35 Unique & Useful Small Travel Gifts They’ll LOVE! (2024 update)

Looking for small travel gift ideas? Need the PERFECT present for a friend going travelling or a unique gift for someone travelling abroad? Here are some gorgeous and totally useful gifts they will LOVE to travel with.

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WHY Is Finding Small Travel Gifts So Hard?

Finding gifts for friends or couples going travelling is tough. How do you find small travel gifts which are useful, pretty, practical and easy to travel with??

My friend, I get it. It can be EXHAUSTING.

I’ve been the ‘awkward one’ in my family for many years when it comes to gift buying.

We lived on boats for 15 years (= no candles or any room for ‘stuff’) and now we spend most of our time touring Europe in a motorhome. No-one ever knows what to buy me for Christmas or birthdays.

Trouble is, for travel gifts, you want something practical, thoughtful, useful, small and that they’ll actually want to use on their adventures!!

Small Gifts for Women or Friends Going Travelling

I’ve put together a list of the small travel gifts I love and use, in the hope that it will help you narrow down the search.

Whether you’re shopping for women who prefer road trips, friends going backpacking or luxury travel aficionados, there’s a travel gift for her here.

All of these useful presents for women are suitable for Christmas, birthdays or any other special occasion, so we hope you find the list useful for those hard to buy for women!

If you’re shopping for men, this list of practical presents for him might help too! 

Perfect Gift for Friends Going Travelling- Anti-Theft Backpack

This anti-theft backpack is AMAZING. Seriously, if you need a travel gift for women or indeed any friend going travelling, this is one of the most useful presents ever. 

It’s perfect for anyone who takes their camera with them when they travel- what I love is that the camera compartment is on the back, so can’t be opened by pickpockets. BUT, you can easily reach the camera itself from the side- so handy when you’re taking photos.

It will also carry a 15.6″ laptop (like my MacBook Pro), as well as LOADS of useful stuff you need whilst exploring. It’s possibly the most used travel kit I own, after my phone and camera! I’ve used it all around Jordan (renowned for pickpockets) and all over Europe without any issues.

Useful Small Travel Presents for Women- Hidden Pocket Scarf

These are the PERFECT gift for a friend going travelling or one who likes to travel light. I hate carrying a handbag when I’m walking around town, which is why this hidden pocket scarf is so useful.

It’s genuinely warm, and the pouch is strong enough to hold my passport, some cash and my key. I’ve also put my GoPro in there from time to time too. Again, I used it all over Jordan without any problems at all

Useful Small Gifts for Women Who Love to Travel- Noise-Cancelling Headphones

I will never ever EVER get on a plane/ train/ bus without these ever again. Seriously, of all the small travel gift ideas out there, this is one of the very best.

We’ve tried many (cheaper) makes and nothing comes close to how good these noise-cancelling headphones are at blocking out screaming babies, giggling girls or snoring plane-mates. Yes, they’re expensive, but for anyone who travels regularly, it’s the PERFECT gift.

If they prefer over the ear headphones, these limited-edition noise-cancelling ones are just as good as the in-ear version.

Gifts for Friends Going Travelling- Powerbank

Powerbank with torch

We’ve all been there- you’re happily using your phone as a camera to take a bazillion photos… and you realise your battery is dying! Not good- for many reasons, but particularly when you’re travelling in a foreign country.

I use my phone for directions, translation, booking references- EVERYTHING, so if it dies, I’m in trouble! That’s why a power bank is the perfect useful gift for a friend going travelling. I also love the torch function on this- so useful!

Powerbank with mirror

Even if you rarely wear makeup, this power bank with mirror is perfect for popping into a handbag or rucksack if you’re out for the day – the power bank is great for topping up your battery whilst you relax and take in the sights for a short while. It even comes with a cable for charging! For a female friend going travelling, it’s the perfect thoughtful small gift.

Small Travel Gifts for Women- Folding Yoga Mat

Yep, they now make folding yoga mats- and they are awesome!

For anyone (like me!) who struggles to stay fit on road trips, these are the perfect travel gift. I always have the best intentions, but honestly, pulling the mat out of the storage unit is never as appealing as…well… sitting down and having a cup of tea (and some biscuits!)

But this mat allows me to keep it in one of the motorhome lockers, or my bag if we’re travelling by plane. It’s small enough and light enough to pop into a backpack- and durable enough to actually use!

