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Great Gifts for Travelers Under $50

Check out these unique and affordable ideas for anyone who loves to travel

a couple in winter clothing exchanging gifts
Getty Images
By

Rima Suqi,

 
AARP
Published December 06, 2022

When it comes to gifting, seasoned travelers are a tough bunch. They’ve got hacks for everything from packing to awards points and are often incredibly loyal to their favorite products and brands. That said, we’ve sourced a few useful and/or indulgent items sure to surprise and delight a globetrotter on your list. Best yet: They’re all under $50.​

left to right apple air tag then chipolo one tag then tile sticker tags
Apple / Chipolo / Tile

Bluetooth trackers

These gadgets are a must for anyone who checks luggage. Last year, Apple released its version, the AirTag ($29, apple.com/airtag), a little disc that syncs to the Find My app and has a huge range of accessories it snaps into, from the uber-luxe Hermès luggage tags to cool and utilitarian carabiners. The Tile Sticker ($19.99, tile.com) is similar in size and, as the name implies, has an adhesive back so it can stick onto anything you might want to track, from remotes to glasses cases. It works with both Android and Apple devices as well as Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. Chipolo ONE ($25, chipolo.net) is another small, circular wonder. It works with the Chipolo app to notify you when you’re out of range and you’ve left that item behind and offers a variety of ringtones to help you find your item. ​

left to right farm to feet eureka socks then smart wool no show womens socks then patagonia lightweight merino performance crew socks
FARM TO FEET / SMARTWOOL / PATAGONIA

Wool socks 

Socks may seem like a lame gift, but wool socks are not. Why? Wicking. Every traveler has been in that situation where your shoes get soaked; but now your feet will be dry. (Personal note: I have a wardrobe of wool socks — no-shows for loafers, anklets for running shoes, taller ones to wear with boots, etc.) Smartwool’s site allows you to search by type of sock and cushioning but you can’t go wrong with the Smartwool No Show Socks ($16, smartwool.com). Patagonia’s Lightweight Merino Performance Crew Socks ($25, patagonia.com) are a very cool 1970s tube-sock-reminiscent design. Bonus: All of the virgin wool Patagonia sources is certified to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) from farm to fiber to help ensure protection both for the animals that supply it and the land they graze. Farm to Feet creates socks made only with materials from the U.S. and fun designs include city names paired with nature-inspired prints (the Eureka features a live oak on the ankle; $23, farmtofeet.com). Choose from a range of cushioning types and zones, as well as circumferential compression to support the foot and minimize fatigue throughout the day. ​

left to right malin and goetz best sellers travel kit then origins best skin travel set then aesop arrival travel kit
MALIN+GOETZ / Ulta / Origins / Aesop

Travel-size luxe beauty products

Because everyone swipes the good stuff from hotel rooms, why not give them a set to use when the offerings are lacking. Malin+Goetz’s Best-Sellers Travel Kit ($34, malinandgoetz.com) includes six of their popular vegan and sulfate-free formulations — shampoo, conditioner, face cleanser, face moisturizer, body moisturizer and body wash — housed in 100 percent recyclable aluminum tubes and packaged in a biodegradable bag. Aesop offers several gift kits, but only two are under $50. The better option, the Arrival travel kit ($37, aesop.com), includes four products — shampoo, conditioner, body gel and moisturizer — in Aesop’s iconic packaging and lovely fragrances. Origins Best Skin Travel Set ($29, ulta.com) has packed five of its bestsellers — cleanser, mask, treatment lotion, serum and moisturizer — in an elegant Dopp kit. 

left to right osprey daylite sling then vera bradleys mini sling backpack then vans warp sling
Osprey / Vera Bradley / Vans

Sling packs

All the cool kids are wearing fanny packs as slings, but our generation may have fanny pack PTSD, and these are an on-trend alternative to a traditional backpack that will hold a lot more than you might think. Osprey’s Daylite Sling ($45, osprey.com) is designed for left or right over-the-shoulder ambidextrous fit, has a front zippered pocket for smaller items and an interior main compartment with organization sleeves and a key clip. Vans Warp Sling ($35, vans.com) comes equipped with a padded tablet compartment, a waffle mesh back panel for comfort and a stretch water bottle pocket on the side. Vera Bradley’s Mini Sling Backpack ($50, verabradley.com) can be worn crossbody or as a fanny pack, and comes in one solid as well as a few of the brand’s trademark patterns. Made from recycled PET bottles, it features an exterior front pocket, a back panel with hidden zip pocket and a ring on the strap to hold keys.

left to right mele travel jewelry case then quince calfskin leather jewelry case then stackers jewelry case
Mele & Co. / Target / Quince / Stackers / The Container Store

Jewelry cases

Because even if they don’t require vault storage or personal security, your accessories deserve better than a random plastic bag. Quince offers a calfskin leather option ($40, onequince.com) that will hold four necklaces, three pairs of earrings and as many rings as you can slide on their strap. Mele & Co.’s design features a lift-out tray and removable dividers, so you can customize storage to accommodate larger jewelry ($49, target.com). Stackers version is configured to include a five-section ring roll and a larger sectioned compartment to store bracelets or necklaces, with a removable divider ($30, containerstore.com). ​​​

Rima Suqi is a writer living in New York City.​

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