Finding a gift for someone who loves to travel sounds easy enough… until you realise they probably already own three passport holders, a collection of baggage tags and enough travel-themed mugs to last a lifetime.

After around 20 years of travelling while balancing a full-time job, I’ve learnt that the best travel gifts aren’t necessarily the most expensive or the most obvious. They’re the things that make an adventure easier, help you capture an incredible moment or inspire you to experience somewhere new.

In this episode of Tourist to Traveller, I’m sharing 24 unique travel gift ideas that are practical, stylish and genuinely worth considering. From clever photography gear and travel accessories to off-grid escapes and memorable experiences, there’s something for every kind of traveller. I’m also sharing the travel gifts I’d skip, so you can spend your money on something they’ll actually use.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• 24 unique travel gift ideas for frequent flyers, adventure seekers, photographers and road-trippers
• Stylish travel accessories that combine practicality with good design
• Photography gifts for capturing incredible travel memories, from compact tripods to drones and underwater camera accessories
• Useful travel essentials for packing, organising documents and making long journeys more comfortable
• Experience-based gifts, including tiny house getaways and unforgettable adventures
• Travel gifts I’d avoid buying, and what I’d choose instead

Stylish gifts for travel photographers

1. The Actually Stylish Camera Bag – Taz + Tez: Taz + Tez

2. A Travel-Ready Drone: DJI Mini 5 Pro: DJI Mini 5 Pro

3. Tiny House Getaway Voucher: Read Why Everyone Should Do A Yearly Off-Grid Tiny House Stay (And How To Plan Yours).

4. Travel-Friendly Camera Accessories from URTH: URTH

5. Multi-Tasking Power Bank

6. Picnic Wine Table

7. Luxury Travel Skincare

8. Pocket Projector

9. Document Wallet

10. Waterproof Jewellery from Atolea: Atolea

11. Versatile Travel Friendly Scarf

12. The Perfect Lightweight Linen Shirt: CABO Palms Shirt Dress from White Bohemian

13. Noise-Cancelling Headphones

14. Airport Lounge Pass

15. Lightweight Travel Tripod (with Mobile Attachment)

16. AirTags

17. Universal Travel Adapter

18. Hanging Toiletry Bag

19. AirFly Wireless Adapter: AirFly

20. Wooden World Map: Enjoy The Wood

21. Packing Cubes

22. Waterproof Action Camera

23. Underwater Dome Housing for Phones: GDome

24. Experiences

Disclosure: Some links in the accompanying blog guide may be affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you.

Connect & Explore

Find destination guides, travel planning resources and more at touristtotraveller.com, and follow along on Instagram @_touristtotraveller for behind-the-scenes planning and future travel inspiration.

There are places you visit because they’re jaw-droppingly beautiful. And then there are places you visit because the experience is so strange and unique that you spend the entire time thinking, “How is this actually real?”

The Dead Sea in Jordan is definitely the second kind.

When I visited, I knew I was going to float. What I didn’t realise was quite how weird that would feel... or how difficult it would be to get comfortable when your legs are determined to pop out of the water. Add sharp salt crystals, very unhappy cuts, and the danger of getting saltwater anywhere near your eyes, and the Instagram version suddenly looks very different!

In this episode of Tourist to Traveller, I’m sharing what it’s really like to visit the Dead Sea in Jordan, including what surprised me, what I wish I’d known before getting in and how I’d plan the experience into a wider Jordan itinerary.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What it actually feels like to float in the Dead Sea
• Why cuts and cracked skin can make the experience surprisingly painful
• The very important reason you should keep your head above water
• What happens to your skin when you get out
• The best time of year and time of day to visit
• Where to stay (If I went again, I'd stay at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea, or Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa)

Helpful Resources & Links

Continue planning Jordan:

• Floating on the Dead Sea in Jordan - A deeper dive into what's covered in this episode.
• Ultimate Jordan Travel Guide - everything you need to know before planning your trip
• How to Visit Petra, Jordan - practical tips for planning your Petra experience
• Wadi Rum, Jordan - what it’s like to experience Jordan’s spectacular desert landscape

Connect & Explore

Find destination guides, travel planning resources and more at touristtotraveller.com, and follow along on Instagram @_touristtotraveller for behind-the-scenes planning and future travel inspiration.

Vanuatu has 83 islands, but that doesn’t mean you need to visit 83... or even five.

When I started planning my own Vanuatu trip, I found myself wondering whether we were making the wrong choice by only visiting two islands. Were we going to miss out on Santo? Should we have tried to squeeze in another island? And would we regret not seeing more?

After eight days split between Efate and Tanna, I came away convinced that Vanuatu is a destination where depth beats coverage.

In this episode of Tourist to Traveller, I’m breaking down the main Vanuatu islands travellers consider and, more importantly, helping you work out which island is right for the way you actually like to travel.

Because the best Vanuatu island isn't necessarily the one with the prettiest Instagram photos. It’s the one that gives you the experiences you travelled all that way for.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Which Vanuatu island is best for first-time visitors
• What makes Efate such a good starting point
• Why Tanna is ideal for adventure, culture and Mount Yasur
• Whether Espiritu Santo is better suited to your travel style
• How many Vanuatu islands you should realistically visit
• What to know about domestic flights and island-hopping

Helpful Resources & Links

Read the full blog: Which Vanuatu Island Should You Choose?

I've also written several Vanuatu guides to help you go deeper:

• Best Things to Do on Efate Island
• Tanna Island & Mount Yasur: Complete Guide
• 25 Fascinating Things to Know Before Travelling to Vanuatu

Connect & Explore

Find destination guides, travel planning resources and more at touristtotraveller.com, and follow along on Instagram @_touristtotraveller for behind-the-scenes planning and future travel inspiration.