It's that time of year again. Time for our annual holiday gift series. Today's installment is 25 great travel gifts under $25. Which many readers have said is their favorite travel gift guide. Every year each of our holiday gift guides feature different travel items. And as usual, we only include items we own, plan to buy or hope to receive. So without further adieu, we bring our picks for the best 25 travel gifts for $25 or less.
New to the blog? Or just want to read previous gift guides:
Lonely Planet Guide books are great resource to use for travel planning. You can find books on just about every city and country. And although I've been to Hong Kong and Australia many times, I still used the Lonely Planet Australia ebook for my Australia trip. Besides how could you not love great titles like:
The AUKEY Ora Smartphone Lens means you can travel light and avoid carry-on bag fees. While I absolutely adore my Sony A6000, sometimes you have to use your smartphone for photos. That's where a lens like the AUKEY Ora Smartphone Lens comes in handy. It easily attaches to your iPhone, Samsung, or other Android phone so you can get those wide angle shots. Buy the AUKEY Ora Smartphone Lens on Amazon for $24.99 including free shipping with Amazon Prime.
5. Viator City Tour, Activity, or Gift Certificate
Buy a city tour, trip or activity for your favorite traveler as a gift through Viator. Viator has tours and activities in 166 countries. Or let them plan their own trip by giving a Viator gift certificate. Gift certificates are valid for two years and can be used for all of Viator's tours, activities, or transportation. Pro-tip: There are no expiration dates on gift certificates purchased in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Washington. You can buy a gift certificate in the following amounts:
$25
$50
$100
$200
$500
6. SmartWool PhD Outdoor Light Crew Socks
The thought of wool anything makes me itch. But these itch-free Smartwool unisex Phd Outdoor Light crew socks, made from Merino Wool, are totally comfortable. You'll think you're wearing cotton. These are lightweight, perfect for daily wear, and work for both men and women.
7. Anker Multi-Angle Aluminum Stand for Tablets, e-readers and Smartphones
You can give a Zipcar gift certificate. Zipcar is great for when you only need a car for a few hours. Or just want a one-way rental. Pro-tip: New members who join Zipcar get a free $25 driving credit.
Not having anywhere to put your purse or bag can be a pain while traveling, going to dinner, or at a bar. Setting it on the floor is risky that's whey a purse hook hanger is a great gift. The purse hook hanger comes in several patterns, keeps your bag or purse off the floor, can hold up to 5 pounds and folds up flat. Buy a purse hook hanger on Amazon for $9.99 with free shipping from Amazon Prime.
My friend Sagy introduced me to the D-Link SharePort Go Mobile Companion when he, I and another friend, Steve, traveled to Madrid. Both Steve and I immediately bought one when we returned from our trip.
I'm a total mosquito magnet. I wore the Eco Defense Mosquito Repellent Braceletswhen we went to Belize and didn't get any bites, despite staying four nights in the jungle and hiking through swamps.
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These are all great suggestions! I think the all in one adapter is particularly useful, especially when it can charge USB cables as well. Thanks for sharing and happy travels 🙂
The smartphone camera lenses are fantastic if you're as big into Instagram while you travel as I am. I also have the silicone wine glasses and I'll agree they're one of the most clutch investments if you're a traveling wine drinker!
These are all great ideas for travel enthusiasts. I have a few on my list and I think this would be a great resource for my holiday shopping. Thanks for sharing!
There are a bunch of these I could use such as the mosquito bracelet (why do they love me so much?) to the adapter and I love the idea of the headphones. How do they work?
You have a lot of amazing ideas here! I would like to get my daughter that ora lens since she travels a lot! It would help her take different kinds of pictures with her phone!
I really like the idea of a smartphone lens. Sometimes I want to take photos on the go, and that would make my photos look much better. Is it really as good as the photos demonstrate online?
Not sure why, but I still have not bought a Smartphone lens to add to my phone to enhance my photos! I'm adding your suggestion to my holiday wish list! Finally!
This is perfect, I'm going to send this to a few people for some Christmas ideas. Those vintage travel posters would look great in identical frames in my office.
I feel like I'm always traveling so this list is everything at the moment. I'm also a HUGE tourist when I travel so your #1 is also my #1. My nose is buried in a good guide book the whole flight there.
These are awesome ideas! I have some collapsable bowls like that for my dogs when we travel and they're awesome! Love the silicone wine glasses as well!
These are great. I know so many people who love love love to travel and this would be PERFECT for them. I love that they are under $25. That part is even better.
