The 11 best travel gifts everyone needs (and will actually use)
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Oftentimes, traveling is equal parts enjoyable and taxing. From organizing and packing your belongings and securing the perfect piece of luggage for your trip to finding the best travel tech to entertain yourself along with sanitizing your seat, hotel space and more — there's a lot that goes into it.
Whether you travel routinely for work, family or recreational purposes, there are seven items that you should invest in that will last you for years to come and make traveling so much easier.
From these must-have compressible packing cubes that let you fit more in your luggage and the super affordable Cincha Travel Belt that neatly secures your personal bag to your carry-on to the new zipperless Monos Hybrid Check-In Large to this power bank that doubles as a wireless charging pad, check out our picks for the best travel gifts you should buy for yourself or an avid traveler in your life.
1. Monos Carry-On Pro, $285 (Orig. $300)
Investing in a high-quality carry-on suitcase is the perfect start to any trip. Especially with the ever-changing carry-on parameters and rules enforced by airlines today, it's important to have a carry-on hand that isn't too big or too small for the overhead compartment. The Monos Carry-On Pro is the best overall pick.
Currently the most user-friendly and stylish option you can buy, the Monos Carry-On Pro measures 22 x 14 x 19 in., making it the perfect size for overhead storage on a flight. For added convenience, while rushing through TSA or sprinting to your gate, it features a built-in front compartment for easy access while you travel. There, you can store your passport, headphones, wallet and more.
In fact, the front compartment also fits a 15-inch laptop and keeps all the pockets' contents protected under the same aerospace-grade polycarbonate as the rest of the suitcase. In fact, the shell is actually unbreakable. Right now, it's every single color is on sale.
2. Monos Compressible Packing Cubes, Set of Six, $110
Whether you're packing for a weekend trip in your rolling carry-on or a two-week vacation in a large checked suitcase, compressible packing cubes are a must-have to ensure that you pack in an organized fashion while taking up as little space as possible.
The Monos Compressible Packing Cubes help you avoid messy, over-stuffed suitcases by keeping your clothes and other items neatly organized and compressed. They're specifically designed to save space and fit perfectly in any carry-on on checked suitcase.
While most packing cubes on the market are made of cheap materials leading to them ripping easily after a few uses, these are made to last with all-premium materials. The exterior's construction is made of tear-resistant nylon twill while the interior features the same luxe soft, anti-microbial fabric found inside Monos' best-selling suitcases.
Choose from three colors tan, black and gray and two quantities (set of four or a set of six).
3. The Rothy's Machine-Washable Weekender Bag, $550
If you're taking a weekend trip or just prefer a handheld luggage option, the new Rothy's Weekender bag is the best pick. Today, most weekender bags don't offer enough space to hold a full weekend's worth of clothes, shoes and toiletries without bulking up. This bag is one of the few that has enough space while maintaining its shape and style.
This does-it-all travel bag comes with padded top handles, an adjustable, detachable strap and three spacious compartments that make getaways easy and so much less stressful. The main compartment has a zipper closure and is spacious enough to fit clothes, books and toiletries. The side compartment with the magnetic closure and interior zipper pocket is perfect for storing shoes. The additional side compartment with a zipper closure keeps your laptop, wallet and passport secure.
The Rothy's Weekender also arrives in a dust bag and has an accompanying wash bag for use when traveling.
Like all of the brand's best-selling bags, this weekender is knit with 100% recycled materials and crafted with a blend of ocean-bound marine plastic and Rothy's signature thread. Best of all, when it gets dirty, simply toss it in the wash, and it'll be as good as new.
It comes in five colors (two classic and three limited-edition) and is the all-around best weekender bag I've personally found and used.
4. Paravel Cabana Customizable Passport Case, $75
Having a travel wallet at your disposal helps keep you organized and ready to go during your trips to the airport. Especially when rushing through airport security, it's important to have a designated place to store your passport, boarding pass and other necessary travel documents.
The Paravel Cabana Customizable Passport Case is my go-to for storing all of these essentials. The impeccably made case fits your passport with extra room for IDs and credit cars and, best of all, it's customizable at no extra cost, making it the perfect gift for the traveler in your life. Before adding to your cart, just add a monogram and you're good to go.
5. Monos Hybrid Check-In Large, $425
Monos, known for its No. 1 best-selling luggage, recently expanded its Hybrid line of zipperless luggage pieces and the Monos Hybrid Check-In Large is already one of its top sellers.
It's literally unbreakable and extremely lightweight, making it the perfect vessel for long-distance airport travel. Since it's zipperless, it has two TSA-approved locks to keep your belongings secure. This also allows for you to store more items without worrying about the zipper bursting during travel.
Choose from three beautiful, luxe colors (Champagne, Obsidian and Silver).
