Travel gift guide 2026: Useful gifts I’ve actually used

Most gift guides for travelers are written by people who have never used the items they promote. This one isn’t. I’ve tried almost everything here myself, and many of them I use every time I travel, which is a lot! (Don’t worry: I’ll tell you the few I haven’t tried.) You’ll find the gadgets I use on every trip, small budget items, and a few gifts that are worth the splurge. Each entry says what the item is and why I like it, so you can decide whether it suits the person you’re buying for. If you’re short on time, the quick picks below are the ones I recommend most in each category.

[Updated October 30, 2026 with some new items on the list!]

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. Making a purchase through an affiliate link will mean a small commission for this website. This will not affect your price. Privacy policy.

Electronics

Very useful for any traveler and they’ll certainly be appreciated!

1. Portable monitor

If the person you’re shopping for is a digital nomad or just likes to carry a computer on trips to play on, a portable monitor could be a very popular gift. I’m using a Remodius monitor now, which I received as a gift from the company, and I highly recommend it. It’s incredibly lightweight, for one thing. The quality of the image is good, and it’s extremely easy to hook up.

I’ve tried two portable monitors before this, both of them at least as heavy as my laptop, which meant I was reluctant to take them along on my travels because of the extra weight. The first one I tried was always tricky to get connected to my laptop, and every time I would have to fuss a while with the connection to get it to work. The second one broke fairly quickly just from banging my backpack against something, even though it was in the laptop sleeve in the backpack.

I’ve traveled for months with this – most recently in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan for two months – and it’s still working fine. It’s so lightweight and thin, though, that I double-protect it by keeping it in its own padded sleeve (also from Remodius), which I carry in the padded laptop pocket of my backpack.

The Remodius comes packaged with three cables. I use the USB-C to USB-C to connect it to my laptop. At the same time, this cable allows the laptop to power the monitor. If, for some reason, you want to power the monitor separately, there’s a USB-C to USB-A cable and a plug so you can use an electrical outlet. The third cable is HDMI to mini-HDMI, which I suppose is a better option for some laptops.

I asked for and received the 13-inch monitor, but it also comes in a 16-inch version.

2. Noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds

Noise-cancelling headphones are a must for me; they help me when I fly to tune out all the sounds that make me fearful. But they’re also useful in lots of other situations. I use an earlier version of these Bose earbuds every single time I fly, but also on long train trips or when I doom-scroll and don’t want to wake my husband.

Noise-cancelling headphones come in wired form or wireless, over-ear or earbuds. Wireless is probably safest as a gift because pretty much all the phones, tablets and laptops can deal with Bluetooth, while there are several different sorts of plugs for wired headphones.

3. Universal adapter

Every world traveler needs a universal adapter. This picture is the one I use, and it does the job. It goes with me on every trip outside the EU. It would be an especially good present for someone who is going to a foreign country for the first time!

These days it’s not just your phone that you need to charge. You might also have a portable modem, a smartwatch, an e-reader, a power bank, or a tablet that needs charging. With this adapter you can plug in your home plug and plug it in in the EU, the UK (as shown), the US or Australia. In addition, it has four charger slots (on the bottom which you can’t see in this photo): two for USB-A devices and two USB-C slots.

If you’re giving this to someone from the US, tell them that if they want to use other sorts of electrical devices, such as a hairdryer, they’ll also need a power converter like this one. If you plug a hairdryer or curler from the US into a 220V power supply, like most of the world uses, you’ll fry it. An adapter like this is only for electronics that can handle 220V. Please tell them this when you give it to them!

4. Power bank

I also always carry a power bank with me in my handbag whether I’m traveling or at home. My phone is a couple of years old and apps like Google Maps, which I use a lot, burns through the battery very quickly. So does taking lots of pictures or especially video. Carrying a power bank makes it easy to charge the battery even when I’m on the move.

The one I have now (after two others overheated and died) seems good: it lasted through two months in the “Stans,” getting used and recharged several times a week. That’s not long enough for me to recommend it, though.

Power banks come in different sizes indicated by mAh or milliampere hours. The number – usually between 3,000 and 20,000 – indicates the capacity of the power bank. My 10,000 mAh power bank can charge my phone fully almost twice, which is useful if you end up in a place with on-again off-again electricity. Some power banks can charge more than one device at once.

