2026 – I frequently get asked what are the best gifts for someone traveling abroad. Maybe it’s because I live abroad and usually have lots of good ideas for great travel gifts for students. Or, maybe it’s because I worked in international education for 20 years that gives me some credibility.
Safety, convenience and connectivity are important factors when traveling abroad, whether domestically or internationally. Not that you don’t think about this domestically, but the newness of traveling someplace foreign or exotic might make you forget simple things, or let your guard down when you shouldn’t.
Here are 20 of the best gifts for someone going abroad for you to consider. Most of these are my go-to items when I travel and these are super travel gifts for a student studying abroad as well. And there’s one free one at the end.
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Universal Travel Power Adapter
These are not expensive travel gifts, so get a couple of them. I’m constantly going back and forth between the UK and France, and I don’t leave home without this.
This is probably single-handedly one of the best gifts for someone who is going abroad. It’s good for the US, UK, Europe and Australia. With 2 USB-A slots and 2 USB-C slots, you can simultaneously keep things charged.
Read the reviews and buy this power universal travel power adapter here
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Travel Wallet and Family Passport Holder
If you’re wondering what to gift a family going abroad, why not give the gift of a family passport travel wallet? They are thoughtful travel gifts for couples or families traveling abroad. You can keep all your passports, credit cards, tickets, cash and keys in one place and it has Rfid blocking built in so that your card details cannot be copied without your knowledge.
I don’t know how many times I’ve seen couples arguing at the airport because someone can’t find their boarding pass or passport at the bottom of their ‘big-ass’ purse. You’ve had months to prepare for this moment! Do us all a favor and get one of these.
Check out this Travel wallet and others here
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Insta 360 Go Ultra Video Camera
I have this exact video camera and it’s wonderful. Very lightweight and you can hold it in your hand, stick it on a selfie stick, wear it on your cap or wear it like a necklace held on by a magnetic strap. The quality is very good with 4K video and a good-quality lens. It’s great for Vlogging or taking still photos. You’ll need a microSD card which is sold separately.
Get this great video camera here.
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Simless International WiFi Access
This is a great gift to give someone traveling abroad, so they don’t have to scramble for internet access wherever they go. This simless Wifi router works in most countries and you can buy the amount you need for short or long term travel and you can top it up when needed. You can also connect up to 10 devices at a time, so everyone in your party can share the same Wifi access.
It’s simple to sign up and you’ll be sure to find access in airports, train stations, hotels, shops and restaurants.
Get your mobile WiFi router here!
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Pure Memory Foam Neck Pillow
These foam pillows are a super gift for someone traveling abroad who will be on planes, trains and buses for long periods. I have a few of these and it makes air and train travel so much better. They give proper support and you can use them frontwards or backwards. It’s the perfect travel gift for an international traveler.
Some of these can be cumbersome, but the great thing about this one is that it actually rolls up and you can put it in their carry-case for storage in your suitcase when you don’t need it.
Get your memory foam pillow here!
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20L Carry-on Travel Backpack
These good-capacity backpacks are perfect for a simple or long weekend. It functions as a weekend bag but has very convenient backpack straps for easy carrying.
It’s a useful travel gift for someone going abroad to supplement their larger suitcases. You can easily slide this under the seat in front of you. Otherwise, it’s a great travel gift for someone traveling abroad for a long weekend.
Check reviews and prices here on this backpack
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Travel Vest with 24 Hidden Pockets
These vests are a great travel present for keeping everything important on your body at all times. iPad, phone, wallet, tickets all go inside. Plus it makes it super easy going through airport security because you just take off your vest and put it in a screening tray.
When traveling abroad it’s a good idea to invest in one of these. No more fumbling around your backpack to get every last electronic device out and into the tray. Plus it has RFID technology so your cards and details cannot be cloned.
It’s a perfect gift for someone traveling abroad because you can carry all your items with you. You don’t have to leave important things in the hotel room while you are out touring. It comes in a variety of colors for men or women.
Order your multi purpose travel vest here
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Dual Voltage Travel Hair dryer
Please do us all a favor and bring a dual voltage hairdryer. Or plan to use one of the frequently substandard ones at the hotel.
I don’t know how many times I’ve seen students in my dorms fry their US hairdryers because they are shoving 220 volts into a 110 volt machine… Your hair will not be the only thing fried, and you run the risk of causing danger to yourself and others.
These 1600 watt hairdryers do the trick and they fold up for easy packing. They are the perfect reasonably-priced travel gift for the frequent international traveler. If you can deal with a hotel hairdryer, then great. But I can’t as they aren’t hot enough to straighten my hair, so I need one of these.
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42L Backpack with wheels
These bags are the best study abroad gifts ever. They supplement the other suitcases you have and are a great weekend bag that comes with wheels as well as backpack straps. These are great travel gifts when you want to carry one pack with you for the weekend and leave the other larger suitcase behind. They are great going abroad gifts because they are lightweight, sturdy and comply with cabin baggage on most airlines.
The bag comes with a handle, is fitted with wheels, and you can tuck the backpack straps away when you want to use wheelie mode.
Read about this convertible travel bag here
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Silicone Refillable Travel Containers
These are useful travel presents for someone traveling abroad because you can easily carry all your liquids in leak-proof, TSA approved carriers.
The silicone is ultra pliable so you can get every last drop of shampoo, conditioner, gen.. whatever out! And they are reusable.
Check these and other silicone travel containers here
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Mobile Travel Charger
These USB-C travel charger banks come in handy more than you know. I use it for my phones and my video recorder. Truthfully anything with a C-socket. They charge quickly, take up little space and recharge quickly as well. Must-have for any travel enthusiast.
