Special

20 unique travel gifts for him or her

by Paul Joseph  |  Published December 13, 2019

With the festive season nearly upon us, for most of us the challenge is well underway to find new and original gifts for friends and loved ones. If you’re looking for a great present idea for someone who loves to travel, there’s no shortage of products currently on the market that are guaranteed to make their upcoming adventures even more exciting.

A selfie stick being put to use in the shallow waters surrounding Koh Hong Island in Thailand (Photo: Anders Lejczak via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

At TravelMag.com we understand that the fun side of Chistmas can often be tainted by the stresses of present-buying – especially if you’ve left it to the last minute. To help you ease the tyranny of your Christmas shopping list, we’ve dug deep and picked out 20 of the best travel-related items and accessories, spanning everything from smart gadgets to classic travel books.

Retro anti-leather backpack

The best travel accessories are both stylish and practical, and this women’s backpack certainly fits that billing. Ideal for use as a day pack, the premium leather retro-style bag is large enough to hold all your gadgets and other essentials, yet comfortable to carry around all day. The bag can be held in three different ways – as a conventional backpack, a top handle bag, or a shoulder bag – with zipper access to the main compartments helping keep thieves at bay.

PRICE $25.99 BUY AT goyourownwayboutique.com

Retro Anti-leather Backpack

(Photo: goyourownwayboutique.com)

Platinum on-board trolley

If you often travel with breakables that are too big to go in your hand luggage, then a solid and sturdy suitcase is an absolute necessity. Made from anodised aluminium, this handsome trolley case is as durable as it gets. It’s practical too, with four double spinner wheels allowing for a smooth glide, and an ergonomic 3-position handle. As for cosmetics, the internal compression panels are available in a choice of 4 colours.

PRICE $447.60 BUY AT noeizo.com

Platinum on-board trolley

(Photo: noeizo.com)

Joseche bluetooth sleep eye mask

For those who struggle to fall asleep at night, eye masks can be a god-send. This wireless sleep eye mask goes one step further by allowing you to listen to music or podcasts, without the need for additional headphones or earplugs, thanks to its Bluetooth functionality. The mask also has a flexible velcro strap that can be easily adjusted to the most comfortable position for your head.

PRICE $22.86 BUY AT amazon.com

(Photo: amazon.com)

Sand Free Beach Towel

How innovative can a beach towel get, you ask? Well, here’s the answer. This revolutionary towel uses cutting edge textile technology that avoids one of the biggest beach bug-bears – sand getting stuck in your towel and remerging on your carpet later on. Lightweight yet super absorbent, the fast-drying towel can also be compactly folded so it fits comfortably into even a modest-sized bag.

PRICE $59 BUY AT tesalate.com

(Photo: tesalate.com)

Zoppen travel wallet

A durable and lightweight wallet, Zoppen have come up trumps again with the latest iteration of their stylish travel passport wallet made from premium polyurethane and faux suede. It’s spacious enough to hold all of your carry-on essentials, including passport, boarding pass, credit cards, coins, smartphone and pen, while for maximum peace of mind Rfid blocking material inside protects your personal information.

PRICE $14.99 BUY AT amazon.com

The eye-catching bar area at Barsecco (Photo: amazon.com)

Cork globe

What better way to get inspired to travel the world than by having a globe to hand? With this colourful detailed cork globe you can relive your best travel memories and plot future adventures, all from the comfort of your own home. The globe even comes with red pushpins which can be used to mark parts of the world that hold a special place in your heart, or you can affix memorabilia such as photos, plane tickets and other mementos to the globe if you so wish.

PRICE $80 BUY AT uncommongoods.com

How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip travel book

For some people, getting their nose deep into a book is part of the joy of relaxing during their travels. But this book encourages you to do your page-flicking before you head off by offering a comprehensive guide to what you should pack for your trip, depending on the nature of your adventure. For those of an indecisive disposition, this book might just be a travel essential.

PRICE $5.99 BUY AT amazon.com

(Photo: amazon.com)

HUAWEI wireless headphones

Anyone who uses wireless headphones on a regular basis will attest to them being a modern day necessity. And if you’re keen to lighten your load for your travels, then headphones that avoid long, cumbersome cords are the perfect choice. Huawei’s wireless stereo earphones are a fine choice thanks to their impressive functionality, which include voice calling with BT function, high-fidelity stereo sound effect, Intelligent Wear Detection, and Double-Tap Operation, among other things.

PRICE $64.99 BUY AT amazon.com

Stow leather tech case

If you’re easily persuaded by celebrity endorsements, then you may like to know that this swanky, eye-catching leather tech case is owned by HRH The Duchess of Sussex, who described it as a “travel essential”, no less. Designed to apply a stylish, contemporary spin on the traditional writing case, the case features several components, including two hand-stitched leather pockets for passports, boarding passes and an iPad Mini or Kindle at the top, five slots for credit cards, loyalty cards, photo ID and your mobile phone underneath, and additional spaces for cables and earphones and a USB stick.

