31 Pretty and Practical Gifts for Families who Travel

1. Apple AirTags

AirTags are small GPS trackers that fit inside backpacks, pockets, or anywhere else you want to stash them. The battery in each one lasts about a year.

We keep them inside all of our travel bags. If the kids wander off, we can track them via the backpack they are carrying.

For younger kids, consider a bracelet or necklace so the AirTag is actually on their person. You can also clip it to their clothing.

Buy Now: Apple AirTags

AirTags are one part of a complete safety plan- check out our best posts for keeping kids safe when traveling.

2. AirTag Protectors

We also love these bright silicone AirTag protectors, which come with a keychain for easy attaching. These keep the AirTags from getting scratched up and shuffling around inside your luggage. The colors make them easy to see and easy to customize for each family member.

Buy Now: AirTags Protective Case

3. Road ID Bracelets

Road IDs are silicone bracelets that hold a metal plate engraved with important information. These are great for anyone with an active lifestyle- how many times have you gone for a bike ride without taking an ID?

These can be used for adults, kids, and even animals. Our kids wear them while traveling in case we get separated- so they always have our cell phone numbers. You can customize them as you like, including for any medical condition. Ours have our names, emergency contact numbers, allergy info, and blood types.

We use the stretch silicone bracelets, but you can also get versions with buckles, or even those that attach to your smartwatch. Each order comes with three bracelets in your size range, so you are sure to find the right fit. They are very comfortable, and we love that they come in lots of fun color options.

Buy Now: Road ID Bracelets

4. Family Passport Holder

Keeping your family’s passports and other official documentation together is essential. We use this Zero Grid Travel Wallet / Family Passport Holder. It holds up to six passports, but it’s perfect for a family of four.

Well, honestly, after three years of travel, we had to go through it and remove old MetroCards, SIM cards, and visa papers, as it was getting a bit stuffed!

The slim zippered closure is made of water-resistant nylon and RFID blocking to protect you from identity theft. With space for passports, credit cards, currency, and an internal zippered pocket, the wallet includes a pen for customs forms.

We use this to hold our passports, yellow fever cards, global entry cards, diving cards, extra passport photos, and more. With all of these things for a family of four, this holder is pretty full, but everything is still organized and easy to access.

Interested in smaller passport holder options? Check out other options in our post on the best stocking stuffers for travelers.

Buy Now: Family Passport Holder

5. Portable Tech Charger

This Portable Charger is a must for travelers. At roughly the width of your phone and with a 5,000 mAh capacity, this pocket-sized charger attaches firmly to your phone with no dangling cords.

This little 12-watt device charges quickly, so you’ll be back to snapping pictures in no time.

The USB-C plug flips down when not in use. There are small dots on the front which indicate the power level, so you’ll know when your charger is running low.

Buy Now: Portable Tech Charger

6. International Power Adapter

This Travel Power Adapter includes a cable with an EU plug and comes with four additional international plug attachments. It features 4 USB-A smart ports and 3 three-prong outlets with surge protection. Its compact size and one-pound weight make it easy to bring on your next adventure.

We love this adapter because we can use one plug in a hotel room, then plug all of our devices into the adapter via USB to charge. This is one of the first things we unpack in a new destination.

Buy Now: International Power Adapter

7. Trtl Travel Pillow

This travel pillow is a game-changer for sleeping on planes, trains, and buses. It has a stiff plastic insert that holds your neck on one side so you don’t do the head-bob and wake up with a stiff neck.

We wrote a full review of the Trtl, including pros and cons, so you can decide if it’s right for you. Available in regular, petite, and kids’ sizes.

Buy Now: Trtl Travel Pillow

8. UV Water Purifier

This UV Water Purifier treats a liter of water in 90 seconds and kills 99.9% of bacteria that can make you sick.

The LED display is easy to read and user-friendly. This eliminates tons of one-use plastic water bottles when you are traveling- great for the environment, and great for your pocketbook!

This water purifier is also perfect for camping, where you may not have access to clean water. This comes with an easily packable pouch and is a great gift for any traveler.

