Holiday Gift Ideas for Travelers & Foodies

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Looking for the perfect gift for your travel and food-loving family and friends? This might help!

Over the last several weeks, I’ve been working to pull together my recommendations for gifts for the travelers and foodies on your list. Some of the items here are items I own and use, and others are on my own personal wish list. I also added current sales and coupon codes, when available. I’ll be updating this post with current deals through the holiday season.

Here are some of my picks for this year’s best gifts for people who live to travel and love to eat. Happy holidays to you!

Clothing & Accessories

Paradox Women’s Rain Jacket: I bought this navy patterned rain jacket a few months ago and I love it! It is waterproof, wind blocking, and breathable and looks nice, with a feminine fit and rich colors. Best of all, it was cheap — under $30 at a local warehouse store (now sold out) but I see there are a few colors available here on Amazon.

Women’s prAna Halle Pants: These pants look perfect for travel with a cut that could go from the trail into the city. The pants use a wrinkle resistant and water repellant stretch material and have buttons on the sides to fold up into capris in warm weather. I’m adding this pair to my travel fashion wish list!

Travel-Friendly Infinity Scarf: A versatile travel piece, in some great colors and patterns to brighten up your travel wardrobe. This one actually has a hidden pocket for stashing some spare cash, phone, or passport.

Travel-Friendly Ballet Flats: I tried on these comfortable flats at a local yoga festival a few months back, but thought these would be great travel shoe. San Francisco-based Rothy’s makes stylish, eco-friendly, and high-tech ballet flats. The company using recycled water bottles to make a soft, breathable, and sweat-wicking fabric. They then knit the fabric on a 3D knitting machine creating a seamless and fitted upper design. The shoes are lightweight, machine washable, and available in more than a dozen colors and patterns.

North Face Canyonlands Men’s Full Zip Hoodie: A cozy hooded sweatshirt/lightweight softshell jacket for the guys on your list.

Travel Gear + Luggage

eBags 21″ Wheeled Duffel: I’ve long recommended eBags packing cubes in my packing lists and gift guides, and I recently got to try our the brand’s new suitcase line designed with the help of TripAdvisor member travelers. This lightweight wheeled duffel has convertible shelves in the main compartment perfect for sectioning off different items, and pockets that can zip open to create larger chambers if you have larger items to pack. There are a few sizes, but the 21″ inch packs a surprising amount of stuff and will fit in the overhead compartment of almost any plane. The bag comes in some bold and unique colors, plus this modern and professional heathered grey.

Skyroam Mobile Internet Hotspot: This is one of the few items I’ve carried over from last year’s list because I love this device and travel with it all the time. This mobile internet hotspot gives you unlimited internet access in more than 130 countries around the world (including the US–so I take it with me when I think I might need to use wifi on a long train ride or road trip). You carry the device in your pocket or purse and connect to up to five devices (cell phones, tablet, laptop) at a time. It’s pay by the day ($9 for 24 hours), so you only pay for the days when you really need the service. The package includes your first 3 day passes. For more information, check out my Skyroam review.

Pendleton Wool Blanket: A cozy Pendleton blanket is a great winter item for lounging on the couch or to keep in the car for camping, picnics, or warming your lap at outdoor restaurants and evening sporting events. This unique Eco-wise wool was designed to be machine washable and get softer the more you wash it.

Tenba Cooper Camera & Laptop Bag: I got this camera and computer bag a few months ago and love traveling with it. It’s really well-designed, rugged material that can take a beating and, most importantly to me, doesn’t look like a camera bag. I have the Tenba 13″ Cooper Slim version, for my smaller (Nikon D5100) camera and 13″ laptop, but there are larger versions available for pro cameras and larger computers.

Tenba BYOB Camera Insert: Don’t like the look (or price!) of other camera bags? “Bring Your Own Bag” with this padded camera and lens insert that slides into any large purse or backpack. Various sizes are available, depending on your camera and number of lenses.

Yeti Rambler Tumbler: This insulated stainless steel mug keeps beverages hot or cold all day. The outside doesn’t sweat when cold or get too hot when boiling.

