The 58 Best Gifts for Travel Lovers in 2024

Peruse these practical and thoughtful gift ideas for every traveler on your list.

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Collage of gifts we recommend for travel lovers on a colorful background

Travel + Leisure / David Hattan

Shopping for your travel-loving friends and family can be tricky — after all, you’ll want to ensure you’re picking up something practical, but you also don’t want to gift them something they already have. It’s also worth considering that frequent travelers, especially digital nomads, tend to live a more minimalist life. This means practical gear will reign supreme over more frivolous items.

You’ll also want to take into account the kind of travel your favorite globetrotters or influencers are into. City explorers or luxury-leaning travelers, for example, probably won’t want the same gear as someone who spends their PTO hiking and trekking through the wilderness.

The following options were hand-picked by our team to suit every type of traveler and vacationer on your list. We’ve extensively researched (or personally tested) all of the following gifts to ensure your purchase will make a thoughtful and genuinely practical addition to your loved one’s travels. Here are the best gifts travelers will love — for all budgets and needs.

You can’t go wrong with a new travel backpack, and the Solo Re:Define Backpack earns our top pick as the absolute best laptop backpack in the game. It’s lightweight and stylish while still roomy enough to hold the essentials whether your gift recipient plans to use it as a carry-on bag or as a city bag while exploring a new town. It also has a built-in USB port and headphone jack for ease of use.

The gift of a good night’s sleep on a red eye isn’t exactly something you can wrap in a bow and place underneath the tree — but the Cabeau TNE S3 Travel Pillow makes it possible. This is the best travel pillow in our book; it’s designed to attach to any headrest which helps keep the user’s head from dropping or moving around when sleeping. The air-like cushion is also super comfortable and cozy without being too hot.

If your giftee is on the go a lot, chances are they could use new carry-on luggage. The Samsonite Freeform Carry-on Spinner is our top pick when it comes to long-lasting and practical carry-on luggage. It’s aesthetically pleasing but also incredibly durable and is able to withstand packed travel schedules thanks to the polycarbonate design.

Compression socks might not seem like the most exciting holiday gift at first glance — but trust us when we say that once your loved ones start flying with the compression socks from Away, they won’t want to go back. These are the best compression socks we’ve found not just because they’re stylish but also because they work well (see: help prevent swelling and discomfort) without being too tight.

If your favorite travelers don’t already have a high-quality passport cover, you might want to consider the Paravel Cabana Passport Case. The elegant leather case is our highest rated passport case and can even be personalized with a hand-painted monogram or custom graphic to add another layer of elegance. We also like that this option has an abundance of pockets and card slots to make organization easier.

The Stanley Quencher has become everyone’s favorite emotional support bottle over the past few months — and it’s easy to see why. This aesthetically pleasing cup fits up to 64 ounces of their favorite beverage and promises to keep their drink ice cold for hours. It’s also available in a ton of fun colorways and patterns.

The Boka Fresh on the Go set was made for travelers who avoid checking a bag at all costs. It includes everything they’ll need to maintain good oral hygiene while on the go, but the toothpaste is TSA-approved and the mouthwash — this is the best part — comes in the form of chewable tablets so it won’t even count toward their liquid quota.

The T-core Power Bank makes a great stocking stuffer — look how tiny it is! — for travelers who are constantly in search of a power outlet to juice up their devices. The compact 10,000mAh portable power bank is small enough to fit in your pocket and can fully charge a new iPhone 2.9 times with one charge.

Jamaica Vibes is the latest in the Assouline coffee table book family — and possibly one of the most fun options to date. The stunning visual-first book will allow travelers to reminisce about any time spent in Jamaica (or dream about future trips) while the cover and spine of the book will add a dose of elegant and trendy style to coffee tables and bookshelves.

You can’t go wrong with the gift of travel itself, and if you’re looking for a big-ticket experience gift for a younger traveler in your life, look no further than a Contiki tour. The pre-packaged trips will take them all over the world with like-minded young people and range from exploring the Garden Route in South Africa to road-tripping through the Balkans.