The problem is that the more capacity the power bank has, the heavier it tends to be. It’ll also be more expensive. Any travel enthusiast can use one of these!

I’d suggest not buying anything bigger than 10,000 because airlines are beginning to limit what sizes are allowed on board, given their occasional tendency to overheat.

5. Portable luggage scale

A luggage scale is a very useful item for any avid traveler. Many airlines, particularly the budget carriers, weigh passengers’ luggage to make sure they’re within the prescribed limits. If your travel-loving friends try to travel with carry-on bags only, it’s really easy to go over the weight limits, which is why it’s a good idea to get them a luggage scale. 

I’m still using an old-fashioned analog scale, but then, I don’t buy souvenirs. If your friend or family member likes to shop when they travel, I’d suggest choosing one of the digital ones because they’re lightweight and small. They can take it along to weigh their luggage before flying home again. It’s even better if it has the built-in tape measure to make sure their luggage still fits within the airline’s limits.

Useful travel products

1. PacSafe backpack

I received one of PacSafe’s backpacks as a gift back in 2020 and I’ve used it on every trip since then to carry my laptop and as my under-seat bag when I fly. In the pictures below, it looks like the color has faded in the 6+ years since then, but every feature works exactly the same as when I first got it.

I’m very impressed with PacSafe’s attention to detail. The material has a wire mesh inside it, making it impossible to slash and grab. It has a fancy locking system for the zippers, even the one on the outside that is most likely to be targeted by a pickpocket.

This 25-liter size is perfect for an under-seat bag. It holds, on a typical trip, all of the following: my laptop (a Surface) with its cords, sometimes a Remodius portable monitor, a small notebook and/or a book, my toiletries bag, my earbuds in their case, a power bank, a clean shirt and underwear, my camera, and assorted snacks, as well as a water bottle in one of the outside pockets.

2. Luggage

My current favorite carry-on bag is from Level8. You can read my review of it here, but the short version is that I particularly like that it is top-loading. It lies on its side and I can open the lid to access everything. It weathered our two-month trip in the “Stans” perfectly, including going through the rigors of luggage handling when I checked it on the way home instead of using it as a carry-on.

If you want a less expensive and more traditional clamshell-style bag, try a Samsonite like the one I used until recently. I bought it in November 2024, and it’s still in perfectly good shape. It’s my husband’s primary bag now, or I’ll use it if I need a second bag. They don’t make that particular model anymore, but you can see a range of Samsonite carry-on bags here.

Before the Samsonite, I used a somewhat larger Eagle Creek convertible backpack-roller bag that I reviewed back in 2015. I’ve used it ever since, though only as a roller bag these days. The wheels gave out in 2021, or rather, they still worked, but the rubber had worn off so it felt rough. I put new wheels on and still use it occasionally, though the new wheels wobble a bit. Everything else about it still works perfectly. It had a good run; Eagle Creek makes durable, rugged luggage.

Eagle Creek doesn’t make that particular one anymore, but here are their latest convertible bags.

Are you thinking of buying some other kind of luggage? A roller bag or a duffel, for example? Here are plenty of luggage options.

If you’re totally overwhelmed with the choices, you can always give a luggage gift card!

3. Compression packing cubes

I use compression packing cubes every single time I travel. They don’t just help me keep my clothes organized – shirts in one, pants in another, underwear in another, etc. They also help compact my clothes far more than I normally could. Place the items in the bag, nicely folded or rolled, and zip it closed, flattening it. Then, using a second zipper, flatten it even more. It squeezes the pile to about half its original size. 

My current favorites are by a Dutch company called Reismonkey. They’ve come up with a genius idea: each compression pack has an opening on both sides. One side is for clean clothes and the other for dirty. The material between the two sides shifts depending on how much each side is holding. I used these on the “Stans” trip for the first time and they held up perfectly.

Take a look at my article on minimalist packing – or pass the link to the person you’re giving the packing cubes to – for lots more advice on how to pack as little as possible. For most trips I use only an under-seat bag (the Pacsafe described above) and one carry-on bag for in the overhead compartment. Packing cubes help me accomplish this.

Keep in mind that, while packing cubes will definitely help you fit more clothing into your luggage, they won’t reduce the weight of that clothing. Warn your travel-loving gift recipient that they should keep an eye on the weight of their luggage so they don’t end up with extra fees from the airline! See my recommendation for a portable luggage scale above!

