Unique travel gifts and travel accessories

World map gifts - Kikkerland world map travel bag (laundry bag)
Pack a laundry bag to separate your dirty clothes
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Stuck knowing what to buy for the traveller in your life? Or perhaps you’re after some unique travel gifts for yourself, no shame in that. We’ve got you covered with some great ideas (if I do say so myself) in this post. Most of these items have been tried and tested by us, whilst others we’ve put on our own wish list.

Unique Travel Gifts and Travel Accessories for 2024

WASH BAG ESSENTIALS

Silicone Squeezable Bottles

I can’t do without these on my travels, and use them for shampoo and conditioner. They’re much better than other travel toiletry bottles because you can squeeze out every last drop rather than having the last bit annoyingly refusing to budge! They come in several sizes, I find I need the large ones for a week’s trip.

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Solid Shampoo Bar

I love solid shampoos for when I’m travelling with only carry-on luggage, and can’t lug around my usual product bottles. I’d never last more than a couple of days with a limit of 100ml, especially when we’re travelling in hot places where I probably have at least 2 showers a day. These bars from Bath Bubble & Beyond smell great, leave hair clean and shiny, and fit in the super little round tubs below.  Ideal travel gifts for the girl globe trotters in your life.

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GoTubb Travel Containers

These little tubs are perfect for taking solid shampoo on your travels. The lids pop open easily in the shower, and are just the right size for soaps too. Or earphones, sweets, cables, all sorts…

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Beeswax Lipblam

These beauties come in all sorts of tropical travel flavours such as Pomegranate, Coconut and Pear, and Mango. What’s not to love?

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Slim Sonic Toothbrush

These are great for keeping in your handbag or when luggage space is at a premium. Travel sonic toothbrushes are compact and come in lots of fun designs, perfect for travelling when you don’t have much luggage allowance!

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STORAGE

Around the World Travel Bags

These are my new best friends this year when it comes to packing! The larger bag is perfect for keeping dirty laundry in, and the others are great for footwear, chargers and other travel associated paraphernalia.

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Packing Cubes

I resisted using these for years, thinking they were just for neat freaks and organisational obsessives, yet when I finally relented I was instantly hooked! As well as keeping your clothes tidy and easy to find, they also make packing much quicker, and there’s no more searching for that emergency pair of pants you know you’ve brought but just can’t locate in the depths of your suitcase! The cubes come in several sizes, perfect for everything from undies to shirts. We also use them to keep all our electronics together.Check Price on Amazon

Accessories Storage Carry Bag

The carry cubes are a bit more robust than the standard packing cubes, and we use them for all our camera and phone chargers, cables and electronics.

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Hanging Travel Wash Bag

For all those times you just don’t have anywhere to put it in the bathroom!

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Paris Map Wash Bag

Because having an elegant wash bag makes all the difference when you’re away from home.

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London Map Envelope Style Tablet Case

Carry your tablet around in style with this magnetic fastening envelope style case. It’s simple, lightweight and looks great.

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Waterproof Storage Sacks

Something else we rarely travel without, these are just super for keeping valuables dry on boat trips or at the beach, and can double up as dirty underwear sacks too!

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World Map Jumbo Storage Bag

Knowing I’m a sucker for anything with maps on, my friend bought me one of these last year and I’ve now got the whole range (they also do smaller bags and lunch bags!). Every traveller needs one of these unique travel gifts!

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JEWELLERY

Little Book of Earrings

I absolutely love this idea! Keeps all your earrings in one place and looks sexy too!

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Jewellery Travel Organiser Roll

To stop all your favourite necklaces and earrings getting in a tangle. Because you still want to look glamorous when you’re away!

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BEAUTY & MAKE-UP

Mini Refillable Perfume Atomizer

I never go off on my hols without my trusty atomiser. It means I can take along my favourite scents (currently Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb) without having to lug around the entire bottle (which also wouldn’t be allowed in carry on!).

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Sleep Mask

Made out of organic bamboo and just as soft as silk.

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Cordless Hair Straighteners

A girl’s best friend.

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Travel Sized Mascara

So we can look our best even after a long flight!

