18 Fun and Useful Travel Gifts for Kids
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Looking for a special gift for little adventurers? I’ve got you! Keep reading to discover 18 great travel gifts for kids!
Are you looking for gift ideas for kids who love to travel? With all the toys and gadgets on the market, it’s sometimes hard to find gifts that kids will really enjoy (and use).
Whether you’re looking for gifts that will awaken their curiosity about the world, or games or activities they can use when travelling, we’ve got just what you need! Here’s a guide to the best travel gifts for kids. You’ll find options for all little (and bigger) travellers: from babies to teenagers.
We’re particularly fond of giving travel- gifts to our children. Although they’re still young, they’ve already had the chance to be exposed to the world of travel on several occasions and have shown a great interest in it.
We like to take advantage of special occasions, such as birthdays or Christmas, to give them gifts that will remind them of the fun we’ve had travelling as a family, that they can use on our next family trips or that will satisfy their curiosity and taste for adventure during the school year.
Travel gifts for babies
Here are some great travel-themed gift ideas for babies:
1. Sensory travel toy for baby
This type of sensory toy is fun, compact and fits easily into a nappy bag when travelling. It’s perfect for keeping babies entertained when travelling – whether by plane, during stopovers, on car journeys or during waiting periods (sightseeing, restaurants, etc.).
➡️ Read Next: TOP 10 BENEFITS OF TRAVELLING WITH A BABY
2. Sensory tissue boxes for babies
We had one of these sensory tissue boxes for our children when they were babies and it accompanied us on all our travels! Both our children loved this toy. It’s compact and fun – perfect for keeping babies entertained while travelling.
3. Musical torch for babies
For families who love camping trips and nature outings, a musical torch is a great travel gift fo babies!
Our children loved playing with this torch. From the age of 8 months, our son played with this torch on our family camping trips.
4. Travel-themed clothes
Your baby will look absolutely adorable on your next family trip with travel-themed clothes. You can even opt for complementary mummy/baby or daddy/baby clothes!
Travel gifts for toddlers and kids
5. Sensory travel toys for toddlers
Sensory toys are a great way to keep toddlers entertained when travelling… and to keep them busy during long periods of wait, whether at the airport or in a restaurant. In this category, sensory boards are a good option.
6. Set of walkie-talkies for children
This gift was very popular with our daughter. She loves using her walkie-talkies on family hikes, camping trips and hiding in every corner of the house!
Walkie-talkies are one of the great travel gifts for kids aged 3 and over.
7. Binoculars for kids
Binoculars are another great travel gift for kids who love adventure. Our kids love to bring them along and use them on our family hikes and camping trips.
Our daughter also likes to take her binoculars to the beach to watch the boats and birds in the distance.
8. Children’s camera
A children’s camera is one of the best travel gifts for kids who love to travel. Children are proud to be able to take pictures of the favourite places they visit – with their own camera, they can create precious memories on family trips. Some models, like the one pictured below, also have fun games built in. They keep kids entertained on flights, car journeys and while they’re waiting.
Our daughter received this children’s camera as a Christmas present and she takes it everywhere with her! She loves taking photos of the places she visits. Her camera is also one of the essentials she always carries in her travel backpack to keep her busy on the plane and during layovers.
9. Suitcases for children
Suitcases for children are definitely one of the best travel gifts for kids who love to travel. As soon as they’re old enough to carry their own bag, they’re usually very proud and happy to have their own suitcase.
Our daughter LOVES her Frozen suitcase. She proudly takes it with her on our family trips and even uses it when she sleeps over at Grandma’s!
There are several models, both hard and soft, that your children will love.
10. Sleeping bags for kids
If you’re looking for travel gifts for kids who love to travel and go on adventures, a sleeping bag is a great option.
There are many sizes, colours and designs to choose from that will appeal to children. For younger children, some models feature images of characters from children’s favourite films. Our daughter received a Snow Queen sleeping bag as a present and she proudly uses it. It’s impossible to go on a movie night or camping trip without her favourite sleeping bag!
Children’s sleeping bags are practical for camping trips and even hotel trips.
11. Travel-themed board games for children
Children love to play board games. Many games have a travel theme. These are great gift ideas for children who love to travel. Here are a few examples of games we particularly like:
Catan Junior
An excellent travel-themed gift idea for children aged 6 and over. Catan Junior takes place on a ring of tropical islands. Your children will have fun with this pirate game as they explore the seas in search of gold and resourc
Spot It
Spot It is the perfect game to slip into your carry-on luggage to play on the plane and have fun during long layovers. There are several fun editions for children aged 6 and over, including the beach/tropics edition and the camping edition.
