2021 Holiday Gift Guide for Travel Lovers
With the holidays right around the corner you might be searching for the perfect last minute gift for the travel lover in your life (or perhaps even looking for a little something for yourself!). Whether you are looking for something for your child to keep that wanderlust burning, something for a significant other, friend, or parent, this all inclusive 2021 holiday gift guide has great ideas for all!
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2021 Holiday Gift Guide For Kids
Binoculars
Binoculars are a great way to inspire creativity and imagination in your child! Whether it be them exploring their own backyard (and even making it into a game!) or them bringing it along on your next family getaway, binoculars are a great gift idea for the kiddos on your list!
If you are going to purchase binoculars, I would recommend skipping the plastic “toy” binoculars and purchasing a more heavy duty and realistic set with decent magnification so your child can get good use out of them.
A Luggage Set
Putting your child’s favorite character or theme on a suitcase can make them that much more excited about their upcoming trip! Make your next trip even more magical as your child spends the days before filling up their perfect luggage bag (this is one of my daughter’s favorite activities!)
Opt for a luggage set that has wheels and navigating through the airport in the future will be even more enjoyable for your child! My daughter is dead set against carrying anything, but add some wheels and she will fight me tooth and nail to be able to pull it! (It will save you a little stress too!)
Monthly Subscription
A monthly subscription is a gift that your child can continue to enjoy all year long! Whether it be an activity box or travel magazine a monthly subscription is the perfect gift!
Every month your child can receive a box full of travel themed activities and goodies through Little Passports. There are age specific boxes, starting at age 3-5 and ranging up to ages 9+. The boxes are sent monthly and include a variety of different culture and country themed activities to teach your child about the the world while having fun. Subscriptions are $20 a month with discounts for purchasing 6 month and year long subscriptions.
The National Geographic Kids Magazine is not specifically travel related, but it will bring a world of exploration right to your door every month. The magazine offers kid friendly stories that are both fun and educational and will inspire curiosity and learning.
Travel Backpacks
A new travel backpack is a great gift for anyone who loves to pack up and take off! You can find a travel backpack that will suit any age, from character themed backpacks for the younger travelers and sturdy and secure backpacks for older children.
If you are traveling with a toddler or younger child, a skip hop toddler backpack might be just what you are looking for. The backpack is made with a canvas material for easy cleaning, has a large pouch, and a smaller front pouch that is insulated for drinks and snacks. The backpack comes in many different designs, including a unicorn, monkey, butterfly, and more! You can also find rolling backpacks.
For an older child (10+), you may want to check out the Ladyzone Lightweight Travel Backpack or the Bago 25L Lightweight Foldable Daypack. Both options contain multiple pouches for storage of your child’s personal items and essentials when taking a day trip/hike. The Bago 25L Lightweight is also foldable, which is great for saving space when packing!
An Interactive Globe
An interactive globe is the perfect gift to allow your child to continue experience travel and culture while not traveling and one of the top recommended items for the 2021 holiday gift guide. These interactive globes will take your child around the world, discover different countries, wildlife, and cultural traditions. Get them looking ahead to your next adventure with these interactive activities!
The Shifu Orboot Globe connects with an app that brings to life different areas of the globe with over 400 highlights and over 1,000 world facts. The globe will teach your child about the world through fun and interactive activities.
The Leapfrog Magic Adventures Globe takes kids across the world with interactive games and questions. The globe explores things such as cultures, animals, habitats, and more! Kids will love exploring the world through these interactive globes!
Kids Atlas
A kids atlas is another great gift option for continuing to allow your child to explore the world from home (or while abroad!). It will keep them reading and learning while exploring cultures around the world through fun graphics and maps. Not to mention, a book is always a great gift! Add travel to it and you can’t do much better!
Scratch Off Map
A scratch off map is a fun way to help your kids keep track of their travels. Whether it be a world map or country specific map, kids will love scratching off each destination as they visit it. The colorful maps, such as the Scratch Off Map of the World + USA Map or the JARLINK Scratch Off USA Map will catch the curiosity of young children.
The National Parks USA Scratch Off Map will delight them with images of the landmarks from each park they visit. Whichever map you choose it will be a fun way for your kids to keep track of and show off all of their adventures!
A Camera
A camera is a great gift for a kid, whether it be for traveling or just hanging out and having fun at home. It will help them capture memories through their eyes and will give them something to look back on or even build a scrapbook with. Being able to handle their own camera will also teach them some sense of independence.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera is one that will offer immediate rewards for your child. They will be able to snap a picture and then watch as it is printed before their eyes. If your family are frequent beach goers or underwater sports lovers a waterproof camera may be a great option.
For older children, a Go Pro might be perfect with it’s light and compact design. For toddlers a VTech KidiZoom camera will serve the purpose without the price and risk of it getting broken.
