Conversations for Curious Travelers

Thoughtful Travel Gifts: Experiences & Ideas They’ll Remember Forever

• Season 1 • Episode 12

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Looking for the perfect gift for the traveler in your life? In this episode of Conversations for Curious Travelers, I’m sharing meaningful, thoughtful, and practical gift ideas that go far beyond souvenirs. From once-in-a-lifetime experiences to cozy at-home touches, you’ll find inspiration for every budget and every kind of traveler.

I’ll also share a personal story about a powerful travel gift my husband gave me before a trip to France—a reminder of how the right gift can create memories that last a lifetime.

Episode Highlights

  • Why the most meaningful gifts aren’t things, but experiences and connections
  • Inspiring ideas for travel gifts—from National Park passes to cooking classes
  • Affordable and low-cost gifts that create big impact
  • Smart and sustainable travel gear ideas travelers will actually use

Next Step

Think of one traveler in your life. Reflect on what they love most about travel, or where they’re headed next. Use one of today’s ideas to choose a thoughtful gift just for them.

Reflection 

“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” — Simone Weil

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[00:00:00] Erica: Welcome to Conversations for Curious Travelers, a Trip Scholars podcast. I'm your host, Erica Forrest. In each episode, we explore how travel helps us learn more about the world and ourselves. If you travel, not just to escape, but to grow, connect and understand you are in the right place.

Why Thoughtful Travel Gifts Matter

[00:00:23] It is the time of year when many of us are thinking about giving gifts to the people we care about. So today I wanted to share some of the best ideas about giving gifts to the travelers in our lives. Many of us are feeling some holiday stress, scrolling through endless gift guides, worrying about money, and wondering if the gifts that we give will actually even be used.

[00:00:45] So today, let's skip the stress and talk about gifts. Travelers really value. Meaningful ones that create connection and memories. 

Research Behind Gift Giving

[00:00:54] You might be surprised to know that researchers have actually studied what makes a gift meaningful and which gifts people appreciate the most. It's actually things that are of sentimental value, quality time together and experiences.

[00:01:08] In fact, multiple studies confirm this. I'll link to just a couple below in the show notes. I encourage you to think about one traveler in your life. What they shared with you about what they love most in their travels? Where are they going to next or what was one of their favorite trips? As we go through the gift ideas in this episode, let those answers and the suggestions that I'll be sharing inspire you.

[00:01:33] By the end, you'll have at least one thoughtful personal gift idea ready to share with one of the travelers in your life.

[00:01:41] In just a few minutes, I'll be sharing dozens of great ideas for gifts. But first I'd like to start with a story that really shows why this approach is so important. It's a little longer than normal, but I hope you'll enjoy it.

A Personal Story: Dordogne, France & Experiential Gifting

[00:01:55] Some years back we were planning a trip to the Dordogne in France. It's an exceptional place to travel to. The beautiful Dordogne River is running through this bucolic countryside with vineyards and sunflower fields. It has a deserved status as a foodie haven and a rich history with castles studying the picturesque scenery, but it's also exceptional.

[00:02:19] Because of the enormous concentration of Paleolithic sites, Lascaux often referred to as the Sistine Chapel of Prehistory is found here and there are numerous Neanderthal sites in the region. It's where Crow Magna Man was discovered. And in our time before visiting, we had watched movies and documentaries about human evolution and paleolithic cave art.

[00:02:42] We visited local museums and cozied up on the couch with coffee table books on early humans in the history of art. And we'd even tried our hand at making pigments similar to those used in the caves and done some artwork inspired by it. Well, my husband gave me a book [00:03:00] called Stepping Stones, A Journey Through the Ice Age Caves of the Dordogne by Christine Des Domains Huon.

[00:03:08] It was a very welcome gift, and I was so inspired by her knowledge and approach that for my birthday gift. We hired her to be our guide through some of the caves. Our family parked off the side of the road and walked with the archeologist for a mile through the dappled sunlight of the woods. We listened to the leaves rusting in the warm summer breeze, and to her fascinating story about how she became an archeologist.

