21 Coolest Travel Tech Gifts to Give or Receive

Share the love!

Not sure what to get your travel-loving friends or family for Christmas or some other gift-giving occasion? How about some fun travel tech!?

Whether you’re looking for an affordable stocking stuffer or a splashy, big-ticket item to put under the tree, this list can help you out.

Keep reading for the 21 coolest travel tech gifts to give or receive this year.

1. Amazon Echo Dot

I wholeheartedly love my Amazon Echo and have gifted this brilliant device to several family members.

When it comes to travel, the Echo is a fantastic personal assistant.

With an Echo, you can search for tickets, check for flight times and delays, schedule a ride share, and so much more.

Alexa, what time does my flight leave?

2. Beats noise-cancelling headphones

If you’re gonna be stuck in a metal tube thousands of miles up in the sky for hours, wireless active noise-cancelling headphones will be your best friend.

Between insanely loud plane engines, crying babies, and non-stop Chatty Cathys, you’ll want a pair that will help drown out all that noise. Then you can listen to a podcast, catch up on the latest movies, or lull yourself to sleep to the tunes of your favorite musical artist.

My vote goes to Beats Solo Pro or Studio³ Wireless Over-the-Ear Headphones.

Both models have active noise cancelling technology built-in and can play music or audio up to 22 hours without needing to recharge.

I’ve had the Studio³ model for several years now and they work just as great as the day I got them.

Beats also has noise cancelling wireless earbuds, the Beats Studio Buds, which feature up to 8 hours of battery life, or 24 hours with the charging case.

NOTE: The Beats Solo³ headphones do NOT include ANC technology, which is key for a good pair of travel headphones.

3. Apple smart watch

I never travel without my Apple Watch. This tiny tech gift has so many helpful features built-in, whether it be for every day life or as a travel accessory.

One of the most common ways I’ve seen an Apple Watch used by travelers is adding airplane tickets to the Apple Wallet. 

Most airline apps are compatible with the Apple Watch app, so you might also be able to use their app to access your paperless ticket, as well. 

The Apple Watch is also jam packed with health and safety features, like a heart rate and blood oxygen monitor and fall detection. 

To learn more about how the Apple Watch makes a perfect travel tech gift, check out my post Is the Apple Watch Worth it?.

4. Photography drone

If your loved one is super into travel photography, surprise them with a photography drone. 

A photography drone will help them learn a new skill and take sick aerial photos for their Insta feed.

DJI is arguably the top of the line when it comes to photography drones, offering high quality photo and video capability and a range of drone products.

The DJI Mini 2 is the latest compact and affordable option from their line.

Learn more about how to pick the perfect photography drone in my Drone Buyer’s Guide.

5. App in the Air annual subscription

For frequent travelers, there’s no better app than App in the Air. This app is like having a personal assistant on your phone, tablet, or watch. 

The App in the Air app can book flights, check you in, send you in-the-moment alerts, send alerts to chosen contacts, and scan your luggage to make sure it meets airline restrictions. 

Plus, it tracks all of your miles and you can pay to have trees planted to offset your carbon impact.

To learn more about this app and how to upgrade to a premium subscription, check out their website.

6. Portable language translator

Some travelers shy away from traveling outside their comfort zone due to language barriers. 

But what if there wasn’t a barrier?

Sure, you could learn a new language, but not everyone has the time, money, or mental capacity for that. 

Luckily there’s an easier solution these days: portable language translators. 

There are 2 excellent options available that I recommend: Google Pixel Buds or the Ili offline translator.

Google Pixel Buds aren’t a translator out of the package. They’re actually wireless ear buds, but when paired with the Google Translate app, they can be used for language translation. 

What I like about Google Pixel Buds is that a separate device isn’t needed. You can use them to listen to music one day, then help translate a conversation the next. 

WiFi is required to translate, which can make it tricky for instantaneous translation, but considering the Pixel Buds can be used for so many other scenarios, it’s a great option.

Ili is a device specifically designed for language translation. WiFi isn’t needed, which is a plus for quick translation.

It’s limited to Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish, but is built in a way that ili can add new languages via a device update. 

7. Power bank portable charger

A power bank is one of the most practical travel tech gifts because it can double as a stocking stuffer. 

The higher the capacity, the more charges you can get out of it. For example, a power bank with 10,000 mAh capacity will give you 2-3 charges.

The catch is that devices with higher capacity, multi-charge capability are larger and heavier. 

If you want something small and light to stash in your purse or backpack for emergencies, look for a power bank around 5,000 mAh to give you a single full charge.

8. SkyRoam portable WiFi hotspot

If I’m traveling outside of the US, I always pack my trusty SkyRoam Solis X portable WiFi hotspot.

This tiny device doubles as a power bank and enables me to connect to WiFi on up to 10 devices – all at the affordable price of $9 per 24 hours.

Per GB plans are also available if you don’t need constant connectivity.

9. Virtual Private Network (VPN) subscription

A virtual private network, or VPN, creates a secure internet connection to help protect data and personal information, like credit cards and passwords. 

VPNs can sometimes be used to bypass location restrictions so that websites think you’re located somewhere you aren’t, too.

Basically, if you’re planning to connect your devices to WiFi while traveling, a VPN is crucial for these reasons.

A VPN would be a perfect gift for a frequent traveler or digital nomad to help keep their devices secure while traveling. 

I recommend NordVPN, as that is what I use and it has always served me well.

You can pay around $12 per month or if you pay for a year in advance, it’s roughly $5 per month (basically half off!). 

Alternatively, if you’re also purchasing a SkyRoam portable WiFi hotspot, you can add on the SkyRoam Solis VPN service to ensure any device connecting to your device is routed through a secure VPN.

