The holidays are just around the corner, so you may need the perfect holiday gift guide for travelers! And no doubt you’ve got at least one friend who has been bitten by the travel bug and is already planning their 2024 vacation getaway. These clever travel gadgets are the perfect gifts for avid travelers as they are lightweight, compact, and can hold up to wear and tear.
Check out our favorite new travel gadgets for the 2023 holiday gift guide season to help make your shopping a breeze. No doubt your gift will be a huge hit!
Don’t forget to check out our web story: Holiday Gift Guide: 17 Awesome New Travel Gadgets
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2023 Holiday Gift Guide: 17 Awesome New Travel Gadgets
1. Scrubba Wash Bag
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for your friend who loves going on long camping trips? Or what about your friend who is on an extended travel sabbatical? Inevitability, they are going to have to do laundry and so they’ll love a gift of the world’s smallest and lightest washing machine!
The Scrubba Wash Bag packs down super small so it’s easy to pack but will save your friend a lot of time and money on doing laundry during their travels. Plus it doubles as a dry bag – win-win!
2. Travel French Press
This is hands-down the coolest travel gadget gift for anyone who loves coffee just as much as they love seeing the world! It’s an all-in-one portable french press coffee maker and insulated travel mug. It’s so easy to make a single cup of coffee using this clever device while on the go. Plus, it has a reusable filter and is super easy to clean! No doubt you’ll buy one as a gift and then realize that you really want it for yourself too.
3. Flexible Phone Tripod
If I had a dollar for every time I asked a stranger to take a photo of me while traveling and it turned out to be nothing like I wanted, I’d be rich! Being able to throw a lightweight, flexible tripod like this one by UBeesize makes it easier to get exactly the photo I want. It’s easy to use, super durable, and even has a wireless remote control so you can take shots from a distance of up to 30 feet!
It’s an especially awesome travel gadget for your solo traveling friends!
4. Waterproof Action Camera
GoPros have been a popular gift for scuba divers and adrenaline junkies for years now, but they are only ever available at an outrageously high price point!
Luckily for us, competitors have started to create much less expensive versions that are just as easy to use and take similar quality photos. This waterproof action camera by AKASO is quite similar to the GoPro but at a fraction of the price. It’s a perfect travel gadget gift for any friend who enjoys outdoor adventuring!
5. Cell Phone Camera Lens and Filter Kit
A cell phone camera lens and filter kit is the perfect travel gadget gift for anyone who wants to take beautiful photos but doesn’t want to lug around a big camera. This kit contains 11 different lens options that can easily be swapped out using the universal detachable clamp. And they all fit neatly in a compact, durable travel case!
6. GlocalMe G3 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
Got a friend who’s planning to be off the grid for a while? Then the GlocalMe Mobile Hotspot is an awesome travel gadget gift! It will allow them to access the internet in 140+ countries and regions around the world. Packages come with 1GB of initial global data and additional plans or day passes can be purchased beyond that. And with two SIM card slots, it can also be used as a traditional unlocked Wi-Fi hotspot.
Don’t forget to add a hard case to keep their new gadget safe and secure in their luggage!
7. Travel Power Strip with Adapter
For whatever reason, outlets can be few and far between in hotel rooms abroad. The plug type differs by country so avid travelers should always keep a universal adapter in their bag. This multi-functional power strip with plug adapters by TESSAN combines the conveniences of both into one easy-to-pack product! It’s a great travel gadget gift for anyone who travels with a lot of electronics.
8. Lightweight, Compact Portable Power Bank
Travelers rely heavily on their phones throughout the day for taking photos, navigating through new cities, and staying in touch with friends from back home. So keeping a charge on their phone can be challenging. Anker makes the most reliable power banks on the market and the PowerCore Slim is super compact, lightweight, and powerful. It’s an easy gadget for any traveler to throw in their pocket before heading out for the day.
9. Portable Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker
This portable Bluetooth waterproof speaker by Bose is the perfect holiday gift for anyone who wants to keep the tunes going no matter where they are! Whether lounging on the beach or at the pool, they’ll be able to take this durable speaker with them on every adventure!
10. Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle
The Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle is awesome for anyone who is tight on space and prefers not to buy bottled water while traveling. It’s durable and leakproof while being easy to roll up so it won’t take up a lot of room in their bag. It’s BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and can handle either hot or cold beverages.
11. Wireless, Foldable Headphones
Looking for the perfect travel gadget gift for someone who has some long plane, train, or bus rides in their future? A set of comfortable, over-the-ear headphones that are wireless and also foldable is an awesome gift for someone on the go.
These Bose QuietComfort headphones have three levels of world-class noise cancellation, have a noise-rejecting microphone system for clear sound, and are Alexa-enabled for voice access to your music and podcasts.
If you’re looking for a travel gadget gift for a couple, a headphone splitter like this one by FolioGadgets makes watching movies together on a laptop a breeze! We love being able to watch movies on long bus rides without disturbing our neighbors.
12. Lightweight, Quick-Dry Beach Towel
A lightweight, quick-dry beach towel like this one by Elite Trend always comes in handy for any avid traveler. It’s an amazing travel gadget gift for anyone who is planning a tropical beach vacation or a cross-country camping adventure. These come in cute patterns, dry super fast, and pack up super small, making them totally ideal for travelers.
13. Portable Safe
As someone who has had items stolen out of my hotel room in the past, I always see the value in locking up my valuables. And while some hotels provide a safe, many do not. This portable safe by Pacsafe can be locked to a secure fixture to keep valuables safe but can also fold flat so that it’s easy to pack. It’s large enough to fit a 10-inch tablet and is embedded with stainless steel mesh making it nearly impossible to get into without the combination.
It’s a wonderful travel holiday gift for anyone hauling around expensive electronics.
If you are buying a gift for a traveler who is concerned about safety during their trip, there are several anti-theft bags that will help to keep their valuables safe and sound. This crossbody bag that is also by Pacsafe is both stylish and secure, with a slash-resistant shoulder strap and mesh paneling. And this Pacsafe travel backpack has locking zippers to ward off pickpockets.
14. Easy-to-Pack Travel Pillow
Travel pillows are usually either super bulky and difficult to fit in your suitcase, or inflatable and not actually very comfortable. But this neck pillow by Trtl weighs only a half of a pound and folds up small so it’s easy to transport. It’s machine washable and designed to look like a scarf so you can feel comfortable wearing it anywhere. Avid travelers will love this gift for their long, uncomfortable plane rides!
15. Compression Packing Cubes
What traveler hasn’t had to sit on their suitcase in order to get it zipped? Most people want the smallest suitcase they can manage, but also tend to overpack. The solution to this packing problem? Compression packing cubes by LeanTravel! It’s a great travel gadget gift to keep your friend organized AND the compression feature will allow them to pack even more.
16. Portable Travel Blanket
This clever little portable blanket that folds into a convenient travel case is the perfect holiday gift for any avid traveler! It’s easy to throw in their carry-on in case they get cold on a long flight. You never know when you might need to bundle up!
17. Inspirational Travel Books
Does your traveling friend need some inspiration to help them plan their next trip? Then an inspirational travel book is the perfect holiday gift! These beautiful books contain colorful photos and enticing location descriptions that are sure to inspire everyone!