Travel Games
Travel sized games are a great option for any road trip or long-haul flight. They are even great for having at the hotel and giving the family something to do while relaxing after a long day of exploring.
You can find plenty of classic games in fun, travel sized packs, such as Connect 4, Trouble, or even a combination game set. You could also get some mad lib booklets for some laughs along the way.
Travel Art Set
A travel art set in combination with a travel desk is another great option for keeping your child busy during long travel times. A travel art set will allow them to be creative and express themselves (and maybe prevent those “Are we there yet?”‘s).
There are also plenty of travel desk options that make the perfect set up in the car or on the plane to allow your child to get full use of their art set. Along with their art supplies, you can also store some snacks, drinks, games, and a tablet on the travel desk.
Luggage ID Tags
Just like luggage bags that contain your child’s favorite characters, personalized and creative luggage tags can add to the excitement of trip planning and departure! If you do a little research, you are likely to be able to find luggage tags in your child’s favorite character or theme, which are sure to make them even more excited about the next trip!
A Trip!
What better way to give the gift of travel than through….travel? Whether it be a local destination or future trip abroad, waking up to plans for a future trip could be the perfect gift! Even a staycation is a great gift idea for kids, such as an all inclusive hotel with kid friendly amenities, such as an indoor water park or kid friendly spa. In some form or another, travel is one of my most recommended gifts in this 2021 holiday gift guide for traveling kids.
Travel Journal
A travel journal is a great way for you and your child to hold on to the best memories while traveling. Most travel journals come with daily recording pages and activities for your child to record their daily adventures. It also serves as a scrapbook after the trip to hang onto memories.
Headphones
A new set of headphones, complete with their favorite characters or designs, could be the perfect gift for kids going on a long road trip or long-haul flight. Having a set of headphones will allow them to listen to their videos, movies, and games on their tablets while in the car or on the plane. (It will also allow you to listen to your jam instead of listening to the Wheels on the Bus over and over!).
Headphones with a soft, comfortable headband, such as the CozyPhones Kids Headphones, may make them more tolerable for younger children.
A Tablet
What kid wouldn’t be happy receiving a brand new tablet for Christmas (or any other occasion for that matter!). A tablet can be a great travel companion for keeping your child busy and happy on a long road trip or flight. It can also be educational all while having fun.
Many tablets are specifically designed for children, such as the Fire 8 Kids Edition Tablet, which comes complete with a kid proof protective case and Amazon Free Time (for a small fee after the first year). The tablet has settings that allow parents to set time limits and controls. iPads and Galaxy tablets are also great choices and with app installations parental controls can also be put into place.
Travel Neck Pillow
A travel neck pillow can make a long journey much more comfortable and promote better sleep. Whether you are flying or driving, bringing along a travel neck pillow will create a better experience. There are plenty of designs and characters, so have some fun with it and find the perfect one to match your child’s personalities and interests!
Passport Sticker Books
A passport sticker book is a fun way to keep track of your child’s travels or even a fun way to travel while at home. Give your child a passport sticker book and then explore the world from your home with activities, learning, and cooking while filling up the pages of the book.
Kids Explorer Kit
An outdoor exploration kit is a great item to bring along on any outdoor trip. Whether you are going on a short day hike or longer camping trip, a day spent outdoors exploring mother nature will be enhanced with one of these kits. Inspire creativity and learning in your child with an explorer kit that will help them interact with nature and enjoy the outdoors, all while learning a little something!
Kids Snorkel Set
For water adventure lovers and beach goers, a snorkel set might be the perfect gift! A personal snorkel set can be used at home in the pool for extra practice and can be brought along on the next family trip to the ocean. You could always rent a kids snorkel set on vacation, but having their own set will allow it to be personalized to your child.
Kids Hiking Backpack
If you and your family are big hikers, a hiking backpack can be a great gift idea. A hiking backpack can help them better organize all the essential items for your their next hiking trip. There are plenty of lightweight options perfect for the youngest hiker all the way through the teenage years.
Travel Themed Books
Add a touch of travel to your daily bedtime routine with some travel themed books. Take your child to the pyramids in Egypt, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Colosseum in Rome through fun stories that your child will love.
Flashlight
A flashlight can be a fun gift for kids who love going camping, whether it be off in the woods or even in their own backyard. It can also be a very handy gift for the same reasons or for making shadow puppets. I would recommend a more durable flashlight, but there are also character themed flashlights that might work well for younger kids.
A headlamp is also an option and might be a better choice for adventurers who may be exploring caves and need their hands free.
Passport Holder
A personalized passport holder can add some individuality to your child’s travel documents and make it easier for them to keep track of it. After all, you can’t go wrong with kids when adding some color and designs to anything!
