After two years of lockdown and travel restrictions, the world is re-opening (for better or worse) and an increasing number of people are embracing pre-pandemic lifestyles. That means that travel is returning as folks the world over have collectively decided they need a vacation.
As world travelers (or would-be world travelers) dust off their passports and start eyeing SkyScanner for deals, the folks who love them may be putting together their holiday shopping plans. That’s where this list of luxury travel gifts comes in. After all, what do you get someone who travels the world and can pick up anything anywhere? While most jetsetters would be thrilled with a gift of airline miles, barring that, the items on this list are a close second with options ranging from stylish luggage to portable hotel room improvements to luxury travel necessities (yes, cashmere pillows are a necessity). To put together this guide, I tapped into my years as a travel writer and my platinum-airline flying status and scoured the internet for the most stylish, useful, and quality items in a wide range of prices.
Here are 18 gifts—ranging from $30 to $1,995 (as of the time of publication)—to give to the traveler in your life. Happy trails!
Cabin suitcase
Price: $1,950
This stylish bag has become the symbol of glamorous travelers around the world, which isn’t that surprising as the first retailer to stock it was the MoMA Design Store. In addition to their good looks, these carry-on bags are versatile, durable, classic, most importantly, come with a lifetime guarantee. And at 21.7 x 15.8 x 9.1 inches, this Aurora Borealis limited-edition take is a chic spin on the cabin bag.
Buy now: $1,950 at Rimowa
Kehinde Wiley playing cards
Price: $30
Whether you’re stuck at the airport, bored in a hotel room in Rhode Island, or cozy in a glamping site in Kenya, a deck of cards is always useful for wiling away the hours. This deck is emblazoned with the work of Kehinde Wiley—a successful artist best known for painting former President Barack Obama’s portrait—are gorgeous enough just to flip through for fun.
Buy now: $30 at MoMA Design Store
Art of hand care travel set
Price: $50
We all know how important it is to wash our hands for 20 seconds, but all that handwashing is tough on skin and traveling only seems to make it even worse. This set from Diptyque features two different types of travel-sized hand wash (one rinse free!) and a hydrating lotion for a little extra TLC.
Buy now: $50 at Neiman Marcus
Apple Air Tags
Price: $99 for four
Jetsetters know that the best way to track luggage is to tuck an Apple Air Tag into a bag before checking it. These handy devices mean always knowing if your luggage made the flight or you’ll be purchasing souvenir t-shirts for a week.
Buy now: $99 for a four Apple
Self-cleaning filtered water bottle
Price: $118.96
Packing a reusable water bottle is an easy way to fight plastic waste and save some money, too. This self-cleaning water bottle from Larq with a built-in filter and water purifier has everything a traveler needs to drink clean, safe water on-the-go.
Buy now: $118.96 at Larq
Silk sleep mask
Price: $124
Add a little glamour to any hotel room with this silk sleep set. The travel-sized silk pillow makes even a roadside motel feel like the Ritz, while the silk eye mask can block out any stray light ensuring hours of beauty sleep.
Buy now: $124 at Saks Fifth Avenue
Theragun portable massager
Price: $179
When you’re camping on rocks in a tent or trying to sleep in a coach seat on a long-haul flight, vacation can lead to sore muscles. Packing a tiny but powerful massager can work out any sore muscles so you can go back to relaxing.
Buy now: $179 at Therabody
Sunscreen
Price: $56
This trio of 50 SPF Supergoop! sunscreens in TSA-approved sizes mean that you can choose your sun-fighting weapon: lotion, mist, or mousse. Pack these in your carry-on and you can hit the beach straight from the airport.
Buy now: $56 at Supergoop!
Travel diary
Price: $82
This leatherbound journal is pretty enough to make even the most hardened traveler drop their phone and pick up a pen. This handcrafted journal include pages for detailing every adventure, as well as helpful information, including full-color maps, international dialing codes, and a satin ribbon marker.
Buy now: $82 at Bergdorf Goodman
Engravable luggage tag
Price: $125
Make spotting your bag at the baggage carousel a breeze with this engravable luggage tag from Detroit-based company Shinola. Pick a favorite color and have your name and address engraved on the interior brass nameplate, which will make it a snap to find your suitcase.
Buy now: $125 at Shinola
Packable rain boots
Price: $160
Don’t let bad weather ruin your vacation. These stylish yet utilitarian rain boots will keep travelers prepared for adventure whatever the weather.
Buy now: $160 at Nordstrom
Large tech organizer
Price: $70
Never forget a charger again with this stylish tech organizer that keeps your cords in order. The water-resistant case ensures that every single one of those all-important cords, headphones, charging bricks, and devices remain safe, dry and ready to use. Plus, this can double as a toiletry bag and, if the traveler in your life is concerned, it is 100% vegan, too.
Buy now: $70 at Dagne Dover
Travel document organizer
Price: $135
There is nothing more awkward than rolling up to passport control and struggling to figure out which pocket that incredibly important document was crammed into. This dapper document organizer from Royce does double duty by carrying your passport and other important items in style and keeping them safe from RFID chip skimming.
Buy now: $135 at Bergdorf Goodman
Backpack
Price: $169
If you’re looking for an incredibly versatile carry-on to stash under the seat in front of you on the plane, this backpack is it. The sleek design has designated space for laptops and water bottles, and plenty of pockets inside to keep things organized. Great for weekend adventures or daily use, it is water-resistant and comfortable enough to carry for a full day on the trail or hiking through a city.
Buy now: $169 at Patagonia
Noise-canceling headphones
Price: $379
Never worry about sitting on a plane next to a loud engine, eager conversationalist, or crying investment banker again, because these noise-canceling headphones dim any aggravating sound to a gentle murmur. Try them once and you’ll never travel without them again.
Buy now: $379 at Bose
Cashmere travel set
Price: $395
Whether you’re flying in first or coach, pull out this cashmere pillow, eye mask, and throw and you’ll be the envy of your fellow travelers. Even the flight attendants may end up ogling this chic set, which returns a touch of glamour to plane travel.
Buy now: $395 at Sofia Cashmere
Duffle bag
Price: $1,995
The combination of McLaren engineering and Tumi luggage know-how means this structured duffle is built for both durability and utility. Made from CX6 carbon fiber, it has a molded design with dedicated space for laptops, shoes, and devices while leaving plenty of room for everything you need for a weekend excursion.
Buy now: $1,995 at Tumi
Baseball cap
Price: $60
Whether you’re battling bedhead, plane hair or simply trying to shield your face from from the sun, a hat is one of the most useful items to bring on any trip. This baseball cap is lightweight, neutral color, and just stylish enough to keep things interesting.
Buy now: $60 at Moda Operandi
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