Posted: 12/3/18 | December 3rd, 2018
Travelers can be a fickle group of people to buy gifts for as we’re constantly coming and going. We usually don’t carry a lot of stuff with us, and no two travelers are alike so finding the perfect gift for the traveler in your life can be tricky.
While a plane ticket is never a bad idea (I’m a window seat in case anyone is thinking of getting me one), I’ve put together this ultimate (and our first ever) holiday gift guide for travelers as there’s a lot of great travel gear out there these days that helps people travel cheaper and better.
Even me, the gear adverse traveler, likes a lot of this stuff!
This is stuff I actually think is super useful. No nonsense. No fluff.
Just the best gifts for intrepid travelers and globetrotting nomads.
Traveler Gift Guide Table of Contents
Best Holiday Gifts for Travelers!
Travel Gear
1. My Favorite Travel Backpack
If you’ve got a budget traveler on your holiday list, a travel backpack is the gift that keeps on giving. A well-made bag will last for years and through dozens of adventures. Having a reliable travel backpack is one of the most important items for a traveler. My favorite bag is the Flash 45 from REI but other great companies worth checking out are Osprey, Nomatic, and MEC (for Canadians).
(For a different backpack, check out my guide finding the right backpack for more options!)
2. Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are an awesome tool to help you stay organized while you travel. Whether you’re a budget backpacker or traveling with half a dozen suitcases, packing cubes will keep you organized as you travel the world. They come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to store items big and small. If you know a traveler who needs a hand staying organized, this is the gift for them!
3. Travel Padlock
This simple item is one of the most important for the budget traveler. Since many hostels have lockers, backpackers need to have their own lock when they’re on the road. While you can usually rent them at hostels, those prices add up after a while. I never leave home without a lock because I never know when it will come in handy.
—> Buy it now on Amazon!
4. Travel Clothing from Unbound Merino
These travel clothes are some of the most versatile on the market. Made from merino wool, Unbound’s clothing can be worn daily for weeks (and months!) without getting smelly. They are perfect for the traveler who wants to pack lighter. I really love the material, they feel great, they hardly ever need a wash, and they last forever!
5. Suavs shoes
These shoes are super versatile and durable, making them great for traveling. Whether you’re just exploring the city or in need something that looks a bit fancier, these shoes can do it all so you don’t have to pack multiple shoes. They are flexible, light, washable, and breathable. I love them! (They look great too!)
6. Eco-friendly Luggage from Samsonite
If you’re in need of proper luggage, Samsonite has been a go-to brand for durable, reliable luggage for ages. Now, I’m a backpack guy but I love this new luggage set. It’s made from 100% recycled plastic! Every little part of it! I can get behind something that environmentally friendly. It also comes with a limited 10 year warranty too in case something goes wrong.
7. Earplugs
Anyone who has ever stayed in a hostel knows that a good pair of earplugs is a necessity. From chronic snorers to late-night drinkers to copulating couples in creaking bunks, hostels are known for their less-than-quiet accommodation. Add some earplugs to your shopping list. Because the gift of a good sleep is priceless!
8. Sea to Summit Quick Dry Travel Towel
Having a lightweight, quick-drying towel makes a huge difference when you’re on the road. Big, bulky towels take up a lot of space in your backpack and they take a long time to dry. If you’re on the road, you don’t want a towel to delay your plans or stink up your bag. Enter the travel towel. It’s the compact, quick-drying solution that every backpacker needs.
9. Travel Headlamp
This is a great tool for both backpackers and anyone looking to do any hiking or camping. In a hostel, they’re helpful if you need to check in or out but don’t want to disturb your fellow travelers. For outdoorsy folks, they’re useful for hiking, setting up camp in the dark, and for emergencies.
10. LifeStraw
Environmentally, pollution from single-use plastics is something every traveler has witnessed. And, monetarily, when you’re traveling, continuiously buying water gets expensive. Do your part to help the planet by traveling with a reusable filter. LifeStraw is an awesome brand with a built in water filter. The filters last 5 years so you save money on changing them too.
11. Trtl Travel Pillow
Travel pillows are perfect for those long-haul flights, delayed buses, and airport naps. Every traveler needs to have a travel pillow on hand to maxamize that downtime and time in transit, and Trtl pillows are the best on the market. They’re great for helping prevent jetlag and make even the longest, most uncomfortable trip a little more bearable.
Travel Tech
12. MacBook Air
This is my favorite travel computer. It’s light, it’s powerful enough for regular use, and the battery life is great. While an iPad might be another potential travel choice, I find the Air much more versatile. You can do a lot more with it. When I’m on the road, this is the laptop I travel with.
13. iPhone
While not a cheap phone, the iPhone X has such a good camera that you don’t need to take a traditonal camera with you when you travel. It has a solid battery life, a grat lens, beautiful screen, and, is overall, just awesome. True, I’m an Apple fanboy so I might be biased but hey, it’s my list!
14. Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
These are great for those long flights or bus trips as they block out background noise so you can read, work, or sleep without being distrubed. The wireless Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones are fan favorites and my go-to brand. They are comfortable, rechargable, and do an amazing job at removing background noise. If you’re on a budget, consider the QuietComfort 25 instead.
15. Mophie External Battery
These days, we all travel with numerous electronic devices like phones and tablets. It can be hard to keep them all charged. This solves that problem. Two high-output USB ports make this external battery incredibly convenient, and it can charge up to 100 hours of battery in one go.
16. Kindle
While I personally prefer to read physical books, I can’t argue against the convenience and simplicity of the Kindle. Hauling around physical books is a pain if you’re traveling often. With a Kindle, you can pack hundreds of books into a single device, and many versions can also use apps and access the internet. It’s a great gift for the avid reader.
