Last Updated on December 13, 2023 by Nellie Huang
Looking for some gifts for kids who travel? I’ve scoured the internet for kids travel gifts to compile this list of best travel gifts for kids of all ages.
As a full-time travel blogger and a traveling mum, I’m an expert when it comes to the best travel items for kids. I’ve brought my 8-year-old daughter to 54 countries and we’ve tried and tested many kids’ gear, travel games, and toys on the road.
With that in mind, I’ve compiled this list of Travel Gifts for Kids to include many of the items we personally use and adore. I’ve divided them based on age: including travel gifts for toddlers, tweens and teenagers. Whether you’re looking for small gifts for kids or travel gifts for teens, you’ll find them here on this list.
TIP: The best time to buy your kids travel gifts is definitely during the Black Friday sales, the biggest sale of the year! Here are more Black Friday travel deals including flight deals and Amazon promotion.
Kids Travel Gifts
Travel Gifts for Babies (Under 1 year old)
1. Travel Themed Baby Play Mat
An excellent travel gift for kids who are still cooing on their backs or crawling all over the place. This canvas cotton kids rug can be used as game mat or baby play mat, and makes a great addition to any nursery or bedroom. The mat cultivates the baby’s recognition of the brief contour of the world and helps your children know the world.
What I love about this world map play mat are the beautiful illustrations. There are kangaroos in Australia, African lions and elephants, penguins in Antarctica, the mountains represent the Himalayas.
2. Adventure Milestone Blanket
When Kaleya was a baby, we brought her tiny blanket on every trip. It was so useful to keep her warm and comfortable on flights and in her stroller, and definitely gets her adapt to new environments more easily.
This adventure-themed blanket is one of the best travel gifts for kids who are turning 1 year old. The muslin blanket (and card combination) makes an excellent proper for baby photos. After the photo session, the blanket can then be used as a swaddler, stroller cover, baby blanket, and nursing cover.
3. World Map Bedsheets for Crib
Another great travel gift for kids is a crib sheet printed with the world map. It’s such a fun and cute addition to a baby’s nursery and definitely makes travel-loving parents happy. Those with tiny toddlers might not be able to travel just yet, but this is a good idea for some armchair travel. This world map bedsheet is made of 100% cotton and fits a standard size crib mattress measuring 28? x 52?.
4. Kids Toy Plane
If you’re looking for small gifts for kids, you won’t go wrong with a toy plane! Little aviators will be thrilled as they push the buttons to see red flashing lights with realistic take off & revving sounds of fighters. This set of 4 pull-back airplanes come in bright colors and are made of durable material to withstand bumping and rough play.
Travel Gifts for Toddlers (1-3 years old)
5. Trunki Luggage
We bought the Trunki luggage for our daughter when she was only one and she used it till she was 5 years old. This is definitely one of the most functional and useful kids travel gifts.
Kids who don’t walk a lot can ride on the Trunki, which makes traveling with them convenient. Almost everything we bring for Kaleya fits in there, whether we’re on a 2-week African Safari trip or a short weekend trip in Europe. The Trunki can hold weight up to 75lbs (34kg) so it definitely lasts for quite a few years.
6. Plush Animal Travel Neck Pillow
Which kid wouldn’t love a plush animal neck pillow? Cloudz is our favorite brand for kids travel gear and I highly recommend checking them out if you’re looking for quality kids travel gifts. Kaleya travels with this plush animal neck pillow on almost every trip and it helps her get comfortable and sleep on the plane. It’s soft, lightweight and easy to carry — we just pop it into her Trunki or hang it outside our backpack.
7. Passport Sticker Books
My daughter is obsessed with passports. Every time we travel, she wants to play with her passport and look at her stamps (perhaps she got that from me!). She knows our passport is our ticket to the world. But the passport is an important document, so she’s not allowed to play with it. Instead, I bought her a passport sticker book and she’s thrilled! This collection of 12 passport sticker books is great fun for little travelers who like stickers and scrapbooks.
8. Reusable Sticker Pad
Another product from Melissa & Doug that makes an excellent travel gift for toddlers is this reusable sticker pad that features habitats from around the world. You’ll find background scenes of a desert oasis, prehistoric landscape, farm, jungle, and deep blue sea. Kids can use the reusable stickers to learn about animals and various environments on Earth.