Fitbit Charge HR: I bought my friends old Fitbit Charge HR off of her earlier this year and think it’s an awesome travel accessory. It’s fun to track how far you walk each day and compare it to your daily life–while I struggle to get 10,000 steps most days when I’m at home, my record day exceeded 25,000 steps one day in Sydney over the summer. Fitbit recently introduced a newer model, but I prefer the look of this one. I dressed mine up with one of these colorful band covers which also helps protect the screen from getting scratched.

Relief Band: Know anyone who suffers from motion sickness? This high-tech drug-free solution stimulates the nervous system by delivering mild shock waves to reduce your nausea. I’ve always gotten violently ill in cars, boats, buses, and trains, and I was excited to find this works, even at reducing nausea after it starts (many OTC meds do not). The stimulation does take some getting used to.

ENO DoubleNest Hammock: A lightweight travel hammock that is strong enough to support two adults and packs down to the size of a grapefruit.

Books & Guides

Food Trails: This new guide by Lonely Planet offers some wonderful travel ideas for foodies. The guidebook includes 52 food-driven itineraries in the top culinary travel destinations around the world. Some of my favorites include a seafood and scotch tour of Scotland, the tour of Parisian cafes and patisseries, a traditional Japanese food and market tour in Tokyo, a kebab tour of Istanbul, and the best chaat (Indian street food) vendors in Delhi. This is exactly the way I plan my travels and this book has me itching to go (or go back!) to all of these places.

Far Afield: Rare Food Encounters From Around The World: This photo-filled book is full of travel and food inspiration from remote places around the world. The book profiles the people that grow and make traditional foods (fisherman in the Lamu islands off the coast of Kenya, food vendors celebrating Day of the Dead in an indigenous village outside of Mexico City, taro farmers who have never left the Hawaii) and shares their recipes.

Grape, Olive, Pig: Deep Travels Through Spain’s Food Culture: Last year I recommended Rice Noodle Fish a wonderful narrative culinary guide to Japan published by the adventurous eaters at Roads & Kingdoms, with the support of Anthony Bourdain. Their new release is a food-themed travel guide to one of my other favorite culinary destinations–Spain. It would be a great gift for anyone who is dreaming of (or who loves!) Spain.

Farmsteads of the California Coast: Closer to home, this culinary guidebook takes you to a dozen farms and food producers that you can visit on the California Coast. (Note: I met Oakland-based author, Sarah Henry a few months back, she leads awesome food tours of the East Bay. Another great gift idea for Bay Area based travelers!)

Local Eats London: A guide to the local (and underrated) foods of London, like bangers & mash, pasties, and more. The hand-illustrated book points out where to find these local foods in markets, pubs, tea shops, and cafes.

Cuba: Recipes & Stories From the Cuban Kitchen: Cuba is a hot travel destination right now and it’s near the top of my travel wish list. This vibrant cookbook filled with bright photos of street food and home cooking makes me feel like I’m there.

My Culinary Journey: Foods & Fêtes of Provence: This book is a cookbook and memoir from James Beard Award-winning author, Georgeanne Brennan. Brennan shares her journey moving from California to a farm in Southern France including her family’s adventures on the farm, local festivals, and her favorite Provencal recipes

Afternoon Tea at Home: This book has dozens of lovely ideas for hosting an English tea party including recipes for scones, sandwiches, and tea party sweets. I used this cookbook to get some ideas for my Downton Abbey-themed tea party this past spring.

Flour, Water, Salt, Yeast: Everything you need to know to bake bread at home. Kevin raved about this book in his tips for making sourdough bread and recommends this book to everyone he meets.

Appetites: A Cookbook: Anthony Bourdain’s new cookbook features his favorite home cooking recipes and dishes inspired by his travels around the world.

Hot Sauce Nation: America’s Burning Obsession: A gift idea for hot sauce addicts! This book shares the history, culture, and traditions of hot sauce in America including our own homegrown creations Tabasco and Huy Fong’s Sriracha (invented in Los Angeles)

Camp Sunset: A Modern Camper’s Guide to the Great Outdoors: This book by the stylish folks at Sunset Magazine offers some easily accessible camp recipes, tips, and packing lists for planning a perfect camping trip.