[00:03:34] Decades before she and her husband had purchased an old farmhouse, an acreage nearby to raise their family. And while playing with the children in their yard, she found artifacts made by early Crow, magnan and neandertal people, and we were heading into one of the most unique caves in the region, Berna fall.

[00:03:54] Unlike many of the famous state run sites, befall is on private property and it only has a handful of visitors. We arrived at the cave entrance, which was tucked into a wooded thicket, and we put on our sweatshirts and pants, adding a needed layer of warmth to the sundresses shorts and sandals that were our normal summer travel attire.

[00:04:15] The cave had no electricity. So after opening the big steel door, she assured us into the cold, musty, earthy air with only her large flashlight. It took a few minutes for our eyes to adjust, but gradually we saw stalactites overhead and a large rock in the center and prehistoric artwork surrounding us.

[00:04:38] She turned off the light and we could feel ourselves in the memories of these ancient ancestors coming together in the darkness. It was just the six of us, like the size of families who may have entered this decorated cave 12,000 years ago with her light back on together in the intimate shadows, we saw bison and horses and mammoths flickering on the walls.

[00:05:02] We spoke and hushed reverend tones with the subterranean acoustics, accentuating every whisper. And slowly we explored the three long rooms of the cave, examining hand prints and mysterious symbols and elaborate artwork. There were hatch marks etched into the stone and dotted formations made with mineral pigments and early abstract communication method we could only wonder about.

[00:05:29] And finally, she let the light fall on a painting of a human face. A rare and precious find in paleolithic art. Standing together as a family, being fully present to each other and to our understanding of our place in human evolution and history was exceptionally powerful. It connected us to each other and to humanity in a way that changed us all for the better.

Experience Gifts for Travelers: National Parks, Tours & Tickets

[00:05:58] And that is the [00:06:00] incredible opportunity behind giving travel experiences as a gift that you can consider for the people in your life. So I encourage you to picture this. You could be giving somebody a gift this year with a National Parks Pass tucked into a card, and it's not just the card, but in an entire year of adventures, the dreams as they plan their trips and the lasting memories afterwards.

[00:06:26] National Parks Pass can make a great holiday gift. You can even consider wrapping it up in a map. State Park passes can also be a great addition in this area. You could consider giving performance tickets. Uh, this is one of the gifts that we give the most in our family. So everything from getting to see Shakespeare performed in the Globe Theater in London, or tickets in your own hometown to see your favorite visiting musicians from the places that you have visited.

[00:06:56] A restaurant gift card to one of the places that you know that they will be visiting this year on one of their next trips, Another option in gifting experiences is gifting plane tickets. Uh, you could also consider gifting some kind of lodging so you could gift campground reservations. Many hotels and Airbnb all offer gift cards so that people can book their own travel accommodations, but it would be a gift from you.

[00:07:27] Museum passes, uh, especially in hometowns or if people will be traveling internationally. If you know the cities that they'll be visiting, you can consider getting a city pass that would allow them to take public transportation and often get into many of the top sites. A lot of those you can purchase but not activate until you actually arrive at the.

[00:07:47] Place that you're visiting. So you could give it in advance. It'd be a super thoughtful gift. If you have a sports fan consider getting sporting event tickets where they're traveling, potentially one of the, top regional sports in the area. And if you have your own travel points that you could gift either for an airline or hotel points that would be a very welcome gift for many of the travelers in your life.

[00:08:16] And certainly as I shared at the beginning, you could consider getting a tour so that they can have an experience like the one that I shared. So think for a moment, who in your life would light it up at the thought of doing something instead of unwrapping another object to put in their house?

[00:08:35] I bet you can think of somebody who would really love it. 

Classes & Learning Opportunities as Travel Gifts

Another one of the best gifts that we can give our classes and learning opportunities about the places that people will be visiting or about things that they love doing while they're traveling for us, one of the best gifts that we gave one of our kids was scuba lessons.

[00:08:54] We were already planning a trip to Hawaii and it was a fantastic addition. It [00:09:00] inspired them to later move there and study biology and marine life. So these classes make our trips richer, they're fun. Even if the trip is a year away. So here are some classes and learning opportunities, you could consider in relation to the travelers in your life.