Sure, a travel adapter might not immediately come off as the most exciting gift. But any traveler will tell you just how valuable a reliable one really is. The Epicka Universal Travel Adapter is the best travel adapter in our book; it works in more than 150 countries and it’s super compact and easy to pack thanks to the modular design. Plus, you can always pair it with a flashier item like a travel-themed phone case.

Luxury hand cream is a great gift for anyone, but particularly for the frequent flyer. The L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream is very lightly scented (which is great for the plane), but it’s also incredibly moisturizing and rich in texture. It’ll serve as the hydration and comfort MVP during long, dry flights.

Being a traveler and a voracious reader can be tricky — you likely don’t want to go bookless on the go, but who wants to lug several books from city to city just to make sure they’ve got reading material? Certainly not us, and that’s why the Kindle Paperwhite has become a non-negotiable. The ultra-lightweight device can store thousands of books in one spot and you can even download new content while traveling — so avid readers will never run out of material (or worry about going over the carry-on weight limit with books).

Traveling to Japan changes you; once you’ve visited, you’ll want to return again and again. That’s why the Mise 店 Shoshi Watanabe Udon Gift Set is a major win for anyone who has traveled to (and fallen in love) with the country. The bundle includes everything your gift recipient will need to cook delicious udon at home, all of which has been sourced directly from Japan.

If they’re constantly posting throwbacks to their summer vacation in Italy, give them the gift of an Italian morning at home. The Lavazza Espresso Italiano tastes just like those shots of espresso you can guzzle at every corner cafe in Rome. Bonus points if you pick up a set of espresso cups to really set the mood.

The SereneLife Stand-up Paddle Board is an excellent option for anyone who wants to bring the spirit of resort life home. We tested out a variety of inflatable paddle boards and our team agrees that this is the best board on the market thanks to the lightweight, portable design and impressive stability in the water.

It doesn’t matter if your gift recipient is a city or a wilderness traveler: everyone can use a reliable pair of earbuds to take on the road. The Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless Earbuds offer the same high-quality sound and design as much more expensive options, but the under-the-radar headphones come with a much more digestible price tag.

The Larq Self-cleaning Water Bottle is a true game changer for all kinds of travelers. The smart bottle uses UV technology to not just disinfect itself but also to purify the water you’re drinking. This means the jetsetter you’re shopping for will be able to comfortably drink from most water sources without worrying about getting sick.

The Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair is simply the best beach chair around — and it makes a great gift for road-trippers and camping enthusiasts alike. It’s super easy to transport thanks to the folding backpack design and is surprisingly comfortable due to the adjustable head pillow and elongated seat. We also like that the frame is rust-proof, meaning it’s perfect for using at the beach or in the rain.

Packing cubes are a game changer for efficient and organized packing, and the Gonex Compression Packing Cubes are our top pick for best packing cubes. The ultra-soft, lightweight ripstop nylon design simplifies packing and compresses everything from T-shirts and sweaters to socks and underwear, taking up way less space in a suitcase and making it easy to find specific garments without having to unpack completely.

Travelers who take organization — and safety — seriously will particularly appreciate the Raytix RFID Money Belt. Our number one pick for the best money belt, this practical pouch is super comfortable to wear and is also large enough to hold things like earbuds, transit tickets, and other small travel accessories they may want to keep close by. It’s also available in a huge variety of fun colorways to suit every style

Sometimes, it can be hard to live in the moment and absorb all the magic that is travel — but a gratitude journal can help ensure your globetrotter stays centered on the go. The Five Minute Journal takes, as advertised, just five minutes of a traveler’s time, but jotting down their thoughts for those few minutes will help them remember and appreciate the most exciting parts of their day while traveling or at home.

This famous fable by Paulo Coelho is an excellent gift for travelers (and aspiring travelers) of all ages. The Alchemist is one of those books that we’ve read time and time again when searching for inspiration. It’s a quick but impactful read that’ll inspire anyone to continue to work toward their goals and find their own Personal Legend.

