Since I’m on the road full-time, I’m always trying out new travel gear and clothing. I’ve collected a list of my favorite travel items that I’ve discovered this year.Here are 13 of the best travel gifts (big and small)...
Alfred the Gnome loves being part of my annual travel gift guide!
Since I’m on the road almost full-time, I’m always trying out new travel gear and clothing. I’ve collected a list of my favorite travel items that I’ve discovered this year that have made my life easier to help you find the best travel gifts. Several of these were suggestions from friends and other travelers that I wish I’d bought years ago!
Here are 13 of the best travel gifts (big and small) to help you find the perfect gifts for friends and family. Feel free to add these to your own Christmas list before you send it to Santa!
1. Peak Design Phone Cases & Accessories
Peak Design makes mobile cases and accessories for all phone types including Apple, Android and Pixel. Photo courtesty of PeakDesign.com
2. Nord VPN for Online Security
While this isn’t a physical product, Nord VPN is one of the most important things I use because it allows me to stream Disney+ in Thailand. ? All jokes aside—a VPN offers privacy protection while you are traveling both at home and abroad when connecting to public Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, etc. I’ve used NordVPN for years because it’s the fastest and most trusted VPN. VPNs are excellent for streaming movies or checking your bank accounts on both your computer and phone. It shields your IP address to protect your privacy and location while also offering secure data encryption. There is a 65% off Black Friday sale!
3. Goodr Sunglasses
I love bright Wayfarer-style sunglasses so much that they’ve almost become my trademark. For years, I would buy them every time I saw them. When my stash hit rock bottom this year, a friend suggested Goodr, an online company that makes fun colorful and affordable ($25) quality sunglasses with style names like Flamingos on a Booze Cruise and Gold Digging with Sasquatch. Originally designed for runners, these polarized, no-slip (even when you’re super sweaty) and no bounce styles come in any color from teal (my fave!) to plain black in three different head sizes.
The carbon-neutral company offers 30-day free returns and a one-year warranty. I scratched my sunglasses, and they just replaced them no questions asked this year! Their marketing is genius—their witty customer service emails and packaging are all hilariously written by their cartoon flamingo mascot named Karl. You can buy them online at Amazon, Goodr.com and REI, who sells their line of National Park inspired shades. No matter what style you choose, these will be one of the best travel gifts of the year!
4. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Card Game
This game is the most fun card game I’ve played in ages and perfect for travel. My friend’s kids got me into it this summer, but it’s a ton of fun even for adults. It travels well! Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza would be a perfect stocking stuffer. It’s on sale for only $5.99 on Amazon! The name alone makes this one of the best travel gifts!
5. Salomon OUTpulse Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots
I broke in my new Salomon hiking boots at The Wave this spring. I’m also rocking my favorite squirrel Darn Tough socks!
6. Oboz BFCT O Fit Plus II Insoles
The secret behind the perfect fit with my Salomon hiking boots was adding removeable Oboz foot insoles. These fit my
arch perfectly, and I no longer have tired feet after long hikes. Trust me, I really didn’t want to spend more money and buy inserts, but these literally made a difference. These are $35 at REI!
7. Patagonia Quandary Brimmer Sun Hat
The Quandary Brimmer Sun Hat packs easily and keeps both the sun and rain off my face.
Last week, I lost my luggage again for the third time this year so clearly, I have to put AirTags, a tracking device made by Apple, back on the list. I was able to track when my bag made it to Bangkok from Singapore and could even see the delivery truck a few blocks away from my hotel. I have one in my main suitcase and one with my camera. A four-pack is 20% off on Amazon now! These are literally the best travel gift you can buy yourself.
9. Darn Tough Mirco Crew Socks
10. Women’s Capilene® Cool Daily Hoodie UPF
Patagonia’s Capilene® Cool Hoodie with UPF is one of my go-to shirts now.
11. Sea to Summit Premium Silk Travel Liner
12. Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie
13. Patagonia UPF Sun Gloves
These Patagonia sungloves are the perfect length to cover the wrist and are easy to take off.
Your hands and neck show the most age so I’ve started wearing UPF gloves when I drive long distances, snorkeling or just out in the sun taking photos all day for work. I tried a pair from Uniqlo, which are fine for driving but useless elsewhere. These Patagonia UPF gloves are short and cover a bit of the wrist but have a cutout in the palm for airflow. I wore these almost every day on my recent Melanesia work trip.
If you’re buying something online anyway, go through Rakuten.com and use their link to the store’s website to get cash back. The percentage (1-20 percent usually) varies by retailer and the amount you earn can be directly deposited into your PayPal account. This is similar to shopping through your credit card’s “shopping mall” to get extra points. I just started using this for booking my accommodation when I travel through Booking.com and other online shopping including Amazon! You get $40 just for signing up with this referral link. PLUS, they give HUGE cash-back amounts during Thanksgiving weekend!
The post 13 Best Travel Gifts appeared first on Travel Like Anna: How to Travel on a Budget.