[00:09:17] Can you find a cooking class related to their destination? Either something that they might take while they're there or that they could take from home, to prepare and learn more about the region. Consider a language tutor or a language class that would certainly make their trip much richer and more enjoyable.

[00:09:36] There are dance classes, you can find online or perhaps in person, locally or that they could take while they're there, music teachers so that they can play the regional music. Maybe they get to sit down and enjoy a session, with other local musicians, an art class at your local museum or something that they might take.

[00:09:59] While they're traveling, there are even some extended art experiences that you can take in certain areas that might last for a whole week. You could consider a drama class or a theater class, a naturalist class, or like we did a scuba certification.

[00:10:16] You can also look on places like Airbnb classes and Atlas Obscura classes. So imagine gifting one of the travelers in your life, a class like this. What do you think they would most enjoy learning before they went or getting to experience while they were on their trip? 

Subscriptions & Memberships Travelers Will Love

Similar to classes are memberships. So memberships like the Great courses or Duolingo Plus, or even a streaming service for watching international films.

[00:10:44] These are cozy, thoughtful, and cleverly educational. My family has loved using these to prepare for trips. We have also given them as gifts to other families since you can give it to a group of people and each family member can find the best choices for themselves in the membership. They can also be great gifts for people who are not currently able to travel, but have that curious traveler's mindset.

[00:11:10] So a few you might want to consider are the great courses PlusThey have many travel focused courses led by. professors who will help you understand the places that you're going to at a much richer level. Duolingo Plus. When I ask guest authors on Trip Scholars to share their favorite resources to help someone enjoy a trip, the most popular resource recommended is Duolingo, because it's free, it's gamified and fun.

[00:11:43] And it can be a great way to prepare for where you're headed. Duolingo Plus, makes it easier and there are fewer ads you can get more learning done. Babble is another great, language learning. Membership. As a matter of fact, on trip [00:12:00] scholars.com, we have a whole article on, learning languages before you travel.

[00:12:04] So there's more resources there. I'll link to that below. Masterclass is another fun membership. You can learn many different skills, taught by master in the field. And then of course there are things like net. Flicks or Hulu or Brit Box or Acorn that would allow you to potentially watch films, from the area that you're planning to visit and really start to understand and appreciate it from that perspective.

[00:12:30] And then there are also memberships that really fuel adventure. So, places like REI, you can get your membership to the co-op and it's a lifetime membership. People can get all kinds of outdoor gear to enjoy all trails so they can go on hikes. Then there are also memberships to work exchange programs like Trusted House Sitters or Workaway. I have an article on that I'll also link to in the show notes. And then there are even niche classes for people dreaming of, creating an expat life or sailing around the world that you could find, a membership to where they can learn and get those skills.

[00:13:08] So a question for you. Would you rather get a subscription to learn a language or want to stream international films, or one to take an online course, which feels like more of a gift to you? 

Unique Transportation & Adventure Gift Ideas

Another type of gift that's wonderful for people who love to travel are gifts involving transportation.

[00:13:29] So a good friend of mine got married later in life and her adult kids all got together and gifted her and her husband, one of the most thoughtful travel gifts. A hot air balloon ride. So think back to some of your favorite memories in your lifetime. You were likely moving in one way or another. So these are some of the pricier gift recommendations, but they might be worth it if they fit in the budget, since they will definitely create lifelong memories.

[00:13:56] You could always go in with multiple friends or family members to share the cost. So a few options are getting a train pass. You could pay for part of, or the whole, charter for going on a boating adventure. You could do a day sale. Many of the places that people might be visiting will have day sale opportunities.

[00:14:19] Paragliding reservations, standup paddle boarding or kayak rentals, surfing classes or rentals, bike rentals. Hot air balloon ride, a helicopter ride renting an rv and even gas cards or ev charging cards for someone's road trip. 

Free or Low-Cost Travel Gift Ideas That Mean the Most

Sometimes the best gifts don't cost a dime. And with surging prices, inflation, tariffs, there are many of us who would prefer to give something that is low cost. And actually one of the best gifts I ever gave was practically free in the weeks before our 25th anniversary.