Ekster has a very different take on packing cubes, though I haven’t tried them yet. Their new product is a vacuum-sealable bag that you fill, then shrink down using a small, portable, rechargeable air pump. They claim that you can fit up to 60% more in your bag with these.

Again, I’d keep in mind the warning that the contents still weigh just as much!

4. Reusable travel cutlery

Minimal makes this an unusual and inexpensive gift that would be good for a traveler who tends to picnic rather than eat in restaurants. It reminds me of when I traveled across Europe with a friend over a summer in college, and we mostly lived on bread, cheese and fruit that we bought cheaply at grocery stores. This cutlery set would have made it easier! And it would have prevented us from creating so much plastic-cutlery trash.

The stainless-steel spoon, knife and fork nest together in a plastic container, making it easy to take along. I haven’t tried it out yet on a trip, but it seems a better gift than a pocket knife. What I can’t be sure of yet is whether the knife would make it through security at an airport; I know from experience that a pocket knife will be confiscated. This knife is very dull, with a very shallow serration on one side of the blade. But it is solid stainless steel, so they might not accept it. Unlike with a pocket knife, you could leave the knife home and take the spoon and fork along.

Even cheaper and distinctly lighter is Minimal’s rice husk set. It has no knife; only a spoon and fork, which, in my view, is a disadvantage. But its light weight would be good for someone who travels carry-on only.

I know everybody uses apps these days, but an old-fashioned travel map can be a great gift for someone planning out the trip of a lifetime!

Take a look at Map Geek for lots of maps to choose from!

6. Go City Pass

If the person you’re shopping for is planning a visit to one of the very popular tourist cities covered by Go City passes, they would undoubtedly appreciate one of these passes. You decide which kind you think your loved one would like: choose the number of attractions it includes over a set period of time, or choose all-inclusive so they can choose the attractions, but you decide how many days you want to pay for.

Assuming they visit several museums or attractions, a Go City pass will cost less than paying separately for each – especially since if you buy someone a pass as a gift, they’re paying nothing at all! Just add their name and email address when you order the pass.

7. Compression socks

This one isn’t such a “whizzy” gift, but it’s a good one! Compression socks are supposed to help prevent the development of clots leading to deep vein thrombosis after long flights. I’m not a medical person, so I have no idea to what extent they help, but many people wear them on long-haul flights, especially us older folks. I have a pair I picked up randomly at Schiphol airport, and half the time I forget to wear them. Maybe I wouldn’t forget them so easily if I had a brightly-colored pair like some of the ones at Irv’s Luggage – they’re much more fun!

8. Serenity tray organizer

If you’ve ever fallen down the rabbit hole of reading horror stories from flight attendants, you know that people do some pretty disgusting things on planes. Without going into detail, let’s just say the tray tables aren’t always so clean. The seatback pockets are even less so.

That’s why the tray organizer by Serenity appeals to me. You just slip it over the tray table, close the tray back up, and you have plentiful pockets. When you want to use the tray to eat, leave it on and use it like a tablecloth. After your trip, you can throw it in the wash.

When you empty and fold it, the organizer takes very little room. I like using this when I fly because it means not only that I don’t have to worry about the filthy tray table, but also everything is right there, whether the tray is up or down.

They also make a seat organizer: it’s like a slip cover for your seat on the plane, with pockets at the bottom behind your feet. It seems like a good idea, given how dirty the seats can be!

I haven’t used it much yet, but it seems like a great idea, so why not? Enter the discount code RACHEL for a 15% discount on your order!

10. A food tour from Eating Europe

This one is perfect if you’re looking for a present for a foodie – and really, who isn’t a foodie? If your foodie is planning to travel in Europe, a gift card from Eating Europe would be a wonderful gift!

They offer tours in 23 cities across Europe. Read my review of an Eating Europe tour in Amsterdam.

Cosmetics for travel

1. Eezysun

If your loved one is traveling somewhere sunny and/or buggy, Eezy Sun has a very useful product that would make a thoughtful small gift or stocking stuffer.

It’s a combined lotion: SPF50 sunscreen which also works as an insect repellent. And it’s sold either in the form of individually packaged wipes or in a 100-ml bottle. That’s the largest size that airlines allow in carry-on luggage, so it’s perfect! I haven’t tried it yet, so I can’t personally vouch for it, but it sounds like a great product.

