If you have someone who loves to travel in your life, the gift-giving season is a fantastic opportunity to equip them with some best travel items that are proven to be useful for seasoned travelers.
Best Gifts For Travelers
As a somewhat seasoned traveler, I have bought and tried more things to make travel easier and stress-free than I care to count. For example, I have a wide range of travel backpacks, duffle bags, and totes that I have tried, some are okay, and some failed miserably. My needs have changed throughout the years. Primarily, as I’ve aged, my ability to lug heavy shoulder bags through an airport has become a challenge. So this past year I switched to using a backpack to relieve the shoulder and back pain I encountered from carrying a heavy tote. To help out, I now travel with a roller carry-on.
I know there are a ton of lists out there, essential travel items for travelers, so I decided to curate my own list of items that I love. Whether traveling across the world or the state on a road trip, these are the things I have found to make travel easier either for myself or if you have a traveler in your life, make the best gifts for travelers.
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First, Some Travel Items I Don’t Like
There are a couple of travel items I’ve tried and really didn’t like. You may have another opinion, but I feel strongly about these just not being ideal.
Biagini Zipsak Boost (expandable version)
First of all, I hate to poo-poo anything, but I must share my honest opinion of a popular travel carry-on. I purchased the Biagini Zipsak Boost Underseater Expandable rolled tote a couple of years ago. While the concept was fantastic, I found that unless you strategically packed and evenly distributed the weight inside the bag, it would continually fall over as I was rolling it through the airport. This was particularly a problem when the bag was expanded. I found that I actually had to bend over and keep the rolling strap short to avoid this.
Packing Cubes That Only Open On The Side
The second thing is, packing cubes that only open at the end. I tried these out and ended up purchasing another set after I struggled to put my clothes in the set that only opens on the side. I have tested both these items out personally and wouldn’t recommend them. If you have others, I would love to hear them.
Best Travel Items
I’m going to give you a short list of the best travel items that I have used. This past year, I have leaned more into carry-on bags instead of checking bags. Of course, it all depends on how long I will be gone, and where I am going. It hasn’t been easy, and I have failed, but I love the ease not checking bags has brought me when I travel. This past summer I was on a women’s only tour of Tuscany and more than a couple of women on that trip made it to Tuscany days before their checked luggage did. I was one of the lucky ones.
Luggage, Organization, and International Travel Favorites
Personal Items
I have tried more totes, duffel bags, and backpacks for my personal items to carry on the plane than the next seasoned traveler. This past year, after extensive travel and spending a lot of time shuffling through airports around the world, I finally found a backpack that is now my number one personal item.
This Lovevook backpack has so many things going for it. It fits within the personal item size limit of all the airlines I have flown with this past year and has zippered pockets and compartments galore. The main compartment opens like a suitcase, making it easy to pack and organize. If you are a super light packer, this is all you need to travel. My specific backpack also includes two extra bags and a show bag.
This backpack is well-made and has quality zippers. The wide padded straps are comfortable on the shoulders and it has a sleeve to attach it to your roller luggage. The added bonus is that it also looks cute and stylish.
Tip: Put essentials like your passport, wallet, phone, and some things you need to access immediately as you navigate through the airport into a (much) smaller cross-body bag that fits easily inside this backpack to keep on you so you are not digging through your backpack in the airport. Stow it away when you board the plane.
Packing Cubes
I have been using packing cubes for a while now and love how organized everything stays in my suitcase. Taking it an extra step is using these compression packing cubes. They open all the way, like a suitcase. You have a second zipper that zips the entire cube, compressing the contents even more. These can be a little tricky to zip shut. Two ways to help are to not overfill and to stick your finger inside the zipper to keep the extra material from getting caught in the zipper.
You can arrange what you put inside the cubes by outfit or category. I know many travelers swear by rolling their clothes, but I tend to lay my clothes flat in a size that fits the cube spreading the garment out to the corners. I tend to get the most in this way and I find makes it easier to compress the cube together. The set I have comes in all kinds of fun colors.
Electronic Organizer
I don’t know about you, but the struggle is real with organizing all those charging cables, power banks, and other small accessories. This pouch does all that. It has pockets for cables and all your other small accessories. It’s a neat little package you can easily spot in your carry-on. I love this one. It satisfies my need for organization when I travel.
Clear Toiletries Bags
I’ll admit, that I bring too many toiletries, makeup, and hair care things when I travel. I am trying and getting better at not overpacking clothes, but when it comes to lotions, potions, and beauty products, I still have a long way to go. I envy the woman who can go with minimal makeup and no haircare products besides shampoo and conditioner. Their beauty routine fits in a small toiletries bag. I usually have one bag for shower items and haircare and one for makeup and extra over-the-counter meds just in case.
I purchased and used these clear bags this year and love them. They open all the way and are double zippered so you can easily access everything inside. You can put a surprising amount of things in these. This set comes with two different-sized containers. They are durable and well-made.
Universal Travel Power Adapter
I used to bring a couple of universal travel power adapters when I traveled Internationally. Now I just need one to charge all my devices. This one can be used in the US, UK, EU, and AUS. There are four USB ports and one USB-C. This is NOT a voltage converter.
Personal Care Items For Women
Mini Travel Sized Hair Brush
I have fine thin hair and in the past, it was hard to find a travel-sized brush that was gentle on my hair whether wet or dry. I love Tangle Teezer brushes. This mini one is always on me. It stays in my handbag all the time and it goes with me when I travel. It’s small enough to fit in my carry-on, yet big enough to be the only brush I need no matter where I go. I also have the regular size that I use at home. This brush has been a game-changer for my fine hair.
Travel Razor
This handy mini Gillet Venus razor is wonderful. Its grip handle and the gel bars on either side of the blades make for a smooth glide across the skin. You don’t need to use soap, it’s all in the head. It comes in a cute case that allows the razor to dry and three heads that will last you several uses.
Mini Rechargeable Personal Fan
Carrying around this neat little fan has been a game-changer for my hot flashes. I tested it this past summer on a trip to Tuscany in the July heat. It was fabulous. It was over 90 degrees many days and whenever I felt overheated, I pulled out this fan and within a few minutes felt comfortable. I sweat profusely, especially post-menopausal and it is embarrassing. Especially in a restaurant. I never hesitated to use this gadget. Trust me, it was a lifesaver.
Other Best Travel Items
There are two things every traveler should have. I’ve learned a lesson the hard way to always carry earplugs and a sleep mask with me when I travel. I often have roommates when I travel and believe me, these come in handy. Same thing if you are on a plane with a screaming baby like I was on my flight home from Italy. I pop those earplugs in and retreat into my quiet world.
Those are my favorite travel items which make the best gifts for travelers. Most of them make great stocking stuffers or birthday gifts. I have personally tested and used all the items listed here. I’d love to hear from you if you have some favorite must-have travel items that you use and love
