My top picks for best travel gifts for Christmas 2025

This article on the best travel gifts for Christmas 2025 contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps support our work and does not affect the price you pay. All devices featured are chosen on their merits and not because of any affiliation.

Buying a travel gift for someone who’s constantly on the move is a challenge in itself. Travellers come in all types, and each has a slightly different idea of what “useful” means.

The frequent flyer lives by airline rules and the art of packing quickly. The road warrior wants reliability after hundreds of miles behind the wheel. Digital nomads need gear that survives co-working spaces and less-than-gentle Wi-Fi. Outdoor adventurers judge everything by whether it will cope with rain, dust, or a trail that seemed like a good idea at the time.

The one thing they all share is an appreciation for kit that genuinely makes travel easier.

When I put this guide together each year, I think less about new features and more about the real situations travellers face. Airport delays, hotel rooms with two plug sockets hidden behind furniture, rental cars with nowhere sensible to keep a phone, backpacks that never quite sit right, and chargers that somehow tangle themselves even when stored neatly.

Good travel gifts are the ones that cut down on those recurring annoyances.

Multi-device usefulness sits near the top of the list regardless of how someone travels. Flyers, hikers, and drivers all carry several devices now, and no one wants to pack a separate cable for each.

Something that supports phones, tablets, cameras, and the occasional extra bit of tech becomes the kind of gift that gets used often without drawing attention to itself. Space is limited, whether you’re in a plane cabin, a rucksack, or a car boot. Anything that reduces clutter is welcome.

Airline compatibility still matters because even the most enthusiastic road-tripper will eventually end up on a flight. Bags that meet global cabin sizes or accessories that don’t trigger security staff make a difference, and it’s surprising how many products overlook this.

2025 has been a year in which we’ve seen multiple incidents of cheap battery packs catching fire on flights, prompting some airlines to ban or significantly restrict their use.

A gift that avoids delays or awkward repacking is quickly promoted to “always take it with me” status.

Material quality is where travel gear really separates itself. Flyers will wear down zips faster than they expect. Hikers need fabrics that won’t tear at the first brush with branches. Road warriors subject their bags to endless shuffling between car seats, hotel floors, and meeting rooms. Digital nomads need hinges, connectors, and straps that don’t fail halfway through a trip.

The best gifts are built with that kind of punishment in mind, not just occasional holiday use.

Value for money is another universal factor. Travellers tend to calculate cost in terms of “how many trips will I get out of this?” If it improves every journey even a little, it’s worth having.

If it becomes something to carry for the sake of carrying it, it will quietly be left at home. This guide focuses on items that hold up in real conditions and solve real travel problems rather than promising the world and delivering very little.

As with every year, I’ve based this list on what I know travellers actually need. Some of these picks suit frequent flyers. Others are great for those who spend more time on the road than at their desk.

A few will appeal to anyone who heads outdoors and wants gear that can take a hit. All of them are practical enough to make my list of the best travel gifts for Christmas 2025, and each one is something I’d be happy to travel with myself.

The HOVERAir X1 Pro is a foldable, pocketable self-flying camera that suits travellers who want quick aerial footage without carrying a complete drone kit. It weighs under 150g, opens in seconds, and uses enclosed blades so you can launch it safely from a hand, even in tight spots. The Pro model upgrades flight stability and tracking, giving you smoother shots when walking, hiking, or weaving through a busy city.

For travellers who want simple aerial clips without faffing around with controllers or app menus, this is one of the easiest options to pack. And if the X1 Pro is more than needed, the X1 drone is arguably one of the best-priced entry-level drones available this holiday season.
hoverair.com // amazon.com

Keeping your phone secure on the move is the whole point of the Odyssey Ultra M 360 Magnetic Stand Guard Case with Lanyard, and it does the job well for travellers who can’t risk drops, theft, or constant pocket checks. The 360-degree lanyard anchors the iPhone safely to your body, and the adjustable strap lets you carry it crossbody, low at the hip, or tight to the chest, depending on the environment.

Shock-absorbing TPU, reinforced corners, and a raised bezel add protection without turning the phone into a brick, while the magnetic back works with stands and car mounts for hands-free use. The case also supports MagSafe charging and includes a detachable stand ring.
mageasy.us // amazon.com

For a simple stocking filler that actually gets used, the Whoosh Screen Shine Go is an easy win for any traveller. Phones, tablets, in-flight entertainment screens, camera displays, sat-navs, even hotel TV remotes… they all gather fingerprints and grit faster than expected on the road.

