Christmas Gift Guide: 25 Unique Travel Gifts

Posted on 11/12/2019

If you’re looking for unique travel gifts, you’re in the right place. In this blog post I have pulled together 21 gifts for friends going travelling, or for those that simply love travelling. These unique travel gifts will provide you with great ideas on what to get your travel-loving friend, sister, boyfriend or dad. The traveller is a force to be reckoned with, but they are also incredibly difficult to buy gifts for!

Growing up Christmas was my favourite time of year and even now I love the Christmas period as you indulge in an array of food and alcohol, catch up with family and friends and enjoy being surrounded by the people you love. I used to scour the Argos catalogue and put stickers on the toys I really loved so that my parents knew exactly what I wanted.

It may nearly be Christmas, but if you’re still struggling for gift inspiration try these five gift ideas that will put a smile on anyone’s face. Christmas is almost upon us, and if you’re still wondering what to get friends and family, then you might be heading out to the high street on Christmas Eve – something no one wants to do!

We’re all told that we should consume less and try gifting the ones we love things like time, experiences or even homemade gifts. So, if you’re still looking for gift inspiration, then read on.

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Contents

Unique Travel Gifts

1. Flight tickets

Let’s be real here, there is one thing that the wanderlust woman will be happy to receive, and that’s flight tickets. Of course, check out her travel dates and any plans that she may have, but think about how you can contribute towards the tickets in some way, or purchase them as a surprise. For example, if she’s spending a month in Bangkok, why not get her some flights to some of the beautiful islands on Thailand’s shores?

2. A jewellery holder

OK, so as most women know it’s pretty difficult as it is to make sure that you’re not losing your jewelry at home. You put down your earrings, and before you know it, there is only one of them to be seen. Great. As a woman who travels, finding them can be an impossible task, and you’re looking up earrings sold online in every new country that you visit. A great gift, then, is a jewelry case or holder to keep them all safe!

3. IKEA Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are my biggest travel hack! They will revolutionise the way you pack – I travel a lot and therefore I am constantly on the lookout for ways to make travelling less stressful and more enjoyable. I have recently used packing cubes for my trip to Australia and New Zealand and only a few weeks in to the trip the two main cubes had alright ripped or the zip had broken. I was super annoyed and couldn’t wait to find a better alternative when I returned. These little cubes are a lifesaver when you travel and will give you back time and sanity, when unpacking and repacking that backpack multiple times a week.

4. Scratch Map

I’ve just invested in a Scratch Map! This great Scratch Map is a really good idea for those keen travellers who want to put a map on the wall which is unique. It’s an amazingly high quality, uber-massive wall map, featuring a gold top foil layer. And the great thing is you can scratch is off! You get a unique, slick looking gold wall map to start with, and then scratch off all the places you’ve visited to reveal a whole new world below, featuring colour and geographical detail. And of course the result is a totally unique and personalised world map. It’s great to not only present the places you’ve already been but also those countries you want to visit!

5. Urban Outfitters Globe

This wonderfully unique three dimensional corkboard is the perfect desk accessory for the travel lover in your life. All you do is use the pushpins to keep track of your globetrotting adventures, or to attach notes and pictures. It is the perfect gift for the traveller currently stuck in an office job in central London… hmmm how many of those people do we know?

Unique Travel Gifts

6. Tickets to a show

Whether it’s a show on Broadway, in the West End, tickets to the opera in Rome – click here for more information – or a ticket to a local theatre production, experiencing a night in the theatre is something everyone enjoys and can excited about. It might be a show that they’ve always wanted to see and experience, or it might be an old favourite that they want to see again; gifting someone you love tickets to a show means you can make a night of it and head for a lovely meal before or afterwards or even dedicate a whole weekend together leading up to the show. Weekend in Rome, anyone?

7. ‘Let The Adventure Begin’ Travel Pouch

Let the adventure begin with this very handy travel pouch from Alphabet Bags on Not On The High Street. I love this travel pouch and have added it to my own list this Christmas. The canvas travel pouches are ideal for holidays, trips and adventures and are perfect for all of your important documents and travel essentials. The extra large size pouch also features a black leather tassle attached to the zip pull. Available in two sizes: large or extra large!

