I am excited to present The Official 2023 Off Seasoner Travel Holiday Gift Guide for that special someone and traveler in your life!
This is an update to a list I created one year ago for holiday shopping. Many of the items have stayed the same but I added a few new recommendations that I have come across this year. Items are listed in order of least to most expensive, and I have noted where an item’s price has actually gone down since last year. This list is unsponsored. I just wanted to share my top 10 favorite travel items right in time for those Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
Laundry bag
$10.70 from Amazon (New lower price!)
This was such a simple and cheap purchase that has improved the quality of my life most dramatically while traveling. I’ve been hauling dirty clothes around in plastic grocery store bags inside my luggage like a peasant for decades. I can’t believe I didn’t buy one earlier. It keeps my dirty cloths separated inside my bag and comes with a built in pocket you can stuff the bag itself into for easy storage. It is also very convenient for doing laundry on the go yourself or dropping it off to be cleaned. Again, I no longer need to feel embarrassed for dragging in my ripped up overstuffed grocery bag. Do your laundry with confidence and style!
Flip flops
Havaianas are the best! They are a Brazilian brand that are cheap and well made and come in lots of different colors and patterns. I love them because they are compact and lightweight, and wearing sandals is the easiest way to get through airport security. Don’t worry, I wear socks with them. I’m not waking through airport security barefoot. I am just chronically dorky, not gross.
Eye mask
$14.99 Alaska Bear from Amazon
I had an Alaska Bear mask for many years which was very comfortable, lightweight, and cheap. It came off while I was asleep on a flight earlier this year and even though I searched everywhere I was never able to find it. After a brief mourning period that definitely included anger and denial while disembarking from that flight, I decided to switch it up and replace it with MZOO, which I also like a lot. It completely blocks out light and has a more secure fit without putting any pressure on the eyes.
Travel towel
A travel towel is not useful for every trip, but if you are staying in a hostel I think it is worth it to bring your own. They’re also great for any water based activities while traveling. It’s convenient to always have one on you if you are going to be hiking, biking, or otherwise getting sweaty, or if you decide to hop into that lake, river, or ocean while out exploring. I brought mine with me for my recent trip to Iceland and used it at every hot spring to avoid renting a towel.
Travel towels are different from regular towels because they are made from synthetic materials that make them more compact, quicker to dry, and more absorbent than regular towels. They also come in different sizes. I chose the Nomadix Mini because I liked the pattern and the size packs small but is still big enough that I can wrap it around my waist.
Ear plugs (New!)
I finally found the reusable earplugs I have been looking for, and I want you to find them too! I love these because they are comfortable, easy to use, and easy to travel with. Each set comes with 4 different sizes for the inner ear. They also feature a carrying case that can clip onto a bag or keychain. There are different styles for different levels of noise cancellation. I use Quiet for sleeping/traveling and always carry Experience with me for concerts, dancing, or any other noisy events. They also come in a bunch of different fun colors which is a huge plus.
Compression bag
Compression bags are something that I only started using recently and have apparently become a thing since I moved to Mexico and stopped backpacking. There are many different brands and they are helpful when traveling on the trail and off. This is perfect for the overpacker or the person who refuses to check a bag, of which I am both. I mean, who has the time to actually check a bag anyway?
The sacks come in different sizes, Sea to Summit offers 6L up to 20L. The idea is that you stuff in as much clothing as you can, preferably bulky items and things you don’t mind getting wrinkled. You then struggle to pull down the straps on all four sides and, voila! Several sweaty moments later 10 liters worth of clothing has been compacted into 4. I was skeptical that this would actually work, but I can attest that the bag I purchased from Sea to Summit did and has made my life easier.
Travel pillow
$44.99 from Trtl (New lower price!)
This travel pillow will only work for you if your head falls to the right or left when you are nodding off, not forward. Although it looks strange it is extremely comfortable and I love it because it packs flat within its own bag to keep it clean.
The carry bag can easily be fastened to the outside of my travel bag, which is the only reason I haven’t lost it immediately like all of my former, bulky travel pillows.
Headphones
$99 from Amazon (New!)
I only recently purchased these Soundcore by Anker Space One headphones and I am loving them! They feature great noise cancellation, which can be switched on and off. These headphone also have a comfortable over the ear design. You can connect them via Bluetooth or AUX cord. Importantly, they are quick charging and boast an impressive battery life. They are great for traveling, working, and pretty much all of the time.
Travel toothbrush
$146.96 from Amazon (New lower price!)
An electric travel toothbrush may have been the most extravagant purchase I made this year, but if you travel a lot or for long periods it is worth it. I became a diehard fan of electric toothbrushes just within the last few years, but my teeth have never felt cleaner and I always get compliments from the dentist when I go in for regular cleanings which never happened to me before I switched. Did you know that dental hygiene is directly related to heart health among other systemic diseases? And that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States? And again, just to reiterate, I am not being backed by the dental industry, I am just unordinarily passionate about dental hygiene
The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean comes with a USB charging case and holds the charge for about two weeks in my experience. It has 3 speeds and will alert you when you need to change the toothbrush head. It also comes with a cup you can use to charge it instead of the travel case if you want to use it at home as well.
Travel bag
Here is the men’s version of the same bag.
The Osprey Fairview Travel Pack 55L is a real life glitch in the matrix y’all. I absolutely love this travel backpack. It is actually two bags, a larger backpack and an easily detachable daypack that can be zipped on and off. The main bag is flat enough to fit in any overhead bin and unzips from three sides, so you don’t need to unpack your entire bag every time you arrive to a new destinations and need to get to something.
I can fit so much stuff in this bag and it always counts as a carry on. I have flown Ryanair, Spirit, and Frontier among other budget airlines and never been stopped. If you do decide to check it, the back zips up so that the straps are not exposed. Osprey bags are very high quality, and come with a lifetime warranty. Do yourself a favor a buy this bag already.
My hope is that you once again find this guide useful and can check off an item or two from your gift list, if not for yourself. Safe travels and best of luck out there this holiday season.
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