Fodor’s Holiday Gift Guide: 24 Gifts for Every Traveler on Your List

If this were a high school yearbook and we were crowning our pick for prom queen, then the Carry-On Closet by Solgaard would be our winner. Chances are, you’ve seen this item splashed across your social media feeds at some point in the past year. Whether being touted by travel influencers or editors who swear by this award-winning product, there’s a reason the Carry-On Closet by Solgaard has become so popular. The Carry-On Closet is exactly what it sounds like: a carry-on suitcase that opens to reveal a pop-up, built-in closet complete with shelving. To pack, you simply layer in your clothing (as you would a closet), and then the entire shelving system collapses and compresses to fit in the suitcase. In a traveler’s enduring mission to fit everything within a single carry-on bag and thereby avoid checked baggage fees, Solgaard’s new suitcases offer an innovative solution.

Starting at $225, solgaard.co

Imagine this: you’re a carry-on-only traveler jetting off to a cold weather destination with about ten sweaters you want to pack. The task of shoving chunky knit sweaters into a carry-on bag while still having room for other clothing items seems impossible until you discover vacuum bags with a USB electric pump. One of our editors found herself in such a situation when heading to Iceland earlier this year and is pleased to report that this vacuum bag and electric pump combo is everything it claims to be. Having packed chunky sweaters on top of bulky jackets, which only expanded with the addition of an Icelandic sweater purchase in Reykjavík, the portable electric pump allowed her to vacuum seal the sweaters in her carry-on bag and reduce their size by more than half. In other words, it is possible to travel carry-on only with a week’s worth of sweaters if you have this pump and these vacuum bags handy.

$29, Amazon.com

You don’t have to shell out $500 for headphones, but if you want to tune out the world (and that roaring plane engine), Apple Airpods Max is an easy choice. With one click of a button, you can turn on noise cancellation. The Airpods Max comes in an array of poppy colors, is easy to use, and switches seamlessly between different Apple products. Just note that the headphones are heavy, so if you’re looking for a lighter alternative, then consider the Airpods 4 Pro with active noise cancellation.

$549, apple.com

If you’re traveling with little ones, this nifty and portable sound machine plays white noise that promises to help them drift off to sleep with ease. With six calming sounds to choose from, the Hussh 2 features a soft and adjustable night light, can easily attach to car seats, strollers, or even diaper bags, and has a child lock and safety features for prying fingers. If you’re a light sleeper, there are a myriad of portable sound machines that Yogasleep offers, including one dedicated to helping calm your pet. 

Starting at $29.99, yogasleep.com

Everything in this holiday gift guide is top-notch–because Fodor’s gives very good advice! And some of our best advice is found in our many guidebooks. A guidebook may sound like a simple gift, but it’s the perfect one for any traveler in your life. They’re beautiful keepsakes to remember memorable travels, they’re invitations for upcoming adventures, and they fit beautifully in a stocking. With over 100 titles covering the entire globe, we’re pretty much guaranteed to have a book that will help your loved ones plan any 2025 trip.

We’ve also just introduced a new series of pocket guides for some of our favorite destinations–including London and Paris (Rome and New York will be released early next year). And, if you’re looking for a guide for the wine or spirits aficionado in your life, consider Fodor’s American Spirits, which highlights the best wineries, distilleries, and breweries in the United States.

$14.99-$21.99, Amazon.com

Aussie travel blogger Brooke Saward first came on our radar for her now-defunct blog, World of Wanderlust. For years, Saward showed her many followers how to solo travel, even turning her expertise into the World of Wanderlust book, published by Penguin Random House Australia. As Saward’s life moved on from being a solo traveler to a wife and now a new mother, her followers eagerly awaited her next act. Now the owner of the uber-popular bakery Brooki Bakehouse, Saward’s new Australia-based bakery has become an instant hit. In large part, this is due to Saward sharing “Day in the Life of a Bakery Owner” videos that have amassed millions of views across TikTok and Instagram. For those who have followed Saward’s career over the years, a bakery feels like the perfect second act for this former travel blogger who would often showcase her love of dessert on her travel blog. Saward’s new cookbook, Brooki, shows readers how to recreate the viral brownies, cookies, and cakes that have made her bakery such a sensation. Brooki is available for pre-order and will be released on December 3rd.

Starting at $31.49 on Amazon.com

We’ve heard some true horror stories about those in-room coffee makers found in hotels, and while grabbing a latte at that nearby cafe is always an option, it can add up. This is why we love the OXO Rapid Brewer, which allows you to brew an espresso-style coffee anywhere. In five minutes, you can brew an iced espresso, or in two minutes, a hot espresso, and the best part? The Rapid Brewer uses no plugs or chargers. To use it, you simply add your choice of finely ground coffee, add water, and wait. After those two to five minutes (depending on your preference of hot or cold), you pump to press the concentrated coffee into the carafe and then add your choice of milk.

$39.99, oxo.com

Consider this a perfect companion to the OXO Rapid Brewer. For coffee lovers, the World Coffee Tour Box contains a sampler of 12 expert-curated coffees sourced from around the globe. Whether chocolatey blends from Latin America or earthy roasts from Southeast Asia—the World Coffee Tour Box not only sends you an array of stellar coffee, but it also offers brewing tips and tasting notes. You can choose between whole-bean or finely ground coffee bags, but if you’re using this along with the OXO Rapid Brewer, make sure to go for finely ground.

