38 Leaving Presents For Someone Going Travelling
It can be tricky to find the perfect leaving present for someone going travelling.
And with nearly 20% of employers now offering a sabbatical program, this is a situation that is going to happen more often in workplaces across the world.
As a veteran of three sabbaticals, I’ve left a few workplaces to head off travelling and have been presented with all manner of different gifts!
In this post, I aim to provide some inspiration for those of you searching for the perfect traveller’s gift and help my fellow sabbatical-takers to receive something that will actually be useful for their travels!
Here is a list of practical and fun things that make a perfect leaving present for someone going travelling.
1. Filter Water Bottle
The perfect gift for someone travelling to somewhere where the water may be a little questionable! Much better for the planet than buying bottled water and much safer than tap water in many parts of the world.
- ADVANCED WATER FILTRATION. Protects against, microplastics, chlorine, organic chemical matter and sand, dirt, cloudiness and more; improves taste
- MADE TO LAST. Long-lasting membrane microfilter lasts up to 4,000 liters and the activated carbon filter lasts up to 100 liters of water with proper use and maintenance
- RIGOROUSLY TESTED. Reusable, durable and BPA-free, independently lab tested to meet protocols established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NSF International/ANSI
2. Bamboo Travel Cutlery Set
Lightweight, eco-friendly and durable these are a great little present for someone going travelling. They might seem only useful for someone heading off hiking into the woods, but we used ours countless times in hotel rooms where we’d bought food from local shops to keep costs down.
- THE COMPLETE SET - Get everything you need in one bundle. Our bamboo travel pack consists of wooden eating utensils and toothbrush, bamboo straw and cleaning brush. All in 2 washable fabric bags.
- GUILT-FREE SIPPING - Enjoy your beverage without adding to the environment's marine pollution problem. Our reusable straw and cleaner duo allows you to drink without the use of plastic straws.
- CLEANER & WHITER TEETH - We included a bamboo toothbrush in the set to help you maintain your oral hygiene after every meal. The activated charcoal bristles thoroughly remove plaque and stains.
3. Multi-Tool & Knife
My Leatherman multi-tool has been with us on every trip (as long as we’re not on hand luggage only flights!). It has come in handy more times than I can name. I particularly like this version as it includes scissors, which aren’t standard on multi-tools but are probably my most used part.
- LEATHERMAN
4. Personalised Notebook
I took loads of handwritten notes when we went on sabbatical in an aim to decouple myself from my phone and create a record of all the amazing experiences we had. This notebook takes things up a level by allowing you to add personalised text to the front, a lovely and one-of-a-kind gift,
- Free Engraving - Name or short quote will be permanently engraved on cover of journal
- Lined Pages - 112 lined pages for all your important thoughts and memories
- Top Quality - Made from durable faux leather that looks great and and is durable
5. Vagabonding
This is the best book on long-term travel I have ever read. From the practicalities of booking a trip to the realities of life on the road. It’s a fantastic companion present for someone going travelling.
- Potts, Rolf (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages - 12/24/2002 (Publication Date) - Villard Books (Publisher)
6. Foldable Travel Yoga Mat
Trying to keep in shape while travelling is pretty tough. Yoga is a great way to stay flexible and fit but yoga mats are normally far too big to take travelling. Step in the YOYI travelling yoga mat, which folds down into a small carrier which can easily slot into a backpack.
- FOLDABLE & LIGHTWEIGHT - This mat is foldable, 1/16 in thick yoga mat can easily folds up, making it the ideal travel yoga mat. Coming with convenient carrying bag. DIMENSION: 72"L x 26"W x 1/16"...
- PERFECT for TRAVELING - It comes with a small, yoga mat carrier to keep it from taking up extra room in your bag or shelves. The 1.5mm slim design lays flat in your suitcase or luggage to optimize...
- NON-TOXIC & ODORLESS - Suede material above, non-toxic natural rubber down, both sides are made by eco-friendly and quality material. Using our foldable travel yoga mat with confidence.
