This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
Are you looking for a practical and unique gift for someone traveling or even moving abroad? First, you should look for lightweight or digital products/services that won’t be a burden for your friend who is already trying to squeeze everything in his backpack or luggage and avoid paying an excess fee. I compiled a list of the best and most practical gifts for backpackers, those who move abroad permanently, and those who like traveling and want to be reminded of their adventures through home decoration. Since I’m not generally fond of shopping, this list only consists of actually practical and useful kinds of stuff.
1. Stylish Travel loop Scarves for women – one of the best gift ideas for backpackers
If your female friend loves backpacking, there is something very useful for her. This loop scarf is stylish and, at the same time, has a pocket to store her personal belongings (passport and other documents, wallet, key) safely and always at hand. She always needs to have access to these things quickly, so it is not practical to keep them in the backpack. An extra bag is always more complicated to carry, and you must keep it constantly close to your body. A scarf is a must-have for female backpackers, especially those traveling in less hygienic countries. I often wear a scarf to have something to cover my nose a bit if there is too much dust traveling in a car with the window pulled down. Besides, I can’t stand the strong air conditioning they use in most Asian countries. Without that, I would get sick all the time.
The hidden pocket of the scarf is almost invisible, which makes it perfectly safe.
This high-quality travel scarf is available in different patterns and colors and makes a perfect gift for your friend traveling abroad.
2. Regular scarf for covering the hair – a must-have for female travelers going to a Muslim country
If your female friend is traveling to a Muslim country, having a scarf or more at hand is one of the most important things. Traveling to Iran means that she needs to cover her hair all the time as the same dress code rules apply to a foreigner as to locals. Arriving in Iran, she should already have a scarf in her carry-on luggage that she must wear as soon as landing in Iran. In other Muslim countries, female travelers must wear it when entering a mosque or other religious sites. The color of the scarf is irrelevant, so you can choose something more stylish as well according to her taste.
3. Design gym bag – a good gift for male or female backpackers
It is another unique gift for backpackers or somebody moving or traveling abroad that he does not know how useful it is until having that.
These stylish gym bags from ASTUclothing are handmade by a Hungarian designer, Orsi. Only a few pieces of each variety and color are available, so they are guaranteed to be unique. The gym bags are all made of textiles, making them extra soft and light. This bag is perfect for your day trips, to carry only the essentials without having to walk with a backpack. Plus, they are not only practical but fashionable as well, with every bag having a message.
The bag was designed with the smallest details in mind: a wider cord for comfort, with the end being protected by a metal cap and lining. Each one has one or two pockets, most of them hidden, so safety is guaranteed.
The name of the brand (ASTUclothing) is of Sanskrit origin and means “acceptance of life”, letting both good and bad things happen, and not fighting against it, just “let it be”.
It is not only a great choice for travelers but perfect for daily use as well.
4. Travel journal – a cheap gift for travelers
A travel journal is always a good choice if you are looking for a cheap gift for somebody traveling abroad. Although nowadays we are used to typing everything in our handy and digitally managing our lives, travel journals are still the best way to take notes of our travel adventures. Every traveler must have this, as memories will fade with time. In this way, you can recall the smallest details of the trip (what you saw, where it was, how much you paid) and the feelings you had during the journey.
This is one of the different types of travel journals.
5. Kindle paperwhite e-reader – one of the best gift ideas for backpackers
Most travelers love reading, but as a backpacker, there is no space for taking books with you. You can download the travel guidebook in pdf on your phone to save space, but you need a Kindle e-reader that is lightweight and easy to carry so that you can read as many books as you want. Backpackers often travel long distances; if the landscape is monotonous, there is enough time to read about the country or anything they want. It is one of the most useful and best gift ideas for backpackers and any travelers or a friend who is moving abroad.
6. Luggage scale – a practical gift for backpackers
This can be one of the most useful gifts for a friend traveling or moving abroad with plenty of luggage and stuff to carry. After packing, it comes to measuring the weight because every airline has its rules for luggage weight. If we do not pay attention, we can quickly end up being charged for the excess weight at the airport. While we probably have a scale at home and can measure the luggage before departure, we may have a problem returning from our holidays after having done some shopping. In this case, a luggage scale comes very handy.
