The English capital has no shortage of great London gifts, including one-of-a-kind collectables, funny gag gifts, tasty food, and even unique antiques and tea sets.

London is notoriously expensive, but if you’re choosy, and follow our advice, you can even score some cheap London souvenirs.

The best London souvenirs

There’s so much to see and do in London that the souvenirs you can buy are almost endless. There’s a gift shop in every museum, attraction, department store, and sometimes, it seems on every other block in this UK megacity.

Whether you’re checking out the best things to do in London with kids, or being adventurous at the wonderful live theatre shows for kids in London’s West End, there are souvenirs for sale on every corner.

In this article, we show you the places with the biggest and best selection of souvenirs, the cheapest prices on London gifts, and more.

We’ll even share where to find unique London souvenirs, antique gifts from London and those hard to find, one-of-a-kind cool souvenirs from London, England.

What to buy from London

One of the most fun things to do in this city is to shop for presents from London for family and friends.

Whatever you choose, it’s a wonderful reminder of your time in London so buying something precious to you will go a long ways to making your trip memorable and a great talking point when presenting gifts to your loved ones back home after your trip is over.

Classic London souvenirs

If you’re looking for classic, standard souvenirs like London t-shirts, fridge magnets, key chains or mugs, these are easy to find. These souvenirs feature a huge variety of iconic London attractions like Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the Union Jack, Black cabs, antique phone booths and double decker buses.

Classic souvenirs are available almost everywhere, from corner stores to souvenir shops, and even supermarkets.

Here are a few of the classic London souvenirs to consider:

• mugs
• fridge magnets
• t-shirts
• key chains
• sweatshirts
• posters
• Christmas ornaments
• figurines
• pillows
• bottle openers
• pillows

London street signs

London street and tube signs are popular souvenirs. That said, don’t go ripping down a real sign. There are plenty of places to buy one that won’t cause a traffic accident.

You can find them at Portobello Road market, Brick Lane market, and sellers near Oxford Street and Leicester Square.

Food and drink from London

Borough Market has a great selection of British food to take home as gifts.

Tea and biscuits

Fortnum & Mason, one of London’s most iconic department shops, sells charming tea and biscuit gift sets.

A dedicated tea shop like Whittards in Covent Garden is also a great place to browse, and find unique tea sets.

Twinings tea is an iconic London tea, available at most shops around the city.

Looking for something easier? You can buy a gorgeous Twinings boxed gift set on Amazon.

See prices here.

London chocolate

Dating back to 1875, Charbonnel et Walker is one of Britain’s finest chocolatiers. It even has a Royal Warrant as a chocolatier to His Majesty The King. The shop is in the Royal Arcade in Mayfair.

Rococo Chocolates is also a great choice, while Hotel Chocolat is where you can buy beautifully packaged souvenir London chocolate to take back home with you.

Artisan snacks and food

There are plenty of places that sell artisan treats, including local jams, jellies, and biscuits. Harrods is a solid choice, and Borough Market are also a good place to start your search.

Paddington and London-themed biscuits from Biscuiteers are a fun choice and their London inspired cookie tins make a great souvenir for anyone.

Fortnum & Mason, an upscale London department store, makes sweet and savory baskets that are easy to pack up as a London souvenir.

Alcohol

London-based Hayman’s is an iconic London souvenir for gin lovers.

Pimm’s No 1 is the quintessential ingredient in the British cocktail, a Pimm’s cup. A Pimm’s cup is made with Sprite, strawberries, orange, apple cucumber and mint.

If you’re looking for help choosing something local, Spirits near Chinatown, Gerry’s Wines, and the Whiskey Exchange in Covent Garden can offer some guidance on local London drinks.

Harry Potter souvenirs

There’s a wonderful selection of Harry Potter souvenirs from London to delight both wizards and muggles alike.

The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ is the best place in London to buy Harry Potter merchandise. This Harry Potter Shop is in King’s Cross station.

If The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ is too busy for your taste, try House of Spells in Leicester Square, or the gift shop at the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Watford.

Royal paraphernalia

While you can buy royal nick-knacks almost anywhere in England, if you’re looking for higher quality, consider Westminster Abbey’s gift shop or the Royal Gift Shop to buy royal souvenirs.

British clothing

There are plenty of choices for clothing souvenirs in London. Here are a few ideas:

• British country clothing at Barbour.
• an umbrella from quirky London Umbrella, one of the quirky and unusual things to do in London.
• a suit from famed Savile Row.
• a Burberry trench coat from their Regent Street shop.
• a hat or fascinator. You can find fascinators and hats in most London department stores. For a unique experience, visit a couture hat maker like Stephen Jones Millinery or a traditional hat maker like Lock & Co Hatters in St James’.
• vintage clothing and accessories on Brick Lane and Golborne Road.
• jewelry. Hatton Garden is the place to go.
• football (soccer in the USA) gear. You can pick up items for popular teas like Chelsea and Manchester United in the stores on Oxford Street and elsewhere around London. You can also buy your favorite team’s merchandise at the gift shop at the arena.

Perfume

London is famous for its perfume. Miller Harris is a great place to start, as is Harrods.

Les Senteurs, London’s oldest independent perfumery, is the place to go for posh perfume shopping.

Penhaligons has lovely, small sets that are easy to take home in your luggage.

London antiques

Portobello Road Market is the world’s largest antiques market. There are over a thousand dealers here, who sell almost anything you can think of.

If you love vintage clothing, check out Brick Lane’s Vintage Market. It seems that everything that was once fashionable makes it way through Brick Lane’s Vintage Market. Make sure to check it out for yourself.

Beatles Memorabilia

Beatles memorabilia from the London Beatles Store is sure to please any Beatles fan. The London Beatles Store carries everything from autographed vinyl, to posters, to books, and more.

London Underground

Visit the London Transport museum for London Underground items. While you can find London Underground souvenirs here and there, the best all-in-one selection is at the London Transport Museum. You also don’t need to pay museum entrance fees to browse the gifts.

The London Transport Museum is located in Covent Garden.

Toys

London is home to some of the world’s best toy shops.

Hamleys is a great choice, with seven floors packed with toys and by far the oldest toy store in London. It was originally opened in 1760 and expanded to it’s current location on Regent Street in 1881. Prepare to be overwhelmed when you walk in.

The toy section at Harrod’s is always a good bet and if you’re not in a hurry, the Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾ includes toys and memorabilia. The Disney Store on Oxford Street is the biggest in Europe however if you want something truly unique, check out Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop in Covent Garden. It’s full of marionettes and glove puppets plus more traditional toys with a theatrical flair.

Books from a famous London bookstore

There are so many wonderful bookshops in London that it’s hard to know where to start.

One of the best, and oldest, is Stanfords in Convent Garden.

Stanfords in Covent Garden was established in 1853, and it’s the world’s biggest map and travel retailer. It’s the perfect place to find a London souvenir for travelers, with globes, travel guides, travel fiction, journals, diaries, and even custom maps, made to order.

The Foyles and Daunt Books is also a great choice. There are several locations, including Foyles bookshop on Charing Cross Road and Daunt Books in Marylebone.

Hatchards, London’s oldest bookshop, is a solid choice for those looking for rarities.

If you’re like me, and love stationary, Choosing Keeping in Seven Dials is for you.

Unique London souvenirs at local markets

Looking for a unique London souvenir, or something one of a kind? Try local markets like Chatsworth Road Market, Herne Hill Market, North Cross Road Market, or A South London Makers Market. There’s never a guarantee you’ll find that perfect gift but you won’t know until you’ve checked it out for yourself.

Christmas gifts from London

If you’re lucky enough to be in London during the festive season, Christmas gifts make wonderful souvenirs.

Many Christmas markets open for the holiday season, including Southbank Centre Christmas Market, Greenwich Christmas Market, Christmas in Leicester Square, and many others.

Christmas World in Harrods opens near the end of October, and is an ionic visit, filled with Christmas cheer. Selfridges is another great choice.