2. WOO World of Oils

WOO World of Oils‘ products for hair and/or skin are good quality oils, ethically sourced and packaged in metal cans.

All of the cans hold the maximum liquid allowed in carry-on luggage – 100ml or 3.4oz. – and because they’re square, they’re more efficient to pack than round bottles. Take a look at their “passport box,” if you can’t decide which one to give!

Gifts that are good for travel and at home

1. Ekster wallet

This one isn’t really specifically for travel, but everyone needs a wallet, right? And this wallet is unlike other wallets.

I received this wallet as a gift from Ekster. I was planning to give it to my husband, but then when I received it I liked it so much I had to keep it! Eventually I went ahead and bought him his own!

You know how, when you have a pile of credit cards and bank cards in your wallet, it’s sometimes difficult to find the specific one you’re looking for since they’re all squeezed in together? The Ekster wallet makes it extra easy to access your cards. See that black thing at the bottom left of the Ekster? All you have to do is push on that, and your cards pop up at the top, staggered so you can see each one separately. 

I’ve been using mine since 2021 and it shows no signs of wear and tear. This would make a great gift – for travel or not!

2. SCOTTeVEST

SCOTTeVEST makes clothing for men and women – jackets, vests, pants and tops – with lots of extra pockets. Many of the pockets are on the inside, making them very hard to pickpocket and very easy to take through airport security. 

Read my separate review of SCOTTeVEST (Yes, that’s how it’s written.) if you want more detail. I’ll just say that I wear them at home and abroad all through the fall, winter and spring. At home I might carry a handbag, but abroad I can carry my wallet, phone, passport and meds in the coat’s many inside pockets. It keeps them safe and leaves both hands free for taking pictures. More recently, they’ve added some lightweight vests to their collection that might work for summers as well.

Make sure to order a size up to allow for the added bulk of the things whoever you give it to will undoubtedly carry in all those pockets.

3. The Travel Book, by Lonely Planet

If the person you’re shopping for has a real itch to travel, the first thing I’d suggest is Lonely Planet’s The Travel Book. I’ve been given this book twice: once from my colleagues when I quit my “real job” and then a few years later from a friend. It’s a gorgeous coffee-table book with information and beautiful photos from every country in the world. I could spend hours dreaming my way through it – and I have!

Fortunately it’s out in paperback now, so it’s more affordable. Because of its large size, it’s not something to take along on a trip – it’s for thinking about travel and choosing destinations.

4. Guidebooks

A pretty classic gift for a traveler is a guidebook, but it’s also very welcome. While nowadays you can look up pretty much anything online, an old-fashioned, printed-on-paper guidebook is, in many ways, easier. You can write in it, circle things, fold down pages, and so on.

For any longer trip, I get a guidebook long beforehand, pore over it to decide what I want to see, and then take it along to refer to along the way. The problem is that they’re not cheap these days! So a gift of a guidebook would definitely be appreciated! I prefer Rough Guides or Lonely Planet because they don’t waste too much space on photos, packing more information in.

5. Cards, notebooks, phone cases, etc.

At Redbubble I have a small shop based on my favorite photos. Choose the photo you like and you’ll see a range of different items printed with the photo: a spiral notebook, for example, or coasters for drinks, phone cases or framed pictures to hang on the wall.

When I first set the shop up, I ordered a few items, just to see if the quality is good. It is. In the photo below you can see a spiral notebook and a small picture to hang on the wall. Check out my shop on Redbubble to see lots more choices: more photos and more different items.

If there’s a particular picture on Rachel’s Ruminations that you’d like to see in the Redbubble shop, let me know. I can add it to the shop very easily.

And if you just can’t decide …

Get a gift card! On Giftcards.com you can choose a gift card for a specific store, but what would be most useful is to give a Visa card with a preloaded balance. (I wouldn’t recommend a Mastercard for Europe – it’s not accepted in as many places as a Visa.) Or you can give a gift card that’s valid for any of the 450+ brands they work with, so the person you’re giving it to can make their own choice.

If you get a Visa card, you can even personalize it with a picture you upload, or with any of dozens of designs they offer. It only costs a few dollars extra.

Please suggest any other special and unique travel gifts that you think should be included in this list!