We’re all about traveling here, but we know everyone has to stick to a budget. That means, whenever we do a round post of products we’re recommending, like this one for gear for a beach trip or gear for a summer road trip, every product is $20 or less. Here are 10 affordable, useful and unique gift ideas for people you either want to road trip with or people you know love road trips.
1. USB Travel Power Strip
What’s worse than getting to a hotel after a road trip with each member of the entourage needing to charge their plethora of devices and having exactly one plugin per lamp and only 2 USB outlets? Pretty much nothing. Avoid that with this affordable, compact power strip for traveling that provides four USB ports, an extra plug, and a long cord.
2. Selfie Stick
Selfie sticks have a reputation as being a bit of a joke, but you never know when it could come in handy. I once used one to send my phone up into the rafters of a building and take a photo of a bird’s nest. It will get used more than you think. Trust me. Just double check to make sure that you get one that fits the giftee’s phone. And some of them, like this one, have a remote camera shutter button.
3. World Map Phone Case
A “Wanderlust” phone case like this lets the world know how much your giftee loves to travel. [Currently on sale]
4. Neck Pillow
People usually associate neck pillows with airplane travel, and they’re certainly great for that. But they’re great to have in cars too . . . particularly for night time driving or if you have kids that all want their personal space and don’t want any one else’s pillows to touch their pillows.
5. USB Essential Oil Diffuser
I got my daughter one of these last year and she loves it. It’s tiny, and plugs right in to her computer USB port, so she can use it at her desk and not have to unplug anything else. This one has color-changing LED lights in it, so it can add a fun ambience to unfamiliar hotel rooms. It could also be a nightlight if you have sensitive kiddos. Plus, it’s nice to be able to provide some happy or comforting smells when you’re in strange places. If you gift this, don’t forget to give a couple of essential oils at the same time. [Currently on sale – half price!]
6. Eye Mask
It’s midnight. Someone wants to sleep. Someone wants to binge on Ghost Hunters. Nuff said. Plus, this one’s silk. [Currently on sale – $9 down from $30!]
7. Sip Caddy for Bath or Shower
This one’s as much fun at home as it is on the road. It suction cups to the shower wall and holds that $10 bottle of Budweiser you bought from room service because you were too tired to actually walk another step to go down to the bar. Speaking about a friend, of course.
8. Portable Cocktail Kit
These are fun to have on a plane, but they’re just as much fun to bring out when you get to your hotel room. It’s nice to be able to have a relaxing drink after you’re done driving, and with a kit like this your giftee can have the drinks they love without paying bar prices. It’s just 95 cents over $20, but it comes with free shipping. [Currently on sale]
9. Tile Mate Key Finder
I’m the type of person . . . I mean, my FRIEND is the type of person . . . who will put their phone or keys in any pocket, of any bag, and will have no idea which pocket or which bag it’s in. So the contents of every bag will get emptied out until it’s found. and that’s a huge, headache and stress while I . . . I mean, my friend . . . thinks it’s lost and contemplates having to backtrack to every place they went that day to find it. This Bluetooth tracker attaches to anything you don’t want to lose. Can’t find your phone? Simply double press the button on your Tile Mate to make your phone ring–even on silent! [Currently on sale – half price!]
10. Game Pad
60 pages of fun and easy pencil games you or your kiddos can play in the car, on the plane, or in the hotel. [Currently on sale]
Vanessa Salvia is a long-time freelance writer and editor. Read her journalistic work at vanessasalvia.com and learn more about her editing and content creation services at sagemediaandmarketing.com.
