Travel Journal. For those who like to journal their journeys, take meeting notes or just doodle to relax, a travel journal is a must. You’ll find simple and slim options from Moleskine at moleskineus.com. They also offer City Notebooks, special guidebooks for major cites around the world. City Notebooks combine a notebook with city-specific map features into a helpful travel tool.
Travel Yoga Mat. Lightweight and easily to pack, travel mats let yoga fans take their workout with them. Mats can be folded or rolled small enough to fit into carry-on luggage. Find them at gaiam.com or amazon.com.
Back Seat Protector. When dog owners hit the road, car interiors can take a beating. A car seat cover protects the back seat from dirt, hair, moisture and mud. A waterproof, washable version can be found at orvis.com.
Lumbar Pillow. Good back support can make the trip a lot more comfortable. An adjustable lumbar pillow will ease travel in cars, trains or planes. Get one with buckwheat hull filling, a machine washable cover and webbing handles for easy placement at protravelgear.com.
Travel Sound Machine. Make it easy to relax with a travel sound machine. It’s good for those who have trouble falling asleep or who prefer to wake up to pleasant nature sounds instead of annoying alarm clocks. A compact, battery operated model can be found at orvis.com.
Travel Magazines. Give your traveler new trip ideas with a subscription to a travel magazine. Travel & Leisure, Budget Traveler, Conde Nast Traveler and National Geographic Traveler all offer something for those with a permanent case of wanderlust.
Travel Gift Cards. Help travelers get where they need to go with a travel gift card. Third party gift sites such as giftcertificates.com offer certificates for airlines, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, cruise lines and more. Other gift card ideas include:
- National Parks Lands Pass. Give unlimited access to the country’s greatest natural treasures. The pass allows entry into federal recreation sites that typically charge an entrance fee. A regular annual pass costs $80. A lifetime pass for seniors costs only $10. Get one at nps.gov.
- CityPass. At citypass.com, pay one reduced price and receive a booklet with admission tickets to top attractions in New York City, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California and Toronto. You pay a lot less than you would for regular admission – and main ticket lines can be avoided, too.
- Gas Cards. Gifts don’t have to be glamorous to be appreciated. A pre-paid gas card makes a great stocking stuffer for a road tripping college student or anyone looking to save on fill-ups.