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Are you after practical travel gifts for someone who is always on the road? I know this can be a difficult task. Usually, travelers don’t like to have much “stuff”, and the things we do carry should be the right weight, size, and have a purpose.
But look no further because I’ve done all the hard work for you! After years of traveling, I know what items are useful & fun to travel with and why. This list of 45 practical travel gifts has something for every budget. And, your loved one will be so excited when receiving useful gifts that will suit their nomadic lifestyle.
Nearly everything I have listed below is items my husband & I travel with, (and there’s a couple I hope Santa brings me this year 😉). They all have a purpose and make our travels much easier. I have also included items that will help people become more sustainable when traveling. Plus skin & hair care products that are eco-friendly and don’t come in big clunky bottles or jars.
Practical Travel Gifts For Her Under $30
Silk Eye Mask
This is such a nice gift idea for traveling women, a lot of airlines do provide eye masks during long-haul flights, but let’s face it, they aren’t very nice! And, a silk eye mask will ensure good rest while traveling and also the silk is great for skin & hair.
Silk Face Mask
It’s going to be a long time before we can freely travel without the need for a face mask. So for someone who is a frequent traveler, face masks are a very practical gift. After regularly wearing face masks I have always found silk masks to be the best, easy to breathe in, and never cause acne.
Head Towel
Head towels are a great item to travel with, they are small and lightweight. They’re especially useful if staying in backpacker-style accommodation and getting multiple towels isn’t an option. So it’s a great gift idea for women who love budget traveling.
Socks For The Plane / Compression Socks
I always get cold feet while traveling by air, so would never fly without warm socks in my carry-on bag. And, for any travelers who fly long haul, it’s important to have compression socks. Compression socks help increase circulation & reduce the risk of swelling & deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Travel Pillow, Memory Foam
If you know someone who gets insomnia whenever they fly, a travel pillow is such a practical travel gift for them. Memory foam travel pillows are lightweight and can be strapped to the side of their backpack while in the airport.
Portable Charger
If you want to keep in touch while your loved one is traveling the world, it’s going to be very important they keep their phone charged! This is easier said than done for many, so a portable phone charger will be such a helpful travel gift. This high-speed portable charger is compatible with Apple and Samsung products.
SD Memory Card
This may look like a boring gift but it’s such a practical travel gift as it’ll be responsible for storing all the precious memories. SanDisk memory cards come in multiple memory sizes and have different card grades depending on the camera it’ll be used with.
SD Memory Card Case
It’s always a good idea to be organized when traveling. This is especially important when it comes to irreplaceable photos & videos. So a case that’s designed to hold multiple SD memory cards is always super useful. It will keep memory cards secure and this case is water & shock resistant so perfect for any condition.
LensPen – A Cleaning Pen For Camera Lenses.
A Lens Pen is another small but very practical gift for travelers who love photography. It’s inevitable that camera gear will get dirty or dusty while traveling, and these pens are an awesome accessory to carry around to ensure no dirty lenses will ruin the photos.
Waterproof Phone Cover
If spending a few hundred dollars on an action camera like a GoPro isn’t within your budget. Another great gift idea for any avid traveler is a waterproof mobile pouch, this one is designed to fit nearly every smartphone. For a low price, this gift is perfect for taking underwater photos and videos.
Mini Tripod / Phone Tripod
There are so many situations where a tripod will come in handy while traveling. If you wanted to get a solo photo, couple photo, or group photo, a tripod just makes this easier to capture the perfect shot. And, will definitely turn out much better than balancing the phone against a rock. Large tripods are often stronger and have more features, but mini tripods are more practical to travel with. They are small, lightweight, and will easily fit in checked or carry-on luggage.
iPad/Phone Holder for Air Travel
If you’re purchasing a gift for someone who regularly flies’s with low-cost carriers, a really useful travel gift is an iPad Holder. Budget airlines often don’t have screens in the back of the seats and it’s left up to each passenger to entertain themselves. Hence this gift would be super helpful when someone is using their own iPad or phone during the flight to watch a movie.
The Airglo product I have linked to below was created by a flight attendant who saw the need for a stand that passengers could use with their own device. This super practical travel gift works with any phone or tablet and is lightweight & compact.
Universal Travel Power Adapter
While traveling the last thing you want to do is search for a power adapter for the local sockets. So a universal power adaptor is a perfect gift for any avid traveler. Whether traveling for leisure or business a universal power adapter will always come in handy.
