Welcome to my first-ever gift guide for travelers! Why write this guide? Well, I’ve been banging at the keyboard for my blog for about five years now and decided it was time to put together a list of favorite travel and foodie items to help others on their quest for the perfect gifts for my fellow travel and food lovers! Now, truthfully, you can probably find a nice, well-rounded gift guide from a plethora of bloggers out there – especially with the upcoming holiday season. But, the good news is that we are all very different creatures. We like different products and we all have individual travel styles!
This gift guide is geared specifically towards people who not only love travel, but who are also in love with food (hopefully as much as I am)! That means you’ll find everything from practical travel products and fun novelty and household decor suggestions, to food and wine experiences that any foodie would love to add to their travel itineraries. A big chunk of this guide includes products that I (and we – my husband and I) have purchased, use and recommend to others. So, I hope you can find some good ideas for the travel-loving foodie in your life!
What you’ll find in this guide:
- Practical Gifts for Travelers
- Clothing for Travelers and Foodies
- Travel Decor & Household Items
- Books relating to travel and food
- Experiences you can gift to travelers and foodies
- Stocking Stuffer ideas for travelers and foodies
Happy shopping!
This post contains affiliate links that help me earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps me keep this blog up and running!
Practical Gifts
I am one who really appreciates the practical gifts as much as the fun stuff because these are things you can actually get good use out of! Most of these items are things that we have personally purchased and used, with a few wish list items sprinkled in.
Travelambo RFID Wallet/Passport Holder
Everyone needs a good wallet! This one has RFID-blocking capability and while I can’t say for certain how common it is to get your credit card numbers skimmed while traveling, I say it’s better to be safe than sorry! I have the rose gold color (so pretty!) and it really holds a lot of items. It even has a slot for your passport.
Buy this wallet here on Amazon
UGREEN Headphone Splitter (Male to Dual Female)
My husband and I travel together pretty often, so this has come in handy when we want to watch movies and shows together. Simply plug in the splitter to your device, and you’ve got two headphone ports to share!
Buy this headphone splitter on Amazon
YAMIU Packing Cubes 7-Pcs
You guys…I put off buying packing cubes for far too long! I finally bought some earlier this year and I am amazed at how it has changed my packing game. I often fit both mine and my husband’s clothes in our little carry-on for 3 to 4-day trips and people seem awestruck! It helps keeps things organized, and compresses clothing easily to maximize space. I’m planning on getting some new luggage this holiday season (see below – Away luggage!), so I’m betting I can step my game up even more then!
This set from YAMIU includes several different sized cubes, as well as some clear travel bags for your toiletries (and even a quart size for your carry-on items).
Buy this packing cube set here on Amazon
Oursunshine Travel Bottles
We’ve done quite a few weekend getaways this year so I’m glad I purchased this travel bottle set from Amazon. My husband likes to use toiletries supplied by hotels, but I am pretty picky about my products – especially my shampoo, conditioner, and skincare products. So, I love that I can just squeeze a bit into my travel bottles and have enough to last me 3 to 4 days on a long weekend getaway! These are silicone so they are pretty easy to clean when you return home, and I haven’t had any issues with leaking yet.
Get these travel bottles on Amazon
Skydue Letter A4 Accordion Document Organizer
I am a super planner, so I love that I can take a lightweight document organizer with me on our travels. This one fits nicely in my backpack or laptop bag, and has several compartments so I can organize my papers pretty well. I’ve also purchased these for my travel planning clients when I send out their travel docs!
Get this travel doc organizer on Amazon
BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter
I love this universal travel adapter! Here are some features I love about it:
- You can charge seven devices at once (three sockets, and four USB devices – make sure wattage doesn’t exceed 250W total)
- You only need to plug one cord into the wall and it comes with three different travel adapters that support 150 countries worldwide
Some things you don’t want to use this for: hair dryers and flat irons/curling irons. I repeat, do not plug this stuff into this adapter unless you want to cause some damage to your device(s)! I always use local hotel-supplied hair dryers because I don’t want to cause power surges, and use a single adapter for my flat iron and curling irons.
