Christmas is right around the corner! Here are 10 gift ideas for the traveler in your life. I have purchased every item listed whether it was for myself or for someone else.*All photographs used are from the product websites.
Portable Clothesline
As a light packer I usually have do some laundry whenever I take trips longer than a week. This portable clothesline allows me to conveniently dry some laundry indoors. It packs away nicely in a flat zippered bag and I’ve never had a problem taking it through airport security. I love it!
Personalized Passport Holder
I ordered monogrammed passports holders for my in-laws last year and they loved the personal touch. This shop also has luggage tags that you can personalize which is another item I love to give!
Packing Cubes
I cannot recommend packing cubes enough! This may seem like an unnecessary expense at first glance, but packing cubes have come in handy for every single type of trip I’ve taken whether I’m camping for the weekend or packing for a long trip. I was able to pack a week’s worth of clothes using just one cube for my trip to Morocco. It compressed everything neatly and it fit into my backpack with plenty of room to spare!
Passport Stamped Phone Case
This customized phone case is one of my favorite purchases of the year. Using my old passports as reference, I was able to plug in my passport stamp dates and arrange them any way I wanted to on the case. It was a lot of fun to make and the case is extremely sturdy! I have dropped my phone an embarrassing amount of times and there hasn’t been any evidence of my clumsiness found on my phone. Travel Bible Shop has all sorts of fun travel items you can personalize for the travel obsessed person in your life.
Ruffled Waist Purse
A close friend of mine introduced this item to me a couple of years ago and I fell in love with it immediately. Whether you’re at a theme park, concert, or exploring a new country, this stylish fanny pack is the perfect hands free companion.
Flytographer Gift Card
I know gift cards have a stigma for being completely impersonal but I disagree. A Flytographer gift card is a fantastic gift. Flytographer is a service that connects you to local photographers all over the world. It’s a service I’ve already used 3 times! Hiring a professional to take some vacation pictures is becoming very popular with good reason. I am completely biased on the subject but paying for quality pictures is the best money you’ll ever spend whether you are traveling with your family, friends or by yourself. You do not have to purchase an entire session to give as a gift. On the purchase page, you can scroll all the way down and choose a smaller amount to give. It’s a thoughtful gift and it will help push your loved ones to secure quality memories in a beautiful place. Capture the memories while you still can.
*Note: Each session I have booked has been for 30 minutes and that is sufficient time to have great results.
America The Beautiful – National Park Annual Pass
I have been a fan of the America the Beautiful Annual Pass for several years. For $80, this pass get you into every single national park in the United States. Entrance fees to a single national park is about $20 so this annual pass can easily pay for itself within a year. The pass is valid from the first month you use it. The National Park lover in your life will greatly appreciate this gift and it may even lead them to visit a few more than usual!
Carry-on Spinner Luggage
I was given this carry-on case during my bridal shower and I love it so much! I love my backpacks but not every trip has to be a back breaking one. The 4 wheels on it make steering incredibly easy with minimal effort. This carry-on also helps over packers (like my mother-in-law) transition into the carry-on life. I gave this case to my mother in-law for her first international trip and emphasized that her life would be much easier if she didn’t check a bag. She loved it and it came in handy when she flew between European cities since smaller airlines tend to have stricter size and weight restrictions than transatlantic airlines. She has realized that less is better, which is something my husband and father-in-law didn’t think was possible!
Gatta Bag
As a female photographer, I simply wanted to find a camera bag that doesn’t look like one, especially when I travel alone. Gatta Bag has beautiful purse-like camera bags that merge the two beautifully. I adore my bag and love that I can put my camera away and not bring any extra attention to myself when I travel.
Airplane Charm by Tiffany & Co.
This is a complete splurge but there is nothing wrong with that once in a while. If there is someone special you’d love to spoil this Christmas but isn’t into heavy bling, this Tiffany’s airplane charm is the perfect piece. I recently treated myself with this and it has made its way into my small rotation of necklaces that I wear daily. I don’t wear much jewelry but I adore this airplane charm, especially when paired with their sterling silver necklace. This is surely to be appreciated by those who wear minimalist jewelry.
The East L.A. Traveler 