SmartDer Inflatable Travel Pillow– No joke, this is the best travel purchase I have made recently. I don’t fly well, which makes it extremely hard to sleep. I also have an extremely hard time sleeping while sitting up. With this pillow I am able to lean forward and kind of curl up. You can also put your head down, without smashing your face into the fabric. The awesome thing is it’s inflatable, so its easy to pack in your carry on bag. Also the nozzle is built to be able to inflate through the air vents on the plane. So you don’t have to awkwardly blow the thing up in front of everyone. I bought this before flying to South Africa (21 hour flight). It was actually recommended by a Chiropractor to one of the ladies who went on the trip with me! At that point I thought i would give it a go, and I haven’t looked back yet!
Travel Compression Bags- Here is something that may blow your mind. It did for me at least. I was shown these by a friend in Nashville during my sisters bachelorette. She swore by them, and stated they were the reason she was able to fit all her clothes in one bag while backpacking Europe! She was also the only girl in our group that didn’t need to check a bag at the airport. She was able to pack everything into a large sized backpack! Basically they are vacuum sealed bags, without the vacuum… You roll out the air in order to save a significant amount of space in your bag! Very reasonably priced, and probably something your favorite traveler does not have!
Airline Voucher– I feel like this is the most obvious, but I never actually see it in blog posts. Being able to get a cheap or free flight with a voucher, is HUGE! If you don’t know the specific airline they prepare. I would go with a larger airline like Delta. That way there will be more flight choices for the individual.
Noise Canceling Headphones– There is SO many great deals on these leading up to Christmas. Again, if you are not a good flyer, these could really help ease anxiety! Personally, for myself, whenever I here a strange noise my mind immediately starts assuming the worst. AKA, the plane is going down. Also, you never know who is going to be sitting next to you on the plane. Nothing is worse than trying to sleep with a screaming baby next to you! There is MANY different noise canceling headphones these days, so I will touch on a few of the most popular. Beats by Dr. Dre seem to be the most popular! Other than Apple headphones, these seem to be the go to brand! Beats is known for their award winning sound and long battery life. This will come in handy for those long international flights! Another brand that has phenomenal reviews, is none other than Bose. The Bose QuietComfort is probably the most comparable to Beats. But they are also significantly more expensive. The headphones are also Alexa-enabled, so you can control them with your voice!
Backpack– As far as comfort, over the years I’ve switched to using a backpack as my carry on “personal item”. Nothing is worse than having a duffle bag or a large purse and running through the airport. Even if you are notorious for getting to the airport early. You never know what could happen at an airport. This is mainly going to come down to your needs. I wanted something light weight that I could take with me hiking.
Passport Case– There is so many options here. I was gifted one, that has really protected my passport. I’ve read horror stories of places not accepting passport based on the quality. My case also has slots for cards and other ID’s. Which is nice while flying, because I don’t need to get my whole wallet out. Here is a link to Amazon for the exact case that my sister Ciara bought me. I’ve had it for over a year now, and it still looks brand new!
Portable WIFI– Now these can be spendy! If you know someone who travels often to places without good wifi or cell service, this would make an AMAZING gift. A portable wifi router is similar to the one you would have at home. The only difference is that it uses a SIM card instead of plugging into a phone cable. A lot of phone companies have there own portable wifi that you can purchase through them. You can also get “unlocked” router, where you can use any SIM card from anywhere in the world. Again this would be helpful if you want to purchase something for someone who travels to a lot of other countries. Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of travel bloggers recommend GlocalMe G4 Pro. After reading up on it and it’s reviews, it seems like the catch-all for international portable WIFI. Search around though, to find what suits your needs best!
Water Bottle– On top of saving you money, using a water bottle is extremely eco-friendly. Most drinks you’d buy at the airport are going to be plastic and is probably double the price it normally is. Lately I’ve been taking my Hydro Flask with me everywhere! I like that it has a handle, so I’m able to clip it to my backpack. I also love this water bottles, because they are metal. I break things easily, so I prefer this to plastic ones. Also, they will keep things extremely water or cold for a lot longer. Yeti Rambler is another extremely popular brand these days, due to their ability to keep your liquid cold/hot for an extremely long time. I’ve had ice stay in the cup (at room temperature) for almost 2 days. Which comes in handy while hiking or camping, or anytime you don’t have access to cold water! Also nothing is better for those alcoholic beverages, when you don’t have access to fresh ice! I’m talking lake days! Lately i’ve been switching between the two. Also the Yeti Tumbler is perfect for any coffee lover! Similar to the Rambler, but has a lid similar to a coffee cup!
Skin Care- While you should have a good moisturizer to begin with, you will really need one while flying. Especially on long flights! While I am no beauty blogger or esthetician, lately my go to skin products have been the Dermalogica line. These mini kits are perfect for travelers, because it gives you everything you need but in a small travel sized form. Although compact, the kits themselves actually last a lot longer than you would expect. When I was in South Africa for 3 weeks, I still had product left over after the trip was through! The Meet Dermalogica kit contains a cleansing gel, microfoliant (so necessary for beach travel), moisturizer, and a multivitamin cream! Flying severely dehydrates you! So a good moisturizer and A LOT of water are necessary.