Get this universal adapter here on Amazon
KIPOZI 1 Inch Pro Nano-Titanium Flat Iron Dual Voltage
I’ve had this flat iron for three years now and it’s still going strong! It has some great adjustable heat settings – and sometimes I have to get that sucker pretty hot to tame my wild mane! It’s dual voltage, so you can ideally take it everywhere for travel and not have to worry about blowing a circuit. I’ve used this extensively for travel in the U.S. and Canada, and it worked just fine with an adapter when traveling to England. It’s also incredibly reasonably priced!
Travel Planner/Journal
This year, I’ve gotten into the habit of using a daily planner for when I’m at home. I haven’t quite mastered a travel planner, since I tend to like to write out all my trip details in an online spreadsheet like Google sheets, but this particular planner also doubles as a journal – which as a blogger, has a great appeal to me! Sometimes I miss some important details of our travel experiences because I forget to write them down or photograph them, so this would be insanely helpful. I found this cute travel-themed planner/journal on Amazon and I might give it a shot for 2020!
Get this travel planner on Amazon
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB)
This is definitely the most expensive item that you’ll find on my gift guide but I am such a huge fan, I couldn’t pass it up! This is obviously one of those things you’d likely buy for yourself or someone you are very close with (but if you’re someone who buys electronics for friends nonchalantly, send me a friend request! Kidding…). Anyway, I treated myself to this little gem last year because I was tired of lugging my heavy laptop around with me when we travel and I can’t sing its praises enough! The Surface Pro doubles as a Windows PC but in tablet form – meaning it’s light and very portable, and functions just as well as a full-on PC/laptop.
Mine came with the keyboard cover and I purchased the stylus separately (but honestly, I don’t find myself making good use of it very often).
Get the Surface Pro 6 on Amazon
Camera Straps
Camera straps are pretty essential for me when traveling. All too often, I’ve heard of people getting their pricey cameras stolen right out of their hands when on vacation! Or, you lean over a boat deck and drop that sucker right in the water because you’re too cool for a strap. I always have my camera strap wrapped around my wrist when taking photos or over my shoulder securely when not in my purse or camera bag. Of course, it’s nice to have a fun travel-themed strap too!
Also check out this slash-proof strap from Pacsafe or this vegan map-themed strap from Etsy!
Find more camera straps here on Amazon
Away Luggage
Here’s one of those items that has been on my personal wish list for way too long – Away luggage! Guess what that Christmas bonus is going to this year?! Reasons why I want this luggage:
- It’s a hard case, which I feel can be a little more durable in transit
- It’s got four wheels, which makes mobility much better than the traditional two-wheelers
- The carry-ons have the option of coming with a removable battery so that you can charge your electronics straight from your suitcase!
- It opens from the center, and is very roomy
- It’s pretty…like just very classy looking, and comes in so many cool colors
Next year, be on the look out for my review of our new Away luggage! If you buy them in a set, you’ll save some money as well (I’m going for The Bigger Carry-On and either The Medium or The Large combo).
Clothing
Comfortable clothing is super important while traveling! I generally look for comfort with just a little bit of style, so a lot of my travel outfits are pretty basic. But, you can always dress them up with a little jacket or scarf!
POSESHE Long Sleeve T-Shirt Dress
These are a staple in my fall, winter, and early spring wardrobes – just pair them with some black leggings for lounging around the house, or throw on a pair of boots and a cute scarf when you head out! I literally own this dress in three different colors – that’s how much I love them. I’ve had the army green for three years, and the navy and wine red for two, and have had no issues with seams unraveling or holes. The quality holds up, and I generally wash them on the delicate cycle with a normal heat setting on the dryer. They are super comfy to travel in!
Here’s an example of how I wear these in the wild:
If you are traveling in the summer, check out this dress for a great alternative comfy looking short-sleeved version from Auselily (I also own one of these long-sleeved dresses and it’s very soft!).