The best car phone holder mount in our book is the Andobil Car Phone Holder Mount, and it’ll make a great gift for roadtrippers and car commuters. It’s super easy to install and, once set up, is incredibly stable and easy to use while on the go. There’s also space to plug in a charger so drivers won’t have to mess around with their phone just to get some juice.

Think of the Puffer Hug 418 Scarf as a stylish and equally practical alternative to the fishing vest. Hear us out: this cozy accessory serves as a regular scarf but also has tons of pockets for things like a smartphone or passport. It’s great for wearing to the airport when you need to have documents at the ready but is equally sensible for wearing to explore a new city.

The Slip Pure Silk 4-pack Skinny Scrunchies is a fail-safe gift for anyone with long hair. The silk design is gentle on the hair and is designed to not pull or cause breakage, even with regular use. We also really like the elegant patterns and colors of the scrunchies, which can easily double as cute arm candy among a stack of bracelets.

Wine-loving travelers will flip for the Vinarmour Travel Wine Carrier. This stunning carrier is designed to transport a bottle of wine without any risk of breakage. It features sufficient padding to keep the bottle safe while in transit, but it’s also made from leak-proof material — so even if the bottle was already damaged and cracks while in cargo, it won’t spill on the rest of your luggage.

The Smithsonian White Mineral Globe Paperweight makes for a stunning addition to a coffee table or desk. The hand-polished globe is crafted from a stunning combination of two kinds of green jade, lilac lepidolite, red stone, marble, and abalone, and it’s designed to pay tribute to the National Gem and Mineral Collection — one of the largest collections of its kind.

The Harmonist Travel Coffret is a game-changer when it comes to feeling fresh and relaxed in transit. The set of three heavily-concentrated perfumes were designed to foster a sense of calmness and relaxation thanks to the various notes, including patchouli, pomelo, Bulgarian rose, and vanilla. It also comes with a striking travel case to keep the vials safe in transit.

If you’ve got a nervous traveler on your list (or someone who could use a little extra protection), consider the gift of a Malachite Palm Stone. Malachite is believed to ward off danger and fight off illness which makes it a great healing crystal for any traveler to keep in their carry-on or toiletry kit while traversing the globe.

The Twelve South AirFly Pro is such an easy way to upgrade the economy experience. This handy little device allows travelers to use their own Bluetooth headphones or earbuds with the inflight entertainment system rather than having to use the sub-par freebies provided by the airline. The AirFly is super easy to use as well — all you have to do is plug it into the headphone jack on the plane and pair it with your headphones.

The Tumi Leather Jewelry Case is a game changer for anyone who typically travels with their jewelry loose in their carry-on or cosmetic bag. The beautiful leather accessory is striking in its own right, but the interior makes it incredibly easy to keep all jewelry and accessories properly stowed and organized on the go. The suede interior is also super soft and won’t scratch or scuff delicate pieces.

There’s something inherently luxurious about slipping into a pair of hotel slippers upon check in — and the Four Seasons Velvet Slippers amplify that feeling and bring it home. These stunning slippers are made in Italy from sleek velvet and cotton with the Four Seasons logo embroidered on the top. The elastic back and rubber sole make them appropriate for both indoor and outdoor use.

Don’t let your loved one get stuck with lost luggage sans AirTag. This tiny gadget offers major peace of mind for anyone who has to check a bag (and it’s worth throwing one in a carry-on, too — just in case a gate check situation arises). The AirTag is no bigger than a quarter and pairs with iPhones to easily track and monitor the location of gear at all times — and it has actually helped people get their suitcases back faster.

The Nurse Jamie Super Cryo Mini Massaging Orb is a frequent flyer’s best friend. The device works to increase localized circulation and reduce surface-level inflammation in the skin. It stays cool for up to six hours at a time which should be more than enough to get jetsetters through a red eye to Europe. The stainless steel device can also be used hot for a soothing under-eye treatment.