I love travel postcards. They bring a very personal touch to the gift experience and makes it memorable too. Love your ideas...this will definitely save a lot of time when I am thinking to buy gifts for friends and family.
The first gift nabbed my attention. 1 year ago - to the day - we set foot in the jungles of Costa Rica. Remote spot. 3 miles away from humans, save 1 neighbor. I read both the Costa Rica and Panama Lonely Planet guides cover to cover, at least 3 times. No small feat because there was little to do with no electricity and no internet. Fabulous books. So in-depth.
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This is a wonderful list of gifts. I'm sure any traveler would love any of them. I know I would, even though I don't get to travel much.
These are all great suggestions! I think the all in one adapter is particularly useful, especially when it can charge USB cables as well. Thanks for sharing and happy travels 🙂
The smartphone camera lenses are fantastic if you're as big into Instagram while you travel as I am. I also have the silicone wine glasses and I'll agree they're one of the most clutch investments if you're a traveling wine drinker!
Greig
These are all great ideas for travel enthusiasts. I have a few on my list and I think this would be a great resource for my holiday shopping. Thanks for sharing!
I could definitely use a set of the silicone wine glasses. They're perfect for picnics in France.
There are a bunch of these I could use such as the mosquito bracelet (why do they love me so much?) to the adapter and I love the idea of the headphones. How do they work?
I love number five, that's totally what I look for whenever I go to a new city! But those silicone wine glasses are awesome.
I see several gifts my husband would love. I personally would like the purse hanger. I am getting really leery of putting my purse on the floor.
We like to put a limit on how much we spend on our family members at Christmas. These fit right under the budget limit!
You have a lot of amazing ideas here! I would like to get my daughter that ora lens since she travels a lot! It would help her take different kinds of pictures with her phone!
I think that my top two picks would be the Lonely Planet guide and the smartphone lens. I have always wanted one and its cheaper than I expected.
I really like the idea of a smartphone lens. Sometimes I want to take photos on the go, and that would make my photos look much better. Is it really as good as the photos demonstrate online?
My SIL travels all over the world for work and these would be some awesome gift ideas for her! Thank you!
Great travel gift ideas and thank you for sharing. The smart wool socks are a must have every year in all our stockings. l
Great list! Perfect gift ideas for anyone who travels often!
I'm suppose to be buying for other people, and i keep looking through this list and finding things I want haha. This is a really great guide!
I have a secret Santa party coming up and the budget is $25. I can certainly use some of items listed here. Thanks
Ahhh so many amazing gift ideas! Its hard to choose but my faves are the silicone wine glasses and the kids headphones 🙂
I have the aluminum stand and I love it! I use it for all my devices, it really works great!
These are all such cool travel gifts for under $25 bucks! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Not sure why, but I still have not bought a Smartphone lens to add to my phone to enhance my photos! I'm adding your suggestion to my holiday wish list! Finally!
This is perfect, I'm going to send this to a few people for some Christmas ideas. Those vintage travel posters would look great in identical frames in my office.
I feel like I'm always traveling so this list is everything at the moment. I'm also a HUGE tourist when I travel so your #1 is also my #1. My nose is buried in a good guide book the whole flight there.
Would love to receive #15! Thank you and Merry Christmas!
These are awesome ideas! I have some collapsable bowls like that for my dogs when we travel and they're awesome! Love the silicone wine glasses as well!
These are great. I know so many people who love love love to travel and this would be PERFECT for them. I love that they are under $25. That part is even better.
These are great ideas! I will have to look into that lens for phones. I'm looking for something like that.
I'm no traveler yet! maybe when I'm an empty nester in about 15 yrs, ha! even though I'm not one who travels a lot but I like those gifts anyway!
I love travel postcards. They bring a very personal touch to the gift experience and makes it memorable too. Love your ideas...this will definitely save a lot of time when I am thinking to buy gifts for friends and family.
That duffel bag looks great for traveling. Red is my favorite color so it would also match with the majority of my wardrobe.
Those smartphone lenses are so much fun to play with. I think that is an awesome idea for a traveler!
These are really great ideas! I love how affordable everything is also.
Hi Debra,
The first gift nabbed my attention. 1 year ago - to the day - we set foot in the jungles of Costa Rica. Remote spot. 3 miles away from humans, save 1 neighbor. I read both the Costa Rica and Panama Lonely Planet guides cover to cover, at least 3 times. No small feat because there was little to do with no electricity and no internet. Fabulous books. So in-depth.
Ryan
Good stuff! Love the wine and pint glasses. And, of course, we love Lonely Planet books! Might have to leave this out for Santa to see. 😉