Buy the long-sleeved Poseshe shirt dress on Amazon here
Plaid Blanket Winter Scarf
Another one of my favorite Amazon finds is this large blanket scarf. They are really big…as in, they could actually double as a small blanket, but they keep your neck nice and warm in really cold winter climates! In the pic above, I’m wearing the “brown” color that really compliments navy colors, but I also own this in the black and white print.
Buy this blanket scarf on Amazon here
Old Navy Jean Jacket
My jean jacket from Old Navy is one of my all-time favorite articles of clothing to wear, especially while traveling! I seriously look back at all my pics for the last three years and I’ve got this sucker on in so many of them. It’s durable, affordable, and cute!
Buy a similar jean jacket from Old Navy here
Blowfish Women’s Granola Fisherman’s Sandal
I am always on the hunt for comfortable walking shoes to wear while traveling and finally found a great sandal! I’ve scoured so many reviews and decided to give these a try because of the price and ratings. They did not disappoint! These are definitely my new primary shoe for warm weather travel. And, if you’re looking for something cruelty-free, the straps are made of 100% faux leather.
I am still on the hunt for a good closed-toed flat shoe though and think I found one that will work, so hopefully I can include that on next year’s gift guide.
Get these Blowfish sandals here on Amazon
Galiva Winter Beanie
If you’re a fan of late fall or winter travel, a beanie is a must! It keeps so much heat in, especially if you aren’t moving much (though we are usually pretty active with walking). I got mine in black because, well, it goes with everything.
Get this beanie on Amazon here
Food Jewelry
Okay, this stuff is totally the opposite of practical but I’m a firm believer in having a little fun! If you don’t already know, not only do I love travel, but I also really, really…really love FOOD! I’ve been adding a lot of foodie-related clothing an accessories to my wish lists lately, especially from Etsy! You can find so many specialty items there and are usually supporting small artisans.
Here are some gems I’ve been eyeing:
- Avocado Stud Earrings
- Pink or Chocolate Glazed Donut Studs
- Taco Necklace
Get the above Bacon & Eggs earrings from Amazon here
Foodie & Travel Shirts
I’ll be honest – I don’t own many shirts with words or prints on them other than brewery shirts (also a good gift idea for beer lovers). In 2020, I want to change that! Since this blog is about travel and food, I definitely want to get some more food-related outfits in my wardrobe. Here are some of the travel and foodie-themed shirts currently on my personal Etsy favorites list! (Hint, hint husband…)
- And so the Adventure Begins
- Alexa Bring Me Wine
- Rock Out With Your Guac Out
- I Travel for the Food
- Send Noods
Get the above-featured shirt on Amazon here
Foodie Socks
Socks are cheap and versatile! Everyone could use a few pairs of fun socks in their lives. I picked up a pair of burrito socks when I was in Sausalito last year, and I’m hooked. I just need to make space in my drawer for more!
Buy these foodie socks here on Amazon
Compression Socks
I have yet to buy these, but they are on my list for our next long-haul flight. Compression socks help to improve blood flow, which is important if you’re sitting on a 10+ hour flight without much space to get up and walk around. I’ll be getting a pair for my husband and myself!
Buy these compression socks on Amazon here
Men’s Sunglasses
I usually buy my sunglasses from Target or Kohls because I like to try them on in person, but my husband is a lot easier to shop for. I ordered him this pair (and these) from Amazon and the fit nicely and framed his face well – and fit the budget! My only problem is making sure they don’t get scratched when I shove them in my purse or keeping them from being left behind on a tour bus…ahem (this is why we both buy cheap sunglasses).
Buy these glasses on Amazon here
Travel Decor & Household Items
For those travel-loving friends and fam that you have who have settled down into their own home, here are a few suggestions to help them add to their home decor!
Scratch Off World Map
I actually got two of these for my birthday last year! I put one in my guest room (along with a little journal) for my house guests to scratch off. The other is going up in my office as soon as I get around to picking up a frame so I can scratch off our personal travels. It’s such a fun and easy way to show off all the different places you’ve been to!