Portable Nap Mat
A portable nap mat can come in handy when staying at a hotel or camping. Of course you can assume there will be a bed if staying in a hotel, but bringing your own sleeping bag can provide more comfort and a piece of home for your child. It is also undeniable that a camp out on the floor could be lots of fun for kids!
When camping, having a padded portable nap mat can provided extra padding and comfort. Plus the colorful designs and character themes are always a win with kids!
Eye Mask
Improve your child’s ability to sleep on a long haul flight or road trip with a cute, creative, and colorful eye mask. Better sleep equals less cranky kids and a better overall experience for all involved!
Travel Blanket
A travel blanket is the ideal gift for a road trip or flight. Provide your child with more comfort for the road and help them sleep better (which can reduce your stress to!). You can even take it a step further and get a hoodie blanket to provide more comfort and give your child the opportunity to transform into their favorite character!
Camping Chair
For the outdoor adventurer/camper, a character themed camping chair is the perfect gift! The colorful, character themed chairs will add a little something extra to your next camping trip and give your child a chair that is just theirs!
You can find these chairs in your child’s favorite character or more general themes, such as ladybugs, butterflies, and every little girl’s obsession-unicorns!
2021 HolidayGift Guide For Travel Lovers: Moms
A Portable Travel Jewelry Box
A portable jewelry box may be the perfect gift for the mom travel lover in your life. It can make traveling with small jewelry pieces (earrings and rings) easier and give them a place to keep their favorite items safe and secure. It will eliminate the worry about losing something or having to dig through bags to find what they’re looking for.
One of the best things? These travel jewelry boxes are small and lightweight, so easy to pack and carry with you! They are the perfect size to slip into your carry on luggage or purse, so the lady in your life won’t have to worry about losing their valuable items!
Security Alarm Door Stop
A security alarm door stop is a great item to have, whether it be a solo female traveler or family traveling with kids. The low cost Sabre door stop is the perfect option. When placed under the door, it will prevent any intruders from being able to enter the room while also setting off an alarm to alert both the traveler and people nearby while scaring off the intruder. Safety first!
Anti-Theft Purse
Anti-theft purses come in a variety of sizes and designs. These purses generally fit closely to the body, are splash proof, and have RFID protection. It will prevent quick thefts and someone grabbing your bag. It will also protect you from any potential RFID skimming attempts. Safety with a little bit of style!
Travel Undergarment Organizer
Organization, organization, organization! If you have a mom who is also a travel lover in your life, chances are with their busy schedule every little bit them helps they stay organized and keep control of their everyday life is much appreciated! When packing for a trip not only do they have their own personal items and clothing to pack, but they have the added hundreds of pounds of items (okay, maybe exaggerating a little!) for the kiddos!
A travel undergarment organizer will make it easier to organize and transport smaller items such as socks and underwear. The organizer can also be used for storage and transport of other items, including electronics and jewelry. The organizer can be rolled up, making it small and easily packable, but can also be unfolded and hung for a door or shower rod for easy access.
A Lightweight Travel Hair Dryer
Lugging around the everyday essentials while traveling can be difficult and costly. Smaller alternatives are always welcomed by women who love to travel and should be included on any gift guide for travel lovers. A lightweight hair dyer can come in handy, especially for women who prefer a van life style of travel or when visiting a hotel with no hair dryers available.
The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Travel Dryer is a lightweight and small but powerful hair dryer that may be just the perfect gift for the mom in your life who loves to travel.
A Tesalate Beach Towel
If you love visiting the beach, you may know that there is nothing more frustrating than laying a towel to sunbathe on, taking a quick swim in the ocean, and then returning to find your towel covered in sand, wet, and dirty! A great alternate option for the travel loving mother is a Tesalate beach towel, a lightweight towel that is sand resistant. Make their next trip to the beach even better with this towel and help them avoid the dreaded sand filled beach towel and clean up that goes with it!
Secret Bra Wallet Travel Money Pouch
The perfect gift for a female traveler, this wallet provides hidden storage for cash and cards. It also provides RFID protection. Depending on the size of the wallet, it may also serve as a storage place for important documents like a passport.
The wallet will eliminate the need to carry around these items while also providing extra protection and security of God forbid a robbing or pickpocketing tip is made while she is traveling.
Aloe Vera Sunburn Relief Gel or Aloe Vera Moisturizing Cream
Aloe Vera is a natural plant that has many healing properties and benefits for the skin. The gel is a clear substance that comes from the leaves of an Aloe plant. It is used in both moisturizers to keep your skin young and healthy and as a gel to help soothe that dreaded sunburn you often get on your beach vacations.
Having some moisturizer on hand while traveling is perfect for helping the lady in your life keep her skin looking healthy or can provide some much needed relief if she faces the much dreaded sunburn on her next beach vacation.
2021 Holiday Gift Guide For Travel Lovers: Dads
A Multitool Device
A multitool device is is a great option for traveling dads with many commonly used tools built into one easily packable device. Common tools include a bottle opener, screw driver, pliers, scissors, knife, wire cutters, and more that will come in handy when camping, hiking, or any form of travel and adventure!
