Finding affordable Christmas gifts is a tough endeavor every single year. This year, with the global pandemic causing widespread job loss, it is especially important to find thoughtful, yet affordable Christmas gifts for everyone on your list. Frequent travelers can be especially difficult to shop for, as they often want or need pricey items, such as packs and airline tickets. However, there are a number of items that are useful, thoughtful, and even better, affordable!
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Handmade Passport Covers
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A handmade passport cover is a perfect gift for a frequent traveler. Why? It protects their most valuable belonging! These passport covers are knitted, meaning they are machine washable and more affordable than leather covers. Each cover is unique, and they are perfect affordable Christmas gifts for travelers.
Portable Charger
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Every traveler I know has AT LEAST one portable charger. The best thing about these gadgets is you can always use more! I personally carry two with me anytime I travel.
Portable chargers are exactly as they sound: a small juiced up charger that you can carry with you that does not need to plug into an outlet to charge your device. Travelers carry cell phones, cameras, tablets, and other electronic devices for hours every day and can’t always find an outlet to charge them when the battery begins to die before the end of their day. A portable charger allows them to charge from their pocket or bag! I have personally been saved by these when my battery began to die on my phone while trying to find my hostel in busy cities.
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Packing Cubes
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Toiletries organized in a packing cube
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Packing cubes are how I keep my belongings clean and organized in my pack. Bonus: they also allow you to pack MORE in your bag (dangerous, I know!). Every traveler needs packing cubes, especially for longer trips. I personally prefer non-compression bags, as I find these to wrinkle my clothes more than rolling my clothes in a normal packing cube. They’re cheaper too!
Packing cubes (with laundry and shoe bags): $16.99 via Amazon
Reusable Straws
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An eco-conscious traveler needs a collapsable, reusable straw with them at all times. Think of how many plastic straws a traveler will use in a day in an airport, restaurant, or walking around a new destination. Using a reusable straw eliminates that plastic waste, and make them feel so much better about that fifth iced coffee they’ve had today! (Ok, maybe not their fifth, but I’m not judging!)
Collapsable metal straw (with cleaner and case): $19.99 via Amazon
Eco-Friendly Toiletries
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Everyone loves to receive quality toiletries for Christmas (hello, bath bombs!). Why not take it a step farther and get your traveler solid, eco-friendly toiletries that will not only save the planet but save their luggage too!
Packing solid toiletries is my number one tip for traveling carry-on only. I personally use solid shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, and perfume. A solid bar lasts way longer than liquids, and you don’t have to follow the pesky TSA rules! My favorite solid shampoos and conditioners come from Ethique, an eco-friendly company that uses 100% biodegradable packaging and hair-friendly ingredients (even for curly girls!). In addition, I use biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes and a Diva menstrual cup to limit my plastic use. These eco-friendly toiletries make incredible affordable Christmas gifts for travelers and for eco-conscious people in general!
Ethique solid shampoo: $16.50 via Amazon
Ethique solid conditioner: $17.99 via Amazon
Ethique solid soap bar: $8.99 via Amazon
Solid toothpaste: $10.95 via Lush
Scratch Off World Map
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I bought myself a scratch-off world map for Christmas a few years ago, and absolutely love it! The first thing I do when I get home from a new destination is scratch it off my map! World travelers will love this affordable Christmas gift to show off their trips in one beautiful spot.
Travel-Inspired Books
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Books make incredible affordable Christmas gifts for travelers! Many travelers get their trip inspiration from their favorite books. Some love to travel to places within a book that may not exist in the real world. Others learn tips and tricks on how to pack or secret destinations around the world. Books inspire travelers to keep traveling!
Some of my favorite books that have inspired me to travel include:
The Lord of the Rings series: $19.74 via Amazon
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: $6.19 via Amazon
Ten Years a Nomad: A Traveler’s Journey Home: $17.74 via Amazon
Check out other books, movies, and video games that have inspired me to travel here!
Compression Socks
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With frequent long flights, many travelers feel pain or swelling in their legs, feet, and ankles. In the past, I have suffered a broken ankle that resulted in a surgery. Now, that ankle swells nearly three times its normal size when I’m on a flight longer than a few hours! Compression socks help keep blood moving in travelers’ lower extremities to prevent swelling and pain on flights and on long hikes. I highly suggest every frequent traveler has a pair to prevent pain on your first day in a new destination!
A “Portable Urination Device”
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Ok, this one is a bit of a gag gift. However, I have to say, I LOVE these!
I’ve used “she-wees”, or these “portable urination devices” while hiking, camping, and over treacherous squatty potties found throughout Southeast Asia. After accidentally peeing all over my legs in Thailand, I got one of these as a joke. Joke’s on me: they’re incredible! Now, I always carry one with me while traveling, hiking, and camping.
*Tip: Practice at home in the shower. They can be a bit confusing at first, and you want to get used to it before you’re on the road!
A Lifetime Membership at REI
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For your outdoorsy travel friends, an REI lifetime membership is the perfect Christmas gift! This membership offers 10% back annual dividends, special offers and sales, access to REI “garage sales” in stores, and discounts on REI classes and events. I have my own membership, and it has saved me so much money on my outdoor gear alone! For friends and family that live near an REI store, this gift is especially great for access to those sales.
This year has been tough on all of us, especially those of us in the travel community. A nice gift to keep your traveler inspired this Christmas will make a huge difference, but there’s no need to break the bank!
What are some of your favorite affordable travel items?
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