The holidays are coming and so is gift giving. We at Five Family Adventurers have compiled a list of 21 fun travel gifts for travel in 2021.

These are some of the items we take when we go hiking, on a road trip, or even traveling internationally. The traveler in your family will love theses travel accessories to take along on your next adventure.

Gift Ideas

1. S’well Stainless Steel Traveler

 

 

 

 

For our family travel,  re-usable water bottles are mandatory. We cut down on plastic bottle waste and teach our kids about being thrifty (all that bottled water adds up in cost).  I like S’well, not only for the size and different fun designs, but also S’well is a B-corp. Every S’well purchased counts towards displacing millions of single-use plastic bottles. B-corp companies work with NGOs to protect the environment, and uphold standards of environmental sustainability and transparency.

2. Noise-Canceling Headphones

When we finally board the plane, get the kids in their seats and situated, I’m ready for some movie-time. Noise-cancelling headphones keep the plane’s din out and my movies and music in.  If you are flying long distance, the Bose are perfect for canceling all the engine noise and surrounding conversation. They are blue-tooth enabled and will easily pair to your devices for listening capability. The Bose headphones are cushioned making it comfortable on the ears when trying to sleep. They come in 3 colors, black, silver, and midnight blue.

If you are packing light or on a shorter flight, then the Apple Air-Pods Pro are a great way to save space in your carry-on. You can then wear them while you work out or run. And they easily link up to your other apple devices and are Siri voice enabled.

3. Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow

 

 

 

I have never loved the pillows that sit around your neck. However, this twist one is a game changer. You can twist one side to lean against a window or headrest while resting your head on the soft arm of the neck pillow. Mind blown, I have just found my newest travel accessory.

4. Travel Wrap

Whenever I travel I freeze. The flimsy, thin airplane blankets aren’t enough for me. I freeze in the summer too with the air conditioning blasting. This is the perfect gift for someone like me who is always cold. It is a perfect shawl for going out, can be rolled into a scarf, and most importantly, used as a scarf when traveling. I also love having it for car rides.

5. Daypack

  A good daypack is an essential. I love the Osprey Daylite. It’s just right; not too big and not too small,  comfortable on my back, and holds all of the essentials. And it’s light, weighing in at a single pound. I use the interior sleeve for my laptop (I guess if I go on a super long hike, I can put a Camelbak water bladder in there). And ditch the diaper bag for this daypack: you can use the side sleeves for bottles, and keep your diapers and wipes in the sleeve for quick retrieval. It’s also a perfect diaper bag if you have little ones that require diaper changes.

6. Compact Travel Toiletry Case

 

 

 

When staying in a hotel or AirBnB, I like to keep my stuff off the bathroom counter. Instead, I want it all arranged neat and clean in my own hanging bag. This one is the right size, washable, and will hang anywhere with you.

 

7. Travel Journal for Kids

  Having the kids write in a travel journal is a perfect way to keep them engaged while and after traveling. There are many that have pictures and leading questions so kids can just write their answers and not feel like it’s extra work. It is also a great activity for kids to do with parents after the day of travel is over. A perfect way to reinforce how much fun the day was.

8. Travel Journal (for adults)

  I really liked this journal because like the ones for kids, this also has leading questions for adults. Sometimes it can be draining to open up a blank notebook and start writing. However, this one gives your questions from “best part of the day,” to “what to remember for next time.” It’s a good way to put yourself in the right mindset and count the blessings of the journey with family.

 

9. Portable Espresso Machine

Our mornings are propelled by coffee. Staying in AirBnBs this year, we’ve discussed that not every house or cabin is equipped for our caffeinated needs. The Macacao portable espresso is both compact and priced right. It does not use pods, rather loose ground beans, do you have more choices and it’s more economical. My husband drinks his espresso neat; I add some cold milk for an iced latte, or microwave or boil some milk for a quick cafe au lait. This has definitely upped our travel coffee game! The Macacao is so compact, I may bring it along for our next hike.

10. Binoculars

At all ages, our kids have loved binoculars. They’ve used them for bird-watching, whale-watching, and just general looking around. With so many choices, the trick is to find the right combination of size, optics, and price. This pair by Occer gets the job nicely, and at a price that lets you buy more than one for the kids. Perfect size to slip into your pack for the day.

11.Go-Pro

I love my Go-Pro. We have used it on many of our travels and created some epic Youtube videos from our footage. They’re  waterproof and our kids have used ours in slot canyons in the highlands of Panama and the canyoneering of western North Carolina. Small and easy to carry around.

12. World Map

Giving your kids and family a visual of all the wonderful destinations you have traveled to is a great gift. Ours is hanging in our office. Each time we travel we give the kids the dot stickers to place on the map. This helps them visualize where they have been. They love going through the map seeing all of the places we have traveled. Hoping too, this helps with geography learning. Get the family excited to mark more more destinations.

13 Portable Speaker

A speaker is a great item to bring when camping, maybe staying in an Airbnb, or having on a beach (as long as you are not bothering the neighbors). We have one, the kids love to play their music on it. We don’t love their music. You can all listen to a audiobook, or stream music or maybe have it if you are streaming a show off an iPad or computer. This model by JBL is the right size, water resistant, and has held up to some tough knocks so far.

 

Stocking Stuffers

14. Reusable Grocery Bags

  These are a perfect stocking stuffer and a great travel accessory. I always take my reusable bags when I travel. For one they fold up small and you can easily put it in your day pack in case you hit the market or come across something you can’t live without.  I also using these as laundry hampers or baskets while travelling. They hold up to 50 pounds and come in cute designs or solid colors.

15. Travel Games for Families

We stay in some pretty rustic cabins. After dinner, we like to sit around the table and play an old-fashioned board game. Unplug the kids and sit together for some quality family time.

16. Travel Flash Light

Great stocking stuffer. Flashlights are always handy for hikers to late night lost pacifiers in the car. It is small enough that you can easily store in a pocket or your day pack.

17. Phone Battery Charger

I rely heavily on my phone for taking pictures, helping with directions and at times, food recommendations when I travel. I tend to panic when my phone battery dips below the 50% mark. I always carry a charger when I travel now. This is an essential, must-have, travel accessory and another perfect stocking stuffer.

 

18. Travel Adapter

This is an essential when traveling internationally. It is a perfect stocking stuffer for all members of the family. We all have gadgets that need to be charged. If everyone gets one, then the reduction for arguing over charging outlets are lessened.

19. Charger for All

This is a great travel accessory for keeping all electronics in one place while charging. It’s a good way to have the kids turn in the electronics at night and keep an eye on them while they charge. Small and only need one for multiple charging.

 

20. Smartwool Socks

I always need socks and Smartwool are a great option. They are comfortable, durable, and perfect for walking and hiking. They continue to insulate when wet and dry more quickly than cotton, which is important when you are in places like the Amazon.

21. Camping Hammock

  After a long day of traveling, I love taking a nap before the evening activities. My ideal place to nap would be on the beach, my husbands in the mountains. We are a mixed marriage.  The travel hammock is perfect for both the beach and the mountains. Tie it to some palm trees or maybe some pines in the mountains and go for the nap. The Kootek hammock is compact and light weight and a great accessory to take with you on your travels especially if you like to relax with your cup of espresso.

Happy fun travel gifts, 2021!

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