READ NEXT: 8 Basic Yoga Poses To Keep You Flexible While Travelling
7. Travel Hair Straighteners
Becca took these with her when we went on our three-month sabbatical around Southeast Asia. She spoke about them so much we ended up lending them to one of her friends when she went travelling the following year. They heat quickly, are compact but still have enough metal area to deal with a humidity perm! Oh, and they also can be used as a makeshift iron when you are desperate!
- [✔ Nano Titanium Mini Flat Iron & PTC Heating Tech]Ultra smooth anti-static titanium plates conduct high heat and resist corrosion,60s Fast Heating Up and transfer heat super quickly.with PTC Heater...
- [✔ Dual Voltage & Travel Size]Portable mini travel size,lightweight design,easy to handle.100-240V Dual voltage design mini flat iron for safe use for travel.Ready for the World!
- [✔ Handle Lock & Travel Case]Push on the hand lock when done,more compact size to make easy taking and storage.with professional heat resistant portable travel bag,the bag with heat insulating...
8. Travel Backgammon
…or chess, or a personalised pack of cards or Uno or (say it quietly) Monopoly! We love playing backgammon, so this little travel set was fantastic to pull out when we had no WiFi and were facing the prospect of actually talking to one-another 😂
- Fun Games: Players take turns pressing down any number of mice they wish in a single row. The player who presses down the last mouse loses.Push and "pop" it's a great fidget tool for hair pullers,...
- Fun Games: Players take turns pressing down any number of mice they wish in a single row. The player who presses down the last mouse loses.Push and "pop" it's a great fidget tool for hair pullers,...
- Fun Games: Players take turns pressing down any number of mice they wish in a single row. The player who presses down the last mouse loses.Push and "pop" it's a great fidget tool for hair pullers,...
9. Solar Panel Charger
None of us wants to be tied to our tech whilst we travel but the reality is it’s so damn useful! Your phone replaces a hundred other items, a kindle is much lighter than carrying books and a digital camera is easier to back-up than a bag full of film.
With every device comes a charger and so if you’re looking for a leaving present for someone going travelling off the grid (hiking, climbing, mountaineering) then this solar-powered charger could be the perfect addition to their kit bag.
10. Waterproof Clip Bluetooth Speaker
We both love music but when you travel there aren’t many opportunities to crank the volume as you’re often in groups rather than in your own house or car. This little speaker was perfect to carry around with us for when we did have a chance to take our headphones off and listen to music together. It handily clips onto a backpack, is waterproof and also lasts over 10 hours on one charge. It’s also so small you barely notice it in your bag.
- This refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with...
11. Solid Perfume…
This is such a handy gift for a traveller. It is perfume in stick form, meaning it won’t leak or getting taken away through customs.
- Light, personal fragrance
- Compact size fits in makeup pouch or purse (lip balm size)
- Flying? No problem. It's not liquid.
12. …Or Solid Cologne
The man’s version!
- A solid cologne
- Moisturises
- Made with natural ingredients and oils
13. First Aid Kit
One of our friends bought us this exact kit before we went travelling through Southeast Asia. It was the perfect gift and saved us lots of time trying to buy the bits individually. We unpacked the contents into a lightweight bag for easy packing but we took everything with us.
- ☑️ Security and Reliability - All of our first aid products carry certificate of conformity to ensure conformance to global standards wherever they are used.
- ☑️ Contents - Packed with 170 useful and valuable hospital grade first aid supplies - See the product images and the product description below for a full list of contents.
- ☑️ Quality - You need outdoor gear that's as tough as you are, which is why we sell only the highest quality products that are built to last.Providing you with the best in the industry.
Read More: RANKED: Our Favourite Places, Food & Experiences in Southeast Asia
14. Tile Mate
A tile would make a great gift for someone heading off to travel. It’s unlikely they would have bought one themselves but they can be an absolute lifesaver. They attach to important pieces of kit and help you to locate them with Bluetooth range.
- FIND KEYS, BAGS & MORE -- Directly attach Mate to everyday things like keys, bags and other stuff you need to keep track of regularly and use our free app on iOS or Android to find them.
