This year has flown by and I can’t believe it’s time to start thinking about Christmas gifts!

If you’re a travelling family or are buying for frequent flyers, here’s some of our top gift recommendations for those special jet-setters on your life, or just little people who’re interested in finding out more about our big wide world.

A note for New Zealand and Australian based shoppers – although these items are based out of Amazon US, it’s very easy to get them shipped to this side of the world using New Zealand Post YouShop or ShopMate if you’re in Australia. We’ve ordered in the past on Black Friday and it’s arrived well in time for Christmas Day.

(NOTE: THIS GIFT GUIDE CONTAINS COMPENSATED LINKS. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLAIMER BELOW.)

Gifts for kids

1. Scooter and Suitcase Luggage All In One

A suitcase that’s also a scooter?! This is so perfect for travelling families with 3 to 8 year olds. You could use it at the airport as well as getting around once you reach your destination. It’s amazing how it folds right down and best still fits in the overhead luggage compartment on aircraft. There’s several designs available.

Check out prices and buy Zinc Flyte Kids Luggage Scooter 18″ – Polly the Panda here.

2. Scratch-Off World Map Travel Tracker

This cool map allows you to track your world travels as you explore the world. Kids will love marking off where they’ve been – or where they aspire to travel to at some point in the future!

Check prices for the Scratch-Off World Map Travel Tracker

3. Trunki Ride-On Suitcases

We’re massive Trunki fans, and this ride-on suitcase is the perfect way to transport tired kids around the airport, or give them a seat wherever you are! It’s also great for stashing all their bits and pieces in on long-haul flights. We’ve used them on 24 hour long-haul flights to Europe and they’re perfect.

Check prices for Trunki Ride-On Suitcases

4. Lonely Planet Kids “The Travel Book – A Journey Through Every Country In The World”

We bought this book for our kids last Christmas and they love it. We read it several times a week and they really enjoy choosing which country they want to read about at bedtime.

Check out prices for The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World (Lonely Planet) here.

5. Kindle Fire Tablet

A tablet is a must-have for kids on the road and these cost-effective Kindle Fire Tablets are perfect – we’ve had ours for over two years through 25 different countries and they’re still going strong. They can be used hassle free throughout the world in terms of accessing apps and the internet. Tried, trusted and highly recommended by us!

Check our prices of the Kindle Fire Tablet here.

6. V Tech Kidizoom Action Cam

This one is going to be up high on my kids’ wish list! This V Tech Kidizoom is an action camera specifically designed for kids. It’s waterproof to 6ft and you can also attach to bikes and skateboards, how awesome is that?!

Check prices for the V Tech Kidizoom Action Cam here.

7. Magnetic Board Games set

Travel games are a must have for long bus and train rides, waits at the airport, camping and times where you don’t have any internet access! This cool set has 12 different games including checkers, snakes and ladders, Ludo and Backgammon. And it’s all magnetic so you won’t lose any of the pieces.

Check out prices for the Magnetic Board Games set here.

Check prices and buy the Magnetic Board Game Set here

8. Amazon Gift Cards

Buying for tweens and teens can be tricky, so why not give them a gift card so they can get what they really want? Amazon Gift Cards start at $10 and can go up to whatever value you like!

Buy Amazon.com Gift Card for Any Amount in a Mini Envelope (Black) here.

9. Kids Travel Journal

In our experience, kids love to document their travels and make a note of all the amazing places they’re visiting. This Travel Journal from Lonely Planet is perfect for them to record all their epic adventures.

Check out prices of a Kids Travel Journal here.

10. Mini Doodle Kit

This art set is the same size as a passport – perfect for creating in-flight masterpieces.

Check out prices for the Kikkerland Mini Doodle Kit here.

11. Knock Knock Game Pad

Five different games like Hangman, Tic Tac Toe and Dots and Boxes will help while away the travel hours for the whole family.

Check out prices for the Knock Knock Game Pad here.

12. Shopkins Travel Pillow

For the Shopkins fans in your life, this cosy travel pillow is perfect for long car trips and flights.

Check out prices for the Shopkins Travel Pillow here.

13. Spiderman Woosh Travel Pillow and Blanket Set

Spidey senses will tingle with this fab travel pillow and blanket combo.

Check out prices for the Spiderman Travel Pillow and Blanket Set here.

14. Camelbak Water Bottles

Camelbak are the masters when it comes to carrying water on the go, and these cute dishwasher friendly, BPA and BPS free water bottles are great for any kid on the road. There’s 28 different designs to choose from! Our little shark obsessed guy just might be finding one of these in his Christmas stocking!

