Stocking stuffers for travelers make great gifts because of their convenient and easy to pack size.
There’s nothing world travelers love more than presents that are space-saving and luggage friendly, as well as items that are useful.
As someone who spent the last several years traveling across all seven continents and the Seven Seas, I’ve learned what versatile items are essential to my life constantly on the move.
Contrary to what you might think, the best travel stocking stuffers don’t have to be expensive. They just have to be practical and not take up so much space in our limited capacity bags.
If it makes our lives the slightest bit easier, homier, or more enjoyable while we’re away from the comforts of wherever “home” is, chances are it’s the perfect travel gift and it’ll be a permanent item we pack for all of our future adventures.
So, without further ado, here are some ideas for useful stocking stuffers for travelers under $20.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend products I’ve used or would use myself. If you make a purchase through one of these links, as an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
1. Tide Travel Sink Packets
Sometimes it’s just not possible to go an entire trip without washing your undies.
These little TSA-friendly power packets make it so easy to bring in your carry-on and wash whatever you need in a sink anywhere in the world.
Get it here: 3-Count Tide Travel Sink Packets, $4.52
2. Dry Shampoo
If you’re traveling for business or have a meeting to attend on your trip, you can’t afford the luxuries of rocking the hippie/ backpacker/ haven’t-showered-in-a-week look.
A small bottle of dry shampoo will keep you looking fresh for your important event even if you’re short on time.
Get it here: Dove Dry Shampoo, $4.88
3. Travel-Sized Aquaphor Ointment
Extended periods of time traveling can do a number on your skin, especially when you’re dehydrated or in dry weather.
A little dab of Aquaphor goes a long way, and it’ss probably the only thing that saved my skin during my four months in Antarctica.
Get it here: 2-Pack Aquaphor Healing Ointment To Go, $4.97
4. S Hooks
One thing I’ve learned as a traveler is that there is never enough storage space no matter the accommodation.
These s hooks made all the difference while living in small quarters, especially during my time working on cruise ships where I basically lived in a closet.
S hooks are great for hanging over doors and wardrobes and provide you with additional places to hang towels, bags, jewelry, clothing, and more.
They can also act as extra hangers inside your closet if there aren’t enough available.
Get it here: Stainless Steel S Hooks, $4.99
5. Luggage Tags
Luggage tags are a simple stocking stuffer for travelers, but an important one that you can never have enough of.
They’re good for spotting and identifying your luggage in baggage claim and of course ensures that your bags get back to you if they get lost.
Get it here: 2-Piece Casmonal Luggage Tags, $5.99
6. Portable Digital Luggage Scale
Every frequent flyer needs one of these to make sure they’re not hit with any surprise excess baggage fees at the airport.
A portable scale like this one can potentially save your favorite traveler from a costly mistake.
Get it here: Letsfit Digital Luggage Scale, $7.99
7. Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pens
There’s nothing fun about getting a stain on your clothing, especially when you’re traveling with a very limited amount.
A stain remover pen makes sure you can continue to wear everything you brought without any embarrassment!
Get it here: Set of 3 for $8.46
8. Travel Soap Sheets
These soap sheets guarantees that your hands will always be clean when you need them to be and not dependent on what public restrooms have (or more likely what they don’t have) available.
It also cuts down on both weight and the amount of liquids you have in your bag.
Get it here: 4-Pack (200 Sheets Total) B Bloomoak Travel Hand Soap, $9.98
9. Travel-Sized Skin Care Gift Set
A travel-friendly skin care set is perfect for those who are away for long periods of time.
Life on the road can be exhausting, and sometimes you just need a little treat in the form of some nice, moisturizing creams and skincare products.
Get it here: 5 Piece Burt’s Bees Essential Gift Set, $9.98
10. Travel Clothesline
Perfect for hikers, van dwellers, backpackers, and more, a portable clothesline makes washing and drying clothes on the go simple and easy.
Even if you’re not spending lots of time outdoors, this clothesline is great inside a hostel or hotel room as well.
I even used one in my cabin on board a four-month cruise around the world.
