The holidays are here, so it’s time to start shopping for the travelers on your list! But let’s be honest for a second: it can be so hard to buy something for a traveler that they don’t already have or will actually use. Chances are, the first few things that come to mind are items they already have. So what do you get the person that has everything? Well, that’s where my holiday gift guide will give you a helping hand.
I’ve compiled a short but sweet gift guide of items that I’ve found to be fun, different, and useful so you can nail this year’s Christmas gifts!
A Quick Note About These Gift Guide Items
I wanted to be very transparent about how I found and chose the gifts I’m featuring today. Every item on here is something that I use frequently and genuinely enjoy.
They come from a variety of sources, including things I bought for myself and loved, as well as creative gifts that others got for me.
But there are also items from previous collaborations I’ve done this year. By that, I mean I worked with these brands in the past and completely fulfilled my obligation to them, so I am not at all being paid to show you them today. I just loved them so much that I wanted to share them, and I genuinely believe they would make fantastic gifts. The brands don’t even know I’m telling you about their products today.
I also received two items specifically for showcasing in my yearly gift guide. I get a lot of emails this time of year (like a lot a lot), from brands that want me to write about their products in this gift guide. But I turn down about 99% of them because it’s crucial that I only share items relevant to my audience and that I can physically try before I recommend them. I don’t want my name on something cheap! This year, I only accepted two items for this post because that’s all that I felt would be truly applicable and could test before the gift guide went live.
Lastly, I have a couple of items that I bought for myself on Amazon and linked to my Amazon storefront. If you buy through my link, I’ll get a small commission. 🙂
If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to drop a comment below or email me directly at [email protected].
My 2023 Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers!
Taos Direction Sneakers
I love a good pair of travel shoes–especially when they come with a broken-in feel and tons of support. Taos Direction Sneakers fit that bill perfectly.
They’re classified as “wellness shoes,” thanks to their arch and metatarsal support, making walking easy for miles without achy feet or joints.
Some other perks include:
- Collapsable heel
- Antimicrobial shield
- Moisture-wicking fabric
- Lightweight but durable construction
These have quickly become my go-to shoes for travel days and every day because they’re just so comfy! They also go with everything because of their neutral color scheme. They are the only shoes I wore on my entire Ireland trip, and they stayed comfortable through walks, hikes, and 9-hour flights.
These are a perfect gift for any traveler who likes to hit the trails or the streets whenever they’re on a trip, so they’re my top gift guide choice!
You can get them at Taos.com for $150.
Lovevook Anti-Theft Backpack
I know I talk about this backpack a lot…but it’s just so good! If your traveler likes to explore countries or cities where petty theft is a problem, this backpack is the solution!
This backpack has great anti-theft features, like a TSA-approved combination lock on the main compartment and multiple hidden pockets (both inside and out).
But it’s also incredibly spacious and has tons of pockets and compartments (including a padded laptop sleeve and tablet sleeve), which means it’s great for organization.
This is my go-to bag for travel because it makes the perfect personal item on planes and seamlessly transitions to a day bag when I reach my destination. It’s also waterproof, which gives me great peace of mind when carrying my electronics around. And it even has a luggage strap to slip onto my carry-on!
I cannot say enough good things about this bag, which is why it’s one of my top recommendations for any traveler!
It’s currently on sale for $30 on Amazon, with an extra 10% off coupon. 😉
LINK Necklace
If you’ve ever reached your destination only to discover all your necklaces have all fused themselves in one massive knot…you know the value in only packing one. That’s why I felt LINK necklaces deserved a spot in the gift guide this year!
I like LINK necklaces because they are incredibly versatile, and you only need one to make tons of combinations! My LINK necklace has two charms, one chain, and two extenders, and I can create over ten styles with it! It makes it super-easy to accessorize all the outfits I pack with just one necklace.
I also like that they’re completely customizable, so they make a personal gift. You can choose from all sorts of different pendants, including birthstones, charms, words, icons, and more! So, no matter what your traveler resonates with, you can make this necklace perfect for them!
They’re currently running a 30% off sale for Black Friday. But if you miss the deal, use CARRIE35627 to get $10 off any order over $50.
