Holiday Gift Guide: 9 Essential Travel Gifts for 2023

The holidays are right around the corner, and we all know what that means: It’s time to start your holiday shopping. However, finding the perfect gift for the travel enthusiast in your life can sometimes prove difficult. If you need suggestions for what to give this year, we have you covered with our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide – check it out below.

"Packing cubes" by waitscm is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Packing Cubes

Packing before a trip can be a challenge for even the most seasoned adventurer, but packing cubes can make it so much easier. Designed to maximize space and keep you organized, a good set of packing cubes – like Gonex Compression Packing Cubes or Veken Suitcase Organizer Bags – is the perfect holiday gift for any avid traveler on your list.

"Simply Organic bamboo sleep mask" by sleeplinesays is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Sleep Mask

Falling asleep in an unfamiliar environment can be a challenge. If getting a good night’s sleep on vacation is a struggle for someone on your holiday shopping list, consider gifting them a sleep mask, like the affordable and highly rated MZOO Luxury Sleep Mask.

A good sleep mask can help combat insomnia and improve sleep quality. Plus, many sleep masks – like MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones – come equipped with built-in Bluetooth headphones, making it easier to drift off to dreamland while basking in some soothing white noise or relaxing music.

"Best Inflatable Travel Neck Pillows" by samuelemunemu321 is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

Travel Pillow

It can be tough to get comfortable on a long flight, but a good travel pillow – like the Cabeau TNE S3 Travel Neck Pillow or the Cloudz Microbead Travel Neck Pillow – can make any journey more relaxing. Travel pillows come in virtually every shape and size imaginable, so no matter who you’re shopping for, you’re sure to find one that meets their individual needs.

"Music Headphones Wireless Headphones Edited 2020" by chocolatedazzles is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Bluetooth Headphones

Listening to music or watching movies are great ways to pass the time while traveling – particularly on a plane – and a good pair of Bluetooth headphones is a great gift for any traveler. And with so many different headphone options available today, you’re sure to find the right pair for anyone on your list.

For a compact headphone that packs a powerful punch in a small package, consider Raycon Everyday Earbuds or Apple AirPods. If whoever you’re shopping for would prefer an over-ear option, Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones might be more their speed. And if you’re buying these headphones for someone who travels a lot, they’d likely appreciate a pair with active noise cancellation.

Photo by Chris Lynch on Unsplash

Wireless Power Bank

Whether on an airplane, motorcoach, or walking tour, you can drain your smartphone’s battery quickly if you’re listening to music or taking pictures all day. For this reason, a wireless power bank – like the mophie Powerstation or the Ankler Portable Charger – is a necessity for every frequent traveler.

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E-Reader or Tablet

What gift do you get a loved one who is both an avid traveler and a voracious reader? An e-reader, of course! A Kindle or Nook makes the ideal gift for someone looking to lighten their load while traveling. However, if you’re shopping for someone who wants more features and processing power than you’d find in a typical e-reader, consider an Amazon Fire or Apple iPad tablet.

"Airport lounge for the gold card members." by MIKI Yoshihito. (#mikiyoshihito) is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Priority Pass™ Membership

No one likes waiting around in a crowded airport for their plane to board – unless they get to wait in a comfy airport lounge. Unfortunately, airport lounges are typically only open to premium-class airline ticket holders.

That’s where Priority Pass™ comes in. Priority Pass™ is a subscription-based club that gives members access to 1,400+ airport lounges in 140+ countries around the world, making it the perfect gift for the frequent traveler.

Photo by Daniel Romero on Unsplash

Bluetooth Tracker

Delayed or lost luggage can be an unfortunate reality of travel today. That’s why Bluetooth trackers – like Apple AirTags or Tile Trackers – make such great gifts. When packed in a misplaced bag, a Bluetooth tracker allows the bag’s owner to track its location in real-time and share that information with the airline to help them retrieve the luggage as quickly as possible.

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VPN Subscription

When connecting your device to a public Wi-Fi network, it is critical to protect your sensitive personal information from prying eyes. And that’s exactly what a virtual private network – or VPN – does.

A VPN encrypts your data and blocks your IP address while you’re online, making it a must-have for anyone who spends a lot of time with their devices connected to a public Wi-Fi network – like the network at an airport or hotel. There are several affordable, easy-to-use VPN apps on the market today, including NordVPN®, Surfshark®, and ExpressVPN™, and a subscription to any of them would make a great gift for anyone who spends time on the road.