Tie Bar Travel Tie Storage Case
For the traveling dad who works remotely or has meetings/conferences to attend, or who just likes to get dressed up, a traveling tie storage case is the perfect gift! It will keep his ties unwrinkled and neat while also providing organization. These cases are lightweight and fit perfectly into any suitcase.
On The Go Beard Kit
An on the go travel beard kit will keep the traveling dad in your life looking neat and clean while on the go! The kits comes with convenient storage bags that make transporting easy and fit nicely in a suit case with all essential items in one spot.
Adventure Flask
This Adventure Flask is a neat gadget for any dad on the go! The flask is a flashlight and compass that contains space for two shot glasses. The flashlight and compass will be especially helpful when navigating the outdoors on a hiking trip, and the two shot glasses will come in handy when he is ready to kick back with a drink!
Personalized Leather Passport Cover
A passport cover/holder is a great gift for any traveler! Organization is key when traveling, and a passport is the last thing anyone wants to loose or damage! A personalized passport holder to keep his documents secure is a great stocking stuffer for the traveling dad in your life!
Three Time Zone Watch
A watch is a useful item, especially when traveling when a clock is not always readily available. For the dad who loves to travel a three time zone watch is a neat gift that will help him keep track of time across the world!
Hanging Toiletry Bag for Men
A useful item for anyone trying to stay organized when traveling, a hanging toiletry bag is a great gift for the traveling dad this holiday season. The toiletry bag has compartments for all the essential personal care items needed while traveling and folds/unfolds t make for easy access when needed and storage.
2021 Holiday Gift Guide for Travel Lovers: Practical Gifts
Portable Luggage Scale
Help your traveler avoid extra baggage fees at the airport with this portable luggage scale. Before arriving to the airport they can check the weight of their luggage and ensure that they are under the weight limit.
Help protect your traveler’s belongings with these great luggage locks. With a simple combination the security of their personal items while traveling will be increased. Give them one less thing to worry about!
Pacsafe Anti-Theft Travel Backpack
This backpack works great for a day bag. It adds extra security for your personal items with locking zippers, eXomesh slashguard, and RFID safe blocking pockets. Eliminate the worry of having your items swiped from you on your next adventure!
Portable UV Toothbrush Sanitizer
A portable UV toothbrush sanitizer is a very practical gift to have on any trip. The toothbrush sanitizer makes it easy to keep your toothbrush clean and germ free while traveling. It also makes for a great carrying case while on the go.
Ear Plugs
Ear plugs can reduce the many noises someone may experience while traveling, promoting sleep and relaxation. It will also allow them to concentrate only on what they are doing (reading, writing, etc.). These are a great gift for those who have a difficult time falling or staying asleep.
The Skyroam Solis
The Skyroam Solis is a mobile wi-fi hotspot that offers unlimited 4G LTE service in over 130 countries around the world. This will eliminate the need to worry about international roaming fees and SIMS cards. The Skyroam Solis can connect up to 5 devices at once. It also acts as a charger for your devices, an added plus!
Note, however, that this device will not work in the air or out at sea, much like any device that runs on data. There are different options for purchasing wi-fi: A monthly unlimited pass is available for $99 or a daily pass is available at $9 a day.
Anker Power core Portable Charger 10,000
A portable charger is a must have for any traveler. When on the go, battery life of commonly used devices (cell phones, cameras, tablets, etc.) is quickly drained. Now days a dead battery can be a major issue, especially if tickets, itineraries, and confirmations are stored on a portable device. Having a portable charger will keep the charge and prevent unnecessary stress.
The Anker Power core portable charger 10,000 is small and efficient allowing for three recharges of a cell phone. It will keep your favorite travelers’ devices charged and ease the stress of travel.
Neck Pillow
Comfort is a major issue when traveling long distances by plane, car, or bus. A neck pillow is a small, simple gift that can help improve the comfort of the traveler in your life when they’re on the go! You can find plenty of pillow options, with some wrapping all the way around to offer chin support, optimizing comfort!
Lifestraw Filtered Water Bottle
The Life straw filtered water bottle is a great item for anybody that travels internationally frequently. The water bottle optimizes the travelers’ safety by filtering out 99.9% of all waterborne parasites and bacteria. It will keep them hydrated and healthy!
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes reduce the burden of packing, allow for better organization, and allow you to fit more into a smaller space. The cubes are generally light weight with options available for wrinkle free and waterproof packing.
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About Me
I’m Melissa, but you can call me Missy. I continuously crave a new adventure and love sharing those adventures with you! My sidekick is my 5 year old daughter. Together we are conquering the world, one city at a time! Find family travel tips and guides that will help you plan your next adventure!
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