Here’s one for the solo female travelers on your list. The She's Birdie Personal Safety Alarm is designed to fit incognito in her handbag or pocket — but if she finds herself in any kind of trouble, it’s easy to grab and sound the alarm to draw attention and deter an attack. All she has to do is pull off the top tab to activate the 130-decibel siren and flashing strobe light.

Nobody thinks they need a tech organizer while traveling, but when you take into account all the cables and adapters required to make international travel smooth, having a specific spot to keep everything untangled is major. The Dagne Dover Arlo Tech Organizer is small enough to pop into a carry-on but has plenty of interior space to store everything a traveler needs.

Traveling with a cute hat seems like a great idea, but in practice it can be a bit of a pain. The Lindsay Albanese Toptote Leather Hat Holder allows travelers to bring along a wide-brim hat without having to wear it the entire commute or risking it getting crushed in a suitcase. The clip attaches to the brim of a hat and the built-in carabiner lets you pop it onto a handbag or carry-on for a hands-free solution.

This cleansing and moisturizing set will be a welcome addition to any routine whether at home or on the go. The decadent set includes both rinse-free and regular hand wash as well as a moisturizing hand lotion — all of which smell just like your favorite luxury hotel bath products. We also like that this option comes with a cute carrying case that makes it easy to store the items in a handbag or carry-on.

This detangling hairbrush is a must-have addition to any cosmetic bag thanks to its compact design and convenient top cover. The brush combats knots and tangles without damaging the hair, but it’s truly the streamlined design that makes it so great for travel; your giftee won’t have to worry about squishing the bristles or getting anything stuck in the brush. Plus, the shiny holographic-inspired finish is very pretty to look at.

You’ve probably already heard about the wonders of a jade roller, but the gua sha is just as efficient. This set of two gives travelers everything they’ll need to depuff after long flights or nights out. Note that this set is also available in amethyst and rose quartz, should your favorite traveler prefer a different hue.

If you prefer to gift experiences over physical items but aren’t sure where or when your recipient’s next trip is, consider a Tinggly Bucketlist Experience Collection. The gift package allows them to choose from hundreds of different experiences to partake in around the world, from sandboarding in Abu Dhabi to a food tour of Istanbul.

World travelers always have a few favorite travel products they swear by. For traveling abroad, the Vasco V4 Language Translator Device makes the experience so much easier — not just on the traveler but on the locals as well. This genius device provides instant voice translation in 108 languages and comes with free lifetime internet to ensure it’ll always be functional anywhere in the world. The instant translations mean your traveling pal can have real-time conversations with people across the globe, even if there’s no common spoken language.

The Pokoloko Harem Towel is handcrafted using 100 percent Turkish cotton by artisans in Turkey — and it’s the perfect beach bag essential. It’s very lightweight and rolls down much smaller than the average towel. However, it’s also incredibly absorbent and quick-drying, so travelers can pop it back into their beach bag at the end of the day without worrying about lugging home a soggy towel.

The Ugg Franca Hooded Travel Cardigan was designed with travelers in mind. It’s ultra-cozy and comfortable, but it’s also incredibly easy to fold up and pack away when not in use. We love that it’s fitted like a structured cardigan so you can get away with wearing it from the plane and right into the city if you’re so inclined.

If your giftee is still traveling the world using disposable coffee cups, it’s time they’ve upgraded. The Fellow Carter Everywhere Travel Mug is a super chic reusable coffee cup that is particularly great for travel, as it has a leak-proof seal that prevents the cup from spilling everywhere when tossed into a carry-on. It also keeps beverages hot for up to 12 hours (and cold for up to 24), so travelers won’t have to deal with lukewarm coffee or water on even the longest travel days.

You can’t go wrong with a selection of sun care products, especially if the traveler on your list tends to prefer warm-weather destinations. The Vacation Luxury Shine Duo offers a cheeky, oil-based take on sunscreen with high-quality ingredients and retro packaging that’ll keep beachgoers protected from the sun without actually smelling like sunscreen.

