Six amazing travel gifts that will spark the travel bug
Do you dream of travel adventures with your family, exploring far-off lands, and creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime?
If you’re part of a wanderlust-filled family, you’re in for a treat as we uncover six amazing travel gifts that will spark the travel bug in kids and adults. From travel gifts for kids that’ll make them eager explorers to thoughtful presents that inspire travel in every family member, we’ve got you covered.
Be prepared to be so inspired, you will be packing your bags. And speaking of bags, here is the only list of what you need for your travellers.
1. Books!
For adults
The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
A books about following your dreams, this is one of the most-read books in recent history and one of Jak’s favourites. The story follows a young shepherd boy from Spain to Egypt as he follows his heart, goes with the flow, and learns love and the meaning of life. The book is filled with wonderful and inspirational quotes. My favourite: “If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man… Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living right now.” I can’t recommend this book enough.
Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders
As the name suggests, this is a different kind of travel book. It shows you more than 100 new and unusual places, with lots of photos and even city guides for 12 different cities. It’s not a typical travel guide; it’s like a collection of surprising and mysterious places and events. You’ll find natural wonders, like glowing caves in New Zealand, and unique buildings, like stepwells in India that look like something out of an M.C. Escher drawing. There are also weird events, like a festival in Spain where people dressed as devils jump over babies. The book is all about the joy of travel, of discovering new things, and it’s hard to put down once you start reading it
Lonely Planet
Anything and everything lonely planet was designed to inspire you to pack your bag and book your flight!
The best books to inspire kids to travel
Journey, Quest and Return
We loved this series of wordless books from Aaron Becker. Journey introduces a regular kid who enters a magical world through a special portal, starting a journey towards an uncertain destiny.
The illustrations are beautifully detailed and are filled with imagination and creativity.
The Boy Who Loved Maps
Age 4-8
In this sweet story, a map creator meets a young girl who asks him to make a map of the perfect place. They go on a playful journey through her town, and she wants a map of her own home. At the end of the book, you’ll find a fun activity page that explains how to create a map of your neighbourhood and enjoy activities without going too far from home.
Kensuke’s Kingdom
‘I disappeared on the night before my twelfth birthday.’
Washed up on an island in the Pacific, Michael struggles to survive on his own. With no food and no water, he curls up to die. When he wakes, there is a plate beside him of fish, of fruit, and a bowl of fresh water. He is not alone …
This was a great family reader, it’s a short chapter book and is filled with adventure!
National Geographic Kids Beginner’s World Atlas
Age 4-8
Any atlas can inspire lots of questions but the Nat Geo range provides loads of additional facts and figures and make their atlas’s particularly appealing to kids.
The Travel Book Lonely Planet Kids (The Fact Book)
Age 6-10
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe each country is brought vividly to life with maps, full-colour photography, original art and lively, accessible text.
You can’t go wrong with any of the Lonely Planet Kids books. As the world’s leading travel authority Lonely Planet has a dedicated global community of travelers, many of whom are now sharing a passion for exploration with their children.
With engaging books on culture, sociology, geography, nature, history, space and more, Lonely Planet Kids educates and inspires kids to learn about the world around them.
Looking for some inspiration on gifts for kids? Read our post on the best travel gifts for kids that they, and the parents actually want.
2. Travel-Themed Lego
Travel-themed Lego is always a great gift to get kids excited about going on a trip. Our biggest hit was the Lego friends campervan set. We had booked a two week trip in the Dolomites in Italy and this campervan was instrumental it igniting a love of this type of travel…plus the experience itself! The model we had has been discontinued but Indi is already eyeing up this new campervan set.
You can also get destination themed Lego such as the Eiffel Tower or the San Francisco skyline. The architecture series may be aimed more at adults but Lego is for everyone, right?
3. Smart Globe
This absolutely cool interactive talking globe makes learning world geography fun and engaging.
Perfect for a more interactive way of learning about a travel destination, this world globe allows kids to hear thousands of facts, interact with unique games and activities, and trigger videos to visually experience Earth.
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Six amazing travel gifts that will spark the travel bug
4. Little Passports Subscription
A Little Passports subscription makes a great gift for travelers. It’s a monthly kit that gets delivered to your home, and you can pick the theme you like, such as travel, animals, or science. These kits are full of fun activities to help kids learn and be creative. Each month, they explore a different country or region. Some cool travel stuff in the kits are a map, a passport holder, and luggage tags. There are different boxes for different ages, like Early Explorers for 3-5-year-olds, and the USA Edition for 7-12-year-olds. You can choose how long you want the subscription to last, either 6 or 12 months, and you can cancel it anytime.
Looking for alternatives present ideas? Check out our list of the best experience and subscription gifts.
5. Scratch-Off World Map
A scratch-off world map makes a fantastic gift for families who love to travel. Whether they’re planning a big trip or just dreaming about faraway places, this map will spark their curiosity and imagination. It’s also a fun way to keep track of where you’ve been. When you scratch off a country or region you’ve visited, it reveals a burst of colour. These maps come in various sizes and styles
6. Customized Photo Book
We love photobooks. We make one, wait, I make one every year to sum up our year. They are time consuming especially if you take a lot of pictures but they are amazing. We love looking back through previous years. A great keepsake for the family.
There are many photo book services, but we recommend Snapfish, which offers a wide range of options. Choose the size, cover type, paper type, and layout. They also have a variety of templates to choose from, or you can create your own.
Anything we missed? What inspires you to travel?