6. Troubadour Stash Slim Wallet, $145
This one's for the guys. When traveling, having a simple wallet on hand that's secure with easily accessible card and cash slots is key, and Troubadour covered all bases with its sleek and minimalist Stash Slim Wallet.
Gorgeous vegetable-tanned Italian leather craftsmanship aside, this wallet features five slots for your cards and ID and a larger slot that holds banknotes and all major world currencies. What's great about investing in a leather wallet is that, over time, it takes on a warmer, softer look, eventually developing a style that's unique to just you.
Shoppers also love this wallet. One reviewer who dubbed it his "favorite wallet" praised its "sleek and slim profile" — a feature that shoppers appreciate since it doesn't bulk up and protrude in your pocket like most other bi-fold wallets.
7. Monos Metro Folio Kit, $60
Some travelers opt for a passport case or portfolio over a wallet and currently, the Monos Metro Folio Kit is one of the most thorough and slim options on the market.
This sleek and slim Folio kit is wider, flatter and more rigid than most similar options available from other retailers. It's perfect for use on its own and is also the best companion to the Monos Metro Duffel and Metro Backpack. Thanks to its QuickSnap technology, the Monos Folio Kit snaps on and off of the Duffel and Backpack so you can easily swap kits according to your day's needs.
It's also the true essence of a multi-functional travel essential. Use it as a wallet/passport folio while on the move or as an E-reader/tablet kit when you're relaxing at your gate or at the pool.
The Monos Metro Folio Kit is crafted with ultra-microfibre vegan leather and boasts pockets for your passport, travel documents, mini-tablet or E-reader, SD card, credit cards, vaccination card, keys, pens, cables, lip balm, AirPods and more.
8. Satechi Quatro Wireless Power Bank, $99.99
$99.99 at Amazon$99.99 at Satechi
I recently used the Satechi Quatro Wireless Power Bank on a weekend trip and can firmly say that it's, by far, the most versatile and useful wireless power bank and travel charger I've used to date.
Those who've grown accustomed to the convenience of wireless charging at home will love this device. It provides the same easy, cable-free convenience while you're on the go and combines the best of both portable and wireless charging.
All you need to do is charge the device as you would any other power bank. And when you're ready to use it as a wireless charging pad on your hotel nightstand, simply double press the power button and place your Qi-enabled devices on top. It features a dedicated Apple Watch charger to the far left with the rest of the pad left open for charging your smartphone or wireless earbuds.
This is an absolute must-have for those who prefer cable-free charging solutions while traveling.
9. Satechi Duo Wireless Charger Power Stand, $99.99
Satechi's wireless power banks are some of the most innovative travel-friendly tech items we've found. In fact, its newly released Duo Wireless Charger Power Stand is the perfect option for those who love to multitask.
While the Quatro Wireless Power Bank is ideal for nightstand use while traveling or just charging on the go, this newer option extends the possibilities even further. In addition to all those uses, it's perfect for streaming videos while traveling. Its dock position tilts your smartphone upright (either in the landscape or portrait position) while it charges, providing you with the perfect viewing angle.
The Satechi Duo Wireless Charger Power Stand also supports simultaneous fast charging of up to 10W total for your smartphone, AirPods and Apple Watch and charges them all simultaneously.
10. Cincha Travel Belt for Luggage, $40
Most modern handheld travel bags now come with a built-in sleeve that lets them securely sit at the top of your roller luggage without budging. However, if you're using a tote or a handbag, it likely doesn't have this feature.
The folks at Cincha created the perfect affordable solution that keeps your bag from sliding and falling. The Cincha Travel Belt neatly secures your personal bag to your carry-on or checked luggage handle and fully eliminates the problem of having to keep your bag from falling. It's adjustable up to 45 inches and holds any bag securely and tightly without damaging the fabric.
Choose from 17 different colors and patterns (eight core and nine seasonal).
11. Marshall Motif True Wireless Active Noise Canceling Headphones, $149.99 (Orig. $199.99)
$149.99 $199.99 at Amazon$199.99 at Marshall Headphones
Lastly, what's traveling without a quality pair of active noise-canceling headphones? Perfect for drowning out in-flight noise and surrounding sound during a commute or airport rush, the Marshall Motif A.N.C. headphones have been a massive customer favorite for a while now.
In fact, some Amazon shoppers say these provide much better sound quality than AirPods and they're currently 25% off for the holidays. Also, if you order now, they arrive before Christmas!
They feature industry-leading noise-canceling technology and each earbud holds 4.5 hours of wireless playtime with full A.N.C. on one single charge. The portable charging case provides 20 total hours of playtime on a single charge. They also are extremely compact and fit perfectly in your pocket without bulging.
The Marshall Motif True Wireless Active Noise Canceling Headphones are a definite travel must-have and they also make the perfect gift.
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