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The best travel gifts for women help make the travel grind more comfortable while also bringing a chic and elevated touch that will allow the recipient to look and feel great on the road. From thoughtful accessories to keep her safe to cozy apparel that will ensure she travels in comfort, there are plenty of excellent products out there that will surprise and delight even the most discerning woman on your shopping list.
With the holidays just around the corner, we researched the best gifts for the adventurous woman who always seems to be booking her next trip. Our top picks range from an aesthetically pleasing personal safety alarm to a sophisticated weekender bag and a reliable set of packing cubes. Whether you choose to gift beauty, luggage or apparel this year, our top picks for the best travel gifts for women are sure to keep you in her thoughts no matter where in the world she lands next.
Editor’s Picks, At A Glance
- Best Accessory Travel Gift For Women: She’s Birdie The Original Personal Safety Alarm
- Best Beauty Travel Gift For Women: Cuyana Travel Beauty Roll
- Best Luggage Travel Gift For Women: Béis The Weekender
- Best Apparel Travel Gift For Women: L.L.Bean Cozy Sherpa Wearable Throw
- Best Footwear Travel Gift For Women: On Cloud 5 Women’s Sneakers
- Best Tech Travel Gift For Women: Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
Best Accessory Travel Gifts For Women
She’s Birdie The Original Personal Safety Alarm
This personal safety alarm is small and compact, yet makes a big impact. You just give it a pull if you’re feeling unsafe, and a loud alarm and strobe light go off, allowing you to quickly grab the attention of onlookers. It’s a particularly excellent gift for solo travelers, but any woman on your list will appreciate its chic and understated style that won’t look out of place clipped to a purse or backpack.
JisuLife Handheld Mini Fan
With each spring and summer seemingly getting hotter than the year prior, this folding electronic fan is a lifesaver during sweltering days on the beach or an unexpectedly warm European vacation. It’s incredibly useful and sure to come in handy in multiple situations, especially since it also features a built-in portable charger and a handy flashlight.
MOST POPULAR
Larq PureVis Bottle
Staying hydrated on the road is essential, but access to clean water isn’t always a guarantee. This self-cleaning water bottle by Larq has a built-in water purification system that eliminates up to 99 percent of bio-contaminants from the water you fill it with. It cleans on demand with a simple push of a button and also self- sanitizes every two hours. We love its sleek look and the fact that it keeps water nice and cold due to solid insulation.
Sabre Wedge Door Stop Security Alarm
Sometimes a little extra security is needed, and that’s where the Sabre Wedge Door Stop Security Alarm comes in handy. It sets off a loud alarm when door pressure is applied, deterring intruders and notifying neighbors. Small and lightweight, it’s easy to toss into any purse so that it can be on hand for every trip.
Away The Insider Packing Cubes
Packing is always one of the most stressful parts of embarking on a trip, but a reliable pair of packing cubes can make a world of difference. For travelers who often stress over how to squeeze everything they want to bring into their bag, these packing cubes from Away make clothing easy to organize. They’re completely water-resistant, meaning even if you need to drag your suitcase through a rainstorm, your clothes will still be nice and dry.
Equipped with a comfortable nose piece and molded cups that snugly fit around your eyes, this luxe sleep mask is built to block out all light so that travelers can have get some much-needed uninterrupted sleep. The best part? The dual cups curve away from your eyes and eyelashes so that they can block light without smudging eye makeup or compressing the face.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Instant Camera
This sleek instant camera allows travelers to print fun and stylish physical photos while being able to also save their favorite photos to their smartphone. The camera, which also features a built-in selfie mirror, even allows the user to print out multiples of each photo so that she can share them with family and friends. With analogue media making a major comeback, it’s sure to be a hit.
Vasco V4 Language Translator Device
When those Duolingo sessions just aren’t doing the trick, this pocket language translator is sure to bring ease and comfort to those who travel extensively in countries where they aren’t fluent in the local tongue. Just hold down the button, say a sentence in English, and release the button to have it instantly translated. While there are plenty of pocket language translators on the market, this one especially stands out thanks to its ability to work without Wi-Fi—a lifesaver if you’re unable to connect to a network in a remote area.
