With Christmas just around the corner you may be looking for some inspiration for the perfect travel gift for those heading on your next trip. Or indeed you may be headed on a gap year yourself and need some ideas to put on your Christmas list.
Whether you’re looking for small stocking fillers or ultimate must have travel gadgets, this list will give you all the inspiration you need.
1. Travel literature
Most travellers love a good travel read and if you can’t afford to buy them an e-reader then a travel book is the next best thing. Books can provide them with inspiration and knowledge before they go or keep them entertained on the road. Need some ideas? See our article on Great travel reads.
2. Travel hammock
For those on a gap year backpacking, Hang Out Hammocks from Stanfords are a great idea. They are light weight and easy to carry, perfect for both indoor and outdoor sleeping, mid-afternoon siestas and just hanging out.
3. Travelproof Belt Safe
OK so money belts are quite big, annoying and un-cool and you’d be hard pressed to get anyone going on a gap year to actually wear one. But, what if a normal belt could do the same thing? A leather belt safe available from companies like Nomad Travel looks just like an ordinary belt but has a secret zipped compartment on the inside, to store cash and other small valuables.
4. World Scratch Map
A great idea for a stocking filler is this World Scratch Map available from Stanfords. The gold foil covered map allows travellers to scratch off each country they’ve visited. A perfect gift for any backpacker who wants to show off how many countries they’ve visited, or for those that have caught the travel bug.
5. Travel notebook
A travel notebook is a great gift for any traveller no matter what type of gap year they’re going on – volunteering, backpacking or working abroad. Encourage travellers to write down their memories, interesting facts, contacts or important pieces of information with these pretty travel themed notebooks from Stanfords and Paperchase.
6. Travel gear voucher
If you’re unsure of what to get, the best and possibly most useful gift for a traveller is a travel gear voucher. You may not know what they need, but you could be providing them with an essential travel item – a backpack, a new sleeping bag or a first aid kit. Try Nomad Travel, Rohan or Blacks.
7. Airline Vouchers
Airlines like Ryan Air now allow you to buy gift vouchers!
8. Oxfam Unwrapped
For the community volunteer who has everything they need, why not get them the gift that will change someone else’s life instead? Oxfam Unwrapped has a great choice of gifts ranging from £5-£25 and includes things like feeding a family, a share in a farmyard, clean drinking water for ten people or even a goat for a village.
9. Backpacker card game
And finally a fun little stocking filler that will provide hours of entertainment. You’d be surprised how much time you spend in hostels with other travellers devising little games or playing cards and this Backpacker card game is the ultimate card game for any traveller. It involves travelling around the world, visiting sites, collecting souvenirs, missing flights, getting sick and even falling in love. What’s more it’s in a small handy pack too.