31 items under $50 that are perfect Christmas or holiday gifts for budget travelers

These travel bottles from S’well have quickly become a favorite here at CNN Underscored. They let the traveler in your life pack their favorite toiletries in reusable bottles, saving them money on buying travel-sized toiletries before every trip. Plus, they’re made from a lightweight stainless steel that’s sustainable, durable and looks good.

Anything that makes travel less stressful is worth purchasing — especially when it’s affordable. Now that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has officially deemed Apple AirTags safe for use in checked luggage, it’s time to stock up so your favorite traveler can track their bags with their phone. Pack one in every suitcase to ensure you always know exactly where your luggage is. You can even monogram these practical tags, which are perfect as stocking stuffers. You can read our full take on why they’re so crucial for travelers here.

These durable polyester packing cubes come in a four-piece set with a variety of size options. Store clothes, shoes, dirty laundry or whatever else to best organize a suitcase. Your favorite traveler can see exactly what they’ve packed in each cube, thanks to the mesh covers.

Whether your favorite traveler is a budding travel influencer or just wants to get good photos of themself, this selfie stick-tripod combo can be slipped into your suitcase for infinitely better travel photos. The stick is 9 inches when collapsed and weighs just 10.5 ounces, meaning it’s not only affordable but lightweight and compact. It connects with most Apple and Android devices as well as smaller DSLR cameras, and it comes with a detachable remote.

Sleeping well while traveling doesn’t have to come at a steep price. In fact, our favorite travel neck pillow is available for just $40 and is pretty much guaranteed to help your favorite traveler sleep better on long flights. In our testing, we dubbed this neck pillow the “Goldilocks of travel pillows,” thanks to its firm support but equal parts softness and portability.

This simple but effective device will make any plane journey easier. It clamps to the tray table of the seat in front of you, allowing you to insert your phone and stream your favorite TV shows and movies hands-free.

The ideal gift for moms, wives, girlfriends and friends, this compact pouch makes it easy to travel with jewelry — and it’s one of Oprah’s Favorite Things of 2022. With several storage spots and removable dividers for various types of jewelry, you’ll never end up with tangled necklaces or lose an earring with this case. Even those who don’t travel with a lot of jewelry will appreciate having their wedding ring or stud earrings safely tucked away in this case when on the go.

Compression socks are an important travel accessory and make great cheap travel gifts. Experts agree that the health benefits of wearing them on long travel days can be significant. This set of three pairs is available in a wide range of colors, offering a good amount of compression made from a breathable fabric.

This recycled vegan leather luggage tag makes for the perfect accompaniment for any traveler. Paravel is one of our favorite travel brands, and this eco-friendly, beautiful tag will look gorgeous hanging off any suitcase — and especially chic if paired with a color-coordinated Paravel Aviator suitcase. This travel-themed gift comes in a few different colors, and you can personalize it with a monogram.

Instantly make an economy seat more comfortable with this portable foot hammock. The device straps over the tray table of the seat in front of you and hangs below as a footrest for dangling feet. At just $13, this device will help your favorite budget traveler arrive well rested.

These portable, quick-dry towels are perfect for any travel situation: camping, hiking, beach trips or even visits to destinations where you won’t have access to a dryer. The durable, lightweight towels are made of polyester and polyamide material and are super absorbent, drying fast when you’re on the go. The towels come in various sizes and colors, and each comes with its own portable case for storage.

This four-pack of Mario Badescu facial spray is perfect for all your different moods during travel. Energize with the sage and orange blossom, relax with the lavender, revitalize and glow with rose and freshen up with the cucumber and green tea. The under-60-milliliter mist bottles are small enough to fit into your ziplock baggie of liquids during a long-haul flight.

This collapsible, space-saving water bottle is a must-have for staying hydrated when traveling. In our testing, we found it perfect for travelers because not only does it have a filter that can make just about any water drinkable but it collapses so you can easily pack it in your favorite travel backpack and then expand it when you’re ready to fill it up. It’s both sustainable and affordable, saving you money and hassle buying overpriced water bottles in the airport and elsewhere. Check out our full review of it here.

These Anbow reusable earplugs offer a noise level reduction of NRR 32, meaning they’ll block out pesky noise on planes or anywhere else you need to sleep. Made of high-quality, BPA-free silicone material with an ergonomic shape, they’ll comfortably fit into ears pain-free. Unlike foam earplugs, these are made for long-term use and reuse, making them a great travel accessory.

Connect this waterproof, wireless speaker to a phone via Bluetooth and play music whenever, wherever. It’s small enough to accompany travelers on trips but strong enough to play favorite tunes at an impromptu barbecue or beach visit. With 10 hours of play time, it can be clipped on to a backpack, beach bag or stroller with ease.

This travel system of refillable, leakproof and magnetic containers helps organize personal care products. The customizable capsules come in various sizes and colors that can be mixed and matched to fit anyone’s needs. We tested them out and found the sustainable products to be leakproof, airtight and waterproof — and extremely convenient for shorter trips. Although an entire system of six costs more than $70, budget travelers can use just a few single Capsules that will magnetically cling to one another for less than $50. Check out our full review of them here.

With so much concern about wiping down plane seats and tray tables, it seems we’ve almost forgotten about our skin, which can be greasy, dry or tired after a long day of travel. These natural, biodegradable face wipes from Ursa Major are individually wrapped to easily tuck into a purse, carry-on bag or pocket. Complete with ingredients like aloe, willow bark and birch sap with a light lavender and citrus scent, skin will feel refreshed and clean after using one of these wipes after a plane nap or hike.

These polyester foldable bags are perfect to use as beach bags, laundry bags, grocery bags, personal items on a plane, emergency diaper bags or in any other situation where you might need some storage. Toss a few of these bright, patterned bags in a suitcase folded up and open them to use whenever needed.

This fold-up travel blanket has a carrying case with a strap that slides over your trolley handle, making it easy to take along on plane trips or train journeys. The cotton-poly blend blanket will keep you warm, can double as a comfortable sitting option for spontaneous trips to the beach or can even be used as a pillow when folded up in its carry bag.

Things like air travel, jet lag and different climates can wreak havoc on skin. Give your face a little extra love at a low price with this stress and rehab sheet mask that easily can be added to your toiletry bag. Ingredients such as green tea purify your skin, while coconut and turmeric rejuvenate and brighten your face. The mask even has caffeine to wake up skin and make it glow.

This 20-liter foldable backpack is incredibly easy to take along during any kind of travel. It folds up to pocket size so it can be packed away and then opens up to use for hiking, shopping, a beach day or anything else once at a new destination. Although the nylon fabric is thin in order to fold up better, it’s tear-resistant, it's water-resistant and it has a sturdy metal zipper.

Keep hands germ-free and smelling lovely while traveling with this travel-size rosewater sanitizer mist. Not only will this rid hands of germs but the mist contains Detoskin, which provides blue-light protection, and Vitasource, which can help firm skin by boosting collagen.

You may be required to show not only a passport but a vaccination card when entering some countries. Protect both documents with this passport and vaccine card holder, made from water-resistant faux leather. The holder comes in various colors, so you can select just the right one to match your favorite traveler’s luggage or personal style.