- FIND NEARBY -- Use the Tile app to ring your Mate when it’s within 200 ft. or ask your Smart Home device to find it for you. Tile works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Xfinity, and Siri.
- FIND FAR AWAY -- When outside of Bluetooth range, use the Tile app to view your Tile’s most recent location or enlist the secure and anonymous help of the Tile Network to aid in your search.
15. Wrinkle Release Spray
This spray takes wrinkles out of clothes without the need for an iron. If the traveller in your workplace loves to dress up for a night out, this might be the perfect addition to their kit list.
- Available in fragrance-free, lemongrass, & Lavender options
- Fast acting Fabric wrinkle remover
- Quick drying formula
16. Travel Adapter
You can never have too many travel adapters, so it is an easy leaving gift for someone going travelling.
This is the one we use as it is so convenient. From the three USB sockets to the pop-out plugs that allow it to be used in any country, it does the job better than any other version we’ve had.
- World-to-World Adapters Covers More Than 200 Countries-Upgraded Worldwide All in One Universal Travel Plug Adapter - This Travel Adapter has EVERYTHING You Need while traveling abroad, like...
- Quick Charge (80% faster than average plug charger)& 2000W High Power:This international Travel Plug Adapter has 4 USB-A and 1 USB-C, so it can charge 5 USB devices at once! The 5V 6.5A Smart current...
- Safety is Most important - This travel adapter worldwide has patented Built-in Auto-resetting Fuse to ensure higher Safety - Hichor travel adapter will automatic power off when short-circuit or...
17. Buff
I first discovered Buffs when I was doing long-distance cycling and they are now a staple of my travel kit.
Whether used as a scarf, balaclava, headband, cap or even as a makeshift flannel the
- Thermal protection from cold & wind
- Quick-drying- 2-way lateral stretch
- Moisture-wicking
18. Door Stop Alarm
This is an unusual but incredibly handy gift! We were staying in a hotel in Vietnam when someone came knocking and shouting at the door at 3am. Thankfully they didn’t push their way in, but it was pretty scary.
This device sits behind the door like a standard doorstop but when the door makes contact it sets off an alarm. Really handy for those dodgy hostels we’ve all stayed in!
- SLEEP SAFE & SOUND AGAIN: Find your peace of mind again and protect yourself and your beloved ones with an EpicTraveller door alarm stopper. No need to spend a small fortune on expensive security...
- VERSATILE DOOR ALARM KIT: This 2 in 1 handy little device is really multipurpose. Use it as a security door alarm system and keep potential intruders away. Use as a door stopper and prevent doors from...
- NO INSTALLATION NEEDED: Forget about incomprehensible manuals. Forget about drilling holes. Forget about cleaning up all the mess. Just hold an EpicTraveller door stop alarm in your hands, choose...
19. Collapsible Water Bottle
We each took one of these travelling with us. A clever space-saving design that rolls up when not in use to save vital bag room.
- ULTRA-CONVENIENT: The Anti-Bottle stands when full, folds small when empty. Stores easily in pocket, purse, or pack. Carabiner attaches bottle securely to backpacks, purses, duffle bags, dog leashes,...
- TAKE IT ANYWHERE: The 1 Liter Vapur bottle is perfect for outdoor adventures and tough workouts; folding the bottle flat and sticking it in your pocket ensures it never leaves your side! Vapur bottles...
- TASTE-FREE & EASY CLEANING: Taste-free and odor-resistant. BPA/BPS/BPF and phthalate-free. Wide-mouth opening is easy to fill and clean. Dishwasher safe & built to last.
20. Head Torch
You can never have too many head torches – well, I can’t anyway. I lost ours in the jungles of Thailand and had my dad bring us a replacement when we met in Cambodia!
With all phones now having torches built-in, you might wonder what the point is but a decent head torch is so much more useful as it frees up your hands. I’ve used one whilst cooking a braai in the dark (with hyenas watching from the other side of the fence) in South Africa, tied to the inside of a mosquito net as a makeshift bedside lamp in Thailand and replacing flat tyes by the roadside in more places than I care to mention!