Get this scratch off map here on Amazon
Whiskey Globe Decanter
For the whiskey lover in your life, this is a beautiful piece to add to their home decor! I want one for our home as well, and we actually bought one as a gift for a friend last year. Maybe we’ll have one coming soon…
Get the Whiskey Globe Decanter here on Amazon
Adventure Camping Mugs
I’m totally digging these camping mugs this year! I found a bunch of different cool travel-related mugs on Etsy, but you can also find some on Amazon! Please, someone…buy these for me this year. Lol. Just kidding…this gift guide is for you, not me. Or is it?
Buy these adventure mugs on Amazon here
World Map Wall Art
Any lover of travel loves maps. I have them all over my house in one form or another! I looked at so many different canvas maps (like the above map from Amazon) before we settled on a six-piece map from World Market that serves as a focal piece for our living room.
I’m also eyeing this wooden push-pin map on Etsy too for a little more interactive experience.
Get the above blue canvas map on Amazon here
Decorative Round Metal Compass Wall Décor (Large)
We bought a new home this year so I was on the hunt for a lot of new decor, especially travel-themed items! I bought this metal wall compass for my guest room and think it fits in perfectly! It’s a large piece, but very light and easy to mount. Highly recommend.
Get the metal wall compass on Amazon here
Deedoot Wooden Camera Music Box
I’m a travel enthusiast; a food enthusiast; and also a photo and camera enthusiast! Cameras kind of go hand-in-hand with travel, especially for me. It’s how I document all of our memories! I put this little guy on my travel gallery wall in my entry (I set it on top of a thick photo frame), and it was the perfect final touch it needed. It is a music box as well but I really just got it because it had that wooden vintage vibe.
Buy the camera music box on Amazon here
Floating Wood Mountain Shelf
The mountains are calling! I don’t know why, but this wall decor piece really drew me in. I bought it for my travel gallery wall and love the shape. It is a shelf, so you can add a few items to it also. Right now, we have a decorative dagger that we picked up when we were in Gubbio, Italy sitting on that shelf. If you know a travel lover, especially one who enjoys being in the outdoors, this is the perfect little gift for them!
Buy this Wood Mountain Shelf here on Amazon
Vintage Map Coasters
More maps! Coasters are such an easy and affordable gift to get for travel lovers. I have a similar set to these that I purchased about 3 years ago when we bought our townhouse up in Oregon and still have them in the new house this year!
Get these coasters on Amazon here
Vintage Globes
Another easy gift to get for travel lovers is a mini vintage style globe! I currently have one in my guest room that’s travel-themed. There are several styles you can get on Amazon (though I got mine from Cost Plus World Market). I’m also loving these cute pastel globes with personalized calligraphy from Etsy.
Get vintage globes here on Amazon
Legal Nomads Food Maps
I don’t know Jodi of Legal Nomads personally, but have followed her and her blog for years. She is a very talented writer, and an avid lover of soup. Unfortunately, Jodi has been sick for a while now and supporting her through her shop could really help her out. You can read about her story here, but she has created these amazing world food maps like this one of Italy and this one of Japan! This is a great, affordable gift idea for both the foodies in your life, as well as lovers of travel.
Books
Ahhh reading – something that is on my list of things to improve on every year! My favorite time to read is when I’m traveling – whether on a plane or train, or waiting around for a flight. I try so hard to read before I go to bed when I’m at home, but always end up falling asleep while reading! Here’s to a new year of hopefully adding a few new books under my belt.
Below are a few book recommendations that I’ve read that are food or travel-related that I think you’ll like too!
- Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
- Girls Who Travel by Nicole Trilivas
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
Lastly, since I love reading blogs so much, I often skip over guidebooks when planning for my travel. However, with all the Black Friday and holiday sales coming up, I think I might pick one up for Ireland, which is where our next planned overseas trip is for! For example, Lonely Planet is having a Black Friday sale and some good holiday sales on their guide books (seriously, a 40% off sale for Black Friday this year!).
Experiences
I’m becoming more and more passionate about experiences over tangible items lately. Sure, we often need those “things” – many of them necessities, some of them fun items, but memories of experiences are far more valuable in my opinion! Here are some examples of food and travel-related experiences that you can gift yourself or gift to someone else!