My daughter Kaleya has had this since she was 1 year old. The only thing is that the pad is extra large (bigger than A4) so it’s not exactly something you can travel with.
9. World Map Puzzle
Another one of Kaleya’s favorite toys, this wooden peg world map puzzle is one of the best travel gifts for toddlers. The puzzle teaches your toddler about the world, and promotes early learning development and hand-eye coordination. It is made with real wood and is well designed and safe for young children. Kaleya learned the seven continents of the world when she was just 2, with the help of this puzzle.
Travel Gifts for Preschoolers (3-5 years old)
10. World Map Backpack
You probably know I’m obsessed with the world map, and I can’t resist anything made with the world map print. Colorful and ridiculously adorable, this toddler world map backpack makes a great travel gift for toddlers (that they’ll actually use). My daughter carries this bag to school everyday. It’s the perfect size for her lunch box, water bottle and school supplies.
11. Water Reusable Coloring Books
This pack of Water Wow! reusable water coloring books for kids is excellent to keep kids entertained during long flights and road trips. My daughter loves to color and draw, so we usually travel with loads of color pencils and markers. These reusable pads along with the refillable water pen are so much more lightweight and easier to travel with than markers and coloring pencils.
12. Safari-Themed Activity Book
Lonely Planet Kids’ books are the best travel gift ideas for kids as they’re educational, interactive and fun. Kaleya has a few of this Let’s Explore series of sticker activity books and she absolutely loves them. We bought the safari-themed sticker book before our South Africa trip and she brought it on the trip. We used it everywhere, even on the safari jeep. This is definitely an excellent companion to have if you’re going on an African safari with kids.
“Let’s Explore” series also have books with ocean, jungle and savanna themes. Lonely Planet Kids has a lot of interesting titles, including the Adventures Across the Globe sticker book that covers interesting places around the world.
13. Beginner’s World Atlas
National Geographic Kids also has brilliant titles that makes great travel gifts for kids. They’re very engaging, informative and playful. I bought this book recently for Kaleya and it’s been so much fun introducing her to world-famous monuments, landmarks and wildlife. It is jam packed with bright, bold images, large maps, and lively information about the world’s land, people, and animals. The Beginner’s World Atlas is suitable for kids ages 5–8.
14. Travel Activity Kit
This is a smart travel gift for toddlers who love to color, draw and do craft work! The travel activity kit acts like a laptop style desk, with lots of writing and craft accessories that will keep them entertained for hours. We try our best not to give Kaleya the tablet when we’re flying or driving, so this works as a good alternative. Inside the carrying case are 8 washable markers, crayons, pencils, a creative pad with doodle and construction papers, glue, eraser and a pair of scissors.
15. 3D Globe Puzzle
For the bigger toddlers who love to travel, this 3D globe puzzle will definitely challenge them and promote their motor skills and spacial awareness. It is an actual globe, with 6 puzzle pieces representing Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, and North and South America, while a stationary bottom piece represents Antarctica. Each continent piece is chunky and easy for little hands to grasp. The puzzle comes with a sheet of blank label stickers.
Travel Gifts for Gradeschoolers (5-10 years old)
16. Explorers Storybook
I cannot write a list of travel gifts for kids and not include my book Explorers! Writing this book was one of the biggest adventures I’ve ever embarked on in my life and I’m incredibly proud of it. Apologies for the shameless plug, but I really do believe this is one of the best travel books you can get for young explorers.
Explorers focuses on 50 of the world’s greatest explorers, and their towering achievements. The book is filled with first-person accounts in the explorers’ own words and beautiful illustrations that re-create history’s greatest expeditions.
17. Kids’ Binoculars
18. Kids Digital Camera
This new kids digital camera is not just a photo-taking machine, it’s also a video recorder and game console. With a safe and portable design, this kids digital camera is another one of those popular gifts for kids who travel. I’ve been researching on kids’ cameras for Kaleya, and PROGRACE camera has the best reviews and lowest price (and it’s a bestseller on Amazon!).
The camera takes quality 5M pictures and 1080P videos. It also has burst shooting and time lapse features. Plus it has 5 puzzle games that help to cultivate kids’ active thinking. The camera has a built-in rechargeable battery that’s charged easily with a USB.