[00:14:59] I spent [00:15:00] time really thinking about the things I'm most grateful for and loved most about my husband, and each one went on a separate sticky note once he fell asleep the night before, I put 'em all over the house places that matched up. Best with each of the sentiments. So he woke up to a house bursting with a lifetime together of thoughtful, beautiful memories.

[00:15:20] Many of them were related to travel and trips that we shared. It was very special and moving gifts, and it was a gift of time and care, not money. So a few ideas you might want to consider. A digital slideshow of past travels, gifting someone a digital photo frame. And then every year your gift can be uploading pictures of the year's adventures.

[00:15:45] Very thoughtful. You could think about, the location of a past or upcoming trip and put together a meal or baked goods, you could add music, all kinds of things to bring those memories and hopes back. If you have a trip planned, you could consider making a scavenger hunt or a bingo card Jessica Grace Coleman did in a recent episode that I'll link to below. And then you could always use the Trip Scholars site to put together a whole year or many months full of fun of things to do before you leave. Watching movies, making food, reading books playing games.

[00:16:24] So think of one free gift that you could give, and sometimes those are the ones that are remembered forever.

Anticipation & Memory Gifts for Travelers

[00:16:33] Another great, group of gifts that we can consider are gifts that allow travelers to anticipate and remember their upcoming trips. So once when I was staying in Norway, we were in a family's holiday home, right on one of the fjords, and it had all these lovely, cozy, homey accents and personal touches, plus this breathtaking view of the water and um, mountains coming down into it.

[00:17:02] And when we travel, we usually try to do carry on only. So we're trying to book places with laundry facilities at least once a week. So after a couple of days in this sweet house, you know, I gathered up all the dirty clothes and opened the door to the basement and was immediately swept back in time to my grandma's house in Iowa.

[00:17:20] It smelled just like her basement, and I was so grateful for the flood of memories and that feeling of being close to her even. Even just through memory. So have you ever caught the smell of something, a flower or a spice or the way the air smells in a new place and suddenly you're transported right back to those memories?

[00:17:41] There's a fascinating reason for that. When we smell something, signals travel directly from the nose to the olfactory bulb, and the olfactory bulb has connections to the amygdala, which. Processes are feelings and the hippocampus where memories are formed and that's why scents can feel so powerful.

[00:17:59] [00:18:00] So a single smell can instantly bring back feelings of standing in a spice market or hiking through a forest or sitting in a cafe on your travels. So when we give gifts like candles and lotions and soaps, or even foods with distinctive scents, we're not just giving an object.

[00:18:18] We are giving the chance to relive meaningful moments. I'd like to spend just a minute talking about travel gifts related to our senses. These can be souvenirs to help us remember a trip or we can give them in advance to help their recipient anticipate and look forward to an upcoming trip.

[00:18:37] Think about the whole realm of taste. You can give beer or wine or teas or liquors related to a particular region, or you can give regional foods You could put together a basket with many of these things inside or just a single item, you can think about visual gifts. So everything from photo albums to the digital picture framing we were talking about a minute ago.

[00:19:04] Calendars, maps, art, ornaments and then of course there are all of the books, so novels and myths and field guides, coffee table books. You could also consider things that people could be listening to, so you could put together a playlist audio, books and audiobook, subscription, maybe even an instrument related to the place that they're visiting.

[00:19:29] You could also consider games. There are many tabletop and video games related to places that we're visiting. 

[00:19:35] In fact, I have an article I will link to in the show notes all about games related to travel. 

Giving Back Through Travel: Donations & Coaching

Another wonderful gift that we can give is giving back to these places that are important to the recipient.

[00:19:49] So you could make donations to charities in the destinations that your loved ones care about. And another meaningful gift for the traveler in your life could be coaching or classes. For example, I offered private travel coaching sessions where I work with people to plan really meaningful and personalized trips.

[00:20:08] These make a fantastic gift for someone who's been dreaming of a big journey, but maybe feeling overwhelmed about how to start. Or for someone who wants to bring more depth and purpose into their travels.

[00:20:20] So gifting an experience like this can give your loved one tools and inspiration that they'll use not just for one trip, but for a lifetime of adventures.

