70+ Super Helpful Stocking Stuffers for Travelers (2024)

Stocking stuffers! My favorite kind of Christmas gift.

If you have a world traveler in your family or circle of friends and you’re struggling to think of an excellent gift for them, here are some ideas that will help. I’ve compiled a list of every small-sized gift I could think of that will make great (and useful) stocking stuffers for travelers.

It’s nice to receive big items like luggage, but small gifts are important, too!

Stocking Stuffers For Travelers

Small gifts can be the most practical, which is really the only type of gift I truly like to receive. All of the following items will fit perfectly inside a Christmas stocking or a gift basket, as well as your sibling’s carry-on luggage!

Most of them cost well under $25, and many are only a few dollars! I included a couple of items that sell for about $100, but they are GOOD gifts.

Useful Travel Gear For Travelers

Quick Dry Towel – Light, super absorbent, and compact. Every traveler should have at least one of these.

Travel Umbrella – Make sure it’s one with the little vent at the top that lets gusts of wind through without taking the umbrella with it!

Portable Luggage Scale – Helps save travelers from paying unexpected fees at the airport.

Wool Socks – A nice pair of thick wool socks can replace slippers in a backpacker’s limited luggage space.

Compression Socks – These socks will help keep the blood flowing on those flights that last 13+ hours and provide relief after long days exploring new places on foot. I love Sockwell compression socks because they are made with Merino wool and come in wide-calf sizes.

Travel Sewing Kit – This one has just the essentials (no scissors since they are potentially not permitted in carry-on luggage), which is perfect for minor repairs.

Travel First Aid Kit –  Buy a pre-packaged kit or make your own. I pack mine in a TSA-compliant toiletries bag. 

Bottle Opener/Corkscrew Keychain – Helpful when sharing a six-pack or bottle of wine at the beach with new travel friends.

Carabiner Clips – These multi-purpose tools are just handy to have around. I use them as a keychain, wrangle loose hair elastics, and clip my water bottle to my daypack.

Candies – Hard candy like mints or ginger candies can help travelers with motion sickness or popping their ears on planes.

Safety Pins – Another practical and multi-purpose tool for travelers. One handy way to use these is to “lock” the zipper on your handbag.

Glasses Repair Kit – You never think you’ll need a repair kit until you NEED it.

Stocking Stuffers to Avoid Single-Use Plastic

I like to avoid single-use plastic as much as possible every day at home and while I travel. Here’s some gift ideas for others who like to do the same.

Water Bottle – I like the slim design of Swell bottles. They are guaranteed to fit into whatever bag you’re carrying. Get a 17-oz bottle, and it won’t be too heavy to carry!

Travel Coffee Mug – Whether I make coffee at my accommodations or buy some at a coffee shop on the go, this travel coffee mug goes with me everywhere.

Travel Utensils – This set includes a fork, spoon, butter knife, and chopsticks!

Reusable Straw – This collapsible design has a carrying case with a clip. Attach it to your daypack or purse, and never be without it!

Stasher Bags – These can be used to pack snacks or a sandwich for food on the go.

Lotion Bar – Uses less plastic and weighs less than liquid lotion. Win-win for travelers wishing to avoid single-use plastic!

Stocking Stuffers for Cozy Travels

Wool Socks – A pair of nice thick wool socks can be worn as slippers while traveling, which will make any kind of accommodation feel homier.

Notebooks – Journaling while sitting in a cozy cafe will be a highlight of any hygge-loving traveler.

Hot Drinks – Tea or hot chocolate go hand-in-hand with journaling. Make sure to pair the hot drinks with a travel mug!

Spices – Even if they stay in hostels, the act of cooking a healthy, tasty meal can make you feel very cozy. Get them a set of Mexican or Italian spices, depending on their preferences, or something they can fill with their favorite spices.

Portable Kitchen – The Nomad’s Kitchen set has all the tools you need to make food on the go, including spices, a tiny bottle of oil, a cutting board, a utility knife, a lighter, and a spork. All in a zippered case about the size of a portable hard drive.

Toiletry Stocking Stuffers For Travelers

I think it’s weird when I don’t get toiletries as stocking stuffers. Anyone else?

Colgate Wisps – For fresh breath on the plane or upon arrival at your new destination.

Reusable Silicone Bottles – They can fill reusable containers with their favorite toiletries! It’s less wasteful, and they’ll be able to bring exactly what they want. 

Toothbrush Covers – Protects toothbrushes from germs, dirt, and spilled sunscreen.