Wander Trails Clothes & Decor
As a traveler, I love clothes and home decor that remind me of my travels or being in nature. It’s my version of having a favorite sports team, haha. But it’s been a while since I found a brand that I really resonated with regarding design and price. So, I was thrilled to learn about Wander Trails.
This new company creates nature-inspired clothing and decor with a big emphasis on sustainability! Each product sold plants a tree and rescues a plastic bottle through Greenspark. Plus, they use carbon-neutral shipping, and each item is made to order, so there’s no waste.
As far as products go, I love the designs, comfort, and quality of their clothes! I’ve been wearing my Take a Hike sweatshirt and Paws & Peaks hoodie pretty much non-stop since they arrived because they’re so perfect for cold weather. They’d all make great gifts for anyone who likes to be out in nature, so I knew I had to include them in this year’s gift guide.
Wander Trails is currently offering up to 50% off sitewide for Black Friday, plus free shipping over $55 and a free mug at $100.
Fetch & Carry Travel Bag from Tito’s Closet
The next item on my holiday gift guide is for the pet parents out there. If they’re still using plastic bags to carry their dog’s stuff, make it stop!
This Fetch & Carry Travel Bag is the best solution I’ve found for traveling with my dog. Not only does it keep my hands free, but it’s super-spacious, sturdy, and thoughtfully designed. For example, a bottom zipper compartment gives direct access to the insulted food containers without digging through the bag. And the detachable treat/poop bag pouch turns into a shoulder bag. And the adjustable interior divider lets me customize how I want the bag to be organized. I can go on and on because every time I use it, I discover another thing to love about it!
The bag comes with two insulated food containers, a scoop, and two collapsible bowls (one is a maze feeder). They also have a great bundle that includes three microfiber towels, a stainless steel water bottle with a treat compartment, a box of poop bags, and a doggie seatbelt.
They’re also running a Black Friday sale with tiered discounts!
Xplorer Maps Tote Bag
An Xplorer Maps tote bag is one of my favorite gift guide ideas for this year! This goes back to everyday items that showcase a love for travel or a particular place.
Xplorer Maps is a small family-owned business that creates hand-drawn, illustrated maps and turns them into blankets, tote bags, and home decor! After my Colorado trip, I got the Colorado tote bag. I love looking at all the little details, seeing the illustrations of places I’ve visited, and remembering my close encounter with an elk!
They have maps from all over, including many U.S. destinations and states, national parks, and a few worldwide choices. This would make such a thoughtful gift for a traveler who loved visiting a particular destination. It’s like an extra souvenir, but one they can always use.
Everything they offer is also extremely affordable, especially considering it takes weeks for them to hand-draw these maps. Their spacious and sturdy tote bags are only $24.99, so they’re great even if you’re on a budget!
Subtl Beauty Stack
One of the hardest things to pack can be a makeup routine. The items just aren’t made to be TSA-friendly, and it can be such a pain to try to downsize items–even the non-liquid ones. That’s why Subtl Beauty Stacks make such phenomenal gifts!
A Stack is a full makeup routine in the palm of your hand. Each stack can be fully customized based on makeup preferences, or you can buy a pre-made stack based on skin tone. The makeup levels twist onto the stack to connect, so you can mix and match what’s in your stack at any time.
Each makeup item is cream or powder, so you never have to deal with liquids, and every order comes with an innovative adjustable brush.
It makes carry-on travel (and regular travel) so simple. If you’re not sure what skin tone to get, I’d highly recommend opting for a gift card instead so your traveler can customize their own stack!
Premade stacks start around $25, and you get an automatic discount for buying a pre-made one vs. customing piece by piece.
Dry Bag
The next item on my gift guide is an extremely useful gift that your traveler may not have yet: a dry bag. This is the perfect gift for someone who likes to hit the beach, do water activities, or visit rainy countries.
If you don’t know what a dry bag is, it’s a waterproof bag that seals with extra air inside, so it floats if it ever gets lost. These come in all different sizes, but I like a 20L version for all-day adventures and changes of clothes. For the particular one I chose, I also wanted two straps so I could wear it backpack style rather than crossbody, so I went with the 20L.
