Travel Christmas present ideas

We all know Christmas present shopping can be an absolute nightmare when it come around to shopping for *that* person. You know, the one who never wants anything, or the person you don’t know well enough to buy socks for, or simply the one who’s never in one place for long enough to enjoy anything physical you may buy for them. Whoever they may be, I have compiled a list of items that could suit anyone all under the travel niche. Whether they’re long-term backpackers, love a good beach resort, or even simply travel a lot for work, I’m sure there’s something here for everyone (and every budget)

Work travellers

As an ex-flight attendant, I know a good portion of passengers on a plane are travelling on business, and those trips could be any number of different lengths. I’ve seen people take 4hr flights just for the day, catching the latest flight home. However, no matter the length of the trip, there are still some essentials I know they need and have seen these same items time and time again.

1. A good power bank – if your life (and income) revolves around being on a phone and reachable, having a dead battery will feel like the absolute end of the worlds
2. A good quality suitcase fitted with a laptop sleeve – If a briefcase isn’t really their thing, a hard shell suitcase with a built in laptop sleeve can be a godsend as it allows easy access to work but also means minimal luggage is needed
3. Watch capable of displaying multiple time zones – when working all over the world and constantly moving around or you work for a company with bases across the world it can be hard to keep track. I love having a watch where I can see the local time and the time back home at the same time. It’s also a good way to know when to contact loved ones back home.
4. A no faff passport holder – one of my biggest pet peeves in an airport is watching someone faff about and search every bag to find their passport. It annoys me even more when they have some fancy shmancy cover with 20 a different sections and dividers all filled with various cards and boarding passes etc, and I know I’m not alone in this. Many passengers travelling on business with be travelling on company dime and usually get access to a lounge. They don’t want to be stood in a queue any longer than they need to be, so a simple protective cover is always appreciated
5. Good quality briefcase – a lot of business travellers will already own briefcases, but the majority will use the same one for travel and work. It’s so much easier to have one for each as it saves time not having to constantly change things around to suit its purpose
6. Noise cancelling headphones – picture this: you’re flying 8hrs across the Atlantic on the red-eye and going straight to a very important conference but the baby 2 rows back is flying for the first time and is having trouble with its ears equalising and screams the ENTIRE flight. Need I say more?
7. High quality eye mask – trying to sleep in a well lit hotel room because it’s daytime but to you it’s technically 2am is a really horrible thing if you need to sleep
8. Amazon firestick – I have used my firestick on so many occasions when staying in hotels. It allows me to watch all my shows no matter the country because you’re able to install a VPN and change your location, but also it means I don’t have to keep logging in and out of my accounts everytime
9. Kindle e-reader – E-readers are the acceptable forms of travel books in my opinion. I’m essentially taking an entire library with me wherever I go and it takes up no space at all, and once I’m done with a book I can purchase a new one cheaper than a physical copy. Bonus if you have kindle unlimited
10. Airline loyalty points – I love the fact that you are able to gift people points by either giving them yours or purchasing some for them (depending on the airlines). Loyalty points/ air miles are such an invaluable resource to frequent fliers. They can be used to purchase flights, on board wifi or food, and even lounge access.

Holiday makers

Whether it be a girls trip, a family holiday, a weekend away or the trip of a lifetime, everyone could do with a little travel inspiration.

1. Good quality carry-on suited to multiple airline standards – one thing I know a lot about is carry-on luggage. I have seen and used so many different ones over the last year on different airline, I feel like I’ve found some of the perfect bags to maximise space and still fit the dreaded requirements *cough* Ryanair *cough*
2. Money belt – I don’t really see the point in these apart from using them on a family/group holiday through the airport. It’s a way to keep all boarding passes, passports and anything else all together in one easily accessible place when you’re running around like headless chickens chasing after children and trying to check in etc
3. Multi coloured packing cubes – one of the best hacks I’ve ever used is buying multiple sets of the same packing cube sets that you really like in multiple colours. That way, everyone can have their own colour and you can easily see what you have and what’s needed. E.g. the smallest cube in each set is for underwear, but you’ve only been handed 3 but there’s 4 people.
4. Good quality suitcase – we’ve all seen the videos of baggage handlers treating bags poorly. Better to get a good quality suitcase that you know will be durable than a cheap £10 that breaks before you’ve even checked in
5. Compression sacks – Especially if you’re going to colder destinations, compression sacks will be your best friend. I used to pack my giant puffer coat in a compression sack and it would then fit in my tiny handbag sized crew topper. It was one of the best things someone brought me when I started as a flight attendant.
6. Travel jewellery bix – we all know that on holiday you want to dress up nice during the day and night but not all jewellery goes with every outfit. A small jewellery organiser is such a great thing to have on holiday to keep everything together. I also used to use mine to store hair ties and the occasional breakable souvenir.
7. Destination guide book – I’m not a fan of a guide book because I do everything on google maps, however there are so many people who much prefer to have physically books to research into the destination. It’s also such a good way to announce to someone you’re taking them on a trip. I took my Nan to Copenhagen for her 80th and gifted her a few Danish treats for hints before the big reveal was a guide book and she loved it. Now it’s a little memento of our trip for her to keep.

