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    29 Useful Travel Gifts Under $20

    Practical and thoughtful things to make their next trip via air, land, or sea, a total breeze.

    1. A handy travel wallet complete with a RFID-blocking shield to stash and organize all their many important docs in one safe place. Also particularly great for having their ID readily available, so they're not *that* person in line at security.

    reviewer image of the orange wallet

    2. Some itty bitty laundry soap sheets they'll need if they suddenly find themselves in a sitch where they've run out of clean undies, or spilled something on the *only* white tee they packed. All they have to do is simply add some water for some on-the-go handwashing.

    collection of shaving sheets, body wash sheets, and shampoo sheets

    3. An airplane phone mount to allow them to watch all their saved Netflix shows with comfort and ease mid-flight. And some reviewers are noting how it can be used in regular life, too — no plane ticket required.

    reviewer's phone mounted on the back of an airplane seat

    4. A helpful "Pack this!" checklist that'll ensure they've got allllll the things they need for their trip — and some they may not have even thought of. The real nightmare before Christmas?Them realizing they forgot to pack their phone charger mid-bus ride.

    the packing checklist

    5. A nifty travel pouch to secure their most prized possessions and keep them ~abreast~ (sorry, had to). This thing attaches to bras so their cash, credit cards, and copy of their passport are less vulnerable to pickpockets.

    6. Or, if they need something more accessible, a belt that looks like a regular ol' accessory to keep jeans up and has a secret compartment that will fool any purse-snatcher. Good lookin' out!

    person holding a $100 note in the concealed zipper belt

    7. OK, and one more, an ingenious (and adorable) hidden zipper scrunchie they can use to discreetly stash their cash, extra bobby pins, ChapStick, gym locker key...whatever they need to keep handy when they don't want to carry around extra weight.

    the blue satin scrunchy with the zipper open and a key poking out

    8. An electronics pouch created to organize their most-used devices and the forest of tangled wires. Keeping everything in its place will not only ease the accessibility of their belongings, but also tame their disposition when they don't have to spend minutes (read: hours) unraveling cords.

    the multi-layer pouch

    9. Vacuum seal bags for a serious stocking stuffer any ~World Class Traveler~ would be jumping for joy over. These babies will save them a buttload of space in their suitcase so thick, bulky layers can be squished into a pancake...which means... the next time they go overseas, they'll have more space to bring you back gifts. Win-win!

    10. A digital luggage scale that I, a consistent overpacker, would not have been able to travel without. Gift 'em this so they can save the inconvenience (and embarrassment) of paying overweight fees....

    the luggage weight

    11. A heat-resistant silicone mat they'll think is genius when they don't have the time to wait for their hot hair tools to cool before their journey to the airport. They can simply wrap it up and toss it in their carry-on without fear of it burning a hole in their bag. (It can also be used to protect countertop surfaces, too! Perhaps something to mention on the gift tag?)

    12. Tower 28's mini SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray for the anxious traveler whose complexion is a dead giveaway as to whether they're experiencing some mid-travel woes. This stuff packs a major (and figurative) punch for stressed-out skin with only three ingredients. Think: A gentle hypochlorous acid toner with H2O, plus sodium chloride to refresh and calm irritated skin and prevent future flare-ups — so they *and* their skin can breathe easy.

    A model holding the mini and the full size bottles in one hand.
    a before and after of a person using the spray with less facial redness in the after
    Sephora

    Tower 28 is an Asian woman-owned small clean beauty brand designed for sensitive skin. Their products are nontoxic, nonirritating, vegan, and cruelty-free, so you can rest easy when applying.

    Promising review: "HOLY GRAIL!! I tried this spray for the first time about a year and a half ago. I had moved from a dry climate to a humid climate and my acne was out of control! I tried so many products before SOS. When I tell you my acne cleared up within a week…. SHEESH! I haven’t been without this spray since! I keep a mini with me at all times and for travel and recommend to all friends with skin concerns. Don’t walk, RUN to Sephora to get it!" —KuhKristen

    Shipping info: Last day to order with standard shipping is Tuesday, Dec. 20. And last day for Flash 2-Day Shipping is Wednesday, Dec. 21.

    Get it a 1 oz. bottle from Sephora for $12 (available in two sizes).

    13. Silicone earplugs they'll consider a holiday miracle, because these work to relieve discomfort experienced on airplanes — whether that's a change in air pressure, or the sound of a screaming baby that just happens to be sitting directly next to them....

    14. Some compression socks you'll be doing them a huge favor by getting for them, since these will comfortably keep their ankles and legs from ballooning mid-flight. Because let me tell you, having to squish swollen toes back into boots after some time in the air is no easy feet....

