From Stocking to Suitcase: Gift Ideas for Travel-Lovers

Say goodbye to neck pillows, luggage tags, and colour-in maps, here's a selection of gifts for travel-lovers which they'll probably actually use!

A collector's bracelet or keyring. Like a charm bracelet of sorts, but usually a collection of small discs with the name of the countries they’ve visited engraved on each one.  Takes up almost no space, and reminds your traveller of the places they've been and the experiences they've had.

A mini, powerful, portable charger. Forget the ones you get for free in a tote bag at a Fresher's fair. Opt for something compact and robust, with plenty of outlets and a long battery life.

A game. Like an actually good one. If your person is a wordy sort, try mini Bananagrams. If they're more on the brainy, thinky side, there's such a thing as little Solitaire or a wee chess board. And don't forget, if in doubt, a pack of cards can go a long way. 

It might not seem necessary, but a tech organiser works a treat! Take into account the devices themselves, the cables, the backups, the adaptors, that handy portable charger we spoke about earlier - it's definitely best to keep it all in one place rather than spaced out in the little pockets and gaps in your bag. A flat, padded organiser, with a secure zip, will absolutely save time and hassle.

A Hamam towel. Thin, light, quick-dry, these towels are an absolute staple in Turkey, and although the transition from fluffy towel to cotton sheet can be quite jarring, it's absolutely worth it. One step up from a camping microfibre towel but not hotel quality, Hamams are a wonderful middle ground for pretty much any type of travel.

Earplugs. Not the foamy, 10-in-a-pack, earwax collectors we all know of, oh no! We mean good quality, noise-cancelling earplugs you can actually sleep in. An absolute godsend for a noisy train or hostel when you need to get a few Zs in.

A bit more niche, but a travel coffee maker. They pack down into small, self-contained little kits, so you can have a decent cup of coffee wherever in the world you are. Also, if your gift-receiver is a proper coffee connoisseur, they can sample the local beans from coffee superpowers across the globe whenever they want.

BY HOLLY GARWOOD, 2ND DECEMBER 2024