Packing Cubes
Improve your loved ones packing game with a set of travel packing cubes. These really are a lifesaver when it comes to utilizing space in suitcases and keeping the contents well organized. The packing cubes come in a variety of sizes and the clear front is very useful when looking for a particular item.
Microfiber Bathroom Towel
Not as glamorous as many of my other suggestions but a Microfiber Towel is one of the most practical travel gifts you could buy a traveler. These towels are lightweight, quick to dry, and can be rolled up to easily fit in their luggage. This would be the perfect gift for backpackers, campers, or camper van travelers.
Clear Toiletries Bag
Toiletry bags are another great gift for any traveler, but clear ones are extremely practical as you can see what’s inside and quickly retrieve what you’re after. I recommend buying a pack with multiple-sized bags, so there is one suitable for every trip.
Luggage Name Tags
I’ve worked in the airline industry for 10 years and I’ve seen so many lost bags! And, the hardest part about returning the bag to the customer is when there is no name tag attached. Whenever checking in a bag it’s so important to have luggage name tags on each bag. Even if it’s just their name & email address is written on it.
Luggage Lock
I think even if it’s just for peace of mind, bags should never be checked in without being locked. Luggage Locks are also perfect if your loved one will be traveling on overnight trains and their bags won’t be stored next to them. I only ever buy combination locks now, trust me it’s so annoying when you lose the key to your luggage padlock.
Portable Luggage Scales
Another thing I’ve learned from working in the airline industry is how so many people have no idea how much their luggage weighs and then get stung by having to pay excess luggage fees at the airport. All airlines charge excess luggage so there’s no way around it, except to only bring what’s included in your ticket. Portable luggage scales are a very practical travel gift, especially if it’s for someone who loves shopping while they’re away.
Waterproof Dry Bag
I have used my waterproof dry bag many times while traveling, these bags are perfect on rickety wooden boats in Thailand, hiking to waterfalls in Bali, or camping in Australia. When I first made this purchase I didn’t realize how regularly it would come in handy. This is one of the most practical travel gifts you could buy someone who loves the outdoors.
Scratchy Map
This is such a fun way to remember and display where someone has been around the world. Scratchy Maps are the perfect gift for your friend who is frequently traveling.
Practical Travel Gifts Under $100
BackPack
The design of a carry-on backpack for a traveler is so important. The bag needs to be the right size, important items need to be easily accessible & the bag needs to have practical compartments. Therefore I would recommend purchasing a backpack that is around 42L because it’s an awesome size for weekends away or for trips that are carry-on only. And, it should have a separate compartment for a laptop.
Travel Wallet / Travel Document Organizer
So many people get stressed in airports and one of the biggest causes of this is when people are unorganized. They can’t find what they need, they get flustered, they get stressed. This is why a travel wallet is such a useful travel gift. It’s where they can safely keep their passport, vaccine card, and all other important travel documents together and well organized.
Kindle
Whenever traveling passengers are restricted by a certain luggage weight & size, and books can be very heavy & clunky. But also I understand when someone is traveling long-distance it’s so good to have something to read. Hence why kindles are such a great idea. Lightweight and can store multiple books on one device.
Also, don’t forget to buy a Kindle Case, just to ensure it’s kept safe while being carried all over the world.
Silk Pillow Case
This is one of the more elegant gifts you could buy someone who loves to travel. Whenever I’m traveling one of the nicest feelings is having something from home to rest my head on at night. So, that’s why I always travel with my own silk pillowcase. These pillowcases are the perfect gift for women who travel for extended periods and love having the feeling of home with them. Silk is also recommended by beauty experts for looking after women’s hair and skin.
Mask & Fin Snorkel Set (small travel size)
For anyone who loves the outdoors and the ocean, traveling with snorkeling gear is awesome. It just makes spontaneous underwater adventures so much easier. But the downfall is most sets are super bulky and take up way too much room in the luggage. That’s why this mini snorkel set is a game-changer and such a great gift idea for guys and girls who love traveling.
Practical Travel Gifts For All Travelers Over $100
Apple AirPods Pro
Light, compacted, and perfect for long journeys, these headphones are a practical travel gift for anyone (especially those who like to keep to themselves). AirPod Pro has a noise-canceling feature that will block out the loud engine sounds on flights, making it much easier to hear the movie.
Along with the AirPods themselves, it’s a great idea to purchase a case for the AirPods. Throughout the world there are other travelers with the exact same white headphones, So, a case is great to make sure these ones are easily identifiable.