Catalyst Total Protection Waterproof Phone Case
For the traveler who always wants to snap a photo—even in a body of water—this waterproof phone case is sure to be a game changer. It seals out all water so that your loved one can take that perfect pool selfie, and even comes with a safety wrist lanyard so that they won’t have to worry about dropping it.
Mark & Graham Clear Coated Travel Jewelry Case
This stylish, best-selling jewelry case completes just about any packing ensemble. Coming in 11 bold colorways, each features PVC-coated material that’s easy to clean (should any spills arise), a top zipper and two interior pockets for your bracelets, earrings, necklaces and more. Bonus: You can have yours monogrammed for an extra touch of personalization.
Ostrich Go Luxury Travel Pillow
Our top overall pick for the best travel pillow is made of memory foam that molds to the shape of your neck, providing plush, ample comfort for your next long-haul flight. They’re also beloved for their 360-wrap design: If it ever feels too tight or loose, you can always adjust. “I had a 12-hour flight coming up and decided to give this one a try,” writes one reviewer. “Best decision ever. I had several hours of good sleep and felt so much more rested.”
Best Beauty Travel Gifts For Women
Dr. Barbara Sturm The Winter Kit 2024
Air travel can majorly dry out your skin, and when you factor in the cooler months of winter, moisturizer becomes downright essential. Celebrity favorite brand Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Winter Kit, featuring travel-friendly sizes of iconic products like a night serum and lip balm, is sure to keep the recipient’s skin feeling soft and dewy even after the roughest of travel days. It also comes in a very chic cosmetics case that the traveler on your list is sure to keep using long after its contents have been finished.
Cuyana Travel Beauty Roll
Made from high-quality Italian leather, Cuyana’s Travel Beauty Roll is a stylish organizer built to last. It’s designed with four pockets—including a brush compartment and detachable pouch—so everything stays in place, and its snap enclosure and leather ribbon adds a touch of flair. It’s a tasteful and elegant gift that the woman on your life is sure to appreciate—and want to show off.
NuFACE Mini Classic Microcurrent Facial Device Kit
For serious skincare connoisseurs, this starter kit from NuFACE is sure to go on heavy rotation. Its lightweight and packable microcurrent device removes wrinkles and fine lines, as well as increases firmness and tone in the skin. Any skincare rotation would benefit from its addition, but it is especially useful to travelers who want to remove puffiness from dehydration or exposure to multiple climates.
Tatcha Mini Favorites Set
Japanese-inspired skincare brand Tatcha has become a cult-favorite, and it’s easy to see why. The brand features super pure ingredients and was inspired by holistic beauty routines its founder Vicky Tsai experienced while traveling through Kyoto. Its Mini Favorites set comes with some of the brand’s most beloved products, like its hydrating facial wash and cream cleanser.
Byredo La Selection Nomad Gift Set
Swedish fragrance brand Byredo’s lovely and transporting toiletries can be found in luxury hotels around the world. With scents inspired from destinations by global destinations, their Nomad Gift Set features three fragrances and makes an elegant and tasteful gift, featuring perfume bottles small enough to get through TSA on her next trip.
Le Labo Bath & Body Set
Another great option for lovers of fancy hotel toiletries is this Le Labo Bath & Body Set, which can be found in Edition Hotels around the world, from Barcelona to Bodrum. The ravishing scent from uber-popular fragrance brand Le Labo is sure to please. After all, what better than having your the toiletries in your own bathroom transport you to paradise?
Conair Handheld Garment Steamer
For those traveling on business or for a formal event, a reliable steamer is always a great product to have on hand, especially if you’re not staying at a hotel where an ironing board is readily available. This dual-voltage steamer from Conair will work in any country. It features a quick 35-second heat-up, an easy-fill removable water tank, and an adjustable steam head so that you won’t miss any wrinkles.
Summer Fridays Holiday Lip Butter Balm Set
Frequent travelers know that travel days can often mean dry air and the risk of dehydration. A handy tube of lip balm is always appreciated, and this chic set from Summer Fridays is sure to do the trick. It features a trio of hydrating lip balms in three colors, so that she can also enjoy a pop of color while keeping moisturized.