Other shops do a wonderful selection of Christmas themed gifts, including Liberty, 307-year-old Fortnum & Mason, family-run Marby & Elm in Exmouth Market, the stylish Conran Shop, the Tate Modern Gift Shop, and the wonderfully charming Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop.

There are so many shops that do wonderful Christmas displays and gifts that it’s impossible to list them all.

Hays Galleria is the only year round, dedicated Christmas shop we could find.

Housewares

A tea set from London is a classic British souvenir. Fortnum & Mason has teas and tea sets, including limited edition items.

If you’re looking for an iconic Wedgwood tea set, you can often find them in finer department stores.

Art

London is a vibrant city home to a thriving art scene. Backyard Markets is a good place to start looking, but there are countless galleries in the city.

A print from the National Gallery is often at an affordable price point for an art souvenir from London and the quality is top notch.

Best souvenir shops in London

Souvenir shops in London are likely the best place to buy London souvenirs.

However, they aren’t all created equal. Some English souvenir shops are more expensive, some are specialized in certain items, and still others sell everything you could imagine. Many can easily make the list of best travel gifts from London.

Harrods London

Arguably the most famous store in London, with over 300,000 people visiting daily, Harrods is known for luxury goods and the lavish luxury Food Halls.

Harrods is a fantastic place to shop for London souvenirs for children, as Harrods has an enormous toy department on the fourth floor. Iconic Harrods gifts include the classic Harrods teddy bear, bespoke hampers, gift boxes, fragrances, and cakes.

There’s a Harrods Gift Shop on the lower ground floor to make shopping easy. Rare perfumes are on the sixth floor. You’ll find Harrods in Knightsbridge, one of the richest neighborhoods in London.

Paddington Bear shop

If you love Paddington Bear, the Paddington Bear shop is the place for you.

You can, of course, pick up your very own stuffed Paddington Bear soft toy, or choose a book and enjoy Paddington’s many adventures. The adorable Paddington’s Guide to London travel guide explores famous landmarks around the city.

Gifts from a London museum

London is home to some of the best museums in the world. Check out the gift shops at V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum), Tate Modern, British Museum, and Sherlock Holmes Museum to start – these are all featured in our post on the best museums in London.

Royal Gift Shop London (Buckingham Palace gift shop London)

The Royal Gift Shop, known as the Royal Collection Shop, is just across the street from Buckingham Palace. It’s the place to buy gifts inspired by the British Monarchy and the royal palaces.

There’s a huge variety here, including jewelry, Christmas gifts, tasty treats, kitchenware, and even pet items. If you love the late Queen’s corgis, there are plenty of Corgi themed gifts, including adorable corgi plush toys.

Prices run the gamut from inexpensive stuffed animal toys to pricey tableware.

Every purchase “contributes directly to the care of the Royal Collection, which is not owned personally by The Queen, but held in trust by her as Sovereign for her successors and the nation. (source).”

London Eye souvenir shop

The London Eye gift shop is located at the exit of the London Eye.

It sells souvenirs and mementos of your London Eye experience. It’s small, and often busy, and a bit expensive, with an OK selection. You will be better off elsewhere if you’re looking for a good selection or budget price.

London Tower gift shop

The London Tower gifts shop is known more officially as the Tower Bridge Engine Rooms & Shop. It’s owned by the City of London.

This gift shop is in the original Engine Rooms of the iconic Victorian landmark. It’s a nice little gift shop, with plenty of cute souvenirs, but prices can be a bit expensive.

London Zoo gift shop

The oldest scientific zoo in the world, London Zoo is also known as ZSL (Zoological Society of London ), London Zoo, or London Zoological Gardens.

To leave the Zoo, you need to exit through the well stocked gift shop.

There are plenty of adorable soft toys, play sets, toys and games, and unique eco friendly gifts. You can even adopt an animal with ZSL.

Purchases at the online or in-person gift shop directly support the London Zoo.

London Bridge Souvenir shop

There’s no official souvenir shop at the London Bridge, but there are plenty of small souvenir shops nearby that sell souvenirs.

London souvenir shop Piccadilly Circus

There are plenty of London souvenir shops around Piccadilly Circus.

Honestly, none of them really stand out, but they’re all convenient places to get your standard London souvenirs while in the area.

London souvenir shop Oxford Street

There are plenty of souvenir stalls and shops around Oxford Street, all generally selling the same type of gifts.

The souvenir stalls around Oxford Street and Leicester Square can be a great place to pick up London street signs.

Camden Market

Camden Market is at the end of Camden high street. There’s so much on sale here, including clothing, odds and ends, crafts and food.

250,000 people visit Camden market each week. It’s open seven days a week.

London souvenirs online

Did you leave London without getting that perfect gift? Are you looking for a little piece of London to send as a gift, or to enjoy yourself, but you can’t visit in person?

Luckily, there’s a great selection of London souvenirs online.

For ease of access around the world, London souvenirs on Amazon can’t be beat.

If you’re looking for something more hand crafted or artsy, check out the selection of London souvenirs on Etsy.

In addition to dedicated online stores selling London souvenirs, many physical souvenir shops in London sell online as well. Stanfords in Covent Garden is a perfect example, with a large online selection. Even the Royal Collection Shop ships internationally.

Made in Britain gifts

Gifts made in Britain, and London specifically, make great souvenirs. While you can find London made gifts in department specialty stores and at markets, you can also find British made gifts on Etsy.

You might like:

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I’ve been having a lot of fun trying Japanese snack subscription boxes in the past few months. Actually, our whole family has had a blast with this, as we’ve tried boxes from a bunch of different companies including TokyoTreat, Japan Candy box, or Sakuraco

Curious how Bokksu compares to the competition? Check out our comparison of all the Japanese snack boxes.

Like a few of the candies in this package, I’m bursting to share my honest thoughts about Bokksu’s authentic Japanese sweets, teas and housewares by local makers in this detailed Bokksu review.

Can’t wait any longer? Order your Bokksu box now.

Why try a Japanese Subscription box?

Ordering a Japanese subscription box is an easy, fun way to explore the culture of Japan without an expensive plane ticket. Sure, it’s not quite the same as going on a culinary tour on the streets of Tokyo, or visiting Japan with kids in person, but for the price difference and the convenience, a Japanese snack box definitely works for our family.

You may be wondering if Bokksu is any different than any other Japanese snack box out there.

It’s true that there are plenty of other Japanese snack boxes delivering snacks like chips and chocolate internationally. However, when you travel in Japan, fresh, artisan snacks served by street vendors are the norm. Unfortunately, getting these unique, artisan treats made by local vendors has been difficult to get outside of Japan.

If you’re wondering how Bokksu differs from TokyoTreat and other competitors, my honest review is about to break it down for your. Keep reading for more!

This review wasn’t sponsored by Bokksu; I paid for this Bokksu box with my own hard earned money. This post does contain affiliate links: I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

My Personal Bokksu Review: What is Bokksu?

Bokksu snack boxes are designed to showcase Japanese culture and bolster small, family-operated enterprises in Japan. They get their artisanal snacks directly from local Japanese snack producers, focusing on authentic rather than mass-produced items.

Each Bokksu box is a treasure trove of 22 Japanese delights, including snacks, candies, and tea. In every box, you’ll find an array of goodies ranging from ramen to mochi to senbei and cakes, blending both sweet and savory flavors. There’s also a new tea pairing each month, a comprehensive 24-page guide, and exclusive treats crafted by local artisans specifically for Bokksu.

The themes of Bokksu Japanese snack boxes varies monthly, focusing on elements unique to Japan such as regional holidays, vibrant festivals, and the distinct character of various prefectures. Our box was on the theme of seasons of Japan, but past boxes have included everything from cherry blossoms in Japan to sunny Okinawa to summer fruits and tropical travels.

Who are Bokksu boxes for?

These snack boxes are for people who are interested in exploring Japanese culture through its cuisine. If you’ve personally visited Japan or toured Japan by train, it’s a real treat to get these authentic treats outside of Japan.

