We’ve all got that friend who lives to travel. You know the one: she practically lives out of a suitcase and is the person everyone in the group chat flocks to for restaurant recs, hotel intel, and travel deals. If there’s a buzzy destination, she has a Google spreadsheet for every out-of-the-way bar and boutique you have to visit while you’re there. With the upcoming festive season, you might wonder how on earth you can come up with a material gift for a person with a seemingly never-ending case of wanderlust. After all, when there’s nothing she wants more than an espresso on a Roman piazza or to bungee jump off the Grand Canyon, something that comes in wrapping paper kind of pales in comparison.
But this is where we swoop in to save the day. We’ve curated a selection of genius travel gifts for women so you can wow your hard-to-please, constantly jetsetting BFF, cousin, or partner. From smart packing solutions to travel accessories that are practically life-saving (or at least, save her smartphone battery from the verge of death), cruise right ahead for gift ideas that will make her next adventure that much smoother and sweeter.
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Here’s an affordable stocking stuffer idea that is simple and highly practical: a stylish new home for your giftee’s AirTags. Whether or not you include the actual luggage tracker to make a cute and thoughtful gift set is entirely up to you.
Shop Amazon
KEEPXYZ Genuine Leather Airtag Holder, $, available at Amazon
Whether your giftee is exploring a new city or tackling a difficult hike, this stylish sling bag will help them keep their hands free. The ripstop material is durable yet lightweight, which means the bag can be folded up into a tiny bundle when you need to pack it away. The carabiner clip is also helpful for clipping on water bottles.
Shop Free People
FP Movement Pep In Your Step Packable Sling Bag, $, available at Free People
Travel pants are a very underrated gift idea in our humble opinion, given that they form an essential part of any comfortable journey. These drawstring pants are incredibly snuggly yet breathable, and the flattering contoured back design ensures that chicness is not sacrificed for comfort. There are three different inseam lengths, so both petite and tall girlies are covered, too.
Shop Spanx
SPANX AirEssentials Wide Leg Pant, $, available at SPANX
If your bestie absolutely needs to travel with their entire entourage of skincare and makeup favorites, don’t just get them an ordinary toiletry bag. This cylindrical pouch comes in two different sizes and the internal dividers prevent any breakage or unwanted accidents. You can now also receive 25% off with the code BEST25.
Shop Dagne Dover
Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry Pouch, $, available at Dagne Dover
When you find yourself shopping for a chronic overpacker, something that will help them reduce their load (and stress levels at the airport bag drop counter) will make a truly awesome gift. This tubular travel pillow is basically a disguised packing cube for clothing and towels and won’t count as a carry-on or personal item, therefore letting your bestie off the hook with extra space in their suitcase.
Shop Amazon
TUBE Tube Travel Pillow, $, available at Amazon
We can confidently tell you that there is not a single person in the world that doesn’t need a portable charger when they go traveling. This tasseled keychain is probably the most stylish ones we’ve seen yet, and you can get a personalized monogramming to make it extra special. It has two cables, so your giftee will be able charge their smartphone and laptop all at once.
Shop Mark & Graham
Mark & Graham Power Up USB Charging Keychain, $, available at Mark & Graham
This is a no-brainer gift to add to the carry-on bag of someone who is always on the go. It comes with mini LED lights and is crafted in a biodegradable material that comes from organic wheat straw fiber.
Shop Amazon
Kintion Wheat Straw Mirror, $, available at Amazon
This ain’t your ordinary travel blanket: it is designed to fit snugly around the body of someone who is sitting upright. It can be attached at the neck, and the bottom pouches are insulated for the feet to squeeze into. There’s also a kangaroo zipped pocket for hands, phones, and other essentials. When packed into its tiny pouched, it can be used as a travel pillow.
Shop Gravel
gravel Layover Travel Blanket, $, available at Gravel
A good travel jewelry case is really hard to find, so your giftee will absolutely thank you for getting them one that features compartments for earrings, rings, and watches — while remaining utterly compact.
Shop Monos
Monos Travel Jewelry Case, $, available at Monos
Otterbox phone cases are the best in the game in terms of drop protection, and the brand’s newest Passport series is perfect for anyone with a case of wanderlust, pun intended. Not only is the design much sleeker compared to its bulky older models, they come covered in a striking aerial view of iconic cities around the world: London, New York, Paris, and Tokyo. The case is available for the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, and 15 Pro Max.
Shop Otterbox
Otterbox Lumen Series Passport, $, available at Otterbox
When it comes to luggage that is both functional and chic, Béis is ones of our favorites. The brand’s packing cubes have the same amount of attention to detail as its suitcase counterparts: the collection sports see-through mesh panelling (so you can easily spot what’s inside) and a tab for labels. There are also two shoe bags and a zip pouch.
Shop Béis
Béis The Packing Cubes, $, available at Béis
Boucle is one of the snuggliest and softest fabric around, so this sleep mask and travel pillow set (which is one sale at the moment) will guarantee your giftee a five-star snooze in any mode of transit.
Shop Anthropologie
Terrain Cozy Travel Essentials Gift Set, $, available at Anthropologie
When all else fails, a simple leather passport cover goes a long way as a travel gift. This wallet has a slip pocket that makes retrieving your travel documents super easy, and there are four concealed slots on the side to stash credit cards and spare change.
Shop Away
Away The Passport Wallet, $, available at Away
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