The 47 Best Travel Gift Ideas, According to Frequent Travelers

This “Capri Sun for adults” is designed to be rolled up and stashed until needed, then clipped to the outside of your bag using the included carabiner. It’s much easier than trying to shove a Hydro Flask into a cross-body bag.

Every time I take a trip without some sort of laundry detergent, I regret it. Hotel sink-ready sachets of Tide will allow your traveler to wash underwear and socks while on the road, which means they don’t have to pack as many pairs and can save space for souvenirs.

The board game version of The Settlers of Catan definitely isn’t designed to be played at 30,000 feet, but this portable dice-based one is easier to learn and faster paced. It has a single-player mode, which means it’s a nice gift for solo travelers, too.

Your traveler probably isn’t going all the way to space, but they will still appreciate having a reliable pen in their bag for filling out arrival forms, journaling, or completing crosswords. This leakproof astronaut-tested one will write on any surface, in all weather conditions, and at any cabin pressure.

After a leaking-water-bottle incident in Rome that resulted in a Baggu full of soggy Ibuprofen, I no longer travel without a waterproof pill case. This one from Matador has an airtight seal and seven compartments, and the metal shell means it cannot be crushed in transit.

I like this simple and lightweight travel clothesline from Sea to Summit that doesn’t require additional pegs.

If they are loyal to their Curaprox, several other Strategist staffers and I are obsessed with these clip-on protectors that’ll keep those expensive bristles in perfect condition and are compatible with most kinds of manual and electric toothbrushes.

Slathering this rich cream on postflight is a beauty trick we learned from actress Hari Nef. I’m a fan too and have used it to look glowy even immediately after a series of long-haul flights to Australia.

An ideal gift for anyone who meticulously plans their vacation fits, Conair’s travel steamer has the useful feature of working with 120-volt U.S. outlets and 220-volt outlets, which are more common worldwide. Strategist writer Erin Schwartz says it heats up in about 36 seconds and emits a fine, gauzy hiss of steam that unwrinkled a pair of wool pants easily.

Laundry is important, but on the more fun side of things, here’s a high-quality Bluetooth speaker that they can clip to their backpack for portable party tunes.

They can keep their cords and chargers organized in this clever case from Calpak. “I like the sleek profile and multiple pockets for stashing bigger cords,” says Strategist contributing writer Berit Baugher, who took hers on a recent trip to Paris with her 3-year-old.

A powerful portable charger makes vacations far less stressful, especially if your smartphone is your main camera. I like this one because it plugs directly into the wall and has both USB-A and USB-C.

Save the frequent flier in your life from watching a Christopher Nolan movie with tinny airline earbuds by instead using this adapter that’ll connect the in-flight entertainment system to their Bluetooth headphones. It changes lives.

Athletic travelers will appreciate the packing solution offered by this two-in-one foam-roller water bottle. My fellow Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa has taken his on trips to Texas, Chicago, Boulder, and Arkansas, where he “happily rolled out at various Airbnbs, hotel rooms, and airport gates.”

Decanting toiletries can be a messy undertaking — and in my experience, it’s especially annoying if you’re already running late to the airport. Cadence’s leakproof set of magnetized containers makes the whole process much easier, and numerous color options mean they’re definitely cute enough to gift.

Less sporty-looking than a belt bag and with considerably more storage, I would be lost in the airport without Baggu’s cross-body Crescent bag. Hairstylist Teddi Cranford says hers came in especially handy when browsing the souks in Marrakech.

The lightest and most compact Kindle model is perfectly packable, which is why it recently earned a spot on our “Strategist Travel 100.” As our tech writer Jordan McMahon — who has tried out every Kindle since 2013 — notes, the six-inch display makes it especially easy to stuff into the front pocket of a backpack.

Bulky over-ear headphones can be tricky to pack, though, which is why your gift recipient might also appreciate a pair of noise-canceling AirPods Pro. After extensive testing, we can confirm what you might have already heard from your friends, nephews, cousins, and probably even grandparents: These things are great.

Portable translator devices have gotten really, really good over the past couple of years. I’ve recently been testing out this one, which I think is the best of the bunch because it comes with unlimited lifetime data (no need to find Wi-Fi!) and translates 108 languages in 200 different countries.

If they’ve already got a standard carry-on suitcase, here’s a clever upgrade with a set of compression compartments that unfold to create a makeshift closet — eliminating the need to unpack into a real closet.

This statusy lanyard passport-holder would make an excellent present for the forgetful frequent traveler. Director Baz Luhrmann identifies as such: He told us he purchased his after failing to bring his passport to the airport and missing a Cannes opening ceremony.

Sweatpant-averse fliers will appreciate these stretchy flares that can be worn both in transit and out to dinner. Yolo Journal’s Yolanda Edwards dons her pair on every single plane, and says their fabric is optimal for long-haul comfort: “It’s thick cotton with a lot of Lycra, but it’s not a legging, so you don’t feel like you’re wearing exercise clothes.”