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BOOKS & GUIDES

Wild Guides

These guide books are brilliant for those looking for adventures in the outdoors, from exploring crumbling secret ruins to all the best spots for wild swimming.

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Ultimate Journeys for Two

Some inspiration for couple travellers for around the world adventures.

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PACKING ESSENTIALS

World Map Passport Cover

Who doesn’t like standing in the airport check in queue and casually showing off their sexy passport cover? I know I’m guilty!

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Map Luggage Tag

Well, you need something to match that passport cover…

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Map of the World Folding Travel Umbrella

We travel a lot in South East Asia and Africa, places that often experience rain but are too hot to wear waterproofs. The answer? An umbrella! Even better if it comes with it’s own map! Unique travel gifts if ever there was one.

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Digital Portable Travel Luggage Scale

I don’t know what we’d do without our portable luggage scales. Probably be a lot poorer from having to pay excess baggage charges thanks to all the souvenirs we always seem to bring home with us.

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Foldable Water Bottle

Do away with single-use plastic and take this everywhere on your travels for water on the go.

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World Map Mug

Because who doesn’t love stuff with world maps on! This mug is made from eco-friendly bamboo with a silicone lid, perfect for taking to the office to remind you why you’re working so hard!

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World Map Flask

A gorgeous-looking 500ml Thermos vacuum flask with a stainless steel lid to use as a cup, and a push button for quick pouring.

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World Map Hip Flask

For when you need a pick me up on your adventures.

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Luxury Memory Foam Neck Pillow

Because you need all the help you can get to sleep on flights, right?

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Handmade Leather Travel Journal

Anyone else keep a journal when they travel? As Oscar Wilde once said: “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train”. Leather journals always make unique travel gifts!

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Turkish Hamman Towels

To remind you of your holiday experiences, or just because they’re colourful! You can use these at home or whilst you’re travelling to add a bit of style to your bath time.

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Single Travel Hammock

One of my missions in life is to sleep in a hammock! I haven’t quite made it yet, although I’ve certainly had numerous afternoon naps in them. These are perfect for rolling up and taking on your travels. All you need is a couple of trees!

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Petzl Tikka Head Lamp

I’ve had Petzl head torches for as long as I can remember. They’ve always been reliable and I love that you can angle the beam to suit your purpose. Always useful in places without electricity, or cities which experience frequent power cuts. We never travel anywhere without them. Hubbie uses his for setting up his camera night shots.

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Microfibre Travel Towel

A must have for all those trips to swim in lakes, climb waterfalls and snorkel in the sea, when you really don’t want to be carrying a big fluffy towel with you.

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Travel Coffee Maker

For those who can’t start the day without a cup of proper coffee! These cool mugs have their own plunger so you can enjoy real coffee without any more hassle than it takes to make a cup of instant coffee! You can also buy really great portable coffee makers for travelling too.

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Bamboo Coffee Cup

This 450ml eco-friendly bamboo and stainless steel travel mug is both stylish and lightweight so is perfect for packing wherever you’re going in the world.

Bamboo Coffee Cup

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FlipBelt

Some people keep their money in a sock, some stuff it in their underwear and some carry around fake wallets when they’re travelling. But I think this innovative belt is a rather cool alternative to keeping your valuables safe on your travels. You can fit in everything from keys to wallets, and you just turn it inside out to secure everything inside. Also great for people who like to work out and have nowhere to store valuables whilst out running or down at the gym.

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Cabin Max luggage combination TSA padlock

Security when travelling is something we should never take lightly, and even a simple padlock on a suitcase can be enough to deter opportunists. Just don’t forget the code!

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Silk Sleeping Bag Liner

Sometimes you’re not quite certain if the bedsheets are clean, that’s if you have bedsheets at all, and having a sleeping bag liner can make all the difference. We’ve used them for hygiene in a dodgy guest house in Peru, and for warmth (silk ones are so warm) in winter in Lesotho, and they pack up so small you don’t even notice you’re carrying them.

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ADVENTURE ACCESSORIES

Lifestraw Personal Water Filter

A great little device for drinking purified water anywhere you travel in the world.

