Presenting; The Ultimate Travel Gifts for your nomadic friends.
It’s that time of year again… you start to wonder what on earth you can possibly buy your nearest and dearest for Christmas.
You start off strong; perfume, books, food… But as you near completion, there’s always that one awkward human that stumps you because they spend their time living out of a backpack and bopping around the world.
That’s where The Jenna Way travel gifts list comes in.
Over the years I’ve tried and tested many travel gadgets and accessories. And now I’ve compiled them all in one place to make this year’s shopping spree as easy as finishing off a bottle of Baileys, (hint: very easy).
Since I travel with hand luggage and on a budget, I only buy and carry the items that truly have value and a purpose. All these travel gifts I’ve suggested is something that I can personally recommend from my own travel kit. Whatever your budget, this ultimate travel gift list is all you need this festive season.
Stocking Filler Travel Gifts £5 – £15
Washing tablets – £3.50
Travelling hand luggage only means a lot of hand washing. When abroad it’s hard to find detergent and even harder to carry it with you. These tablets dissolve in water and you don’t have to worry about the 100ml liquid limit on planes.
Washing Line – £4.96
A travel washing line is the travel gifts gadget I never knew I needed but can’t live without. Hang your clothes anywhere with 2 easy hooks, and it doubles as a bungee strap for your rucksack.
Money belt – £9.99
Perhaps not a fashion piece but a travel essential for everyone. I never go anywhere without my money belt and I always wear my valuables hidden under a sweatshirt on transport for worry free naps.
Pop socket – £9.99
Not just a teen fad, pop sockets are a super simple concept with endless possibilities. Prop up your phone to watch movies on the plane, hook it onto something for self-timer pictures, hold your phone securely in busy crowds. Once you pop you can’t stop! (Name that 90’s ad?)
Passport case – £9.99
Protect their most valuable travel asset and look stylish doing it. A passport case is the perfect travel gift for anyone who travels, whether it’s once a year or they live permanently in airports. With an unlimited number of styles and designs you’re sure to find one to match their personality.
Tripod – £9.99
I never go anywhere without my Rollei pod. Initially I had planned on investing in the well-known (pricier) brand, but after receiving this as a gift I can’t see why anyone would. It does the exact same job, is lighter to carry and is 1/3 of the price. The easy release clip means you can switch between holding your camera and clipping it to the tripod without unscrewing it every time.
Journal – £11.84
For blog ideas, capturing memories or travel planning, travelling with a notepad or journal is essential. Most of us have our phones to take notes or snap pictures but there is something special about putting pen to paper and capturing memories of your new adventure.
Micro towel – £11.99
The ultimate space saver. Micro towels take up 1/10th of the space compared to regular towels and dry twice as fast too (times estimated, don’t sue me please.) Buy your travelling friend an XL Micro towel and give two gifts in one as it doubles as a beach blanket too.
Phone case – £12.99
Most phones have a tough life, but travel takes it one step further. Protect your most expensive travel gadget with a shock resistance case and easy grip sides.
A Momento or Charm – £10
A momento or charm to remind you of a special place or moment together, is a beautiful long distance gift to cherish. If you have a shared special place, Etsy is full of unique ways to capture this. For example, a bracelet or keyring with coordinates on it. Or, anything that is special to you both that is small enough to put inside a wallet or purse, and carry with you.
Yoga gloves and socks – £12.99
Know a travelling yogi? Yoga mats aren’t exactly portable, so these grippy gloves and socks is the gift of zen anywhere on the globe.
Headphones – £8-12
I have two sets of headphones I switch between, but I am brand loyal. SkullCandy headphones are the perfect balance between quality and not breaking the bank. The noise cancelling feature is a bonus for travelling on busy trains, sleeping in hostels or just blocking out tourists at busy sights. (I used them a lot in China where the crowds got overwhelming!)
Stuff Sacks – £14.46
Packing cubes and stuff sacks are miracle workers for keeping organised when living out a suitcase or backpack, or just for your friend who always over packs and can never get the zip closed!
Foldable backpack – £14.99
This nifty gift means they have something to use day to day without tipping out the contents of their rucksack at every location. A foldable backpack takes up barely any space and is the perfect size for a tripod, camera and some snacks when needed.
Mid-Range Travel Gifts £15 – £50
Adaptor – £15.99
This adaptor brings carrying 4 chunky plugs into the 21st century. 1 adaptor for every country and charging up to 4 USB devices at once. Anything that saves space in your backpack is an obvious winner.