7. International travel adapter – a must-have for those moving or traveling abroad
A travel adapter is something that I most often forget to take with me. Maybe your friend who is moving or traveling abroad as well. Often, we do not think about it as in most countries the computer and phone charger fits in the plugs almost everywhere, but some other electronic staffs have different endings, and you only realize it on the spot. It does not take much space but solves the problem. Although some hotels have some to borrow, you cannot take it for granted, and it is just a waste of time when you have to search for it in a store in a country where you have never been before.
8. Leather passport holder – a good gift for backpackers
A passport is the most important thing for a traveler. A regular traveler has it constantly in the bag and can get worn quickly if not protected. I did not care about that before, and my passport looked so worn after only a few months that even the front writings faded or were written off. When it was raining, and my small bag got soaked, it ruined my passport even more. Then, I decided to use a protective cover.
It is a great Christmas gift for backpackers.
9. Life straw’s water filter bottle – sustainable travel gift
The water filter bottle is a must-have for environment-conscious travelers to avoid wasting plastic bottles. It should be obligatory for every traveler to avoid leaving a footprint to support sustainable traveling.
LifeStraw’s popular water filter provides access to clean, drinkable water almost anywhere. Its built-in filter removes 99.9 percent of bacteria, parasites, microplastics, and dirt and is easy to use.
10. Portable charger – a practical gift for backpackers
A portable charger can save you when you are backpacking. Solo travelers heavily depend on their phones to find their way on google maps, to search for accommodation, and places to visit or to use google translate to communicate with locals. Taking many photos and videos and using mobile internet quickly charges the battery. I often had to look for a shop to ask to charge my phone as it did not last till the end of the day when I returned to the hotel. It is one of the most useful gifts for backpackers, whose trip can get messed up if the phone runs out of battery.
11. VPN virtual private network – one of the must-have gifts for digital nomads
If you want a useful travel gift for your friend moving or traveling abroad, then gift him a subscription to a virtual private network (VPN).
The reason to use VPN: It prevents hackers from stealing
your private information, especially when using a public Wi-Fi network.
Some countries, like Iran, block several websites and applications that they hold inappropriate for their citizens. You can access all restricted sites by downloading a VPN (Virtual Private Network). This is a must-have when traveling to Iran, and it can be used on any device (phone, tablet, computer, or router). You should know that using VPNs is illegal in Iran, but everybody does that without a problem.
Price, security, speed, and the number of servers it is connected to are the main factors when choosing the best VPN (Nord VPN, Private VPN, Express VPN). These VPNs all have a free version that you can use for a limited time, but they are very slow, and it is a little annoying to reconnect all the time and deal with tons of ads popping up. I could not access many sites, even with the free version. While for travelers it
can still work, a digital nomad must have a reliable, fast, and secure internet service to work efficiently.
Express VPN is the fastest and most secure VPN service and the most expensive.
However, they have a special deal for 15 months, including three months for free for 6.67$/month and a 30-day money-back guarantee. This is a great deal now.
NordVPN (5$/month for two years + 3 months for free) and Private VPN (2$ for three years) offers even lower prices through 2-year-plans.
12. Backpack with laptop holder – one of the best gifts for digital nomads
It is an excellent gift for a digital nomad and anybody traveling abroad who also needs to work. I always use a backpack for the daily tours, but as a backpacker staying in budget hostels, I also want to keep my laptop safe, so I take that with me. The separate compartment for laptops gives protection against rain and any damage. It is an extremely practical gift for those on a cultural trip, not a hiking tour, in which case after factors should also be essential.
The backpack has other safety features. It includes a theft-proof combination lock with a built-in USB charger and a built-in charging cable inside. It makes it convenient for travelers to charge phones while walking.
13. Travel guide for the destination
Wherever your friend is going, he needs to have a travel book about the destination to know what to visit, tips about the best restaurants and accommodation. Lonely Planet and Bradt are the two most popular travel guide books with tons of practical information and a concise introduction to the history, culture, landscape, and daily life.
However, if you want a more detailed book about local culture, check out the Culture Smart series, which gives a good insight into local culture, customs, and daily life. It is cheap but gives you plenty of useful information to understand the place.
If your friend is traveling to the Middle East, choose a particular book from my list of the best books about Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan.
