anne taylor

What to get your friend who’s traveling for the first time in 2024.

Note: Many items on this list can be found on my Amazon storefront. I also use affiliate links in this article, which means I may earn a small commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you. I only link items that I personally recommend.

As a commerce-focused writer, I’ve learned a thing or two about finding the best products that are worth your money. And, if I do say so myself, I’m a pretty good gift-giver. I’ve decided to put together all the gift guides I’ve wanted to write over the years that didn’t get approved by my editors—so is the life of a freelance writer.

The first guide is Gifts for a Newbie Traveler. This is for anyone who has a friend, family member, or coworker who is taking their first cross-country or international trip in 2024. Veteran travelers tend to know what they want (and I’ll cover them in another guide), but newbie travelers are probably a little overwhelmed with what they should buy for their trip.

While their packing list will depend primarily on where they’re going, there are a few travel items that belong in every traveler’s bag. As someone who’s visited 21 countries, here’s what I recommend:

A Good Carry-On Backpack

Whether your gift recipient is checking bags or not, they should have a personal item for the plane. While this is advertised by airlines as a purse or briefcase, I’ve always traveled with a backpack and have never had an issue. I recommend a backpack because 1) it’s easy to lug around, and 2) you can fit a lot more in here than a purse.

I’ve used the MAXTOP Deep Storage Laptop Backpack ($39.99, but usually on sale) for several years now. It’s large enough to hold everything I need on the airplane, but compact enough that I’m never worried about it fitting under my seat.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to travel backpacks. This one has tons of pockets and storage, making it great for a type-A person traveling for the first time, while this anti-theft one has several features to keep their stuff safe from pickpockets.

Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Look, you’re not going to get the best pair of noise-cancelling headphones for under $50, which is the price point I aim to hit for all of my gift guides. That being said, here are my top two options:

For wired earbuds, these Panasonic earbuds are my absolute favorite. They’re super comfortable, have good noise control, and are less than $10.

If you want to gift over-the-ear headphones, the JBL Tune 510BT’s are a great choice. They’re comfy and have great sound quality for a good price point of $50.

Apple AirTags

Checked bags are getting lost left and right these days. If your gift recipient has an iPhone, one of the most useful items you can get them is one or more Apple AirTags. These can help someone track down their bags almost anywhere in the world, even if the airline loses them.

Eye Mask and Earplugs

Every traveler needs an eye mask and earplugs for the airplane, hotel, bus, train–you name it. A basic set works fine here. This would make a good stocking stuffer or addition to a larger gift.

A Travel Pillow

Travel pillows can be super hit-or-miss. I’ve tried tons of different ones, and only a few actually work for me. That being said, it is frustrating to spend money on something you don’t end up using, so as a traveler, I would love to get a pillow as a gift. If it doesn’t end up working well for me, at least I’m not out $40.

One of my favorite pillows is this one by Cabeau. The memory foam is super comfortable and the whole thing can be rolled up for transporting.

If you want something more budget-friendly, I haven’t personally tried this pillow, but it’s rated well and looks like it would do the job.

Compression Socks

I know, compression socks sound like a weird gift. And sure, these would probably work best as a stocking stuffer, but hear me out. These guys have SAVED me on countless trips. They keep my feet from getting swollen after sitting for 10+ hours and generally help me feel less fatigued. I recommend them to everyone, and I definitely think they could be a good gift.

A Travel Journal

Traveling for the first time is really exciting. A travel journal will help your recipient keep track of their adventures and remember them in the coming years.

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I have lots more gift ideas for newbie travelers on my Amazon Storefront: https://amzn.to/3FF8CGF

Thanks for reading!