If you’ve never visited Japan before, a Bokksu box can be a great way to close the divide until you get to visit in person.

Additionally, a Bokksu gift box can be a thoughtful gift for those who appreciate unique and international flavors, or for anyone who has experienced Japan and wishes to reminisce about their journey. The monthly subscription, with its changing themes related to Japanese holidays, festivals, and regional specialties, also appeals to those who enjoy the surprise and discovery of subscription boxes, offering a balanced glimpse into Japan’s snack culture.

Bokksu price

As a subscription service, you’ll get a Bokksu box delivered as long as your subscription is active.

You pay for the box a month in advance for the following month’s box. For example, to get the January box, you need to subscribe by the the end of December.

You can choose a 12 month, 6 month, 3 month, or monthly Bokksu subscription. Prices get more affordable the longer you subscribe.

Here are the costs (in USD):

• 12 months for $39.99/month
• 6 months for $43.99/month
• 3 months for $45.99/month
• 1 month for $49.99/month

Shipping is free for Bokksu snack subscriptions to most countries, with some exceptions.

There are additional fees for shipping to Puerto Rico, Malta, Bahrain, the UAE, India, Cambodia, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. See their shipping page for exact prices for each of these areas.

Bokksu promo code / coupon code

Bokksu is one of those rare companies that actually lists some of the best promo codes and coupon codes on their own website.

Deals vary by time of year, but there are generally one or two discounts on this page:

• See Bokksu’s latest deals and promotions now.

Once you get your first box, you can sign up for the Bokksu refer-a-friend program. With their refer a friend, you get $15 in points for each successful referral, and your friends get $15 off their first order of $40.

• Get $15 off your first order with our link

Where does Bokksu ship?

As of November 2023, Bokksu ships to 69 countries, including the USA, Australia, Canada, Mexico, most of Asia, South America, Europe plus the UK as well as others.

Bokksu delivery time – Is Bokksu reliable?

Our Bokksu crate arrived exactly on time. In fact, I ordered on June 14th, and we got our Bokksu box on June 21st, which I thought was really impressive!

Based on our order, I’d have to say they’re quite reliable.

I especially loved that my Bokksu box came carefully wrapped in protective bubble wrap.

First Impressions of Bokksu Snack Box

If you’re used to TokyoTreat boxes, the first thing that you’ll notice is that Bokksu’s box is about two thirds of the size of TokyoTreat.

The Bokksu box is jam packed with treats and goodies, packed carefully to the brim.

The packaging is quite pretty, with a gold foil seal holding the box together, and subdued colors. The Bokksu team has definitely spent some time carefully designing the look and feel of the box to give a high end impression.

When opening the box, the first thing I saw was the printed snack guide. With 24 full color pages, the guide was full of information on the snacks, and artisans who made them, as well as Japanese culture.

Since we have vegetarians in our family, we really appreciated the nutritional and allergen information in the guide. The guide lists common allergens for each snack, as well as whether or not each snack is vegetarian.

Now let’s get to the fun part – the Bokksu tasting!

As I mentioned earlier, each Bokksu box has a specific theme. The theme for this box is Seasons of Japan.

My favorite thing in the box was the white chocolate infused strawberry. These are strawberries grown locally in Japan, which are then freeze dried and infused with white chocolate. I’ve honestly never tasted anything quite like them, and I’d rate them a 10 out of 10.

The one bite Sesame Mochi were a huge hit too! These were a lot of fun to eat, and soft and squishy to the touch.

They’re little bite-sized mochi with either black or white sesame seeds on the outside. On the inside, there’s a tasty anko red bean filling.

One of my daughter’s favorites in the box was the Matcha Stick Cake with chocolate. It’s a soft cake with matcha from Uji, Kyoto, which is paired with quality bittersweet chocolate chips.

I’m a fan of all things that are crispy and salty. The Iburigakko Smokey Chips are flavored with smoked pickle radish (iburigakko) from the Akita Prefecture. The flavor is paired with Sanshin potato chips made with rice flour. So good!

I also really liked the Tsukisamu Anpan Chocolate cookie, which is a chocolate cookie filled with bean paste. It’s soft, with a rich chocolate interior. It’s great with hot tea!

The Yokahama butter sandwich cookie was also a favorite. These are so cute, as they’re stamped with vignettes of the city of Yokohama. They’re a popular gift for Yokohama tourists. So cute!

Your preferences may be different than mine, but I really enjoyed all of the Bokksu treats I tried. I now have a few treats that I definitely want to keep an eye out for on my next trip to Japan!

Is Bokksu Worth It?

What did I think of this box? Read on for my list of Bokksu pros and cons.

What I liked about my Bokksu snack box

In my honest opinion, I had high expectations for this box. Bokksu markets itself as exclusive and high end, and in my opinion, it definitely delivered.

I loved that the booklet included allergen information, and listed whether each snack was vegetarian or not. With three of the four of our family vegetarians, this was really helpful!

Each snack was beautifully packaged, and I found all of the snacks to be high quality.

What I didn’t like about my Bokksu snack box

The Bokksu box is made of high end, artisanal snacks. This means that some of the snacks are fairly small. For example, my box came with two of those tasty white chocolate infused strawberries, but I definitely could have used more!

Final thoughts on Bokksu Japanese snack box

While more of something good is always better, I found that there was a great variety of snacks in the Bokksu box and 22 snacks in the box were plenty for our family of four! My family enjoyed them as much as I did so they’re definitely something we’ll try again in the future.

I hope you enjoy your Bokksu box as much as we did! Let me know what you think of trying Japanese snacks at home in the comments below!

If you found this helpful, check out our other reviews, or come see us on Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter.

Until next time! – Micki

Ah, the beautiful, bustling Kingdom of Thailand. A land of enchanting culture, delicious cuisine, and warm, inviting people. There’s no question about it – a trip to Thailand is an experience that can leave lasting impressions on any traveler’s mind.

We fell in love with Thailand the first time we first visited and ended up staying for five months rather than the single month we had planned. We covered every major area of the country and shipped home two big boxes of souvenirs we picked up during our travels.

From Thai silk pillows to enchanting wood carvings, to an album of beautiful elephant paper and huge painted fans, we still have those same Thai souvenirs scattered throughout our house years later and have zero regrets buying any of them.

For those wanting to take a little piece of this vibrant country home, you’re in luck!

Thailand is a shopping paradise, with an abundance of exquisite souvenirs waiting to be discovered.

Let me guide you through some of the best Thailand souvenirs and Thai keepsakes you can bring back from your own Thai adventure.

1. Thai Silk

First on the list is the famous Thai silk, renowned worldwide for its exceptional quality and unique production process.

Jim Thompson, an American architect turned silk merchant, popularized Thai silk during the mid-20th century and lead to it’s worldwide popularity. If you’re in Bangkok, you can visit the Jim Thompson House for a fascinating insight into the silk-making process.

Thai silk is perfect for scarves, clothing, pillowcases, or even wall hangings. It comes in vibrant colors and diverse patterns, making each piece a unique work of art.

2. Celadon Ceramics

A walk into any local market in Thailand and you’ll find a range of beautiful celadon ceramics. Characterized by their lovely jade-green glaze, these handcrafted items have a rich history, dating back to the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai.

You can get Thai celadon ceramics in plates, vases, bowls, and figurines. The choices are nearly endless and due to the process of making them, every piece is guaranteed to be a topic of conversation every time someone sees it.

3. Spa and Wellness Products

Thailand is known for its soothing spa treatments. What better souvenir than the gift of relaxation?

Thai wellness products, including herbal balms, essential oils, massage oils, coconut products and aromatic incense, are made with locally sourced ingredients and are an ideal way to recreate the Thai spa experience at home.

World class beaches are only a couple hours from the bustling streets of Bangkok and make for an easy Thai spa day. If you’re looking to make Thailand a regular getaway, buy villa in Jomtien Beach or check out the lovely spas in the area.

