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Welcome to our blog. Follow us as we document our sabbatical traveling around the world. We hope this blog inspires you to explore new places!

Holiday Gift Ideas for Travelers

Holiday Gift Ideas for Travelers

Searching for that perfect gift for the traveler in your life? Look no further, we have you covered. After living out of a backpack for nearly 4 months and getting to test drive plenty of travel items, we have the perfect gift ideas for anyone who is dreaming of a trip to those who are ready to take off. 


Gift Ideas

Pea

Peak Design Packing Cubes These are the BEST packing cubes we’ve used, and I say that after purchasing and traveling with 3 different brands and styles. Packing cubes make packing so much easier and really keep your bags organized. These have a compression feature and a separate compartment for your dirty clothes. This is a game changer, because you can keep all of your clothes in the same space without mixing clean and dirty items. They come in two different sizes to fit all of your travel needs. To see a full review of how these packing cubes, check out this link.

Tortuga Setout daypack

Tortuga Setout Daypack This is my favorite daypack I’ve ever tried. Tortuga makes great products and I love how the minimalist design doesn’t scream “I’m a tourist” as much as some other daypacks can. The black color hides dirt and stains really well. It also has two water bottle pockets, which is something that seems to be lacking in some other daypacks I’ve seen. When you’re not using it, it can fold up into it’s own pocket, or can lay flat to be packed.

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Matador Pocket Blanket 2.0 Want to have a picnic on the fly? Or have a dry spot to sit on while hiking or on the beach? This blanket can fold up into your pocket or be thrown into any bag, all while having built in stakes to hold the blanket into palace. Bonus points: It has a sewn in grid for easy folding back into its pouch every time.

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Lewis N. Clark RFID Blocking Passport Pouch Slim line design that is perfect for both men and women. The ultra slim design attaches to your belt or belt loop and is virtually invisible when tucked inside pants, concealing your cash, passport and valuables. This can also be stored in a purse as well. The fabric is designed to wick away moisture, which will keep you comfortable on the go.

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PacSafe V250 Anti-Theft RFID Blocking Wallet Small enough to be a wristlet or fit in a purse but large enough to hold passports, multiple cards, cash and coins. The RFID technology helps keep your sensitive items safe while the strap is made from a material that is difficult to be cut.

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PacSafe Citysafe CX Anti-Theft Convertible Crossbody Purse Travelers will have one less thing to worry about thanks to the RFID protection, locking zippers and anti-slash materials in this purse. Pickpocketing and schemes to cut your strap and take your bag can be a real issue in some countries. The best part is that you can dress it up or down with its convertible features!


DJI Osmo Mobile 3 Gimbal Help create smooth, high quality videos on your phone with gimbal stabilization technology. This model can fold up into a packable size, great for traveling. We used it to capture video footage while walking through cities, sweeping panorama shots, and to get our phones just that extra bit higher to take photos of Angkor Wat. This gimbal can be operated with one hand for easy use. It has tracking technology to help capture moving objects.

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Anker PowerCore II Powerbank Don’t get caught with a dead battery while on a trip. This charging block is pretty powerful. For reference, you can recharge an iPhone 8 around 6.5 times! Use a USB to Lightning Cable or other USB charger to plug into the powerbank. With two USB ports, you chan charge two devices at a time!

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Travel Map One of the greatest ways to end a trip is by adding a pushpin into a map to commemorate the new places you’ve visited. With so many frame options, you’ll be able to pick the perfect look. These maps are also great topics of conversation when people come over to visit. We have our map right by the front door and it always sparks a conversation about past or future travel plans.


Stocking Stuffers

A gift list wouldn’t be complete without some fun little items to add into a Christmas stocking or to complete a gift!

Dr.

Dr Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soap This is a lifesaver due to its multipurpose uses. This soap can do it all: clean your body, clean your clothes, pack your bags, book your flights... okay, maybe not everything, but it is really amazing. This has been our go-to soap when having to sink-wash our clothes in a pinch, and even as body soap or shampoo when your accommodations don’t provide any. Plus, it comes in 8 different fragrances (including unscented) so there is something to please everyone.

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Anker Dual-Port USB Wall Charger We’ve all been in those hotels where you can’t figure out who on Earth chose how few or where to put wall outlets. I mean, who wants to have to push their bed in order to be able to charge their phone and watch at the same time? This wall charger by Anker helps solve those annoying situations by allowing you to plug two USB cables into one plug. The plug portion is foldable, helping you save on precious packing space. This also minimizes the number of plus adaptors you will need to buy if you are traveling internationally as well.

Ma

Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case These work like magic! We have used them for our Dr Bronner’s Bar Soap and Lush Shampoo and Conditioner bars. The material is waterproof but has dry-through technology so your bar of soap will be able to dry through the case. No more sticky, mushy bars of soap! Since it packs flat, the bag actually will get smaller as your soap gets smaller, unlike those traditional bulky soap boxes.

Gerber 7-in-1 Shard Keychain Solid State Tool Airline-safe, 7-in-1 tool. Features include a small flat driver, medium flat driver, Phillips screwdriver, pry bar, bottle opener, wire stripper and lanyard hole. This came In handy on multiple occasions and helped take the place of the Swiss Army Knives you are not allowed to fly with. This little tool weighs only 0.6oz and is only about 2.75 inches long.

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Colgate Wisp Mini-Brushes Overnight flight where you just can’t get to your toothbrush? These Wisps are great to have on you for a quick touch-up. The package is so small you can throw it in your purse or even in your pocket! Every traveler will appreciate having a pack of these.

Foldable, Packable Wet Brush Get the packable version of everyone’s favorite brush! The Wet Brush is known for being gentle on wet hair and tangles. This foldable version is great for packing because it protects the bristles from getting smushed, it folds down to a compact size, and it comes with a built-in mirror into the handle.

These gift ideas are a sure way to please anyone with wanderlust on your list!


Note: These are my honest opinions and thoughts on the items in my packing list. I did not receive compensation for writing this packing list and I purchased all of these items myself.

Disclosure: The Next Layover utilizes affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of our product links, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support us, and allows us to keep providing guides, reviews, and content for you. All reviews are honest opinions of products and services. Thanks for your support!

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