14 Great Gift Ideas For Someone Traveling Abroad

Traveling abroad can be a pretty stressful process and nothing eases the pre-trip stress quite like some well-thought out before-you-go gifts.

If your looking for a someone journeying outside of the country for the first time, there are a few essential items they shouldn’t be without and a lot of other fluff that can be given just for the fun of it. For the frequent traveler, try getting them something to make their travel experience more comfortable or efficient. And if you’re buying for the professional traveler who seems to already have it all together, well, then we can focus a little heavier on their personality and interests – and maybe get back to some of that fluff.

The travel gifts below are items that I’ve found most useful during travel and I truly believe would be appreciated as gifts.

(Of course, don’t forget to take in consideration who you’re buying for!

You don’t wanna buy a book for someone who isn’t into reading.)

Gadgets and Efficiency

1. Lighting Fast Charging Cables

For travelers, access to our cellphone is essential, so you want to make sure it’s always charged and since traveling can sometimes get a bit messy, it’s nice to always have an extra cable for those just-in-case moments.

2. Universal Plug Adapters / Converters

A 100% necessary item for trips abroad and two is definitely better than one in this case – especially for longer-term travel. (One of the best gift ideas for someone traveling abroad.)

3. Power Bank

I’m a fan of ANKER products.

I have a portable speaker that I travel with from this brand that has lasted me years with a battery life that can’t compete (when you’re on a budget). That’s why this particular power bank is one I’d be happy to be gifted before a journey abroad.

4. Surge Protector

For US travelers that need to save on space, but not on their electrical / electronic devices, this surge protector is a great way to keep track of your items, to protect them, and to charge more than one thing at once. (You can even make a new friend with this one!)

5. Cable Organizer

Even with as much as I’ve traveled, I’m always misplacing my things. My cellphone charger is never where it needs to be, the sim cards I’ve gathered are so tiny that I’m always losing them or forgetting what small hole I tucked them in because I thought it sounded like the best idea at the time. And really my little baggy system that I had in place before worked, but it was still always messy trying to grab what I needed when I needed it.

So if you’re traveler has more than one cable they’re dealing with, they could probably use a little help in keeping track of where everything is when they’re on the go.

For something a little more practical, this electronics organizer is great. It’s waterproof, it has plenty of storage space and it’s big enough to fit an iPad Mini.

For something a little more stylish, this travel organizer will still keep your necessities safe from water damage and take a little less space in your luggage. (Which gives you the extra space you need for that extra outfit you wanted to bring!)

6. Packing cubes

The type of travel gifts no one really wants, until they have it.

Packing cubes have came in handy in so many travel occasions that I truly can’t live without them anymore. Even now as I’m living abroad, I’m currently using 3 of my packing cubes as “drawers” to help keep my underwear, socks, and pole gear organized. (That’s mostly because we have no furniture because we’ve been sublet-hopping since I moved here – ugh Berlin housing market, don’t get me started on that again.)

If you’re going to purchase cubes, you want ones that vary in sizes and these here even come with a laundry bag!

Lifestyle / Entertainment

7. Spiral notebook / journal

Ugh, I can’t get enough of these paperblank journals. I saw them for the first time living in Germany and I’ve been in love with them ever since. They look stunning on a bookcase and they make for such an exciting travel journal.

There’s nothing I love more than whipping one of these out somewhere, showing of my beautiful cover. But only a writer could truly appreciate the appeal of this beauty.

8. Sudoku / crossword puzzle book

For the wordplay lover, who likes to avoid excess screen time.

These books were never a traveling must on my packing lists because they always remind me of the elderly, but secretly I always loved doing the crosswords in the newspapers. {It was the only time I ever actually opened a newspaper to be honest…)

Before a long trip, I was gifted a book like this one and I was so grateful – such an entertaining way to pass the time.

9. A book

If you know the person you’re buying for loves to read, there’s no greater travel gift than a book – especially if this person has long layovers or long-hour flights ahead.

Recommendation: Don’t stress so much about the type of book to purchase. Some books, like this one, are great reads for all ages at any point in one’s lifetime.

10. Sling bag / Fanny pack

Say what you want about fanny packs, they are in style and I never travel anywhere without one (or two, usually I have two: one for travel and one for style).

The thin fanny packs can really be lifesavers, especially for those traveling to countries with higher rates of crime, like theft. When I lived in Brazil, I never carried around anything other than my fanny pack. Always close to the skin, under my clothes with my valuables and never showing, like this travel fanny here.

11. Travel Pillow

A travel pillow that won’t leave your neck, that smashes down into a small bag, and comes with eye masks? Okay, so I’m really only excited about the small bag part, but still. This is an especially great gift for someone traveling on longer flights.

There are other types out there, but as a long-time traveler, I prefer something that provides sufficient support and that I can pack into a smaller bag. Saving space and peace of mind. (The idea of using something on my face that’s been hanging off my luggage all day, touching anything and everyone as I move around on foot is stepping into real gross factor there and I like to feel as clean as possible when I travel.)

Skincare / Body Care

12. Witch Hazel

A lot can feel dirty during travel. While you can’t wash and clean everything so easily, your face can be. One dampened cotton ball swipe over the face can have a huge impact on the way you feel when you travel.

That’s why I’m always carrying around witch hazel when I travel. Especially if I’m going abroad. (It’s super difficult to find large quantities like this container outside of the US for some reason.)

13. Hand Lotion

Airplanes make such a nice place to apply hand lotion. I can’t explain it. There’s just something about being thousands of miles above the ground that make you feel like you need supple skinned hands.

For something soft on the nose, careful on the skin, but still enjoyable to touch, try this travel-sized gem.

14. Compression Socks

Okay also another of the “elderly” feel travel gifts, but honestly, these babies are more for health and safety than anything. They help prevent swelling by keep the blood circulation flowing and helps ease the discomfort from long travel. And how many people do you know would actually spend money on these for themselves? Probably not very many – and that, my friends, is what makes them such a great gift.