Essential Purchases for an Upcoming Journey
Informal Travel Gifts for the Wanderlust Buddies
Are you stumped about what to gift your pal who's about to take off on an epic voyage? Maybe they're ditching their desk job for a globetrotting adventure, or they're raiding the attic for a backpacking bonanza. Regardless, picking a cool, functional gift can be challenging when they'll soon be living out of a shoebox-sized loft. Fortunately, there are some splendid gift ideas tailor-made for travelers to carry along the way.
To make it easier, I've grouped these presents into three categories:
- Personal and Whimsical Presents for Globetrotters
- Functional and Useful Gifts for Vagabonds
- Something a Little off the Beaten Path
Personal and Whimsical Presents for Globetrotters
Memento Notebook
Cost: From $3
When I bid farewell to my cubicle life to embark on my first backpacking trip, my coworkers gave me a heartwarming token - a quirky little notebook, complete with a fold-out compartment for preserving travel memories like souvenir tickets or pressed flowers. Inside, they scribbled sweet messages and affixed a group photo. It was a humble, yet touching, present.
These purpose-built notebooks can be hard to come by, but you can effortlessly personalize one by attaching an envelope to the back of a charming journal.
Personalized Sunnies
Cost: $42
Personalized travel gifts are always a home run, and what better than a must-have item? That's why I'm smitten with my personalized sunglasses from Bags of Love! For just $42, you can custom design a pair of shades, using your own photo or pattern. I had a set made with my blog's logo and hue, and they're groovy! You could use a pattern or image symbolic of your friendship, or even an inside joke, a song lyric, or a motivational quote. With these personalized sunnies gracing your friend's face daily, you'll never be far from their thoughts - that's an incredible travel gift!
Personalized Toiletries Kit
Cost: From $12
Talking of personalizing things, another practical item is a washbag or cosmetics case. Bags of Love lets you slap a picture of you and your buddy on a photo wash bag, so they'll think of you whenever they're brushing their teeth! Alternatively, there's a wide range of beautiful personalized washbags at Not on the High Street that allow you to add your friend's name or a special message. It's a heartwarming, useful travel present idea!
Clip-On Lenses
Cost: $110 - $560
Phone cameras are becoming so good that they sometimes rival dedicated cameras. A set of clip-on lenses from Olloclip would make a nifty little accessory to help your friend capture even better travel shots with their smartphone.
Boom Box Speaker
Cost: $119.99
A fun, yet surprisingly handy gift for a traveler is a portable Bluetooth speaker. My current favorite is the UE Roll 2 from Ultimate Ears in the cute anime print design. It's compact enough for travel and connects wirelessly, which means no tangled wires. I adore the vibrant colors and sleek design - and the sound quality is top-notch! Check it out on Amazon.
Personalized Travel Suite
Cost: $103.17 (€123)
Passport holders are great gifts for avid travelers, and when you put your own unique touch on one, it makes it even more special. The custom travel accessory set from the artisanal leather company CarveOn is the ideal travel gift.
Or you can opt for the passport holder or luggage tag individually. They're handcrafted from custom leather and can be adorned with your friend's name, initials, or any text in various fonts. I have one with my name in the beautiful, flowing "signature" font, and it looks seriously stylish - I love it! By default, the passport holder and luggage tag come equipped with a stunning compass design, but you can have them use your own art or logo if you prefer.
Functional and Useful Gifts for Vagabonds
Help your traveling buddy score some serious cool points by getting them a gift they never knew they needed! These are some of my top picks for travel items that often fly under the radar but can make life on the road so much easier!
(If you're looking to get your friend an extremely helpful travel item, check out my list of the essential backpacking must-haves)!
READ MORE:12 Useful and Thoughtful Gift Ideas for the Jetsetter
Water Filtering Bottle (15% Reader Discount)
Cost: $36
This has to be the most resourceful item in my travel toolkit. The Water-to-Go filtration bottle purifies water from any source into safe drinking water. It even removes bad taste, so you could potentially use it to fill from a muddy puddle in a pinch. Ideal for travelers, especially those in destinations where tap water isn't safe to drink, this bottle reduces the cost of buying bottled water and cuts down on waste.
Promo Code: You can find more information here, and use my exclusive reader discount code ELUX15 to get a 15% discount.
Power Bank
Cost: From $10
Undoubtedly, one of the most useful pieces of tech I own, after my phone, is the device that keeps it charged – a backup battery. A small, portable power bank is a valuable tool for anyone on the road, ensuring your friend's phone won't die during a nineteen-hour bus ride! I highly recommend Anker PowerCore II 10000.
Something a Little Different
Hotel Vouchers
Hostel life can be tough, and back-to-back hostels can get exhausting. Gift your friend a break from the budget-friendly lodging by providing them with some hotel vouchers, which they can use to splurge on a little luxury every so often. I find them particularly handy for airport hotels, which are typically more expensive. You can find gift vouchers from several online hotel websites, or book a specific night or two at a swanky hotel for them.
Booking.com and Hotels.com both offer flexible bookings, meaning you can amend dates if things don't work out as planned.
- A Memento Notebook, personalized with a photo or message, can help a traveler preserve their memories while on the road, reminding them of loved ones left behind.
- For a touch of style and practicality, Consider gifting a personalized toiletry kit or a set of clip-on lenses for their smartphone, making their travel gear more unique and functional.
- If you're aiming for a gift that caters to both their lifestyle and needs, consider hotel vouchers. They offer the opportunity for a traveler to treat themselves to a night of luxury and comfort during their travels.