Get it here: Portable Travel Clothesline with 12 pcs clothespins, $9.99
11. Facial Masks
Like I mentioned, sometimes you just need a bit of luxury after being away from normal amenities.
During my contracts on the ice and at sea, a face mask was as close as I got to a spa day but it was just as refreshing.
Get it here: 12 Pack Celavi Essence Moisturizing Facial Masks, $9.99
12. Silicone Rubber Bands
Sure, these are for kids, but I never travel anywhere without them.
Not only are they comfortable to wear (and a small source of entertainment during staff meetings or plane rides), but they’re durable for binding together cables, wrapping opened packages of snacks, and even being used as grips for opening stubborn jars.
Get it here: Pack of 48 Jumbo Silicone Shape Bands, $10.99
13. Tea Infuser
A set of tea infusers are great travel size stocking stuffers not only because they’re small, but also because it allows your giftee to try and see which infuser is best for them.
There are so many different options out there, and a variety set like this one doesn’t limit them to one type of infuser that in the end may or may not be to their liking.
Get it here: 6 Piece Tea Infuser Variety Set, $10.99
14. No Touch Door Opener
Probably the most useful gadgets to have in 2020 and not just for travelers, a no touch door opener that’s easy to clean and also keeps you from having contact with any touch screens such as store POS machines is a no-brainer must have.
The keychain attachment makes it all the easier to always carry this around.
Get it here: 4 Piece No Touch Door Opener with Touch Screen Stylus and Keychain, $11.49
15. Electronics Cable Organizer
The key to not losing your things and your sanity while traveling is a good organizer.
An electronics cable organizer helps you to keep everything in order and together in one place.
Get it here: BAGSMART Electronics Cable Organizer, $12.99
16. USB Outlet Plug Extender & Night Light
You can never have enough electrical outlets and plugs, and more often than not, there usually aren’t ever enough when or where you need them while traveling.
This nifty travel gadget provides extra outlets, including USB ports, and an adjustable night light, which is super important when you need to find the bathroom in the middle of the night without turning all the lights on in an unfamiliar room.
Get it here: USB Outlet Plug Extender & Adjustable Night Light, $12.99
17. Toiletries Travel Set
This stocking stuffer gift makes getting through airport security a breeze.
The variety of containers, all TSA-approved sizes, allows your traveler giftee to pack whatever liquids, creams, and products they want without having to worry about purchasing additional travel bottles.
Get it here: 16-Piece Toiletry Set With TSA-Approved Bottles and Containers, $13.18
18. Compact First Aid Kit
Compact first aid kits are great travel stocking stuffer ideas for backpackers, hikers, and those on road trips and living in vans.
The kit is easy to bring along and includes important items to ensure that minor injuries can be taken care of even while miles away from home.
Get it here: 100 Piece First Aid Kit, $13.82
19. Scented Deodorizer Sachets
In my experience, scented deodorizer sachets make one of the best travel stocking stuffers as there’s nothing worse than a nasty smelling suitcase or closet full of clothes.
I always bring along a few scented sachets to put in my drawers and especially my laundry bag during my travels to keep my things smelling fresh.
Get it here: 12 Pack Rose Cottage Lavender Scented Deodorizer Sachets, $13.89
20. Travel Journal
Ever since I started traveling, I’ve kept a journal of every day spent on the road, at sea, and on the ice.
Now, after 60+ countries, I have written records of my time in every continent and even each of the Seven Seas.
These journals have easily become one of the most important and priceless possessions of mine.
A travel journal may only be a small notebook, but one like this En Route diary (which was my first ever travel journal) makes writing and looking back on memories on the road so enjoyable.
Get it here: En Route Travel Journal, $14.95
21. Passport Wallet
Staying organized while traveling is so important, especially when it comes to passports, cash, credit cards, and other important documents.
This beautiful passport travel wallet keeps everything in one place so you always know where everything is.
Get it here: RFID Passport Holder and Travel Wallet, $14.99
22. Travel Razor
Razors are tricky to pack, but a mini razor like this that comes with a travel case makes everything so much easier.
