Hello and welcome to episode 23 of the Ready Set Depart podcast! We are so glad you’re here.

With the holidays and birthdays coming up—and maybe a few of you just looking for a fun surprise gift for the traveler in your life—today we’re talking all about travel gifts. Travelers can be a little tricky to shop for because we don’t always want more stuff, but we are always looking for things that make adventures smoother, cozier, and even more unforgettable. So, I’ve put together a list of tried-and-true gift ideas for all kinds of travelers—families, solo explorers, tech lovers, and everyone in between.

Side note: the full list is on our website, readysetdepart.com, complete with links to everything I mention today—so don’t worry about taking notes. Just head to the site when you're done listening.

Cozy Travel Gifts

Travel Blanket

I never board a plane without my thin cotton blanket. Technically, it might be a sarong—I got it in Hawaii—but it’s lightweight, soft, and folds down small. Here is an online option with lots of design choices. 

If you’ve got someone in your life who’s always cold, though, you might want to look for a cushier travel blanket. I love the ones that store in a pouch that doubles as a pillow. Take a look at this great travel blanket choice. 

Sleep Mask

Trooper loves his sleep mask. He’s all about pitch-black sleep, and when that’s not an option, a good sleep mask does the trick. We’ve got one we love linked on the website. Here’s a great one online.

Earplugs

If loud places overwhelm you—whether you're on a plane, in a crowded line at Disneyland, or at a concert—you’ll be so glad to have earplugs. We love Loop Earplugs because they filter out the intensity of sound without blocking everything out. One note: you might accidentally whisper while you wear them, so be prepared. Find the ones we use at the link online. You can find the Loop ear plugs here.

Plus, they’re lifesavers when you’re trying to sleep in a hotel room with a snorer…

Cozy Hoodie or Soft Tee

Here in the Pacific Northwest, “hoodie season” is year-round! And honestly, who doesn’t love a good hoodie or soft tee for travel? We’ve just added some brand-new apparel to our shop—hoodies, tees, bags and more with exclusive Ready Set Depart designs. Check them out on our website!

Gifts for the Techy Traveler

Portable Charger

Power banks are still allowed in carry-on luggage (not in checked bags!), and they are total lifesavers for travelers. We like the fast-charging kind so you’re not spending your whole day plugged into the charger. Here’s one we recommend. Take a look at this one here.

Portable Speaker

I’m a little torn on speakers. I love using one in the shower, but I’m not thrilled to hear other people’s music on the beach. That said, if you’re looking for a great one, the JBL Go 3 is fantastic. It’s waterproof, dustproof, compact, and often goes on sale around Black Friday.

Wi-Fi Hotspot

In my real life, I am a virtual assistant and as a virtual assistant, I work from anywhere, but sometimes there’s no reliable Wi-Fi. Enter the Solis Mobile Hotspot. We used it in Europe, and it was amazing. It’s a standalone device, no SIM card needed, and you just purchase internet time by the day. I’ve even used it during power outages at home too. Full details (and link!) are on the website.

And yes, I know we all have phones, but sometimes it’s nice to have a backup for Wi-Fi in a pinch!

Gifts for the Practical Traveler

Quick-Dry Towel

I learned a few things in Japan but one big lesson was that not every restroom has hand towels! Now I travel everywhere with a quick-dry towel clipped to my bag. They’re super handy for everything from sweaty theme park days to unexpected rain showers. Here’s one we really like.

Compact Umbrella

A good umbrella can make or break your day. Whether you’re dodging drizzle or shading yourself from the hot sun, a compact umbrella with UV protection is a must. We’ve found a great one linked online. We love this one.

And yes, I’m from the Pacific Northwest, where we practically have a no-umbrella policy, but I’m now a sun-umbrella convert!

First Aid Kit

Life happens, even on vacation. A few weeks ago, Trooper got a bug bite he reacted to, and I was so glad we had some anti-itch cream in our travel first aid kit. You can find a solid, compact kit online. This is a good travel first aid kit.

