Come one, come all to our 12th annual Ultimate Holiday Travel Gift Guide extravaganza. We’ve got some exciting travel goodies to make your next flight easier, along with curated items to help bring the euphoria of your last adventure home with you. We’ve got prezzies for the dog, your babysitter and your mama.
Welcome to our 12th annual traveler’s gift guide!
Whether life is somewhat back to normal for you or you’ve changed everything since pre-March 2020, put your favorite holiday jam on repeat (Kelly Clarkson’s Wrapped in Red is my go-to) and let’s pretend, through the magic of unbridled consumerism, that our world is a sparkling snowglobe and not a smoldering pile of Grinchy green garbage.
The No. 1 awesome thing about my Travel Gift Guide is that it’s designed to keep you posted up in front of the fireplace instead of stuck in holiday mall traffic. No need to thank me. Consider it my good deed for 2024. Skip the hassle and focus on the reason for the season. Food and prezzies.
Wait, no. Jesus! It’s Jesus, you guys! Come on.
Take a peek at my list, filled with things I use, love and recommend, and let me know what tickles your fancy. There’s something at every price point and for every type of traveler, from the long-term nomad to the weekend warrior. Happy shopping, friendos!
Gift Ideas For Travelers
FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, the year’s best travel book*
*According to me, the esteemed author. I’m just saying, if you can only buy one gift for your loved ones this year, why not make it the gift of adventure?
This book is perfect for anyone who can read, but more specifically, anyone who has ever been at a crossroads. If you love to travel or dream of chucking the 9-to-5 to see the world, this book will get you dreaming of the possibilities for your own life in 2025, while making you laugh along the way. Limited autographed copies available here. Available wherever you buy books in audio, Kindle and hardcover.
Gonex Rolling Duffle
I was long overdue for a luggage overhaul this year so I was thrilled to try out the Gonex rolling duffle. Made of water resistant PVC, it’s durable and at 70L, has more than enough space for trips. Highly recommend, especially if you’re hard on luggage like I am!
Also check out their compression packing cubes, a lifesaver when you’re moving locations mid-trip.
Apple AirTags
Whether you’re a traveler or a homebody, you can never have too many Apple AirTags. They’re handy on lost suitcases, dogs, car keys… I mean, the possibilities are endless. If you don’t know what to get someone or you’re in a bind re: White Elephant or Secret Santa, an Apple AirTag is ALWAYS appreciated!
Cadence Honeycombs
Cadence Honeycombs are magnetic, customizable and sustainable mini-product containers. Each chic capsule holds a week or so worth of SPF, face cleanser, moisturizer, hand sanitizer, shampoo, toothpaste, vitamins or jewelry.
Trip Chaser Card Game
Trip Chaser is armchair travel for competitive people brought to you by two of my favorite traveling Canadians – the Hecks! Prove who’s the most travel-savvy by buying, bartering, and gambling your way to various destinations. It’s like real travel but without the suitcase, spending or stress. And it’s small enough to be the perfect stocking stuffer! Shop small and support my pals this year!
Shake it Up, a Swiftie Recipe Book
As of this moment, there are only 3 Eras Tour shows left so yeah, we’re gonna need some sparkle to fill the void Blondie is gonna leave when the grainy live streams go away. I’m loving this cutie little book: Shake It Up: Delicious cocktails inspired by the music of Taylor Swift. It’s no new Reputation bodysuit, but it’ll get us through to the Grammy’s. Buy one for your favorite traveling Swiftie.
Joules Wellibob Rain Boots
I received this pair of rain boots for my birthday last year and not only do I love them, but people compliment them like crazy! I love that they’re short so they’re not a huge pain to get on (girls with thicc calves get it) and they are as waterproof as the full-size ones. Great for travel!
On the National Language by B.A. Van Sise
The latest book from my friend B.A., On the National Language is my favorite work of his yet – and that’s really saying something. Makes a gorgeous hostess gift for anyone who loves poetry, photography and languages.
GOGroove Camera Backpack
With all the camera gear, batteries and cords I carry on work trips, I have to have a comfortable, spacious bag to tote it all around. Cue the GOGroove Camera Backpack – the latest addition to my luggage army. I have the smallest version and it holds a ton! My laptop, GoPro, tripods, chargers, digital camera and miscellaneous bits and pieces with room to spare.
Jodi’s Food Maps
Since you can’t bring all of Italy’s pasta, Mexico’s mezcal or Japan’s sashimi home, you can remember a tasty journey with unique, hand-drawn maps from Jodi of Legal Nomads. A super thoughtful gift for the enthusiastic food + travel lover in your life.
Monogrammed Travel Jewelry Case
I got a gorgeous travel jewelry case in a FabFitFun box last year, and I take it with me on every trip now. I don’t even bother unpacking it. Looks great on my dresser and drops right into my carry-on, and I love this monogrammed version. Perfect gift for the chic traveler.
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Hot Air Brush
One of my favorite purchases ever and the No. 1 seller from my last gift guide, this saves me from packing a hair dryer, curling iron/wand and brush and combines all those tools into one. It’s the next best thing to a professional blowout (my favorite traveling extravagance). A total game changer, and a steal compared to the Dyson products.
