It’s that time of year. The holidays are in full swing and once again, you’re at square one with gift ideas.
These days with more of us valuing experiences over things, it can be tough to come up with something they’ll actually be excited to use.
So what do you buy that friend who loves to travel, the one who seems to have everything but wants nothing?
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I’ve rounded up my top gift picks for the traveler in your life, all items personally curated by yours truly.
And the best part? Everything in this guide is under $150.
This post contains affiliate links, and I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Under the Tree
Longchamp Large Le Pliage Long Handle Tote, $144
A Longchamp never goes out of style, and this red tote is the ultimate catch-all carry-on. Bonus – it folds up, perfect for packing into a suitcase to use as a beach bag or to bring home some extra souvenirs.
Patagonia Re-Tool Snap-T Pullover, $139
This cozy sweatshirt from Patagonia is the staple layer piece for any adventure, whether that’s a crazy 26-hour travel day or hiking Machu Picchu.
My all-time favorite travel pants, this pair from Lululemon takes you everywhere from the plane to the gym, and then even out for the night. Comfy, flattering and versatile, these pants take athleisure to a new level.
MeFOTO Classic Aluminum Roadtrip Travel Tripod, $147
For the photographer in your life, a professional-grade tripod like this one from MeFOTO will help them take their selfie game to the next level. Perfect for the adventurer that likes to go off the beaten path and document it when they get there.
Jo Malone London Mimosa & Cardamon Spray, $74
Spoil the road warrior in your life with a mini version of a splurge-worthy fragrance, like this one from Jo Malone London. This one ounce size of my favorite perfume is carry-on approved and the perfect addition to your travel doptkit. Bonus – the mimosa and cardamon scent smells a bit like vacation, keeping the memories alive even when you’re back at home.
PacSafe Convertible Backpack, $100
The only travel purse they’ll ever need, this backpack from PacSafe offers anti-theft protection in a discreet, still stylish model. It also converts easily to a cross body, taking you easily from the walking tour to dinner and drinks.
UE Roll Speaker, $90
The little sister to the classic UE Boom, the UE Roll is the perfect companion for a day at the beach. It’s waterproof, works on Bluetooth, and even comes with a matching floatie. The Roll is small in size but not sound quality – it’s about the length of a pair of sunglasses – the perfect size to pack in your carry-on.
A Cozy Coffee-Making Set
Perfect for the caffeine-lover in your life to pack for a cozy weekend in the mountains or a lazy Sunday morning at the beach condo. Pour-over coffee has made quite the comeback in recent years, producing a pure, flavorful cup of joe.
Look no further than Bean Envy – their Pour Over Coffee Maker and Coffee Kettle paired together make the perfect gift… No filters needed!
Bean Envy Pour Over Coffee Maker, $29 / Bean Envy Gooseneck Pour Over Coffee Kettle, $40
Tile Mate + Tile Slim, $65
We all have that friend that is constantly losing things. Enter: theTile. Hook it to your keys or phone, then the Tile rings and tracks it if (ahem, when) they misplace it.
Wanderlust-Inducing Coffee Table Books
Fuel your favorite traveler’s bucket list with a coffee table book of beautiful photos and inspiring destinations.
Audible Subscription, 3 months for $45 or 6 months for $90
What’s the best book you can bring with you on a trip? Trick question – there’s no need to pack books when you have Audible to keep you entertained.
Save your precious carry-on space and read with your ears instead. Give the gift of audiobooks with a three or six-month subscription, perfect entertainment for long flights or a day at the beach.
Scratch Off World Map, $44
For checking destinations off the bucket list and dreaming about new ones, give your favorite traveler a map to document it all. The gold design won’t be an eye-sore in their house either.
Millions of passports are stolen every year, particularly ones from the U.S. Help your favorite traveler keep their passport concealed and protected with a cute passport case, like this one from Rebecca Minkoff. It’s stylish and functional – it even has a wallet inside.
Give the Gift of Travel
Help make that big trip next year possible through a gift card to one or their favorite travel retailers like Airbnb, Southwest Airlines or Uber. Whoever said that no one likes a gift card hasn’t received one of these.
Stocking Stuffers
My friend Ellery gave me these as a gift when we first left on our travels, and I’ve had one glued to me ever since. These pocket sized notebooks from Rifle Paper Co. are perfect for everything from taking down restaurant recommendations to keeping score of a card game… Plus you never know when you’ll need a good old fashioned pen and paper.
LA Trading Company Eye Mask, $15
A good sleep mask makes all the difference on a red-eye flight… Particularly one that sends a helpful message, like this one from from LA Trading Company. Perfect for that friend that never turns down the complimentary in-flight cocktails.
Swell Stainless Steel Travel Mug, $35
This cute travel mug from Swell is great for the girl on the go, fitting perfectly into a purse or backpack. The stainless steel technology keeps drinks hot or cold for hours.
A-Swift Compression Socks, $15
I’m a recent convert to compression socks – they make a world of a difference on any flight longer than a few hours. This pair with the dreamy sheep from A-Swift are as cute as they are functional, and also comes in a load of other fun colors.
Belkin RockStar 5-Jack Multi Headphone Audio Splitter, $14
A good headphone splitter is the quintessential accessory for traveling with a friend. The splitter can house up to five headphones at a time, allowing you to comfortably watch a movie or listen to an audio book with a friend… Without feeling like Siamese twins trying to share headphones.
Sun Bum Day Tripper Travel-Sized Sun Care Pack, $20
The travel-sized version of my favorite sunscreen is a fantastic stocking stuffer for any sun seeker or beach bum. They’ll thank you later for not having to buy the exorbitantly-priced hotel gift shop sunscreen when they get to their destination.
Traveler’s Ornaments
Help them deck the halls with a travel-inspired ornament, like one of these from Amazon:
Commercial Airliner Resin Hanging Tree Ornament, $10 / Age of Exploration Christmas Ornament, $15 / Kurt Adler Travel Luggage Ornament, $19
What’s on your list this year? Share below in the comments!
Meredith
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