Food Tours
One of my most recent posts on this blog was all about our food tour we took in Montreal. It was fantastic and I highly recommend food tours to everyone! If you know of someone traveling to a special destination in the near future, why not help them enjoy their experience through food? London, New York, San Francisco – those are just a handful of destinations geared towards foodies where you can find a plethora of tours.
My go-to tour site is Viator where you can book experiences in these cities:
- Secret Food Tour London (Borough Market)
- Greenwich Village Secret Food Tour – New York
- Secret Food Tour – Mission District in San Francisco
If you don’t know the dates of travel, you can always buy a gift certificate and someone can book their own trip! Companies like Secret Food Tours offer this option on their website directly.
Buy a Secret Food Tour gift here!
Winery, Distillery & Brewery Tours
As much as we love food, we also love a good drink! We’ve done a few brewery tours and distillery tours, but some of these organized tours help take all the work out of planning and driving – offering people a relaxed time where they can just focus on enjoying the libations.
Need some ideas? Check these out:
Cooking Classes
So I’m a huge foodie, right? But, I’m not the greatest cook…in fact, my cooking skills pretty much relegate me to sous chef duties in the kitchen for most meals. I could definitely benefit from a little cooking lesson here and there! There are so many foodie experiences you can have while traveling, like this Pizza and Gelato class in Florence, Italy that I booked for two of my girlfriends on their first trip to Italy and loved!
There are also experiences that are probably local to your area – you might just need to do a little research! If you live in the Bay Area in California, the CIA at Copia actually offers a ton of wine courses and cooking classes, and you can even buy a gift card for that someone special in your life!
Stocking Stuffers
We’ve come to the final portion of this gift guide – the little things in life! My mom used to stuff our stockings with cute little gifts, along with apples and oranges (seriously mom! Whyyy????!!!). Thankfully, you can get some affordable stuffers that offer a little bit more than fruit. Sorry mom.
Custom Luggage Tags
Do I always suggest a luggage tag? Um, YES! I have had my luggage misplaced before and let me tell you, that tag saved me. Yes, you can fill out those flimsy paper ones at the ticket counters, but I highly suggest having a quality tag with your information protected in a little sleeve. I’ve had pretty good success ordering these vegan luggage tags from the RunWildEngraving shop on Etsy for some of my travel planning clients and they have all turned out lovely!
Buy custom luggage tags here on Etsy
Travel Size Toiletries
Hooray for more functional and practical gifts! Travel toiletries can make an awesome stocking stuffer for your favorite avid traveler, or anyone you know that might have a trip coming up. Below are some items that I use and love dearly!
- Clear Conscience Contact Solution (Travel Size)
- Sun Bum Sun Care Pack (Travel Size / Reef Safe)
- JASON Powersmile Toothpaste (Travel Size)
- Desert Essence Moringa, Jojoba and Rosehip Oil (2 oz. – Face Moisturizer)
- Schmidt’s Deodorant Geranium Flower for Sensitive Skin (3 oz.)
Food/Travel Tree Ornaments
If you’re into keeping those Christmas traditions alive, tree ornaments are always nice to have! Of course, it would be awesome if you gifted an ornament picked up on one of your very own trips for someone, but if that isn’t an option, you luckily have tons of options to choose from! Check out some of these ideas:
- USA Passport ornament from Amazon
- World Map/Globe ornament from Amazon
- Adventure Awaits Globe ornament from Etsy
- California State metal ornament from Etsy
Magnets
Last but not least, magnets! I personally collect magnets from our trips around the world and place them on a magnetic chalk board that is the centerpiece of my travel gallery wall in my entry. But, if you have a magnet lover in your life, you can of course bring some back from your personal travels or find lots of goodies on the internet! I found some fun travel and food-related magnets below to give you some ideas:
- Vintage Map Magnets from Etsy
- Ramen Noodle magnet from Etsy
- Assorted Food magnets from Amazon
Is there anything else you’d like to see on this list for next year? I’m ready to test out any of your suggestions for my travels in the new year.
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