GoPro Hero 13 | Creator Edition
I always include the GoPro on my holiday gift guide and for good reason – aside from my iPhone, it’s the one piece of camera gear that goes with me everywhere, from scuba diving in Bonaire to camping at Ginnie Springs. I just bought the new one for snorkeling with manta rays in Hawaii and it was perfection, even in the dark. Read more about my tips for scuba with a GoPro.
TIP: I’ve been a fan of Amazon’s Wish List feature for years because it ensures I get what I want, in the size and color I want. You can’t leave these things up to chance, you know? Now Amazon has a new feature – the Holiday Wish List. It takes all the guesswork out of holiday gifting, you can sort the list by family member and you have 90 days to return and exchange if needed. Could not be easier!
Create a Holiday Wish List for your whole family for free!
UV Sanitizing Wand
I like to pretend I’m not surrounded by eleventy-billion germs at any given moment, particularly on airplanes and in hotel rooms, but the past couple of years has made it hard to forget! Enter the UV Sanitizer Wand, a lightweight, portable and battery powered device you can pack for extra peace of mind. Great for disinfecting furniture, door handles, luggage, keyboards, restaurant tables and more.
Prepster Emergency Backpack
Preppi’s Prepster bags are stocked with supplies to get you through an emergency – be it a wildfire, hurricane, tornado, or some as-yet-to-be discovered 911 situation. Each bag comes with a lifetime guarantee and solar/hand-crank charging station to keep your phone charged when the power goes out, food & water, space blanket, hygiene products, whistle, hand warmers, poncho, multi-tool, first aid kit and so much more. The way the world is, it would be crazy not to have at least one of these kits within arm’s reach!
Pet Weekender Bag
Stylish bag with all the essentials for a pet’s weekend away. What? Your pups don’t go on adventures? Our bunch is forever going back and forth between Orlando and Jacksonville, so they really need their own luggage for the trip. And if they ever did need to fly, this Pet Weekender Bag is airline approved and fits under the seat.
Life Straw Water Bottle
There’s really no reason to be wandering this planet in 2024 A.D. with a plain Jane water bottle. Not when you can have a Life Straw water bottle whose filtration system protects against 99.999999% of bacteria (including E. Coli and Salmonella), 99.999% of parasites (including Giardia), and 99.999% of micro plastics. It reduces chlorine, odors, organic chemical matter and improves taste, and the filter lasts for about 1,000 gallons.
Homesick Candles
I’ll never cease to be amazed at how a scent can instantly transport me back to a time and place in the past, so of course I love Homesick Candles.
Fun fact: the Florida candle smells like Bergamot, woody mangroves and Spanish moss mix with smooth vanilla and amber, and not swamp with a hint of NASCAR exhaust and a sparkle of red tide. Smart!
RFID-Blocking Passport Holder
Lightweight and compact but still big enough to hold a passport, ID, vaccine cards and more. Comes in a ton of colors and holds coins, a key, a pen, a passport and more.
Chromecast with Google TV
Vacation rentals are forgoing traditional cable these days, so it pays to have portable access to your streaming accounts. Chromecast with Google TV is a tiny device that holds all your digital watchables in one place, so you can take it from Airbnb to hotel to home and beyond without having to login, remember passwords, etc.
Ancestry DNA Kit
The holidays are a great time to dig into what makes you YOU, and both Ancestry DNA and 23andMe have great sales at this time of year. Rick and I have used both Ancestry DNA and 23andMe and it has been helpful from a health perspective in particular!
EASY, LAST-MINUTE GIFTS FOR TRAVELERS
If you’re not seeing this until December 20th, well I’ve got ideas for you, too. You procrastinating son-of-a-gun. Just like my Dad at Walmart on Christmas Eve every year, here you are searching desperately for a gift that doesn’t look like you got it AT THE LAST MINUTE from the clearance bin. Am I guilting you? Maybe just a little bit. But let’s leave the past in the past and help you not look like a Grinch on the big day.
Here are our favorite gifts you can snag at any time. No torturous shopping and no shipping required!
Medjet Membership
I would LOVE a Medjet renewal under my tree every year! If I get sick and have to be hospitalized while traveling, Medjet is who I count on to get me all the way home. Depending on the membership, Medjet handles global crisis response as well. Read my Medjet review here.
For details: MedjetAssist.com/Cyber
Priority Pass
There’s just nothing better than lounge access when you’re traveling. Free wifi, cozy seats, food and drinks! Priority Pass membership gives you access to 1,400+ lounges in more than 600 cities across 148 countries, no matter what airline you’re on.
DEAL: 30% if you buy on Black Friday!
Flytographer Gift Card
Flytographer is our travel photo shoot of choice and a great way to celebrate a special occasion or the special occasion of going somewhere besides your own backyard! Flytographer gift cards also make amazing wedding shower gifts, too, especially if the honeymooners are going to one of Flytographer’s hundreds of locations. Read our Flytographer review here, then get $25 your first shoot by clicking here.
Audible Subscription
Audible has single handedly helped me to prevent the clutter that naturally comes with being a bibliophile. I love having a book always queued up on my phone so any time I have a moment, I can dive back into wherever I left off. Great gift for a busy traveler!
Past Travel Gift Guides for Even More Ideas
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021
That’s a wrap on my 2024 holiday travel gift guide. From all of us here at Angie Away, we wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and generally joyous season no matter what you celebrate. Thank you for another year of supporting us in doing what we love. We’ll see you in 2025!