20 Best Unique Gifts Ideas for Travel Lovers (2023)
A lot of gift guides for travelers focus on traditional travel gear, but really, how many suitcases, packing cubes, and noise-canceling headphones does one person need? These gift ideas for travel lovers include keepsakes and flavors from around the world plus handy items to make traveling easier and more fun. There’s something for every budget from stocking stuffers to presents that impress. Order these unique travel gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah, a birthday or anniversary, or any special occasion when you want to spread travel cheer!
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1. World Map to Track Travels
If you want to wow someone who loves to travel, gift them a Map Your Travels Deluxe Push Pin World Map. It’s backed with foam core so avid travelers can track their journeys with map tacks.
My husband gifted me a similar map many years ago and it remains one of my most treasured processions. My world destinations are marked with pink pins. Meanwhile, his are blue and the places we’ve both visited are identified by black map tacks. Get this selection of colorful Map Tacks Marking Pins to accompany your present.
For a more affordable pin-free option, track travels with this Scratch-Off World Map Poster. Travelers scratch away visited destinations with a coin (or an included tool).
2. Vintage World Travel Jigsaw Puzzle
Puzzlers travel the world from home as they solve this 1000-piece Vintage World Travel Jigsaw Puzzle. Travel lovers will soak up scenes from Chicago, Dubai, Niagara Falls, and beyond to inspire future ventures.
3. Travel Pool Float
For the traveler who loves beach vacations and fancy hotel pools, purchase this 4-in-1 Inflatable Pool Float. It’s compact for easy packing and can be used as a hammock, chair, drifter, or exercise saddle (whatever that means). Choose from seven different colors. To make a splash, take a look at more vacation pool floats.
4. Rosetta Stone Subscription
Learning a new language makes travel easier and more fun, improves brain health, and can give a career boost. Giving the gift of language is easy, too, with Rosetta Stone’s Customizable E-Cards. Read my full review of Rosetta Stone for travelers.
5. Travel Pants with Inside Zipper Pockets
I. Love. These. Pants! The moisture-wicking material makes this a great choice for outdoor adventures or exploring a new city.
Internal zipper pockets protect valuables from pickpockets when in crowded places. I love that I don’t have to worry about my credit card falling out at theme parks or wherever my travels take me, too.
Purchase a pair of The North Face Women’s Aphrodite 2.0 Capri Pants for a cooler pant option where shorts aren’t allowed while traveling, like churches. The capris come in 12 colors and patterns. Long North Face Jogger Pants for Women are also available.
Men need great travel pants, too! Get the traveling man a pair of The North Face Men’s Sprag 5-Pocket Slim Leg Pant. These come with plenty of pockets but don’t look bulky like cargo pants. Choose from a variety of colors.
6. Globe Tree Ornament
Give a traveler the world…in miniature. This Blown Glass Earth Tree Ornament makes a great Secret Santa gift or stocking stuffer for anyone interested in exploring our beautiful planet.
7. Travel Themed Wine Charms
Perfect as a stocking stuffer or hostess gift, this 10 Piece World Travel Themed Wine Charm Set will spark travel-dreaming conversations at parties. Guests choose their favorite landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or Leaning Tower of Pisa to mark their wine glasses.
8. Earth Snow Globe
Snow globes collected from various vacation spots are a whimsical way to remember travels. My daughter has snowy and sparkly scenes from around the world displayed in her travel-themed bedroom. Get a travel fan started on a collection (or add to one) with this Blue Earth Snow Globe.
9. Travel Bangle Charm Bracelet
Give a little wanderlust bling with this Travel Bangle Bracelet. The woman travel lover in your life will appreciate the darling camera, globe, airplane, and passport charms.
10. Mickey Mouse Waffle Maker
Disney fanatics love all things Mickey Mouse. Give some Disney magic with a Disney Mini Waffle Maker. It produces breakfast treats shaped like the head cheese himself, just like at the Disney theme parks. What a festive Christmas morning breakfast idea!
11. International Welcome Mat
Polyglots and frequent travelers will enjoy welcoming guests in 17 languages with an International Welcome Mat. Wilkommen! (Or should I say bienvenue?)
12. Icelandic Salt Sampler
Add flavor to a traveler’s life with an Icelandic Salt Sampler by Saltverk. The abundance of geothermal hot springs in Iceland makes the country a prolific producer of salts. What’s more, Iceland’s Lava Salt purportedly improves bone health, improves digestion, and decreases inflammation. This gourmet collection includes Flaky Sea Salt, Lava Salt, Birch Smoked Salt, and Arctic Thyme Salt.