Check out the small charger bank here!
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Eastpak Luggage
This is a perfect gift for a friend going abroad. I am a huge fan of Eastpak luggage not only because it’s a super brand of durable luggage, but because they come in a variety of funky colors. You can easily recognize your bag coming off the conveyor belt, and easily spot it when it’s lumped in with other luggage. And these are perfect for someone traveling abroad specifically for this reason. Especially as a gift for first time traveling abroad. Everything is new and different. The last think you want to worry about is whether that suitcase is yours.
Another good thing about Eastpak luggage is that you can get carry-ons, large suitcases and even backpacks in the same design. I have a 4-set of Eastpak suitcases that I’ve had for years. They are virtually indestructible.
This is a great carry-on that also comes in a larger sizes, too.
Check out all the varies of Eastpak Luggage here
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Personal GPS Tracker
These are a great gift for friends going abroad, and I convinced a friend to buy one just the other day… why? Because he arrived in Palermo and his bag did not!
Never lose your items again. Put this personal GPS Tracker in your suitcase or backpack and if you can’t find it, the app on your phone will locate it for you.
You may discover your bag is stuck in Paris when it should be with you in Nice. You can attach this to any item you want to keep track of, like your rental car, a local city bike (would be great in Holland where all the bikes looks similar!) or anything of value.
These are really thoughtful gifts for overseas travel, especially when your friend or student plans to visit lots of locations.
Read the reviews and choose your personal GPS tracker here
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Compression Packing Cubes
Everyone swears by these best travel packing cubes to keep items organized in your suitcase. Keep your socks, undies, shirts all organized and easy to access with these organizers.
These are great gifts for traveling couples as they come in different colors and sizes. They are lightweight and durable and are also great for students staying in a youth hostel where you don’t want to put items in a drawer or on the floor. It’s a perfect unisex travel gift.
Find your travel packing cubes here
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Anti-Theft Messenger Bag
These are handy gifts for female students traveling abroad. This anti-theft messenger bag are great for someone traveling abroad because it keeps everything safe. The body and strap are both slash resistant and they have RFID blocking compartments. These are very popular bags for keeping your items safe and secure.
Keep your credit cards safe as well as your passport with one of these. And they come in numerous colors. This is a great travel present for her.
Get the Travelon anti-theft bag here
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Shower Sandals Slippers
There’s nothing worse that walking into the bathroom on a long haul flight and there’s water, or God knows what, on the floor. It just skeeves me out. Get a pair of these and keep them in your backpack.
They are great for using in the shower of a dodgy hotel or campground. You can use these in the gym and at the beach. They quickly dry and are easy to clean.
This is another perfect gift for a student traveling abroad who will be spending time in student hostels. You can never be sure of the cleanliness of the floors of the room or the shower, so get these.
Buy these great shower sandals here
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Travel Cable Organizer
What a great way to keep all your travel cords and travel accessories organized. You can slot in all your charging cables, your phone and your power banks. Plus there are places to put SIMs and SD Cards.
These are some of the best gifts for students going abroad. And they are thee perfect gifts for students traveling abroad who have a lot of electronic gear. You can keep it all together.
Check out this travel cable organizer here
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Hanging Toiletry Bag
This is a super gift for couples who are traveling. This is an efficient way to keep all your toiletries in one place. No sense in having 2 bags when you can share one and keep them all together. Plus it hands on a pole or handle so it’s not sitting on a wet surface.
Drop in your toothpaste and brush, razors, shampoo and medicine and they’re all in one place. It comes in multiple colors and is also a great unisex travel gift.
Check out this toiletry bag here
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Travel Shoe Bags
What a brilliant way to keep your shoes organized and to keep them away from your clothes. These are handy travel abroad gifts. There’s nothing worse than having the dirty soles of your shoes on top of your clothes. I have to admit sometimes I use a plastic shower cap, but these are better. And they could also be used to store dirty clothes as well. They are a great multi purpose travel item.
The material is soft and they come with a drawstring close. Very handy for the frequent international traveler.
See the different varieties of travel shoe bags here
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Space Saver Travel Bags for Clothes
If you are wondering what to get someone traveling abroad, these are perfect for the clothes horse in your family. These space savers are a great gift for whether you are coming or going, because you undoubtedly will have bought some extra items and you need more space.
Drop your shirts into these and literally roll the air out of them. These are great waterproof, bug proof, compression travel bags. And you don’t need a vacuum to suck the air out but it does come with a hand suction you can easily add to your suitcase. And it’s another great gift for the traveler going to remote locations where bugs and humidity are a problem.
See the reviews on these and other space saving travel bags here
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Ultra Lightweight Packable Backpack
These are great gifts for traveling abroad. They are super lightweight backpacks/day pack, perfect for when you want to go sightseeing and don’t want to take a larger, heavier pack. It’s water and tear resistant and folds up into a little pouch.
Easy to pack into your suitcase or purse, and have it handy when you need it. Heck, it’s great for going grocery shopping for that impromptu picnic on the beach you want to do.
Buy these ultra light backpacks here
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DuoLingo Language Learning
Here’s a freebie for you. DuoLingo is a great, online resource for learning a language. Depending on where your traveler is going, this may be a welcomed ‘Free’ travel gift for someone going abroad. It’s always a good idea to have at least a few phrases under your belt so you can say good morning, please, thank you, where’s the bathroom… You get my drift. Any rate, it’s free and travelers swear by it.
Want more ideas on gifts for someone traveling abroad?
Here are 50 more unique travel gift ideas.
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