Knesko Gold Repair Collagen Eye Mask
No traveler ever wants to hear the dreaded words, “You look tired,” but after hours spent traveling cross-country (or across time zones), a travelers’ eyes can begin to betray them. The recipient of these Knesko collaged eye masks will be able to see an immediate difference after popping them on after a flight: reviewers say smooth under eye areas are visible after just 15 to 30 minutes of use.
Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray
If your skin tends to flare up after a long flight, this TikTok-viral toner has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties to soothe the skin after a long day of travel. It can be used day and night, but travel vloggers have taken to spritzing it on just before a flight thanks to its key ingredient: hypochlorous acid, which is an active produced from the body that helps with redness and irritation.
StackedSkincare Ice Roller
This award-winning ice roller from StackedSkincare provides cooling lymphatic drainage massage to a puffy face, and is small enough to pack with you everywhere on the go. It stands out from other rollers due to its ergonomic handle and egg-shaped rolling barrel, which make it easy to reach and sculpt hard-to-reach spots. The stainless steel barrel also allows it to stay cooler for longer.
WHAT WE UPDATED
In December 2024, we added in ten new highly recommended travel gifts for women, including compression socks and noise-canceling headphones, as well as a section dedicated to tech travel gifts.
We removed gifts that are no longer available, then updated the prices of existing gifts. We also added ten new products. Finally, we added helpful sections to explain the travel team’s credentials and how we chose each gift.
Best Luggage Travel Gifts For Women
Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On
For the business traveler in your life, we love this durable and elegant carry-on from Briggs & Riley, one of the most trusted luggage brands on the market. It comes with a clever trifold garment feature that is perfect for keeping clothes wrinkle-free. Despite its price tag, Briggs & Riley bags are always a worthy investment, with the brand’s Lifetime Guarantee indefinitely covering repairs free of charge.
Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus
The Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus is one of our most recommended suitcases and an excellent gift for the traveler seeking new hardside luggage that’s stylish and durable. It’s designed with 360-degree spinner wheels that are whisper quiet and easy to maneuver, as well as an internal pad to compress clothing. Its textured finishing grants it a sophisticated look, and its most recent color release, Sandstone Black, is particularly elegant.
Lo & Sons Rowledge
Lo & Sons’ convertible Rowledge backpack is perfect for the traveler who doesn’t want to sacrifice style for comfort. Its padded straps make the bag feel light no matter how heavy it is, and it easily transforms into a briefcase or tote, but can also be used as a sleek backpack large enough to hold a 13-inch or 16-inch laptop (or both) in one of its many pockets.
Named our top pick for best weekender bags, The Weekender by Béis is a sophisticated weekender bag that makes a perfect gift for the woman who wants to stay organized (and be stylish) on frequent short trips. It can easily fit up to three days’ worth of clothing and features a trusted zip top and full bottom compartment that separates your shoes and toiletries, as well as a handy Velcro-lined interior laptop sleeve.
Dagne Dover Micah Crossbody
Dagne Dover’s Micah Crossbody is a comfortable day bag with plenty of pockets, perfect for travelers who always seem to be on their feet. Spacious enough to fit a phone, wallet, and other small valuables, it’s designed with durable materials and features a sturdy zipper that feels almost impossible to break.
Australian brand July recently released this chic hardshell mini case, perfect for carrying around valuables that need sturdier protection, like cameras, phones or electronics. It features a concealed zipped pocket and interior mesh pocket and will fit a large phone, charger or camera, sunglasses, a wallet and other small accessories.
Dagne Dover Landon Air Mesh Carryall Bag
For shorter trips, Dagne Dover’s mesh duffel offers just enough space for your more lightweight belongings. There’s five interior pockets plus a 16-inch laptop sleeve, as well as one exterior pocket, a shoe bag and an extra zip pouch. It’s also made of eco-friendly recyclable materials, so it’s just as sustainable as it is stylish—AKA, the perfect carry-on.
Calpak Hue Mini Carry-On Luggage
You can keep things light with this mini carry-on from Calpak. With TSA-approved locks and a sturdy polycarbonate hard-shell exterior, it’s built to keep your belongings extra safe. It’s interior divider and pockets give extra organization, and at 16 x 14 x 9 inches, fits conveniently under most airline seats. “It’s perfect for my travel needs,” says one reviewer. “I tend to pack light so everything fits and it is easy to lift into the overhead bin.”
Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0
With its stunning vintage-inspired design, this suitcase from Delsey Paris quickly climbed the ranks as our favorite stylish pick in the best checked luggage. Despite its whopping 110 liter capacity, its polycarbonate shell is lightweight enough to maneuver to and from the airport. Its interior lining is infused with odor control technology, and its TSA-approved locks are sure to keep your belongings secure on your flight.
Best Apparel Travel Gifts For Women
Quince Ultra-Stretch Ponte Jogger Pants
Every traveler wants to be comfortable on a long flight, but no one wants to board a flight looking like they just rolled out of bed. These joggers from Quince hit the trifecta of being comfortable, stylish and affordable, meaning your loved one can stock up on multiple pairs for different trips. They come highly recommended by Forbes Vetted’s senior tech editor Rebecca Isaacs, who wore them on a recent long-haul flight to Seoul and confirms they are “comfy and cozy.”
L.L.Bean Cozy Sherpa Wearable Throw
What’s not to love about this super snuggly wearable throw, which feels like a portable pillow? Featuring all of the comfort of a soft, warm blanket but modified to stay on your shoulders, it can be worn around cold hotel rooms or by the fireplace on a ski trip. Its additional attached hood keeps your neck warm when not used as a hood, and it features the one surprise that every woman is always happy to find: pockets.
Aday Like A Boss Pullover
Female-founded apparel company Aday has found the solution to erratic airplane temperatures with this elegant pullover sweater. It’s ultra versatile, made from comfy, wrinkle-free material that makes it perfect to wear on a long-haul and chic enough to pull over a t-shirt to wear out to lunch upon landing. It’s hard to find a pullover that truly does it all, so this gift is sure to be appreciated by travelers who want to both look and feel good while on the go.
Tanming Women’s 2-Piece Lounge Set
If it’s comfort you seek, this popular lounge set from Tanming is super soft, with wide-leg palazzo trousers that give a touch of breathability. Featuring knit, drop-shoulder long sleeves, it’s extra cozy and comes in nine chic colors so you can style it as you please. Check out our story on the best travel outfits for women for more on why it’s a perennial travel favorite.
Bombas Women’s Everyday Compression Sock 6-Pack
Leg-swelling plagues many after a long flight, which is why we recommend these compression socks from Bombas to help improve circulation issues. They’re provide a snug pressure on your legs, extra arch support and seamless knit stich around the toes (for extra comfort). “Recently used these on airplane and loved them,” one reviewer raves. “The feel is not obvious or too tight. I forgot I had them on and I didn’t need to adjust after a couple of hours of wearing them.”
Vuori Halo Essential Wideleg
For your next pair of on-flight sweats, reach for these cult favorites from Vuori. Their moisture-wicking DreamKnit fabric has a buttery soft four-way stretch; its wide-leg design and adjustable drawstring give extra breathability. For more petite folks, it also comes in regular and short inseams.
Best Footwear Travel Gifts For Women
Known as one of the most comfortable travel shoes on the market, there’s a reason the On Cloud 5 sneakers are so popular: they’re soft, breathable and fit your foot like a glove, making them great for both active and casual days. They also come in a large variety of fun colors, making them easy to mix and match with any travel outfit.
Ugg Women’s Tasman Slipper
Travel days should mean ultimate comfort, and there are few footwear options out there that get the job done better than the Ugg Tasman slipper. They feature an easy slip-on design that makes them perfect to wear to the airport, in the airplane cabin, or around your hotel room. Better yet, they can also be worn outside due to their thick, durable soles, and they are incredibly warm thanks to a sheepskin lining.
Fit Flop F-Mode Flow Leather Flatform Sneakers
Athleisure footwear has never been comfier (or travel-ready) than with this bestselling, chunky sneaker from Fit Flop. The shoes features the brand’s proprietary Microwobbleboard midsoles, which absorb shock and ease underfoot pressure. They’re perfectly light, sleek and ergonomically designed to make those long days where you’re queued up in airport security lines a breeze.
