The Best Gifts for Someone Going to Japan

Looking for the best gifts for travel lovers for 2024? Here are the best gifts for someone going travelling. Give them something they’ll want to receive…

Present Ideas for People Who Love Travel

The Best Travel Gift Ideas for Under $50

1. Noise Canceling Headphones

Headphone technology changes fast, making them one of the best travel gift ideas when someone already has all the basic kit. Travellers use headphones all the time to get through long journeys and avoid annoying people around them. Prices can shoot through hundreds of bucks but you can also find some decent budget options as well.

The two big distinctions are:

1 – Wireless earbuds that take up next to no space, like these ones which come with a handy charging case so they’re always ready.

2 – The giant headphones that need a case of their own. The SONY MDRZX110NC noise cancelling headphones are one such example.

2. A Personalised Compass with a Gift Box

Let’s face it, this is unlikely to be that practical but it is a gorgeous, unique travel gift idea. Make sure you leave enough time for the workshop to process the engraving.

• Buy a personalised compass here.

3. Travel Diary

No matter how many screens and gadgets we relish, there’s something special about putting pen to paper that finger to touchpad just can’t beat. Research even shows it helps us remember our travel memories better.

• Buy a travel diary here.

4. Travel Books

Buying travel guide books can be tricky on a gift basis because the chances are someone’s already bought the book if they’ve already bought the ticket.

• Recommended: this gorgeous coffee table book, Where to Go When by Lonely Planet which breaks down the world into seasonal recommendations based on your personal tastes.

5. A Charitable Donation

However hard any of us work, to be able to travel anywhere or even have the luxury of electricity and an internet connection in order to read this post involves privileges most of the world can only dream of.

Some charities, such as the Red Cross and Crescent simply accept straight donations.

Then, there’s the WWF Shop that offers everything from holidays to soft cuddly toys in order to raise funds.

It’s just a thought, particularly if you’ve read all of the other suggestions and nothing seems to fit.

6. Travel Size Sunscreen

Blame it on the doctor in me but we all need to protect our skin when we travel. Skin cancer’s on the rise and it’s relatively simple to reduce your risk.

I love using Ultrasun, it feels nice and dry and is designed for those with sensitive skin.

• Buy travel size Ultrasun sunscreen here.

7. Aromatherapy Lockets and Bracelets for Sniffy Situations

One of the best gift ideas for someone going travelling is this secret essential! Travel can, well, smell! You can be in an enclosed space with someone who needs a shower and a change of clothes. Sometimes, that someone may be you! Food smells different, streets smell different and that’s part of the magic – but also not always great.

These gift packs come with aromatherapy oils and interchangeable fabric pads that fit inside a necklace. Your friend who’s about to go travelling can top it up with the scent for the job. Wave goodbye to nausea and hello to relaxation.

• Buy the aromatherapy necklaces on Amazon here.

8. Water Bottles

Water bottles have come a long way in recent years. So even though they may seem like a staple, they could make the perfect travel gift with an eco twist. These stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulated water bottles keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold while on the road.

9. Sand Free Beach Towel

Australia’s Tesalate creates sand-free beach towels in a myriad of funky cool designs. The best part? A full size towel folds down to the size of a paperback book. Which makes them a perfect gift for people who travel.

10. Travel Washbag

Look for one with a hook to hang on the door, and that zip shuts. I love this washbag design. Follow that up with a set of travel toiletry refill bottles.

11. Portable Luggage Scale

When even legacy airlines are weighing luggage, it’s handy to have a portable luggage scale.

12. Bamboo Cutlery Set

Be environmentally friendly and stylish with this lovely bamboo cutlery set.

What’s in a word?

Hey! If you’re wondering why we’re saying travelling instead of traveling, travellers instead of travelers, and favourite instead of favorite, it’s because we’re British. I realise (!) that’s only half an explanation, since it doesn’t really explain WHY we add in all those extra letters but there you go. It’s not a typo. It’s just the way we do things around there… ;-)

Luxury Travel Gift Ideas

1. The Hotelgift Card

What it is: A beautiful voucher-style gift card that you can use instead of a home-printed IOU or (worse) a voucher that ties people into a place, hotel brand or date that might actually make life more difficult for them.

How it works: as the world’s leading hotel gift card brand, the cards can be redeemed in over 110 000 hotels in over 170 countries. The program covers more than 140 different brands, including independent and boutique hotels as well as the bigger chains.

