Creative, experience-enhancing travel gift essentials curated by real travelers
By Emily Kapecki
As the holiday season approaches, I like to be intentional with my gift shopping, finding unique items for those in my life. When browsing throughout the year (never too early to start!), I think not only about what that person might enjoy, but about what will make them truly light up with excitement when they open it, and of course, they need to be items they would actually use! Enter: travel gift ideas!
In that spirit, this holiday season I thought it would be fun to connect with some of the frequent travelers in my life, from Creative Group colleagues to friends in various industries, to learn about their top travel items and tips. To this end, I compiled a varied range of items that make travelling a better experience to bring more comfort, organized travel, and health support on the go.
So, if you are looking for a gift for the traveler in your life, or simply just items for yourself, read on for some inspiration!
Energy & Time Savers
Travel Cord Organizer
A travel cord organizer is something you can keep stored in your tote/backpack, so it is ready to go when you start packing. Having an extra phone charger, headphone charger, and other needed electronic cords already packed and stored in your work bag makes packing less stressful, and it’s one less item to think about! Key tip: If you have a spare laptop charger, keep one in your work travel bag so you never forget it at home. Check out these options our Creative Group employees love using:
- Faux Leather Tech Clutch | Mark and Graham
- Volante Tech Organizer | Tech Organizer Case – Laudi Vidni (customize your way!)
Wrinkle-Free Suit Carry-On
For many I spoke to, their goal is to never check a bag.
This Garment Bag came highly recommended for those traveling with suits. The
individual I talked to loves this bag because his suits stay wrinkle-free during travel. Instead of focusing his energy on ironing when he gets to his hotel, he can focus on the business he is there to accomplish.
If you prefer to roll your suitcase through the airport, another person recommended the Tumi Rolling Garment Bag. This bag can handle a weeks’ worth of clothes wrinkle-free!
Travel Laundry Bag
Another recommendation to keep in your suitcase is a travel laundry bag. This simple, yet powerful item hangs nicely in your hotel room closet and can store all your dirty clothes from the week in a separate area from any clean/unused clothes you bring on your travel home. Additionally, if you are on a long trip, having this bag can also help you more easily distinguish your dirty clothes for cleaning at the hotel, or they can serve as a convenient way to carry them to an offsite laundry service. No more guessing or trying to remember which clothes you wore!
Air Tags
An item that always comes highly recommended is a tracking device like Air Tags. If you need to check a bag, keeping an Air Tag in each checked bag can help with any unexpected luggage issues. You can track exactly where your bag is located so you can help navigate with the airline to collect your bag. This has come in handy a few times for Creative Group employees and is a huge stress-saver!
Packing Lists & Cubes
Making a packing list is a great way to keep yourself organized during travel and to calm the packing chaos that tends to ensue before a trip. After making your packing list, lay your clothes on the bed to ensure everything coordinates before packing it into packing cubes (includes a travel laundry bag!). Depending on your trip, you can pack for certain parts of your trip by designating different cubes for different activities. As an example, I had the opportunity to travel to South Africa for a safari and Cape Town trip, so I organized my clothes when packing by placing safari outfits in one cube, and my other clothes in a separate packing cube. It made each day smoother when I was looking for outfits and changing hotels while traveling!
Comfort & Luxury Items
A Good Book
Starting with classic comfort, a must-have for traveling is a book. Whether you prefer to travel with a physical book or an e-reader, having a book to keep you company is always a go-to for our team. Although this is a typical gift idea, many people travel exclusively with their Kindle. Curious how to gift a book for someone else on their Kindle? Check out this article from Amazon: How to Gift Kindle Books to Others
“Airplane Mode” Travel Hoodie
If you are heading on a redeye or international flight, check out this cozy hoodie to sleep in. This hoodie has 5 different zippers to safely store items such as passports, earbuds, lip balm, or your phone. This makes it much easier to have some items more accessible instead of digging around to figure out where these items are in your bag once you are seated. Even better, there is a built-in eye mask to shield out the light for easier sleeping.
Portable Turbo Fan
Have you ever been on a plane and it feels like no air is moving while in flight? If you experience that unfortunate situation or you are traveling to a hot destination, our team loves taking this handheld fan to stay cool.
Magnetic Airplane Phone Holder
This phone holder is a great travel tool so you can mount your phone on your tray table without moving due to the magnetic feature. This convenient mount allows you to keep a straighter posture and catch up on your shows while your hands and neck can take a break.
Magnetic Wireless Charger
This 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charger by Tumi helps our team stay powered up wherever they are. This charging device collapses to easily take on the go and has the capability to charge up to three magnetic-chargeable devices simultaneously. Keep this great charger in your travel bag so it is ready to go whenever you are!
Your Body will Thank you Later
Mini Hot Water Bag/Bottle
For traveling on long or overnight flights, one of our Creative Group employees packs this tiny hot water bottle in her carry-on. This small item comes in handy whether you are on the plane or in your hotel room. We have all had those moments on the plane when it is excessively cold, so when you are seated on the plane, ask the flight attendant for hot water and tuck this small water bottle inside your shirt or behind your neck. Likewise, after a long day of meetings or running around the hotel or convention center, use the kettle in your hotel room for hot water to fill this small water bottle and gift your body some relief.
Key Tip: Similarly, you can purchase some small travel containers and fill them with some Epsom salt for you or the traveler in your life. Imagine how good a calming foot soak in the tub will feel after a long day of walking or running around.
Health Support Supplements
If you are a more practical gift-giver, gift some travel-sized fiber supplements, L-theanine, Advil/Ibuprofen, or laxatives—the truth is that these small but mighty items are sometimes required when traveling.
Gifts with a Personal Touch
For those in your life that are more sentimental or travel very often for work, consider taking some time to do some crafting this holiday season. You can design a personalized water bottle, phone case, notebook, or custom luggage tag with a personalized photo. If you prefer digital items, send a note to individuals close to the gift recipient, asking them to send you a video message that you can compile so that they can watch the video as a thoughtful reminder of loved ones and cherished times when they are away. What can be more in the holiday spirit than that?
I hope some of these have brought a spark of an idea for you this season to make 2026 a year filled with ease, comfort, and more organization. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and creativity!
*The links included reflect suggestions from those interviewed and are offered for informational purposes only—not as paid endorsements.