21. How To Shit Around The World
If you’re looking for a funny gift that is also helpful, this is it! Written to help you stay clean and illness free while travelling it includes hints from managing on long bus rides to how to choose food that will stop you getting ill.
![[How to Shit Around the World: The Art of Staying Clean and Healthy While Traveling (Travelers' Tales Guides)] [By: Wilson-Howarth, Dr. Jane] [January, 2006]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51oEZD9KZnL.jpg)
22. A Notebook
There are notebooks and then there are NOTEBOOKS. And this is a NOTEBOOK? With me? Well look, I love keeping a journal while I travel and don’t really want a fancy custom thingy so I just like a good old-fashioned decent notebook to scribble in. I used to use Moleskines but these are my new favourite as the paper seems to be slightly higher quality.
- The A5 MEDIUM notebooks are the perfect size with a wide range of colors making them ideal companions for all walks of life — this notebook series is perfect for midnight ramblings, daily entries,...
- Thread-bound to open flat which helps make reading the contents easy and adds efficiency to note-taking
- Features 80g/m² acid-free paper with high ink compatibility to help prevent bleed through, an expandable gusseted pocket on the back cover, 2 page markers / bookmarks and an elastic closure band
23. Aeropress A80 Coffee Maker
In some countries there just isn’t good coffee. I can’t survive without a decent cup to get me going in the morning! We got my dad one of these for Christmas a few years ago and he loves it. They aare remarkably compact when compared to a usual cafetiere so I am considering taking one with me next time I travel.
If you’re looking for a leaving gift a coffee lover this could be the perfect choice!
- Professional-Grade Coffee Right at Home: A household name amongst baristas and coffee enthusiasts worldwide, the AeroPress Original is a new kind of coffee press that uses a rapid, total immersion...
- Goodbye, French Press: No more bitterness or grit. The rapid brewing of the AeroPress Original eliminates bitterness and acidity while the micro-filters keep grit out of your coffee (unlike a French...
- Travel with Your Coffee Gear: The AeroPress Original is lightweight, compact, portable, and durable. It is easy to pack with some coffee and a cup for use while traveling, camping, backpacking,...
24. Microfibre Travel Towel
These pack down into a tiny bag and come in a range of funky colours. We used ours regularly while travelling when we went to the beach or out swimming. We still have ours and they regularly get used on day-trips.
- Super Absorbent & Quick Dry Towels:SHEEFLY Camping towels are made of microfiber, which is soft, compact, super absorbent & quick dry.The quick dry towel can hold up to five times its weight in water...
- Compact and Lightweight ( Unique Carrying EVA Case):SHEEFLY microfiber travel towel is equipped with a EVA case, which lightweight, compact and portable. Not only practical, but also looks cooler than...
- Multiple Choices 2 PACK:S:32" x 16" 2 PCS is good as a face or hand towel to dry off sweat. M:48" x 21"+ 12" x 24" perfect for gym towel,sport towel around your neck, L: 30" x 60"+ 12" x 24" is great...
25. Lonely Planet Guide
Simply the best guidebook you can buy. Not as many pictures as some but the information is detailed and accurate. I love my collection of these and make sure I buy one for every new country we visit. They make a perfect gift for someone leaving to go travelling, especially if you get the whole team to sign the inside cover.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Planet, Lonely (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
26. Silicon Travel Containers
More for short-haul flights than long-term travel but these are still a practical and unusual gift for a traveller, much better than the see-through plastic ones sold at pharmacists. Just be careful though, as the bag they come with isn’t clear enough to be accepted by airport security.
- ✈️Travel bottle set for Toiletries: A classical travel size toiletries set and you get 4 silicone travel bottles (2 *3oz + 2 *2oz) + 2 spray bottles (30ml) + 4 cream jars (20ml) + 2 Toothbrush...