10. Away smart luggage

Speaking of power banks, if new luggage is on your favorite traveler’s wish list, check out the luggage brand, Away.

Away luggage comes with a built-in power bank so you can charge up while waiting for your flight. 

The power bank can be easily removed so that it complies with TSA rules about lithium ion batteries, so no worries if you need to check your luggage.

Away comes in multiple sizes and colors, plus they sell matching travel accessories like backpacks that can slide over the luggage handle for hands-free airport wandering.

11. Kindle Reader or iPad

I love to read while traveling, especially when on a plane. The lack of easy WiFi makes it easy to stay focused.

I’m a fast reader, so I like to have several books and magazines with me while traveling, but I hate lugging them around.

An iPad or Kindle reader is the perfect solution for this problem.

It was hard to choose just 1 device given the gap in price points.

An iPad can double as a travel-friendly computer and even a TV, so if you have the budget, I’d go this route.

An Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is far more budget-friendly, as its sole purpose is for reading books, magazines, and comics.

Simply put, it gets the job done, so if the extras aren’t necessary, go this route.

12. Rocketbook reusable notebook

I’m a bit of a notebook hoarder, which admittedly isn’t very environmentally friendly. The second I saw the Rocketbook reusable notebook, I had to have it!

The Rocketbook is like part notebook and part dry erase board. It works with Pilot Frixion pens and markers.

The ink becomes smudge free after 15 seconds, but can be easily removed with a few spritzes of water and a wipe down with a microfiber cloth. 

Plus, there’s a companion app that lets you send a copy of your notes by simply taking a picture. The notes are shareable with common business apps, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, Trello, and Evernote.

The Rocketbook notebooks make for a fantastic travel journal, travel blog planning notebook, sketchbook, or photography ledger.

13. UV tech sanitizer

I usually have a pack of tech-friendly sanitizing wipes stashed in my purse and at my desk.

With my frequent travel, I’m looking into more environmentally-friendly (and less time-consuming) ways to sanitize my phone, Apple Watch, keys, jewelry, and so on.

A UV sanitizer device can help with this task quickly and semi-passively. And thankfully, there are plenty of low-cost options available.

14. GoPro action camera

My favorite camera to travel with is a GoPro. It’s tiny, yet powerful and each new version blows the last one out of the water. 

The latest version, GoPro HERO 10, has a built-in preview screen on the front of the camera (perfect for solo travelers!), can shoot 5K video and up to 23MP photos, live stream capability, and scheduled shoots. 

My favorite feature with recent GoPro models are the GoPro Mods (sold separately).

GoPro Mods are like super powers you can add to your camera. There are detachable lenses, a light, enhanced microphone, and more.

With all these impressive features, the GoPro HERO 10 is only $499.99.

If you get a GoPro, you’re going to want all the fun accessories to go along with it. Check out my GoPro accessories post for a few ideas on what to get.

15. GorillaPod

One of my favorite travel photography accessories is my GorillaPod, which has bendy tripod legs.

GorillaPods provide more flexibility than a traditional tripod and enable you to capture photos from unique angles. I never travel without mine!

16. Photo editing app subscription

For a low-cost, but super fun gift, I recommend a subscription to the Enlight Lightleap (formerly Quickshot) photo editing app.

This slick app is one of my go-to photo editing apps for quick fixes or to add interest to a photo with an overcast sky.

The app is free, but I recommend upgrading to a premium annual subscription for $19.99.

Enlight Lightleap is the perfect affordable gift that will leave an impact far longer than a cheesy gag gift.

If they already have a favorite mobile photo editing app, how about creating a custom photo gift from their edited photos?

17. Travel adapter and converter set

Unfortunately not all power outlets are equal around the world. Thankfully, travel adapters make it possible for you to bring your favorite tech with you when you travel. 

In a nutshell, travel adapters are plugged into power outlets to make them compatible with your devices’ plugs. 

18. Bluetooth speaker

For travel and music lovers, a portable bluetooth speaker is the ultimate travel tech gift. 

A bluetooth speaker enables phones and other devices to connect wirelessly. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about lugging around another set of cords or plugs. 

The result? You can use a speaker at the beach, camp site, AirBNB, or hotel room to blast your favorite tunes or listen to a local musical artist.

19. Instax Mini Link smartphone printer

As much as I love using my GoPro or iPhone to snap pictures, it’s still fun to get prints of photos – especially for gifts or home decor. 

I got a Fujifilm Instax Mini Link smartphone printer for Christmas one year and absolutely love it! 

I love that I can use it to print photos from my childhood, photos I’ve taken with my iPhone or GoPro, or photos friends have sent me without needing a separate Instax camera to get the fun, vintage Polaroid-style print out.

20. Travel journal app subscription

Another great app for travel lovers that you can gift is a subscription to a travel journal app.

A travel journal app is great for recording memories and practicing mindfulness, too.

For ideas on which app to gift, check out my post about the best travel journal apps.

21. Tile locator

Last, but not least, protect all your fun travel tech and accessories with a Tile bluetooth locator. This genius device comes in several sizes, from a small keyring-like tile to button-like stickers. 

Tiles can be attached to pretty much any object you need to keep track of: remotes, luggage, power banks, cameras, keys, wallets, purses, and so on.

Never lose your mind searching for your keys, remote, etc again!

Which travel tech gifts are on your list this year?

I hope I made your gift shopping a bit easier this year. Let me know in the comments below which items you purchased or put on your wish list.

Next up, check out these posts:

1. Best Cameras for Blogging & Vlogging
2. Best Cameras for Travel Photography
3. The Best Custom Photo Gift Ideas

This post was originally published on November 25, 2020. It was last updated December 1, 2022.