Fodor’s Gift Guide 2023: 23 Travel Gifts for Everyone on Your List

As any traveler who has had to fly economy will know, it can be a challenge to get comfortable when sandwiched between two people on a long-haul flight. Feeling comfortable while flying coach can often feel like auditioning to be a contortionist for Cirque du Soleil, but thankfully, there are some products that promise to try to make the experience more tolerable. This popular airplane foot rest on Amazon features adjustable straps that can hook onto your airplane tray table, creating a foot hammock. With the promise of elevating your legs and alleviating back pain, this foot rest is a must-have for any traveler.

Having multiple suitcases while traveling can be a pain, but thankfully, Tach has devised an ingenious solution. As the name suggests, Tach’s connectable luggage allows travelers to move through an airport easily, thanks to a feature that allows the suitcases to connect and move as one sold rolling unit. Not only does this mean you can maneuver through an airport carrying multiple pieces of luggage with just one hand, but for families traveling together, this technology is crucial, freeing up parent’s hands to attend to their kiddos.

Whether you dream of exploring France’s Loire Valley, attending Oktoberfest in Munich, or navigating Italy’s culinary scene, this newly published Fodor’s Travel guidebook is for you. From the epic to the eccentric, our team has culled together over 500 European experiences across 40 countries to satiate your wanderlust. In this book, you’ll find itineraries curated by local writers, tips on where to stay, eat, and shop, dazzling photos to pique your travel bug, and all the resources necessary to plan your trip, including dozens of maps. 

Technology never ceases to amaze, and this gift is an example of that. The Wireless Laser Projection Keyboard by AGS Design pairs via Bluetooth with iPads, iPhones, and tablets and projects a keyboard on a flat surface that you can use like a real keyboard. I know, the mind reels. For travelers, this means you can work remotely without lugging a laptop or attachable keyboard for your tablet and instead use this nifty device, turning your airplane tray table into a workstation. Compatible with Windows, iOS, Android, and Mac OS—this is the perfect gift for the techy traveler in your life.

This newly released travel memoir by Fodor’s own Senior Editor, Nikki Vargas, shares a candid coming-of-age story set in the context of travel. Call You When I Land begins in the jungles of Argentina, where Vargas decides to call off her wedding a week before the big day; the book follows Nikki as she navigates heartbreak and new love, career highs and lows, and some unexpected twists and turns, such as an unsolved murder. Throughout her journey, readers are transported in vivid detail to the wilds of Borneo, the African plains of Kenya’s Masai Mara, and the colorful streets of Colombia. Named a staff pick by Apple Books, a best women’s memoir of the year by Glamour Magazine, and a recommended read by Good Morning America, Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, and more—this inspiring and transporting read is a perfect gift. 

Airpod cases can be an item of self-expression, and, if you’re a traveler, this Airpod case is sure to let people know that traveling is a passion. Modeled after a vintage suitcase, this adorable Airpod case features a silver roller board littered with travel-themed stickers. Available in a variety of colors for under $20, this is a great stocking stuffer option. 

‘Tis the season for cocktails. This new book by Fodor’s writer and food and travel journalist, Paul Feinstein, shares over 100 cocktail recipes inspired by Italy. If your knowledge of Italian cocktails ends at Aperol spritzes and Negronis, then this book will seriously expand your horizons. Not only does Feinstein’s compendium share recipes to improve your cocktail-making game, but it also includes interviews with Italy’s leading mixologists and bartenders. With recipes pulled from Italy’s hotspots, including Venice, Rome, Naples, Milan, and more—this beautiful book looks great on any bar cart. 

When traveling on a budget, scrimping on coffee is an easy way to save money for that food tour or special dinner. Unfortunately, hotel coffee can often disappoint, whether it’s dusty old Keurig cups or an ancient, groaning coffee maker worthy of a museum. Enter the Travel French Press. Touting itself as the world’s lightest travel press, this insulated double-walled stainless steel canister doubles as a French press coffee maker, promising fantastic coffee on the go, anywhere in the world. All you have to do is use your favorite coffee.

This woman-founded specialty store in NYC has quickly become a staple in the community, attracting food lovers from near and far to ogle at their expertly curated collection of under-the-radar pantry items and handcrafted dinner party essentials. Many brands carried by Big Night—founded by former Infatuation editor Katherine Lewin—celebrate women and BIPOC makers in the food space. This Women in Olive Oil box—containing specialty olive oils from Italy and California—is a perfect example, celebrating women in the olive oil business who have truly crafted something spectacular. 

Certain gifts have the power to transport, while others can bring the world’s flavors to your doorstep. This holiday gift box from Katz’s promises to bring the timeless flavors of New York City to your table. For those unfamiliar with Katz’s Delicatessen, this iconic deli also happens to be one of New York’s oldest, serving classic pastrami on rye for decades.

Sometimes, popular places like Katz’s end up sacrificing the quality of their food to the hype surrounding their reputation, but thankfully, this deli stays consistent—serving buttery pastrami on freshly baked rye bread alongside impossibly crisp pickles and freshly made black-and-white cookies. With shipping available across the U.S. and Canada, this gift brings the best of New York to your doorstep. 

Founded by artisanal eyewear veterans Idriss Nestor and Federica Scala, Mama Eyewear introduces a line of frames that marry high quality with affordability. Beyond the glasses, Mama Eyewear is a sustainable brand with a mission to give back by partnering with the non-profit, Restoring Vision, which has provided glasses to over 17 million people across 130 countries. We love their line of sunglasses inspired by cities around the world, like Buenos Aires and Istanbul. 

Cactus leather is a thing, and it’s pretty cool. This plant-based leather alternative made from the Nopal cactus is soft like regular leather but a more environmentally-friendly option, which is why we love Lo & Sons Pearl bag in Cactus leather. This crossbody bag goes from a shoulder bag to a clutch, offering plenty of pockets to accommodate everything from a tablet to your iPhone. While great for every day, the Pearl is perfect for travelers looking for a deceptively small bag that can hold a lot. 

Launched in 2014, Jet Set Candy is all about travel. This jewelry brand is entirely travel-inspired, selling everything from boarding pass-inspired charms to airplane-shaped earrings. But the charms and charm bracelets are really what makes Jet Set Candy special, allowing travel lovers to customize and personalize their bracelets to truly reflect their adventures. In fact, the brand offers a customizable option for numerous charms—from Broadway tickets to Air Mail—so you can truly wear your travel memories on your wrist. 

This being a holiday gift guide, it’s only right that a holiday advent calendar be included. Of course, most holiday advent calendars conceal little candies, but this one ups the ante with 24 days’ worth of skin products from La Compagnie. From cleansing beauty bars to skin masks, body balms to hand creams—behind each day of the calendar, you’ll find travel-sized goodies that are perfect for taking on that next trip.