With the holiday season in full swing, you may be searching for last-minute gifts. Since we are such avid travelers, we have some ideas when it comes to presents for travel junkies. Let us help you with your Christmas shopping! Start by reading last year’s article Holiday Gift Ideas For Travelers, and then here are some more gifts that every traveler will love!
Portable Kettle/Coffee Maker
Recently, we have stayed in some hotels that did not have a tea and coffee station in the room. We were forced to sleepily go to the lobby (in our pajamas) and pay for coffee at the hotel restaurant. If you have a friend that needs a caffeine boost to get going in the morning, a portable beverage maker is the ideal gift.
We always travel with small packets of instant coffee. However, if the hotel fails to provide a kettle, we are out of luck. Fortunately, we found travel-sized kettles online.
They are made of collapsible food-grade silicone, which allows the body to fold down into a small, flat disc. When the unit is expanded, it is about the height of an iPhone. When collapsed, it is a mere few inches tall and weighs only a couple of pounds. Most units feature detachable power cords and handles, and in some cases, include a carrying case.
Collapsible kettles are very easy to operate: simply expand the body, plug it in, press the button, and the water will boil in 3–5 minutes. Then you (or your traveler friend) can sit back and drink a hot cup of tea or coffee. With some brands, the kettle automatically reheats the water if the temperature falls below 75 degrees.
Note, if your adventurous friend travels internationally, you should look for a foldable kettle with dual voltage compatibility, so it works in 110V and 220V countries.
Here are some examples: ShineMe Travel Kettle, Loutytuo Travel Foldable Electric Kettle, and Aucoo Collapsible Travel Kettle.
Another travel gadget for coffee lovers is a portable coffee maker.
There are a variety of portable electric espresso machines on the market. Typically, they accommodate both pods and ground coffee. The lightweight stainless steel units fit easily into luggage, because they are about the size of a thermos. Most single serve coffee makers are battery operated and come with USB chargers.
The user simply places water in its portion of the container, and an espresso capsule or grounds in the other part, and screws the lids on tightly. Within 3–5 minutes, the self-heating machine can brew rich, frothy coffee.
Some examples of travel-friendly coffee makers are: HECLX Portable Electric Espresso Machine, and the Outin Nano Travel Coffee Maker. If you are shopping with a limited budget, you may want to consider machines that only accommodate coffee grinds OR pods. For example, WACACO has a Minipresso NS Portable Espresso Machine that only holds Nespresso capsules, and a Minipresso GR Portable Espresso Machine that is only compatible with ground coffee.
Tech Organizer
You can find packing cubes/travel cases designed to organize cords, chargers, flash drives and other tech accessories.
They come with a variety of pouches, zippered compartments, and elastic loops to keep items compartmentalized and secure.
No traveler wants to open their suitcase and find lots of tangled up cords. So, if you have a tech-savvy friend who loves to travel, an organizer may be a great solution.
Some travel cases for tech accessories include: the BAGSMART Electronics Organizer Travel Case and the FYY Travel Cable Organizer.
Portable Charger
While we are discussing technology enthusiasts, we should mention that portable chargers make a wonderful gift for most travelers.
We recently boarded a 12-hour transatlantic flight, only to discover that there were no phone/USB chargers onboard. Most of our fellow travelers were concerned about the battery life of their devices (and some were unable to order a taxi or ride-share when they landed). Fortunately, we always carry a power bank that charges our iPhones, tablets, Apple watches, and AirPods.
If you are looking for a slim, lightweight option with multiple ports, check out INIU’s Portable Charger. Its pocket-sized device weighs only 7 ounces (less than half a pound) and has a capacity of 10000 milliamp hours. If the traveler you are shopping for would prefer a power bank with built-in cables, you should consider the Charmast Portable Charger or something similar.
Dental Kit
Your travel buddy’s dental hygiene shouldn’t suffer during a vacation! You can buy all-in-one kits that include a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss. The liquids come in airport-approved travel-sized containers, and the toothbrush is often foldable so it is more compact.
Dental sets such as the Spark Dental Co Dental Travel Kit or the Graydon Hall Oral Care Traveling Kit may make a good stocking stuffer. If your friend has braces, you may want to consider a product such as the Ceonam Portable Orthodontic Kit.
Compression Socks
Compression socks are a practical present for the frequent flier in your life. They gently squeeze the wearer’s legs to improve blood circulation and prevent the buildup of excess fluids.
Many travelers complain of pain, stiffness, or swelling after long flights. However, a pair of compression socks can keep oxygenated blood flowing to your pal’s lower extremities (and may even prevent blood clots).
Compression socks or stockings are available in lots of styles, sizes, and colors. Some examples include FuelMeFoot’s Copper-Infused Compression Socks and Amazon Basic Care Medical Compression Stockings.
Personalizable Maps
Even when they are not on a trip, travelers love to reminisce (and sometimes boast) about their adventures. Why not buy your loved one a map or globe where they can check off the places they have been?
You can find personalizable wall art such as the OVANTO Scratch Off World Map or Craig Frames’ National Geographic Push Pin Travel Map. Your friend may prefer to display his or her travel history on a globe, in which case you could purchase something like Globe Trekkers’ Cork Globe With Push Pins.
Hopefully, the gift ideas above will help you find memorable presents for your travel centric friends and family members. We, the Borderless Pair, hope you enjoy the festive holiday season at home or abroad!