We obviously love to travel. And we know a lot of others who love to travel. And we love gifting them things they’ll actually use and love. But so many gifts for travelers mostly include things like $400 pieces of … Read More
We love this REI sale each year – it’s one of the biggest and best for items we actually need and use very regularly. I love purchasing things we need anyway at a lower price! Here are some of my … Read More
We loved our recent 1 week fall trip to Europe and exploring the Balkan Peninsula. The whole trip was 10 days including travel, and we packed with only backpacks so wanted to keep things very minimal. Everything I took easily … Read More
We loved experiencing a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park with kids on our recent trip to Croatia. Here’s what we did on our one day Plitvice Lakes itinerary and the best things to do in Plitvice Lakes with … Read More
I admit to being a little bit picky when it comes to women’s travel pants. I like them to be really comfortable, so I can wear them easily even on an overnight plane. (A stretchy waistband is a must for … Read More
We’ve done a family Halloween costume theme for 13 prior years, and up until a week ago, I really thought 2023 was going to be the year it wouldn’t happen. My kids were all over the map with what they … Read More
Yosemite National Park is one of our family’s favorite places. We feel a bit spoiled that this natural wonder is only a few hours from our home, and we feel so lucky that we can visit often! We’ve also been … Read More
We’ve now been living in our new home in London for a little over a month; the time has flown! It’s been a whirlwind unpacking, getting kids settled in school, getting (almost all used!) furniture, and lots of little things … Read More
My 12 year old recently picked Paris for a quick trip for him and me and it was a delight! Fall in Paris is magical, and can also be a bit finicky weather-wise. Layers are your friend, along with clothing … Read More
Sweater season is my favorite, and I love a cheerful and bright one as the days get bleaker. A colorful and bright pullover for fall travel outfits is a staple for me! I recently purchased this gorgeous red pullover with … Read More
In traveling to Vietnam, visiting Halong Bay was super high on our list. While you can technically do a day tour of Halong Bay, I would not recommend it, especially with kids. There’s so much beauty to experience, and it … Read More
Olive pants are one of my favorite staples for all seasons, but they’re especially great in the fall. I love that the color feels earthy but more interesting than jeans, and they’re WAY more travel friendly. They’re super versatile and … Read More
We obviously love to travel. And we know a lot of others who love to travel. And we love gifting them things they’ll actually use and love. But so many gifts for travelers mostly include things like $400 pieces of luggage, which isn’t really in our budget. (Gotta save that money for the actual travel!)
Here’s a list of really excellent, useful gifts that travel lovers will love but won’t break the bank. All of them are under $10, so they’re perfect for a sister, friend, neighbor, or coworker. They’re tried and true items we’ve loved in our travels, so you can be sure they’ll be used for years to come!
Suitcase covers are awesome to help you locate your luggage quickly and easily (and keep it from getting mistakenly picked up by someone else). I love these with bright, solid colors and the price is just right. (These with fun patterns are just a couple dollars more.)
There is nothing worse than walking a ton when traveling and getting blisters, but having no other shoe options available. Blister patches are a must to stay comfortable and to protect in the event you do get a blister. They’re a perfect gift for a traveler or outdoor lover.
We have and love this exact passport holder. It makes it so much easier to keep track of all of them, along with boarding passes, luggage tags, vaccination cards and more. A perfect family travel gift.
This universal travel adapter is a must for us whenever we go abroad. I love that we don’t need different plug adapters based on where we’re going because they’re basically all contained in one item.
I love the earrings from Shop Hey June because they’re stainless steel based and plated with gold, so they work great for my sensitive ears. I love that I can leave them in when we travel and they’re super comfortable even for showering and sleeping, so there’s less risk of leaving them behind somewhere. (Code PREETHI for 10% off your order, and several are on sale right now.)
Sanitizer is a must when traveling and I can never have too many mini bottles hanging on all my bags. I have and love this darling little sanitizer holder, but there are TONS of other options available out there from pandas to fruit.
These metal straws that come with their own case and cleaner are perfect travel gift for someone who cares about the earth.
Speaking of travel utensils, this 3-in-1 spoon / fork / knife is convenient and easy to clean. And nicer to the earth!
These are the BEST hair ties that hold even my very thick hair. I always have a couple on my wrist or in my bag when traveling. Good for separating out into stockings, too!
These are great if you’re traveling somewhere that won’t have reliable soap at sinks but you need more cleaning than just sanitizer. Tiny and easy to pack (and this little pack is so cute, too). Perfect for outdoors or travel lovers.
If you know a road trip lover, this digital tire pressure gauge is so useful to have on hand. We’ve had ours for years and it works great.
Know a tiny traveler? These are the only bibs worth using and especially helpful when traveling when laundry is trickier. They also pack down super small and weigh almost nothing.
If you’re traveling somewhere buggy, you definitely want to take this thing along. It sucks venom out to minimize irritation and swelling. Dan swears by it!
