The Essential Travel Gift Guide for the 2022 Holidays

In defense of the Amazon gift guide

I know, I know . . . we get inundated with gift guides this time of year.

But to be brutally honest, affiliate links are a huge way bloggers like me generate income. If you want to support small businesses, but don’t need anything from your local boutique shop, consider using the links in your favorite blogger’s gift guide this season.

I’m as big a proponent of shopping locally and supporting small businesses at Christmastime as the next person. But if you’re a traveler, chances are that you have limited use for most items in a typical downtown gift shop. There’s nothing wrong with tea towels, artisan candies, and clever greeting cards, but they’re probably not what someone who’s frequently away from home really wants. 

Feel free to prove me wrong though. If you’re packing scented candles in your carry-on to use during your travels, let me know in the comments below . . . I have questions . . . .

And now, without further ado, here’s my list of painfully practical travel gift ideas.

Silverware – I always keep a lightweight set of reusable plastic silverware in my purse. Maybe it’s a little extra, but I swear, I use this set every time I travel. You never know when you’re going to find yourself in a peanut butter spreading emergency. It also cuts down on the amount of one-time use only utensils in landfills if you grab a salad at the airport.

Sheet Masks – From the dry air on airplanes to intense UV rays, travel can be tough on your skin. That’s why I always like to have a couple sheet masks in my travel toiletry bag. These paper masks weigh next to nothing and they feel so lovely at the end of a long travel day. If, like me, you have sensitive skin and the tingling sensation these masks promise often feels more like burning, I’ve had good luck with the Yes to brand masks.

Wired Headphones – In an age when most people use wireless headphones and phones don’t even have headphone jacks, it’s hard to remember that if you need wired headphones to watch inflight entertainment. That’s why every traveler needs an inexpensive pair of wired headphones. Keep them with your travel gear so you don’t have to be the person asking the flight attendant for headphones.

Chico Reuseable Shopping Bags – A friend gave me a Chico shopping bag when I lived in London and some 15 years later, that bag’s still going strong. It’s so handy to keep a couple of the bags in your purse. Not only are they good for the environment, they can also save you some $$ if you’re visiting a city with a plastic bag ordinance. They also work great as travel laundry bags!

I strongly believe that to get the most out of your travels, you must get a good night’s sleep every night you’re away from home.  A little travel sleep kit makes an incredibly thoughtful and practical gift.

My favorite travel sleep aids to include in a sleep kit

Goli Ashwagandha Gummies – Not only do these vegan gummies taste good, they also really help you unwind. If you order directly from the Goli website, use the code “YellowBrick” to receive 10% off your first order!

Eye mask – If you’re not traveling with an eye mask, do you even travel?

Ear plugs – Mack’s ear plugs are the softest, most effective ear plugs I’ve used. Nothing gets me to sleep faster in an unfamiliar setting than blocking out some of the ambient noise. Don’t worry, you can still hear an alarm with these in!

For a quick gift, throw these sleep aids into a sweet little zippered pouch. You could also include some melatonin and lavender essential oil!

Road Atlas – Call me old school, but whenever I’m heading on a road trip, I always pack a physical road atlas. Rental cars don’t provide you with physical maps and when you’re in rural America, you never know when your cell service will cut out.

Plug Adapter Kit – If you’re traveling internationally, you’re gonna need an adapter for your chargers.

Power Bank – If you’re away from a power source for an extended period of time, like on a multi-day hiking trip, a power bank will keep all your devices juiced up for days on end. We’ve used a Goal Zero power bank for years and it works great for both outdoor and urban travel. The flashlight feature has proved handy as well.

Cotopaxi Fleece – I basically live in Cotopaxi clothing all year long. (I’m actually wearing a Cotopaxi fleece right now!) The full-zip Teca fleece is my favorite for air travel days – so nice and cozy on chilly airplanes! They’ve proven super durable; after two years, my first fleece is still going strong and my vest shows no signs of wear. I also really love their use of bright color.

Kizik Sneakers – If you don’t like fussing with your shoes after you’ve cleared TSA at the airport, you might need some slip-on Kizik sneakers in your life. I wore these for our entire New England trip, including on hikes. They kept me knee pain free, which is more than can be said of any other slip-on shoe I’ve worn traveling.  But full disclosure: Kizik sneakers aren’t perfect. They could use a little more traction. If you’re flat footed, you may want to add an insole insert for extra support and cushion.

Vuori Joggers – You might balk at the price tag, but Vuori joggers really are the softest, most luxurious joggers on the market. I’m not normally one to wear leisure wear when I travel, but these are stylish enough for me to make an exception. They also pack up to next to nothing so they’re very “carry-on” friendly.

People We Meet on Vacation – Emily Henry – I love a good rom com and Emily Henry’s People We Meet On Vacation is particularly on brand: the main character is a somewhat stymied travel writer who takes an annual trip with her (male) BFF. While I enjoyed the characters’ witty banter, I really kept reading to soak up all of their fictional travels. Perfect airplane read! 

Cloud Cuckoo Land – Anthony Doerr– I definitely spent the first 100 pages of Cloud Cuckoo Land scratching my head, wondering how the seemingly disparate narratives were going to mesh up. By the last 100 pages, I couldn’t put down this moving tale about great journeys and the enduring power of story. If you have a long car trip coming up, I highly recommend the audiobook version.

World Travel – Anthony Bourdain – Like many millennials, Anthony Bourdain had a huge impact on my travel life.  I doubt I’d have ever gone to Peru if it hadn’t been for his shows about the country. His posthumously published World Travel: An Irreverent Guide has been on my TBR list forever. Maybe I’ll finally get around to it in 2023 . . .

Victorinox Roller Bag – If you’re looking to seriously upgrade your checked roller bag, I love my Victorinox Roller Bag.  Just be warned, this is a lot of suitcase. I have the medium bag (27″ tall) and it’s massive . . . and can expand even larger. There’s definitely enough room to share with your spouse if you’re traveling to together.

Camelbak H.A.W.G. Mil Spec Backpack – I greatly prefer to use a backpack as my carry-on. It’s so much easier to move through an airport or city with a backpack as opposed to trailing a roller carry-on bag behind you. Although we rarely use the actual Camelbak water bladder insert, Andy and I fight over who gets the H.A.W.G Mil Spec Backpack when I’m traveling. That’s because it’s not only the perfect size to slip underneath the plane seat in front of you, but also makes a great day bag for hiking or ice fishing.

Pacsafe Citysafe CX Convertible Backpack – Before heading to Savannah last year I upgraded my travel “personal item” to a convertible Pacsafe Backpack. I just wish I’d made the switch sooner. I use it as a crossbag when I’m flying, then convert it to a backpack at my destination. I’m not too concerned about the bag’s multiple anti-theft features, but I do really enjoy its ergonomics. While I mostly just wanted a bag that could fit my beloved Nalgene bottle, I find this design much more comfortable than a crossbody bag.