Pill Container – Just large enough to hold enough pills for a weekend away or to carry in a purse or daypack. Believe it or not, I have used the same pill container just like this one since high school.

Sheet Masks – Great for the first night in a new destination after a long travel day. According to TSA, they are not considered liquid, so that they can be packed in carry-on luggage! I’m partial to Tonymoly and Yes To sheet masks.

Menstrual Cups and Discs – Take up a fraction of the space that a pile of tampons will and so much better for women’s bodies and the environment. The various brands to choose from include Saalt, Diva Cup, Cora, Lunette, and others.

Organic Cotton Non-Applicator Tampons – If you (or the gift recipient) are not a fan of menstrual cups, make the switch to cotton tampons with no plastic applicator. They still take up less room but produce less plastic waste and are better for your body than traditional tampons.

Aquaphor – Perfect multi-use item. One of the three things I always carry with me no matter what the destination.

Solid Perfume or Cologne – Solid scents won’t take up much room or contribute to liquid limits. I received one as a gift from a friend’s trip to France (it smells like Clinique Happy), but there are many brands to choose from! Pacifica is a brand well known for carrying delicious-smelling solid perfume. Then, there’s O’Doud’s, Walton Wood Farm, and The Beer Soap Company for scents men might like.

Nail Care Kit – My kit includes a pair of nail clippers, a dual-sided nail file, and cuticle oil (but Aquaphor makes a good substitute for that).

Electronic Stocking Stuffers For Travelers

Universal Travel Adapter – Adapt typical US electronics to use standard UK, EU, and AU outlets in one interchangeable unit.

Cordless Power Strip with USB Ports – Increases the number of available outlets at airports, coffee shops, etc. Plus, it has two USB ports to charge additional devices.

USB Hub – Increases the number of USB ports on laptops, especially for those using MacBook Air models with only two ports. Or the new MacBook Pro models that no longer use USB ports at all. In this case, you’ll want to get a USB hub like this 7-in-2 USB C Adapter. Both have an HDMI port to easily connect a laptop to an external monitor.

Wireless Mouse – Wireless should just be the new normal. Down with cords that just take up space, create clutter, and get in the way!

Portable Charger – Charges phones while on the go several times over. Plus, it’s compact enough to fit in purses and pockets! Prefer cordless charging? There’s a new portable charger that will do just that!

Extra Power Cords – Can you ever have too many backups? Charging cords with nylon braiding won’t tangle or fray, and this set comes with two 3-ft cords, two 6-ft cords, and one 10-ft cord (for iPhones).

Stocking Stuffers for Hostel Living

Luggage Locks – Use to secure lockers or lock the zippers on your bags together if no lockers are available. I like these locks, which have a flexible shackle to fit all hole sizes and an easy-to-remember three-digit combination code.

Small Spice Carrier – This lightweight container has room for six different types of spices. Never eat bland hostel food again!

Headlamp – I’ve seen Black Diamond headlamps get run over by a car and still work so that brand is my go-to. Choose any brand you like, but make sure it has dim and red-light settings to be most useful in a hostel setting.

Sleep Mask – Sleep soundly, even with roommates who turn the lights on and off in the middle of the night.

Ear Plugs – Same as above but for snorers, bachelorette parties down the hall, or if your room happens to be on the same floor as the hostel bar. All of these things have happened to me. I discovered Happy Ears reusable earplugs and will never go back to foam! They come in small, medium, and large sizes, and one pair will last years!

White Noise Machine – I use a fan for white noise even through the winter, but a fan isn’t exactly travel-friendly. This machine is a good alternative, but it’s polite to ask roommates if it’s ok with them.

Travel Fan – This was one of my best purchases to remedy hot nights in hostel dorm rooms where you have no control of the heat and other guests don’t like open windows.

Sink Stopper – Not all sinks around the world automatically come with plugs.

Laundry Detergent Sheets – One dissolvable sheet per sink load of laundry on the go.

Items From How to Survive a Hostel Kitchen With OCD in 9 Easy Steps:

• Disinfecting Wipes
• Campsuds or Dr. Bronner’s
• Silicone Sponge
• Travel Towels
• Large Soup Mug
• Spork

Camera + Accessories Stocking Stuffers

Memory Cards – Extra storage for all the photos travelers take. Memory ranges from 16GB to 256GB – the more memory, the better!

Portable External Hard Drive – A more expensive item on this list, but it is a must-have. Don’t forget a case for this one, too!

Scarf Camera Strap – This one is far more comfortable than the standard DSLR straps.

Cell Phone Accessories Stocking Stuffers

Pop Socket – I always get funny looks from people who don’t yet know the utter brilliance of Pop Sockets. My phone has been saved from several close calls over the years since I began using it.