4. Handicrafts

Thailand’s artistry shines through its wide variety of handicrafts. Thai wooden carvings, particularly teak and sandalwood items, are particularly sought after as souvenirs and works of art. Woven items like baskets, mats, and wall hangings from local markets also make wonderful Thai souvenirs.

For something truly unique, look out for products from the ‘One Tambon One Product’ (OTOP) program. This initiative promotes the unique products of each Thai subdistrict or ‘tambon’, ensuring you’ll have a truly unique memento.

5. Thai Snacks

As we always say, there’s no better way to remember a place than through its flavors! Thai snacks like durian chips, coconut candy, and a variety of rice crackers are not to be missed.

Look out for unique treats like Khanom Thai that are traditional Thai sweets made from coconut milk, sugar, and rice flour. Remember to check your country’s regulations on bringing food items back home though as there are some food restrictions as noted at the bottom of this article.

6. Muay Thai Shorts

For those with an interest in martial arts, or those simply seeking a unique keepsake, Muay Thai shorts are a must-have. Available in a rainbow of colors and designs, these shorts not only serve as a functional item for workouts, but also as a fun and sporty memento of your Thai adventure.

Even if you’re not into most combat sports, catching a Muay Thai match, whether in Bangkok or elsewhere in the country is a thrilling thing with a long tradition dating back to before the 16th century. Even if you don’t watch the matches themselves, the crowd behaviour and the spectacle alone are often worth the entry cost.

7. Thai Silver Jewelry

Thailand is known for its exquisite silver jewelry, especially from the northern city of Chiang Mai and the northern regions tribes. Crafted with exceptional skill and precision, the silver pieces often feature intricate designs inspired by nature or Thai mythology.

Whether you’re looking for rings, bracelets, necklaces, or earrings, Thai silver jewelry makes for an elegant souvenir. Look for 99% pure silver when possible (more popular in the north) however the ones marked with a 0.925 stamp, which indicates that it’s 92.5 per cent silver, is cheaper on the wallet, found throughout the country and often looks just as nice.

8. Thai Spices

No Thai culinary experience is complete without the punch of aromatic spices. Thailand’s colorful markets offer a wide range of locally-grown spices such as lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, Thai basil, and various types of chillies.

Since our first visit, the food in Thailand is our high water mark for some of the best food on the planet. The problem is we’re constantly disappointed that the best flavors don’t make it back to our local Thai restaurants. While the majority of the ingredients are the same, it’s the spices that make Thai food renowned.

So, why not pack some and recreate the flavors of Thailand in your own kitchen?

There are even some great Thai cooking classes you can take when you’re in Thailand to make you a guaranteed hit with any friends and relatives back home and with the proper seasonings, it will be like they’ve visited Thailand too.

9. Coconut Oil

Thai coconut oil is widely recognized for its high quality, due to the country’s optimal coconut-growing conditions. It is used for cooking, skin care, or even as a hair treatment. You’ll find bottles of various sizes, in liquid or semi solid state, perfect for your luggage limitations whether you’re traveling with a carry-on or an oversized checked bag.

10. Flower Soap Carvings

Thai flower soap carvings are an exquisite display of Thai craftsmanship. These beautifully carved soaps mimic the shapes and colors of various flowers, from orchids to lotus flowers. Often presented in elegant boxes, they make for fragrant and eye-catching souvenirs.

11. Elephant Paper Products

Elephant paper products, or elephant dung paper, are made from – you guessed it – elephant dung! Don’t worry, it’s thoroughly cleaned and processed into pulp to create eco-friendly, unique, and colorful stationery products. This is not just a fun souvenir, but also a way to support elephant conservation in Thailand.

When we first heard of elephant paper, we had to take a tour to see how it’s processed and it’s quite an interesting endeavor. Thankfully the paper doesn’t smell but it does make for some gorgeous, unique paper that would make any scrapbooking friend a fan of it for life.

12. Thai Harem Pants/Thai Fisherman Pants

If comfort and style are what you seek, look no further than Thai Harem Pants.

Known as “fisherman pants”, these are a common sight in Thailand’s streets and markets and if worn anywhere else in the world, a classic sign that someone has recently visited Thailand.

With their loose fit and lightweight fabric, they’re ideal for the tropical weather and are often the preferred choice for those attending yoga classes or simply exploring the city. Harem pants come in a variety of colors and patterns, from traditional Thai designs to elephant prints and tie-dye.

Often made of cotton or rayon, what makes these pants an excellent souvenir is their comfort. They can be worn as casual loungewear, beachwear, nightwear or just hanging on the couch on a chill day. Plus, they’re unisex and one-size-fits-all, making them a fantastic gift for friends and family back home.

13. Edible Insects

For the daring foodies, why not bring back some edible insects? A common snack in Thailand, fried insects like crickets, silkworms, and even scorpions are seasoned and packaged for you to share this unique experience with your friends back home.

I can clearly remember trying my first fried cricket in Thailand and would have loved if these packaged treats were a thing back then as every friend asked me about the experience (tastier than I expected for the record). Remember though, to check the import rules of your country before packing these crunchy treats, as some countries don’t allow certain foods in.

14. Thai Liquor

Thai liquor, such as the ever popular SangSom and Mekhong, is a must-try for those interested in local spirits. SangSom, a popular rum, and Mekhong, often referred to as Thai whisky, are widely consumed by locals and visitors alike and taste great with a Coke or Pepsi.

In addition to these, there’s also Lao Khao or white spirit, traditionally enjoyed in rural areas. These spirits often pack a punch and make for interesting gifts for the liquor enthusiasts back home. Just remember to pack these carefully and adhere to the liquid and alcohol restrictions on your flight home.

15. Flavored Fruit Drinks and Malt Teas

Thailand’s tropical climate makes it a haven for a diverse range of fruits.

Local markets often offer a plethora of flavored fruit drinks, from classics like coconut and mango to exotic choices like dragon fruit and rambutan. Bringing home packaged versions of these beverages can be a refreshing way to remember the tropical vibe of Thailand.

In addition, Thailand’s malt teas, both hot and iced, are also immensely popular. These include drinks like Cha Yen (Thai iced tea), a unique blend of strong brewed tea, sugar, and condensed milk, and O-liang, a strong black iced coffee usually served sweet. Look out for take-home mixes of these popular beverages as a way to savor the taste of Thailand once you’re back home.

The best Thailand souvenirs are the memories you made

Shopping in Thailand can be an adventure in itself, as thrilling as exploring an ancient temple or tasting a new street food delight. The Thai bahts you spend won’t just buy you beautiful keepsakes, they also support local artisans and their families, helping preserve traditional Thai crafts for future generations.

If you’re looking to make Thailand your base, there are plenty of great areas to call home. Thailand real estate is cheaper than most western countries and Bangkok is one of the most popular airport hubs in the world with flights from nearly every nation.

Whether you decide to pick up a place there or just decide to visit, as you navigate the bustling markets, remember to bargain politely – it’s part of the shopping culture in Thailand. And most importantly, remember that the best souvenir you can bring back is the experience, the stories, and the joy of your journey.

Happy shopping, travelers!

A note on restricted Items for Export from Thailand

As with any country, Thailand has specific restrictions on what can be taken out of the country. Some of the most significant ones include:

1. Buddha Images and Buddhist Artifacts: Exporting images of Buddha, Buddhist artifacts, and antiques is restricted and often requires special permission. It’s illegal to take out of the country any Buddha image larger than 12 inches without a license from the Department of Fine Arts.
2. Antiques and Artifacts: Just like Buddhist artifacts, any item that could be considered a national treasure, including antiques and historical artifacts, is subject to strict export regulations. If you’re unsure about an item, it’s best to check before purchasing.
3. Animal Products: Products made from certain types of wildlife are illegal to export under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This includes items made from ivory, certain types of wood, and products derived from protected animal species.
4. Drugs and Certain Medicines: As in all countries, exporting illegal drugs is a severe offense. Additionally, certain types of medication, particularly those containing narcotic substances, may be illegal to export without proper documentation.