At just $20 for a 20L bag, this is a very affordable gift that can save them a lot of grief down the road. I’ve used my Marchway dry bag while whitewater rafting in Costa Rica and snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands, and it’s kept my items safe and dry every time. The only thing I don’t love about this one is the lack of organization. But I’d say any dry bag with good ratings would be a solid gift choice.
Conquest Canvas Map
For another gift that sparks some wanderlust but can be used at home, check out Conquest Maps.
My mother-in-law gifted me one for my birthday this year, and she definitely hit the target with it! This beautiful canvas world map is personalized to me and Daniel and allows us to pin all the places we’ve visited and the ones we’re heading to. It even has a tiny “home” pin!
It’s not a new concept, but it’s one of the nicest I’ve ever seen. I had a poster-style one previously, but this is 10x better. It’s also a great size and looks so pretty on my office wall!
They’re currently offering up to $110 off holiday gift bundles with additional savings across the site.
Finders Seekers Subscription
Another great gift my mother-in-law gets credit for is Finders Seekers. This is a monthly mystery box subscription, but each storyline takes place in a different country or city!
Daniel and I loved doing these in-between adventures because they were fun and gave us little insights into each place! We especially had a blast with the Barcelona box because we had just visited, and it brought back some great memories.
I was extremely impressed by everything about these boxes. The puzzles were very innovative, and each box took us a few days to work through. The quality of items was also fantastic, and each box had multiple tools you could keep and use afterward, like argyle socks for Scotland and a metal multi-tool from the New Zealand mystery. Each box also came with a pretty poster of the location.
This is another gift that your traveler will enjoy at home but will definitely spark some wanderlust at the same time!
Boxes start at $30 month by month, but you save more the longer your subscription term.
Bootleg Bath Products
Last but not least on my gift guide is Bootleg Bath. This company creates organic and eco-friendly solid bath products that also smell amazing!
I love solid bath products for a few reasons. In general, they make tremendous gifts for travelers because solid products are a breeze to travel with, and you get so many uses out of them compared to a travel-sized version. I also love how solid products reduce plastic and water waste.
As far as Bootleg Bath goes, they have a few great perks going for their brand specifically.
First, their ingredients are organic, vegan, and natural, which I know many people are looking for these days. Additionally, their bars are Palm Oil-Free, Phthalate-Free, Sulphate-Free, and Cruelty-Free, with carbon-neutral shipping and packaging. I really appreciate their emphasis on sustainability. And I know this is a big pain point for many other travelers, too.
Finally, these bars smell soooo good! Their scents tie into the Bootleg theme with fruity cocktail-inspired scents. I tried their Margarita exfoliating bar, mint and citrus Mojito shampoo, and woodsy Speakeasy conditioner, and I loved how my hair and shower smelled. I don’t even drink, but something about the fresh scents just felt like vacation!
They’re running a 20% off sale on Amazon for Black Friday/Cyber Monday from Nov. 22-29, 2023.
Closing Thoughts on this 2023 Holiday Gift Guide
Hopefully, this list helped spark some ideas for the traveler on your list! Each of these items would make a fantastic gift. And since they fall into such a wide price range, there’s something for every budget. If you have questions on any of the items, please leave them in the comment section, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
I also created a YouTube video about the items in this gift guide so you can see them from different angles and get a better idea of their perks.
For more ideas on unique and helpful travel gadgets, I’d recommend these posts:
- The Best Travel Accessories & Brands of 2023- Part 1
- Pawfect Holiday Gifts For Pet Parents From Uproot Clean
And if you’re the kind of person who wants to go all out and gift a vacation (even to yourself), check out this post about Exoticca. They’re running a huge early Black Friday sale with up to 70% off their full vacation packages. When you use my link, you can save $100 off your first booking, too!
Thanks for stopping by to read this post, and I hope you’ll be back to join us for more adventures before the year is out! If you’re not subscribed to the blog, you can do it below for free and never miss another adventure.
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Happy holidays and happy travels.
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