Hands-up if you know someone addicted to travelling. Through my 20’s, every penny I saved went towards getting on a plane. In fact, not much has changed, but I have a few more responsibilities as I’ve got older.
Choosing the perfect gift for someone is difficult, whether it’s for a birthday or a goodbye gift before they head off for a few months, but if they’re a travel enthusiast then there are some great options available to you.
1. A Worldwide Adapter
We were judges for the TR Business Awards last year and one of the nominations was a worldwide adapter, this was the first time I had seen such a thing. A single plug that could go into a plug socket in any country in the world, you just slid to the correct setting and it would work.
I have a bag full of adaptors for different areas of the world, but this completely changes the need to save them all, when you can just have a worldwide option (well, you might need a few).
Plus, I still find most people haven’t come across this yet, so it still has the wow-factor and you’d hope they don’t already have one (even if they do, they could probably do with an extra.
1. A Premium Contoured Sleep Mask / Earplugs
Jet lag and unfamiliar rooms are common problems when travelling, while I certainly wish I had packed some ear plugs for the hostels I stayed in, where a good 25% of the 16 bed dorm rooms would be snorers.
Being sleep deprived, whether through light coming through or an unwanted sound, can hinder your holiday experiences, as you feel too tired to make the most of all the experiences available. They might have already purchased something for this, but opting for a premium version can add comfort with the sleep mask, while you can never have enough ear plugs.
In fact, some decent sleep masks can be better for the skin, whether that’s around avoiding patches or reducing the appearance of fine lines.
3. Custom Pin Badges
Customised pin badges are a great way for travellers and to express their personality in a really creative way, so they can look back on their trips (like how people do with wrist bands from festivals), or show their hobbies to people they meet.
I actually met someone in an American hostel who had travel pins on their backpack of each city they had visited. You can give that special someone a set of pin badges that match their interests, whether that’s a butterfly for the free spirit or even a sea turtle (ideal if they’ve swam with turtles and often come back sharing the story on repeat every time you catch up over drinks). These can easily attach to backpacks or suitcases, hats, or jackets.
I’ve highlighted pin badges as a brilliant option, but badges are an amazing alternative (or addition), that can be sewn onto their clothing or backpack.
I’ll tell you what, having something unique on your suitcase is a gamechanger when you’re regularly going through airports and need to spot your bag. Something like this will really stand out.
There are a number of really fun designs available, you could opt for a sequin design or a lather patch, something denim or maybe an embroided patch.
5. A Strong Backpack
I still have the same backpack from 18 years ago. Why? Because I got a really strong and reliable one from the start, realising if I made the investment, it won’t need replacing every few years. Of course, this is a big financial commitment, so it does depend how much you want to spend on them.
But if a bag could tell a story, mine would be rambling for hours, which would be useful for my blog posts. From proper strapping so the weight isn’t on your lower back, to a large amount of storage, plus plenty of pockets and extra facilities like being weather-proof, a good bag has a number of attractive traits.
6. A RFID-Blocking Passport Holder
Aren’t criminals the worst? Sadly, many scammers are dotted about with clever technology to read your bank cards or passports. But you can protect both by having an RFID blocking passport holder, then keeping your bank card with your passport. Not ideal if you get a pickpocket however, but one step at a time.
This technology is astounding, blocking the signal so they can’t scan your details and commit identity fraud, something that seems to be increasing every single year.
7. Travel-Sized Toiletries Kit
How many times do you see people gathering in Boots in the airport to quickly buy some bite-sized toiletries, whether that’s a shampoo, moisturiser or sun tan lotion.
You can even be creative and opt for a shampoo bar, so that they can bring it back afterwards without worrying about spillages in their bag.
A miniature toiletry kit might be a bit pricey at times, but compared to airport prices, it’s substantially lower. Of course, with rules around the 100ml limits being eradicated, this will eventually be a thing of the past!
8. A Durable Suitcase
For those who prefer rolling their luggage rather than lugging it on their back, then a sturdy suitcase will always be a nice gift. It can be hard to know which ones to trust, I went with the WHICH most trusted and top advised option, it was absolute rubbish! So try it out in person if you get the chance, there are a number of stores you can visit to test out the suitcase before purchasing.
You don’t want to see any loose threads, you want to test the zip works perfectly and doesn’t get caught, no tears inside, that it easily carries everything you need and that the wheels are in good condition from the start.
Also, be creative with the colour (within reason), going for black, white or blue will leave you staring blankly at the 100 other bags coming off the conveyor belt looking identical.