Whether it’s a small travel gift for someone you travel with who enjoys yoga on the road, or a gift for a friend going travelling, it’s a REALLY useful present they’ll love.

Small Gifts for Friends Going Travelling- Thermos

Flasks are a brilliant gift for anyone going travelling.

Some other travel thermos mugs include:

Travel Journal- Perfect Small Travel Gift Idea for Women

A travel journal is a wonderful way for your friends to capture and record their adventures.

If they’re going on a road trip, this is the best road trip logbook for recording and remembering their adventures, as well as helpful tips and checklists to keep you organised.

Some of our other favourites include:

Gifts for Women Who Love to Travel- Travel Pillow

Anyone who travels regularly will know that being able to fall asleep in comfort is one of the most useful tricks! ‘Normal’ u-shaped travel pillows are fairly uncomfortable, but this travel pillow allows your entire upper body to stay supported whilst you sleep.

It can be used in a car/ Motorhome, on a plane or anywhere else you want to get a little rest! It folds up really small- perfect for putting into a rucksack or stashing in a cubbyhole.

Women Small Travel Gifts- Shampoo Bars

Many travellers are becoming more and more concerned with the impact we are having on the planet. The news is full of devastating stories about plastic in the ocean and destroying many beautiful beaches.

It may not feel like much, but if every person stopped using disposable toiletries and used eco-friendly products, it would make a HUGE difference and is the perfect gift for women who travel. We love shampoo bars, which have absolutely no plastic packaging at all- they even come with a cute bag to keep them in!

Useful Small Gifts for Friends Going Travelling- Compression Packing Cubes

Ok, I’ll be honest. I never really ‘GOT’ packing cubes. Surely they could never be as good as just rolling everything really tightly and squeezing it into a case? Right?

Oh, my friend, I was wrong. So so wrong. These things are GENIUS. Not all packing cubes are created equal- the REALLY good ones are compression cubes, like these. 

They allow you to pack your clothes into each pouch, and then you compress, just like you do with an overpacked suitcase. It’s genuinely incredible how much they can squeeze down and save space in your luggage. It’s the perfect useful present for any girl going travelling.

Gifts for Women Who Love to Travel- Portable Coffee Maker

I’m married to a die-hard coffee addict. Seriously- you don’t want to meet him before at least his first two cups of coffee… possibly three. Although he drinks instant when needed, he LOVES a ‘proper coffee’ as he calls it- and this portable coffee maker is perfect.

It’s compact, lightweight and can be used pretty much anywhere… even on a paddleboard, according to their marketing pictures!! It’s every travelling coffee-lovers most useful present!

Small Gifts for Female Travellers- Portable Hard Drive

It’s not sexy. It’s not cool (although just look at that red! I’m getting that one next!!) They might not even know what it is at first glance, but I use my portable hard drive daily and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever bought.

I take so many photos and videos that it’s impossible to keep them all on my phone or laptop. And after I’ve put a few on Instagram or made a Youtube video what do I do with the images??

Honestly, they sit on my hard drive… until I take them out again and do something pretty with them- like make a calendar or something. But at least I know I have all the mementoes of our trips, which is the important thing!

Portable hard drives come in a range of sizes and colours and are small and lightweight for popping in a rucksack or laptop bag. And yes, you can take them through airport security without a problem.

Women Travel Gifts- Drone

We LOVE our DJI Mavic Pro drone, but that’s one heck of a gift!! (And it’s not exactly small!)

It’s also probably more travel drone than most people need, so the DJI Mini is a great alternative. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a pretty expensive gift, but under half the price of the Mavic Pro. Just think of the eternal love and gratitude you’d get if you got it as a gift for a friend going travelling!!

Unique Small Travel Gifts for Women

Here are some wonderful and slightly more personal women travel gifts- or gifts for female friends going travelling.

Jewellery holder- perfect gift for friends going travelling

This jewelry holder is a brilliant way to keep everything organised.

Travel Jewellery for Women

For something truly personal, pick some jewellery you think she’ll love. Just remember she’ll need to keep it safe while travelling, so choose wisely!

Personally, I LOVE this cute Pandora charm of the globe.

but here are some other ideas you might prefer:

I hope that’s helped. I’m sure your friend or loved one will be thankful for whatever you chose to give them. Let me know what you decided on.

Know someone who might find these small travel gifts useful (or want to give them a hint if there’s something you want for yourself??!!) Feel free to share it with them.

Last update on 2024-09-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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