When shopping in Thailand, if you have any doubts about whether an item can be legally exported, it’s always a good idea to ask the seller or check with the local customs authority. By adhering to these regulations, you’ll ensure your trip is memorable for all the right reasons.

Happy travels!

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Looking for unique travel gifts for family, friends or even yourself? Finding an unusual or quirky travel gift can be a challenge, but we’re here to help!

We’ve traveled the globe together for over fifteen years, and in that time we’ve had a chance to find some unusual gifts for travelers that they will actually want! How do we know? We own or have used, pretty much every single thing on this list.

There’s something for everyone here, from unique travel gifts for her or him, to special travel gifts for friends going traveling.

Unique Travel Gifts

Here they are: our list of 40 unique travel gifts! There are gifts here that range from less than ten dollars and up, and they’re all aimed to make the traveler in your life happy.

Travel Experience with Tinggly

What most travelers want above all is an amazing and unique travel experience. So a gift of one-of-a-kind experiences and bucket list adventures is a perfect fit.

A tinggly gift is a unique voucher that lets the recipient choose an activity from over 350 experiences in over 100 countries around the world.

There’s everything from hot air balloon rides to champagne cruises to whale watching and even hotel stays from which to choose.

You choose the Tinggly voucher to give, and the recipient picks an experience (or experiences!) from hundreds of activities worldwide. They have five years to choose their experiences.

You can choose to give a physical Tinggly gift box, or an e-voucher.

It also makes a great last minute gift! You can get an e-voucher any time of the day (and even on Christmas morning, if you’re procrastinating that much!).

Find out more here.

WiFi hotspot

Our international WiFi hotspot has pretty quickly become one of our must have travel gadgets.

Right now, we’re using the Skyroam Solis WiFi hotspot, which gives us unlimited WiFi wherever we travel in the world.

As a traveling family, we love the WiFi hotspot, because it lets us connect up to five devices at a time. You can rent the Solis for about $9 USD a day while you travel, or do like us and buy a device and get either a monthly, no contract Go Data plan or activate it for 24 hours at a time anywhere in the world.

Our personal review of the Solis is coming in the next week, we promise!

Find out more about the Skyroam Solis here.

Print on the go with the HP Sprocket Photo Printer

We received our portable photo printer as a gift, and thought “who would actually use that?”, but the truth is we actually use it!

The tiny HP Sprocket Photo Printer is about the size of a cellphone, but prints out incredibly cute 2 x 3 inch full-color pictures. Our daughter is in love with it, and has cataloged a nice collection of mini prints.

If you ever loved the idea of traveling with a Polaroid camera, who’ll definitely appreciate this device. Especially since you can edit the pics right there on the spot before you print it.

See it on Amazon.

Packing cubes

You can never have enough packing cubes! Actually, you can, however you likely need more.

Socks and underwear in one, spare shoes in another. One for pants, another for shirts and a final one for dresses or ties depending on what you’re bringing.

Also, never hurts to have a dedicated packing cube for electronics if  you carry more than what your purse or backpack can handle. Don’t forget you also need something for your dirty clothes to come back in.

Sound like too many? That isn’t even factoring in kids, pets, winter travel or makeup and medications. Still on the fence? Just get more.

We use these eBags ultralight packing cubes, which are lightweight, compress well and the mesh also lets us easily see what’s inside.

See prices and details on Amazon now.

Travel Insurance

Safety is sexy! Well, not really, but it can be a large cost in any travel plan. Most travelers get travel insurance, but it’s pretty shocking that a lot of people travel without it. It may be practical, but travel insurance is also an unusual and unexpected gift for travel lovers.

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance covers nearly every country on the planet.

TSA-compliant clear toiletry bag for air travel

Seeing what’s in your toiletry bag quickly can save major frustration every morning and even when passing through security.

We wrote a post dedicated solely to the best toiletry bags but if you’re in a rush, just grab the bag below and you’ll instantly be better off than nearly every other traveler out there.

Unfortunately, TSA-compliant toiletry bags are necessarily small (a quart or litre), so it probably won’t hold all of your gear. What a lot of people do is take a quart size TSA compliant clear toiletry bag, and use it to store their liquids. They store other (non-liquid) toiletries and accessories, like hair brushes and tweezers, in another bag.

What does TSA compliant mean? This means that the bag is compliant with the TSA’s 3-1-1 liquids rule, meaning that it’s a quart or litre in size, resealable, and clear. According to the TSA’s liquids rule, “You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes through the checkpoint. These are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. This is also known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule.” Any liquids over 3.4 ounces need to be carried in checked baggage.

Here’s our choice for a TSA-compliant clear toiletry bag: the Lermende toiletry bag. It’s a quart sized, clear, waterproof, and resealable bag that’s TSA compliant with the 3-1-1 toiletries rule. This is a two-pack that comes with two sizes for your wet and for your dry.

See prices and more details here.

GoToob travel toiletry containers for clear liquid

Leaving for a weekend, but need your favorite shampoo and conditioner? Want to have some sunscreen for your week in the sun, but the only container you have is well over the 100 ml limit that the nice airport people will instantly confiscate?

Well, you could just buy shampoo there, but likely they don’t have what you need and even if they do, it’s likely you’re going to pay a heck of a convenience charge. Grab some easy to fill GoToob travel toiletry containers (see our GoToob review here) and don’t look back. They’re cute, come in a variety of sizes, refill and clean easily and they don’t leak which is probably the best reason to travel with them.

See prices and more details here.

Photo backup

Great travel memories start with great pictures. What better way to preserve them than to securely store them online in the cloud?

As Canadians, we really like Sync, a cloud-based service that stores its data in Canada. There’s a free trial.

Check out Sync here.

Amazon Prime comes with unlimited free picture and video storage. It also includes free music and a subscription to Amazon Prime Video. Oh yeah, someone said Amazon Prime even includes free shipping. Just kidding, that was the original use case for Amazon Prime but with so many goodies included with Amazon Prime these days, to us it’s only a bonus.

Check out Amazon Prime here.

Audio books

What’s better than reading a book while traveling? Listening to one! We’re huge fans of Audible and have a decent library of things we’ve listened to ourselves and as a family during our epic road trips.

You can get an Audible subscription here and of you’re still not convinced, check out our list of the best audiobooks for road trips. You can get them all on Audible.

Check out Audible here.

French press travel mug

Love coffee? Love to travel? Then a french press travel mug may be a great gift.

This Espro travel stainless steel french press is attractive, lightweight, and makes a mean cup of coffee. All you need is a few grounds and some hot water so it works on the road or even while camping.

Not a coffee drinker? Get the tea filter instead.

See more about the Espro here.

Kindle with free cellular connection

As airlines get stricter with baggage limits, the luxury of carrying a slew of physical books is starting to disappear.

Instead, we’ve started to travel with ebook readers almost exclusively. You can literally fit hundreds of books on an e-reader, which is enough for even the most dedicated bookworm.

If you want to be really popular, get your travel lover a Kindle with both Wi-Fi and free cellular connectivity like the new waterproof Kindle Paperwhite.

A Kindle with built in Wi-Fi + free cellular connectivity uses the same wireless signals that cell phones use. However, there’s no monthly fees or commitments: Amazon pays for the cellular connectivity and it lets you grab your ebooks on the go quickly and easily.

See the Kindle Paperwhite here (be sure to select the Wi-Fi + free cellular connectivity option).

Video on the go with the Amazon fire stick

We’ve been traveling with an Amazon Fire Stick for a few years now and love it.

At just a few ounces, this portable Android device plugs directly into the HDMI slot on nearly any TV and, coupled with WiFi, allows you to stream Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and nearly any Android video source directly to the TV. Sure, nearly everyone owns a Smart TV at home these days but when you’re on the road, most hotels, hostels and nearly any place that has a TV is still pretty basic. The Fire Stick takes it to the next level and even lets you play a few games with the tiny remote.

See prices and more on Amazon.

Waterproof Bluetooth speaker

With four of us on the go, listening to music is usually a headphone moment in our family.