14. Virtual tour about the place your friend is moving or traveling to
Virtual tours have mushroomed since the beginning of the pandemic. Although traveling became possible again, virtual tours still remained popular, a new thing for many. Virtual tours are beneficial for different reasons. You can get inspired to travel to a destination or have already decided on that and want to get more information about the particular city or country. Maybe you have been to that country but want to recall your memories. I’m a tour guide and do the virtual tour of Hungary myself. Often, I have guests whose families immigrated a long time ago from Hungary abroad, and they want to get connected to their ancestors’ culture through a virtual tour. Also, time is not always perfect for traveling. Lack of money, time, being on maternity leave, or sick leave can all make you postpone your travel plans. Through virtual tours, people can still feel part of the adventure.
Pin it for later!
Therefore, it is a creative and useful gift for your friend moving abroad or somebody going abroad for whatever reason.
A couple of platforms offer virtual guided tours of cities and countries worldwide, like tours by locals, tour HQ, Green Olive tours (Israel and Palestine), Amazon Explore (only for American visitors), and Heygo.
There are two types of virtual tours. One is a love walking tour in a city with our guide. The other one is offered from home through zoom, enabling it to cover more expansive regions and topics of a destination. In this case, the guide makes the tour more enjoyable with photos and videos.
Most of them offer gift cards that allow your friend to choose whichever tour he wants to take according to his availability.
Read more about the best virtual tours in this article.
Gifts for somebody who likes traveling abroad (for their home)
15. Travel Duvet cover – one of the best travel-themed decoration ideas
Check out the bed covers with world maps and some other travel-themed patterns available in different colors.
16. Wooden travel map – wooden world map decoration
The wooden travel map can be the central piece of your apartment. There are world maps of different categories (ADVENTURER, EXPLORER, TRAVELER) depending on the number and type of extra decoration elements, such as engraved ships, airplanes, islands, and other extras. Check out this extraordinary design with laser-cut and hand-glued wood panels with a 3D effect. The ADVENTURER includes an extra panel of Antarctica, and the EXPLORER an extra panel with World Monuments and Attractions. The language of the engraved text can be English, German, French and Spanish.With the instructions, it takes 2 hours to install the map. It is not heavy and easy to clean.
It is a good present for backpackers or anybody who likes traveling.
17. Scratch the world travel map – creative home decoration for travelers
You cannot make a mistake with this travel gift. It is something that all travelers must have, not to carry on the trip but to keep at home. It is so much fun to scratch the country where you have been and see how small or already big a part of the world you have discovered. I don’t especially like people counting and boasting about how many countries they have been to because your traveling becomes more meaningful if you immerse in a place rather than touch it on the surface. However, this world map is a summary and a reminder of your journeys that you can also use as a wall decoration at home.
18. Travel-themed pillow cover – cheap gift for those who like traveling
Those who like traveling want to be reminded of the joy of their adventures in their home. A decorative travel-themed pillow cover can be a perfect gift for somebody who loves traveling abroad. I love the one with the visa stamp pattern, but there are several other travel-related cushion covers with an invisible zipper. Their size is 45x 45 cm. These are some I like, but there are many other types.
19. Illuminated World Globe
The globe is another unique travel gift idea for travelers who want to be reminded of the great adventures they had and continue planning. It also functions as a decorative light and gives the apartment an extra charm in the evening. We often use the globe with my husband to check out where I have been and where I plan to go next. At the same time,
it is the light we use in the evening.
20. Wall decoration with travel quotes
Travel quotes keep on inspiring us to explore new places, meet people and learn about other cultures. You can choose the decoration with the quote that resonates the most with you.
I hope you managed to get some gift ideas from this list for your friend or family member who travels abroad or likes traveling.
As I mentioned earlier, since I travel on a low budget, I only buy the essentials that are really useful and long-lasting.
These are gifts that I would be happy to get and are truly useful. Although I’m not traveling full time, as a travel blogger, I must live the life of a digital nomad during my trips, and as a backpacker, I need lightweight products. As I need to know my destinations well, I read many books and take part in virtual tours to extend my knowledge.
Based on all these experiences, I made this list of the best gifts for backpackers, digital nomads, and somebody moving or traveling abroad.
by Agnes Simigh
I’m a passionate tour guide and travel writer, who is curious to discover places that seldom catch the attention of the media or that are misrepresented. My goal is to inspire you to choose off-the-beaten-track destinations by sharing objective and detailed information. I believe that it is mainly the lack of “intel” that keeps us away from incredible places. And that just shouldn’t be the case.