Backpackers

As a backpacker myself, this list is filled with all the items people bought for me or I wish they had for my travels. A lot of these can apply to other travellers, not just backpackers.

1. Compression cubes – when packing up your entire life for the next however many months, you want to save as much space in your bag as possible to reduce weight but also make room for inevitable purchases. I swear by compression cubes as they save so much space
2. ⁃ Multi plug – I use my mulit plug/ extension cable everyday whilst travelling. I always travel with multiple electronics that I need charged all the time. Rather than waiting for one to charge before plugging the next in, I’m able to charge them all at once
3. ⁃ Scrubba – sometimes when backpacking you don’t really need to do a full load of laundry but you might’ve run out of underwear. Rather than paying to use a machine or go to a laundrette, it’s so simple to throw it all in the Scrubba bag and wash it by hand. It’s also one of my top Endometriosis essentials as it’s how I clean all my period underwear when travelling.
4. Reversible clothing – reversible clothing is literally like having two outfits in one. It’s a great way to save in space and have more variety in your limited wardrobe
5. Heat tech clothing – if visiting colder climates, good quality thermal layers are a lifesaver. They will often be really compressible which is a great way to save space
6. Compression sacks – Especially if you’re going to colder destinations, compression sacks will be your best friend. I used to pack my giant puffer coat in a compression sack and it would then fit in my tiny handbag sized crew topper. It was one of the best things someone brought me when I started as a flight attendant.
7. Good quality bumbag – having a good quality bumbag to carry around day to day essentials really impacts a trip. Especially if it’s a long term trip. I have a really detailed post here to work out which is best for you.
8. Good quality backpack – the bag you bring to carry your life around with you for your trip duration really is the make or break. I would suggest talking to the person you wish to gift one to and find out exactly which bag is best for them. No surprises I’m afraid, but it’s better to be comfortable than feeling awkward about it not working out.
9. Sleeping bag liner – so many people talk about how this is a waste of space and money. It absolutely is not. On my backpacking trip, I probably used it more nights than I didn’t. Sometimes you get to accommodations and the bedding is questionable, or the A/C is freezing but you can’t control it, and sometimes no bedding is provided or sheets are an additional fee. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and it has proven it is worthy of a spot in my bag.
10. High quality eye mask – trying to sleep in a well lit hotel room because it’s daytime but to you it’s technically 2am is a really horrible thing if you need to sleep. We also all know that when staying in dorms, not everyone is considerate enough to keep the lights out in the middle of the night when they drunkenly stumble home or are packing for an early check-out
11. Packable waterproof – a compact jacket is so much better than buying multiple plastic ponchos when the need arises. The ponchos are good to an extent, but they’re mostly single use and rip so easily, I much prefer to bring my own raincoat. (Bonus if you get the one I have which doubles as a travel pillow!)
12. Tevas or birkinstocks – I’m forever team TEVA, however I would say 80% of backpackers own birks and they’re such a good travel shoe and they’re so versatile
13. Good neckpillow – I hate the really cheap flimsy pillows because they offer absolutely no comfort and you always wake up with a sore neck and back. A memory foam pillow is a must, especially for long plane and bus journeys.
14. Travel door locks – I don’t trust hotel door locks, I’ve heard too many horror stories from my time as cabin crew and seen the videos of people breaking into rooms like it’s nothing. A door lock add that little extra security, especially if you’re travelling solo
15. A good power bank – if your life (and income) revolves around being on a phone and reachable, having a dead battery will feel like the absolute end of the worlds