That said, when we all want to jam out together, our go to device is our baby blue Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speaker. This thing puts out amazing bass for its size, it floats, is waterproof up to a meter and comes with us whether we’re jumping in the pool, relaxing in the hot tub or soaking in the sun on the beach.

See details on Amazon.

Wireless Noise Cancelling headphones

We’ve owned four different Bluetooth headphones in the past two years, and I have to say the only one that ever gets thrown in our bag anymore is our silver Bose QuietComfort 35 II Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones. What makes these headphones truly shine is their active noise cancelling ability. Stuck on a plane with a noisy neighbor? These over the ear headphones will drown out anything and sound good to boot.

Get them on Amazon.

Tile device tracker

If your gift receiver loses their keys or devices regularly then the Tile Mate Bluetooth tracker might be a great gift for them. These little plastic electronic tiles get placed into bags, put on key chains, attached to phones, etc. and when you need to find them just run the app. Working up to 200 feet away and with community searching if the item gets lost, there is hope for them. It may be one of the more unique travel items we’ve seen, but it’s also one of the most practical.

See it on Amazon.

Petzl Tikka headlamp

One of our longest used travel devices that has a permanent spot in our day pack wherever we travel to is our Petzl Tikka Headlamp. We use it a lot over our cell phone flashlight, because the headlamp means that we can have our hands free.

Going on 15 years, it still works just as well as the day we bought it. We’ve studied nesting penguins with its red light mode down in Australia, witnessed a giant leather-back sea turtle lay its eggs on the beach in Costa Rica, and we’ve searched for crabs on the beaches in the Philippines more nights than I care to remember (our then 2 year old son was fascinated by them).

We also love it for camping and even use it around the house all the time for renovations, electrical work and even just doing yard work after the sun has set. The model has changed a bit over the years, but the Petzl quality is still there today.

See prices and more now.

Travel games

If you have kids, or just enjoy playing games on the go, then nothing beats a pack of playing cards for versatility. That said, dedicated card games like UNO and Skip-Bo are great as well. Our daughter adores UNO and we often have a UNO deck wherever we go.

See UNO prices and more here.

Travel jacket with pockets

I’ve worn my women’s Chloe Glow SCOTTeVEST travel jacket for a couple of years now, and still love it.

It’s made of a smooth cotton/poly/spandex blend, and has 15 hidden pockets, with plenty of room for passports, electronics, and more. The only downside is that it’s a fairly warm jacket, so it’s only good for climates where it gets cooler than about 18 degrees Celsius or 65 Fahrenheit. Warmer than that, and it’s uncomfortably hot.

See our review of the SCOTTeVEST women’s jacket here.

See the women’s Chloe Glow jacket on Amazon.

Charles has the men’s microfleece hoodie from SCOTTeVEST, and while he likes it, he finds it a bit casual for his taste. The fleece means that it’s a little less polished looking than the smooth finished jacket, and his size medium has a bit of a gap at the waist (Charles is fairly slim). That said, it has a whopping 21 pockets.

See prices and details for the fleece men’s SCOTTeVEST jacket.

Hidden pocket cardigan

To be honest, I wear this around the house too, but this hidden pocket cardigan from SCOTTeVEST is great for holding small amounts of cash or credit cards.

Unfortunately, the zippered pockets aren’t big enough for a passport, but it’s great for a casual walk around town when you don’t want to carry a backpack or purse.

The fabric is quite sheer, so it’s perfect as a light cover-up in warmer weather.

Find out more here now.

Bra stash

We love this cute, discreet little bra stash from Pacsafe.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t hold a lot, but you can easily fit in a credit card and some spare cash, and a single passport, and it’s one of the more unique travel gifts for her we’ve seen.

Check out our other alternatives to hidden money belts here for more ideas for keeping your belongings safe and secure when you travel.

See more and get prices here.

Travel money belt

Okay, let’s admit it. Traditional money belts can be pretty geeky.

Luckily, Tirrina has an alternative that’s a more attractive choice for both men and women.

There are two pockets in front, plus two behind, with plenty of room for money, cards, passports and more.

See prices and more here.

If you’re looking for something to put in a money belt, this slim travel wallet is a great choice.

There’s enough room for credit cards and some cash (though your passport won’t fit), but it’s great for fitting neatly in a small pocket or hidden in your money belt.

Even better, this wallet from Corkor is made of vegan material, and comes in several stylish options.

See prices and colors here.

Travel Underwear

Like everyone, we have multiple articles of clothing that we refuse to travel without.

For Charles, one is a pair of ExOfficio Give and Go Boxer Briefs for men. Super comfortable and high quality, dries in under 2 hours and doesn’t hold any odors. Ask anyone, Exofficio make great travel boxers.

Click to see prices for the men’s ExOfficio boxers here.

Micki swears by her ExOfficio Women’s Give-N-Go bikinis. They’re quick drying, comfortable, and look good.

See the women’s ExOfficio give-n-go bikini here.

Personal item backpack

These days, we travel carry on only (for the most part), so we’ve learned to maximize the amount of stuff we can carry on an airplane.

In addition to your carry on bag, most airlines will let you also carry a personal item as well like a purse, laptop bag, or smaller backpack, free of charge.

This can give you a nice bit of extra storage space on top of your carry on baggage limit.

We really like the little Standard luggage Co. daily work backpack as a personal item. It’s stylish, and small at only 2.2 pounds and 17′ x 11′ x 6′ (45 x 28 x 15 cm). It has a lot of little bonuses, like an integrated USB port and lockable zips. Plus, it works well as a day bag.

See prices and more here.

Elastic clothesline

An awful lot of people love this affordable travel clothesline.

It’s elastic, packs away neatly, and even has built in clothespins. Love it!

See prices and details now.

Portable wash bag

Hate scrubbing out your skivvies in the bathroom sink but don’t have time to take them to a laundromat while on vacation? This portable wash bag from Scrubba may be for you.

Just add water, soap, and your clothes, rub a little, and the Scrubba’s internal washboard scrubs your clothes clean.

There are a few limits though: it doesn’t hold a lot, so forget about scrubbing a family’s worth of laundry, or even a heavy pair of pants. Plus, we think it’s a little on the expensive side.

That said, this is a pretty cool gadget.

Make sure you get the new version with the twist valve – it apparently solves some issues the older versions had.

See Scrubba prices and more now.

Travel hammock

For us, a travel hammock is one of those items that sounds amazing in theory, but that we’ve never used as we travel.

That said, this would make an amazing gift for the traveler who spends a lot of time outdoors, and who loves to relax by hanging out in a hammock.

The Active Roots travel hammock is developed in partnership with blogger, adventurer and explorer Will Hatton from The Broke Backpacker, so it’s a great choice.

See prices and details now.

Compression Socks

OK, so compression socks are probably the least sexy item on this list.

That said, blood clots (aka deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms) aren’t especially sexy either.

Surprisingly, blood clots from flying are fairly common, and they affect more than just older travelers. Check out this story from blogger Sherry Ott.

Compression socks are said to help travelers prevent blood clots from flying by increasing circulation in the legs.

You can even pick up some pretty cute versions, like these.

See prices and sizes here.

The Food Traveler’s Handbook

Written by travel blogger, Jodi Ettenberg, The Food Traveler’s Handbook is a fantastic guide for traveling foodies.

There’s great information here on safely navigating street food (think hot, busy, and fresh), as well as great tips for those on special diets.

Highly recommended.

Get it on Kindle or as a paperback here.

Carry on backpack

Admittedly, a backpack is a more practical travel gift, but a good carry on backpack is always a fantastic choice for travelers.

That said, we’ve chosen the best travel backpack for carry-on from an independent retailer that’s a little more stylish and roomy than the usual choice.

The Tortuga Setout travel backpack lets you can carry a surprisingly large amount of stuff in a backpack that packs like a suitcase and carries like a backpack.

It’s a great choice for Europe, where you’ll want a pack that’s stylish, but holds a lot for its size.

