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When wanderlust hits, it hits hard. It seems like we're all itching to get away, and when we do, we want to be as comfortable and prepared as possible. Unexpected things happen when we're on a trip and often, they become great memories upon retrospection. But we always wish we were just a little more prepared when it was happening. For you or the traveler in your life, these gifts will excite, inspire, and prepare them for any future trips planned.
Whether it's a six-month international trip or a domestic weekender, these gifts are mindful of all travel necessities. From compression socks to ultra-comfy earplugs, you'll be prepared for whatever the world has to throw at you.
Here are the 51 best gifts for travelers:
Sitting too long anywhere isn’t great for your body, but there are times when we can’t avoid it, especially when traveling long distances. Sockwell’s compression socks are our pick for compression socks that provide the best circulation, ensuring relief throughout all of your travels.
Pictures are a must on any journey, documenting your time away and allowing you to relive those precious moments when you’re back home. But they often only live in our phones or computers because printing photos can sometimes be a pain. Now, with Canon’s wireless compact photo printer, printing photos has never been easier.
Passport, vaccine card, boarding pass, credit card, cash, wait where’s my passport again? When we travel, it feels like we’re constantly checking to make sure we have all our necessities on us at all times. This passport and wallet holder are large enough to store all your valuables and identification at once, guaranteeing that you’ll have everything you need in the palm of your hand. It also has RFID blocking, protecting your goods no matter where you go.
There are times when compression socks aren’t enough, especially for shorter travelers. The worst thing is when your feet hang from the seats and you’re unable to find true comfort in your plane seat. Sleepy Ride’s footrest hooks onto your tray and is adjustable for most heights, elevating the comfort of your plane ride and allowing you to rest well.
$21.99 from AmazonTraveling around the world has you washing your hands in various places. You never know when the soap might be out (or if there’ll even be soap at all) and these portable paper soap dispensers take guessing out of the equation. Toss one in your bag or keep one in your pocket to stay fresh and clean, always.
$8.99 from AmazonThe constantly circulating air in planes is great to keep the air fresh but brutal for your skin. A facial spray can help with moisturizing your skin on long plane rides or road trips and ensures on-the-go moisture in any climate. When you need a quick pick me up, the gentle mist of the spray is rejuvenating and refreshing, and you’ll find yourself reaching for this spray more often than you think.
When we travel, we find ourselves waiting around more often than we realize. Sometimes, there aren’t any food spots for us to grab a bite, or worse, we’ve misjudged our timing and don’t have time to grab a bite before takeoff. In these moments, Quest’s protein bars are an absolute blessing. Filled with 21 grams of protein, Quest has formulated their protein bars to be nutritious but still immensely delicious, without sacrificing flavor for protein. Our favorite is the s’mores protein bar!
Ideal for traveling, Monopoly Deal is small enough to toss in your bag but packs a big punch in its gameplay and strategy. Riffing off the classic game of Monopoly, many of the same concepts apply but have been condensed to card form and can be played for around 15 minutes or more, depending on skill level. Engage with your travel buddies with a rousing game of Mono Deal and see who's the true champion.
Relentless, annoying noise happens at the most inopportune times. For those of us who are sensitive sleepers, earplugs are necessary when traveling. From the plane to the hotel, it’s important to ensure that you’ll have a good night’s rest. Mack’s Ultra Soft Earplugs conform to your ear and provide comfort while reducing the amount of noise around you.
$8.99 from AmazonThe I-can't-believe-how-much-it-fits Cotopaxi backpack is one we swear by for travel. It has smart internal compartments, a TPU-coated polyester shell with ballistic nylon paneling, and a weight-distributing harness system for comfortable carrying.
$220.00 from AmazonThe Patagonia Black Hole Duffel is made from a durable, polyester ripstop that's highly weather-resistant.
$159.00 from PatagoniaThe Baggu Large Reusable Shopping Bag is great for running errands or traveling; it's strong enough to hold up to 50 pounds at a time, and it folds up into a tiny square when you don't need it.
