We all have that one friend (or maybe you are that friend) who simply cannot resist booking flights to new destinations every chance they get. And this holiday, you want to fuel their wanderlust spirit with the perfect gift. We hope this list of travel-friendly gifts will finally help you cross that friend who never stays put, off your gift list.
Packing cubes are a traveler’s best friend and they make the perfect gift for those who constantly overpack for trips. If your friend needs 5 outfit changes a day on every trip, packing cubes will make it easy to fit a lot of clothes in a carry-on. They are simple, inexpensive, and an easy way to make the traveler on your list extremely happy. You can order yours here!
Travel guides may seem like a thing of the past, as most people simply google everything about their destinations and plan accordingly. However, travel guides no longer have to be huge books that only add weight to a carry-on. Now, travel companies like Travel Noir and Lonely Planet are creating digital travel guides and that can be taken on the road or in the air without weighing down luggage. These are a great gift for that friend who’s already booked their flights and needs to fill in the details of their upcoming getaway.
Another great idea is this universal deck that can help travelers realize the types of adventures they want to experience no matter the destination! You can order the Anywhere Travel Guide here!
Travel towels are a well-kept secret in the travel community. It’s something that backpackers have used forever for drying off on the go, without taking up a ton of space in a backpack. Travel towels are also a treasure for the constant air BnB user who can’t always be sure of whether their new place will have a towel on hand. For the beach-bum, a travel towel is perfect for laying out on the beach, drying off, and storing in a small bag without any trouble. Travel towels are made of microfiber material that is incredibly thin and absorbent. They take up very little space and, as a bonus, can be a great blanket on a cold airplane or bus. We promise that your friend will love this simple but thoughtful gift! Order a set of travel towels here!
Thanks to Apple, many-a-traveler knows the horror of sitting down on an airplane to listen to music while charging their phone, only to remember that they can’t do both at the same time (this can’t be what Steve Jobs wanted for us). Of course, the answer to the problem isn’t leaving Apple, because it’s an addiction, let’s be honest.
Instead, the answer is a set of Bluetooth headphones. If you can splurge on your friend for Apple ear pods more power to you. If not, there are tons of inexpensive Bluetooth headphones that will last for at least most of the average flight (6-8 hours on average for the low-cost variety). Give your friend the gift of simultaneous charging and music-listening and they’ll love you forever. You can order this gift here!
5. Instagram Worthy Graphic Tees
We might not know your friend personally, but it’s safe to assume that they love taking Instagram photos on their trips to “inspire” us and make us feel a hint of envy. Help your friend make a statement in their next series of Instagram stories with travel-inspired graphic tees. A few tees that we like are:
SameShirtDC: People who spend more time abroad know that they can’t waste space with a huge wardrobe. “Same Shirt Different Country” embodies just that.
CocoaTravel: This Girl Meets World shirt reminds us of a favorite childhood TV show and gives black girls more inspiration to see some world.
Black & Abroad: This shirt is a gift for an entire travel community, letting the world know that we’re all over the map and not going anywhere.
We guarantee that whether you give the gift of travel or buy these presents for yourself, you won’t regret one dime spent on these travel goodies.
Sharita Jennings is a fitness and travel enthusiast and creator of Get Fit Like That, LLC. She is a health policy attorney and ACE certified group fitness instructor and fitness nutrition specialist. She provides online fitness plans and leads group fitness classes in Washington DC. Check out her fitness tips and workouts at GetFitLikeThat.com.