PRICE $494 BUY AT stowlondon.co.uk

(Photo: Stow)

Cushion Lab travel pillow

Designed with ergonomic contours to create a comfy resting place for your head, this innovative, compact travel pillow is ideal for those who find it hard to get some shut eye while in transit. There’s a lower side that braces your neck and a taller side that serves as chin support when front sleeping, or as a leaning face support when side sleeping – just rotate the pillow to shift the support as per your preference.

PRICE $34.95 BUY AT amazon.com

eBags packing cubes

Featuring six separate zip-around packing cubes, this travel set would go down a treat with travellers who like to stay organised at all times. Comprising one large, one medium, one small, and three slim cubes, all made from Techlite poly fabric with soft mesh tops that prevent delicate items from getting damaged, the set offers an easy way to separate items inside your travel bag as well as maximise space.

PRICE $50 BUY AT ebags.com

(Photo: ebags.com)

Sidetracked travel magazine subscription

Packed full of inspirational stories of travel, exploration, expeditions and adventure, this artsy, journal-style magazine upends the traditional travel mag medium by focusing on personal journeys. A subscription to Sidetracked would make for a great gift for anyone likely to get inspired by unique travel experiences told through a combination of top class writing and full colour images.

PRICE $35.50 (+ $9.70 Shipping) BUY AT sidetracked.bigcartel.com

Moleskine Classic Notebook

Keeping diary notes is an essential part of travel for many, and Moleskine’s hugely popular slim-line notebooks provide the perfect canvass for such musings. Featuring a cardboard bound cover, deluxe ivory paper pages, elastic closure, a bookmark ribbon, and a variety of page layouts, the classic Large Ruled notebook makes a cherished companion for anyone keen to preserve their ideas and memories in written form.

PRICE $9.98 BUY AT amazon.com

(Photo: amazon.com)

Valourgo collapsible water bottle

Traditional water bottles tend to take up a fair bit of room, especially if you don’t have a bag with an external side compartment for bottles – and even those are usually quite small. Step forward the innovative concept of the collapsible bottle. Made from flexible silicone and fitted with a unique leak-proof valve, Valourgo’s foldable bottles come in several eye-catching colours and can even be cleaned in a dishwasher.

PRICE $12.99 BUY AT amazon.com

ADDTOP portable solar charger

Nowadays we all live with the fear of getting caught short when it comes to our mobile phone battery power. But instead of frantically hunting for power points, a great on-the-go option (which happens to be eco-friendly too) is a portable solar charger that works off of sunlight. Featuring four foldable solar panels, the charger is handheld size and is equipped with dual USB output ports that can charge two devices simultaneously. It also has emergency bright LED lights for visibility after dark.

PRICE $43.65 BUY AT amazon.com

(Photo: amazon.com)

Language playing cards

Housed within a durable tin case, these multiple language playing cards include over 50 common words and phrases that will help you ingratiate yourself with locals during your travels, including everyday greetings and introductions, and words relating to eating out, moving around, or finding a place to stay. There are even tips on pronunciation to help save your blushes.

PRICE $24 BUY AT itslingo.com

Bose SoundLink micro bluetooth speaker

Designed to keep pace with all of your adventures while delivering unmatched sound, this bluetooth speaker from Bose is small but powerful – and perfectly formed. Rugged and waterproof, it features a tear-resistant silicone strap, so you can take it along wherever you go by strapping it to your bike, backpack, cool box, or anything else. What’s more, the Bose Connect smartphone app gives you easy access to personalised settings and other nifty features.

PRICE $131 BUY AT Bose.co.uk

(Photo: Bose)

The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia travelogue

For book lovers, taking some enjoyable reading material on their travels is a borderline necessity. First published more than three decades ago, this book is universally acknowledged as a modern classic of the travelogue genre. Recounting the author’s adventures across Asia by train, it delivers an often strange, but always unique and entertaining insight into the continent and the magic of travel through page after page of wry and engrossing observations.

PRICE $12.99 BUY AT amazon.com

Neiman Marcus women’s curated travel bag

A twist on the classic toiletries pack gift, this curated travel bag from luxury brand Neiman Marcus contains a lavish set of aeroplane-friendly bathroom and beauty essentials that will, at the very least, save its beneficiary a trip to the chemist. Highlights include a Molton Brown Orange & Bergamot Body Wash, a milk + honey Hand Sanitizer, and Supergoop! Sunscreen.

PRICE $90 BUY AT neimanmarcus.com

(Photo: Neiman Marcus)

Urban map class

Raise a toast to your favourite travel destination with these urban map glasses. The brainchild of Boston-based designer Brian Johnson, each glass features an intricate city map that sprawls along the curves of the glass, interspersed with street names and coordinates for significant local landmarks. Perfect for kicking back and enjoying a full-bodied bourbon after work while recalling your cherished travel memories.

PRICE $16 BUY AT uncommongoods.com