Cell Phone Dry Bag – Necessary for anyone who does water sports or tours Hobbiton in the rain. Larger dry bags can hold more, but at the very least, protect your phone!

Cell Phone Case – This will totally depend on the type of phone and level of butterfingers the individual has. I’m not too fond of bulky cases, and I like to see the color of my phone (my last three have been gold, rose gold, and forest green), so I have linked to a slim clear cover for others who feel the same.

Cell Phone Screen Protectors – A must-have!

Stocking Stuffers to Stay Organized

Does your gift recipient leave their travel gear behind often? Help them stay organized on their travels, and hopefully, they will stop losing things while they travel.

Small Zipper Wallet – A zipping wallet helps identification and credit cards stay put, preventing them from accidentally spilling out and getting lost.

Coin Purse – If a wallet doesn’t have a section for coins, this is necessary. Losing coins overseas is just like flushing money down the toilet. A handful of coins in Europe or New Zealand could be worth twenty dollars or more! This one has a clip to attach to your daypack or handbag.

Packable Reusable Bag – These fit in the palm of your hand when packed up but can fit tons of groceries or all the extra souvenirs being lugged home after a trip abroad. I have one from Eddie Bauer (no longer available for sale), which I love because it fits crossbody comfortably, and I use it almost daily. I prefer the crossbody style, but there are many different styles and brands to choose from. Chico Bags come with a carabiner, which can be clipped to a purse or daypack.

Luggage Tags – If your luggage doesn’t make it to the same destination as you, luggage tags (as long as you actually put your contact information in them) help airline employees identify it and get it to you, hopefully quickly. They also help add an identifying feature to all the similar-looking luggage passing by on the conveyor belt.

Cord Organizers – These gear ties can wrangle all types of cords to stay organized. They are also good for a variety of other uses, like securing a loaf of bread. I have a set of 3-inch ties, but the 6-inch ties have been the most useful.

Packing Cubes – Or, stay super organized with this color-coded and numbered set from Compass Rose by Travel Fashion Girl. Plus, a set of smaller-sized packing cubes will help to wrangle and contain all the little things travelers carry, like cords, chargers, jewelry, etc.

Stocking Stuffers to Entertain Travelers

Notebooks – Encourage them to document their travel adventures. I’ve always loved Moleskine notebooks.

Travel Games – A simple deck of cards or a set of dice will take up little space in a traveler’s luggage. Then they can spend the time waiting at airports or making friends at the hostel. There is no need for packaged games since the rules for Yahtzee, Farkle, and other games that use dice can be found online.

Lingo Cards – Combine the fun of a deck of cards and the function of a phrasebook with a set of Lingo Cards. Choose from many languages, including French, German, and Japanese. Read about how I learned Maori words and phrases using these cards.

Travel Coloring Book – Artistic travelers will appreciate a travel coloring book and a set of felt tip pens (I prefer Paper Mate Flair pens) or colored pencils.

Gift Cards – Gift cards may not be a creative gift, but gift cards let travelers choose exactly what they want or need from their favorite stores. I suggest giving a gift card to iTunes so they can purchase music or movies while they travel. Amazon gift cards are great for any gear they need or for stocking up on e-books.

Bluetooth Earbuds – No more pesky cords! I have and love Skullcandy Earbuds, but I also like (and trust) the brand Anker. Airpods are a higher-end option.

Portable Wireless Speaker – If you’d rather listen to your music, audiobook, or podcast out loud and in the open, I’ve been loving my Anker SoundCore Bluetooth speaker. 

Read More: 150 Books About the U.S. to Add to Your Reading List

Stocking Stuffers to Stay Healthy

Hand Sanitizer – Is this not equally a stocking stuffer and travel staple? There are various brands, but I really like the scented ones at Bath & Body Works. They are less than $2 each, plus they always run great deals around the holidays.

Emergen-C – Daily immune-boosting supplements like Emergen-C will help travelers come home nice and healthy. Tropical is my favorite flavor.

Clean Key – Open doors, press buttons, and more hands-free!

Allergen Pillow Protector – Helps keep their allergies at bay while they travel.

Disinfecting Wipes – I was never a disinfecting wipe type of person, but everything that happened after March 2020 changed my perspective!

Face Masks – Speakeasy Travel Supply makes cotton face masks in cute prints right here in Massachusetts! The pandemic is over, but masks can still be worn as a courtesy if you are sick.

Mask Lanyard – A fun and convenient way to make sure they never lose their face mask.

SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!