It can be difficult spending a night – or several nights – away from home. But there are a few things you can take that will make the trip more comfortable. From making packing easier, to getting into the hotel room, to setting everything up, these are some gift ideas perfect for people who spend a lot of nights away from home.
2021 Holiday Gift Guides
Before you can buy the perfect Christmas gift, you have to find it. Each year, I publish a series of Holiday Gift Guides to help you find fantastic travel gear, accessories, unique gifts, and awesome items to put under the tree.
No. 01
WYNK Luggage Cart
Most hotels have luggage carts – if you can find them. One constant irritation at hotels – from budget to luxury – is finding an available luggage cart during check-in or check-out. But with the WYNK Luggage Cart, you can simply roll your luggage into your room without waiting for one of the illusive carts to appear.
The WYNK Luggage Cart has a capacity of 77-pounds – more than enough for the bags you’ll be taking into the hotel room. The extension handle raises to a max height of 38-inches for a comfortable reach. When finished, it folds flat for easy storage in your car.
No. 02
Orvis Engraved Brass Luggage Tags
A unique gift for the frequent traveler would be the gorgeous Engraved Brass Luggage Tags from Orvis. Up to four lines of custom text – each twenty-five characters long – can be engraved onto brass tags with brass carabiner hooks. With a set of three custom tags, it’s a good start to getting all the bags tagged before the next adventure!
No. 03
eBags Classic Packing Cubes
Packing cubes will change the way you travel forever. Sorting clothing into cubes allows you to pack more in the same size bag, easily find what you’re looking for, and keep everything neat and wrinkle-free during transport. But packing cubes can be a very difficult choice to make – until you’ve tried them for the first time.
eBags Classic Packing Cubes features a starter set with one large, one medium, one small, and three slim packing cubes. The durable nylon material with mesh panels keeps clothing clean, secure, and tidy. The starter set can hold enough clothing for one person for a weekend getaway – and just might be enough to get them hooked on the concept.
No. 04
BoxLegend Garment Folder
Whether or not you use packing cubes while traveling, you will at least need to fold your clothes – even while at home. The BoxLegend V3 Garment Folder makes that tedious task effortless and quick, giving you more time to plan the trip.
The third version of the popular garment folder is made from sturdy plastic with secure joints. It folds flat for travel – measuring just 9.5-inches by 11.6-inches. Using the three panels, it’s easy to fold pants, shirts, jackets, and even blankets in mere seconds.
No. 05
Thule Subterra PowerShuttle Travel Case
Smartphones, tablets, noise cancelling headphones – every new device means a charging block and cable. It’s easy enough to toss them into a plastic bag or pocket inside your suitcase, but it won’t be that easy getting them out later. That’s where the Thule Subterra PowerShuttle Travel Case can help.
There are lots of electronics organizers out there, but these case from Thule are among the best. The Subterra PowerShuttle Mini is perfect for holding a few cables and a single charging block. The Subterra PowerShuttle Medium can hold cables, chargers, and a power bank. The Subterra PowerShuttle Plus is large enough to hold noise cancelling headphones, power bank, charging blocks, and several cables.
No. 06
Travel Hangers
Do you unpack when staying for more than a few nights? Most hotels have a small rack hanging on the wall, and some hotels have really nice armoires. Either option usually comes with a few coat hangers – but only a few, and usually with an irritating way of sliding them onto the rack.
These Travel Hangers are perfect for packing into an overnight bag and taking with you. They fold into a compact size in your bag and then unfold to the standard size of a coat hanger. With a notch for women’s clothing, it’s perfect for all travelers.
National Park Week 2024
Learn about the annual celebration of the National Park System and read my travel guides to national park units across the country.
No. 07
Amazon Echo Dot
It might seem strange to travel with an Amazon Echo Dot, but there are benefits to plugging one into a hotel room. The smart device with built-in microphone and speaker can handle a lot of requests like setting an alarm, giving the current weather forecast, and playing ambient sounds while you sleep.
Using an Echo Dot in a hotel room requires setup with each new check-in, but it’s quite easy through the Alexa app on smartphones and takes only minutes.
No. 08
Addalock
Hotel rooms almost always have a deadbolt lock to keep you safely secured inside. But what about long-term rentals, Airbnb, and bed and breakfasts? Often, these types of lodging feature only the lock on the doorhandle.
Addalock gives you the opportunity to add a lock to a door that needs an extra. The device uses a durable piece of metal that slips into the door’s latch, secures the faceplate, and then secures to the inside of the closed door. Addalock only works on residential doors, but it secures those doors against lock picks and kick ins.
No. 09
Amazon FireTV Stick
Many luxury and mid-range hotels are upgrading to smart televisions with the option to sign in to your Netflix or Hulu account while traveling. But not all streaming services are available – content like HBO Max and Paramount+ – and not all televisions have been upgraded.
The safter bet would be to travel with the compact Amazon FireTV Stick. Almost all flatscreens in hotel rooms feature a USB port. Simply plug the FireTV Stick into the port, connect it to the hotel’s Wifi, and you’re ready to stream your favorite shows and movies from the streaming services you’re subscribed to already.
No. 10
GE Extension Cord
In recent years, hotels have been renovating to include more accessible outlets through the room. Lamps on the desk and beside tables feature outlets, and some bedside tables have built-in power strips. But every once in awhile, you need an outlet where none exist.
GE Braided Extension Cords are easy to travel with and flexible enough for use in hotels. Ranging from 6-inches to 15-feet, the cords include three outlets for all your charging needs.
No. 11
Anker Elite Dual Charger
Smartphones and tablets always come with their own charging blocks – and I recommend you use those blocks – but noise cancelling headphones, wireless earbuds, and lots of tech accessories rely on providing your own USB power source. The Anker Elite Dual Charger is a great option for keeping these devices charged.
Featuring two USB-A charging ports each with 12W of power, the Dual Charger can keep most electronic devices and accessories charged on a daily basis. The plug folds into the body of the charger, making it easy to pack in your suitcase.
No. 12
Anker Soundcore Boost Speaker
How many people walk into a hotel room and immediately turn the television on just to have some background noise? Instead, why not play some of your favorite music with the Anker Soundcore Boost Bluetooth Speaker?
The upgraded version of their popular wireless speaker, this model features a bass boost, USB-C charging port, and up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge. A nifty feature is the ability to add a second speaker – at twice the price – and they will automatically create a stereo pair.
