There’s no better gift than the gift of travel; give me a ticket to anywhere and I’m in. But if your budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, here are a few suggestions for holiday gifts that incorporate a vision of faraway places.
Airback Backpack
Santa—or your favorite carry-on-bag devotee—might like this heavy-duty backpack from Airback that has multiple compartments, USB ports—and a unique built-in vacuum compression system, so you can fill it up, vacuum out the air to make plenty more room, and then fill it up some more. (There’s a video here.)
Price: $219
Maverick & Co. Manhattan Leather Briefcase
Looking for a briefcase that makes a statement for your favorite professional? Forbes called this “The Best Stylish Briefcase For Men” but I think it’s great for women too. I love the elegant design, beautiful Saffiano leather, polished silver hardware and smart organization of this slim and compact (16.3″ L x 11.6″ W x 2.6″ H) briefcase Maverick & Co. (Manhattan Leather Briefcase Press Kit – Google Docs). There’s a padded compartment for your laptop, lots of pockets and a magnetic closure on the inside compartment so your things are easy to access and still secure. And I just love the red stripe.
Price: $299 at Macy’s
Wanderfull HydroBag Handle
I really love the WanderFull Hydrobag Handle, which holds not just your phone and credit cards, but also a water bottle (or, if you’re like me, two cups of coffee you have brought along with you from airport lounge!) The waterproof main compartment fits up to a 32-ounce water bottle, wine bottle, reusable coffee cup, or flask, and keeps the liquids from leaking onto the other items in its large, double-zipper pockets.
Price: $69.00
CoalaTree Hoodies
You can look good, feel good and help the planet when you gift or wear The Evolution Hoodie from CoalaTree.com Evolution Hoodie: Made from Recycled Coffee Grounds | CoalaTree.com – Coalatree. Who knew that mixing spent coffee grounds and recycled plastic bottles could create something so beautiful and soft? The hoodie is stain-resistant and moisture-wicking, offers UV protection and waterproof inside pockets, and rolls up into a kangaroo pocket.
Price: $109
Rollink Flex 360° Spinner Collapsible Luggage
Cruisers especially—but everyone else, too—will love this collapsible suitcase that folds flat enough to fit easily under the bed. The double spinner wheels make it easy to navigate. But I also like it for its light weight; that mesh middle makes it so much easier to carry than a normal suitcase. Premium Collapsible Luggage – Rollink
Price: $349 list, now on sale for $149.50
Gateway Cooler Backpack
Active travelers and hikers will love the Gateway Cooler Backpack, designed to preserve food and drinks for up to four people (Gateway Cooler Backpack | Waterproof Cooler Bag | ISLE | ISLE Paddle Boards). At home or in the woods, the 25-liter cooler has a rugged waterproof shell and premium EVA foam insulation, and its IP66-rated main compartment is “briefly submersible,” just in case.
Price: $100
Dr. Motion Compression Socks
I never know if it’s okay to kick off my shoes on a plane, but if I’m going to do it, I want to have on cute socks! With enhanced cushions, arch support, reinforced toes and heels, and TruDry fibers, they’re also great for hiking when you get to where you want to go. Everyday Compression Socks for Women & Men | Dr. Motion
Price: $10 for two pairs
Keep Your Cadence Toiletry Containers
Travel advisor Dawn Gillis likes to use—and gift—the leakproof magnetic toiletry containers at www.keepyourcadence.com. “Not cheap. But worth it—and makes a wonderful gift for frequent travelers,” she says.
Price: $72 for a trio beginning set
TRAVEL ADVISOR GIFTS FOR CLIENTS
When it comes to gifts for clients, two of my personal favorites are the 1,000 Places to See before You Die Desk Calendar, to keep them thinking of me all year long (this year’s edition is available for $17.95 at 2025 1,000 Places to See Before You Die Page-A-Day Calendar by Patricia Schultz, Workman Calendars | Barnes & Noble® ) and Trader Joe’s Chocolate Passport | Trader Joe’s, available at stores in limited editions in November and December, $10.99.
Travel advisors suggested their own favorites:
Iris Citron of Alice Travel Worldwide sends honey for the new year to her Jewish clients and Christmas fruit cakes to her Christian clients, in addition to gift cards while they are traveling.Andrea Amzaleg just bought Vera Bradley travel organizers for her clients; Beth Schulberg oredered luggage tags from Vistaprint.
Andrea Amzaleg just bought Vera Bradley travel organizers for her clients; Beth Schulberg oredered luggage tags from Vistaprint.
Ilja Chapman, who hails from The Netherlands, sends her clients an amaryllis bulb; they reply with photos of the flowers in bloom.
Riselle Abrams at Diana’s Destinations LLC gifts packing cubes; Barbara Linebarger of DeLightful Memories Travel gives Travelo perfume bottles, so they can bring some—but not a whole bottle—of their favorite when they travel.
Susan Black, formerly of CIE Tours, suggest gifting loved ones and older clients subscriptions to Wowzitude (her new company), which provides interactive online tours to more than 200 cities around the world. $99 a month.
And for those long flights, for you or your client, Georgia Jones at Pixie and Pirate Destinations recommends the Seat Sleeper Cozy Sleeper Mask that covers your eyes and also holds your head upright ($24.99 at Amazon.com: SeatSleeper Travel Pillow Alternative Stops Head Bobbing | Airplane Head Straps and Car Head Support Band Great on Travel Upright | Super Comfy Head & Neck Support | Small & Compact).
