Cool Christmas Gifts for Travellers

Shopping for Christmas gifts is unfortunately something that I keep until the very last minute. Not like my brother who hits the shopping streets on the December 23rd or morning of the 24th, but something along those lines… If you are like me, this inspirational guide to great Christmas gifts for Travelettes and other travellers is hopefully coming in handy. And hopefully you manage to place your orders before delivery deadlines!

In the following list you will find gift ideas for worn world travellers, foodies, map freaks, tech nerds and gadget lovers, photographers, book worms and culture buffs.

For Foodies

• Get them a long-lost treat from an expat online shop, like British Corner Shop or Aussie Food Shop.
• If they are into cooking themselves, why not get them a cookbook explaining everything about a foreign cooking culture? Then they can learn everything about Korean BBQs or Namibian stews, and you can come around to indulge in the yumminess!
• My favourite cooking book is a DIY recipe book in which I can collect recipes from all the people I meet around the world.
• Invite them to their favourite restaurant around town, or give them vouchers to go with their partner!
• Book them an exotic cooking class or a guided food tour if that is available in their hometown. We did fantastic food tours in Curacao and Marrakech lately!
• On your next trip, find a traditional kitchen tool, like a Scottish porridge stirrer or an Austrian “spätzle” sieve.

For Book Worms

• Are you a big spender? Get them an e-reader so they can save the space in their luggage and bring home more souvenirs for you. It all adds up!
• We have collected a wish list of awesome travel-inspired books everyone should be reading – any of them makes for a great gift for a traveller.
• If you can’t decide, go for my favourite book at the moment: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. It’s the story of a terrible life-changing event for the seven-year-old twins Estha and Rahel; but it’s also a story of India and a great inspiration to travel to this marvellous place on day!
• If you want to support the most amazing author of the universe, and a fellow Travelettes contributor, get the beautiful short stories by Frances M. Thompson, aka Frankie!
• Are you looking for a gift for someone who learns a foreign language? Giving them a book in a foreign language could be the right kind of motivation to push through!
• I admit, it can be hard to choose a good book for someone else – why not start with a fancy bookmark like this one?

For Map Freaks

There is a small groups of people out there who goes crazy about maps – I know this, because I’m one of them. This section is dedicated to everybody who is like me!

• My best friend got me world map fairy lights for my house warming, and I’ve received nothing but compliments for it so far!
• Travellers like to sleep everywhere in the world – with world map bedding they can do that every night!
• To have the world at home, there are several other decorative items you could give: pillows, throws and blankets, wall tattoos, art prints, jewellery etc.
• Ever since I saw this in a friend’s flat, I thought this would be a perfect gift idea: a globe bar.
• Travellers need to document where they have been – give them a Scratch Off World Map for their living room!

Find more gifts for map freaks on our Etsy board.

via Utility

For Tech Nerds & Gadget Lovers

• Give them a nifty case or cover to keep their mobile devices or over-used passport safe!
• There are numerous gadgets that can make travelling with tech much easier – for example a cord wrap or a sewing kit.
• Then of course, there is the tech itself: an additional SD card, an external battery pack for the road, a multi-functional charger cable or a sefie stick.

Think practical – and check out our wish lists for travel gadgets here, here and here.

For Photographers

Photographers work potentially like gadget lovers and similar to map freaks – anything that makes their life easier is highly appreciated. And everything with a camera on just looks pretty.

• My favourite ideas would be a chocolate camera (who doesn’t like chocolate?!)
• or a tote bag that reads “I shoot people”.

Check out the rest of our gifts for photographers list on Etsy.

For  World Travellers

People who are constantly on the go are most happy about simple things like these:

• pretty luggage tags
• a passport cover or case for their mobile device
• a head torch for dark nights in big dorms or tiny tents
• a notebook to keep track of all thoughts and experiences along the road
• a sleep mask for those long-haul flights and jet-lag rests

For Culture Buffs

• If the person always wanted to learn a foreign language, give them vouchers for language classes. The time is now!
• Music lovers might enjoy a mix CD with foreign tunes.
• Or even better, give them the chance to learn a foreign instrument, like the West-African Kora or the Jaw Harp.
• Book a set of dance classes to finally get that Salsa step right and prepare for a trip to Cuba.
• Take them out to a concert in a venue the have never been to, or take them on an unexpected sightseeing tour in their own city.

Believe me, I could go on forever. The great thing about making gifts to travellers is that they are so easily enthusiastic about even the smallest of things. With that in mind: happy shopping!

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This is a post by Kathi Kamleitner.

Kathi Kamleitner was a regular contributor at Travelettes from 2013 to 2019. Originally from Vienna, Austria, she packed her backpack to travel the world and lived in Denmark, Iceland and Berlin, before settling in Glasgow, Scotland. Kathi is always preparing her next trip – documenting her every step with her camera, pen and phone.

In 2016, Kathi founded Scotland travel blog WatchMeSee.com to share her love for her new home, hiking in the Scottish Highlands, island hopping and vegan food. Follow her adventures on Instagram @watchmesee!