Home > News > This year’s top Christmas gifts for travellers
When all someone wants in life is to wander the world, buying them gifts for Christmas can be something of a nightmare (unless you have the cash for a one-way ticket that is). However, if you delve a little deeper, there are plenty of great things you can get a travel lover. The trick is to break it down into two key areas: gifts to inspire and gifts that are useful. Here are some of our top presents to give the traveller in your life this year.
Gifts to inspire
Travel planner: This is such a useful gift for someone who loves travel but isn’t necessarily going to go ‘travelling’ for a few months. In the planner you can put all of the places you’ve been, all the places you want to go and all the things you want to see. Essentially, it’s a way to organise your travel throughout your life, allowing you to tick things off as you see them and prioritise where you want to go. The best planners will also have category breakdowns, so you can select holidays based on what you’re looking for at any given time, such as European city breaks for example.
Scratch map: If your travel lover is also partial to some travel-inspired interior design, you can’t go far wrong with a scratch map. Invented in 2009 by Luckies of London, they have a gold foil layer that can be scratched off once the country has been visited. Underneath the foil is the nation in colour and its capital. Pop these in a glass-less frame to make a really beautiful and unique gift.
Travel guides: Part of the joy of travelling is learning about new cultures and countries, but this has to start before you begin your travels. Travel guides are brilliant for inspiring people, helping to plan a trip and learning important information about a given country. There are loads out there too, covering everything from standard tourist stuff to information about going off the beaten track.
Useful gifts
High quality camera: A more expensive gift, a high quality camera is often the tool a traveller needs to inspire them to take their next trip. Once you’re able to capture the places you visit and the experiences you have in high quality technicolour, suddenly your desire to explore the world becomes a mandate to record and communicate to others through visuals. After all, it is through powerful images that we get an understanding of cultures and events.
Care package: When you’re travelling, it’s often the comforts of home that you miss and need the most. If you have a loved one who’s currently wandering the world, send them a care package with all of their favourite things they can’t get overseas. This might be Yorkshire Tea, Cadbury’s chocolate, a certain hair product or perfume, or a good book (finding a decent book in a hostel book exchange can be a nightmare).
Trek towel: You can’t travel without trekking and trekking is hard work. Consequently, you sweat. However, lugging around a normal towel isn’t practical. A trek towel is lightweight, antibacterial and can be folded up and put in a rucksack.
Tablet: A tablet can be really useful for a traveller, especially if they go away for short periods of time. They’re more lightweight than laptops and easier to use than smartphones but still allow you to surf the net, use apps, take images, email and read. It also means you can better track your travel and keep in touch with life back home.
Subscription to online streaming services: Netflix (or Prime – whatever you choose) is the dream when you’re on the road but it’s an unnecessary expense for many cash-strapped travellers. Consequently, giving this as a gift would be very much appreciated, as it means people can still kick back and watch movies and shows on the other side of the world – a welcome break from trekking, night buses and lugging your luggage around everywhere.
Nadine is one of the directors of eShores. She left school at 16 and went straight in to a travel agency. Over the 30+ years she has worked in various sectors of the industry and has also worked as an overseas representative in both summer and ski resorts. She has also travelled to many countries from Europe to the Far East and USA.
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Anonymous
We were looking for a two island holiday at Rhodes and Kos. Emily provided us with a number of options and recommendations for flights and hotels which enabled us to make a final choice. She was extremely helpful in dealing with our requests and room preferences and the whole process was handled very efficiently.
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Julia
So impressed with Eshores. Chris Eaves handles our arrangements and we have just booked our fifth holiday with him. Nothing is too much trouble and as we are two mature ladies his patience is much appreciated. We always feel confident in his advice and suggestions. Over the years he has arranged some complex itineraries for us including a three stop holiday with all flights, hotels and transfers organised - bliss.
This time were off to Turkey and Chris has organised everything for us. Another worry free holiday sorted in 2026!
Thanks Chris to you and everyone at Eshores.
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LukeRoger
Rob was very helpful and attentive and responded to my emails quickly and I was very impressed with the service provided. I have no hesitation in recommending eShores and I will certainly be using them again for future holidays.
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Keith
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Kaye
Leanne was a delight to work with, proactively suggesting options, whilst remembering they had to be practical. What I appreciated most was how responsive and efficient Leanne was. Everything was handled promptly. Even though we haven’t taken the trip yet, I already feel confident that things will run smoothly thanks to the excellent groundwork that Leanne put in place.
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Sally
I’ve now lost count of the trips I’ve booked with Gavin at e-shores and how he always manages to know exactly what we like and gets a great price - always the same or less than I research myself. Our latest was Greek island hopping to Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and Santorini and the hotels Gavin booked were all outstanding and the typically small, boutique hotels with less crowds.
We went out of season (1st - 13th Sept) and everything went smoothly from the airport transfers, the welcome we had at each hotel and the beauty of each island having its own magic.
Looking forward to the next trip already booked through Gavin in November! Thank you everyone-shores - the Napiers!
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Anonymous
I found your representative very informatative. She listened carefully to our requests and completed every thing we asked for, including changing flight times that were better suited to us.Many thanks. I have already recommended the company already.
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Alaine
Great care is given to assist with what your looking for in a holiday.
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Robert
Always get great service from EShores (thank you, Emma). Nothing is ever too much trouble no matter how many times I change my mind! Would not consider using anyone else
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Christopher
Laura was fanastic, knew just what we needed and found it hassle fre when other agents had struggled :-)
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