The Best Travel Gifts for the Wanderer in your Life

For starters, noise-cancelling headphones are one of the best travel gifts because you are never sure if the airline will be giving you a free pair or if there will be a crying baby next to you. Having tried a few of them, the Bose QuietComfort 45 comes out on top.

Following last summer’s lost luggage mania, AirTags are now common gadgets travellers like to have. A good combo for the best travel gifts would be to pair those AirTags with a nice piece of luggage such as Away; they offer carry-on and checked-in-size suitcases.

Then, comes the packing cubes to get everything well organized, a dry bag to keep your stuff dry on those kayaking excursions or beach days and soap sheets that will be very handy when there’s none.

There are also laundry detergent sheets, which is perfect for people who would enjoy travelling light!

Another alternative to packing cubes is compression bags. They can be useful to save on space on the way home; compressed dirty laundry will make room for souvenirs! On top of that, a small portable scale is something I like to have with me so I am not left scrambling at the airport when my bag is near the weight limit.

In addition to standard packing cubes, these funny packing bags are one of the best travel gifts as they will put a smile on their face when they receive them. Though they might blush if you gave them a ‘’Sexy Lingerie“ bag when a TSA agent asks them to open their luggage for inspection.

As for the best travel gift essentials, shampoo bars and quick dry microfibre towels were handy on all the trips I’ve taken. As I fly carry-on only, shampoo bars were great for managing liquid allowance and I never had to throw a smelly wet towel back in my bag.

In terms of electronics, the best travel gifts are a compact power bar and extension, a universal adapter and a portable charger; a fully charged battery will always make your journey better! For people who like to read, a favourite is the Kindle Paperwhite which is almost like going through a real book.

Also, a portable waterproof Bluetooth speaker is cool to have whether you wish to have music on the beach or on your Maldivian Overwater Villa deck.

Since becoming a mom, one of the best travel gifts I got was a Kidco PeaPod and a portable chair. The Kidco PeaPod is a tent that folds and fits nicely in my carry-on luggage; with it, I never had to worry about crib availability when on the road.

Likewise, the portable chair was perfect for the many picnics we had and for all the times we couldn’t find a high chair. The Baby Jogger stroller we received was also one of our favourite travel gifts since we always aim to never check any piece of luggage.

Whenever I am on holiday, I love to take pictures and write down my experience in journals. Indeed, reading all the adventures I had and going through all my physical photo albums is an amazing way to bring back those wonderful memories and emotions. Those right there are the best travel gifts as you get to relive them countless times.

Over the years, I found my favourite pen which is the FriXion Erasable Pens; I love the fact that I am writing in ink (as pencils are messy) and that I can make corrections without scribbling through my journal. Also, the ink is refillable.

I also like to keep ticket stubs, boarding passes, etc. so a memory box set can be a good idea; I have one for paper souvenirs and one for small trinkets such as keychains and magnets that aren’t on my fridge.

The best travel gifts for the wandering artist in your life can be materials they can use to capture their own moments such as a watercolour paint set and a sketchbook; they don’t take up much space and are fairly light to carry around the world.

Finally, the most obvious and easiest way to remember your trips is to take pictures. Both the Instax Instant Camera and the Instax Printer are among the best travel gifts I’ve gotten as they give those old school-feel pictures in this digital era.

I have both and while the Instax Printer is more convenient as you can print your pictures when you return home, the quality is better when you take the shot directly with the Instax Instant Camera.

I hang my Instax pictures on this lovely Umbra Cord Frame and I rotate them from time to time. Don’t forget to get some extra films!

While most people capture images with their phone on their trip, you can also gift them with a phone upgrade; if you do so, remember to check out current point promotions and go through a shopping portal! In terms of camera, a lightweight one such as the Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless Camera will be one of the best travel gifts for your photographer loved-one.

In addition, a Gorilla Pod is a nice inclusion to a photographer’s bag whether they are into cameras or not; that tripod can also work with phones.

