28 Great Holiday Gifts for Travelers

Finding the perfect gift for the travel lover in your life can feel like a journey of its own. That’s why there’s now a NerdWallet gift guide, filled with ideas we genuinely love.

I asked my NerdWallet colleagues for their best gift recommendations for travelers, and added some of my own. Many of these are items that people on NerdWallet’s own Travel team (and other avid travelers across the company) use to make life on the road a little easier.

AirTags are small, lightweight tracking devices that sync with Apple’s “Find My” app (so you’ll need an iPhone or iPad to make this work). Slip one into your suitcase, backpack or your wallet, and you’ll be able to track its location with precision.

It’s especially useful if you’re checking bags and are worried about losing them. While the AirTag won’t get you a lost suitcase back, it can be helpful in tracking its location so you can at least know if your suitcase made it to the right airport. With iOS 18.2, airlines will even begin accepting an item’s “Find My” link to assist in tracking down your lost luggage.

Struggling with jetlag? NerdWallet’s Travel Director Erin Hurd has become a recent fan of the

Fount FlyKitt Jet Lag Prevention System. The kit includes a combination of items such as supplements and blue light glasses that are commonly used to get back on a sleep schedule.

“My husband and I have used this system for our past few international flights and it really has made a difference,” she said.

“I got AirPods as a birthday gift one year, and it truly changed the flying experience for me,” said NerdWallet Travel Editor Meghan Coyle. “You don’t realize how loud airplanes are, and how the sound might be affecting your ability to fall or stay asleep.”

The noise cancellation on these earbuds works well and they show up in the ‘Find My’ app on iPhones, so you don’t have to worry too much about losing them.

Travel Writer Craig Joseph has tested numerous pairs of noise-canceling headphones, and he’s confident that these are the best.

The reasons? “Good battery life, awesome sound and great noise cancellation that really helps quiet noises in the airport terminal and while flying,” he said.

Luggage, backpacks and other packing gear

NerdWallet Mortgages Writer Kurt Woock recommends using a Topo Designs accessory bag. Many are small enough to fit into an airplane seatback pocket, which can be convenient so you don’t accidentally leave stuff behind.

Bags come in a range of sizes and start at $15 for the micro size. Woock recommends the medium-size accessory bag ($19) for in-flight organization.

For a stylish carry-on bag, NerdWallet Customer Relationship Manager Jenny Muglia recommends the Beis Mini Weekender Bag. She’s lived in France and Spain (and visited more than 30 other countries), and she says this bag always fits underneath the airplane seat. Instead of checking bags, she pairs this with a rolling, carry-on suitcase for longer trips.

“It’s the ultimate personal item,” she said.

Want to join Team Carry-on? Student Loans Writer Eliza Haverstock travels internationally two to three times a year, and she usually takes the Decathlon Forclaz 40L backpack.

“It has tons of space, a clamshell opening and nifty built-in organizational features, so you can forgo the packing cubes and still easily fit a couple weeks’ worth of stuff,” she said.

NerdWallet’s Internal Communications Manager, Jasminne Velandia, recommends an even smaller backpack. At just 26L, this backpack can usually pass a personal item, as it’s small enough to fit under most airplane seats.

“It has plenty of pockets, straps to condense the bag even more, is waterproof and has a spot for your laptop,” she said.

Velandia has done week-long trips multiple times and has managed to fit it all in this backpack.

Gifts for parents or kids

“If you think bringing an 11-month-old to Europe is a good idea, bring a travel baby carrier that folds up small,” Credit Cards Writer Sara Rathner said.

When she goes to Europe, Rathner brings this carrier from Boba, which she finds especially useful in places you can’t bring strollers, like museums.

“Also, your baby is more likely to sleep on the plane if they’re snuggled up against you, which is a win for everyone,” she said.

NerdWallet’s Travel Director Erin Hurd frequently travels with her family, and she’s found a way to make navigating an airport with kids easier.

“These suitcases have all but eliminated any airport challenges for us,” she said. “No more complaining of tired legs or about dragging heavy bags. The scooter part folds up and down easily.”

Travel Writer Craig Joseph likes traveling with this spill-proof water bottle.

“It’s the best travel water bottle I’ve found,” he said. “The seal never leaks, it’s insulated and stays cold for a long time and the straw makes it so much easier to sip on-the-go.”

Want your personal information to stay secure when you travel? Grab a wallet with radio frequency identification (RFID) protection. It blocks the radio signal emitted from your credit cards to keep your account details safe.

“It took me years of trial and error before I found this wallet, and I won’t go back,” said Joseph. “It’s gone with me every time I’ve left the country for the last eight years. It’s extremely durable, has RFID protection and has room to hold a passport and a bunch of credit cards.”

“If you’re balling on a budget and aren’t sitting first class with lie-down seats for a long flight, this pillow is your friend,” said Velandia, who brings this on red-eye flights.

It’s easy to blow up and deflate, and it packs up pretty nicely. Just double-check that your airline doesn’t have any restrictions on inflatable accessories.

Famously served on Delta Air Lines, these buttery, spiced cookies are synonymous with air travel. Gift a bulk box to your favorite jet-setter for those days when they’re dreaming of their next trip.

Doubletree by Hilton is hardly the most exciting of the Hilton brands — that is unless you love a free (and fresh) cookie. They’re offered to hotel guests at check-in. But even if you’re not traveling, you can buy a tin on your own to munch on at home.

Travelers who’ve been to Oahu are likely quite familiar with Honolulu Cookie Company, which has nearly a dozen outposts in Honolulu and is known for its generous free samples. If you’re not on Oahu anymore but you miss the taste of the pineapple-shaped shortbread cookies, grab a tin for home.