Check prices and buy the CamelBak Kids Eddy Water Bottle, 0.4 L, Sharks here.

15. Otter Wings UPF50+ Swim Shirt and Floaties

This is another great mash-up of a high sun-rated protection swim shirt, with floatie arm bands that attach to the shirt to keep kids both sun and water safe.

Check out prices and buy Otter Wings Kids Floaties (Water Wings) / UPF 50+ Swim Shirt Combo Kids Floatation Device here.

Gifts For Her

Here’s a list of top travel gifts for the globetrotting Mum, Sister, Aunty or BFF in your life.

1. Kate Middleton’s Travel Shoes

Stylie Kate has worn these comfy shoes while yachting in Auckland, on safari in India and rowing dragonboats in Canada. For under 100 bucks you can be like Kate and step out in a pair of Sebago Bala Slip-On Loafers. After all, if they’re good enough for a princess….

Check out prices for Sebago Women’s Bala Slip-On Loafer here.

2. Rifle Paper Co ‘Bon Voyage’ Desk Calendar

In these days of everything electronic, I still like to have a paper desk calendar. These gorgeous vintage designs from Rifle Paper Co will inspire the wanderlust in you every day.

Check out the prices and buy the Rifle Paper 2018 Bon Voyage Desk Calendar here.

3. Wine Wings Portable Wine Bottle transporters

I need these in my life! Designed by a commercial airline pilot, they’re perfect for transporting bottles of wine in your luggage without worrying about it breaking in transit.

Check out prices for Wine Wings Reusable Wine Bottle Protector Sleeve Travel Bag here.

4. Beach towel clips

These cute Hawaiian style beach towel clips would make great stocking stuffers. Use them at the beach, pool or on board a cruise to stop your beach towel from blowing away.

Check out prices and buy Beach Towel Tropical Hawaiian Clips here.

5. Burts Bees Fabulous Mini’s Travel Set

The wonderful Burts Bees range comes in a travel size containing a Cleanser, Day Lotion, Deep Cleansing Cream, Body Lotion, Foot Cream and a Hand Cream. Everything you need for adventures on the road without the fuss.

Check out prices and buy Burt’s Bees Fabulous Mini’s Travel Set here.

6. Kindle e-reader

I love reading paper books, but I would be truly lost without my Kindle on the road. Forget carting around heavy books, you can simply download everything onto the one device. I’ve found it super easy to download books even in places with seriously bad internet in South East Asia. I can safely say this is one of my travel essentials!

Check prices and buy the Kindle Paperwhite E-reader here.

7. Crumpled City Maps

These innovative fabric maps fold down into a pocket-sized drawstring pouch. More robust than a paper map, it weighs less than an ounce and is waterproof. Available for all the cool cities on your bucketlist – New York, Rome, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona etc …

Check out the Crumpled City Map-New York (Crumpled City Maps) and buy here.

8. Blunt Metro Umbrella

I’ve been coveting a Blunt umbrella since forever. Everyone I know who has one swears by them, and I reckon they’d be perfect for travel. So do someone you love a favour and get them one this Christmas!

Check out prices for the Blunt Metro Umbrella – Black and buy here.

9.  Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 Of The World’s Most Amazing Places

Traveloholics like us would love a book like this. From National Geographic, it’s a beautifully illustrated guide to everywhere you need to go.

Check out prices for Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places and buy here.

10. ‘I’m Outta Here’ Passport Cover

Me. Everytime I travel. This cute passport cover not only protects your most precious travel document but also sums up current mood perfectly.

See prices and buy ban.do design The Getaway Passport Holder – I’m Outta Here here.

11. Karen Walker Sunglasses

Karen Walker is a New Zealand icon and makes seriously cool sunglasses. Buy any travel loving gal a pair of these and she’ll be over the moon.

See prices and buy Karen Walker Women’s Super Duper Strength Sunglasses here.

12. Sarong

A decent sarong is an absolute must when travelling because they’re so versatile. Use it as a towel, beach cover-up, a headscarf or around the shoulders when visiting mosques and temples – I’ve even used one as a sheet in a less than ideal dirty hostel experience! These NOVICA sarongs are not only pretty but also fair-trade certified. Other colours and patterns available.

Check out prices and purchase the NOVICA Red and Blue Rayon Batik Sarong, ‘Red Sunrise’ here.

13. Reisenthel Foldable Shopping Bag

A bag like this is so handy while you’re travelling. You can use it for buying groceries in plastic bag free stores, holding your swimwear, putting in the kid’s snacks while out and about or taking your bits and pieces to the ablution block when camping. When you’re done it folds back down to a pocket size.

