12 Gifts for the Fashionable, Boujee, High Maintenance Traveler

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The thing I love about high maintenance people in general is they always inspire you to want the best for yourself. If you look around and see a girl walking down the street that just looks like she has it together, it makes you also want to have it together. I love surrounding myself with people who make me want to be better, and high maintenance, boujee people often have that effect.

When it comes to gifts for a boujee traveler, the first word that may come to your mind is “expensive.” While a lot of the gifts I’ve included here are pricier than average, I have also included a few budget-friendly options and items that don’t cost as much

Of course, we all know the BEST gift for a boujee traveler is a first class ticket to her favorite destination – but if that’s not an option, keep scrolling to see my picks for the best travel Christmas gifts for 2024!

Designer Tote Bag

I never – I repeat never – get on an airplane without a tote bag. Chances are, your favorite boujee traveler doesn’t either…but one can never have too many bags to choose from. I use my tote bag to carry my laptop, my cross-body purse, my jewelry, and other odds and ends.

I love investing in bags that are versatile and can go with any outfit, so many of mine are neutral. But you can’t ever go wrong with a brightly colored bag to break out when people least expect it…and if she’s high maintenance, then she likely wants designer.

I’ve included a plethora of bags to choose from below. Some are more budget friendly, others are less budget friendly, and others, well…you have no budget. Click each photo to shop.

More Budget-Friendly Totes

Less Budget-Friendly Totes

“You Have No Budget” Totes

Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Your favorite boujee traveler will need her beauty sleep on the plane, and nothing helps you to sleep like noise cancelling headphones and a top-rated travel pillow. I’ll get to the pillow next, but for now, let’s cancel all the noise, shall we?

I feel like I see these big, over-the-ear headphones everywhere. The people wearing them in airports usually have on black leggings and an oversize sweater, and always look so stylish and effortlessly cool.

The options listed below are from top-rated companies. They are all wireless and operate via Bluetooth. As a quick comparison:

• Bose QuietComfort is ideal for those prioritizing comfort, natural sound quality, and solid noise cancellation, especially if their focus is on long listening sessions.
• Sony WH-1000XM4 stands out for its best-in-class noise cancellation, bass-heavy (and customizable) sound profile, and extensive app features for the most customizable experience.
• Beats Studio Pro is best suited for those who favor stylish design, bass-driven sound, and a straightforward user experience. It also comes at a slightly more affordable price.

Click each photo below to shop

Top-Rated Travel Pillow

Now that we’ve shut out the noise on the airplane, let’s talk about sleeping. Chances are, your boujee traveler likes to go worldwide, which can mean long and/or overnight flights. I’m not someone who can easily sleep sitting up, but a few years ago, I invested in the Cabeau neck pillow and I have actually been able to fall asleep using it. It has an adjustable strap that you can adjust to your neck, and also comes with a traveling case. I bring this pillow with me on every long trip I take, and I love that I’m easily able to fold it up into it’s compact case when I’m done!

Shop the Cabeau Travel Neck Pillow with memory foam

Personalized Leather Passport Holder

I’ll be honest with you: my passport holder is a glittery one from Amazon. I just can’t help myself. But some women live for the sophistication of a customized leather passport holder with their initials engraved in the front. Luckily, Etsy is coming through for the high-maintenance women in your life, offering chic, personalized leather passports for less than $40. These are very basic and not at all flashy, but so are some of the coolest women I know.

Shop personalized leather passport holders from Etsy

Portable Travel Steamer/Iron Combo

If there is one thing I prioritize doing every single time I go somewhere, it’s dressing for the vibe of the city/country that I’m going to. I like to think that I can successfully balance being myself and also vibing with the culture. In other words, I pack a lot of clothes.

As I currently sit here with my two (yes, two) massive suitcases packed and ready to go for a month-long adventure, I can’t help but to think how much my mini portable steamer is going to come in handy. Like many women, I pack as many clothes for a 3-day trip as I do for a week-long stay…but a month? You don’t even want to talk to me about the variety of clothes in my bag. Just give me the steamer.

Regardless of how long your high-maintenance friend is going for, I am going to go out on a limb and say she will likely need to iron or steam at least one thing…and look at you helping her out! This steamer will help ensure her clothes always look their best.

Shop mini travel/steamer iron from Amazon

Travel Jewelry Organizer

You don’t even need me to tell you that high maintenance women never travel without jewelry. A travel jewelry case is a must for almost any female traveler, but fashionable women need cases with a lot of storage space. We pack earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, and we love to have options! Below, I have included 2 top-rated jewelry organizers from two different top-rated travel brands. You could even buy her some jewelry to put inside the organizer – a present within a present!

If you were an 80s-90s baby, you’ll get the “Frost Yourself” movie reference below 😉

• Pro Tip: I always pack my jewelry in my tote bag, just in case my luggage would ever get stolen or lost and I wouldn’t be able to get it back. My jewelry, laptop, and dignity are 3 things I never want to lose. 😉

Shop this top-rated travel jewelry organizer from CALPAK | Shop this top-rated travel jewelry organizer from TUMI

Top-Rated Travel Suitcase

Before we get into this section, I have a confession. While I would absolutely consider myself high maintenance, all of my suitcases still come from TJ Maxx. I’m just being honest with you. Perhaps you could call me “selectively high maintenance.” That being said, I have never spent more than $100 on a large suitcase. The suitcases I’m going to list in this section are considerably more money, but some people love the quality and the investment.

