Happy almost-Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you’re starting to feel the joy and warmth of the holiday season. It’s hard to believe that 2025 is almost over, but there’s so much fun stuff to come before we say hello to 2026!
My holiday travel gift guide is always one of my favorite posts to write each year, and I’m doubly excited to share this one after being unable to post a 2024 version due to my blogging hiatus. But just because I wasn’t posting doesn’t mean that I haven’t spent the past two years keeping an eye out for all the best travel gear and gifts!
The 2025 guide is packed with fifteen new, unique items that I have discovered and personally used or that I have found particularly intriguing since the 2023 edition. I pride myself on choosing different items each year and trying to step outside of the box a bit compared to what you’ll find on many gift guides. (Though, to be fair, packing cubes, jewelry organizers, and Kindles are all nice gifts that I have featured at some point in the past.) And, happily, most of the items on this year’s list can be obtained for around $35 or less!
So let’s dive in, shall we?
Foldable Electric Tea Kettle
A friend of mine who is constantly on the go as a professional meeting planner recently posted about this cute little travel kettle in her Instagram story and I was immediately intrigued. Especially for those of us who are tea lovers but travel in the US where tea kettles aren’t always provided, this compact set is a godsend! Pair it with some fun tea bags/satchets (I’m currently obsessed with Harney & Sons) for the coziest gift on the go.
Cost: $37, currently on sale for $30
Travel Prints from NickStudios
I came across these gorgeous travel prints from NickStudios ages ago and have been pining over them ever since. I just love the artist’s use of color, and there are literally hundreds of destinations to choose from! After our Italy trip in 2023, M gifted me a poster-size Cinque Terre print; it was just as beautiful as I’d hoped and looks perfect in our travel-themed guest room. With so many options available in sizes ranging from 5″ x 7″ to 24″ x 36″, you’re sure to find the perfect print(s) for your travel-loving loved one.
Cost: $16 – $68 depending on size
Travel Clothesline
Anyone who has traveled to a beachy destination knows the pain of trying to dry swimsuits, towels, cover-ups, etc. in a hotel room. You’re often left with two choices: chance your things flying away in the breeze if you drape them off your balcony railing, or hang them in the bathroom to never fully dry. This stretchy clothesline is the ideal solution! The end hooks allow you to string the line almost anywhere, and the positioning beads and clothespins keep items in place regardless of where (and at what angle) they’re hanging. It’s also great for camping!
Cost: $10, currently on sale for $7
*Please note that while this clothesline says “retractable,” it doesn’t actually retract into anything – it’s just stretchy.
Padded Reusable Wine Bags
If your loved one enjoys bringing home local wines and other bottled goods from his or her travels, these reusable wine bags could be a life- (and luggage-) saver. The thick bubbled padding protects wine, olive oil, perfume, and other bottles in transit, and multiple sealing points offer additional insurance against spills in the case of a leak or break. No more worrying about arriving home to find your clothes soaked and ruined by that Italian wine you were planning to savor later!
Cost: $21 for a five-pack, currently on sale for $18
Travel Toiletry Bottles
TSA-friendly toiletry bottles are a perennial on holiday travel gift guides, but strangely I’ve never included them before. After upgrading my set this year, however, I’m finally recommending this convenient and colorful pack! These little guys held my liquid toiletries all the way to Portugal and back with nary a leak, which is more than I can say for my previous set (RIP). The bottles offer three layers of leak protection, are TSA-compliant for those of us who love to travel carry-on only, and come in a fun variety of colors.
Cost: $10
BÉIS East to West Tote
A good overnight bag is a must for any traveler, and this sturdy and stylish tote is worth the splurge. I had admired my sister’s beige tote on multiple mother-daughter trips, where she used it as a carry-on, and finally M surprised me with my own olive version last Christmas. I love how flexible the tote is, with plenty of space, multiple pockets to keep things organized, two sizes of handles, and even a pass-through pocket on the back that allows you to hook the bag onto your suitcase handle.