$100, beanbox.com

If two cookies represent NYC, they would be the iconic black and white cookie and Levain’s chunky cookies. Handmade daily since its opening in 1995, Levain cookies have become a beloved staple in the Big Apple. Levain cookies check all the boxes: they’re crispy, chewy, gooey, and delicious. The cookies are always baked fresh and, even better, can be frozen and re-heated on a later occasion and still taste like it was just made that morning. For the holidays, Levain has its holiday assortment, which pairs French cocoa with peppermint chips along with the store’s staple flavors, including chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chip, dark chocolate peanut butter cup, and oatmeal raisin.

$49, levainbakery.com

Sure, you could pick up a $5 toiletry bag from Amazon–some nylon contraption that’ll tear open on its first outing. Or you could hang onto the plastic one that’s TSA-approved but is caked with exploded toothpaste. But for the stylish traveler, there’s nothing better than a beautiful, well-crafted Dopp kit. And for those who want the very best, get them a Korchmar full-grain leather one. The century-old company is well-known for its fine leather goods, and its excellent craftsmanship is evident in their Dopp kits. These bags are roomy enough for all your toiletries, and they look mighty stylish sitting on your hotel vanity. Add a monogram (for an extra $35) for an even snazzier touch.

$175, korchmar.com

The never-ending hunt for stylish sandals that can be worn during hours of sightseeing is finally over. Famalore’s signature wavy rubber soles aren’t just a ‘70s throwback; each “wave” is created to cushion and absorb shock (pressure points spread evenly). Their shoes are made with renewable and recycled materials (check), heirloom-level craftsmanship fashioned from whole animal leather (check), and the company is women-owned (bonus!).

Starting at $59, famolare.com

In last year’s Fodor’s Holiday Gift Guide, we recommended the Dyson Air Wrap for its ability to deliver salon-worthy blowouts easily. But, while the Dyson Air Wrap is truly the Cadillac of hair tools, this year, we learned firsthand that it’s not ideal if you’re traveling beyond your country’s borders. While stellar for domestic travel, Dyson Air Wraps only work in the country where they were manufactured and sold. In other words, if you buy an Air Wrap in the States but are hoping to have a bouncy blowout in Paris, you’ll be disappointed to find it doesn’t work abroad. This is why this year, we are recommending the Dyson Corrale Straightener. Not only is the Corrale dual voltage (meaning it can work in most countries with the appropriate plug adapter), but it can achieve multiple styles (waves, curls, and of course, straight hair), as well as hold a charge. As a bonus and testament to this tool’s travel friendliness, the Corrale has an airplane mode option to keep the straightener travel-safe during your journey.

$399, Dyson.com

This beauty favorite is often sold out for good reason. The Pure Cloud Cream uses a proprietary natural blend that combines glacial water, arctic berries, and other nutrients unique to Iceland, delivering a deep hydration that calms, plumps, and uses peptides to encourage collagen production. For beauty lovers, this luxurious cream brings the best of Iceland to your pores. Having recommended another SKYN Iceland product on last year’s gift guide, we love SKYN because of its mission to bring elements of Iceland’s untouched nature to skin care products that are free of harsh chemicals, parabens, silicones, synthetic fragrances, and any dyes. If you can’t get your hands on the Cloud Cream in time for this holiday season, we recommend SKYN’s nighttime routine bundle, which includes a few of the brand’s favorite products.

$58, Skyniceland.com

Consider us old school, but we love the feel of reading a physical book. From cracking open a book and inhaling its new smell to dog-earring pages and highlighting favorite passages, there is just something magical about making a book your own. That said, we’ve tried traveling with multiple books—our travel guide, beach read, plane read, last-minute airport purchase—and it can be cumbersome, especially if you want to be a carry-on-only traveler. This is why we recommend the Kindle Paperwhite, the newest generation of Kindle that gives you access to over four million e-books. The new Paperwhite is waterproof, has a longer battery life, is ultra-thin for travel, has a glare-free screen, and has adjustable lighting to fit any setting. For readers, the Kindle Paperwhite is an ideal travel companion—although once back home, all bets are off, and you’ll still find us with a TBR stack on our nightstand. 

$159, Amazon.com

As founder of the women’s travel community, Wanderful, Beth Santos knows a thing or two about traveling. Her debut book, Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo, combines Santos’ personal experiences with her extensive knowledge about solo travel. Much like her work over at Wanderful, Santos’ book aims to empower its readers by offering up the tools needed to move through the world confidently and safely. Wander Woman tackles everything from the lofty to the niche, whether it’s how to travel ethically and sustainably, how to eat alone on your first solo travel trip, or how to find community as a solo traveler. 

Paperback starting at $13.60, Amazon.com

Published this past August by Regalo Press, this debut fiction novel from Kristin Vuković  follows the story of Marina Maržić, a New Yorker who finds herself returning to her native Croatia to help her father with his struggling cheese factory on the island where she grew up. What unfolds is a story that shares a heartfelt tale examining complicated questions about life’s challenges, cultural identity, and the meaning of home. If you’re looking for an inspiring and beautiful read that can also transport you to Croatia, look no further.

Paperback starting at $18.99, Amazon.com