My 10 Favorite Travel Gifts for 2019

It’s hard to believe the holiday season is nearly here. Since many of you are trying to find that unique gift for the traveler in your life, I thought I’d share with you my new favorite travel gifts for 2019. Most of these gifts are very affordable and are truly products that I use and can’t live without. I included these items on my list this year because they are easy to use, are designed well, travel easily, and most importantly, they are practical gifts.  Most of the links will lead to the product’s page at Amazon. Note that I do make a small commission for purchases made through the following link, but this doesn’t affect you or your pricing.

Here are my 10 favorite travel gifts for 2019:

Fjallraven Raven 28 Liter Backpack – $109.95

The Fjallraven Raven 28 Liter Backpack (Amazon link) is my favorite new travel accessory. For years I’ve been carrying a shoulder tote bag and with all of the back problems I have, I knew a backpack would be better. After doing my research and buying the Raven backpack, I’m very happy with my purchase. Not only is this pack made of water-resistant durable material, it has tons of storage space; you can fit a 15 inch laptop inside the padded sleeve. I love the padded back panel and shoulder straps. (Sooo much better than carrying a tote on my shoulder!) The zippers are high quality, the bag is made from recycled materials, there are 2 large water bottle side pockets, and there’s a small fleece-lined sunglasses pocket.  What’s more is that the Fjallraven backpack can be made even more water resistant with the additional application of Fjallraven’s Greenland Wax (Amazon link).  Suitable for men, women, or kids, this durable backpack is a winner!

Bose QuietComfort Wireless Bluetooth Headphones – $349

I was fortunate enough to receive these Bose QuietComfort headphones (Amazon link) as a gift and travel hasn’t been the same since. Obviously, the fine quality of these headphones comes with the high price. However, these are headphones that you’ll have for many, many years. Not only do they produce amazing noise-cancelling sound, but you can go several hours before the headphones need charging. You can simply turn on the headphones, not play any music, and yet the loud noise of the airplane with be gone, replaced with white noise. Hear music clearer, crisper, and just better than you’ve ever heard before. These popular headphones come with a case and cables to charge and to plug into the airplane’s entertainment system. Yes, these are an expensive travel gift, but for a frequent traveler, this will win Christmas.

Allbirds Shoes (price varies)

The self declared “world’s most comfortable shoe,” really is the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever owned. It was a no-brainer to put this shoe on my list of travel gifts for 2019. The Allbirds shoe pictured above is their Women’s Tree Breezers, priced at $95.  However, they have different shoe colors and styles for men, women, and children. Made from a special blend of merino wool and tree fibers, these shoes meet strict sustainability requirements and are super environmentally friendly. For example, their shoe soles are made up of sugarcane, the shoelaces are made from recycled bottles, and even castor bean oil is used in shoe production. Reflecting and respecting nature is at the heart of this company. As if that isn’t awesome enough, Allbirds shoes are incredibly travel friendly. The shoes pictured above are my go-to travel shoes, as they are not only comfortable and travel friendly, but can be worn for casual wear or for dressing up.

Magellan’s LuxeTravel Jersey Travel Blanket – $24.99

Link above for Amazon.com

Personally, I always travel with either a lightweight jacket, a heavy scarf, or a travel blanket. Because planes, airports, and trains can be a bit on the chilly side, I always carry something to keep me warm. I like this blanket because it’s portable, not bulky, and comes in a soft packable pouch that can double as a pillow.  Magellan’s travel blanket comes in a variety of colors and is a satisfactory 60″ x 40″ in size. For only $25, it’s a great gift for travelers that are often cold and those that take long overseas flights.

1 Foot Power Extension Cord – $10.99

This may seem like a simple travel gift, but it solves a big problem.  When trying to charge my laptop on planes, all too often I end up with a very loose connection (or none at all) due to the weight of the laptop’s charging block. Having this 1 foot extension cord changes all that. This one foot cord (Amazon link) securely plugs into the plane’s outlet and my laptop charging block sits on the floor. This simple cord eliminates that loose, unsecured connection when the outlet isn’t tight enough to hold the plug pins or the charger is too heavy to stay plugged in. Not all airplanes have USB outlets at each seat. Until then, this small cord helps eliminate a pesky problem.

