Christmas Gift Ideas for Every Travel Lover!
Do I dare say the C word? When some of you are probably reading this on a hot tropical island (where was our invite?). Well, I’m going to – CHRISTMAS!
It’s nearly Christmas! Without a doubt, we are the hardest people on earth to buy presents for. When I say ‘we’ I mean those of us that would prefer an incredible experience abroad over any sort of gift you will find online: ‘wanderlusters’. Now, we can’t very well ask for a free world trip (unless Santa is listening!), but with gift exchanges being such an indispensable part of the holidays, here’s a list of thoughtful presents that will be sure to come in handy for every type of traveller, from low, mid-range to higher budgets:
Gifts for the adrenaline junkies looking for outdoor adventures:
Reef-friendly sunscreen
A simple but often forgotten essential for nature lovers - sun protection! A travel-sized reef-friendly sunscreen will get you covered, from everyday UVA/UVB protection to beach dips and surfing adventures… while protecting your skin and the environment! This is especially great for the ocean lover in your life.
Sandals
A pair of durable footwear can go a long, LONG way - and thankfully, there’s all sorts of sandals out there that serve different purposes in our travels! For adventure lovers, you’ll want something that’s versatile enough to wear on casual sightseeing days, but also water-resistant, lightweight, and grippy enough to withstand rocky treks and even treading through streams.
Camping sleeping bag
This one’s for the happy campers who enjoy seeking adventure in the wild outdoors! Whether you’re about to embark on an epic hiking trail in Patagonia or just looking to explore the nearby woods at your Workaway homestay, a sturdy sleeping bag to keep you comfy and warm on all your camping trips will make all the difference in your explorations.
Gifts for the comfort-centered travellers who practise self care, anywhere:
Compression socks
Think socks are too cliched as a Christmas gift? Not if you put a bit extra thought into it, and pick the perfect pair for that friend who always seems to be flying to one end of the world or another. Compression socks help improve blood circulation and reduce swelling, which are fantastic for a long bus ride or flight and makes it a great stocking stuffer for travellers.
100% natural skincare set
While travel is amazing, our skin usually doesn’t enjoy flights, sun, sea, bug bites, climate changes and time differences… so a travel-sized skincare kit is perfect - especially if it’s made of natural ingredients, which ensures it’s suitable for any skin type as well as healthier for the environment! This skincare set for example is just the right side for taking anywhere, and you won’t end up having to use random body soap that somebody’s left at the hostel as face wash.
Aeropress Coffee Maker
Let’s be honest, you’ll probably be able to find coffee in one form or another anywhere in the world, but sometimes you just need that good golden stuff that tastes EXACTLY how you like it, that you can enjoy anytime you want. Solution? Bring your own travel coffee maker that fits in your backpack. No more coffee problems, just coffee happiness.
Gifts for the gadget lovers who appreciate both form and function:
AirTag
This is one of those gifts most people probably wouldn’t get for themselves, and this is where you step in! For frequent travellers, especially those who are always going from one destination to another, a trackable luggage tag is a peace-of-mind game changer that your loved one will definitely thank you for one day.
Universal adapter and power bank
No need to carry separate multiple chargers and adapters, because this lifesaver will make your travels SO much lighter and easier! This is a power bank that doubles as a universal adapter and socket plug, and even has built-in cables for all your gadgets. Whether you’re a digital nomad looking for the perfect laptop accessory, a budget backpacker with limited luggage space, or just someone who always forgets to bring one cable or adapter on their trips, this is an absolute essential.
E-reader
Now, we know it’s different from flipping through an actual paperback, but hear us out: if you’re a long-term traveller who can’t live without a book, a Kobo or Kindle will make sure you’ve got a vast selection to choose from, in any genre and language. No need to lug your heavy books around and worry you’ll run out of good reads!
Gifts for the eco-warriors who leave nothing but footprints:
Filter water bottle
We’re ditching the single-use plastic bottles for good and staying hydrated wherever we go in 2026, with the help of the perfect travel water bottle that we’ll bring with us anywhere in the world. This one has a built-in water filter AND carabiner attached, which makes it especially handy for backpackers on the go. The water bottle's filter can safely and quickly filter out 99.9% bacteria from any freshwater source, including tap water and even lakes!
Travel cutlery set
No trip is complete without some delicious local food, so having your own reusable cutlery set handy is perfect for trying out street food, market snacks and fast-food style restaurant goodies while avoiding single-use plastic utensils and containers. Check out this plastic-free cutlery set made out of bamboo!
Sustainable travel backpack
Every traveller needs trusty luggage to explore the world with, and if you’re an eco-friendly backpacker, you’ll be sure to appreciate a recycled, sustainable backpack that lets you travel in style - from these colourful, lightweight and vegan ones to sturdier options that are all made out of recycled plastic.
Gifts for the social butterflies who are always down for a chat:
Conversation starter cards
What do you do to while away the lonely hours in airports, hostels, dorms or trains filled with strangers? Grab them and start a game of travel questions, that’s what. With these conversation starter cards, you don’t even have to come up with topics yourself! All it takes for strangers to become friends is an inspiring conversation, and all good conversations start with a good question! Plus, anything that is designed to get people thinking and talking meaningfully sounds like a great gift to us.
Social app subscription/gift card
When you’re new to a place or solo travelling, social apps such as Meetup and Travello are great ways to meet people from all over the world, who are just as excited to meet new friends as you are! Get a gift card for social activities available around the world such as Timeleft dinners, or a Workaway gift membership which allows you to meet like-minded people in your area, travellers planning to visit the same destination or have similar interests! But more on that later…
Portable bluetooth speaker
Because music is the universal language! But really, there’s nothing that bridges awkwardness, language barriers, and cultural differences quite like enjoying and singing to a song over a portable bluetooth speaker together, and bonding over your love for the same artist, genre of music, or the same catchy tune that we can dance to. This one is both dust AND waterproof (and floats!) which makes it our ideal travel speaker, but there are of course a lot of more affordable options out there too.
And as for the travellers who are all of the above and more?
Because between us we have 346 years of travel experience, we’ve asked some of our team members to share their dream Christmas gift this year…
Well apart from world peace, a teletransportation machine and a machine to download my dreams…also I’d like anything handmade like a painting or item that has time put into it, rather than money.
This year I’d love a backpacking hammock and a collapsible + eco-friendly travel mug, so I will be able to get cozy at the best spots during my travels. Thank you Santa!
Since visiting Colombia and snorkelling in the Caribbean last year, the trip has really opened up a whole new world for me. I want a good waterproof camera to capture the amazing underwater world.
What if none of the above excites you? Yes, we do have a plan B!
How about more than 50,000 volunteering opportunities in over 180 countries to choose from as a Christmas gift?? That’s called a Workaway subscription! Well that’s not a hard sell since we know it’s a great way to give anybody that head start for their adventure of a lifetime. As a special deal for the holidays, we’re adding SIX extra months to your Workaway subscription along with an exclusive mini-guide on how to find the perfect exchange, so that you/your loved one can extend their travels for free. Now that’s the ultimate Christmas gift for every travel addict in your life. 😉
No matter where you’ll be spending your Christmas in the world (home or afar), always remember to be grateful for all that you have. ❤️🎄✨
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