Wonderboom Speaker (Portable Bluetooth Speaker)
Nothing brings people together when traveling like music, so another useful gift idea is a wireless Bluetooth Speaker. The Wonderboom’s are waterproof & dustproof so will be perfect in all kinds of random places around the world.
Samsung SSD Harddrive
Now, for anyone who travels for long periods of time, a good hard drive is vital to be able to safely back up photos and videos. This Samsung T5 portable SSD is the best for travel because it’s very small & lightweight, plus it’s super fast when content is being transferred over. And, It’s also shock resident.
GoPro
Of course, every traveler needs a camera, and one that goes underwater will be an even more useful travel gift. GoPros have a great reputation for capturing epic footage in extreme conditions. So, no matter what corner of the globe is being explored a GoPro will be able to handle it. There are a number of different GoPro models available, so if the latest model is out of your price range, just purchase the one below it.
Digital SLR Camera
Help your loved ones’ photography skills go next-level with a digital SLR. Because it’ always more exciting taking photos while overseas as opposed to being in your local area. So no carry-on luggage is complete without an awesome camera that will assist your loved one in capturing professional photography while on the road.
I love canon cameras and these are the only DSLRs I would recommend, although there are a number of different models out there, and ones that suit different budgets.
MacBook Air
The perfect kind of lap to travel with is one that’s lightweight and has really long battery life. And, the MacBook Air is both of those things. Some may suggest that an iPod is an easier device to travel with, but I believe a MacBook is much more versatile and will be perfect for any situation while on the road. This isn’t the cheapest gift to purchase but it’s definitely one that will be loved and appreciated.
DJI Mini Drone
This premium gift idea will make you very popular! Mini Drones are so fun and only weigh about the same as a smartphone. And, due to the size, a lot of countries don’t require the user to have a permit to fly. Drones can capture the most unique and beautiful footage so it’s a great piece of gear to give someone who makes travel videos.
Cheap & Practical Ideas For Sustainable Travel Gifts
Metal Straws
Who agrees with me that plastic straws are the worst? But sometimes when I’m traveling in the back streets of Kathmandu I’m not brave enough to put my lips around that bottle of coke! And, I know I’m not the only one so that’s why metal straws are such a useful gift for many travelers. Plus, they’re easy to carry in a small handbag to have ready whenever needed.
Cutlery Set
Similar to the straws, plastic cutlery is such a waste but when eating at local markets or buying takeaway food it’s not always pleasant to eat with your hands. So a small cutlery set that can be kept in their bag is a fantastic waste saver.
Silicone Travel Toiletry Bottles
When people are only traveling for a short period of time and already have heaps of beauty products at home. These silicone travel containers are a must-have item. This awesome gift is refillable and helps the environment by purchasing less single-use plastic.
Reusable Travel Mug
These mugs are perfect for the on-the-go traveler who doesn’t want to spend time sitting in a coffee shop and would rather grab one to go! A travel mug is a practical travel gift, and of course, the reduced waste helps the environment.
Drink Bottle
It’s important that your loved ones stay healthy while traveling and one of the easiest ways to do this is by drinking a lot of water & staying hydrated. When someone is carrying around a drink bottle it usually ensures they keep drinking, otherwise, when you’re busy exploring the world it can be easily forgotten.
I personally love the drink bottles with the measurements & times written down the side. As it’s an extra motivator to keep drinking. Buying someone their own drink bottle to travel with is also great for the environment as it ensures fewer single-use plastic bottles are purchased.
Sand Free Beach Towel
Throughout my years of traveling, I have learned so much about sustainable travel and how to care for the environment when we travel. One of the easiest things we can do is use a sand-free beach towel. Because this will ensure tourists aren’t leaving the beach with a towel that’s full of sand.
Actually, years ago I visited a small island in Thailand & they had a rule that no beach towels were allowed to be brought to the island. This was an effort to preserve the beach’s natural beauty and ensure the thousands of tourists each year didn’t take the sand home with them. And, I thought it was amazing so ever since I have only used sand-free beach towels.
Travel Skincare Essentials (Practical & Eco-Friendly Travel Gifts) Under $30
Nobody wants to abandon their skincare routine when traveling but also the number of bottles, jars & tubes women have can add a lot of extra weight to their luggage. So below are practical gifts, perfect for women who love to travel and care for their skin.
Shampoo and Conditioner Bars by Ethique
These are the best, men and women need to travel with shampoo and conditioner bars. Apart from the fact they will leave your hair feeling amazing, the packaging is plastic-free, super small & lightweight. And, on top of that, as these aren’t liquid there will be no issue with taking them in carry-on during international travel.
