Best Travel Gifts

I live, eat and breath travel. I could travel 24/7 if the opportunity presented itself. Seven days a week I think about and write about travel. Travel is as affordable or as expensive as you make it. The same may be said for travel gifts. With that in mind, I give you my seven best gifts for the traveler.

Good things come in small packages; small blue packages from Beverly Hills, California to be exact. I first discovered Tieks ballet flats in 2012 when beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist Kerry Walsh wore her Starstruck Tieks while showing off her medals. This year I discovered Tieks for winter. New to their Vegan collection, the greystone non-leather Tieks add warmth to my wardrobe. I’m looking forward to wearing these on my Viking River Cruise down the Danube. They will be perfect to slip into after a day of exploring Christmas Markets in rubber rain boots. These travel shoes are priced at $175 – as with all items listed here, check the website for current prices.

What’s a great pair of travel shoes without travel clothes to match? I was introduced to the Royal Robbins brand from fellow travel bloggers Deb and Dave of the Planet D. They, too, were looking to dress up their wardrobe while still looking good on the road. You’ll be seeing a lot more of me dressed in Royal Robbins go everywhere clothing.

Stocking stuffer

For children looking for affordable gift ideas for the traveler, or anyone with limited holiday budgets, custom luggage tags are the ideal gift for people on the go. These personalized luggage tags from YourBagTag will also work well for locating sports, fishing, scuba, skiing, tack and golf bags in a hurry. The carabiner bag tags are perfect for camera gear bags and backpacks. Prices start at $12.99.

For the traveler who has everything, custom luggage from Ugobags is perfect. Successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign, Ugobags offers travelers the opportunity to customize their luggage online! With free delivery and a two year warranty, this lightweight luggage is a sure bet from a California-based company. Carryon luggage starts at $189.

Travel experiences

Some of us prefer travel experiences over collecting things. The term experiential travel is popular with parents and grandparents because many of us are looking for memorable or teachable moments that we can share with family members or close friends. A memorable travel experience for me was a trip to Alaska’s Glacier Bay with UnCruise Adventures – what a trip! All inclusive Alaska rates start at $4,195.

California grown

The herb wreaths from California-based Creekside Farms not only look pretty, they will make your house, apartment or dorm room smell simply divine. If you want to bring a bit of country into your home, these wreaths are certainly cheaper than a trip to the lavender fields of Provence, France. These California-grown gifts start at $29.

Travel books

Last year I recommended the book Wild by Portland, Oregon-based author Cheryl Strayed. A book for the adventurous explorer, hiker or armchair traveler about her wanderings From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. I still recommend this book and look forward to watching Reese Witherspoon play Strayed in Wild, the movie. Suggested retail price $16.43.

A book I’m taking with me on the airplane to Europe this winter is An Innocent Abroad Life-changing trips from 35 great writers. Published by Oakland, California-based Lonely Planet, this book includes travel tales from Tim Cahill, Pico Iyer, Ann Patchett, Jane Smiley and Cheryl Strayed, among others. Suggested retail is $15.99 for this book.
I hope you found these gift ideas helpful. What are your favorite holiday gifts for the traveler in your life?
Companies often reach out to me to review their products, travel apparel and gear. Many of the above items have been reviewed on the What a Trip blog. I wouldn’t recommend these 7 best gifts for the traveler if I didn’t personally use and approve of them.

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