Best gifts for people who love travel
I wanted to do a roundup of thoughtful Christmas gift ideas for those who are looking for inspiration for less obvious but useful gifts, gifts with soul and a purpose. So these gift ideas are not just for Christmas but for 365 days of the year and the perfect gifts for anyone who loves travel.
1. TESSAN Universal Travel Adapter with 2 USB C and 2 USB A Ports (Fast Charging PD 17W)
TESSAN Universal Travel Adapter, perfect for using as a plug in Europe, USA, UK and also in Asia
If you are tired of carrying too many travel adapters, the TESSAN universal travel adapter is the perfect Christmas gift for you or for a friend who loves travel. You can use this for any EU/US/UK plug and plug this into all of those types of outlets. The addition of 2 USB and 2 USB-C ports adds versatility. An added benefit is that it is compact and lightweight so perfect for traveling with. If you end up with only one available outlet in an airport or hotel, you can still charge/plug in multiple devices with this adapter. I have had the hassle of carrying too many adapters in the past so this universal adapter is a godsend and really eliminated the need to carry many adapters. The adapter costs $20.99 and has been a great addition to our travel accessories.
2. Trip Chaser card game
Trip Chaser is a portable, travel-themed card game created by world travelers Dalene and Pete Heck that tests players’ travel savvy by having them earn points by visiting destinations, managing money, and navigating real-life travel events, all through buying, bartering, and strategy in a compact, packable format. The goal is to accumulate the most points by reaching more difficult, farther-flung locations, making it a fun, strategic game for families and travelers aged 10+
Plus, when someone buys a Trip Chaser game, Pete and Dalene will plant one tree (and thanks to Ecodrive, they get verification when this is done) and have planted 1500 trees so far during this holiday season. So, if you’re looking for a gift for the traveller in your life, and if you want to feel good doing so, hop over to the Trip Chaser website.
3. Gluten free travel cards for celiac friends
Jodi’s gluten free travel cards are the perfect Christmas gift for helping any celiac friend eat safely, anywhere in the world. The cards were created by the wonderful Jodi Ettenburg of Legal Nomads fame who has traveled across the world with celiac disease. She decided to create her own set of cards, more longer and more detailed, with special mention of cross-contact, an issue that got her ‘glutened’ around the globe. As of 2025, Jodi is offering gluten free travel cards in 21 languages with several others (Swedish, Nepali, Bahasa Indonesia, Sinhala, Tamil, etc.) in the works for this year. These cards will help your celiac friends and loved ones stay safer when they travel. Plus, they are instantly downloadable in both PNG and printable PDF file formats.
You can purchase Jodi’s gluten free travel cards from Gumroad
4. The world’s best travel scarf– Speakeasy Travel Supply
This is another favourite travel accessory which has been handy on my travels. Given my bitter experience of having my mobile phone and passport stolen, I always fret about where to keep my passport or phone when travelling. Pockets—no. Rucksack—maybe but still has drawbacks. I hate money belts and pouch bags—I find them really cumbersome and not elegant. Step forward the Speakeasy scarf. This is a smart innovation from my good blogger friends, Bethany and Randy at BeersandBeans.com They’ve created these beautiful scarves, handmade with different patterns that come with hidden pockets invisible to the public eye where you can stash some of your travel money, passport or even a little guidebook. Super handy plus very stylish—this scarf will be a regular on my future travels. Highly recommend. You get your speakeasy scarf for as little as $54.99 from their website.
5. Books with a difference: Gestalten
If you are looking to gift a friend a book, something creative and inspiring, whether it is architecture, visual culture, design & fashion, escapism, food & beverages, and of course travel, then I would strongly suggest you buy them a book or voucher from Berlin based publisher, Gestalten. Enriched with stunning imagery and analysis, their books are a true joy to read. I might be a little biased because they are also my publisher of my book—’The Grand Hostels: Luxury Hostels of the World’ which would also make a great gift for Xmas.
The 117 ‘luxury’ design hostels in this book are each an amazing experience, a portal to a great adventure. From outdoor swimming pools to rooftop dinners, co-working spaces to Spanish cooking lessons, the services and facilities on offer are outstanding. And all can be enjoyed from the convenience of a private room or if budgets don’t permit, stylish design dorms. These Grand Hostels will provide you with insights beyond just price and location. The hostels featured are perfect for foodies, outdoors-types, and digital nomads alike, as well as for short city breaks. The English edition currently retails at 25 GBP while the German edition is on sale for just €9.99 via the gestalten website.
6. Traingift
If you are looking to give a friend or loved one the perfect travel themed gift, especially if they love train travel, then Traingift is the website you have been looking for. Traingift works with all the main train companies in the UK that includes the Caledonian Sleeper and also European train companies that include Deutsche Bahn, Italo, Eurostar and also Eurail. The vouchers are easy to purchase and can be sent in PDF format so perfect for a last minute Christmas gift.
7. Buy an Interrail pass from just €159
With all the hidden charges and extras, low cost airline carriers have made the Interrail pass one of the best value travel deals in travel.
I travelled with a 7 day, 1 month Interrail pass for €286 for the month of June back in 2024. On any travel day, you can travel in any direction for as long as you want. These unlimited travel passes work out to be just €35 per day for adults or €26 for young people under the age of 28 which is great value. Plus, worth remembering that children under 12 get a free pass when accompanied by an adult pass holder. The pass offers great flexibility when choosing trains compared to cheaper non refundable tickets. I found it very handy, especially when you consider the amount of rail disruption we have with Germany with Deutsche Bahn this summer. Plus, there is no extra fees for luggage so that is a big plus for any form of rail travel. One thing you have to be aware of is that many trains nowadays need a reservation which is an extra cost and hassle to organise but necessary, especially for trains in France, Italy and Spain.
Plus, at the moment there is an extra 25% off Interrail passes until 17th December which means it costs only €215 for a 7 day pass while a 4 day pass now is only €159—such a good deal!
8. Perfect carry on hand luggage for Ryanair or easyJet
For the perfect easyJet or Ryanair carry on hand luggage option ideal for a short trip that fits within the 40x20x25 cm checkout my friend Monica Stott aka the Travel Hack’s stylish Travel Hack Stowaway Ladies Cabin Backpack which you can travel for free with Ryanair.
The features of the Travel Hack Stowaway Ladies Cabin Backpack include:
-A laptop sleeve compatible for devices up to 13″.
-An easy access top pocket where you can store passport, purses, phones and essential travel documents.
-A pretty decent 20L internal capacity.
There is also a holder for your water bottle and a strap on the rear panel to combine effortlessly with any rolling luggage.
Price: The Travel Hack Stowaway Ladies Cabin Backpack retails at €39.99 via Amazon UK
For more inspiration for carry on backpacks luggage for Ryanair and easyJet, checkout this article.
