28 Unique Gift Ideas for Travelers (From a Travel Blogger)

Looking for a meaningful gift for a travel lover? I know it can be difficult to figure out what to buy for a traveler, especially since many of us already have so little room in our luggage!

I’m a travel blogger who ventures around the world for a living, and in this article I’m sharing a diversity of thoughtful gifts I’d personally love to receive. Many of these items are ones I already own and love, others are on my own wishlist…

Some of these travel gift ideas are travel accessories, others are bucket-list travel experiences, and some are goodies that globetrotters will enjoy at home.

Best Gifts for Travelers

1. Cookbook about their favorite cuisine

I love to incorporate the flavors of my travels into my meals at home, and I know other avid travelers do the same. If you’re looking for a gift for a travel-loving foodie, a cookbook full of authentic recipes from one of their favorite destinations could be perfect!

The Blue Zones Kitchen is one of my favorites as it takes you deep into traditional cultures in Italy, Greece, Japan, Costa Rica, and beyond with food-centered stories and delicious recipes. In Bibi’s Kitchen is another excellent cookbook for travel lovers, it details the stories and recipes from grandmothers across Africa.

But, of course the best cookbook gift will be one about whichever cuisine they love most — maybe the food of Oaxaca, Hawaii, Italy, or Japan?

2. Quality packing cubes

I’m not being dramatic, these packing cubes changed the way I travel! I spent so many years trying to stuff my clothes into poorly made packing cubes (and even ziplock baggies at one point). I recently decided to invest in quality packing cubes. I did my research and even went and tested out a few packing cubes in person at REI.

I ended up buying these Thule packing cubes because they compress so well that I can literally fit twice as much stuff in my suitcase! In retrospect, they’re not even that expensive, so I can’t believe I didn’t buy them sooner. These packing cubes would make a great gift for any frequent traveler, even if they already have packing cubes (these are the best on the market!)

3. Jewelry organizer

This jewelry organizer case is probably the #1 thing I recommend to female travelers trying to pack smarter. Any woman knows how obnoxious it is to untangle jewelry, so some sort of jewelry case is essential. That said, I tried a handful of jewelry cases until I found the best one — this one.

It’s incredibly compact yet fits so much with several zippered pouches, a ring holder and earring holder. But for me, the best part is the special necklace section that keeps your necklaces from tangling — genius!

4. Travel size game

When my husband and I spent a year traveling, one thing that took up precious space in our luggage was travel-size board games and card games! These small, packable games make an affordable yet meaningful gift for game-loving travelers.

Some of my favorites include Monopoly Deal (so fun we play it at home, too!) and Qwixx. The Catan card game is also a popular travel game!

A few favorite travel destinations: Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Valladolid Mexico, and Oahu Hawaii

5. Airport lounge membership

Nothing transforms travel like airport lounge access… but most people don’t want to pay for a lounge memberships for themselves. If you really want to treat a frequent traveler, consider gifting them a year of Priority Pass membership!

I have Priority Pass through one of my travel credit card (so make sure your loved one doesn’t already have access) and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back! Priority Pass works with a network of thousands of airport lounges around the world, so I can almost always chill in a lounge before my flight or during my layovers. Lounges typically include free food and drinks, plus showers, and sometimes other amenities like pool access and massages, right in the airport!

The Standard Plus membership includes 10 annual lounge visits, which is perfect for people who fly about five times a year. Additional visits can be added on for $35. There is also a Prestige membership that has unlimited lounge access for folks who travel even more often. By the way, Priority Pass is offering 30% off for Black Friday this year!

6. Kindle

My Kindle is another item that I can’t ever travel without, and I know it makes a great gift for travelers like me!

The upfront cost of a Kindle isn’t really that high, and then you can access free digital library books, plus the endless e-books Amazon sells. It saves so much space (and money) when traveling. Plus, you don’t even have to think about what you’re going to read on vacation until you get there — and if you don’t like the book you got, you can get another one without having to run to a physical bookstore.