The small bottle slips easily into a tech pouch, and the alcohol-free formula is safe for coated displays while still lifting smudges properly rather than just spreading them around. The included microfibre cloth does the job without leaving fibres behind, and the whole kit is light enough that you’ll forget it’s in your bag until you need it.
whoosh.com // amazon.com

Some gifts aren’t just things to pack: they’re projects, and the UGREEN NASync DH2300 fits that perfectly for anyone technical who wants to tidy up their digital world and run a secure personal cloud while travelling. This compact NAS enclosure supports dual SATA drives, automatic backups, media serving, and private cloud syncing without tying the user to a subscription or a third-party platform.

Once set up at home, files, photos, and documents can be accessed remotely on the road, giving travellers a reliable way to pull what they need without relying on public cloud accounts. For tinkerers, remote workers, or travellers who generate a lot of images and footage, it’s a satisfying project that pays off every time they leave the house.
ugreen.com // amazon.com

If someone in the family has a trip on the horizon, the Tribit PocketGo is a straightforward little speaker that earns its place in a carry-on. It’s small enough to slip into a daypack, yet loud and clear enough for hotel rooms, self-catering stays, or a bit of background audio while getting ready for the day.

The built-in clip makes it easy to attach to a bag or strap, and the IPX7 waterproof rating means it copes with poolside splashes or a sudden downpour without drama. Battery life stretches long enough for a weekend away, and Bluetooth 5.3 keeps connections stable across phones and tablets.
tribit.com // amazon.com

Apple travellers who want to keep their iPhone and Watch powered without carrying a nest of cables will appreciate the Twelve South Butterfly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Charger. It folds into a compact clamshell small enough for a jacket pocket, then opens into a flat dual-charging setup for bedside tables, tray tables, or hotel desks that never seem to have enough space.

The Qi2 pad delivers faster, more stable charging for the iPhone, while the integrated Apple Watch charger handles overnight top-ups without needing a separate puck. It works with USB-C power and comes in a range of colours, making it easy to pick a version that suits the person you’re buying for. For iPhone and Watch users who travel frequently, it’s the rare charging accessory that’s both genuinely portable and genuinely useful.
twelvesouth.com // amazon.com

For anyone starting the new year with a plan to get fitter, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro is a solid travel-friendly smartwatch that can take a beating while keeping training on track. It now comes in two sizes, the original 48mm for those who prefer a larger display, and a new 44mm option that suits smaller wrists without losing any of the rugged features.

The watch supports detailed fitness tracking, route guidance, offline maps, and enough battery life to handle multi-day trips or long hikes without having to hunt for an outlet. GPS accuracy is strong, the build is rugged enough for outdoor workouts in unpredictable weather, and the metrics cover everything from casual daily movement to structured training.
amazfit.com // amazon.com

Anyone who travels with more cables than they’d like to admit will find the Function101 BentoPack a small but meaningful upgrade to their kit. It breaks accessories into tidy, modular sections so chargers, earbuds, adapters, and memory cards stop roaming freely around a bag.

The structured design keeps its shape even when full, and the magnetic lid makes it quick to access on a plane tray table or hotel desk without everything spilling out. Each compartment is realistically sized rather than theoretical measurements, which means you can pack a proper power brick, not just slim cables.
function101.com // amazon.com

Travellers who want one charger that handles everything will appreciate the QDOS SnapStand Qi2 MagSafe 3-in-1, especially if they’re tired of juggling cables in hotel rooms. The fold-out design supports iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch charging in one compact stand, and Qi2 support means faster, more secure magnetic charging for the phone.

It packs flat, so it slides easily into a tech pouch, and the hinged layout lets you position the screen upright for calls or notifications. USB-C input keeps it compatible with modern power banks and wall plugs, and the overall build is sturdy enough for daily packing and unpacking. For Apple users who travel frequently, it’s a tidy upgrade that clears the usual charging clutter from bedside tables on the road.
qdos.com

When time is running out, and a physical gift won’t arrive in time, a subscription to ExpertFlyer is a clever alternative that feels far more personal than a standard gift card. Frequent travellers can use it to track award availability, monitor seat maps, set alerts for better flight options, and dig into the sort of route data that makes planning smoother.

It’s particularly handy for anyone who travels often enough to chase upgrades or wants early notice when a preferred seat opens up. Because it works year-round and pays off every time a trip is booked, it becomes one of those gifts that quietly improves travel without adding anything extra to carry. For late shoppers who still want to give something meaningful, it hits the mark.
expertflyer.com

For someone who’s earned a proper upgrade this Christmas, the HONOR Pad 10 is the kind of big gift that genuinely improves travel time rather than just filling it. The large, high-resolution display makes it ideal for flights, long train journeys, or evenings in hotel rooms, whether that’s streaming, reading, editing photos, or getting some work done.

Performance is comfortably quick for everyday travel tasks, and the battery life is strong enough to handle long days away from a charger. It also strikes a good balance between screen size and portability, slipping into a backpack without feeling like overkill. For travellers who want one device that covers entertainment, light productivity, and downtime on the road.
honor.com // amazon.com