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What gift do you get a world traveler for the holidays (besides a plane ticket)? Maybe I’m biased, but I think travelers are incredibly easy to shop for. All we want is everything! I’m kidding…kind of. But we DO want things that will make our lives easier on trips…and as someone who goes on a LOT of trips, I can offer you some insight to a few things that I never leave home without. If you want to find the best gifts for the world traveler on your list, you’ve come to the right place!
OH! If we haven’t already met, I’m Gina…and I love shopping just as much as I love boarding my next flight. Welcome to my travel blog!
Personally, I think money CAN buy happiness. Of course, life is all about moments and the people you have to share them with, and I would NEVER trade my memories or my people for anything. All I’m saying is a new purse or necklace never made anybody sad. Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s go shopping!
“Get in Loser, We’re Going Shopping”
Visit my Shop Page to see more of my favorite products, along with some of my top-performing fashion and beauty posts.
The Best Christmas Holiday Gifts for the World Traveler on Your List
Packing Cubes
When I think of things that have changed my life, I think of The Eras Tour, solo travel, and packing cubes. Not only do they help me carve out more space in my suitcase, they help me organize my clothes so I don’t get my underwear mixed up with my going-out dresses. If you, like me, pack as many outfits for a weekend trip as you do a week-long stay, packing cubes will be your best friend.
Shop my favorite packing cubes from Amazon
Outlet Converter Plugs
Outlet converter plugs are a must-have when traveling overseas, since many countries outside the United States have outlet plugs that do not look the same as ours. This can be something that first-time travelers easily overlook, and I totally get it. I mean, out of all things to prepare for when going on a trip, who would ever think to ask about the outlets?!
Different countries also have different outlet plugs, so it’s important to choose the right one for the country you’re going to. The one I linked below has several different plugs that you can interchange, depending on where you’re going (yes, even Australia is included!).
Shop my favorite outlet converter plug from Amazon
Portable Phone Charger
I’m going to start this out by being honest with you: I’ve never found a portable phone charger that I can say I truly love. Most of the ones I’ve gotten do not hold their battery life very long, and I can get about 1 & 1/2 good charges out of them before I have to charge them up again. I’ve even tried Apple’s MagSafe portable charger, and hated it because it charged my phone so slowly.
But alas, you’ll never catch me without a portable phone charger on any trip I take. They’re especially important in Europe, where the majority of people have Androids and it’s difficult to bum a charger.
If you have a MagSafe phone case, I linked the TORRAS portable charger from Amazon below. It is top rated, and I just bought one for myself, so I’ll report back and update this post after I try it. For now, I am trusting the 5 star reviews and holding my breath. If you don’t have a MagSafe case, I’m linking another portable charger from LanLuk that I’ve used in the past…just make sure you charge it often so it has enough juice to charge your phone!
Shop the TORRAS MagSafe charger from Amazon | Shop the LanLuk portable charger from Amazon
- Pro Tip: When my phone and portable charger have both died in Europe, I’ll pop in a bar and ask one of the bartenders if they have an iPhone charger that I can use while I grab a drink. Sometimes it takes awhile to find a person with an iPhone, but I have always had success. I’m low-key never upset when this happens either, because it gives me a reason to slow down, unplug, and enjoy a beverage while chatting up the locals!
Dual-Voltage Curling Iron (or Straightener)
A great way to blow up your $600 Dyson Airwrap is to take it to Europe. Why? Because it’s not dual voltage.
Europe appliances operate on 220 volts of electricity, whereas American products use 110 volts. Without getting all science-y on you, this basically means that you can ruin certain American electronics by using them overseas if they aren’t made to operate on both voltage systems.
I LOVE my dual voltage curling wand from L’Ange. It comes with me everywhere I go, and my curls last for days. Add some volumizing hair powder and some volumizing hair spray, and tell me you’ve never looked better.
- Pro Tip: I don’t use a straightener because my hair is flat as hell, and I am all about the volume. But if you’re a straightener girlie, you can shop L’Ange’s dual voltage straightener here.
- (Another) Pro Tip: Most hotels will have hair dryers, but if you need to bring a travel size one, check out this dual-voltage travel-size hair dryer from BaByliss
Passport Holder
My favorite thing about this passport holder – aside from it being glittery – is that it doubles as a wallet. I can put my credit cards, cash, ID, boarding pass, and any paper notes I may need in here and it won’t get lost. And besides…who wants a boring passport holder?
Shop my favorite passport holder from Amazon
Airtags + Airtag Holder
One of my favorite things about today’s technologically-advanced world is that there’s so many ways to keep track of your things…and that includes your luggage.