- ✈️Silicone Travel Bottles: Made of BPA free and food grade silicone, soft, lightweight and comfortable, allowing these travel size bottles much easier to fill and squeeze out shampoo, sunscreen,...
- ✈️Leakproof: 3-layer leak-proof cap design to avoid liquid leakage or spillage, and prevent your luggage and cloths from getting dirty and smearing. BTW, these small travel bottles have a no-drip...
27. How To Travel The World On $50 A Day
Written by the most famous travel-blogger of them all Nomadic Matt this book is packed full of useful tips for budget-conscious travellers. This (along with Vagabonding and The Four Hour Work Week) helped inspire us to take our first sabbatical.
- Kepnes, Matt (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages - 01/06/2015 (Publication Date) - TarcherPerigee (Publisher)
READ MORE: My Sabbatical Story
28. Powerbank
Another gadget that falls into the ‘you can’t have too many’ box. A double USB one is perfect for multiple charges on long trips. A smaller version is great for slipping in a pocket on a day’s adventure through a big city. I usually travel with one of each.
- Ultra-High Cell Capacity: The massive 20,000mAh cell capacity provides more than 5 charges for iPhone XS, almost 5 full charges for Samsung Galaxy S10, more than 4 charges for iPhone 11, and over 2...
- Advanced Charging Technology: Anker's exclusive PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technology combine to deliver an optimized charge to your devices, while the trickle-charging mode is the best way to charge...
- Simultaneous Charging: Twin USB ports allow you to charge two devices at the same time. The USB-C port cannot charge other devices.
29. Waterproof Phone Case
These were a lifesaver when we hit monsoon season in Vietnam. Even a normal day out risked ruining our expensive phones! We took these watertight cases with us and they saved us an insurance claim or two. We also found the lanyards useful for high pickpocket areas as we could wear them around our necks and under our clothes so they were out of sight.
- Transparent waterproof pouch or waterproof phone case for protecting mobile phones and accessories against water, sand, dust, and distress
- Universal size mobile phone case allows you to add all of the smartphones from Apple, Galaxy, OnePlus, Google Pixel, Oppo, Honor, Sony, Moto up to 6.8 inches
- Compatible with the touch screen as well as the ID side of the iPhone X (please note: the ID side of the iPhone X does not work when it is in water)
30. Cable Organiser
GEEK ALERT! I’ve been using this bag for about three years now in my work bag but we also took it travelling. It might seem excessive but when it’s late at night and you find the right cable without having to turn out an entire bag, you’ll thank me. Maybe….
- Compatible Space: The electronics organizer bag keep all gadgets in one place, 5 elastic loops(S) for slender cables, earphones, or pens, 2 elastic loops(L) for longer cables or computer mice, 1 mesh...
- Lightweight Travel Accessories: The size of the electronic organizer travel case is 9.4"L x 6.7"W x 1.4"H, Weight: 0.24 lb, Compact and space-saving size fits perfectly into a backpack, briefcase,...
- Keep Everything Organized: This travel tech organizer keep all gadgets in one place and prevent wires from getting entangled. you can find the travel accessories quickly, no chasing cords in your pack...
31. Packing Cubes
I saw so many people rave about packing cubes but I didn’t truly understand until I got a set. They are much more lightweight than they look and are used to keep your clothes separate so you only take out what you need rather than rifling through your whole rucksack. A great little gift but worth checking they haven’t got a set already.
- ✈ ️EASY TRAVEL starts with the right travel packing cubes. This suitcase organizer bags set makes finding items super easy. Have extra space to pack travel souvenirs. Reduce luggage bulk by 30% as...
- ✈ ️ORGANIZED TRAVEL starts before your trip. Each packing cube is its own luggage organizer. Small, medium and large travel bags organizer for luggage ensures clothes and travel items can be...
- ✈ ️FUN KIDS TRAVEL starts with investing in packing cubes for kids. Help kids become the best organizers of their luggage and reduce the chance of travel items getting lost. The travel cubes are...
32. Travel Clothes Line
When you’re on the road for a long time so much washing is done in hotel bathrooms and coin-operated washing machines. Having somewhere to hang up the wet stuff is not always a given so a travel washing line is a useful addition to the kit bag.