17. Travel Adapter
Nothing is more tedious than arrving to a new destination only to realize you can’t charge your devices because the electrical outlets are different. Enter the travel adapter. They’re a simple accessory. There’s a million out there but this is one I use. I like that is also has USB outlets on it too.
18. GoPro Hero 7 Black
Every traveler needs a camera, and few are as versatile and durable as the GoPro. They’re great for photos and video no matter the climate. They’re waterproof and are perfect for both everyday city exploring as well as more extreme and adventurous activities. They’re just awesome.
Travel Inspiration
19. Scratch Travel Maps from Landmass
These maps are a fun way to keep track of your past travels while helping you stay inspired as you plan your future trips. You simply scratch off the parts of the world you’ve been. Simple. Easy. Landmass is my favorite company that makes these, though there are plenty of other companies that make them now, so you can also find them in all sorts of sizes and colors.
20. Hand-drawn Food Maps
These are unique, hand-drawn typographic maps of food from Legal Nomads and artist Ella Frances Sanders. They make a great gift for anyone who loves to eat and travel (and who doesn’t!). They come in a variety of sizes too! Jodi’s maps are the best!
—> Buy it now! (Use the code SEALUP for 15% off!)
21. The Fearless Guide to Solo Female Travel
Kristin Addis created this detailed guide to solo female travel, addressing all the concerns women have about traveling. The book includes tons of tips and advice, as well as interviews with other female travelers and writers. It gives you the specific, actionable information you need to conquer the world on any trip!
22. Moleskine Notebook
I never leave home without one of these. They are the perfect notebook for journaling during your trip as well as for writing down travel notes such as directions, contact information, and language tips. I think everyone needs to write more during their travels so they have something to look back on (other than photos).
23. Travel Books
Few things can inspire you to travel like a great book. They can transport you to new places and keep your wanderlust stoked while you work towards making your own travel dreams a reality. If you’ve got an avid reader who loves to travel on your holiday list (or if you’re just looking for something to read over the holidays) one of my favorite travel books might be a great holiday choice!
—> Here’s a list of great books to get!
24. Celiac Travel Cards
My friend Jodi from Legal Nomads created these helpful travel cards for anyone traveling with Celiac disease. They are in-depth resources that communicate your concerns to restaurant staff in a way that allows anyone traveling with the disease to have a worry-free meal. If you or someone you love has Celiac disease, these travel cards are a great resource!
—> Buy them now! (Use the code SEALUP for 15% off!)
25. How to Travel the World on $50 a Day
While I might be biased, I think this is a travel resource that every traveler needs in their arsenal! It will show you how I travel the world on a budget, illuminating all my best tips in one easy to follow format that you can take with you when you travel. It will show you how to become a master traveler and navigate the world — no matter where in the world you want to go!
26. Donate to Charity!
For the traveler in your life who has everything, why not make a donation to charity on their behalf! FLYTE is an awesome charity that I started back in 2015 to help high school students in underserved communities experience the transformational power of travel. Every year we send a new group of students abroad, but we can’t do it without your help!
—> Donate and some kids learn the gift of travel today!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!
Veronika Primm
December 3, 2018 at 4:12 pmLove how you included also Jodi’s food maps! 🙂 I’ve been thinking about LifeStraw and might give it a go soon!
Ron P.T.
December 3, 2018 at 7:26 pmLifestraw doesn’t work on virus. So, it’s essentially worthless in developing countries. Real travelers need purifiers, not filters.
NomadicMatt
December 4, 2018 at 12:03 amLifeStraw actually does make a couple versions that filter viruses.
Karen
December 3, 2018 at 10:32 pmI personally travel with a SteriPen over a LifeStraw. Both have their merits but with a SteriPen I can clean water for other people which I do all the time, more money and fewer plastic bottles in the world! Plus when I’m hiking/backpacking I can clean water for cooking without having to boil it first.
Karen
December 3, 2018 at 10:35 pmI LOVE merino wool tops and was thrilled to find out there’s another company out there. Sadly though that’s just for the guys, they have exactly 1 top for women, in 1 color. Lots of choices for men, I don’t know why it’s so much harder to make more stuff for women.
Sunny Morris
December 3, 2018 at 11:39 pmAnother brand that works the same way is Ably. Check them out. They have alot of women’s clothing.
Dave Bruneau
December 6, 2018 at 3:53 amMatt,
Love the site, and I most certainly have enjoyed the great content. I’ve been itching to go somewhere and escape the Canadian winter, but no matter what Amsterdam is where it will start, just love that city!
Just wanted to say, the simplest little things can trigger emotions from past trips, encounters with other travelers etc. and going through this list and I saw the Alchemist. A fellow traveler gave me that book and I read it on a bus in Ireland. That book moved me deeply and forever changed my outlook on many aspects of my life. So, in a long-winded way, I guess I’m saying, thanks.
For some reason, it always amazes me how the experiences we have while exploring this amazing planet can forever change us. Keep up the good work and the world can be small, hope to cross paths somewhere along the way!
Priscilla
December 17, 2018 at 4:49 amWhy are most items listed with links to purchase through Amazon and not directly through the company websites themselves? Is it because you are using affiliate links and get a kickback? I ask because I try to shop local where possible or directly from vendors rather than feed the monopoly when possible. I do love Amazon for free shipping Prime when time is of the essence or when my local shop is out of an item and I can’t find it on the manufacturer’s website – handy because someone usually has it online in Amazon. Just curious and not judging Matt… ?
NomadicMatt
December 20, 2018 at 9:45 amYeah, these are affiliate links. There’s a disclaimer at the bottom. It doesn’t matter to me if you get them through those links or not. Shop local. Either way, these are still the products I recommend. The affiliate links generate some commission that help us stay ad free.