If you have someone who likes different fragrances, this is one of my very favorites. I rarely wear perfume but I love that this one smells really natural and lovely and not overpowering. It’s a little different on each person, so it always feels like it belongs on the person. This little roller ball version is perfect for travel!
We’ve had and loved these lined notebooks as travel journals for years and we keep returning to them over and over because they’re excellent. (Whoever heard of a notebook having 27k 5-star reviews??) Sturdy with nice, lined pages, and a strap to hold it closed. My kids record our activities and draw pictures in them.
Ever had a “waterproof” jacket or shoes that got totally damp? It’s especially miserable when traveling. This spray is perfect for touching up their performance and will be appreciated by the travel lovers in your life.
If you know a young traveler, this is an EXCELLENT gift that will for sure get used. We love these and lots of them are on sale here and here.
Perfect for the music lover in your life to take on the road or to a campsite. Even has a loop to attach to a backpack or stroller. I also super love this slightly-more-expensive speaker (under $30, so great for a gift!).
These are great, especially if you’ll be spending time outdoors. They pack really small and plump up when you add water. Sturdy and helpful for cleaning.
These are great for not rolling around even when in a moving vehicle. Fun for young and old!
You saw the handwashing soap sheets above; there are also little strips for laundry! These are so convenient and take way less space than packing detergent pods. (Just know you’ll likely need a couple of these per article of clothing.) If you prefer a liquid, these Sink Suds packets are a good option.
My phone battery always dies quickly, especially if I’m looking up maps when road tripping. This little adapter is great for charging in the car whether going on a road trip from home or renting a car at a destination.
We got a couple dry bags when in the Philippines and they are SO useful. Perfect if you’ll be near water to keep important things like phones and passports safe and dry.
An activity book is always a winner and we really love this one about the human body. Fun and also educational. An amazing deal right now!
Who doesn’t like to take photos when traveling? This serves double duty as a mini tripod and selfie stick for your travel-loving friend’s phone.
This tiny little kit is perfect to have a few basics on hand. Plus, it’s cute!
These toothbrush covers will ALWAYS get used and it’s always nice to have fresh ones. A perfect little gift that’s a travel essential.
Always fun to see where you’ve been before!
A small card game is always welcomed when traveling – they’re perfect for long rides, waiting in airports, sitting at restaurants, and more. Here are a few family favorites that are under the $10 mark right now!
Travel can be rough on hair, especially if it’s curly or textured. A satin pillowcase can really help, and weighs almost nothing to take along. This one is really affordable and has terrific reviews.
I always like to have one of these quick dry towels on hand when traveling, even if we’re not planning on being around water. Helpful for rain, cleaning up babies, or showering in a pinch. The smaller ones especially take up very little room.
This is a great staple to have in a travel pack – equally helpful when hiking and when walking through dark streets and trying to find your hotel.
Perfect for kiddos or for grown ups to sleep despite kiddos.
It seems ridiculous to pay for a strap but I promise it’s one of our most used travel items. So helpful to easily attach a car seat to a suitcase, especially when wheeling it through the airport.
I always like to pack a slim thermometer along when we travel and have been grateful for it countless times.
I love this useful and lovely mini velvet travel jewelry box – perfect for anyone who loves jewelry, like a friend or a tween/teen.
This is a great one for situations from whether you’re concerned about safety when traveling solo, to worrying about a kid opening a hotel room door and escaping while you’re asleep. (It’s happened to us!)
We don’t like to use melatonin regularly but it is a game changer for travel. We really like this kind because it’s fast acting and the dosage is the same as kid-specific ones but isn’t gummy (and takes less space) than kid versions. Good for both adults and kids.
Like carabiners, these gear ties hold all kinds of things in place. Really helpful to have on hand and a perfect useful, under $5 gift for a travel lover.
I don’t know what it is about these little wax sticks, but they’re SO fun for all different ages. I’m talking about my toddlers up to my teenager all love fidgeting with them. They’re quiet, non-messy, and take up almost no room. A gem of a travel toy.
There are so many different sleep mask options and they’re perfect for anyone trying to sleep in new places.
These are absolutely indispensable when we travel. Split them out and add in some cute packaging to keep the gift under $10.
Slim and packable, these stay put and are perfect for reading on the go.
Perfect for the frequent traveler to decant their favorite skin and hair products to take with them. I love these pastel colors!
Stick with me – painter’s tape has sooo many uses. Covering Outlets. For babies to easily pull off and play on a tray table. Holding curtains down to make it dark to sleep. So many uses!
Just might be my favorite travel accessory of all time. Attach water bottles and jackets, hook stuff on a suitcase or stroller, or a whole bunch of other uses. (An S-biner is also great.)
An ever-useful item when traveling and it’s hard to wash your hair. This is my favorite kind that doesn’t feel heavy and works on darker hair.
These wet bags are great for containing swimsuits or any other wet items when traveling, especially if you need to pack up before hitting the road.
We love this repellent, especially in areas with disease-carrying mosquitoes. This travel-sized one is great to tuck in a bag.
