Buying gifts, especially thoughtful and useful gifts — is always a little daunting. However, when your intended gift is for someone who loves to travel, you’ve got loads of options that will be sure to please.
Traveling well takes planning and preparation, and savvy travelers know that packing the right way in the right luggage means you won’t be caught off guard. Being well traveled isn’t just a brag sheet on where you have been, it’s knowing how to be prepared for anything.
Since traveling requires luggage, gear and planning supplies to bring along the comforts of home, there are plenty of practical gifting options. Especially after the 2022 holiday airline luggage fiasco, gifting the right gear that can help you avoid travel baggage nightmares is a timely and thoughtful option. We’ve scoured the market and found the best travel duffel bags, the best travel backpack, the best travel coffee mug, the best travel neck pillow, the best packing cubes for travel, the best travel toiletry bag and more. Here are some of our favorite picks for gifting to travelers in 2023.
YETI Rambler 20 oz. Travel Mug with Stronghold Lid
What It Is: This well-sized 20-oz. travel mug is a new leak-resistant Stronghold lid (which uses dual-slider magnet technology) and can be adjusted for both right- and left-handed users. The handle and cup are finished with a No Sweat design that resists sweat, keeping your hands dry. Available in 10 colorways including basics like black, gray and white as well as brighter options like yellow, blue and green.
Why the Traveler in Your Life Will Love It: This is our choice for the best travel coffee mug, which the traveler in your life will love because it helps save money when traveling. With 10 different colors to choose from we love that this cup fits easily into car cup holders. Another great feature is the Rambler has an option to purchase an alternate straw lid, so this can be your travel warm and cold beverage cup.
Cost: $38 at Dick’s Sporting Goods
Lululemon Everyday Backpack 2.0
What It Is: This classic 23L Lululemon Everyday Backpack 2.0 is designed with water-repellent fabric and offers an easy to reach exterior water bottle holder. There is an exterior padded pocket which will fit a 16” laptop, as well as interior pockets to hold additional items. Available in three colorways: Black, Asphalt Grey and Burnt Caramel.
Why the Traveler in Your Life Will Love It: This is our choice for the best travel backpack because it’s both stylish and functional. The traveler in your life will appreciate that it’s big enough to hold their laptop — but understated enough to tote around walking around the city.
Cost: $98 at Lululemon
Trtl Neck Support Travel Pillow
What It Is: This unique travel pillow uses an internal neck support system and an external soft fleece scarf design. You can use this travel pillow on either side of your neck or under your chin. The internal support can be removed, allowing you to machine wash the fleece pillow.
Why the Traveler in Your Life Will Love It: This is our pick for the best travel neck pillow, the traveler in your life will love that they can steal a nap on their journey. While most U-Shaped travel neck pillows look comfortable, they aren’t designed with airplane (or train) seats in mind. This unique design allows the user to utilize the airline chair while also providing adaptable one-sided neck support.
Cost: $59.99 at Amazon
Alaska Bear Silk Sleep Mask
What It Is: The Alaska Bear Silk Sleep Mask is made from all natural materials — a Grade 5A 100 percent organic mulberry silk fabric with cotton padding inside. The design is gender neutral and is offered in a variety of colors and prints, although the least expensive colorway is their classic solid black colorway. The strap is made with latex-free nylon elastic and adjusts to your preferred width.
Why the Traveler in Your Life Will Love iI: Your traveler will love being able to catch naps easier while traveling or blocking out light in their final destination — making jet lag easier to combat. I’ve used these for years and find them very comfortable (impossibly soft with adjustable straps) and quite frankly even luxurious feeling, which is impressive for the price. These make a great affordable gift, maybe pick a pair up for yourself as well.
Cost: $8.99 at Amazon
Lermende 3-Piece TSA Approved Toiletry Bag
What It Is: The Lermende 3-Piece Set is a simple set of clear, strong PVC-zippered bags. Designed with TSA approval, these allow airport security handlers to easily see the contents, without the need of opening. They can be easily cleaned for reuse. Each bag measures 7.9 x 5.9 x 2.4 inches.
Why the Traveler in Your Life Will Love It: If the traveler in your life engages in a lot of air travel specifically, they will love this practical gift. Not only does the clear design make it easy for you to find your toiletry items — in the case their bag is searched by airport security they are TSA approved.
Cost: $12.87 at Amazon
Bagail 8-Set Packing Cubes
What It Is: The Bagail eight-piece packing cube set is constructed with lightweight nylon fabric. Available in 13 colorways, you will get three packing cubes with see-through mesh (M, L and XL), one packing cube designed for bras and underwear, one double-layer toiletry bag, one shoe bag, one drawstring laundry bag and one flat bag for accessories such as socks/keys/cards/phone or cables.
Why the Traveler in Your Life Will Love It: The traveler in your life will love the chance to upgrade their packing process and protect their clothes. The best packing cubes allow you to separate and organize different items of clothing which help keep items clean and wrinkle free. We love that they remembered the need for a laundry bag.
Cost: $19.99 on sale from 24.99 at Amazon
Rolling Nomad Wet Dry Bags 2-Pack
What It Is: Rolling Nomad two-pack wet dry bags are made from 100 percent waterproof polyester, and are a great way to separate wet items in your luggage. Each bag has two separate zip pockets and a handle that snaps open in case you want to hang on the side of a stroller. They are machine washable, hang to dry and measure 11.5 x 14.75 inches.
Why the Traveler in Your Life Will Love It: The traveler in your life will love that you thought about their trip enough to plan a special spot for their wet bathing suit. It’s something most people overlook — but very practical to separate any wet items from the rest of your luggage.
Cost: $17.99 on sale from $20.09 at Amazon
Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair
What It Is: Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs are highly rated by Amazon customers, made in the U.S. and doctor recommended. With a pack of 50 pairs these will last for many travels.
Why the Traveler in Your Life Will Love It: The traveler in your life will love having these in their luggage to ensure the best rest and naps no matter where they end up. If you are a light sleeper or suffering from jet lag, blocking out noise can be a life-saver for helping you fall asleep in a new place.
Cost: $8.54 at Amazon
AmazonBasics 26-Inch Hardside Spinner Suitcase
What It Is: AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner is very highly rated (and a best seller) because it provides a lightweight, easy to roll suitcase option perfect for air travel. The 26-inch spinner weighs just under 10 pounds, offers a telescoping handle and four double spinner wheels allowing you to pivot in any direction easily.
Why the Traveler in Your Life Will Love It: Travelers love new suitcases, and the jet-set will be thrilled with this practical, highly rated gift. You can gift classic black or something a little different (and easy to locate in baggage return) orange, navy or blue.
Cost: $104.71 at Amazon
GUM Folding Travel Toothbrush — Pack of 6
What It Is: GUM Folding Travel toothbrush and tongue cleaner is a clever solution for dental hygiene while traveling. The bristles even have an antibacterial agent to help prevent mold, which is smart if you don’t have the time or space to properly dry out your toothbrush while traveling.
Why the Traveler in Your Life Will Love It: They will love the clever design of this toothbrush which folds into a full size for easy dental care, and then folds close to protect bristles and keep bristles clean. An affordable, useful and practical gift for any type of travel.
Cost: $8.99 at Amazon
The post The Best Gifts for Travelers in 2023 appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