At a slightly higher price point, check out the Ultra. The smaller, lighter-weight wand is an upgrade over the classic model and now has a rechargeable battery and an included USB charging cable.

Buy Now: Ultra UV Water Purifier

9. Travel Scarf with Hidden Pocket

This infinity scarf is fashionable and useful! The pockets are large enough to hold a passport, phone, money, and more. Made by a small family business in Massachusetts, this scarf gets amazing reviews!

Buy Now: Travel Infinity Scarf

11. Foldable Travel Bag

This Foldable Travel Bag is incredibly versatile and collapses down to the size of a purse when not in use. It can easily be packed for a day trip or used as your carry-on.

With lots of storage options, including a built-in wet bag and luggage sleeve, this waterproof bag is fully air travel-compliant and fits in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you.

This is a great present for any traveler- we love having an extra bag to use as a beach bag, or to hold those extra souvenirs we picked up at the last minute.

Buy Now: Foldable Travel Bag

12. Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack

This 20L packable daypack folds down small and light- it’s the perfect “extra” backpack to stuff in your luggage!

It has a roll-top, IPX5 waterproof, non-submersible closure, so you don’t have to worry about changing weather.

It has padded shoulder straps and a sternum closure, so it’s comfortable to wear all day, plus an exterior zippered stash pocket for essentials and 2 side stretch pockets.

This is a wonderful travel gift for those who like to travel light- you can fly carry-on only and still have an extra bag when you arrive at your destination!

Buy Now: Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack

13. Packing Cubes

These Amazon Basics Packing Cubes are a great way to keep your clothes organized inside your suitcase or travel pack. In a variety of colors and sizes, these are great for the whole family.

You’ve probably heard about packing cubes- they really are a travel game-changer. We’ll never travel the same way again! We use one color for each family member, so there’s never any mix-up.

No more dumping out the contents of your backpack while trying to find something stuffed at the bottom.

From backpackers to families, these packing cubes are a win for all types of travelers!

Buy Now: Packing Cubes

14. Compression Packing Cubes

This set of six compression packing cubes each features a different National Park. Includes two large cubes, two small cubes, one laundry bag, and one tube cube (great for socks).

These also come in cute solids with an accent-colored zipper. These cubes are great for saving space compared to the regular packing cubes. Many of the options are solid colors, without mesh, so knowing what is in which bag is harder if you do not label them. This graphic option can help you stay more organized, as each bag has a different print.

We find that when we travel with checked luggage, we tend to max out weight restrictions without compression, so adding more space doesn’t help. When flying carry-on only, weight is not usually a factor, and compression is a big help.

Buy Now: Compression Packing Cubes

Travel-themed Puzzles and Games

Does your family love puzzles and games? Work on your geography and inspire your next bucket list trip with these fun, family-friendly travel-inspired games and puzzles.

15. Waterproof Deck of Cards

These playing cards are durable, waterproof, and come in a clear case that doesn’t take up much room. We love having a deck of cards handy for travel delays or playing a game while sitting in a restaurant with drinks and appetizers.

Buy Now: Waterproof Playing Cards

16. Hello from Around the World Puzzle

This 500-piece puzzle takes your family around the world via colorfully illustrated stamps representing various countries.

The individual squares make it easy for kids to sort the puzzle by stamp, so even younger kids can tackle parts of the puzzle.

We have this puzzle, and the girls argue over who gets to put together the rainbow each time!

Buy Now: 500 PC World Puzzle

17. Yahtzee: National Parks Edition

This fun travel version of the classic dice game Yahtzee features symbols of the National Parks, from a deer to binoculars.

An easy game to take along on a visit to the parks, while your purchase supports the National Park Service.

Buy Now: Yahtzee: National Parks Edition

Love visiting US National Parks? We’ve got a list of our favorite National Park gifts!

18. Vintage Travel Poster Puzzle

Bon Voyage! This Travel Poster Puzzle takes you on a trip around the world from Chile to Japan with vintage-style posters.

