7 Great Holiday Gift Ideas for Frequent Travelers

Buying holiday gifts is tough. You have to put some thought into the process and even then, there’s a good chance they’ll end up end up returning your gift. But it’s the thought that counts and if you can manage to find a gift for the frequent traveler in your life that is both thoughtful, practical, and cool, you’ll be all set. And if you can’t think of anything, here are 7 great holiday gift ideas for frequent travelers:

 

Headphones

Noise-cancelling headphones are especially appreciated by frequent travelers, as they can drown out the noise of busy airports and airplane cabins. I’ve had my share of problems with noise-cancelling headphones, but I know lots of frequent travelers who swear by them.

The Boise QC 35’s are a popular option. I ended up returning mine because of the searing ear pain and have settled for a pair of Beats Solo 3’s. They’re not noise-cancelling by any stretch, but I use them during my Gilmore Girls binge-watching sprees at home and while traveling.

 

Power bank

Frequent travelers who are constantly on the go need their electronics to be powered up at all times. A power bank makes an excellent gift. I personally recommend the Anker brand, which you can find on Amazon. I’ve had my power bank for about five years now and not only is it durable, it’s also super portable and charges quickly. The Anker Powercore 5000 is great for quick and easy cell phone charging. If you want to splurge a little, go for the PowerCore 20100mAh power bank.

 

Scratch Map

A scratch map is a fun, simple gift for any travel enthusiast. Not only is it decorative, it’s practical. You can use it to display and keep track of all the countries you’ve visited so far. There are lots of scratch maps out there for sale and what I personally love is that most of them look really nice, making them ideal wall art.

 

Subscription Boxes

I hear you: Subscription boxes are often a rip off. You get nothing but a bunch of cheap trinkets that go in the trash every month. Not if the contents of the box include food. Gold Belly has an awesome food subscription service that will remind your frequent traveler friends/family of all the great foods they’ve had in their favorite cities.

It might even inspire them to travel in order to try these foods in-person. You can purchase a subscription for specific food types (i.e. pizza, bbq, ice cream,) or opt for a general subscription that includes a myriad of foods and desserts. Seriously, is there a better gift out there than a surprise box full of food every month? I didn’t think so.

 

Travel books

Call me a nerd, but one of my favorite types of gifts to receive are books. I don’t think there’s anything more thoughtful than sharing your favorite stories with someone. Unless written by a Kardashian, books are entertaining, enlightening, and inspiring. If you’re trying to think of a gift to get a friend with a serious case of wanderlust, consider gifting them one of these travel books to inspire them.

 

A New Carry-on Bag

A good carry-on bag is essential for any frequent traveler. While I personally love the hardside Fun90 Passport bag with its convenient front pocket, your frequent traveler friend/family member may be looking for other criteria. Try to find out what those are, and consult this FlyerTalk thread for some excellent recommendations.

Travel gift cards

When all else fails, gift cards always make great gifts. Here in the Bay Area, Southwest gift cards are a great option. Southwest flies almost anywhere you’d want to go and fares are cheap enough that even a $50 gift card will get you somewhere. But you might want to opt for a hotel chain gift card (I vote for Hyatt). Either way, you can’t go wrong with gifting someone travel.

 

What are some gifts you recommend for frequent travelers?

 

[Image: Flickr/GlitterandFrills]