The 25 best travel gifts to give this holiday season, according to frequent flyers

Getting quality sleep on a plane is a paradox of sorts — that is, unless you have the right gear. Unzip this plush pouch to warm up with a fleece blanket or use the pouch itself as a pillow when you want to catch a few zzz’s. One five-star flyer raved that it was “perfect for our 15-hour flight,” plus it was “easy to put back in the pouch” and “easy to fasten to my carry-on.” 

“I traveled a lot before having kids, though it wasn’t until I had kids that I realized how amazing it is to travel with a wet bag,” Lanie van der Horst of Make More Adventures tells Yahoo. Sure, these lightweight, waterproof pouches are great for storing wet bathing suits and clothes, but van der Horst often uses them to “keep dirty items away from the rest of your belongings.” The best part? “They can easily be put in the wash after use.”

Clean drinking water isn’t always a guarantee. No matter where their travels take them, your jet-setter can rest easy knowing that this personal water filter is getting rid of all the bad stuff — including 99.9% of all waterborne bacteria and parasites. “I’ve used my straw to drink from the sink everywhere in the world and I have never once gotten sick,” one hydrated reviewer wrote, adding that they’ve used it in India, China, Thailand, Brazil, Colombia and in parts of the United States. 

Ear pain is inevitable during takeoff or landing … or is it? Travel blogger Michelle Atenberg says these silicone earplugs have convinced her otherwise. “They have a ball inside that very slowly and carefully adjusts to pressure changes. Trust me, your eardrums will thank you,” she tells Yahoo. Use a single pair for a round trip (or two flights) before disposing. 

Small but mighty, this pocket-sized doodad drowns out unwanted noises with soothing sounds of white noise, rain, waves and more. “The little player takes no space on my side table and goes three full nights before recharging. It weighs almost nothing and will easily pack into even the smallest bag,” one happy Amazon shopper wrote about this “dynamo.” 

Frequent flying takes a toll on your skin — and the delicate skin around your eyes is often the first to show it. Fake a great night’s sleep with these under-eye patches, which are said to target all the culprits like puffiness, dark circles and dryness. “These have been great to throw in my suitcase and use when I’m on the road. I feel like after flying and constantly changing climates, they help add moisture back into my skin,” one five-star flyer wrote. (And psst, these gold beauties earned a coveted spot on our list of the best eye masks!) 

AirTags give peace of mind in the everyday moments — even when you’re far from home. “Pop one of these puppies into your checked bag and you’ll never worry where your luggage is again,” Atenberg tells Yahoo. She speaks from experience: “Twice these trackers have allowed me to locate my bag the airline said was lost.”

The right travel bag makes all the difference. Michelle of Travel HerStory swears by this Travelon bestseller because of its anti-theft features, which include lock-down straps, locking zippers, RFID blocking, an interior key clip and slash-resistant material. As a result, she tells Yahoo that travelers “no longer need to worry about cut-and-run or identity theft.”

Sometimes, you have to get some sleep wherever you can — on a plane, at the gate, in the car on the way to the airport and so forth. A quality eye mask makes it possible to do so. “This mask with built-in wireless speakers has been a game-changer,” Lindsay Myers, Access Hollywood host and the blogger behind Get Lost With Lindsay tells Yahoo. “It is really comfortable, the battery lasts 15 hours and it reduces all noise around you.” 

Our Senior Deals Writer Britt Ross traveled for a year straight and used this portable charger more times than she can count. “In addition to its small profile that barely takes up room in my bag, I appreciate how quickly it juices up my phone. Plus, I only need to charge the power bank once and it’ll last a whole day,” she raved. Just keep in mind that this exact model is only compatible with the latest Apple releases and devices with a USB-C port. 

We all know that sitting for long periods of time is bad for our health, but what can you really do when you’re stuck in an airplane seat for hours on end? While you can (and should) take frequent walks down the aisle, wearing high-quality compression socks also helps increase circulation and lower blood clot risks. “I’ve tried a few budget brands as well as some high-end ones and found that these mid-priced ones from Bombas were the most comfortable,” travel writer Moriba Cummings wrote, adding that he doesn’t “feel like my calves are being strangled when I’m wearing them.”

Now here’s something I carry daily, whether I’m mere minutes from home or halfway across the world. Luckily, I’ve never had to use it, but it gives me and my loved one peace of mind knowing that I have some kind of defense if I’m ever in an uncomfortable situation. Attach this personal safety alarm to a key chain, then pull out the top pin to activate a loud siren and flashing strobe light — both of which draw attention and hopefully ward off any threats. 

Struggling to secure a bag without a trolley sleeve to your luggage? This adjustable luggage belt (which fits bags up to 45 inches) is a cinch to use. “When traveling, my backpack frequently fell off the roller bag. This keeps my bag from falling even when rushing to catch a connecting flight,” one reviewer wrote about this Shark Tank favorite. 

