Best Gifts for Travelers: 2022 Gift Guide
I take gift-giving seriously. It is a win-win. I feel immense joy finding the perfect gift that has been selected to match their unique needs, and they get to keep the present!
To prepare, every year I scour “best gifts” lists, keep my ears perked for any unmet needs of my loved ones, and have an ongoing note on my phone to manage my ideas for amazing gifts. If you’re anything like me and are on the hunt for the best gifts this year, the Pack Up + Go Team has rounded up some of our favorite travel items for the traveler in your life.
*Links in this article may be affiliate links, from which we may earn a commission.
A favorite pair of earrings from The Crescent Garden!
For the Fashionable Traveler:
The Crescent Garden:
Based in Florida, The Crescent Garden was created by a member of our Content Team, Michaela, in January 2021. What started as a desire to wear her creative expression, has now become a journey to make inclusive accessories for all. In short, The Crescent Garden makes unique creations for unique people! I bought myself a pair of White Arch earrings earlier this year and they became my earrings of the season.
Glitter Box N.O.:
Glitter Box N.O., based in New Orleans, is an independent retail space and maker community on a mission to enrich our communities through the economic empowerment of marginalized genders (or MaGes). These groups have always formed the bedrock of holistic approaches to change, their empowerment is paramount to greater equity, sustainability, and growth for the larger community.
Their online shop and brick-and-mortar space are filled with one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts, artful offerings, and items focused on empowering people to connect with themselves and the community at large, and they showcase artists of marginalized genders, host workshops, and support social justice groups in an effort to cultivate celebration within New Orleans and beyond. 5% of all sales are donated to local and national nonprofits that align with their mission!
Wallaroo Hat Company:
A recommendation from Courtney, a Pack Up + Go Travel Planner, is gifting her favorite hat brand, Wallaroo Hat Company, “I don't travel anywhere sunny without my packable hat that I can just throw in my suitcase and just steam it with a hotel iron when I get to my destination and it returns to its shape!” The brand has dozens of styles to choose from, including bucket, cowboy, fedora, wide-brim, and more to compliment any style or outfit.
MB Eisenstadt Studio:
Pack Up + Go’s very own Graphic Designer, Mary Beth Eisenstadt, is not only a world-class Graphic Designer, but also an artist in her own right. Her personal artistic style can be described as, “retro meets modern meets dreamy nostalgia”, and is a perfect gift for the fashionable, art aesthetic traveler in your lift.
You may recognize her work from our “Explore More + Enjoy the Ride” tote that we released earlier this year, and you can also buy more of her original work from her shop, MB Eisenstadt Studio, where she regularly add new bags, sweatshirt, prints, and more.
For the Organized Traveler:
Packing Cubes:
Packing cubes seem like an obvious choice for the organized traveler, but for some (myself included) it took a first-hand experience to make the purchase. I had been eyeing up packing cubes for years, but earlier this year a friend of mine came to visit with only a backpack and was able to keep everything organized in her packing squares. It was a done deal after that. I bought a set that is big enough to offer a lot of variation for packing.
It is so convenient to be able to keep different parts of your suitcase structured. It has been such a simple and effective game-changer that I highly recommend it for anyone in your life who travels with frequency! Packing cubes not only help during the travel itself and also easily store together to keep things neat and tidy when returning from vacation as well.
Beis Luggage:
The travel bag that everyone seems to be recommending, is Beis. The brand has a tremendous number of options from luggage to backpacks and carry-on bags.
Jasmine, a Pack Up + Go Travel Planner says, “I have the Convertible Mini Weekender that has worked for me as a personal item and it fits SO much. The survival strap for this is a must, it holds the essentials. I may not have any children but I did purchase The Diaper Bag and it is AMAZING! it fits SO much, is easy to keep things organized, can be used as a personal item + looks SUPER CUTE! Both of the above have a trolley sleeve that can either be used as a pocket or put on top of a wheeled piece of luggage to it doesn't fall off. The Resort Tote is super cute and is perfect for the beach, and regular trips, and can honestly be used in regular life. The Puff Pouch is great as a small travel "purse" that has room for a couple of cards, my phone, chapstick and keeps my sunnies protected. If you can't tell I LOVE this brand!”