Cost: $118
Personalized Metal Luggage Tags
Help your loved one quickly identify his or her luggage at baggage claim with these colorful and sturdy aluminum tags in a variety of colors and designs. They even come with a lifetime warranty in case something breaks (which we all know can happen given how luggage gets tossed about behind the scenes.) There are lots of other options available on Etsy if you’d prefer different colors, materials, or designs, and you can also design your own photo luggage tags using services like Shutterfly.
Cost: $11
Airplane Seat Back Organizer
Do you have a loved one who refuses to use the pocket on the back of an airplane seat, either for fear of leaving something behind or because it seems dirty and germ-ridden? (Raising my own hand here.) Airplane Pockets solves both problems and more. The stretchy fabric slips over your tray table, providing a sanitary surface for work, eating, and entertainment, and four compartments hang below for technology, gadgets, accessories, snacks, water, and more. After the flight, Airplane Pockets folds flat to save space in your luggage and is machine washable between uses.
Cost: $30
Travel Adventures Ornament
One of my favorite ways to commemorate trips is through Christmas ornaments, and I like that these personalized keepsakes from Etsy allow you to capture a year’s worth of adventures, big and small. You can personalize each ornament with up to five destinations as well as the name of the recipient person or family. The best part is that you can give this gift year after year to commemorate future travels!
Cost: $21
History of the World Map by Map
Ok, so this gift assumes that your loved one is both a map nerd and a history nerd, but if you’re lucky enough to have such a person in your life (as my family and friends are) you can’t do much better gift-wise than this gorgeous book. Published in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, History of the World Map by Map will help your loved one gain a deeper appreciation for past and future travel destinations via almost 150 detailed and colorful maps that span the course of human history.
Cost: $50, currently on sale for $33
Atlas of the National Parks
Another lovely coffee table book – this time for the outdoorsy traveler in your life – National Geographic’s Atlas of the National Parks is jam-packed with stunning photos, maps, and information about all 61 of the United States’s fabulous national parks. It’s sure to inspire both nostalgia for past trips and wanderlust for future ones.
Cost: $65, currently on sale for $34
e.l.f. Jet Set Hydration Kit
It’s no secret that the air on planes is incredibly dry and not great for your skin. Help your loved one wake up from that red-eye flight looking dewy and feeling refreshed with this TSA-friendly hydration kit from e.l.f. Cosmetics. It comes with a daily cleanser, moisturizer, hydrating balm, eye cream, and night cream, all in convenient travel sizes. Usually I’m the last person to turn to for beauty or skincare advice, but I’ve got over 8,600 4- and 5-star reviews to back me up! You can also create your own kit using your preferred brands or products if e.l.f. isn’t your jam.
Cost: $18
Travel Umbrella with Carrying Case
I’ll admit that I hate carrying an umbrella, but I will also admit that few things can ruin a day of sightseeing like bad weather. Help your loved one be prepared for anything – especially when traveling in notoriously wet locales, during rainy seasons, or on oppressively sunny days -with this handy, compact umbrella. It’s well-reviewed for its durability, is less than ten inches long when folded up, and comes with a convenient case to keep the rest of your belongings dry after use.
Cost: $17, currently on sale for $13
iPad/Tablet Mount for the Car
M and I have not yet taken the plunge of purchasing individual iPads for our kids, nor do we have screens in any of our vehicles, so this sturdy iPad mount was an excellent investment on our family road trip to Quebec! The kids loved being able to watch a movie or two on our long driving days, and we have since used the mount for shorter trips to visit grandparents or the beach, as well.
Cost: $36
A Cheeky Candle
This one is more fun than helpful, but if you have a compulsive travel planner on your list this fun candle will no doubt generate a smile (and provide some cozy ambiance for those evening planning sessions!). There are multiple scents available, as well as an unscented option for more sensitive noses.
Cost: $10 – $18 for the candle; additional gifting options available
Well, was it worth the wait? I hope that this holiday travel gift guide was helpful in checking a few items off your shopping list! If you’re still looking for ideas, make sure to check out the 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, or 2019 lists. And don’t forget that Full Life, Full Passport travel planning services make a great gift as well; contact me to learn more!
Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everyone!
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