• It is worth noting that the CALPAK suitcases I mention will be much less than the TUMI ones.

Speaking of large suitcases, I only travel with checked bags. Perhaps this is where the “high maintenance” part comes in. Have you ever wondered why you can’t find a post on this website about how to pack a carry-on suitcase? It’s because i have no business writing such a post…and tbh, I can’t even say I’m ashamed of it. Thus, the suitcases I link will be the larger, checked bags, because I have never known a high-maintenance woman to bring JUST a carry-on!

ANYWAY – back to the good stuff! Two top-rated luggage brands, TUMI and CALPAK, have a wide variety of suitcases available to choose from. Both brands come with TSA-approved locks, giving you an extra layer of security. TUMI suitcases also come with USB charging ports, allowing your friend to charge her phone on the go.

Many TUMI suitcases are made of a ballistic nylon fabric, making them extra durable. They are also put through a variety of real-world tests to make sure they hold up in all different scenarios, and if something does break, their customer service is top-notch. They also have the celebrity stamp of approval, as many A-list people have been seen toting these bags through airports.

Shop the TUMI Extended Trip Expandable luggage | Shop the TUMI Medium Trip Expandable 4 wheeled luggage

CALPAK is made from 100% polycarbonate and has a reputation for being reliable and functional. They make a multitude of travel items to choose from: suitcases, duffel bags, backpacks, totes, lunch bags, water bottles…you name it, they have it. I linked two large suitcases below, but I have also heard people rave about their duffel bag, so I am linking that as well (but keep in mind, she’ll also need a larger suitcase 😉).

Shop the CALPAK Ambeur Large suitcase | Shop the CALPAK Hue large trunk luggage | Shop the CALPAK duffel bag

Airtags

Now that you’ve gotten your favorite high-maintenance traveler her new favorite suitcase, you have to make sure the airline doesn’t lose it…and what better way than with Airtags?!

I always travel with Airtags. I like to think I’m adequately prepared for everything, but nothing puts the fear in me quite like the thought of losing my luggage. I have an Airtag that I always keep attached to my suitcase, and it has come in handy more than once. When you invest in quality items, it’s nice to have an extra layer of security knowing that you can track them if they get lost.

Shop single Airtags, multiple Airtags, and Airtag holders from Amazon

LED Mirror

If she’s a boujee traveler, you know she wants her makeup to look good…which means, she needs good lighting. The problem? Many hotel bathrooms often lack good lighting…so she needs a LED travel mirror to make up for it!

The LED mirror that I have linked below has 3 different settings (warm, neutral, and natural daylight) that she can use based on her preference. It also comes with a USB charging cord. I love this mirror because it’s big enough to see well in, but small enough fit in a tote bag or medium-to-large purse.

Shop this LED travel size mirror from Amazon

Silk Travel Scarf

I don’t know about you, but I see these scarves popping up everywhere in airports, and they’re giving sophistication. Personally, I don’t think I pull them off well, but the girls I see who do always look fabulous. (To clarify…I want to pull them off well. I just…don’t.)

The best part is, you don’t need to spend a ton of money on them, and Amazon has a ton of options to choose from. Check out this mulberry silk hair scarf, this mulberry silk neck scarf, and this long mulberry silk scarf that can double as a shawl or headwrap. From all the research I’ve done, I’ve practically convinced myself to buy one at this point…so you should probably follow my Instagram to see if & how I style it 😉.

Luxury Packing Cubes

Again…here is where you could call me “selectively” high maintenance. My packing cubes come from Amazon. But if she wants fancy packing cubes, CALPAK is coming in strong for your favorite high-maintenance girlie. These packing cubes come in 5 different sizes, are made from durable mesh fabric, and include a water-resistant envelope pouch. They are stackable, and fit seamlessly in your CALPAK suitcase. Not to mention, there are sooo many colors and patterns you can choose from…and we all know women like options.

Shop CALPAK top-rated luxury travel cubes

Fashionable Travel Sweats

Now that we have set your high maintenance travel friend up for success in almost every capacity, we have to make sure she looks good when she steps off the plane. If there’s one thing I can’t stand though, it’s being in uncomfortable clothes when I’m sitting on a 4 hour flight. And let’s face it…a lot of really nice clothes aren’t exactly comfy. Enter: chic, comfy sweats.

One of my favorite type of looks to create is the one I lovingly refer to as “homeless chic.” Unless I need to step off the plane looking really, really nice, homeless chic is almost always my airport vibe. Essentially, it’s looking like you put very minimal effort into your outfit while also somehow looking incredibly put together. Oh – and my homeless chic outfits are almost always black.

Lately, I have been obsessing over sweats from Aritzia. I purchased their black 1/2 zip hoodie and love pairing it with a spandex romper, as shown in the photo below.

If leggings are more her vibe, try pairing black leggings with a bomber jacket. For a more elevated look, do a wool coat instead.

Shop Black Leggings from Aritzia | Shop Black Bomber Jacket from Aritzia | Shop the Connor Long wool coat from Aritzia