Then, going on a step further, a DJI Mini 2 drone will definitely be appreciated if they like landscape photography!

Some will argue that a GoPro Hero 11 will make a better travel gift than a DJI Mini 2 drone, but that will depend on the person you are aiming to please. While the GoPro Hero 11 is more fitting for someone who is into adrenaline and watersports, I’d rather receive a DJI Mini 2 drone in order to capture stunning scenery during my travels.

While all travellers wish they were out exploring instead of being grounded, the best travel gifts when at home will be things that will inspire them and keep their dream alive until it comes true.

Early in my travels, I received a stunning Scratch the World Map and, to this day, I still enjoy marking my progress on it. There are many sizes to choose from.

Alternatively, a Cork Globe or a Cork Map where you can pin your past and future travels are also excellent options.

On my desk wall, I love to look at my World Map Décor and travel-oriented decorations. You can find all kinds of wall decor and canvases here.

Also, airline amenity kits are great travel gifts for AvGeeks and people who like branded stuff; I use my beloved SWISS First Class kit as a pencil case!

When at home, you can also read about places you’ve never heard of; one of the best travel gifts and you can do so with one of many Lonely Planet’s inspiration books or Ulysse Guide Books.

Before travelling, I also like to brush up on my language skills or learn new ones.

Or a nice present for photo lovers would be books to improve their skills while waiting for their next trip.

Speaking from experience, the best travel gift you can give is travel itself. If you have the means, simply offering a trip will make them happy. American Express Canada cardholders usually have very nice offers such as ‘’get a $200 credit with a $600 American Airline“ purchase; while they are ecstatic that you got them a plane ticket, you can save quite a good chunk with those promotional offers.

If anyone is shopping for me, I’m a size window seat in plane tickets.

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Furthermore, if you have a Buddy-Pass or a Worldwide Buddy pass, consider asking them to tag along! Companion flies for free in North America, Mexico and Hawaii with the Buddy-Pass, so why not?

If you do not have a Status Pass to give, you can also consider gifting a NEXUS membership as they will be able to bypass the lines at airport security and at customs. While it’s a bit hard to get an appointment to finalize the enrollment, it’s still possible if they are willing to drive the short distance across the border where the American offices are open.

The following credit cards offer a credit for a NEXUS membership so it might even cost you nothing while your loved one will receive comfort! Skipping lines in North America for the next 5 years is one of the best travel gifts for frequent travellers!

Another way to gift travel perks is to sign up for a secondary credit card in their name; some card perks also apply to the authorized user as if they held the card.

For example, my husband travels from time to time without me and the only way he would be covered by my amazing National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard travel insurance was to get him a secondary card. While this is a great gift, remember that you are responsible for their spending if they use the card.

When planning a trip, Ulysse Guide Books are always a nice present; they are filled with beautiful, inspiring images and information for your next getaway. In our household, there is consistently one of them on our coffee table in case we need a little daily mental getaway.

As for new parents, the best travel gift for future trips would be Le Guide des parents voyageurs from BBJetLag. That book is filled with all you need to know when planning a trip with little ones.

Finally, whether your loved one needs helps with their itinerary or to get/use points on their next trip, a Mentoring Session with one of Milesopedia’s expert is one of the best travel gifts you can offer. With our extensive experience, we can definitely help elevate their travels in many ways.

The best travel gifts can be difficult to find as travellers usually just dream about their next holiday. But, speaking from experience, they do need a lot of little stuff here and there to make the trip more comfortable.

Then, when at home, globetrotters enjoy something small to keep working towards their subsequent goal. Hopefully, this article will have given you plenty of ideas for the wanderer in your life.

And remember, as most of these items can be bought on Amazon, the strategy for the best return is to employ gift cards to pay for your purchases! Indeed, if you buy Amazon gift cards at grocery stores with an American Express Cobalt Card, you’ll earn 5X the points as opposed to 1X when paying directly with your card!