    15. A TSA-approved toiletry bag that'll stash all their travel-sized liquids and ensure they're easily identifiable. No holding up security lines for them!

    hand holding the blue see-through bag

    16. A genius and super practical car cupholder adapter built to extend the capabilities of the one they already have in their car — one that clearly wasn't designed to fit their motivational drinking bottle or Yeti coffee mugs (aka the necessities they'll be reaching for as they cross state lines).

    a hydroflask water bottle in the cupholder adaptor
    a gif of someone trying to put a hydroflask water bottle in a regular cup holder and then placing it successfully in the bottle cup holder adaptor
    Wine & Whiskey Co. / Etsy

    Wine & Whiskey Co. is a Texas-based Etsy shop selling a wide range of adorable phone cases and T-shirts, plus genius car accessories (obvi).

    Promising review: "Love it. Perfectly holds my 40-ounce Hydro Flask. No more rolling around the truck cab. Arrived quickly and works as described." —Jason J. Mease

    Shipping info: This item ships for free! Deliveries can take up to 14 days to arrive — if you want it faster, you can upgrade your shipping at an extra cost.

    Get it from Wine & Whiskey Co. on Etsy for $12.99 (also available in multipacks).

    17. A 27-piece first aid kit, the gift that'll feel like finding a pot of gold at the bottom of their stocking. Useful, thoughtful, and something they'll be patting themselves on the back for packing since, I don't know why, but we seem to be more clumsy when we're away from home.

    18. collapsible, pocket-sized coffee cup if they, like me, cannot conceive of what a day of travel looks like without caffeine. This reusable gem is great if they need a pre-flight refill, and is perfect for when they arrive at their destination only to find that their hotel doesn't have clean mugs.

    a reviewer photo of the cup
    a reviewer photo of the cup collapsed

    Stojo is a small biz founded by three New York dads who wanted a better way to get their convenient coffee fix without all the waste. Now they make stylish collapsible essentials in a variety of sizes and colors, including bottles and food storage containers!

    My BuzzFeed Shopping colleague Danielle Healy has this and tells us: "This is one of the first zero-waste swaps I made and I've never looked back. If you buy to-go coffee – whether you're jet-setting or just grabbing a mid-day pick-me-up — this cup is a must-have. So long as you remember to bring it, it's all the convenience of to-go coffee with none of the waste. It's leakproof and, when you're all done, it collapses down teeny tiny and can be tossed back in your bag. Oh! And it comes with a straw, so all you iced coffee lovers can get in on the action, too." 

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with express shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get it from Amazon for $15+ (available in four sizes and in 24 colors).

    19. Some biodegradable hypoallergenic wipes your recipient will be so grateful to find in their stocking. These'll come in handy when they've got a full day of traveling with no chance of showering before they head out to dinner. One quick swipe with this in the airport bathroom and they'll feel refreshed and ready to take down some international cuisine.

    hand holding the packet of wipes

    20. A jewelry organizer to store their vacation-ready accessories in one tidy spot. It also provides some assurance that their necklaces won't become a bundled up mess (which always seems to be a thing no matter how far the journey).

    21. A buckled luggage strap you might think looks so useful, you'll snag one for yourself as well. You *and* your loved one can add this onto any bag to carry extra items like scarves and jackets, which are usually super annoying to lug around on the go.

    22. A portable lock to show them you care about their safety when they're in a different time zone. This fits in the crack of a door and is designed to provide extra security (especially great for places that don't have an alarm system). Once this is looped and in place, if anyone tries to come into their room it'll sound with a loud ring guaranteed to stop intruders in their tracks.

    the alarm system looped onto a door handle

    23. A designated dirty laundry bag so that their gross, sweaty sightseeing clothes can be neatly zipped up and kept away from their still-clean items.

    the black laundry bag

    24. A compact, reversed umbrella they can toss in their bag and whip out to shield them from an unexpected rainstorm. A bonus? This baby folds from the outside to keeps droplets contained so they'll stay out of the splash zone even when they go to close it up.

    25. A simple yet remarkable felt insert invented as the gift of convenience since it can simply slip into any sort of bag and *poof* instantly organize it. Overcrowded purse or carry-on? All now neatly arranged with roomy compartments, so they can stop burrowing in a black hole for their keys and specs.

    the large pink insert inside a LV Neverfull MM bag

    26. A compact and quick-drying microfiber towel that'll fit into their carry-on, backpack, or beach bag, so they're always prepared to have somewhere to sit and dry off if they happen to hike and take a dip in a remote body of water.

    27. An anti-blister balm so perfect for when they realize they forgot to break in those strappy sandals before their trip. Tell 'em to rub some of this on and keep it on hand so they can walk along cobblestoned streets with confidence *and* comfort all day long.

    28. A travel toothbrush that folds and stores easily so they can keep their smile fresh (especially if they've time traveled and missed their nightly brush).

    the foldable toothbrush

    29. Some squeezable silicone travel bottles with pre-printed labels so they can fill them up with all their usual products and never be without their holy grails.

    reviewer hand holding the pouch of silicone containers

    Them ready to take on their next trip: