With Black Friday a mere two days away, people are in full deal-hunting mode! If you are looking for some ideas for the traveler in your life (or some ideas to pass on for someone else to buy for you!), here is a roundup of what I consider some of the best gifts for travelers this year – the 2015 Gift Guide for Travelers!
The 2015 Gift Guide For Travelers
The items marked * are items that I have owned or used.
Kindle*
The Kindle is an absolutely fantastic gift for anyone but certainly belongs in the bag of any traveler. There is a sale going on with two Kindle readers right now that make it an even better deal than normal.
Kindle
Kindle Unlimited*
To go along with the Kindle or for someone that already has a Kindle, the Kindle Unlimited program is a fantastic gift. It costs $9.99 per month and allows the user to “borrow” up to 10 books at a time with no due date. One of the best parts about the Kindle Unlimited program is that just about every Lonely Planet travel guide available is on here – that means they can borrow a Lonely Planet travel book for their next trip and then return it when they are done. All for only $9.99 per month.
Kindle Unlimited – $9.99
Luggage Scale
Luggage scales can be a huge help! I use mine anytime I am going to check a bag and even with my carryon sometimes. It can save you a lot of time at the counter when checking your bag and can also prevent your bag from being checked underneath because the carryon is too heavy.
To use, simply attach the strap to your bag and lift the handle-like scale. It will stabilize and give you the accurate weight! There are many different scales available. The one I have is no longer made (but still is working great). This one is very highly rated.
Etekcity Digital Hanging Postal Luggage Scale
SPIbelt*
This one might seem a bit odd under travel but I use my SPIbelt every single day for running and on every trip. It is extremely small and light but it can be filled with cards, wallet, phone, keys – way more than you might think! It is a great item to stuff all of your pocket contents into at the airport before going through security. Or, it is discrete enough to keep your valuables in and tuck under a shirt.
There are many different models available, I have the one in the link below. They also have a larger messenger styled one that can carry a tablet.
Large SPIbelt – $22 | SPIbelt Messenger Bag – $39
Travel Wallet
The Tumi Slim
There are a large number of travel wallets available and which one you choose will depend on the type of person you are buying for. There are wallets for the minimalist (link below – I have that one) and larger ones to carry all of their credit cards in.
These wallets listed here get great reviews and should make great gifts.
Wilsons Leather Passport Wallet – $20 | Tumi Alpha Passport Case
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes
If your gift recipiiet likes to be (or needs to be) organized when they travel, then packing cubes are the way to go. It is the best way to stay organized for short trips and even for trips where you are hotel hopping. This particular set comes with a laundry bag as well. This has excellent reviews and would make a really great gift.
4 Set Packing Cubes – $29
Fitbit
The FitBit trackers have really caught on – big! This is a great way for your traveler to keep track of their activity and steps as they race around airports. Not only do many people like these units but they have dropped in price quite a bit as well.
There are several different models with the most popular one being the FitBit Charge HR. It has a built-in, optical heart rate monitor so you can keep track of your heart rate throughout the day. The price below is the current sale price and likely at that point for Black Friday at most stores.
They come in multiple colors and as large or small so make sure you check the measurements before ordering.
Fitbit Charge HR
Compression Socks
For someone that does a lot of travel or being on their feet, compressions socks can make a nice gift. On some of my longer flights and during some of my ultra marathons, I do wear a pair to help with my muscles and to improve blood flow and circulation. They have worked well for me and I know a lot of people really like to use them and use them regularly.
Zensah makes some nice pairs (I have a pair – again, not one that is made anymore) and they have a lot of good reviews. You can choose from a variety of colors and sizes so have fun!
Zensah Compression Socks
Bose Earphones
The Bose SoundSport Earphones
I use the Bose SoundSport earphones for running, traveling – and everything in between. You can get them for most devices or the model specifically for iOS devices. That particular model allows you to control volume and stop/play functions on your phone (as well as answering the phone).
If you want to get a really good pair of Bose earphones, check out the Bose QuietComfort 20 or 20i (for iOS devices). These are noise canceling earphones that work wonders on airplanes. I had a pair before and they work better than the over-the-ear headphones, if you ask me. You can actually put them in and then turn on your side to sleep without the great discomfort that headphones would give! But, they are much more expensive!
Make sure you check to see that they are for the proper device!
Bose SoundSport Earphones
HoodiePillow Travel Pillow
The HoodiePillow
Ok, don’t laugh at me! I really like hoodies for cooler weather and when I saw this, I knew it was something I have to have sometime! I had seen it when it was presented on Shark Tank a while back and really loved the concept. It is a travel neck pillow (made from memory foam) with a hoodie attachment to help you draw into a more comfortable sleeping environment. Really cool!
HoodiePillow Travel Pillow
Digital Camera
This one is wide-open as far as what kind you could get. There are a lot of quality digital cameras now that are available for under $100. I would check the advertisements for this Black Friday to see what the best deal available is.
Being able to capture your travel memories in photo is a great asset. If you can provide your friend or loved one with that ability, you are sure to to have picked a winner of a gift.
When searching for a camera for travel use, think about how they will be using it. Are they more the adventure kind? Consider something like a GoPro or the Sony action cameras. They are small, they shoot video and photos, and their material is definitely high quality.
Another option is to find the compact section of cameras. These are lower priced given their size but many of them do not really compromise too much on quality. Remember, your cell phone likely has a pretty incredible camera on it so you can find something with an even bigger sensor without a problem – and for much less than a phone.
Mini Portable Phone Charger
Even with outlets in a lot of places, your traveler is still almost guaranteed to be a position where they wish they had a portable phone charger. There are a lot of them out there but this is one that I have and many people have given great reviews of.
It is a very small power pack that will not take up much room at all and has a life of 500 charging cycles. Not only that, it is very inexpensive!
Jackery Mini Portable Phone Charger
Universal Travel Power Adapter
International power adapter
When I travel, the only things that I need to plugin are my Apple devices. Fortunately, Apple makes it easy by selling a travel pack with plugs that go on your existing chargers for operation anywhere.
But, if that is not your traveler, consider getting them a universal travel power adapter. This particular model has had a lot of good reviews and has dual plugs so they can get their equipment powered simultaneously. It will work in 150 countries with the various plug options available onboard. Just remind them that they cannot plug something in to this that is not rated for the power where they will be traveling!
Universal Travel Adapter 2 Universal Sockets
Summary
That is it for this list! As you may have noticed, everything on here was under $100 or pretty close. Of course, you could go higher but I think this makes a good list of value, variety, and quality for a gift guide for travelers.
Now, if you are the traveler in the family, feel free to tell your family about this blog and let them find this list!
What are some of your ideas to add to this gift guide for travelers?
*Disclosure: some of the links above will pay me a small commission if you purchase the item through them. Thank you for your support!