Light sleepers might struggle to fall asleep in a hotel, but the Babelio Mini Sound Machine makes it a whole lot easier. The tiny sound machine won’t take up any space in a carry-on, but the powerful white noise will be more than enough to lull your loved one to sleep, whether they’re in a noisy hostel or a too-quiet luxury suite.

It’s called the Everywhere Belt Bag for a reason! This Lululemon staple has quickly become a cult classic for travelers (it has quite literally been everywhere this year). The adjustable belt bag is super convenient for everything from hiking to exploring cities hands-free, and the durable nylon material means you won’t have to worry about potential spillage or getting stuck in the rain (it’ll wipe clean with a bit of water).

Regular travelers know the importance of throwing a decent-sized tote into their luggage. After all, you never know when you’ll need the extra bit of space while on the road. The Longchamp Le Pliage Filet L Mesh Bag offers a sophisticated take on the humble mesh tote complete with a snap closure and both a top handle and shoulder strap for added versatility.

The Conair Power Steam Handheld Travel Garment Steamer makes looking and feeling put together on the road a snap. The compact steamer is small enough to slip into a carry-on bag and pull out as needed while traveling. It boasts a 35-second heat-up time so the traveler in your life can power away wrinkles and creases in no time at all.

Sometimes you just need the comfort of your own pillow to get a good night’s sleep, and this mini travel pillow will do just the trick. The travel-sized memory foam pillow is great for using on planes or camping trips, and the compact size means it can easily slip into a bag for easy carrying when not in use. Consider adding a cozy travel blanket to complete the set.

The Yeti Roadie 24 Hard Cooler will be well received by the road trip warriors and beach bums on your list. Not only is it super aesthetically pleasing, but it can also actually fit an incredible amount in such a compact space — we’re talking up to 33 cans, 26 pounds of ice, and even full-sized bottles of wine.

You don’t quite realize how high-quality the Loop Quiet earplugs are until you really need them. The surprisingly stylish earplugs were designed to be comfortable while sleeping and will serve as a major blessing the next time your gift recipient has been put in a hotel room next to a crying baby or bachelorette party.

The Native Union Universal Sling is designed to pop onto smartphones like a phone case — but it comes with a built-in strap that allows travelers to wear their phone like a crossbody bag or around their neck like a lanyard. It’s available in a variety of colorways and is made from recycled material for a more sustainable approach. It’s perfect for travel as it’s more secure than throwing a phone in a pocket or bag as well.

There’s something inherently luxurious about slipping into a pair of hotel slippers upon check in — and the Four Seasons Velvet Slippers amplify that feeling and bring it home. These stunning slippers are made in Italy from cozy velvet and cotton with the Four Seasons logo embroidered on the top. The elastic back and rubber sole make them appropriate for both indoor and outdoor use.

Frequent flyers and dry skin just go together, unfortunately — which is why it’s so essential to have heavy moisturizer on hand at all times. The Conscious Coconut Coconut Oil Travel Ready Tube is pretty much the best way to carry around ultra-moisturizing coconut oil without getting it everywhere. It’s pure but packaged in a convenient tube that makes application much easier than that of your standard coconut oil jar.

If you’re shopping for a frequent flyer who doubles as an excellent home cook, you’ll want to consider Metáfora Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This high-quality olive oil is imported directly from Portugal and offers a surprisingly spicy flavor, which makes it great for cooking Mediterranean dishes or simply serving with fresh bread and cheeses.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Kaitlyn McInnis is a lifestyle editor-turned-freelance travel writer for T+L. She started her career as a gift guide editor and has a long-standing passion for helping others find the absolute best gifts (at great prices) for everyone in their life.

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Edited by
Morgan Ashley Parker
Morgan Ashley Parker, Senior Commerce Editor
Morgan Ashley Parker is an associate editorial director at Travel + Leisure where she works on commerce content and strategy. She has been writing and editing lifestyle content since 2007, traveling since birth, and shopping since she earned her first allowance. 
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