$14.00 from BagguThis soft, fleece pillow has a unique design that offers serious support with ergonomic positioning of your head and neck.
$44.99 from AmazonA sense of adventure is just as important as a fresh face for each destination's varying environments. There are seven travel-sized products that cleanse and moisturize the skin, guarantee oral hygiene, and hydrate lips.
If you feel like you spend much of your life on the road or on a plane, the Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle is the travel essential you can't go without.
$23.75 from AmazonThis interactive wall map helps share countless countries and travel stories through one touch. With all the flags of the world to choose from, this map satisfies wanderlust by scratching off the places they’ve been to or are waiting to explore.
$24.99 from AmazonActive adventurers will like that that these fun national park socks are made with high-performance fibers that wick moisture to keep feet dry and cool. Choose from designs including Yellowstone, Zion, the Grand Canyon, Great Smoky, and Yosemite.
$19.99 from SwiftwickMake luggage personal with these beautiful stickers depicting iconic cities and sights around the world, from New York and LA to Tokyo and Seoul.
$10.00 from RimowaYou don't have to worry about racking up miles or buying pricey business class tickets to get to relax in an airport lounge before your flight. Priority Pass gives you access to over 1,300 lounges around the world.
$99.00 from Priority PassLifeStraws are portable filters that can make even some of the murkiest standing water drinkable. For backpackers and hikers, a LifeStraw can be an invaluable tool in dire situations.
You won't have to bother asking strangers to take your photo at iconic locations anymore. This all-in-one gadget is a packable tripod that easily turns into a selfie stick and comes with a handy remote control.
$28.99 from AmazonBring the vacation to their home with a red glass ornament emblazoned with a white TWA twin globes logo that delivers on nostalgia. It’ll come packaged in a TWA gift box, too. Alternatively, you can also pick up baseball caps, mugs, and sneakers with the same logo if their tree is full enough.
$16.00 from TWAFunctional in over 150 countries, these color-coded adapters make it easy to find the right plug-in for almost any journey. Plus, they break apart into four smaller pieces for easier packing.
$37.95 from AmazonUpgrade their photo skills with these easy clip-on lenses that work on just about any smartphone. Lenses include macro, fisheye, and wide-angle.
$19.99 from AmazonFor eco-conscious travelers, this cross-body bag works on two levels. First, they can safely and securely stow items and be hands-free while out and about, whether on a hike or walking city streets. Second, the bags are made from recycled ocean plastics, so they can feel good using them.
$30.00 from NixonGiftees can taste the globe without leaving the comfort of their homes, thanks to this food subscription box. Each month includes a curated selection of ingredients, drinks, and snacks from around the world.
$49.00 from Try the WorldThis eye-catching leather RFID wallet will also help protect vital private information from being stolen.
$10.99 from AmazonAptly named, this transportive tome will no doubt lead to discovering a few new "someday" adventures across the globe. Plus, it looks great out on a coffee table in the meantime.
$20.99 from AmazonGive the gift of future travel and let your giftee choose the destination with a hotel gift card. You can choose from broad options like Hotels.com or pick a specific hotel chain if you know they have loyalty with a certain brand. Best of all, you can choose almost any amount to fit your budget, and for most you can pick between picking up a physical gift card or having a digital option sent to your recipient.
$50.00 from WalmartHelp bring back great memories or get them excited for an upcoming stay with these cocktail glasses etched with maps from major cities across the US.
$18.00 from Uncommon GoodsThe new Kindle has a 6.8” display with thinner borders and an adjustable warm light. With up to 10 weeks of battery life, this e-reader is perfect for breezing through all your favorite books.
$139.99 from AmazonWhen you learn a new language, you want to be able to actually use it. With real people. In the real world. Every part of Babbel is designed with that goal in mind.
$37.95 from BabbelVia PakApNews