Travelers are notoriously hard to buy presents for. They don't like clutter and often own only the items that fit in their backpacks. How on earth do you manage to find something they won't want to exchange for cash to buy plane tickets? You buy a travel-themed gift, of course!
Here are some of our favorite travel-related gifts to keep the traveler in your life connected.
1. HISY Bluetooth Remote
One of the downsides of solo travel is not always being able to take a photo of yourself in all the beautiful places you visit. Awkward selfies with my outstretched arm taking up most of the photo features in a lot of my travel shots, often with the background barely visible.
Pick up a HISY (for iPhone) or HALO (for Android) and you'll be able to snap a photo of yourself as you travel the world without hassle. The bluetooth remote connects to your phone and acts as a shutter. Simply balance the phone in a suitable spot, stand back and click the button to take the photo!
2. Boingo Wi-Fi Subscription
As a traveler, you're going to be spending a lot of time in airports, and sadly free Wi-Fi isn't as ubiquitous as it is in hostels. To help pass the time, a Wi-Fi subscription from Boingo is well-worth the purchase.
With over one million hotspots around the world, many of them in airports, you'll easily receive your money's worth.
3. Wusic Rechargeable Battery for Smartphones
As more and more travelers opt to carry devices when they travel, power is becoming more of a necessity. The Wusic 7800 mAh external charger is perfect for keeping up to two devices charging simultaneously, and it's great value for money!
It's small and light, easily fits in a daypack or handbag, and gives you peace of mind that your phone will have battery when you need it most. It's even available in four different color options.
4. 4N1 Adapter
Travel adapters are important, and this 4N1 adapter is colour coded for ease of use. Covering over 150 countries, you'll be charged and ready to go in every country you're likely to be visiting. It's super simple to use, and I love the coloured map that's included, so it's quick and easy to know which adapter to use.
5. Watershot Underwater Cases
I take my iPhone everywhere and am always snapping photos to share on Instagram. The one place where I can't capture my travel memories? Underwater.
The Watershot cases for smartphones are perfect for those travelers who love to remember and share everything from their travels. Simply download the Watershot app, pop your phone in the case and you're good to take it 195 feet below the surface. The pro version even comes with two interchangeable lenses to snap on the outside.
6. Kindle Paperwhite
I've been through a lot of Kindles over the past three years of travel, and the Paperwhite has to be my favourite. The backlit screen is great for reading in dark dorm rooms or overnight buses, the battery life keeps me going for several months at a time, and the built in Wi-Fi is useful for checking emails in cafes as I explore a new city.
I now have no reason to carry a book in my bag, thanks to my Kindle, and can't imagine traveling without one!
7. Dalys 1895 Sterling Silver 16GB USB Cufflinks
One the student travel myths I love to bust is the belief that all student travelers are backpackers and budget travelers, living in singlets and flip flops, and drinking beer around the world. It's simply not true!
For the traveler who likes to dress well while on the road, these USB cufflinks from Dalys are the perfect gift. Fill them with their favorite music or TV shows and they'll never run out of entertainment options. For a special touch, you can even have the cufflinks engraved.
8. CaseLogic Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Backpack
One of the most frustrating aspects of passing through airport security is always having to unpack your laptop before passing your bags through the scanners. CaseLogic's Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Backpack was designed with TSA guidelines in mind so that you no longer have to remove your laptop when passing through security!
Instead, unzip around the edges of the laptop compartment and you're good to go. No more unpacking and repacking of your backpack at the airport.
9. NYNE TT Speakers
I love listening to music when I travel and have tried a couple of Bluetooth speakers over the years, but none that have impressed me enough to keep me traveling with them.
The NYNE TT is the first speaker I've come across that I can justify traveling with. With 10 hours of playtime and both Bluetooth and NFC touch-connect technologies, it's perfect for slipping in my bag and taking to the beach or a nearby park. With a carrying case, worldwide power adapters and the ability to charge your phone using the built-in power bank, there are plenty of reasons to pack the TT in your backpack.
10. WeGo Hybrid
Staying fit and healthy on the road can be a struggle, and WeGo aims to help out with this while still remaining affordable. The WeGo Hybrid is a 24 hour activity tracking monitor, that measures the number of steps you take, the distance walked, the calories burned and the number of active minutes you have per day.
Download the companion smartphone app and keep track of your exercise as you travel. I found that it really encourages you to walk a little bit further while you're out and about -- perfect for discovering something new and exciting while you're exploring a new city.
11. Privates Wireless Headphones
While I'm a big fan of packing light when I travel, headphones are one of the items where I believe bigger is better. As a huge fan of listening to high quality music, I always travel with over-ear headphones as opposed to earphones.
I love these Privates Wireless Headphones because they're discreet, stylish and fun to use. The earpiece acts as a touch controller, so swiping up and down changes the volume, and swiping left and right switches the track. The built in microphone means that you can take a call while wearing them.
Disclosure: Review samples of some of these products were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
