Got a world traveler on your gift list and don’t know what to get them? We polled all the full-time traveling nomads in our Facebook group, including expats, part-time travelers, and frequent vacations, asking them what they wanted for Christmas or what gift they want as world travelers. The answers surprised us.
Home made cookies.
This was the top answer! As a full-time traveler, I’m constantly amazed at how terrible some of the AirBnb kitchens are where we stay. No bowls, no mixers, no oven… I really only want a sharp knife and a blender, but having stuff to bake with would be an absolute dream.
AirBnbs don’t have those. Plus, having to buy a pound of flour, a pound of sugar, a cup of butter, salt, baking soda, vanilla, and cocoa can be especially difficult if we’re only staying in a place for a week or so. The idea of baking homemade cookies in an AirBnb is a dream, so actually getting homemade cookies from someone as a gift would be divine.
Alas, though, although nomads and full-time travelers want homemade cookies, we all know it’s a bit unrealistic. Not only would shipping to us in distant lands be crazy, but customs, TSA, immigration and everyone in between might have some issues with it. We’d likely end up with cookie crumbs.
So what’s a gift-giver to do? Fortunately, the second-fifth items on the list are super easy to give, easy to acquire, and easy to distribute. Let’s look at the top choices full-time travelers want for gifts.
Top 4 Gifts for Travelers
As full-time travelers, we’re looking for experiences, not things. Please, don’t give us what you think is a great travel gadget. We already have it or we’ve thrown it out already.
Viator Gift Cards
We love a good hike with a guide, an interesting cooking experience with a local, or a private boat ride to see nesting blue-footed boobies. Viator gift cards help us get there. And we hope and pray you’ll come with us because there’s nothing better than sharing experiences with our loved ones. Click here to get your Viator gift card.
Hotel Gift Cards
As full-time nomads, we have to find a place to sleep every night. We all have our favorite brands and places to sleep. Be it an Airbnb, some place we find on Booking, or a favorite hotel chain like Hyatt or Hilton, we’re experts at finding a good bed and a hot shower. But we can get into ruts. Here’s where you come in. A Hotels gift card if you’re not sure which hotel chain to buy.
Get Your Guide
What Viator doesn’t have, Get Your Guide will. We like Get Your Guide a bit more than Viator because the Guides often work on their own and have more unique ideas than on Viator. They’ve been around and really understand a local place and a traveler’s needs. Whether your loved one wants to hike a local trail in Hawaii or climb Mt Etna, Get Your Guide guides now how to experience a local location.
Ebooks
Nomads love to read. They love books about nomading like Two Carry-Ons and a Plan, The Nomad Life, and Wanderland, but any ebook will do. Buy them a gift card to Amazon, and they can download an ebook or listen to an Audible audio book. Although many nomads use Libby for free books from their libraries, actually owning books like Explore Europe On Foot are helpful for nomads planning long-term travel.
If you’ve got any other suggestions for gifts you’ve given your traveling friends, I’d love some new ideas! This list has worked for over five years, and I’ve received dozens of thank yous from my nomad friends for helping their loved ones come up with ideas for giving gifts to travelers.
You’re the best.
Chris
Chris Englert, the Walking Traveler, believes walking is the platform for life. Wanderlusting since the age of 5, she’s since traveled all 50 US states and 62 countries. Chris shares her love of walking while traveling via blogs, books, and presentations. A natural storyteller, she invites you along as she explores the world, one walk at a time.
Currently, Chris and her husband, Steve, travel the world, full-time as nomads, with just their two carry-ons. They’ve been traveling since May, 2021.