Glenfinnan Church, Glenfinnan, Scotland

Over the course of the last few years, I’ve been able to put together a list of some travel essentials that I can’t go without. These items have all played a role in my previous travels, both domestic and international. Any traveler you know will appreciate a gift from this list!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

• Backpack– (Eagle Creek 45L/S) – This is the bag that I recommend. It’s got enough room for more than a week’s worth of clothes, it’s durable and has a “No Matter What Lifetime Warranty”. Best yet, it only weighs 1.8Lbs when empty and folds up into itself for storage inside of another bag if needed. I’ve used this bag on every trip that I’ve gone on for the last 3 years. 

• Anti-theft Purse– (Travelon Anti-Theft Signature Slim Day Bag) – I bought this one from ebags and it has been great! I like that it just looks like a small cross body bag. It’s lightweight and can easily fit in my luggage or duffel bag if I need to store it. Since it’s an anti-theft bag, it has reinforced straps, and is made from an RFID blocking material that is slash-proof. Small enough to stay out of the way, but large enough to fit my credit cards, cash, makeup, and even my iPad Mini.

• Passport Holder– (Defway Travel Wallet) – These are well-made and have the added benefit of also being made from RFID blocking material. You can get one that stores up to 4 passports for the entire family as well as your credit/debit cards. I am really weird about protecting my passport when we travel so I like to keep them all in the same place. 

• Luggage Scale– (Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale) – These are pretty inexpensive and are great if you know someone who likes to travel with only a carry on so they don’t go over their bag weight limit. I always prefer manual scales because you never have to hunt for batteries at the last second when you’re in a rush to get everything packed and ready. This has saved us more than once when we were trying to keep our carry on bags under the max weight. Have you read my carry on only post? Find it here. 

• Multipurpose Bracelet – (A2S Protection Paracord Bracelet) – I think these are so cool! If you have someone who likes to spend time outdoors/camping/ hiking then this would be a great gift. This particular bracelet has a whistle, a fire-starter, an emergency knife, and paracord to boot. It also comes in many different colors. The link above is for a set of 2 bracelets for around $9-10! I think this would make a great graduation gift too. 

• Battery Bank – (Anker PowerCore Lite 10000mAh) – This has saved me so many times. I was in San Francisco once, on a work trip and I had been sightseeing all day and my phone was about to die but I remembered that I had packed this and I had a full charge by the time I got back to my hotel! This Anker power bank will charge my iPhone 2-3 times and fits conveniently in my purse. If you have someone in your life who’s phone is always dead, get them this! 

• Packing Cubes – (Eagle Creek Pack-It Compression Cubes) – A nice set of packing cubes for someone who travels quite a bit is a lovely gift. Check these out! They are compression cubes so you can fit even more in your bag. I’ve been using these for years to pack my stuff and these are a total game changer. You can fit so. much. stuff. Check out my international travel tips here.

• Collapsible Water Bottle – (Que Bottle) – I always travel with a water bottle and I think this would make an awesome gift! Who wants to spend their entire life savings on water from the airport? Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration. But still, this bottle compresses down into a 3.8″ (9.65cm) cube that is easy to toss in your bag and go! I bring this little guy through the security line and fill it up when I see a water fountain. 

• Outlet Adapter – (Insignia Global Travel Adapter) – Get this one for multiple countries! It snaps together and stores easily. Definitely a must-have! 

• Travel Infinity Scarf – (USA style Premium Bamboo Travel Scarf) –  I love this thing. It has a secret pocket to hide treasures in.  I like anything that allows me to be hands free. It comes in several colors too! 

      These are all things that I’ve enjoyed using when traveling. I tried to make this list consist of only the most useful gifts, and I know the traveler in your life would love them all. Let me know if you have anything to add to the list. I’d love to hear from you!