13. International Snacks Gift Packs
Treat a travel-loving friend to European snacks with the International Exotic Snack Box Variety Pack from Ceres Gourmet Store in Turkey. Cookies, chips, candies, and more make the best gifts for curious palates.
For tastes from Asia, this Mashi Box Asian Mystery Mini Snack Box is packed with savory and sweet goodies from Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, and beyond.
14. Fresh Pineapples from Hawaii
Know someone who deserves a Hawaiian vacation? Give the flavor of the islands by shipping out Fresh Tropical Hawaiian Gold Pineapples. This sweet treat is sure to warm up any blustery winter day.
15. Coloring Fun for World Travelers
Relieve stress, increase creativity, and inspire travel with this Around the World in 50 Pages Coloring Book for adults or teens. It features world landmarks from Amsterdam, Paris, Hong Kong, and more.
Don’t forget the colored pencils! This ARTISTIK Colored Pencil Set comes with a roll-up case, perfect for travel.
16. Swiss Chocolates
Globetrotters know Switzerland is renowned for its decadent chocolates. You need not spend a ton to impress the chocoholic on your gift list with Swiss chocolates, either. The affordable Lindt Swiss Luxury Selection will delight taste buds with an assortment of milk, dark, and white chocolates. Bring a box of these goodies as the perfect gift for the discerning host of the next holiday season party you attend.
17. World Map Travel Laundry Bag
Get the frequent traveler in your life this Travel-Sized World Map Laundry Bag. Having a convenient place to store vacation laundry makes traveling easier with this practical gift. The whimsical design makes laundry fun, too.
18. Travel Memoirs
Memoirs about real-life journeys make the best gifts for readers with a passion for exploring the world. Armchair travelers drive across the United States, learn to dance flamenco in Spain, sail across the Pacific, and explore the happiest places on Earth with these 33+ travel memoirs.
19. Travel Games
Many games and activities come in travel sizes to entertain travelers on the go. Buy Vacation Fun Mad Libs and Loaded Questions on the Go to fill the miles on road trips and long flights with laughter. Pick up Waterproof UNO Splash for poolside play. Or buy Bananagrams for compact hotel room competition.
For more ideas, take a look at 35+ travel games for all ages.
20. GetYourGuide Gift Card
Want to know what gift travel lovers REALLY want? More travel! Give the gift of travel with a GetYourGuide Gift Card for a tour or class in the vacation destination of their choice. GetYourGuide is my go-to choice for memorable guided experiences when I travel.
Sports fans will enjoy touring Fenway Park in Boston or the Chelsea Football Club Stadium in London. Meanwhile, adrenaline junkies will want to go skydiving in Dubai or snowmobiling in Finland. Cultural travelers could get a private tour of the Louvre in Paris or set sail on an architectural boat tour of New York City. For foodies, there are pasta-making classes in Italy and tapas tours in Spain. And nature lovers can snorkel with turtles in Oahu or tour waterfalls and geysers near Reykjavik in Iceland. The exciting possibilities are seemingly endless!
More Gift Ideas for Travel Lovers
Traveling families will appreciate my top picks for travel toys for kids and children’s travel books.
Check out these travel subscription boxes recommended by our friends at Stuffed Suitcase.
Discover gear to buy for new campers (and what can be skipped)!
Take a look at travel tips and gear for business travelers.
Save This Travel Gift Guide
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Do you have any great gift ideas for travel lovers to add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!
All photos from product pages on Amazon.com unless otherwise noted.
I know a lot of friends who would love the Mickey waffle maker
Such a fun way to wake up in the morning!
Those are great gift ideas! I especially like the Japanese puzzle box and the World Wide Snack Package!
Our Japanese puzzle box has been so much fun over the years – great way to challenge guests!
All the gift are amazing. However, I like the World Wide Snack Mix Package by WorldwideTreats.
It would be so fun to snack my way around the world!
These are such great gift ideas! We have an aunt who loves to travel and I love the idea of that ornament!
The ornament is such a great stocking stuffer for a travel lover!
These are some really awesome gift ideas. Perfect for the family traveler!
Glad you like my holiday gift picks!
This is a great guide! I even love some of these for myself too! Thank you so much for sharing!
Add them to your holiday wish list, Toni!