8. Fill their calendar

Whether it’s a weekend away, a bus tour to a mystery hotel, a visit around the TV set of the shows they love, a spa retreat or a glamping experience, choose an activity you can do together, set a date and fill the upcoming year with lots of exciting adventures for you to enjoy together. Sometimes the gift of time is better than anything!

9. A Journey in Style

Heathrow Airport has teamed up with Yasmin Le Bon and renowned Fashion Editor, Elizabeth Walker, to create a new coffee table book, A Journey in Style. Made up of archive photography, it celebrates some of the most stylish travellers, outfits and luggage to grace Heathrow’s concourses through the ages. A Journey in Style includes over 160 stunning images, including Marilyn Monroe, The Beatles and Kate Moss, with 60s model, Twiggy, gracing the cover. The book is available on Amazon.co.uk and at Terminal 5’s Gallery in departures for £15, with all proceeds going towards Oxfam.

10. A diary

Having a diary or a notebook can be invaluable if you’re a lover of all things travel. Not only does it help you to stay organised with all of your flight and accommodation details, but it also keeps you occupied when you’re waiting around in airports, and sometimes it’s just nice to write about how you feel, what you’ve done, and what you want to do next. For any wanderlust-fuelled woman, a diary is a must.

Unique Travel Gifts

11. A suitcase or holdall

Naturally, these travel lovin’ women are likely to be living out of a suitcase or holdall for many weeks (or months) of the year. This suitcase is going to be thrown onto planes, dragged around hotels, pushed under the seats of trains and sat on when they’ve overpacked. Because of this, nobody ever says no to a brand new travel bag given the opportunity to snap one up. Add this to your list of gift ideas!

12. A photo album

Many of our photos rarely exist outside of our smartphones. So, why not bring your favourite memories with your recipient to life? There are plenty of apps that can print and send your photos straight from your phone and then it’s up to you how you present them. An album, a collage, scrap book or photobook. They’ll love it.

13. Leo Joseph

This great company is a Cape Town inspired, London designed swimwear brand with a twist. Their swimming trunks are made from recycled plastic bottles [collected from the sea] broken down into very fine fibres and then knitted together to produce a super soft, luxurious fabric. The swimwear is available in signature block colours and a range of African inspired prints. Prices start at £75 for an elasticated waist or £95 for a tailored short. The perfect gift for the man who has everything!

14. The essentials

When you’re travelling to different countries – particularly those more rural areas – there are a lot of things that you need to take with you. DEET spray, malaria tablets, wipes, sanitary products, first aid kits… you name it, there is a long list of essentials that the female traveller will need to have with her when she heads off out there. If you want to gift her something useful, then put together a goodie bag full of these things, and she’ll love you forever.

15. Cows n Things

Age International’s Cows ‘n’ Things has a number of charitable gifts that that can provide life-changing support to older people across the world – great for someone who likes to travel light and wants to give something back to places they’ve visited. Presents can be ordered online and buyers can choose to send a card in the post or an e-card with details of their gift. The last order date to receive a card in time for Christmas is Wednesday 16 December. Money donated through Cows ‘n’ Things will help to change the lives of the most disadvantaged older people overseas, and all gifts are based on their needs. The bestsellers are: a fruit tree, £5 – a fruit tree provides an older person with a healthy source of food or income when sold at market, ten chicks, £10 – chicks will grow and then breed, thus producing more chicks and more eggs that can be eaten or sold or even a pop-up surgery, £100 – taking healthcare to older people in rural areas where there isn’t a health clinic nearby.

Unique Travel Gifts

16. Memberships

If the person you love is hoping to hit the gym in the New Year, then why not encourage them a little with a membership to a gym? They’ll think twice before putting it off if their membership hasn’t come from their own pocket! If there’s a museum they enjoy visiting, a national park, country estate or period house they enjoy going to, then why not get them a yearly pass or membership? It’s the gift that they can use again and again, all year round.

17. Superwoman Smartbox by Buyagift

Struggling to find the perfect gift for the woman in your life? Well fear not with buyagift – they have handpicked gifts from over 1000 Afternoon Teas, Spa Days and Adrenaline Adventures to choose from! I always buy these for my mum, friends and sister-in-law as it gives them choice! Whether the lady in your life loves being pampered, appreciates the succulent tastes of fine dining or gets her thrills from adrenaline-pumping days out, you’re sure to find the ultimate gift for her to enjoy.

