Holiday Gift Ideas For Travelers

If you have a loved one that enjoys exploring the globe, it makes sense to buy them a travel-related gift this holiday season. Regardless of your budget, you can find a thoughtful present that will come in handy next time your friend or family member goes on a trip. Below are some gift ideas for travelers in your life:

A passport is the most important item for a traveler, but it is fragile. A passport cover can keep this essential travel document from getting crushed in a purse or suitcase. You can buy holders for just the passport itself, or wallet-style ones that also store credit cards and cash. They come in a variety of materials, but we recommend a waterproof fabric, in case the traveler’s liquids leak into their bag. Try to find a holder that is compact, durable, and suits your loved one’s personal style. 

Travelers do not always have access to laundry facilities. Fortunately, there are some products that allow you to clean your clothes in a basic sink. For example, Tide makes 1-use travel sink packets that contain 0.15 ounces of liquid detergent. While not enough for a full load, it contains enough detergent for your traveling friend to hand-wash a few key items. Another option is to purchase laundry detergent sheets that dissolve in water. They are portable, and will not count towards the liquid allowance at the airport.

Lots of people find it difficult to sleep whilst traveling. Wearing a sleep mask is an effective way to block out bright lights (and fellow passengers) on airplanes, trains, buses, etc. and it may make you feel like you are in your own bed. Please note, not all sleep masks are created equal. You should look for one that eliminates as much light as possible, does not put too much pressure on the eyes, and has a comfortable head strap.

You can save your loved one hundreds of dollars in overweight baggage fees with this small, affordable stocking stuffer. Travelers simply wrap the strap around the handle of their luggage and lift. The palm-sized digital scale will register the hanging bag’s weight, and your friend can make sure his or her luggage complies with the airline’s weight restrictions.

Packing is much easier with organization tools! Packing cubes are fabric and mesh bags that come in different sizes. They are typically sold in sets of three or four. Many travelers believe packing cubes create more space in a suitcase, and they can keep items from getting wet or wrinkled during travel. You can separate his vs. hers clothing, have a specific bag for toiletries or accessories, or isolate dirty laundry from the clean items in your suitcase. 

If you are on a world tour, it can be difficult to keep track of the different plugs in each country! Help your loved ones charge their devices anywhere, by giving them universal travel adapters. We recommend buying a high quality adapter that has lots of different outputs and accommodates stronger voltages. Some universal adapters even include USB ports.

Separating your liquids for security screenings is a pain, and it is even worse when the flimsy plastic bag holding them breaks. You should buy your favorite traveler a sturdy, see-through toiletry case that will make it through multiple airports. You can choose from a variety of TSA-approved zippered bags made of durable plastic.

Sitting in the airport is often the worst part of traveling. The chairs are uncomfortable, the atmosphere is tense, and the food/drinks are astronomically expensive. Any traveler would appreciate a Priority Pass Membership or similar airport lounge gift card. Thanks to you, your loved one can relax in a quiet room with plush seating while they wait for their flight. Many luxury lounges include complimentary food and beverages, and some have perks such as lounge-to-gate  transport and free massages. 

Lost baggage can really put a damper on a trip. Whether it was misrouted by the airline or misplaced during a sightseeing adventure, your friend can use a luggage tracker to locate a suitcase quickly. The traveler simply needs to attach a small bluetooth device to a bag, and her or she can track the suitcase in real time using a smartphone app. The Apple AirTag is one of the most popular luggage trackers, but you can find them from other brands such as Samsung, Tile Pro, Atuvos, and Eufy. 

If your friend or family member is an adventurous traveler, a GoPro is a great holiday gift. The tiny, lightweight camera has an ultra-wide-angle lens that can capture more in a single shot than a regular camera or phone. It also records high definition videos — even underwater. A GoPro is ideal if you plan to participate in extreme sports such as skydiving, scuba diving, and bungee jumping. 

We hope this article has given you some inspiration for your holiday shopping. If you are thinking about traveling for the holidays, please read our last post discussing The Best Christmas Markets In Europe.

Whether you are traveling or staying home for the holidays, we trust you will enjoy this festive season! All the best from the Borderless Pair team!