I could tell you the long, drawn-out story about the time I went to Madrid with one of my friends and someone took her suitcase and we didn’t get it back for a full day, or I could tell you to just trust me and get yourself some Airtags. I’ll compromise and tell you the moral of the story: we could have found her suitcase a lot faster if we had been able to track it. Unfortunately this was before Airtags existed, and we spent much of the day panicking instead of enjoying Spain’s capital city.
I keep an Airtag in my suitcase, and it has been one of the best investments knowing that I am able to track my luggage in a crowded airport. You can buy multiple and put them on whatever you want: your purse, your car keys, your drunk friend that keeps running off at 2:00am with a random guy she met at a bar…literally anything.
Shop single Airtags, multiple Airtags, and Airtag holders from Amazon
Cell Phone Tripod
Investing in a cell phone tripod is especially handy if you’re shopping for someone who travels solo often, but TBH, anyone can use one. They’re great for duos who want to take photos of themselves without bothering anyone, or for content creators who want to get epic photos and videos during their trip. As someone who is both a solo traveler AND content creator, my tripod comes with me everywhere I go!
- Pro Tip: One of my personal favorite things about this tripod is that it’s decently solid, and therefore doubles as a weapon. A girl can’t ever be too safe out here!
“She’s Birdie” Personal Safety Alarm
Speaking of solo travelers and safety, another essential safety device is this personal safety alarm from She’s Birdie. Simply pull the top pin out to activate a loud siren noise and flashing LED light. It’s small, compact, and easy for anyone to use.
Shop She’s Birdie safety alarm from Amazon
Travel-Size Medication Container
Whether you’re taking prescription medication or you need to pack some Zofran “just in case” you get hungover, traveling with a small pill box is a great way to keep your medication organized. I have 2 options linked below: one is laid out in day-by-day format so you can keep track of the pills you need to take every day, and the other is good for a couple OTC items you may need to throw in your bag.
Shop travel-size daily pill box from Amazon | Shop mini pill container from Amazon
- Pro Tip: For more medical guidance, check out my post, What To Pack in a Travel Medicine Bag (Written by a Pharmacist!)
Sand-Free Beach Towel
‘If the person you’re shopping for is headed anywhere with a beach, a sand-free beach towel is a must. The one I have linked is made with microfibers and can be rolled up and easily packed into your beach bag. I took it to the Amalfi Coast with me, and it was such a relief knowing that I wouldn’t be dragging a bunch of sand all over my hotel room.
Shop this sand-free beach towel from Amazon
Travel Makeup Bag
My travel makeup bag is also my everyday makeup bag, and it might be the most convenient thing I’ve ever done. It comes with a hook, so I hang it on the back of my door at home and on hotel bathroom hooks whenever I travel.
If you are familiar with this website – particularly, the photos of me that I post – you probably assume that I own a TON of makeup. And you would be right. I have more makeup than would ever actually fit in this bag. To compromise, I store my must-haves in here so that when I am ready to take a trip, I just need to grab the eyeshadow palette and lip products that I want and I’m good to go. It makes packing MUCH less time consuming!
Shop my favorite travel makeup bag from Amazon
Travel Toiletry Bag
The way I prep my travel toiletry bag is arguably one of my favorite “travel hacks” of all time. I keep it stocked with everything I need: toothbrush, deodorant, face cream…you name it, it’s in here.
When I get ready to go on a trip, I simply toss this bag into my suitcase. No more trying to remember to pack shampoo or razors or face wash. I do keep a mental note of what I’m running low on, and then I replenish it when I come back from my trip. Seriously, it saves me SO. MUCH. TIME!!!
Shop this top-rated travel toiletry bag from Amazon
LED Makeup Mirror
Can we all agree that hotel bathrooms with good lighting are a godsend? Can we also agree that there’s not enough hotels that prioritize good lighting?
Enter: the LED makeup mirror. This mirror is small enough to travel with and but large enough that I don’t have to squint too hard to look into it when applying my makeup. I also love that it has 3 different light settings: warm, neutral, and natural daylight. I can easily toss it in my travel bag and touch up my makeup literally anywhere.
Shop this LED makeup mirror from Amazon
Travel Steamer Iron
Listen, I’m just going to be honest with you: I purposely buy clothes that I don’t have to iron. I absolutely hate ironing. But if I see something that I just HAVE to have that I know will wrinkle, I have a mini steamer-iron handy that I can toss into my bag.
This steamer has a dry (iron) setting and a wet (steamer) setting that you can switch between depending on what you want to do. It’s also lightweight and folds up nicely, so it won’t take up too much room in your bag.