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GIFTS FOR THE HOME

Magnetic Map Memo Board

I’m so in love with this travel inspired memo board. We have one in our kitchen, but rather than cover up the world with bits of paper, hubbie and I use the magnetic arrows to point to where we’re off to next! The work rotas, hotel reservations and shopping lists are relegated to the outer edges! These make perfect travel gifts.

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Personalised World Scratch Map

I’m not a country counter but there’s certain satisfaction at scratching off yet another destination after each trip we’ve been on. A unique travel gift and a great visual way to keep track of your travels, with an incentive to see more of the world!Check Price on Amazon

World Map Beanbag Cushion Tray

This was another revelation this year, and perfect for sitting at the sofa with a laptop (or indeed eating dinner in front of the TV). It’s just the right size, and stops your knees overheating!

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Garden Pouffe with London Maps

Something a little different for your garden! They also do one with Lake District maps on, definitely on my Christmas list this year!

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World Map Shower Curtain

So you don’t have to stop planning your travels, even when you’re in the shower!

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World Map Wall Art

Every traveller’s home should have one of these…

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Globe Pen Pot

A neat little ceramic pen pot with a world map for colouring in! Chart where you’ve been, or where you want to go.

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ELECTRONICS & ENTERTAINMEMT

Foldable Headphones

Sleek, compact and durable headphones for shutting out the world on long journeys. Comes with remote control to skip and pause tracks.

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Bluetooth Speaker

Love how small and colourful these are, perfect for travelling.

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Samsung Galaxy Tablet

Buying a tablet was one of the best things I’ve done this year, and has made staying connected whilst travelling so much easier.

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Portable wireless keyboard

For use with your tablet, this is a super bit of lightweight kit, and works using bluetooth.

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Mini portable speakers

Something else I carry around in my handbag are these portable i-pod speakers for when earphone music just doesn’t do the job. The speakers are tiny but do an impressive job of sounding like they’re a lot bigger.

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Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones

These are perfect for travelling, whether it’s on planes, trains or in auto-mobiles. Close your eyes and pretend you’re not squashed into seat 19E with a big smelly bloke to your left and a screaming kid behind.

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World Travel Adapter

Always the first thing to get packed in our house is our travel adapter. Without it we’d have none of the photos you see on the website! It’s unbelievable how many chargers we have to cart around, and I’m sure we’re not alone. Having an adapter that works worldwide is brilliant as it means we don’t need to carry multiple adapters wherever we go.

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Kindle Paperwhite

Something else I resisted for years was buying an electronic reader. I love my books and was horrified at what I was as a bit of a sterile new experience taking over the world of reading. Yet on our trip to Borneo a few years ago I ended up lugging around 4 paperbacks (I read them all!) and realised they were indeed taking up valuable storage space in my suitcase that instead could be used for souvenirs. So I relented and haven’t looked back! I love having hundreds of books and travel guides at my fingertips, all in something that is smaller than a single paperback.

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Portable Solar Charger

Sometimes there isn’t a handy power socket when you need one, but usually one thing you can count on is the sun! Which can be rather useful when you have a smart phone, laptop, i-pod and camera that needs charging!

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CAMERAS & ACCESSORIES

Canon SX740 HS PowerShot Digital Camera

One of the questions we’re asked most is what camera do you use? Well, we’re both huge fans on the Canon Powershot range, and have used several different models over the years. They’re so easy to use yet make your photos look like you know exactly what you’re doing! Our favourite is the SX740, which isn’t too big to carry around, but has great results.

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GoPro Hero Camera

We love our GoPros and wish we’d purchased one years ago. For something so tiny the quality is amazing, and it’s great for those times when a larger camera just won’t do the job. We’ve taken our snorkelling, kayaking, on jungle walks and on drives over high mountain passes. It’s so versatile and easy to use even I can operate it!

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Joby GorillaPod Tripod for SLR Cameras

Understandably hubbie doesn’t like lugging our big tripod around all the time so we have a couple of the small, flexible yet sturdy GorillaPod tripods as well. They fit easily into our shoulder bags and are great for wrapping around railings to get that perfect shot. We’ve used ours everywhere, from Tower Bridge in London to the night markets in Marrakech.