The Setout is 22″ x 14″ x 9″, so it’s small enough to work as carry-on, but at 45 L it’s probably the most spacious pack you’ll get at those dimensions.

See prices and reviews for the the Tortuga Setout Backpack now.

DJI Mavic Mini

Well, we’ve definitely saved one of the most expensive, and possibly the coolest, travel gifts for the end.

See details and price here.

Do you have any ideas for unique travel gifts? Let us know!

Check out these ideas for ultra last minute gifts for your favorite travel lover.

Go Digital, Think Tech

Tech is almost always a great last minute gift for travelers and digital gifts can be bought quickly online and sent to anyone anywhere in the world.

A digital gift subscription to Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime are all great ways for travelers to get their fill of their favorite TV shows and movies on the road.

Amazon Prime not only lets travelers instantly stream thousands of movies and TV shows, but it also has a few extra perks for travelers, including borrowing a book for free each month from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, and free two day shipping on most items.

An Apple iTunes gift card or a Google Play gift card is also pretty much a no-fail gift. Though it doesn’t win any bonus points for originality anyone glued to their mobile phones or tablets will definitely appreciate them.

Travel apps are also a great way to please your travel lover: Check out this list of some of our favorite, must-have travel apps to get you started.

And did you know that you can easily gift an app directly from your Apple device using your account? Here’s Apple’s guide to sending an app to another user. All you need is their email address. For Google Play you still need to purchase a giftcard however they’re now available internationally so finding one shouldn’t be very difficult. You can find a list of countries you can purchase a Google Play card here.

Get Their Book On

Books and travel go hand in hand. The good news is that e-Readers like the Kindle Paperwhite  make it easy as pie to pick up a digital e-book as an ultra last minute gift for your traveler.

Here are a few sure fire picks:

Not a lot of people know about the Traveler’s Handbook series. These are books written by some of the best travel bloggers in their niche, and each one is packed full of great advice.

Fellow travel blogger Jodi Ettenberg’s wonderful Food Traveler’s Handbook is perfect for the traveling foodie.

The Solo Travelers Handbook by Janice Leith Waugh would make a great gift for a traveler heading out on their own. There’s even a Volunteer Traveler’s Handbook, a Career Break Traveler’s Handbook, a Cruise Traveler’s Handbook, a Luxury Traveler’s Handbook, a Family Traveler’s Handbook, and an Adventure Travelers Handbook.

While we’re on books, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts is probably one of the most iconic travel books out there. It’s a great read about long term travel that’s chock full of practical advice.

If your traveler is the practical sort, the new book by Matt Kepnes (aka travel blogger Nomadic Mat) called How to Travel The World for $50 a Day gets great reviews on Amazon.

How to Live a Life of Travel by Derek Earl Baron (aka travel blogger Wandering Earl) is a solid choice as well, both for inspiration and for some real nuts and bolts travel advice.

Take a tour

If your travel lover’s the type who enjoys tours, buying a tour through a well-known company like Viator or G Adventures is a great choice.

G Adventures and Viator are well known companies that offer tours for almost any destination you can think of. If your traveler has a home base, a tour close to home can be a great gift too.

Get Philanthropic

There are a lot of fantastic travel-related charities out there, and a donation to one would make a great gift for the philanthropic traveler.

We like Heifer International (which provides gifts of livestock and training to those in need), Kiva.org (which gives micro loans to individuals in developing nations), and Nothing But Nets (which provides mosquito nets for children in areas with malaria).

Still stumped? What about the obvious?

You knew we were going to go here, and really we have to. If you’re looking for a truly last minute gift, a gift certificate is a quick choice.

And if you put a little thought into it, you can get yourself some great brownie points for a carefully chosen gift, even if you buy a gift certificate. The key here is to think about what your travel lover wants.

The nicest part about gift certificates is that they can be found everywhere from the corner store to every major big box store. Our local grocery literally has a wall of them for seemingly every store across Canada.

If you’re a little stumped on which gift on to get, Amazon.com has done some of the work for you and come up with a good list of travel gear and gadgets, and there’s always the option of an Amazon gift card so your traveler can buy whatever he or she likes.

Outside the gift box

If your traveler isn’t into the material things but you want to help further their travels, here’s a few extra ideas.

Did you know you can even buy flights online? Expedia is a great place to look for baseline fares and getting them accommodation through Expedia, Booking.com or Airbnb is a great choice too.

Looking for a great deal on your next Airbnb? Click on this link to get a $35 USD credit if you sign up with a new email (and we get a credit, too).

LivingSocial, known for finding a good deal, is an option that many people don’t think about as well. You can sometimes find amazing travel deals here.

Do you have any other ultra last minute gift ideas for travelers? We’d love to hear them!

Above photo by Daniela Olivia Avina on Flickr.

In that time, we’ve had the time and trials to figure out what gear works for us on the road. From apps to sandals to cameras and pillows, here are some of our very favorite travel things..

We personally use and recommend each and every thing on this list.

Travel apps

We use our iPhones constantly on the road, using them to translate, book hotels, find our way around, pick a restaurant and sometimes simply to amuse ourselves.

Of all of these apps, our best find in the last year is likely the free TripAdvisor app, which works like a charm when we don’t have a Wi-Fi or data connection. The guides’ maps even work with your phone’s GPS when you’re offline.

You can find more of our favorites in our 25 Free iPhone Travel apps post.

Apps for the kids

Our iPhones are a godsend  for amusing the kids when we’re stuck in seemingly endless airport security lines and those times we just need to get a break.

Some of our favorites are drawing apps that let the kids get creative. Our favorites are Drawing Pad by Darren Murtha Design and the ridiculously easy and addictive Doodle Buddy by Pinger, Inc.

Tablet love

We carry a 32GB iPad and a Blackberry Playbook 7-Inch Tablet (32GB).

We all love how easy the iPad is to use (though we could do without the high price tag), and we use it constantly for email, surfing the net, using Skype to chat with family and friends, or just to let the kids draw and playing games (like the ever popular Talking Tom.

We picked up our Blackberry Playbook largely because of the low price (about 1/4 of the cost of an iPad). We use it mostly as an e-reader and for watching movies. There aren’t as many apps for the Playbook as there are for the iPad, but it more than makes up for this by being able to run Flash, meaning that it will run many online kids games and free online books that use Flash when the iPad won’t.

Portable router

We work online as we travel (on this blog and a few other online businesses), so we need to be online while we’re on the road.

After dealing with countless hotels that promise good WiFi but deliver a weak Wi-Fi signal or only a wired connection, we added a portable router to our bags. Our compact TP-LINK Portable 3G Wireless Router fits squarely into the palm of your hand and connects quickly to a wired WAN/LAN or existing wireless signal. You can also use this portable router with a mobile data stick. We use it to strengthen a weak WiFi signal, create WiFi from a wired connection or to share data from a 3G USB stick. This little router also runs off USB, making it ultra portable. At around $28 USD, it’s also pretty easy on the wallet.

Rechargeable two way radios

It may seem odd to carry walkie-talkies in the age of smartphones, but two way radios have come in handy many times when we didn’t have a cell signal or didn’t bother getting a cell plan for both our phones in that country.

Two way radios work for miles, are easy to carry and even have a built in weather station feature. They come in most handy when Charles and I are separated when shopping or hiking around town. We carry one in each of our day packs, and it can be a huge help in places like amusement parks, busy town centers or oversized markets. The kids love playing with them, and they’re plenty rough and tough to handle a few bumps.

Hipper than a fanny pack

We typically use a travel neck wallet to keep our passports, cash and cards safe. A neck wallet is especially handy when on the move in airports as our passports and boarding passes are easily accessible without having to dig through our pockets to find them each time airport security or an airline needs them.

The Eagle Creek Travel Gear Silk Undercover Neck Wallet we use is ultra-lightweight, fits under your shirt and is almost invisible to pickpockets. Neck wallets are a great alternative for keeping your travel valuables safe if you find money belts bulky (and quite honestly, pretty nerdy).