Check out the prices and buy reisenthel mini maxi loftbag, Foldable Shopping Bag, Dots here.

14. Adventure Bound Travel Dress

A good travel dress is a must-have for adventures on the road. Dresses are great for travel as you can bling them up, or wear them at the beach with your flip-flops. I love this Adventure Bound dress from Columbia – it’s comfortable as well as practical.

Check prices and buy the Columbia Women’s Adventure Bound Dress here.

15. PacSafe Anti-Theft Travel Handbag

I love this bag so much – it’s the exact one that we’ve travelled through 25 countries with and it’s as good as new. It’s full of travel technology to protect your stuff like RFID theft protection, hidden wire mesh to prevent slash and run and lots of locking functionality to stop pick-pockets.

Check prices and buy the Pacsafe Citysafe CS100 Anti-Theft Travel Handbag here.

Gifts For Him

1. Portable Bluetooth Speaker – Shockproof and Waterproof

Sounds on the road are a must-have, and we carried a UE Boom round the world with us last year. These ones are even more awesome because they’re shockproof and waterproof, perfect for global adventures.

Check prices and buy UE BOOM 2 Meteor Wireless Mobile Bluetooth Speaker (Waterproof and Shockproof) here.

2. Herschel Supply Co Chapter Travel Kit

These stylish yet durable toiletry bags come in a variety of designs and are made to last.

Check out prices and buy Herschel Supply Co. Chapter Travel Kit here.

3. Roll-Up Electronics Organiser

Cords, adaptors and chargers everywhere is one of our travel bugbears. These practical roll-up electronics organisers are the answer to keeping track of all your cords and avoiding spaghetti junction in your suitcase.

Check prices and buy the ProCase Roll-up Electronics Organizer here.

4. Thorlo Hiking Socks

There’s nothing worse than blisters when you’re out in the wildnerness or just urban exploring. These Thorlo socks are the best out there. We love them because they’re clinically proven to reduce blisters and reduce moisture AKA sweat. And less stinky socks while on the road is good for everyone, trust us!

Check prices and buy Thorlos Men’s Moderate Padded Light Hiking Crew Sock, 3 Pack  here.

5. Victorinox Swiss Army Knife

We’ve been travelling for 20 years and take a Swiss Army Knife on every trip we go on. OK mostly for opening bottles of wine and cutting up camembert on French impromptu picnics, but the scissors come in handy and the tweezers have been used to remove sea urchin spikes from a foot in Croatia. True story. Victorinox are the best, and with a 5 star rating and 1,500+ reviews you can’t go wrong.

Check out prices and buy Victorinox Swiss Army Tinker Pocket Knife here.

6. “Secret Marvels of the World” Book

Featuring communist bunkers, burning gas craters and at least one sponge-rock fluorescent grotto built by Polish monks, this book reveals weird and wonderful sights the crowds don’t reach. Perfect for that off-the-beaten-track explorer.

Check out prices and buy Secret Marvels of the World: 360 extraordinary places you never knew existed and where to find them (Lonely Planet) here.

7. Birkenstock Sandals

We’re a Birk-loving travel family that’s for sure. Check out any of our photos in hot places and you’ll generally see us with them on. Tough, practical and comfortable, and they don’t get stinky like some of the travel sandals out there. These are the exact model that Mike loves.

View prices and buy Birkenstock Men’s Arizona Slide Sandals here.

8. Rayban Aviator Sunglasses

A good pair of sunnies are a must when travelling, especially when heading to a tropical paradise. These Rayban Aviators never go out of style.

View prices for Ray-Ban 3025 Aviator Sunglasses and buy here.

9. Football Themed Luggage Tags

For the soccer/football mad traveller, check out these club luggage tags. What better way to show the world your true allegiances? Choose from a number of different English and European teams.

Check out prices and buy here – Set of 2 Soccer Team Football Club Luggage Tag Suitcase ID Tag with Adjustable Strap

10. GoPro Hero 6

I think this is #1 on our wish list for next time we go travelling. To truly capture epic adventures at home and abroad, you need a GoPro in your life. Repeat – not want, need!!

Check out prices and buy GoPro HERO6 Black here.

11. Garmin Speak with Amazon Alexa

For the gadget geek in your life, the Garmin Speak can do everything (almost). Put it in your car and ask it to stream music, navigate, create to do lists, play games, check your calendar/the weather/the traffic, control smart devices at home.

Check prices for Garmin Speak with Amazon Alexa and buy here.