Water Bottle

If you want to spot the Americans abroad, look for the water bottles. We don’t leave home without them! Staying hydrated is crucial while traveling, especially in the heat. Whether you go collapsible or reusable (you know we love Owala), a good water bottle is always appreciated.

And if you want to dress up that water bottle, don’t forget—we have some fun travel stickers in our shop!

Organizing Gifts for the Packing Pro

Packing Cubes

You probably heard in episode 22 how obsessed I am with packing cubes. They give you more space AND help keep things organized. I really love this National Park-themed set linked online.

Stuffable Backpack

These full size backpacks fold into themselves and stuff into a tiny bag. They are perfect for day hikes, last-minute souvenirs, or lugging snacks to the beach. We love this one!

Reusable Bags

Not just for groceries! These foldable bags are great for farmer’s markets, spontaneous shopping, or hauling sandy shoes back from the beach. We love them so much, we designed some fun canvas totes in the shop! Take a look!

Toiletry Bag

A great toiletry bag saves your sanity. My current favorite is from Topiq—it’s big, easy to pack, and opens up really wide.

Passport Holder

Someone always ends up being in charge of the passports—why not make it easier with a case that holds everything, from IDs to cards? Bonus points if it’s RFID-blocking. We’ve used the same one for years and love it. Here’s the link.

Luggage Scale

If your traveler is like me and doesn’t have that magical suitcase-weighing intuition, do them a favor and gift a tiny luggage scale. Saves so much baggage-fee stress. Here’s a good one.

Gifts for the Traveler who loves to document their trip

Travel Journal

Journals are a great way to preserve memories, and they’re something people might not buy for themselves—but will absolutely use if gifted. Here is a fun one that I’ve used before.

Portable Photo Printer

These little printers connect to your phone so you can add small photos right into your journal. Trooper loves them, though we have to cap him at 4 pics per day so we don’t run out of space in the book! Our favorite model is on the site. This is my favorite one I’ve used.

National Park Passport Book

You know us, we are a National Park loving family! And one of the things we love to do when we visit a National Park is to get the stamp to show that we’ve been there. You can definitely stamp in your travel journal, but an official National Park Passport book is a lot more fun! They have a pocket size one, a collector’s edition one, or even a Junior Ranger one to choose from. We have the collector’s edition one but I have to say that recently I have started to leave the heavy book at home and take some round stickers to stamp on and stick in the book, but you can do it however you’d like. From what I see when I wait in line for the stamp, the pocket size passport book is more popular than the large one.

Travel-Sized Games

From Uno to Yahtzee on the Go, there are a ton of small games that you can give the traveler on your list. You never know when they will come in handy! From keeping kids happy waiting in line to delays at the airport, they will thank you for the idea!

Gifts for the Experience-Seeker

Language Programs

If your traveler is headed somewhere new, why not gift them a Rosetta Stone or Babbel subscription? Fun, practical, and trust me—they’ll appreciate it.

Travel Books

A good guidebook can make or break a trip. I love Frommer’s for how organized they are. An eBook version makes it even easier to travel with.

Passes

National Park Passes are a great gift for travelers. Or if you know they’re going to a specific city, you can get them a City Pass. Or even attraction-specific passes (like roller coasters or rodeos). Experiences always make great gifts.

Gift Cards

Gift cards get a bad rap, but hear me out. Airline gift cards. Disney gift cards. Airbnb. Gas. And yes—our Ready Set Depart Shop offers digital gift cards, too. Perfect for travelers!

So there you have it, a whole lineup of gifts that travelers will actually love and use. Whether you go practical with packing cubes, cozy with hoodies, or memorable with an experience gift, the best thing you can do is think about how your gift makes their next trip better.

Don’t forget—this entire list is on readysetdepart.com, so head there for links and more details. And if you have a travel gift you love, message me on Instagram! I’d love to share it with the community.

And remember, let’s keep making traveling with your family easier, one trip at a time.