Headlamps

The same Petzl Tikka RXP Headlamp has traveled with us since 2007. It’s survived countless camping trips, two children, caving, home renovations (great for plumbing work under the sink), chasing crabs on the beach at night and being mushed in a day pack over five continents.

The big advantage of the headlamp (over a flashlight) is that is keeps our hands free. The Tikka needs three AAA batteries, and lasts us months before we need to change the battery. Our kids have fun playing with the colored light filters, and we find the high intensity spotlight really handy. It fits neatly into this Petzl Tikka 2 Case.

Gifts for the wanderers

I’ve been wearing a pair of lightweight Teva Tirra women’s sandals (pictured below) for the last two years. So far, they’re comfortable and hardly look like they’ve been worn. Charles (who has a high arch and is hard to fit) wears a Teva Men’s Katavi Outdoor Sandal.

Shockproof and waterproof point and shoot camera

With two kids, and a lot of time spent around water and doing adventure activities, there’s no room in our life right now for a bulky, delicate camera.

We take almost all the photos on this blog with point and shoot cameras. We bought and love the Canon PowerShot D20 Waterproof Digital Camera, but its competitors the Panasonic Lumix TS4 (reviewed here) and the Nikon COOLPIX AW100 are great alternatives as well. All three cameras take 1080p video and feature a slew of cool features and effects. Check out this video of our hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia we took with our Canon D20.

We also carry a Sandisk Ultra 32 gb SDHC Class 10 SD card to store our trip photos. It holds hundreds of photos and videos, and the class 10 makes it fast.

The X-Shot for the selfie shot

We picked up our XShot XSP2 Pocket Camera Extender about a year ago, and I carry it in my purse everywhere we go. The X-shot screws onto the bottom of our camera, and the arm telescopes out to allow us to take self portraits. The four of us won’t fit into the frame when we hold a camera at arm’s length, so the X-Shot’s been a great addition for us.

Portable surge protector

We take our little Belkin Mini Surge Protector/Dual USB Charger wherever we go. The Belkin has a few extra outlets, which are fantastic for hotel rooms that never seem to have enough, and two built in USB charge ports.

In addition to the Belkin, we have a few other little tech essentials, including a headphone to RCA Y splitter cable (to push sound to the TV or to a stereo receiver), and a headphone splitter and headphones for all of us.

Happiness is a good pillow

Neck pillows can be bulky and awkward, and they’re often pretty useless off the plane. Instead, we carry a small microbead pillow, which can be used as a toy or as a kid’s pillow. Ours is a plain purple version, but I’ve been eyeing up these cute replacements, available in a lot of designs including a Microbead Bolster Tube Pillow.

Do you have any favorite travel items? Let us know in the comments below.

This year’s Barefoot Nomad Christmas Gift Guide has great presents for every type of traveler on your list – from tech lovers, to adventure lovers, to the security conscious.

We personally use and can recommend every item on this list.

Gifts for the tech lover

If your traveling tech lover doesn’t have a tablet, this is a must have item. We carry both a 32GB iPad and a Blackberry Playbook 7-Inch Tablet (32GB). We all love the iPad’s ease of use and have been using it constantly for the past few years for surfing, checking emails, Skyping friends and family back home, letting the kids draw and playing games. The Blackberry Playbook is a new addition, purchased mainly because of the low cost. That said, we love that it’s smaller than the iPad, has a nice screen and works great as an e-reader and for watching movies. The lack of apps may put off some but the fact it can run Flash and can be sideloaded with many of the Android Market apps makes up for it. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s about 1/4 the cost of the iPad.

Gifts for the road warrior

After struggling with weak WiFi signals, and often finding only a wired connection or worst, needing to use a Wireless Data USB Stick when traveling, we added a portable router to our bags.  The TP-LINK Portable 3G Wireless Router fits neatly into the palm of your hand, connects easily to a wired WAN/LAN or an existing wireless signal and can be used with a data stick. Use it to boost a weak WiFi signal, push out WiFi from a wired connection or as a way to share data off a 3G USB stick. It also runs off USB so can go just about anywhere for a very decent price.

Gifts for the rough and tough

Our Otterbox Commuter Series iPhone cover is one of the most beloved items in our tech arsenal. This relatively light cover has saved our iPhone from countless drops that would have otherwise smashed it to smithereens. If you’re looking for serious protection, the OtterBox Defender Series is bulkier and one of the most robust covers out there. They also have them for all those Samsung Galaxy S III users out there.

Gifts for the security conscious

When we need to keep our passports, cash and cards extra secure, we use a travel neck wallet. They’re ultra-lightweight, fit snugly under your shirt, are almost invisible and keep your valuables close. Neck wallets are an especially great way to keep your valubles safe for women who find traditional money belts bulky (and let’s face it, dorky).

We use the Eagle Creek Travel Gear Silk Undercover Neck Wallet. It’s lightweight, has an adjustable strap and breathes well in hot weather.

Gifts for the active and adventurous

We’ve carried a lightweight Petzl Tikka RXP Headlamp traveling with us since 2007. Unlike a flashlight, using a headlamp keeps your hands free. The Tikka takes three AAA batteries, and literally lasts us months between battery replacements. It has colored light filters, and a great, high intensity spotlight. It’s also tough enough that it’s survived countless play sessions with our kids. We’ve used ours for doing everything from home renovations and working under the hood of our car to chasing crabs on the beach at night and stalking penguins.

Gifts for the wanderers

Comfortable footwear is a must for travelers, and we love lightweight waterproof sandals. They take us through almost any situation: from the airport, to the beach, to the mall and out for a casual night out.  Micki’s currently on her second year with a pair of lightweight Teva Tirra women’s sandals, which show absolutely no sign of wear and are one of the most comfortable sandals she has ever worn. Charles lives in sandals and is currently loving his Teva Men’s Katavi Outdoor Sandal.

Gifts for the photographer

There’s a new breed of affordable, waterproof and shockproof cameras on the market.  These rugged cameras are usually waterproof to around 33 feet and resistant to a drop from around six feet. They fit in your jacket pocket and can go straight from the beach to a hike in the mountains without worrying about them.

We bought and love the Canon PowerShot D20 Waterproof Digital Camera, but its competitors the Panasonic Lumix TS4 (reviewed here) and the Nikon COOLPIX AW100 are great alternatives as well.  All three cameras take 1080p video and feature a slew of cool features and effects.

Gifts for the camera gadget lover

The XShot XSP2 Pocket Camera Extender is a new addition to our camera bag. Weighing in at less than a pound, the X-shot attaches to your camera, and the arm telescopes out to allow you to take self portraits. As a family of four, all of us just wouldn’t fit into the frame when we held the camera at arm’s length, so the X-Shot’s been a great addition for us. It also solves the problem of trying to find someone to take a photo of you. As a bonus it also attaches to our Mini Tripod to give the camera extra height when it matters.

Gifts for the shutter bug

We often take 1000s of photos on a trip. We use a Sandisk Ultra 32 gb SDHC Class 10 SD card to store them, which we love because it holds hundreds of photos and videos, and the class 10 means that it’s lightning fast.

Gifts for the minimalist

For backpackers and those who travel light, travel towels can be a great addition. We used the microfiber MSR Packtowl Original for years, and found it packed light and dried quickly. These days, we just pack thin terrycloth towels, but microfiber travel towels are a great choice for those who want to travel with the bare minimum.

For the comfort lover

We often travel with a small, squishy pillow that’s filled with little microbeads instead of a neck pillow. Neck pillows can be big and bulky, and they really only have one function. We find the little microbead pillows just as comfortable, and they can be used in a makeshift or regular bed as well.  They’re great to amuse kids on long haul flights, easy to squish into your carry-on, and double as a pillow for sleeping wherever you happen to be. You can get get them in adorable kids’ versions like the iscream Sweet Treats Macaroons Microbead Pillow or a Microbead Bolster Tube Pillow.

Do you have any must-have travel items that would make great Christmas gifts? Let us know in the comments below!