If your travel-obsessed loved one doesn’t have a Kindle yet, this is the perfect gift! And yes, Amazon always has amazing deals on their Kindles for Black Friday and Cyber Week!

7. Disposable camera

Yep, those old disposable film cameras are back in style, especially for Gen Z. They’re a great gift for artsy travelers, and you can easily find a three pack on Amazon.

My husband and I brought one on our Italy vacation earlier this year and had so much fun snapping special pictures. I know we’d appreciate receiving a disposable camera as a gift, it’s thoughtful and unique!

Bacalar Mexico, Xochilmilco Mexico City, and the Hummingbird Highway in Belize

8. The most trendy toiletry containers

Gone are the days of exploded shampoo and an unnecessarily bulky toiletry bag. Cadence’s wildly popular magnetic toiletry containers are both trendy and pricey, but everyone I know who owns them loves them. They’re more compact compared to normal toiletry containers, but come in several sizes.

I travel several times a year, but can’t bring myself to purchase them for myself, but I would feel so loved if someone bought them for me as a gift! And I’m sure your travel-loving friend/family member would feel the same. Cadence sells a 7-piece set and smaller sets, too!

9. Trtl neck pillow

The Trtl travel pillow is not a normal neck pillow. It’s better described as a cushioned neck brace that keeps your head from rolling around (and your neck from aching the next day).

I was skeptical, so I tried it out on my recent red-eye flight from Seattle to Rome and was really impressed! I usually can’t sleep on flights and end up with so much neck pain if I try, but Trtl has changed that. It would be a great gift for people who often take long international flights.

10. Bluetooth audio transmitter (for watching movies on flights)

This is the travel product I’ve been waiting for!! This smart little device allows you to listen to movies on flights via your own Airpods or other bluetooth headphones. It plugs directly into the audio jack connected to the screen on the back of the airplane seat and then connects to your wireless earphones.

It is an incredible gift for any regular traveler so they no longer have to try to watch movies on their flight with those horrible free headphones from the airline.

11. Anthony Bourdain’s last book

Anthony Bourdain was (and is) an inspiration to nearly every traveler, especially those of us who crave authentic, immersive travel experiences. Any travel fanatic would love his book, World Travel: An Irreverent Guide.

This fascinating collection of stories from a lifetime of traveling off the beaten path was what Tony and his assistant were working on leading up to his unfortunate death. Tony’s well crafted words are supplemented with essays from friends, family and colleagues that delve into his inspiring life, alongside illustrations from Wesley Allsbrook.

12. Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves

One of my favorite books is Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves. Rick is a humble yet incredibly successful travel leader who believes we can ‘change of the world one trip at a time‘.

His book is a great gift for travelers who love transformative, authentic travel, and also desire to be apart of positive change in the world.

13. Travel journal

A travel journal is one of the most thoughtful gifts for travelers. There are a lot of travel journals out there, but my recommendation is this beautiful travel notebook which has prompts for each trip and spots to add photos.

It’s a really meaningful gift for an artistic, nostalgic traveler so they can look back on each of their trips for the years to come. I especially recommend it if you have someone in your life who is going on a long trip (maybe a gap year or digital nomading) so they can document each destination.

Mayan ruins in Belize, Boat tour in Bacalar Mexico, and San Jose del Cabo

14. Collapsable tupperware

A collapsable food container was of the products I used the most on my weekend trips around Europe while I was studying abroad. It allowed me to pack a lunch for my flights and then collapse it and pack it away once I was done, without taking up much space in my backpack.

It’s a thoughtful gift for people who travel often and prefer to pack their own meals on-the-go (for budget reasons or personal preference). It’s also great for camping and road trips!

15. Travel watercolors

This travel watercolors set is another lovely gift for artsy travelers! It’s so much more convenient than normal watercolors as the paints are on sheets in a small booklet.

I haven’t tried it (yet) but it’s on my list — it has 4.7 stars out of 5 (which is really good) and hundreds of raving reviews from artists on-the-go.