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XShot Camera Extender

Basically a selfie stick, but we don’t like to call them that here!

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TRAVEL BAGS

Osprey Travel and Trekking Backpack

Stylish, with a checkpoint friendly laptop compartment, anti theft lockable zips, and a digital safe zone.

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Tripp Hard Shell Suitcase

Hard shell cases are the answer to the problem of how to transport all those ridiculously delicate souvenirs how without them being damaged. They also look a lot smarter than soft cases and are definitely the way forward for the luxury traveller. We love the Tripp range as there are three different sized cases, and they look really smart.

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Anti-Theft Travel Laptop Backpack

For when you don’t want to lug your laptop around in a separate bag on your travels.

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Camera Backpack

For carrying around your DLSR, lenses and assorted bits and bobs.

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Laptop Carry Case

For when you just can’t travel without taking your laptop with you, for work or for play.

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VOUCHERS & GIFTS

Experience Travel Gift Vouchers

We love being given experiences as gifts, and these brilliant ideas from Gifting Owl make a truly unique present for the travel lover in your life! Choose from a huge range of activities across 115 countries, with experiences ranging from hot air balloon rides, cooking classes and massages, to sightseeing tours, scuba diving and visits to wineries.

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Tinggly Christmas gift box for travellers

When it comes to finding presents for the travellers in your life, consider giving stories, not stuff, because memories are gifts that will last an entire lifetime. Tinggly is fantastic gift solution perfect for those who love travelling and want to experience something a little different on their adventures, whilst creating everlasting moments they’ll cherish forever.

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FOOTWEAR

Butterfly Twists foldable ballet flats

These are great for when you need something a little more glam but don’t want to be tottering around all day in heels. I usually have a pair in my handbag when I’m visiting cities. During the day I choose comfort over fashion and usually opt for a pair of well-loved trainers, but if I’m popping in somewhere fancy for afternoon tea or going to the theatre I can change into my Butterfly Twists and still look the part.

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Map Socks

You always need a few pairs of socks on your travels, and what better way to celebrate the fact you’re on holiday than with some bamboo map socks! You’ll often find a gift of practical white socks at the bottom of your stocking at Christmas, but if you want to stand out from the crowd, ask Santa Claus for these funky essentials instead. Just don’t try and use them to navigate, or you may get a bit lost!

Merrell Sandals

I love my Merrells, and you’ll spot them in all the photos of me in hot places. I’m a bit fussy about footwear, but have always found Merrells so comfy. They’re great for walking long distances, whether that be sightseeing around a city or hiking up mountains, and you can remove the back strap if you want a pair of slip-ons.

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FOOD

Coffee from Around the World

One of the tastiest ways of recreating those favourite travel memories when you’re back home is to enjoy a steaming mug of coffee from one of the countries you’ve previously visited. Scout around the supermarkets for the best cappuccino coffee beans and whip up a brew that will transport you back to tropical shores and African plains.

 

Hopefully you’ll have found some unique travel gifts ideas here, let me know if you have any more I should add.

11 Comments

  • christine Goody says:

    Thanks for your great list. I would be happy to have any of them in my bag.

  • Joann says:

    This is so timely as I’m looking for a gift for myself this holidays. You came up with an amazing list 🙂

  • Himanshu says:

    OMG..such a long list. Kudos to you for the efforts you have put in. Water proof storage is now in my wish list. I need them when i do bike trips. 🙂

  • Divina CA says:

    Now that Christmas is just around the corner – this is just in time! Which also reminded me that its about time to polish my list! haha… I know… a bit late;) THANK you for a comprehensive list of travel present ideas!

  • Divina CA says:

    Now that Christmas is just around the corner – this is just in time! Which also reminded me that its about time to polish my list! haha… I know… a bit late;) THANK you a comprehensive list of travel present ideas!

  • Stephanie Mayo says:

    This is the BEST and most comprehensive list of travel gifts by far! Looking like I may need to pass this on to friends and family 😉

  • Tami says:

    Love the map umbrella!

  • Madi @ Restless Worker says:

    I LOVE the scratch map. I have it hanging in my bathroom for those times when I have a little extra time to study geography 🙂

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