Turkish Towels – $19.99 (2 pack)

Link above for Amazon.com

Whenever I have to pack for a beach or water-based vacation, packing bulky, big beach towels is a hassle. Not every water park or hotel provides them so I usually pack them just in case. And of course, there’s never enough room in my suitcase for them! I discovered Turkish towels earlier this year on a boating vacation and I quite like them. They made my list of favorite travel gifts for 2019 because they’re absorbent, much lighter in weight than regular towels, and they dry quickly. So if you’re at the beach all day or in and out of the pool, you won’t have to deal with a soaked towel. They come in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs so you’re sure to find one you like for that special someone (or yourself!).

Hydroflask Water Bottle with Straw Lid – $44.95

Link above for Amazon.com

These bottles have been on my gift lists for travelers before, but that’s because they are amazing! There are several options available for sizes and lids (wide mouth, standard, straw) to suit your taste. I prefer the straw lid because I also use my water bottle at the gym and it makes it easier to drink while on a cardio machine. Not only do the Hydroflasks keep cold drinks cold, but they also keep hot drinks hot. There’s also no transfer of the drink’s temperature to the outside of the bottle due to its double-wall insulation. These bottles are stainless steel, BPA free, and have a powder coating to improve grip. With more and more places not offering plastic water bottles, it’s important to travel with your own. Plus, it’s so much better for the environment! Don’t get caught being thirsty, dehydrated, and without water while traveling! Give a travel gift like a Hydroflask that will last many, many years!

Vive Flat Resistance Bands – $19.99

Link above for Amazon.com

We all know that being cooped up in a car or plane for hours at a time is not good for our bodies. After travel, our joints ache, our muscles tighten, and we just feel sluggish.  This is why I like to carry these resistance bands with me. Although you can use them for resistance training, I primarily use them to help me stretch. You can use the bands to loosen up your shoulder joints, pecs, hamstrings, calves, and your torso. You can find exercises all over the internet to help you stretch every part of your body. I love them because they are small, lightweight bands that are easy to pack. Pack your favorite or pack them all! Plus, if you don’t have enough time to get to the hotel gym for a full workout, you can always work in some resistance training with the bands.

FootFitter Travel Unisex Shoe Tree  (price varies)

For all the traveling people of the world, there is finally a lightweight solution to old cedar shoe trees. These unisex lightweight shoe trees weigh only 6 ounces, versus the 1.5 pound cedar ones. That can make a big difference in your luggage weight! These shoe trees have a strong stainless steel spring and ends constructed of heavy duty plastic. Help keep your shoes shaped while crammed into your luggage! There is also a men’s version of this shoe tree (Amazon link) and a 3-pack men’s version also at Amazon. Be sure to order the right size for your feet!

Becko Jewelry Organizer Roll – $19.99

Link above for Amazon.com

It’s challenging to keep track of things when you’re traveling. Keeping track of small things like jewelry, is even harder. And throwing all your necklaces, bracelets and earrings into the same pouch isn’t the answer, since everything will end up tangled. Get the ladies in your life a quality jewelry organizer that has pockets and holders for everything they need.  This organizer is made from soft leather and has a suede interior. Plus it folds flat, is lightweight, and doesn’t take up a lot of room. When I need to travel for weddings and special occasions, I love using this organizer to keep my valuables beautifully arranged!

Other Noteable Gifts (most link to Amazon.com):

• Apple AirPods – the ultimate in comfort and quality for wireless earbuds
• Colorful luggage tags – great for identification, but also helps you locate your bag quickly
• Passport wallet – keeps all of your important travel documents together
• Apple World Travel Adapter Kit – 7 AC plugs with prongs to fit electrical outlets worldwide
• Trigger Point Foam Massage Ball – small, portable, and firm density ball to massage trigger points
• Eagle Creek Compression Sacks – great for compressing bulky sweaters and coats into suitcases

The holidays are a magical time to celebrate with family and friends. I hope my favorite travel gifts for 2019 can help you find that special traveler in your life a unique and thoughtful gift. Enjoy the holiday season!

Happy Travels!

Julie

Disclaimer: EscapingtheMidwest.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I make a small commission for sales from the link, but this doesn’t affect you or your pricing.