42 Best Travel Gift Ideas 2023 | The Strategist - New York Magazine

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Whether you're buying a gift for a business traveler who practically lives in the Delta lounge or a college student embarking on their first-ever trip to Europe, you'll want to look for items that are attractive and functional enough to justify taking up space in whatever suitcase or backpack they're bringing with them. As a travel-gear writer for the Strategist who spends a lot of time in transit myself, I've personally tested many of the products below to make sure they're durable and multitask-able enough to be worth the extra luggage weight. I've also spoken with fellow Strategist staffers, flight attendants, travel agents, and experts about what they recommend.

Below, you'll find a sleep-enabling travel pillow that I take on every long haul, comfortable headphones that can block out engine noise, and a packable coffee maker that will reduce reliance on hotel Nespresso pods. There's also a magical Patagonia duffel that can bypass in-flight luggage restrictions, the inexpensive (yet life-altering) clip-on toothbrush protector I don't leave for the airport without, and an ingenious washing bag for doing loads of laundry on the road. Grouped by price point for easier shopping, many of these products are so tried and tested that they earned spots on our "Strategist Travel 100," which includes our absolute favorite products for all sorts of trips. And now that the countdown is well and truly on, you can check out the rest of our holiday-season gift guides here.

This "Capri Sun for adults" is designed to be rolled up and stashed until needed, then clipped to the outside of your bag using the included carabiner. It's much easier than trying to shove a Hydro Flask into a cross-body bag.

A passport-holder should be large enough to hold cash and travel documents yet slender enough to slip into a cross-body or purse during times of airport stress. This one fits those requirements and has an elegant envelope design that can be wiped clean.

I always recommend purchasing packing cubes with a mesh window that lets you see which clothes you have inside — having to unzip every cube when looking for your favorite sweater gets old fast. This smart-looking set complete with a laundry bag would make a great gift for anybody who just got a new suitcase.

Every time I take a trip without some sort of laundry detergent, I regret it. But these hotel sink-ready sachets of Tide will allow your traveler to wash underwear and socks while on the road, which means they don't have to pack as many pairs and can save space for souvenirs.

While many travel toothbrushes are flimsy and difficult to actually brush with, this one is sturdy and ergonomic enough to compete with the Curaprox in its recipient's bathroom. And a choice of colors makes this admittedly practical gift a little bit more special.

The board game version of The Settlers of Catan definitely isn't designed to be played at 30,000 feet, but this portable dice-based one is easier to learn and faster paced. It has a single-player mode, which means it's a nice gift for solo travelers, too.

If you're buying for someone who tends to travel by bus or budget airline, this bendy foam phone stand will let them more easily watch TV shows in transit. It's lightweight and easy to pack; I also like to use mine for FaceTime calls.

Your traveler probably isn't going all the way to space, but they will still appreciate having a reliable pen in their bag for filling out arrival forms, journaling, or completing crosswords. This leakproof astronaut-tested one will write on any surface, in all weather conditions, and at any cabin pressure.

After a leaking-water-bottle incident in Rome that resulted in a Baggu full of soggy Ibuprofen, I no longer travel without a waterproof pill case. This one from Matador has an airtight seal and seven compartments, and the metal shell means it cannot be crushed in transit.

This red-eye-ready eye mask is far more comfortable and effective than the freebies handed out by airlines. It comes recommended by Scott Keyes, who founded the flight-deals subscription service Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights) and has perfected the aisle-seat snooze.

Aēsop makes what is surely the world's only giftable hand sanitizer, with an appealingly nonclinical scent.

I like this simple and lightweight travel clothesline from Sea to Summit that doesn't require additional pegs.

If they are loyal to that Curaprox, several other Strategist staffers and I are obsessed with these clip-on protectors that'll keep those expensive bristles in perfect condition. They're compatible with most electric toothbrushes.

Slathering this rich cream on postflight is a beauty trick we learned from actress Hari Nef. I'm a fan too and have used it to look glowy even immediately after a series of long-haul flights to Australia.

I took some packs of Perc on a trip to Montreal with friends and genuinely shocked my companions with how delicious it tastes. These freeze-dried grounds are also a favorite of author Lisa Przystup, who describes herself as "hyperparticular when it comes to coffee."

This isn't the prettiest gift on the list, but it might be the most valuable, given it could save its recipient hundreds of dollars in overweight-baggage fees over time. Prepare to receive thank-you texts from far-flung hotels.

There's nothing worse than trying to charge multiple devices using a single outlet at a hotel or airport, all while using a foreign plug. Former Googler and current travel-content creator Catarina Mello says this durable adapter is among the very best options because it has built-in USB-C and USB-A ports as well as an overload dual fuse, which means it can handle devices like hair dryers, curlers, and steamers.

Don't let someone you love store their Sephora minis in a ziplock bag. This case has two compartments for optimum organization and even comes with a decent-size stand-up mirror that slides into a storage pocket.

Unfortunately, Airbnbs and hotels cannot be relied upon to provide a Nespresso machine every time. Much more packable than the original AeroPress yet just as efficient at pumping out fantastic single servings of coffee, this wondrous tube of plastic is one of the best ways we know to prepare for such caffeine emergencies.