This 1,000-piece puzzle is sure to keep the family occupied and is a great way to chat about your next destination or travel bucket list!

Buy Now: Vintage Travel Poster Puzzle

Planning a road trip? From backseat organizers to jumper cables, we’ve got a complete list of all the best road trip essentials.

20. Vintage National Parks Puzzle

This 1,000-piece National Parks Puzzle features park posters and logos in a retro style. From Acadia to Yosemite, this puzzle features a variety of parks and wildlife.

Comes in a muslin bag in a cute storage tube. Perfect for the whole family to do together.

Buy Now: National Parks Vintage Puzzle

21. Cuba Puzzle

Take a trip to Cuba! Michael Storrings illustrated this 1,000-piece puzzle, featuring a street scene in Cuba.

This series also includes puzzles of Paris, London, and New York City.

Buy Now: 1000 Piece Cuba Jigsaw Puzzle

Family Travel Experiences

There’s nothing better to give a travel-loving family than the gift of experience! We love choosing memories over material things we may not really need.

22. USA National Park Pass

America the Beautiful National Parks Pass gets you into all national parks as many times as you like for one year.

Most National Parks charge $35 per vehicle for US residents, which means this pass pays for itself in three visits. Use this pass for places that charge per person, allowing up to four adults (children under 16 are always free).

We used a national park pass for our long cross-country road trip, our Northwest road trip, and our West-to-East road trip. We love exploring National Parks, and this pass makes it easy to add in an extra stop or two.

*As of January 2026, REI is not offering the National Parks Pass; we hope that they will again in the future.

Buy Now: Annual US National Park Pass*

23. Eat2explore Cooking Subscription

This is a great idea for family dinners. With eat2xplore, you can subscribe to get the featured country each month or buy country packs individually.

You can also choose a bundle of five recipes from one continent. They provide the menu, recipes, and all the spices and dry ingredients you will need.

You can buy fresh ingredients at your local store when you are ready to prepare the meal. This is a wonderful way to get kids excited about cooking, new tastes, and new places, all while making a healthy meal.

Buy Now: Eat2explore Cooking Subscription

24. Universal Yums Subscription

Give a taste of the world with these fun snacks from around the globe.

You can give Universal Yums as a single box, or as a recurring gift for three, six, or twelve months, with a new box arriving each month.

This is a great gift for the whole family. Each month’s snacks come from a different country!

Buy Now: Universal Yums Subscription

25. Tours and Classes on Location

Families love to receive experiences for their next trip!

You can pre-book for them via Viator, or enclose a gift card for Airbnb Experiences (good for lodging or tours). Not sure where they’re going next? You can also find cooking classes or other family-friendly experiences closer to home.

Search Now: Viator Tours and Classes

Travel-Themed Gifts for Home

These gifts feature a travel or world theme, but you’ll leave them at home when you hit the road. These make great keepsakes or reminders for those who love to travel.

26. Urban Map Rocks Glasses

These Rocks Glasses (think bourbon or whiskey) each feature an intricate city map. Choose your city- from Atlanta to Washington, DC. Celebrate your home city or old haunt.

These glasses are 3.5″ high and can hold 11 oz of your favorite drink. Each glass is sold individually.

Buy Now: Urban Map Rocks Glasses

27. She’s Travel Planning Candle

The perfect “use it and be done” gift for the travel planner who just can’t help herself! Smells of lavender and relaxation.

Buy Now: She’s Planning Candle

28. World Traveler’s Cork Globe

This 9.4-inch Cork Globe is a great family gift and comes in a monochromatic version that we love. Use pins to mark your last trip, or plan your next one!

There are limited labels on this globe, so you’ll need to know your geography. Available in different sizes, this is a great addition to a home office or study space.

Buy Now: World Traveler’s Cork Globe

30. Rotating Earth Globe

The Earth with Clouds Globe by MOVA is 4.5″ in diameter and is how the Earth looks from space. Utilizing solar cell technology, it gently rotates with any ambient light (no batteries needed).

You can also get this as the moon, or any of the planets in our solar system!

Buy Now: Rotating Earth Globe