Practical Travel Gear Gift Ideas

[00:20:31] And sometimes the most meaningful gift is simply one that makes travel easier. When you are rushing through the airport or unpacking in a hotel room, having the right gear can really turn a stressful situation into something calm and enjoyable.

[00:20:49] So a few of my top travel gear picks are making sure that they have a really great backpack or suitcase. I love the Osprey Fairview and Far point [00:21:00] 40 liter. They're small enough to fit in overhead bins, but big enough for long trips. And if you are gifting to somebody who might be dealing with mobility issues,

[00:21:09] They might be looking for a wheeled suitcase instead. So giving someone the freedom to skip check luggage, that can be a huge gift in today's world of delays and lost bags. Uh, packing cubes might not sound very glamorous, but they are a total game changer.

[00:21:28] They can keep everything organized and make opening the bag in a new hotel or even in a public space, a lot less stressful. And for families giving everybody their own color. You'll thank me later. Another great choice is an anti-theft day bag. They can be great for peace of mind in crowded tur spots. Sustainable toiletries are another super choice for travelers. Things like shampoo bars, toothpaste, tablets they make it easier to get through the TSA lines. They can save space. They cut down on plastic and waste, and there are some that work really, really well. And so they can make great stocking stuffers, but also really nice. Individual gifts. And then of course there are things like reusable mugs and water bottles, portable coffee makers. These are simple, practical, and every time they refill it, they'll be thinking of you.

[00:22:25] So I have a whole post on my site about. Travel gear that I will link to in the show notes. And if you're curious or you want to do a little gift shopping while also supporting the show, you can check it out in the show notes. So a fun question for you.

[00:22:39] If you could only upgrade one piece of your current travel gear, what would it be? A new bag, better headphones, or maybe just some really great snacks.

More Ideas for Thoughtful Gifts

[00:22:48] In the show notes, I've got links to many of the resources and articles that go further into the ideas that I shared today. And you could also head over to trip scholars.com and just search for a particular place or aspect of travel in the search bar and you'll get a lot of ideas. 

[00:23:05] If you haven't already, grab a copy of My Curious Travelers Guide to More Meaningful Trips. I've got a version for parents too, but they're both free.

[00:23:15] And in each of them you'll find so many ideas of activities that you can share that will enhance future trips. Most of them make really thoughtful and meaningful gifts.

Supporting Trip Scholars 

[00:23:25] Okay, a quick behind the scenes moment. You may have noticed that on Trip Scholars, some of my links are affiliate links.

[00:23:32] That means that if you click through and make a purchase, I might make a small commission at no extra cost to you. So think of it like this. You are booking the same lodging or buying the same city pass, or. Book or backpack that you already wanted, but in the process you're also buying me a cup of coffee or being real.

[00:23:53] You are helping me keep the lights on and this podcast running. So if you enjoy these resources, it's a super easy way to support [00:24:00] me or any travel creator that you appreciate and we all really do appreciate it. 

Create a Personalized Travel Gift

So in every episode, we encourage taking a small step that you can easily implement this week related to travel today.

[00:24:14] I encourage you to follow through on that reflection we talked about at the beginning. Think of one traveler in your life and come up with a meaningful gift idea just for them. What have they shared with you that they love most about travel? Where are they going next? What was one of their favorite trips and memories that they always talk about.

[00:24:36] I hope that those answers and the suggestions shared in this episode inspire you. 

Reflection on Meaningful Gifts

I'll leave you with this quote from Simone. Well, attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity. So whether you give an experience a piece of travel gear or simply your attention, remember that what Travelers cherish most isn't the thing.

[00:25:01] It's the thoughtfulness and connection behind it. And if you'd like to give me a gift this season, please subscribe, review, and share this podcast with a friend, or use one of my affiliate links. Really helps me keep creating these resources for you. Until next time, happy gifting. Happy holidays and happy travels. 

[00:25:22] Thanks so much for joining me. I know your time is valuable and I'm truly grateful that you spent some of it here together. Please come visit me@tripscholars.com for free travel resources, workshops and travel coaching. And if you enjoyed today's show, please follow, review or share. It really helps other curious travelers find us.

[00:25:43] Until next time, curious Travelers.

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Erica Forrest

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