Get it here: Gillette Venus Mini Razor, Travel Case, and Refills, $14.99
23. Quick Dry Microfiber Travel Towel Set
This towel set goes everywhere with me as it packs so easily into a small little roll, takes up hardly any space at all, is lightweight, and dries super quick.
This is a perfect gift for people who travel as they never have to worry about packing a soggy towel that hasn’t dried yet or stinking up the room, cabin, or van they’re staying in with a wet towel.
Get it here: OlimpiaFit Set of 3 Microfiber Travel Towels, $16.90
24. Travel Adapter Power Strip
Great stocking stuffers for travelers are ones that are multipurpose such as this travel adapter power strip.
Not only does it serve as an extension cord and power strip with USB ports, but it also includes international adapters.
Essentially, this travel-friendly gadget is three items combined into a single powerhouse. What’s not to love?
Get it here: Travel Adapter Power Strip, $16.99
Just in need of a universal adapter? This small yet mighty gadget will make sure all of your electronics get charged in over 150 countries.
25. Portable Phone Bank
No stocking stuffer list would be complete without a portable phone charger.
I don’t know any frequent traveler that goes anywhere without one.
This one is not only cute, but the LED paw indicator shows you how much charge is left by how many of the paws are illuminated.
Get it here: INIU Portable Charger with Paw Indicator ($16.99)
26. Reusable Storage Ziplock Bags
I never pack my luggage without throwing a few ziplock bags in for future use because I’ve learned that I will always inevitably need a few of these.
Whether it’s to contain a leaky container in my carry on or to keep opened snacks fresh, these reusable bags will always be useful and needed.
Get it here: 10-Pack Reusable Storage Bags, $16.99
27. Packing Cubes
Packing cubes make packing so much less of a headache, especially when you’re constantly packing and unpacking or on the road for extended periods of time.
I categorize my clothing by cubes and label them with some washi tape on the handles so I can find exactly what I need without unpacking my entire suitcase.
Get it here: Set of 8 Packing Cubes and Organizers, $17.99
28. No Waste Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
No waste shampoo and conditioner bars make wonderful stocking stuffers for world travelers as they are not only great for the environment, but they save us so much luggage space.
The bars last so much longer than the average liquid shampoo and conditioners and weighs less than full bottles.
And if that’s not enough, replacing the products with bars gives you more space in your limited carry-on liquid capacity to pack other things you don’t want to leave behind.
Get it here: Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner Bar Combo set, $17.99
29. Silicone Magnetic Cable Ties
If the aforementioned silicone bands aren’t your thing, these magnetic cable ties make just as great of stocking stuffers for travelers.
They easily clip together all your cables and cords, keeping you organized on the go.
Get it here: 20 Pack Reusable Silicone Magnetic Cable Ties, $18.99
30. Sriracha Travel Keychain Bottles & Packets
Life on the road can be rough and sometimes you just need some familiar flavors to boost your spirits.
Enter travel-friendly packable Sriracha.
During my time at sea and while marooned in Antarctica, adding a bit of Sriracha to my bland meals was all the pick-me-up I needed to keep going.
Get it here: Sriracha Keychain Gift Pack, $17.99 & 50-Pack Huy Fong Sriracha Sauce Packets, $14.99
31. LifeStraw Water Filter
A personal water filter is a great gift to give your favorite backpacker or outdoor enthusiast.
They can even be good stocking stuffer items for an emergency kit because if we’re being honest, if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that everyone needs to have some emergency go-bag ready at all times.
Get it here: LifeStraw Personal Water Filter, $19.99
32. Packable Wall Tapestry
For those who are constantly moving from one place to the next and who don’t always have a choice in where they stay or what the accommodations look like, a wall tapestry is a simple yet perfect gift that’s easy to bring along anywhere.
It’s lightweight, can be used as decor or even as a privacy curtain, emergency towel, and as a beach or picnic blanket.
Get it here: Watercolor World Map Wall Tapestry, $19.99
I hope this list of stocking stuffers for travelers was useful!
Remember, when in doubt for what to buy a frequent or world traveler, the best gifts and stocking stuffers are small, easy to pack, and can be used for a number of purposes.
Good luck and happy shopping!
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