Travel Jewelry Organizer:
Katie G., our Partnership Relationship Manager, says, “I just recently got a jewelry travel case (previously was using a ziplock baggie) and it’s honestly a game changer,” and I couldn’t agree more.
There is nothing more frustrating than having tangled or missing pieces of jewelry while traveling. Help the traveler in your life upgrade the protection for their carefully curated pieces to a compact carrying case. This multi-layer case has a firm outer shell and will keep jewelry safe and organized.
Elevated Toiletries Bag:
Earlier this year, I realized the toiletry bag that I had been using since 2014, was a little past its prime and I decided to upgrade to an organizer that could keep up with my growing skincare routine. Enter, the Nishel cosmetic bag. The bag is incredible, with four different compartments that all zipper together into a compact mini suitcase. There is a hanger at the top of the bag that I have used while staying in hotel rooms.
Depending on storage needs, this bag may be on the larger side, but there are plenty of smaller, stylish options for travel bags on the market. If neither of these is the style of the traveler you are buying for, I can also recommend this leather dopp kit that I purchased for my husband last Christmas!
Window Seat Coffee has travel theme coffees as well!
For the Foodie Travelers:
Markham & Fitz:
Our favorite small-batch chocolatier, Markham & Fitz, makes chocolate to help you celebrate life and the people in yours. They have chocolate bars, cookies, hot cocoa, and more delicious treats for any traveler with a sweet tooth. From dark, milk & white chocolates created from scratch by passionate crafters, they offer a delicious array of treats that can connect with anyone on your list. (Even the ones who already have everything!) If you can’t decide which amazing products to purchase, be sure to check out their selection of gift sets designed with different occasions, and flavors, in mind!
Window Seat Coffee:
Our friends over at Window Seat Coffee started their business out of a deep love for all things coffee. As a travel company, we couldn’t help but love their travel-inspired brand that seeks “to capture the special feeling that comes with getting away, whether for a quick coffee break or an extended vacation”. All their coffee is roasted at our store in Dallas, Texas, and for those of you who aren’t in Texas, you can buy from their online store or gift a monthly subscription.
For the Practical Traveler:
Pack Up + Go Gift Card:
For the practical traveler who has everything, you can give an experiential gift that will enable them to have their next great adventure on a Surprise Vacation with a Pack Up + Go Gift Card. Our gift cards never expire and can be bought in quantities to cover some of a Trip’s budget, up to the entire thing (in amounts starting at $100, and a maximum of $5,000). You can choose to send the gift card right to the recipient or you can send it to yourself and give it to them later!
Homesick Candles:
While we all love to travel, sometimes we have to reset and recharge at home. There is no better way to cozy up than with a homesick candle that reminds us of our favorite vacation. They have candles for specific states, cities, and moments in time, to name a few. Whether you are gifting someone a candle for a place they miss or helping them remember an incredible memory, they’ll have a candle for you.
TSA-Approved Defense Keychain:
No matter if you are buying for someone who loves solo travel or just likes to be prepared, Mystifying Defense has created a brand “to bring a much-needed design element to the currently lacking self-defense world”. Pack Up + Go Travel Planner, Josi, is a big fan of their TSA-Approved Quija Board Keychain, because it combines style with practicality, and says, “you can never be too safe!”
Wireless charger:
Once I went wireless charger, I never went back. There is something so convenient about being able to drop your phone onto the charger and not have to worry about tangling up cables or bringing a different type of charger for each device. The only problem? There were too many devices to wirelessly charge! That’s when Pack Up + Go Founder and CEO, Lillian, recommended a 3-in-1, foldable wireless charger that she had been previously given! The compact size makes it a perfect gift for travelers.