National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States: An update to celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park System. These gorgeous full-color photo guidebooks cover all of the U.S. National Parks. There is also a kid’s edition for the little ones on your list.

125 Wacky Roadside Attractions: A fun new book by National Geographic Kids covering bizarre landmarks and roadside stops around the world. Perfect to take along on a family road trip!

Anywhere Travel Guide: A pocket-sized deck of cards with 75 daily travel challenges to explore the place around you, wherever you are at home or around the world. Some examples: “Ask the next person you meet where his/her favorite street is. Go there.” And, “Eat a dessert for breakfast. Three appetizers for lunch. And a breakfast for dinner.”

Rosetta Stone: Finally commit to learning a new language with this award-winning. The software (available as a download or on disc) comes in over 30 languages and includes access for up to five family members and the ability to run it on PC, Mac, or mobile devices.

Kitchenware & Food Gifts

Women’s Bean Project Foods: Here’s a gift that gives back. The Women’s Bean Project is a nonprofit organization that trains women who have been homeless or the victim of domestic violence to craft homemade food gifts. They have lots of products perfect for gift giving. I love this six-soup gift bundle, but their old-fashioned chile & cornbread kit, and a chocolate lovers gift basket.

Tamales: Tamale-making is an important holiday tradition in Latin America and the U.S. Southwest. Can’t be with your tamale-making family or friends? Send them the love with tamale gift sets from the Tucson Tamale Company. They have vegetarian and vegan tamale sets, too!

Tamales! Gift Ideas for Travelers + Foodies

Jamon Iberico de Bellota: A stocking stuffer for pork lovers: This artisan crafted Spanish ham will almost make you high. Or for ham-loving high rollers, try this one out…

Cast Iron Tortilla Press: There’s nothing like handmade tortillas and they are surprisingly easy to make at home. This cast iron tortilla press has the right weight for tortilla making. According to Dona Rosa (a woman I cooked with in Mazatlan, Mexico) you want to stay away from the lightweight aluminum ones and only use the heavier traditional cast iron presses.

Cast Iron Dutch Oven: Kevin swears by these enameled cast iron dutch ovens for baking bread and we bought two of them this year — one blue, one green. They are versatile and good for use in the oven, on the stove, and look pretty just sitting on our shelf.

Built NY Neoprene Oven Mitts: This brand makes some gorgeous print oven mitts that look pretty hanging on the wall.

Other Gift Ideas

Tinggly: Give The Gift of Travel Experiences: Use this new travel site to buy a pass that recipients can redeem for their choice of tours and guided experiences around the world.

SpaFinder Wellness 365 Gift Cards: Give the gift of relaxation with a SpaFinder gift card. These cards are good at over 25,000 spas, salons, and fitness studios around the world. [ SAVE! Get 10% off all gift card orders of $50 or more when you use this link ]

Global Entry Program: This government program for U.S. Citizens offers expedited passage through U.S. Customs, reduced wait time, and no paperwork for five years. Kevin and I applied for this program two years ago and love how easy it makes coming back into the US. The program also includes admission to the TSA PreCheck program which lets you speed through the security line on any flight. Gifting $100 to put toward their Global Entry application fee is the perfect gift for a frequent traveler.

Charitable Contributions To Groups Working to Protect Civil Liberties, the Environment, and the Media: Last, but certainly not least, if your gift recipient has been shaken up like me by the recent U.S. presidential election and political movements around the world, I guarantee that they would appreciate a gift in their name to organizations fighting for the people they love and issues they care about. Some worthy groups here in the U.S. include: The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, Anti-Defamation League, Council on American-Islamic Relations, American Immigration Council, United We Dream, International Rescue Committee, Black Lives Matter, Border Angels, National Disability Rights Project, Human Rights Campaign, Trevor Project, Planned Parenthood, National Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Committee to Protect Journalists, and ProPublica.

Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Some of the items here were provided for media review. I would not include an item here if I didn’t love it and wouldn’t buy for myself.

For more ideas, check out last year’s foodie gift guide.

What’s on your holiday wishlist? Do you have any other suggestions for gift ideas for travelers and eaters? Let me know in the comments!

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