18. Eastpak

A favourite brand of mine is Eastpak and who doesn’t love a well-designed and good quality backpack for Christmas? Their Padded Pak’r® backpacks are perfect for anyone who is constantly on the go. They are excellent quality and come in an array of incredible designs and patterns. Or if you really want to treat a loved one be sure to buy one of Eastpak’s Tranverz suitcases which are lightweight, easy to transport and are the perfect gift for a friend who loves a weekend break.

19. Classes

Does your recipient love reality shows on singing or dancing and wish they could give it a go? Well, how about gifting them a class in their favourite subject or interest? Who knows, you might awaken their inner Picasso with an art class, be the next David Bailey at a photography course or be the next Gordon Ramsay in a class kitchen. Whatever you gift them, they’re sure to love the experience and you might help them discover a hidden talent!

20. Life Less Ordinary

Another product I love! El Camino bracelets are unique and are a representation of the path you’ve travelled around the world. The guys at El Camino love travelling, they know how addictive it can be and that’s why they started El Camino. Each country you’ve visited is an accomplishment and the country’s name becomes more than just a name to you but a memory of everything you experienced there. Your El Camino is a way to keep track of the countries you have travelled to. It’s a reminder to you, your friends and people you meet along the way of the memories you’ve created all over the world.

Unique Travel Gifts

21. UIIO Wine Purifier

If you know me, you’ll know how much I love wine. A true advancement, the Üllo Wine Purifier instantly restores the natural taste of wine. And it’s supposed to be great as lessening the hangover! A true advancement, the Üllo Wine Purifier instantly restores the natural taste of wine. The purification power of Selective Sulfite Capture™ technology combines with an adjustable wine aerator in a single, intuitive design that respects the simplicity and ritual of wine.

22. Joe & Johns

This incredible little company started after a backpacking trip to India in 2013. The company produces t-shirts with pop on pockets, in a range of designs and colours. This is a great gift for a friend who loves ethical clothing and giving back to places they have visited themselves. The t-shirts come in a range of sizes and colours and then you can pick and choose the pockets depending on what mood you are in. Also a great way to mix it up on the road without taking 10 t-shirts!

23. The Book of Everyone

The Book of Everyone helps people to easily create gifts that carry true emotional value. In the internet age ‘personalised’ products are everywhere and easy to find but personalised does not necessarily mean personal. The Book of Everyone enables anyone to create unique gifts for unique people, designed to show how well they know them. There’s the Book of Everyone, The Book of Mum, The Book of Dad and The Book of Romance (priced from £23.95), plus the Wise Words series for cat lovers, dog lovers, new parents, foodies and golfers (priced from £19.95).

24. PANDORA Christmas Collection

I have loved PANDORA for as long as I remember, and it’s a brand which has always stood out to me for being unique and special. For my 21st birthday the girls from university got me a ring and I’ve worn it ever since. It’s incredibly special to me, not because it cost a lot, but because of what it means to me. They’ve also got some amazing collaborations with brands like Disney! You can also celebrate the season with festive new PANDORA jewellery.

25. Thule Vea Backpack 25L

These guys do some of the best backpack around! I recently bought for Theo the Thule Vea Backpack and it’s great for his never-ending travels for work. The rucksack-style backpack designed to transition between the gym and work while keeping active and professional gear separate. Features: Protect a laptop (15″ MacBook®/15.6″ PC) and 10″ tablet in dedicated, padded slip pockets, Keep work belongings safe in separate compartment with storage for laptop, tablet, files, pens, passport, USB, small cords and accessories, Discreetly store dirty clothes in expandable interior pocket and Store shoes in separate, expandable pocket, accessible from the outside of pack. Cinch pocket down to make more space when not in use.

Happy gift buying! Did you enjoy my guide to Unique Travel Gifts?

*Some of these items were gifted to me as part of my request for items for the gift guide. I have included as I love the items, and wanted to tell you about them too!

Christmas Gift Guide: 25 Unique Travel Gifts