You pay the amount and the recipient gets to use the card through the Hotelgift website. You can either ask for a physical gift card or an e-version if you have left things to the last minute (as if anyone would…)

I tested it out and it’s really, really easy to use. And it’s so flexible. No more surreptitiously trying to track down dates or panicking that you can’t rearrange schedules to accommodate what was supposed to be a lovely, thoughtful gift!

Just the bit you wanted (the lovely gift) without giving someone a headache. Love it.

2. A Speakeasy Scarf with a Secret Compartment

Scarves make great travel companions to begin with. You can use them as a sarong, loop together broken handles on a suitcase, swaddle a baby, build a tent and even use them to keep your neck warm if the AC gets over ambitious.

But these beautiful hand-made scarves from Speakeasy Travel step it up a notch. How? With their hidden zippable pocket, that’s how. Passport, room key, cash. Hidden in the scarf. Using this really is one of the best travel tips I know of.

WAY more comfortable than those down your pants money belts. And more stylish too.

3. A Phone Gimbal – A Device for Better Video on the Road

Mobile phones are fantastic for snapping images on the go but more and more people are using them to create high quality videos of their travels or taking the chance to conduct a live broadcast while on the road.

Swaying motion ruins most video clips because it makes viewers feel seasick. Enter a smartphone gimbal like this, which lets people shoot quality videos by smoothing out the bumps. I can’t tell you the difference this has made to my video clips – and by the number of people who approach me on the road and ask about it, if you know a travel photography enthusiast, they’ll love this.

The Best Luggage to Buy for Someone Going Travelling

1. A Suitcase for City Slickers

I’ve no idea why I battled with so many bags for so long! I love using my Samsonite SCure. It rolls easily, I can stack bags on top of it and everything inside is secure (perfect for when you can’t check in to a room and you’ve a pretty good idea that your suitcase, complete with laptop and lenses, will be at the bottom of a colossal suitcase heap.)

2. A Suitcase for Adventurers

The Osprey Transporter combines a tough, on the road duffel with a tough, handle anything wheelie system. You can read my review of the largest size (The Osprey Transporter 120 over here.)

Of course, if you’re buying this as a gift, make sure they don’t already have a suitcase that they love. It’s expensive and difficult to store otherwise!

Useful Travel Accessories and Gifts for Someone Going Travelling

Plenty of travel gizmos rely on gimmicks and just get in the way. These are the useful travel gifts that people will actually use. This travel gear helps me pack in record time, keeps my belongings safe – and helps me find things while I’m on the road.

1. Pro Packing Cubes

Essentially, these are zip mesh pockets that come in different sizes. Lightweight and slippery, they slide easily around a case and the mesh let’s you see what’s inside (in case, ahem, you forget.) Ideal for T shirts, socks, underwear and bedding.

2. Thule Accessories Case

These are basically packing cubes for your electronics and all their gadgets. Before I found these, I used toiletry bags but because these have been designed with the job in mind they work far better.

Available in different sizes, they have a crush resistant case that’s still lightweight and inner meshes, zip pockets and elastic ties to keep cables organised and power banks safe. They also slide easily into an airline mesh pocket so that instead of scrabbling around when boarding a plane, you can just pull out this and your laptop. Sorted.

3. Universal Travel Adapter

One gadget, power anywhere. Buy your traveller or traveler a universal travel adapter and they never need to worry about plugs again. Buy a travel adapter here on Amazon.

4. Travel Pillow

A decent travel pillow isn’t a gimmick. It’s the difference between a refreshing sleep on a plane and a red-eyed, grumpy, yawning travel day. Check out my ideas for putting together a travel sleep kit over here.

You’ll find many different types of travel pillows, each with their own pros and cons. If in doubt, I’d go for an inflatable one. It won’t take up space nor add weight. Check prices for travel pillows on Amazon here. And look for other advice on how to sleep on a plane here.

More Travel Gift Ideas

None of these quite fit? Not to worry, we have specialist gift guides and lists for you as well. Check out the following:

• Gifts for an outdoorsy girlfriend and adventurous woman
• The best luxury travel gifts for him
• Italy themed travel gifts for people who love Italy
• The best gifts for hikers

If you book or buy through the links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. However, we only ever recommend things we believe in and use ourselves, with the exception of a few amazing ideas which we haven’t had the chance to test yet. Some products may have been sent to us on a complimentary basis for review purposes. And you can always ask us if you’re looking for more information!