17. Comfy Pact airplane set

As someone who ends up in the airport over a dozen times a year, I am obsessed with Pact’s matching airplane sets! They’re all made of organic cotton and super comfy, yet feel refined because the bottoms and tops match. One of these matching airplane sets would be a great Christmas gift for a female traveler, I know I’d love one!

18. Quality luggage

A high quality suitcase could be the perfect gift for a travel lover who has an old, beat up luggage. Since my beloved 10-year-old suitcase cracked (yep!) on my way back from Italy, I just bought a brand-new suitcase and it’s been such a treat!

I knew I wanted a new suitcase that would last a long time, so I watched several luggage review videos and asked my Instagram followers for their recommendations. I ended up choosing a carry-on from Level8, and I’m so happy with my purchase! Their suitcases are reliably sturdy and made with high-quality materials, but not as pricey as the more expensive bags.

19. Nomadix towel

This sand-resistant travel towel is one thing you’ll always find packed in my bag, especially on beach trips! I love mine so much that I bought one for Christmas for my sister-in-law who lives in Belize, and she loves it too!

20. Sun shirt

A sun protectant shirt is another great gift idea for travelers who frequently visit sunny destinations, like Hawaii, Mexico, and beyond. I have REI’s Sahara Shade Hoodie and I always wear in when hiking or on a boat tour. Despite being long sleeves, it is very breathable and airy, so I can protect my skin without getting too hot.

Snorkeling in Oahu Hawaii, day trip to Chichen Itza from Cancun, and the Mermaid’s Cave in Hawaii

21. Snorkel gear

Using shared snorkel gear (or rented gear) quickly gets old. A high-quality snorkel mask is a great gift for travelers who snorkel a lot on vacation! I LOVE this snorkel mask because it has a neoprene strap so my hair doesn’t get damaged from those pesky straps.

22. GoPro or underwater phone case

People who love snorkeling on vacation will also love having a GoPro or this waterproof phone case for iPhones. I have a GoPro and have tried using that underwater iPhone case — both allow you to take incredible photos and videos underwater. That way, your loved one can show you all the tropical fish, sea turtles, and other marine life the encounter on during their travels!

23. Quality sunglasses

Sunglasses are essential on almost every trip, but so many of us never end up buying a quality pair! Gift your loved one a nice pair of Raybans or other sunnies — a pair you know they’d never buy for themselves. The great thing about this gift is that they’ll use it at home and abroad!

Experiences Gift Ideas for Travelers

24. Viator tour

Gift your loved one a bucket-list travel experience by booking a day tour on Viator for their next trip!

If you’ve read any of my travel guides, you know I’m a huge fan of Viator, a TripAdvisor company that partners with local tour operators around the world. You can use Viator to search for day trips and tours anywhere around the world — and you get free cancellation, in case your loved one’s travels change. A few once-in-a-lifetime tours you can book on Viator include:

• 🎈 Riding a hot air balloon over Aztec pyramids near Mexico City
• 🚁 Flying over NYC in a helicopter
• 🦈 Shark diving on the North Shore of Oahu
• ❄️ Helicopter landing on a glacier in Alaska
• and so much more!

25. GetYourGuide gift card

GetYourGuide is another great tour platform, especially for day trips in Europe. You can buy gift cards for GetYourGuide so that your loved one can choose their own tours for their next trip, or book an experience to do with them!

Helicopter ride over the Na Pali coast in Kauai Hawaii, the Sol de Mayo Waterfall near Cabo, and a Virgin Voyages cruise

26. Airline gift card

Many airlines offer gift cards on Amazon (so you have a physical card to give them rather than an email!) If you know your loved one’s preferred airline, this can be a great gift option. You can also buy or transfer airline points and miles.

27. Hotel or Airbnb gift card

Hotels.com also offers physical gift cards in Amazon for $50 or $100, and Airbnb has $100, $200, and $500 gift cards on Amazon too. You can also buy these digitally, but I prefer a physical card that I can gift to my loved one in person rather than an email!

28. Cruise gift card

Looking for a gift for a cruise lover? You’ll find gift cards for a variety of cruise lines on Amazon, including Princess Cruises, Holland America, and Celebrity Cruises.