- Easy to change length with locking and unlocking links
- Can hold up to 70 pounds
- Designed to not slide down poles or trees with tension
33. Travel Journal
If you weren’t convinced by buying a standard notebook as a gift then this Moleskine Travel Journal is a perfect alternative.
- MOLESKINE PASSION JOURNAL: Whatever your passion, plan your next steps & track your progress with a Moleskine Passion Journal, with notebook designs for cooking & recipes, books & reading, traveling,...
- DURABLE COVER & ELASTIC CLOSURE: From tracking your workout goals & plans, to a reading log, recording recipes, or planning out your perfect garden or wedding, the leather-like Moleskine cover & ivory...
- GIFT QUALITY NOTEBOOKS: Moleskine planners, journals and notebooks come in hardcover or softcover and colors like black, red, blue, green and brown. The binding and cover have a durable finish,...
34. Travel Neck Pillow (1)
This travel pillow one was recommended by Tim Ferriss on a podcast titled ‘Cool Tools For Travel‘. We managed to get one from our local TK Maxx outlet. It is incredibly comfortable but we found it a bit bulky for long-term travel.
- HEAD & CHIN SUPPORT: Designed to cushion vital points in the head and neck with high-grade 100% memory foam.
- TRAVEL IN COMFORT: Fall asleep in any seat or position. Front clasps and a unique design cradle your head and neck in any position for 360-degree comfort.
- WASHABLE COVER: No need to worry about those unwanted smells or dirty microbes, the Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow's removable cover makes it easy to wash – always fresh for your next trip.
35. Travel Neck Pillow (2)
Having put aside the first pillow for journeys where we are staying in a single hotel so space isn’t a worry, this Trtl neck pillow is now my choice for long-term travel where space is at a premium. Machine washable, lightweight and comfortable it makes a great that the recipient is unlikely to own already.
- Scientifically Proven Neck Pillows For Travel: Thanks to our unique, patented design, you can easily adjust your Trtl travel neck pillow to achieve top-level comfort and experience ultimate neck...
- Enjoy a Real Sleeping Experience on Long Flights: Add our neck pillow to your long flight essentials’ list to experience a deep sleep during lengthy flights. The super soft fleece, plush cushioning,...
- Lightweight and Compact Design: Weighing in at only 4.5oz, The Trtl Travel Pillow's lightweight design allows you to attach it to the outside of your backpack or luggage easily without feeling weighed...
36. Drybag
I’d say this is almost a ‘must-have’ piece of kit for any traveller. Keeps sand and water at bay at the beach, makes a perfect washing bag for trips to the laundrette and lines a rucksack in monsoon rains. Ours was especially useful when we went diving in Vietnam to keep all our kit dry on the boat.
- Durable and Compact: Made from ripstop tarpaulin with sturdy welded seam which is designed for years usage, tear, rip and puncture proof. Perfect for almost any extreme adventure you can imagine.
- Waterproof Guarantee: Solid roll-top closure system provides secure watertight seal. Keeps your gear dry in any wet situation where the bag is not fully submerged. Protects your valuables from water,...
- Easy Operation and Cleaning: Just put your gear in bag, grab top woven tape and roll down tightly 3 to 5 times and then plug buckle to complete seal, whole process is very quick. Dry sack is easy to...
37. Book A Tour
GetYourGuide does amazing tours with local guides right the way across the world. If you know their route, booking a tour could make the perfect surprise gift for a colleague when they reach their destination.
38. Mosquito Bands
Insect bites are horrible at the best of times (just ask my wife who reacts really badly to them) but if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time your legs and arms can be a feast! These bands last about seven days each and make a colourful and unexpected gift.
- Packaging May Vary - New Look, Same Great Product. You may receive either packaging during the transition
- DEET-Free & Powered By Essential Oils – Active ingredients derived from plants without registered pesticides
- Instant & Convenient – 10 individually-wrapped bracelets help keep mosquitoes away
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