travel hair dryer that dreams are made of: It’s packable and also packs a punch—designed to fit into the tightest of carry-ons and tame the wildest of manes.
Ember
Travel Mug 2
The new Tumbler 2 model from Ember features improved battery life and, mercifully, a dishwasher-safe design. It keeps beverages hot for three hours, so the slow-sipping traveler in your life can enjoy a hot drink all morning long.
APL
Techloom ZipLine sneaker
The right shoes can make or break a travel experience, and these APLs are true workhorses. Not only do they have a sleek, machine washable design that will last for many journeys to come, they are also supportive and comfortable enough for long days spent on foot.
Meaghan Kenny
Afform
The Medium Traveller makeup bag
Afform's makeup bag keeps beauty products organized and secure. The standout feature here is the bag's foldable shape. After you unzip the bag, each side can be pulled down to lie flat, allowing you to easily see all of your products at once. It's designed to keep each product in an upright position, again making them easy to spot and reducing the risk of any spills.
Helight
Red light therapy sleep device
Even the most frequent travelers struggle with jet lag. Enter: this tiny, highly portable device, which uses patented, NASA-backed science to emit a very specific wavelength of red light therapy (630nm, to be exact) which many travelers allege helps assuage jet lag. The 28-minute protocol is easy to use, and purports to help you regulate circadian rhythms and fall asleep faster. (Personally, I’ve been using this one for months, and I love it.)
Eagle Creek
Pack-It Reveal Cube set
Say goodbye to chaos reigning inside your luggage, because these packing cubes are the difference between haphazard packers and professional travelers. They’re made from 100% ocean-recycled fabrics, and renowned for their durability.
AO Eyewear
Saratoga sunglasses
Since 1883, American Optical has crafted some of the finest sunglasses in America worn by pilots, presidents, and even NASA crews in space. The Saratoga frame was made famous by JFK, and still has an all-American air about them that feels right for today.
FAQ:
What do you get someone who is always traveling?
Frequent travelers are probably well-stocked with the basics, so I'd recommend thinking outside the box. The next time they're filling you in on their travels, make a mental note of any pain points they mention—if they regularly fly in economy, maybe they could use a foot hammock. If they're heading somewhere for a long-term stay, send them a duplicate of something they love from home but likely left behind, like a warm robe or cozy pair of slippers.
What is the best way to gift travel?
Gift cards are the easiest option. For the travelers in your life who are keen on staying in a rental, Airbnb gift cards can be purchased in amounts from $25 up to $500, so you can chip in (or cover) their next stay. Calling rideshares while traveling can quickly add up; a gift card to Lyft or Uber helps relieve any back and forth over whether a car is worth it or not, making it a great gift for younger travelers heading out on group trips or gap years.
What are the best travel gifts for new travelers?
For new and aspiring jet-setters, consider the basics. A nice leather passport holder will be appreciated. If they're heading abroad, a universal travel adapter will come in handy, as will a phone case with a compartment to keep cards, cash, or an ID easily accessible.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Meaghan Kenny.
For over twelve years, award-winning travel writer Todd Plummer has traveled the globe in search of compelling narratives and passionate people. He is a seasoned connoisseur of hotels and ecotourism experiences, and his regions of interest include Canada, Southern Africa, and his native New England. An adventurer, skier, and polo ... Read More