At home, we have the original edition and the Snow Queen edition. Our daughter loves playing this fun game. We take it with us on camping trips, car journeys and plane journeys. It’s small and makes it easy to keep her entertained.
This game is on the list of great travel gift ideas for children. And because it’s so compact, it fits perfectly in your Christmas stocking!
The World Game
This family game lets your children learn more about geography and countries – flags, capitals and locations are all on the menu. It’s sure to spark your child’s interest in discovering the world.
This game is suitable for children aged 7 and over.
12. Writing and drawing boards
Writing and drawing boards are always a favourite with children! They’re a great gift for children who love to travel. They’re a great way to keep kids busy while they’re travelling, whether by plane or car, or to keep them entertained during layovers.
13. Interactive globe
This interactive LeapFrog globe is one of the best travel gifts for kids aged 5 and over.
It lets kids explore cultures, animals, habitats and more with over 5 hours of BBC videos. This globe with stand and stylus lets you hear thousands of facts, interact with unique games and trigger videos to discover the Earth visually. An interactive map is also included in this globe: children can race around the world and solve mysteries by answering quizzes.
It was on our 5-year-old daughter Santa list this year!
14. World map puzzle
This giant world map puzzle is an excellent gift idea for children who love to travel. Given the number of pieces and the level of difficulty, it is suitable for children aged 6 and over. This gift lets children explore the world from home. Images of animals from all over the world are arranged on the world map – your children will discover which part of the world these animals come from.
Travel gifts for teenagers
15. Travel board games
Board games are always an excellent gift option for teenagers. As well as being fun, they make for great family time. Here is one travel-themed board game that we really like:
Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride Rails & Sails takes you on a railroad and ocean adventure across the entire globe with the world map on one side and the great lakes of North America on the other. It is a great travel gift for teens!
There are few different editions, including Ticket to Ride Europe.
There is also a cool edition for yougner kids (aged 6 and over): Ticket to Ride – First Journey
16. Travel backpack
A travel backpack is one of the best travel gifts for teenagers who love to travel. A travel backpack can be useful for all kinds of trips, whether it’s used as carry-on luggage on plane journeys or on a day of sightseeing.
For teenagers, the North Face Youth Court Jester Daypack is a great option. Find out all of my travel backpack recommendations for kids and teens.
➡️ Read Next: 11 Excellent Carry-on Backpacks for Kids
17. DSLR camera
If your teenager is particularly keen on photography, a real DSLR camera is one of the best travel gifts he could get. There are several interesting models – depending on your child’s level of knowledge – to suit all budgets. The Canon EOS Rebel T7 camera is particularly popular and is a good option for photography beginners.
18. Travel experience / family getaway
In my opinion, the best gift that tops the list of travel gifts for kids who love travelling is a travel experience or a family getaway. The possibilities are endless! There’s something for every taste and budget.
For younger children, tickets to an amusement park, water park or zoo in a nearby town can be an excellent option. For young children, an overnight stay in a hotel, in any city, can be an absolutely brilliant gift!
For teenagers, why not take advantage of a special occasion to give an equally special travel gift? For example, to mark my graduation, my mother offered me a mother-daughter weekend in New York! It was one of the best gifts I’ve ever received! As well as giving me the chance to travel, this gift gave me the opportunity to spend some quality time with my mother and create some precious memories.
Whether it’s a beach getaway, a weekend of shopping in a busy city centre, a quiet weekend in a cottage combined with a massage and spa session… It’s possible to offer fun travel experiences that match your child’s interests and personality. It’s definitely the best gift to give a child who loves to travel.
To find ideas for activities and getaways, we particularly like to use the GetYourGuide website – both for inspiration and to book packages.
Conclusion: 18 Fun Travel Gifts for Kids
Finding the perfect travel gift for kids can add a whole new level of excitement to their adventures. Whether it’s a kid-friendly camera to capture memories, a travel-themed board game for some family fun, or binoculars they can bring on all their explorations, these gifts not only keep kids engaged but also make travel more enjoyable for everyone. From toddlers to older kids, these thoughtful travel gifts will spark curiosity and inspire adventure wherever they go. No matter where your family’s next trip takes you, these travel-friendly gifts are sure to create lasting memories and keep your little explorers happy!
