If you have friends or family that travel a lot, you know how important it is to have the right gear to make the journey as comfortable and painless as possible. If you’re searching for gifts for your favorite adventurer that won’t break your bank, we’ve got you covered.
From bags to electronics to skincare, we’ve come up with gift ideas for shoppers on a budget that’ll improve any travelers’ life and provide a lot more fun for the next time they decide to take a trip. Here are 31 affordable gifts under $50 that you can purchase for your favorite globetrotter.
Not worried about budget? Check out this wider-ranging list of the best holiday and Christmas gifts for the frequent traveler in your life.
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 from buying travel-sized toiletries before every trip. Plus, they’re made from lightweight stainless steel that’s sustainable, durable and looks good.
We’ve deemed this wireless transmitter one of the most useful items to have when traveling. The AirFly Duo uses Bluetooth to ensure you can enjoy in-flight entertainment using your favorite wireless headphones. With the AirFly, you can skip those cheap airline headphones, pair your own set with the device and simply plug it into the seat-back headphone jack.
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.
This universal travel adapter comes complete with four USB ports, one USB-C port and one traditional AC socket to charge up to six devices at once. Best of all, you can use this small but mighty device in just about all international destinations from Europe to the United Kingdom, Australia and more. Although it’s only an adapter and not a voltage converter, it’ll charge up phones, e-readers, smartwatches, laptops and more, so you don't need to fill your precious luggage space with various plugs.
It's always a good idea to have a backup battery for your phone, especially when you're traveling. This TSA-approved power bank is MagSafe-compatible, making it super convenient and easy to use. At only $20, it's a perfect gift for someone who needs to keep their phone charged during their travels.
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.
Sleeping well while traveling doesn’t have to come at a steep price. In fact, our best-tested 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 smartphone tripod is portable and can help you take photos while you're traveling! We love that it's compact enough to fit in most wallets and adjustable so you can get your photos or videos at the right angle.
We love this simple but effective mount that provides a hands-free viewing experience for user. It clamps to the tray table of the seatback in front of you, allowing you to insert your phone and stream your favorite TV shows and movies. When tested, we found that the 360-degree rotation allowed for a variety of contortions, so no matter what plane you're on, you'll be able to have an optimal viewing experience.
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, this case ensures you’ll never end up with tangled necklaces or lose an earring. Even those who don’t travel with a lot of jewelry will appreciate having their wedding ring or stud earrings safely tucked away while on the go.
Your favorite traveler can slip this silk pillowcase into their carry-on so they can fit it onto any pillow they come across during their trip. The silk will keep their hair soft and prevent breakage, as well as prevent acne. At only $20 this pillowcase makes a great gift for any traveler.
A great, affordable option to the Apple Airpods is the EarFun Air 2. After testing them, we came to the conclusion that the sound quality and bluetooth technology is impressive for their price. The style is simple and compact, allowing it to be the perfect travel companion on your trip.
Compression socks are a great gift for someone who's planning on flying for their next trip. Experts agree that wearing them can improve circulation and reduce swelling on long flights. We love these because they are lightweight and provide ventilation for optimal breathability and comfort.
This luggage tag will look great hanging off any bag. For only $6, you can have the classic look of a leather tag without having to splurge. It comes in multiple colors, has an adjustable strap, and a name card.
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 $10, this device will help your favorite budget traveler arrive well-rested.
Sleep through jet lag, red-eye flights, loud hotel rooms and whatever other noisy and uncomfortable sleep situations travel throws at you with the Mavogel Cotton Sleep Mask. We consider it the best sleep mask out there, as it blocks out all light, allowing for a darker and more peaceful sleep on the road or in the air.
This Turkish beach towel is super lightweight and fast drying, making it an excellent addition to your packing list. It's one of our favorite eco-friendly products due to the fact that Sand Cloud donates 10% of its profits to protect marine life and is also made from GOTS certified yarns.
This four-pack of Mario Badescu facial spray is perfect for all your different moods during travel. Our associate writer for testing, Carolina Gazal, says she loves using the aloe sprays "for hot summer days, travel or even to wake up skin in the morning. It's basically spa water but in a hydrating spray." The under-60-milliliter mist bottles are small enough to fit into your ziplock baggie of liquids during a long-haul flight so you can enjoy spa-like treatment abroad!
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 also collapses so you can easily pack it in your favorite travel backpack when not in use.
These earplugs are simple yet effective! It reduces cabin noise by 20 dB and regulates air pressure in your ear from take off to landing. A thoughtful gift for someone you care about who is planning to fly in the near future. Say goodbye to ear pain from flying!
This portable speaker is the perfect travel companion to bring on your next trip. With an integrated carabiner, its design makes it easy to attach the speaker to your bag or belt loop, so you can continue playing tunes no matter where you go. Not only is the sound quality excellent, but it is also waterproof, making it a great pick for your next beach vacation.
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.
After a long day of travel your skin might need a pick-me-up. Our beauty editor, Sophie Shaw loves that they are "individually wrapped, so it’s easy to slip a couple into your carry-on and keep them handy on a flight." Complete with ingredients like aloe, willow bark and birch sap with a light lavender and citrus scent, "they’re very refreshing and actually make my face feel clean, which is a lifesaver when I’m on a long haul flight and have to skip my usual skin care routine."
These reusable bags are durable, lightweight and spacious. They can be used for trips to the grocery store or the beach. They also fold into a flat pouch, making it easy to add them to your suitcase or backpack without taking up too much space. Baggu does collabs with brands like Peanuts and Sanrio which makes them the perfect stylish gift for your favorite person.
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.
Air travel can wreck havoc on your skin. Help your skin out with these sheet masks from Loops. The packaging is compact and portable, so you can slip these into one of your bags while traveling. Our beauty editor Sophie Shaw likes to use them on the plane to calm and brighten her skin after a long day of travel.
When you're traveling, having a spacious bag is important, especially if you're not bringing a carry-on. This backpack is a great bang for your buck. After testing it, we were impressed with its durability, comfort and spacious compartments. Also, its anti-theft lockable compartment is a great feature that allows you to store important documents like a passport.
This digital luggage scale will save your favorite budget traveler on excess baggage fees, and it’s small enough to pack in a suitcase to ensure bags are never overweight. The scale, which comes with a battery, can weigh bags up to 110 pounds.
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.
There are many factors that may lead to dehydration while traveling. You might notice your lips becoming chapped right before your flight lands. It's a good idea to have a lip balm packed and ready for you to grab. Our beauty editor has been particularly enjoying this Eos lip balm on her travels due to its scent and glossy finish!
Why trust CNN Underscored
CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test all the products we cover and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have an experienced team of writers and editors who have many years of testing experience and ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to ensure we are testing each product accurately and speaking about pros and cons of each item.
From the best luggage to in-flight accessories that make time in the sky more enjoyable, our team of editors has years of experience testing the best in travel. For this story, we included products we’ve personally tried while traveling, our testing team has thoroughly vetted or other products from brands we know and trust.
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