Dry Shampoo
After long days on the road, we can sometimes be left with limited time to give our hair some TLC. So dry shampoo is a life-saver. It’s designed to absorb any excess oil, leaving hair looking as if it’s freshly washed. This is one of the most useful travel gifts you could buy her!
Beauty Bar Face Pack by Ethique
Another useful travel gift you could buy for her is Ethique’s face sampler pack that includes bars of cleanser, face scrubs, serum & moisturizer. And, all in a small & compact plastic-free packaging. I absolutely love these products and are all I ever travel with now.
Body Wash Bar by Ethique
Here’s another product that cleans, moisturizes, and is vegan-friendly. Body wash bars are a great gift idea for eco-friendly travelers, especially those who only travel with hand luggage. And, this body wash bar comes in light packaging so won’t take up much space or luggage allowance.
Now, it’s time to get shopping! I hope this list has solved your problems and you’ve found heaps of ideas for practical travel gifts.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
Planning a Trip? Travel Resources Below;
Where to Next?
If you’re unsure of where to travel to next, why not check out my Destination Page. Filled with informative travel guides from all over the world.
Searching For The Best Flights
Without a doubt the best site for comparing and booking flights is Skyscanner. Just click here to compare flights and get the best prices with Skyscanner.
Booking Accommodation
Then when it comes to booking accommodation; if you’re after a hostel the best place to search is HostelWorld.
Or, if you’d prefer a hotel or resort, Booking.com or Agoda are two of the best sites out there, they consistently return cheap rates.
Get Your Cashback
Before you book though don’t forget to activate your Rakuten browser extension so you get cashback on these bookings.
Don’t know what Rakuten is? Read my guide here!
And, Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Unfortunately, everything doesn’t always go to plan but travel insurance will protect you when it comes to illness, injury, theft & cancellation. I never travel overseas without travel insurance, it’s just not worth the risk!
Cover-More is a trusted company and they also have COVID-19 benefits available.
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
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This is a great gift guide! Airpods make such good gifts – my fiance gifted them to me a few years ago and I never looked back! I also love all of the reusable and sustainable items, I’m definitely adding some of these to my Christmas list 🙂
Yes, they are so good…. I could never go back to the old fashion cord haha. Oh and good to hear, the bars opposed to bottles save so much weight
As a regular traveller I surely understand the need of these things! Really great ideas, will make sure to send this post to my friends to inspire them 😉
Great, thank you so much 🤗
I’m all about practical travel gifts! Love all 45 of these recommendations to add to my holiday list.
Great to hear, thanks heaps
We have several things you featured on this list, I’ve got several good ideas for future items as well! There never is a shortage of travel gadgets to buy. Thanks for the great list!!
You’re welcome, glad you liked it
Definitely agree with the drone! My boyfriend loves using it and it’s been such a game changer for my photos!
The silk face mask is a great idea! I didn’t even know you could get silk ones but I guess it makes sense! What a great way to avoid a breakout! Also, huge yes to the SanDisk memory cards! I’m n my third one this year and would love anyone who bought one for me!! Thanks for the great guide! I think I might start dropping some hints 😉
Thank you so much Hannah, really glad you found it helpful
This is such a great gift guide! I’m adding many of these to my list for sure
That’s awesome
Another great, super inexpensive gift idea is travel-sized refillable perfume atomizers. I just bought some and I love them. I also love the potable luggage scale that you show.
Oh of course, they are a great idea as well.
Another great, super inexpensive gift idea is travel-sized refillable perfume atomizers. I just bought some and I love them. I also love the portable luggage scale that you show.
Would love a scratch map one day!! Otherwise packing cubes are my favourite 🙂
I want EVERYTHING on this list 🤩 I like the idea of a silk face mask, I have a silk pillowcase and they feel so nice on your skin!
Yay that’s so good! Definitely need a silk mask then, they’re the best and never give me pimples
This is such a great list. I would seriously love anything from here… I’ve always wondered about the compression socks for the plane and that silk eye mask looks incredible. I also love dry shampoo bars… such an awesome travel score! THanks for putting this together; I’ll keep it handy! – Linzey @thefamilyfuntour
Oh, you’re so welcome. Very happy you find it helpful
Some really useful ideas here – the silicone travel containers look great!
Thanks so much, Rowan. Yes, they’re great
Compression socks are so key! Thanks for this great list. I’ll be adding a few to my luggage!
These are such great gift ideas for travelers! I’d love someone (or Santa!) to get me a silk eye mask and silk pillow cases in particular.