Fun & Practical Travel Gifts for Someone Going Abroad (Or Moving Abroad)

So, you said it. You told them you were going on a trip. As you’re one step closer to the “big move”, your family and friends might be wondering if you’re taking the right decision, if you’re ready for this and if you’re lucky, they might be wondering what they can do to help. 

If you’re planning your big trip, you might want to subtly give this list of gifts for someone moving abroad/going abroad to the people around you. On the other hand, if you received this list or if you have a traveler in your life, these gift ideas for travel lovers could inspire you and make them smile.

For the purpose of this article, I’ll pretend I’m speaking directly to the traveler in your life – just because. *If I do switch talking to the gift buyer – bear with me. #Sorry.

 

Top Gifts for Someone Moving Abroad/Going Abroad

 

Share the love – Top going abroad gifts

 

Let’s start by explaining why I think that a “move abroad” and a long-term trip is pretty similar. The way you pack, and what you need will likely be different from a short holiday. It has to be a bit more practical but also essential. The long-term traveler won’t want to carry around 75 litres of things he doesn’t need.

 

Rolo Travel Bag

 

Rolo Travel Bag is basically a roll-up thingy that helps you organize your backpack/suitcase. This roll-up bag features different compartments where you can organize your clothes easily. Basically, you don’t even have to unpack anymore! You can get a 15% discount using this code: FIXEDBACKPACK.

 

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Backpack

 

 

Having a good backpack (or a suitcase if that suits your needs better) for long-term travel is important. Ideally, you want to have carry-on luggage so you don’t have to pay extras for luggage in some airlines.  Although, if you’re making a big move abroad – having a bigger backpacker/suitcase could be a smart idea. Of course, it depends on how many things you’re thinking of bringing with you. You can check my thoughts on backpacks with wheels here.

 

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Waterproof Bag

 

Whether you opt for a waterproof day backpack or a dry bag, it’s quite important to have a waterproof option with you for those days exploring waterfalls, hopping on a boat… or diving in the water. Check the best waterproof backpacks here.

 

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Amazon Kindle

 

If you know how to enjoy a good book, but don’t want to add extra weights in your luggage, having an Amazon Kindle is a great option to keep up with reading abroad. You can even get a subscription to get all the ebooks you’d like (even the one I wrote about Australia).

 

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Travel Pillow

 

Being on long-haul flights, overnight buses or anything that isn’t comfortable to sleep in requires you to have a good travel pillow. What’s your travel pillow style? I used Trtl Travel Pillow for quite a while, but there are many other options such as this extra supporting travel pillow, this twist memory foam travel pillow or the old fashion travel pillow that everybody recognizes!

 

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Universal Adapter

 

What would happen if you didn’t have a way to charge your devices? You might have to run around trying to find an adapter in every single country. To prevent this kind of nightmares, why not have your universal adapter beforehand?

 

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Travel Speaker

 

Do you like to pretend you could be a DJ or at least, pretend that you are awesome? Be the life in the party and put the music on your little travel speaker.

 

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Quick Dry Towel

 

When it comes to going abroad, having a quick dry towel is one of the essential. First, a real towel takes too much room in a luggage. Second, a real towel takes too long to dry.  Instead, opt for a quick dry towel for your travels.

 

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Travel Card Games

 

There are so many cool travel card games and when they aren’t travel related – they are travel-friendly (they don’t take too much room in your luggage).

Here are the ones you should be playing right now:

• Backpackers
• Cards Against Humanity
• What do you MEME?
• Exploding Kittens
• The Werewolves

 

Portable Charger

 

Again, keeping your devices charged and happy is super handy abroad especially in these moments where you’re getting lost.

 

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Camera

 

 

Make sure you can capture every moment that counts abroad – having a camera, a drone or even just a good old mobile camera is a great way to keep memories and to remind your family that yes – you’re still alive.

 

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Travel Laptop

 

Long-term travel and moving abroad require sometimes a good dose of Netflix.  Organizing your trip and upcoming flights and accommodation is always easier when made from a desktop instead of a mobile. Make sure you have a laptop that fits in your backpack and doesn’t take too much room.

 

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Gift Cards

 

If you aren’t sure exactly what travel gear suits the traveler in your life, you can always give them an Amazon Gift Card.

 

Travel Insurance

 

Another big expensive in a traveler’s life is travel insurance. Going on a long-term trip or moving abroad means travel insurance can be quite expensive, so that’s a great gift to offer to the traveler in your life. Check the two best companies when it comes to travel insurance here.

 

Gift for someone going abroad

 

Travel Experience

 

How about a travel experience? You could buy a gift box that allows the traveler in your life to pick an activity from a wide range of travel experiences. Tinggly has activities and day trips organized everywhere around the world. Instead of giving stuff, give them memories. You can read more about the experiences I did myself in Budapest here.

 

Portable Wifi

 

Want to stay connected with your loved one? Make sure the traveler in your life has a strong Internet connection. Rent a portable device for him. This “pocket wifi” will allow him to stay connected everywhere.

 

Worldpackers Plan

 

If your friend or loved one is planning on volunteering abroad, why not giving them the annual plan from Worldpackers – which allows travelers to get free accommodation abroad in exchange for work. It’s an excellent way to create memories, but more importantly to stay safe while you do it. Use this promo code to get a $20 discount: ABROKENBACKPACK.

 

You could also consult this exhaustive packing list or this one for those planning a trip to Southeast Asia. If you’re after something a bit more personal, check out this personalized gift idea.

 
 

FAQ

What to give to someone who is traveling?

Any ideas suggested on this list should do the job just fine. Ideally, you want to give something practical, small and useful.

Can I send birthday gifts to my friend who moved away?

Absolutely. Although, before you do, make sure to know where your friend is going to be. It won't be a surprise as you will need their address to send them a present.

How small should the gift be?

If your friend is traveling with a carry-on only or without too many luggage, you need to make sure it's going to fit. You wouldn't want them to get rid of your gift the day they need more room in their bags, right?

 

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BEFORE YOU GO

 

☑ Book your flight: If your flight isn’t booked yet – check out the flights on Skyscanner or via Google Flights. My top saving tip is flexibility. If you’re flexible, you should be able to find a cheaper flight.

☑ Book your accommodation: I always use Airbnb and Booking.com. If you’d rather stay in a hostel, you should take a look at the options on Hostelworld. If you click on the Airbnb link and you don’t have an account yet – you’ll get a $30 discount on your first booking.

☑ Protect your cute face: Oh, you may want to protect your cute face with a travel medical insurance. I would suggest SafetyWing as they offer the best rates, especially for long-term travelers. Otherwise, you can also take a look at World Nomads.

☑ Pack the essentials: You can consult this list when it’s time to pack your bag! Do not leave without a universal charger, a power bank and your passport!

☑  Do you need a visa? If you aren’t sure if you need a visa, it would be a smart idea to take a quick look before you go. You can use iVisa – it’s super useful and easy to use.

 

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