Last updated on August 6th, 2023 at 10:57 am

It is that time of the year again when the holidays are upon us (especially in the western part of the world), and those sales are inescapable. Obviously, a great time to buy your loved ones gifts they would enjoy. Even better if they love to travel because you know it, we do! And in this post, we want to share our 25 best gift ideas that any travel lover would love to receive.  

Some of these gift ideas are under $20, which makes for a perfect White Elephant or Secret Santa gift. We both can swear by a lot of these on how handy they come in our travels, while others are on our own wish list. 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Travel Essentials – Simplify Globetrotting 

1. Travel Luggage

A bad piece of luggage can become a burden on your travels, and honestly, you won’t even know it unless you start using a good one. Happened to me when my husband gifted me a new Samsonite, much to my disapproval at the time. Now I secretly love it, and I can run between terminals twice as fast as I could with my previous luggage. A trolley backpack is something on my list, though.

2. Packing Cubes

This has been a game changer on our travels for the last few years. If you know someone who doesn’t use packing cubes yet, this is THE gift for them. I am not even kidding. Packing cubes will not only organize your stuff but reduce your packing clutter in the luggage tremendously.

3. Travel Caddy (for boys and girls)

This is one of those essentials that Gaurav swears by more than I do. But secretly, I love how even the smallest of things from Band-Aids to a nail clipper can magically pop out of his caddy. Since I often tend to forget packing small essentials and look to him for help. In my case, I use a smaller caddy to pack my makeup and jewelry when I need to. If you have a friend like me, then this would definitely be a much-appreciated gift 😉

4. Travel-size Reusable Liquid Bottles

If you have a friend that is on the road more than you find them at home then you need to introduce them to these reusable bottles. After spending tons of money on buying travel size liquid products we have finally found a way to save money and take our favorite products with us on the go.

5. Neck Pillows

There are some really cool innovative pillows in the market these days. I can’t wait to use my new memory foam pillow with a pocket.

6. Waterproof Cellphone Pouch

It might not seem like an essential at first but trust us this waterproof cellphone pouch can come in handy in many places. From get that perfect photo on the beach to waterfalls to a waterpark to a mud festival (yes true story). You will soon begin to like this somewhat ugly looking pouch.

7. Handheld Travel Scale

For those who fly internationally will know what a pain it is to pack your luggage within weight restrictions permitted by airlines. We probably have all different kinds of weighing scales at home but our recent favorite has been this handheld weighing scale which we can even take with us on the go if needed.

For the Stylish Traveler –  Accessories That Make You Stand Out

8. Passport Holder

For someone like my husband, it is essential to have important things like your passports organized as well. For me, it’s more of a fashion statement. Now, who wouldn’t want to stand out with a cool looking passport holder? And even better if it’s a gift 😉

9. Foldable Fleece Blanket

Is there anyone else who is eternally cold in the flights like me? And if it happens to be a domestic flight then you better be dressed warmly or else freeze yourself. I am often wearing a jacket in the middle of summer too. So a compact fleece throw would be a wonderful addition to my future travels as well. Bonus for the germaphobes who do not prefer using airline provided blankets in international flights.

10. Travel Charm Bracelet and Necklace

I used to wear a travel-themed necklace a few years ago every time I went somewhere new. And then this year I saw my friend wear a really cute bracelet with travel charms on it on her Southeast Asia backpacking trip. Besides making a kickass fashion statement these little travel trinkets can also be a big inspiration while you are out on the go. I personally love some of the bracelets here (hope my husband reads this edited version) 😉

11. Portable Coffee Maker

For the stylish coffee lovers who cannot wake up without that perfect cuppa in the morning. Here’s an excellent travel coffee press machine. What’s more, you can carry your favorite coffee with you instead of relying on the coffee standards of the place you are visiting.

Travel Electronics – You Cannot Imagine Life Without It

12. Travel Adapters

Different countries have different power source outlets and if there’s one thing you should always have in your bag it has to be a power adapter. In fact, this is something so basic that I wouldn’t mind more than one in my bag. 

13. Earphones

This is a no-brainer gift for everyone. Not just for entertainment but earplugs are great in canceling that crazy airplane noise while traveling.

14. Portable Charger

There is nothing more Earth shattering than seeing the low battery notification on our phones. A compact and light portable cellphone battery charger is more than just a life saver, especially a great gift/reminder for those always running low on battery. 

15. Cable Organizer

Yes, another organizer! And this is a great one to organize all your electronic cables in one place. If you are anything like me, chances of losing things are way less this way. 

For the Photography Enthusiast – Capture Your Travel Memories

16. Travel Camera

We are also professional photographers so we carry our DSLR’s when we travel. But we’d love to have a backup camera which for most of you would actually be the main travel camera. Some of these cameras are what we are looking into as well.

17. Travel Tripod

There’s nothing worse than coming back home with a bunch of blur images because your hand shook while taking photos. A lightweight, compact and sturdy travel tripod becomes your best friend if you are serious about taking good quality photos on your travels. So for all those photography enthusiasts, a travel tripod will make for a wonderful gift. Some of our personal favorite travel tripods are below in affordable price range.

18. Filters and Polarizers

For the seriously passionate photographers, anything to do with camera accessory is a great gift. The likes of Polarizer, UV filter, Gradual Density filter or even a Neutral Density filter can be an exciting gift. I know both of us would love a gift like this for sure. Make sure you get the correct lens diameter before ordering a circular filter.

19. Remote Shutter

Whether you are traveling solo or want a group picture when no one else is around to capture your moment or just want to avoid the camera handshake. A remote shutter is a perfect addition to any camera lovers bag.

20. Camera Bags

Another great piece of accessory gift for travel photographers – a light and compact travel camera bag.

21. Selfie Stick

We all have a love-hate relationship with selfie sticks. Be mindful of using them in crowded places but do not feel shy to capture your perfect selfie moment when required. This can come in very handy especially when traveling solo.

For the Readers – Travel Guides & Magazines

22. Lonely Planet Guide Books

For those of you who prefer a paperback versions of guide books, Lonely Planet is always great. But for those who prefer reading them on e-book then Amazon Prime membership offers free e-books of Lonely Planet guides.

23. TRAVEL Magazine Subscriptions 

Several travel themed magazine subscriptions are included with your Amazon account with the addition of a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Unique Home Gifts For Travel Lovers

24. Scratch World Maps

25. Antique Globe 

We hope we were able to give  you guys some cool gift ideas for the travel lover in you and your family & friends. If you liked this post then do share it along.

Happy Traveling!