Travel

The Best Gifts for Travel Lovers 

Tinsel, eggnog, mistletoe, and luggage

By Natalie Compagno December 8, 2023

GettyImages-1293315436-16-9-2000x1125-min

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2024 issue of Seattle magazine.

Travel lovers are the easiest people to buy for. Wrap a gift in old maps and they’ll spend hours deciphering the roadways and important coordinates. Put something inside the wrapping that will satiate their wanderlust, or encourage it, and you might be their next invitee to Paris.

We have stocking stuffers and beyond for those frequent fliers on your gift list.

 

An ergonomic reading light

The Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light is not super sexy, but it’s going to make those nighttime guidebook binges easier on the bedmate. Also handy for ‘I-just-have-a-few-chapters-to-go’ red-eyes and layovers. International spy novel not included. 

 

Roll on perfume

Spicy and alluring, Wanderlust Luxury Perfume Oil complements any gender or style. It’s the little refresher travelers need upon runway touch down. ShopHandmadeinCA offers curated products like turmeric + vitamin C clay masks, hyaluronic B5 serum, and charcoal face soap – all are travel-sized, keeping jetsetters beautiful in any time zone.

 

A cookbook offering more than recipes

Jose Andres’ global non-profit World Kitchen Central feeds people impacted by natural disasters and crises around the world. The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope is a gift for everyone on your list. From Haitian Griot to Mrs. Obama’s Breakfast Tacos, there are recipes and stories to nourish the body and soul.

 

Portable trivia 

Glampers, campers and trampers unite. Other than REI gear and an EVO gift certificate, National Parks Trivia is all outdoor enthusiasts need for a good time in the wild. Categories like Geology and Astronomy versus Cultural History will keep National Park nerds entertained around the campfire.

 

A bright new suitcase 

Away luggage has maintained its staying power. Everyone wants to own a piece and we think it’s legit. The new color is magenta, so if you can’t downsize – add a splash of color.

 

Zippered travel pouches

This gift will please all planners and Type A personalities. The Woodland 3D Travel Zip Set is perfect for travel and organization, with loops for carrying and hanging on the go. Drooz is a gift resource extraordinaire – shop by occasion, recipient, theme, or season any time of year.

 

An African adventure  

To physically experience a Safari can be quite a few longitudes away, but well worth the distance. If travel isn’t possible, this photographic collection transports you to four legendary African regions: Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the Great Migration in Kenya, and Rwanda to see silverback mountain gorillas.

 

Travel organization 

The perfect remedy for voyagers ready to bid farewell to TSA “suggested” Ziploc bags. This eco-artistic, hand-sewn travel roll by BOTNIA makes it easy to pack sample-sized skincare essentials. Their microfarm nurtures seed to serum products that fit into any carry-on.

 

An illuminated globe 

The Columbus Munich Political Illuminated Floor Globe has the wow-factor. With a hand cut map and a round stainless-steel base and arm supporting the globe at its actual 23.5 degree tilt, it’s worth the price and stunning in any home.

 

A love letter to Scandinavian baking 

Scandinavian from Scratch might tempt your traveler into staying home to bake holiday treats and cozy surprises this season. Wholesome breads, buttery pastries, decadent cakes, and cookies all combine for a recipe of Scandinavian love and celebration. Be sure to visit the National Nordic Museum in Ballard for inspiration. 

 

Airline miles

Let’s be honest, no self-respecting travel addict would turn down miles. Check SeaTac for the latest non-stop routes for impressing your cherished explorer. Montreal, Belize City, Los Cabos, Helsinki, Finland, Istanbul, Paris, Reykjavík, Dubai, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, and the list goes on.

 

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