Selfie Stick – £16.79
Shameless or not, the selfie has become synonymous with travelling. Help someone capture more than just their face and a view over their shoulder with a portable selfie stick. Bonus points for this one with a tripod attachment and Bluetooth remote for the ultimate solo travel shot.
El Camino Bracelet
El Camino bracelets are a wonderful gift for long distance relationships, or really anyone that you know who loves travel. They are a great way to remember your adventures together. And track the wonderful places you’ve been as a result of your distance. The bracelet is a simple rope, with beads for each city, country or continent that you visit. The more adventures you take in your relationship, the more beads you can buy.
And if you both have one, it’s a great shared gift for you to get each other on an special occasion.
Memory Card – £29.00
Maybe not the most exciting gift, but every traveller will appreciate a memory upgrade for their camera. You get what you pay for with memory cards, so avoid temptation to buy the £5 one from eBay and invest in a high speed trusted brand.
Go Pro Accessories – £21.95
If they’ve got a GoPro, extra accessories are a great gift idea. The wrist strap is great for scuba divers and surfers or if they’re a cycling fanatic the helmet or handlebar mount would be perfect.
Scratch Map – £23.99
For those who like to track where they’ve been and where they still wish to go. The Scratch Map X is the highest quality map to date – a foil that peels away from the gloss underlay easily, with precision, and reveals vibrant colour beneath, using your very own Scratch Map X coin.
Nat Geo Travel Planet Subscription – £32.50
For the person full of travel dreams and wanderlust, but currently living at home (or in one place at least!) This year I was gifted the Lonely Planet Mag Subscription and it is amazing. Every month, a beautifully curated travel inspiration guide appears through my letter box and has me dreaming of 20 more places I want to see. – Sadly Lonely Planet ended their subscription due to Covid, but Nat Geo Travel is equally great
Buff – £23.99
For the hikers, skiers and general adventurers in your life. Buffs are the most versatile gift. They can be hats, neck warmers, bandannas, sweatbands, hair ties and a million more things.
Jewellery pouch – £20.99
I don’t personally travel with a lot of jewelry on short trips, but this travel pouch was perfect for my longer trips abroad. With various zip sections you can store a lot of items and avoid the risk of damage or tangled chains or the need for chunky storage boxes.
Photobook Voucher
Relive favourite travel memories with a voucher to create a photobook. Sure, there’s Facebook & Instagram, but there’s something special about having a physical copy of your photos. Whether a summary of your travels that year or a specifically special trip, photobooks make sharing and reliving your memories even easier.
The Biggie Travel Gifts ! £50+
Lonely planet coffee table books – £69
For the travel dreamer currently stuck at home, these Lonely Planet coffee table books are a decorative item and full of wonderful facts, photography and inspiration. Buy the Cities and Countries guide as a set and they’re have endless hours of travel planning ahead.
Rucksack £86
For the literal ‘backpackers’, gifting a rucksack is an excellent idea. The range of options are endless, but look for a good number of pockets, adjustable back support, multiple entry point and a rain cover. Investing in a good quality backpack will last you a long time, I bought this one in 2010 and its still going strong.
Kindle – £99
Something I own ad should use more of. For the bookworm in your life, a Kindle is the perfect way to take 100s of books on your travels without the weight or bulk of a paperback. Some Kindles also have built in wifi, doubling as a mini tablet.
LightRoom – £119
For the photography enthusiasts, a subscription to Lightroom is the perfect way to help them take the next step from phone snaps to beautiful edits. I recently invested in Lightroom and it has changed the way I edit my pictures dramatically. The price tag makes it a luxury item for frugal travelers, so its the ideal gift.
GoPro – £279
My most expensive travel gadget and the best investment I ever made. Usually when it comes to spending money, I look for the best alternative to the leading brand but this is a case of getting what you pay for. Its HD quality, pocket sized, captures video, still image and time lapse and the ultimate travel camera. I use the Hero5 Session, but GoPro have a range to suit most budgets.
Phone (3 mobile)
Phones have come along way from the classic 3310 we all knew and loved. Now they’re your boarding pass, camera, watch, diary and music all in one. They’re also still (funnily enough) a phone! Buying your globetrotter a Three Mobile contract is the best way to be sure they stay in touch. Three allow you to use your contract abroad in 70+ countries. Meaning I’ve called home from Colombia, Panama, Portugal and and Vietnam for free.
This blog contains affiliate links. Booking via the link won’t cost you any extra but I may earn a little commission if you do!
More blogs to help with travel planning & packing:
- How to Find Cheap Accommodation
- 50 Ways I Can Afford To Travel The World
- Solo Travel As An Introvert
- Packing Hand Luggage Only
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