The Mele Surfboard Tin makes for a keepsake item even when the cookies have been consumed. And this particular tin has limited-time, seasonal flavors including Peppermint Macadamia.

People who love the free hotel breakfast at Hampton Inn can bring it home in a rather glamorous form. This version of Hampton’s signature waffles was made in collaboration with Paris Hilton. It includes the dry mix needed to make pink, strawberry-flavored waffles (just add water), which you can top with edible pink glitter.

Your friend who constantly touts their Hilton Honors elite status should get a kick out of this gift.

Meeting my protein targets while traveling can be difficult. I’m a competitive powerlifter (who can deadlift more than triple bodyweight) who eats more protein than the average person.

Because airplane peanuts and pretzels don’t cut it in the protein department and hotel room coffee definitely doesn’t cut it in the taste department, I pack coffee protein powder, which easily mixes into cold water. Plus, it’s cheaper than buying coffee in the hotel lobby or a nearby shop.

“This is my favorite piece of clothing to travel with,” said Joseph, referring to this North Face hoodie. “It’s lightweight, durable, folds down small and has a hood, which I love using to help zone out during flights. The material offers SPF protection, and it’s lightweight enough you can wear in warm weather, or wear a layer under it when the temperature drops.”

People who don’t hate the unconventional Southwest boarding system might appreciate this ugly Christmas sweater from Southwest Airlines. The sweater is covered with Christmas lights and airplanes, with the word Southwest printed in giant font down the arm.

It’s sure to be a conversation started at holiday parties.

Perfect for the IHG One Rewards loyalist who also loves quirky gifts, these pajamas are inspired by the pancakes famously served at Holiday Inn Express, which serves roughly 28 million pancakes a year across all its properties.

The Holiday Inn Express brand partnered with loungewear brand Mr. Eatwell to launch a custom streetwear collection of “Pancakesuits,” which are available as a hoodie or crewneck. Adult sizes cost $99 and kid sizes are $50.

Commemorate a recent trip with photo prints. There’s a range of photo printing services, including higher-end services like Nations Photo Lab and more affordable options like Walmart and Amazon Prints (which gives Amazon Prime members discounted access to Shutterfly purchases).

Prints are usually the cheapest option. For example, Amazon’s 4×6 prints start at just $0.17. Or, you might turn your prints into other custom products such as mugs, ornaments or mouse pads, which is a service many photo printing companies (including Amazon photos) offers. Travelers might appreciate a custom photo calendar to countdown to their next trip or a photo book to thumb through images of a recent trip.

NerdWallet Mortgages Writer Abby Badach Doyle has a habit of buying local beers, wines and spirits when on vacation.

“Before I bought the Wine Angel, I’d wrap bottles in a hotel ice bag, insulate it with my bulkiest sweater and hope for the best,” she said. “Now I can rest easy knowing that my bottles are safely sealed for the journey home.”

These thick, multi-layered bags protect your bottles when traveling, mitigating the odds of your bottle getting smashed and spilling all over your stuff. This set of four wine bags comes from Aozita.

For years, I had been waiting to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands to try the Butterbeer. I ended up eating so much food there, and honestly the pumpkin juice from Hog’s Head was the best — even better than the famous Butterbeer.

There’s a recipe for that very pumpkin juice — plus all sorts of other Universal food including Minions banana taffy inspired by the “Despicable Me” franchise and a massive, pink donut inspired by “The Simpsons” in this unofficial recipe book.

In anticipation of the new theme park Universal Epic Universe opening in Orlando in 2025, now might be the best time to give the amusement park fan in your life this gift.

When you fly in United Polaris business class, you’re offered a cooling gel pillow and pillowcase. Everyone else can buy their own for $33.

NerdWallet Data Writer Benjamin Din holds United Premier 1K elite status, and says the pillow is well worth it. He packs his for economy flights.

Kimpton hotels have a distinct smell of citrus, green tea, black pepper, clove and musk. You can bring that same smell into your home by way of this Kimpton-branded candle.

Digital and membership gifts

Duolingo is a language-learning app that operates on a freemium business model. The paid version called Super Duolingo has benefits like no ads.

A few months out from an upcoming international trip, I set Duolingo to the local language. I learned basic phrases in Spanish, Italian and French. I also have some Hawaiian heritage, so I used it to learn Hawaiian for a few months. Though few people speak Hawaiian, it was cool touching down in the airport and hearing it on the airport speaker.

This is a fun gift for travelers who like to prepare for big trips by learning more about the local languages and cultures.

Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler program. Once approved for the program, you’ll receive expedited security screening through the TSA PreCheck lanes at participating domestic airports, as well as accelerated re-entry to the U.S. after an international trip through participating customs locations.

NerdWallet Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Program Manager Chelsey Kramer says she feels like a VIP every time she flexes Global Entry to skip long lines.

“If you’re an avid traveler or see an international trip or two in your future over the next five years, Global Entry is for you,” she said. “You can go through expedited security lines (with your shoes on) for all of your domestic trips, as well.”

There is an application fee of $120. That said, whether you’re paying the fee for your own application or for a gift for someone else, you might not actually be out $120. Many travel credit cards reimburse Global Entry application fees every four to five years — and it doesn’t matter whose application it is. Logistically, this gift is a bit trickier to give, as you’ll have to have them apply. Then, they’ll insert your credit card number as a payment method.

Depending on your preferred location, Global Entry appointments can be hard to secure at times. For a small, one-time fee, a service called Global Entry Spotter can help. The tool scans for open appointment slots in real time and will alert you with a text message once it finds availability at your desired enrollment center.