“If you’re like me and dread using the complimentary in-flight headphones, which do little to block out noise, this compact device will save the day,” Kathy McCabe, host and executive producer of Dream of Italy and Dream of Europe on PBS tells Yahoo. Just plug this Bluetooth transmitter into the headphone jack and seamlessly connect your AirPods (or the wireless headphones of your choice), so you can enjoy music, TV shows and movies while up in the air. (Want to learn more? Check out Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida’s in-depth review of this “genius gadget.”)

No one should wake up with neck pain — especially before a big adventure. This memory foam travel pillow provides just the right amount of support, almost like it’s hugging your neck. “It’s also super lightweight and folds into a neat bun so you can easily put it away inside your carry-on or shoulder bag instead of dangling around,” Gabriella Di Falco, co-founder of ELECT Travel and Lifestyle, tells Yahoo, adding that she loves that she can throw the cover into the washing machine between travels. 

There are so many travel backpacks on the market, but McCabe says this one from Quince is the best one she’s ever used. “Since discovering it earlier this year, this backpack has quickly become my go-to, whether I’m using it as a personal item on a flight or on-the-go in one of the many cities I visit throughout the year,” she tells Yahoo. Calling it “equally fashionable and functional,” she points out that this water-repellent wonder is made with travelers in mind — it has a trolley sleeve and tons of pockets, including a separate laptop and shoe compartment.

I’m all for having a “just in case” bag when you travel. Ya know, in the event that you pick up one too many souvenirs or buy a whole new wardrobe while you’re away. This ultra-lightweight, water-resistant duffel folds flat and zips into a compact pouch that is small enough to pack in your carry-on. “I have used this bag at least five times abroad and stuff it with gifts and souvenirs. It fits when full underneath the airplane seat in front of me,” one five-star reviewer wrote.

Thousands of Amazon shoppers rave about how comfortable these platform kicks are — so much so that I was convinced to pick up a pair ahead of my recent trip to Italy. I clocked in at least 20,000 steps a day and my feet didn’t hurt once (and that’s coming from someone who deals with the double whammy of flat arches and bunions). Another European tourist shared similar sentiments: “I did not need to break them in beforehand and they held up very well. Easy to clean, true to size, no blisters and looked great with any outfit.” 

We don’t think twice about splashing out on the best skincare and makeup products, but the same thinking doesn’t necessarily apply to the bag we store it all in. Switch out whatever they’ve been using for this nylon, water-resistant toiletry bag, which has three separate compartments and a wipeable interior. It was recommended by several experts for our list of the best toiletry bags, including Bryan Murphy, owner of Hawaii’s Best Travel, who gushed that it’s “cleanly designed and really tough.”

Keep your belongings close to your chest when you’re out and about. It’s not your basic fanny pack; nope, this hands-free favorite, which one reviewer dubbed “the perfect travel bag” has three pockets to stash cards and cash, a key clip and an elastic loop for lip balm. It even got a flight attendant’s stamp of approval: “It’s great for going out and exploring or getting coffee in the gate area,” they wrote. 

Regular packing cubes are great and all, but these ones can be compressed up to 60% to save you precious suitcase space. Our style writer Rebecca Carhart put this four-pack to the test and found that the two smaller cubes fit a week’s worth of undergarments, pajamas and t-shirts, while the two larger ones were big enough to fit sweaters, dresses and pants. But that’s not all: They topped her list of the best compression packing cubes! 

Another travel bag has entered the picture, but this one is more of a personal item than an all-day carry. “It’s spacious enough for airplane travel, fitting my water bottle, laptop, an extra set of clothing and my computer,” Kristin Espinar of Must See Spain tells Yahoo. It comes with all the bells and whistles — a removable vegan leather strap, trolley pass-through and metal feet to protect the bottom. But perhaps the best part is its sleek design that makes Espinar “feel put together when I’m traveling.”

Suggesting that you shell out $100+ for a wireless charger is pretty bold on my part, but hear me out on this one. I’ve taken this palm-sized, two-in-one charger with me on weekend trips and international travels (it even comes with a travel adapter!), and I can’t stop singing its praises. You can power up a MagSafe-compatible iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously with just one cord. Our travel writer even included it in his list of items that keep him from overpacking (same), writing that he’s “amazed by its size and practicality.”

This isn’t your average duffel bag. Nope, this carry-on pulls double duty since it has a built-in garment bag to keep a suit or dress shirts wrinkle-free. “It offers enough room as a duffel (even with the suit in the garment section) to fit a week’s worth of clothes,” Managing Editor Scott Simone raved in our roundup of the best luggage. 

Delays and layovers put a real damper on traveling. Help them make the most of their time spent in airports with Priority Pass, which unlocks access to more than 1,600 airport lounges worldwide. Opt for the Standard Plus membership to get 10 free visits and reduced fees after that.