If your loved ones love travel, I bet they either already have a trip planned or are ready to ‘get outta Dodge’! Here are 12 great travel gift ideas for those who love to travel!
1. Give the Gift of Silent Flights
For as long as I can remember, I’ve traveled with noise-cancelling headphones. Technology has come a long way from the large Bose headphones I had a long time ago. Now, even small ear buds can provide peace during those long flights. Quality audio accessories are a gift and traveller will appreciate.
2. Travel Magazine Subscriptions
Give your loved one the gift of an armchair vacation every month when they receive their volume of Travel and Leisure or Conde Nast Traveler! Travelers love these mags for their crisp pictures, “Best of” Lists, and travel ideas that take you away on a flight of fancy as you consider a world of possibilities.
3. A Future Cruise
Cruising was been shut down for months in 2020-2021 and cruise companies built on already stringent sanitation procedures. With the new, even stronger protocols in place, I feel very confident returning to cruising!
One of the most dramatic gifts you can surprise your loved ones with is a cruise (got kids? A Disney Cruise is sure to be a hit – check out the new Disney Wish!)
Related Post: 8 Reasons a Cruise could be your Best Vacation Yet
4. Books that Take Them to Other Lands
Reading books -both fiction and non-fiction- is a great gift to an escape from 2020! It’s also a great gift for someone who would love to or is planning to travel to a specific destination. I recently asked some Scottish friends for recommendations on books to read as I develop our trip to Scotland next year. My friend John Mobray at Executive Travel and Tours recommended Antonia Fraser’s Mary, Queen of Scots and I Never Knew that About Scotland, among others. I LOVED them!
Here are some more great books I can personally recommend that bring our world alive:
- Italy: Under the Tuscan Sun (Memoir)
- Spain: The Queen’s Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile (Historical Fiction)
- Scotland:
- Mary, Queen of Scots (History)
- Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other (travelogue) – by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, stars of Outlander (Historical Fiction)
- England: The Tudor Court Series (or anything by Philippa Gregory! – not joking!)
5. Location-Based Cookbooks
On the subject of books as gifts, here are two place-based cookbooks I own personally that I LOVE – they are easy to use, fun to read and a must-have in my small cookbook collection!
- Italy: The Tuscan Sun Cookbook: Recipes from our Italian Kitchen
- Ireland: McGuire’s Irish Pub Cookbook (they have two restaurants: one in Destin & one in Pensacola – Definitely visit if you’re in the area!) Ok, so maybe not Ireland, itself, but I’ll take an Americanized version – these dishes are really good. Some have become staples in our home and especially during our holidays! (The bread pudding is AMAZING!)
6. Universal Yums
Universal Yums is the travel gift that keeps on giving. Every month, the recipient receives a goodie-box full of treats from a given country. Recent boxes have showcased Russia, Columbia, Italy, and Germany! In addition to a variety of chips, sweets, and savory snacks, the box includes a booklet on the foods from that country (so you know what you’re eating!) as well as an insert with games and interactive opportunities to rank your goodies to win more. Definitely fun for the whole family!
7. DNA & Ancestry Service
Both 23andMe and Ancestry offer services that will analyze your DNA and give you an idea of who in the world you share DNA with. Either is a great gift for loved ones who have always felt that their hearts belonged somewhere else or in some other time. I have done both of these kits, personally, and both offer similar results. Ancestry is tied to having an Ancestry.com account (convenient if you’re actually into researching your genealogy) and offers an ethnicity estimate, while 23andMe provides good data for those who are more interested in what their DNA says about their health and relationships with living people. The real key is to make sure that everyone in your family is submitting the same kit, so that you show as “connections” in the results.