Birkenstock Boston Big Buckle
This cult classic slip-on can withstand the ups-and-downs of long walks in a new city, and its fashionable, oversized buckle adds a nice statement to just about any travel outfit. Beloved for its effortlessly casual look, reviewers also can’t stop talking about its contoured, cork-latex footbed that cradels your foot for extra flexibility and support.
Naot Okahu
Just about every inch of these vegan slip-ons is optimized for comfort, from the cork and latex footbed to their nearly perfect, true-to-size fit. They’re so well-designed for foot health, in fact, that they’ve even earned a seal of approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association. As one reviewer with chronic foot pain writes, “I have narrow feet, and this shoe fits perfectly, is comfortable all day.”
Vivaia Water-Repellent Sneaker Boot Sliders
Not quite sneakers yet not quite boots, these sliders from Vivaia are a unique combination of both, giving the supportive comfort of a plush trainer while maintaining a trendy, short boot style. We particularly love how their roomy toe box makes them easy to slip on and off throughout the day. Suffering from tired feet? Their Artemisia argyi herbal insole also provides pressure relief for when you’re on your feet all day.
Best Tech Travel Gifts For Women
Apple AirTag (4-Pack)
All sorts of accidents happen during travel, with luggage loss being fairly common—which is why we recommend including these in your bags. After going through their simple one-tap setup, they instantly connect to your iPhone or iPad to track the location of your belongings. If any luggage accidents occur, you can switch them to “Lost Mode” to receive notifications on when your suitcases are detected.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
Tune out in-flight noises with these industry-leading headphones from Sony, which deliver crystal clear sound and a noise-canceling function so robust that you might forget what’s going on around you. Their long-lasting 30-hour battery life means they’ll survive even the most excessively long travel days. Use their Quick Access feature to connect them to Spotify or Amazon in just 2-3 taps.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
If headphones aren’t your style, these premium Bose earbuds provide a great noise-canceling alternative. What makes them stand out is their CustomTune technology that tailors sound (as well as the silence around you) to your liking. They play spatialized audio for up to six hours of battery life and recharge in just two hours.
Anker Power Bank (10K, Fusion, Built-In Cable)
The Anker Power Bank pulls out all the stops for portable charging, boasting a 20-watt fast charge, 10,000 milliampere-hour capacity, dual charging capabilities and more. It offers up to 1.97 charges for a standard iPhone 15 Pro, so it’s ideal for shorter trips. Use its built-in lightning cable to connect any USB C-compatible devices.
New Amazon Kindle (16 GB)
The latest iteration of the Kindle is its most compact version, with a higher visual contrast for better reading. A single charge gives it up to six weeks of battery life, so save on luggage space by leaving its USB-C cord at home. Its 16 gigabyte storage can store thousands of books and give all the entertainment you need during your upcoming trips.
Momax Universal Travel Adapter 70W
International jet-setters should check out this universal adapter from Momax, which has built-in US/JP/CN, AU, EU and UK sockets (and can thus be used in over 200 countries). Its USB-C, USB-A and AC outlets are fast-charging, and one USB-C PD port can even charge at a high speed of 70 watts. “The ability to charge multiple devices simultaneously, combined with its compact design and high power output, makes it an essential travel companion,” says one reviewer.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The travel team at here at Forbes Vetted has researched and written on countless travel products, from the best crossbody bags for travel to the best travel steamers.
- Senior travel editor Astrid Taran, who’s covered all things travel for over seven years, has overseen every iteration of this article and contributed her own personal picks.
- In December 2024, this article was updated by Whitney Bruno, an editorial assistant at Forbes Vetted who works across the beauty, fashion, travel and home & kitchen categories and has written other travel apparel guides like the best travel pants for women.
- We regularly update this article to ensure the accuracy of our prices, product details and list placements. In our November 2024 update, we added ten new gifts across every section.
How We Chose The Best Travel Gifts For Women
When compiling our list of the best travel gifts for women, we considered products from dozens of top brands, then poured over hundreds of product reviews for first-hand user feedback.
- We prioritized choosing best travel gifts across a wide range of price points, categories and common travel concerns.
- We also took into account quality of materials, value, and diversity of colorways where applicable.
- Our editors incorporated their own personal recommendations that they’ve vetted personally, like the Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray and the Béis The Weekender.