8. Physix Gear Compression Socks
Here is the one “practical” gift on the list. If you or your loved one has tired, achy or swelling feet (on flights or off!), it’s time to try Physix Gear Compression Socks. As someone who is on my feet most of the time, I started wearing these a year and a half ago, and they make All. The. Difference. These stand out from others because they are made from soft, breathable fabric and provide a professional-grade 20 to 30 mmHg compression level to prevent swelling and blood clots. Plus – they just feel good. Not kidding! And I don’t go on a plane without them.
9. A Visit for Disney’s 50th Anniversary
Walt Disney World turned 50 on October 1, 2021 but the celebration will continue toward the end of 2022! My family and I visited for the 25th Anniversary (when I was still a child at home) and it was such a memorable trip for me – one I’ve never forgotten! My parents and I also visited July 2020, July 2021 and August 2022 and were able to see first-hand how well and how carefully Disney opened back up – we felt safer there than we have felt anywhere -before or since!
Walt Disney World has taked their reopening seriously, operating more cautiously than even local and state guidelines suggest. Long story short, we felt like Disney was one of the safest, as well as the most Magical places on Earth!
I can help you plan the trip -and find the best Disney and Universal Orlando deal- that’s just right for you and your loved ones!
10. Speciality Gifts from Small Businesses
The best gifts are unique. Ones that took special thought. If your loved one is looking forward to a visit to a unique location, or even if there is that one place in the world that holds their heart, consider speciality gifts from a local small business or from a fair-trade shop that ministers to small businesses in third world countries.
The Celtic Ranch, in Weston, Missouri is one of my favorite local stops for all things Scottish and Irish. From whiskys (and whiskeys) to ruanas to Irn Bru, The Celtic Ranch has jewelry, clothing, accessories, and foods to help your loved one feel like they are in the Celtic heart of the U.K.
A local shop with a British flair is Queen’s Pantry Teas and British Goods in Leavenworth, Kansas. If you’re looking for a nice, smooth black bagged tea that is authentic British tea, try the Builder’s Tea! It’s much smoother than PG Tips, in my humble opinion! Queen’s Pantry offers a flavorful selection of loose leaf teas, as well, for your favorite tea snob!
11. Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are wizardry for your suitcase. They solve the problem of your clothes not fitting in your luggage, your shampoo spilling on your shirts and your toiletries getting lost among your socks.
My dad was an Air Cargo Specialist, and he taught me how to pack tightly. These packing cubes take it to the next level. They also include a laundry bag and shoe bag.
Packing cubes make it easy to find everything once you arrive, and help you keep things organized while traveling. With these, you really can fit everything into a carryon! And if the TSA chooses YOU for the “random inspection” of your checked luggage, no worries about the contents of your suitcase being a jumble when you open it.
A thoughtful gift for your frequent-traveler friends and loved ones. It will change the way they pack!
12. Cooking Classes
So where does the “travel” come in? The range of classes is inspiring – from Mediterranean dishes, to Churrascaria classes, to dishes with an Asian flair, you and your loved one can try your hands at recipes that remind you of places you’ve loved or help you look forward to places you have yet to go! Mom and I are scheduled for the Tuscan Feast in December – I’m in love with anything that takes me back to Italy!
When someone has all of the stuff they need, cooking classes are a great gift idea for bonding and creating memories. Most larger cities offer a great place for stand-alone lessons. In Kansas City, that place is The Culinary Center of Kansas City . Some of Kansas City’s top chefs teach here, with classes ranging from baking to barbecue to full-blown meals. Classes can be demo, participation, or hands-on, so be sure to read carefully to find the class that’s right for you.
Related Post: 9 Awesome Travel Films & TV Series to Fuel your Wanderlust
Whether your loved one is ready to travel or not, you can give them a piece of their dreams this holiday season with a little bit of thought, creativity and the perfect travel-related gift. Then, if you’re lucky, now that travel has opened back up, they may just take you with them!
What is the best travel gift you’ve ever received? Is something missing on my list? Let me know in the comments below!
Contact Kimberly@NextAdventureVacations.com or call/text 816-866-8883 for more information about setting up the perfect travel surprise for your loved one!