19. Interactive World Map
This set of interactive world maps are a fun and engaging way to teach kids about the world. There are 5 interchangeable maps of the 5 major continents (North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia). And there are over 1000 facts about countries, capitals, oceans, and languages, that your kids can learn through interactive quizzes!
It also comes with a fully illustrated supplemental fact book that teaches additional language, culture, population, countries, currencies, attractions and systems of government. Each poster measures 22? x 16?. This makes a perfect gift for kids aged 5-12!
20. Kids Travel Journal
I cannot wait to get this kids travel journal for Kaleya! Suitable for kids from 6 years old and above, a kids travel journal is great for kids to document their trip, keep records of things they’ve collected on the trip (postcards, ticket stubs etc) and practice writing while they’re on the road. For younger kids, this other kids travel journal might be a better choice as it has more illustrations and colors.
21. Kids Explorer Kit
This ultra fun camping and outdoor adventure explorer kit makes a fun travel gift for children who love exploring and going outside! The set includes a pair of binoculars, compass, bug catcher, magnifying glass, tweezers, insect badges and even an ebook on bugs. It’s a perfect travel gift especially if you’re going on a camping trip. My daughter is learning all about bugs in school right now, so this would definitely win her heart.
Travel Gifts for Tweens (10-13 years old)
22. Kids Travel Games
Kids travel board games are fun and inexpensive, and they make for great travel gifts for kids. The best road trip games for kids are the educational kind that get them engaged and challenged. Lonely Planet’s Games on the Go are a fun and colorful mix of seek and find games, drawing challenges, word searches and more. It’s hard box that comes with 40 wipe-clean cards and a dry-erase pen, all stored in a small, handy box.
Games include:
- Road trip bingo
- Turning fingerprints into colorful friends
- Amazon rainforest-themed crossword
- Wildlife watching
- Drawing suitcase contents
- Puzzles
- Mazes
- Drawing favorite meals
- Making star constellations
- Designing flags
- Tic-tac-toe
- Drawing city skylines
23. IQ Travel Game
Another super fun game that makes a great travel gift for tweens is the SmartGames IQ Fit. This travel game for kids is small and portable, so your kid can carry it easily in his/her backpack or pocket. It has 3D pieces that create over 120 fun, brain teasing challenges. It’s designed for kids from 7 years onwards. Kaleya started playing with this when she was 3 and she still loves it.
24. A Robot 3D Pen
The newest product in the market, the 3D drawing pen, will definitely win the hearts of bigger kids who love technology. The 3D printing pen is easy to use and while it’s more suitable for kids aged 8 and above, I’ve heard that even children as young as 5 years old can use it easily. The robot’s change in eye color and voice feedback can help guide your kid when using the 3D printer pen. It also comes with 2 finger protectors to cover your thumb and index finger to avoid scalding during use.
25. Kids Snorkel Set
Perfect for a summer beach trip, this kids snorkel set is practical and functional. Plus it’ll get your kids to feel comfortable underwater. We bought this kids’ full face snorkel set for Kaleya to use while sailing around the San Blas Islands Panama. It’s anti-fog and anti-leak.
Because of the full face design, the snorkeling mask makes it easier for kids to learn how to snorkel. It’s suitable for kids 4 to 12 years of age. Check out the size chart here to determine the size that suits your kid. The set even comes with a free GoPro camera mount!
The snorkel set includes:
- 1 x Full Face Snorkeling Mask
- 1 x Packing Bag For The Mask
- 1 x Camera Mount
- 1 x Screw Sets
- 1 x User Manual
- 2 x Earplug
26. Kids Hiking Backpack
Your kid’s are now big enough to carry their own multi-day hiking backpack! Osprey’s Jet 18 Kids Hiking Backpack is just right for first time hikers around 10 years old and above. The mesh back panel provides ventilation and the fleece-lined shoulder harness is extra comfortable all day long. The external zippered pocket is perfect for snacks or lip balm while the internal zippered pocket is good for small items. Dual stretch mesh side pockets give youngsters a place to store new found outdoor treasures.
Travel Gifts for Teenagers (13-18 years old)
27. Scratch Off World Map
A fun travel gift for kids of all ages, this scratch off world map is a great way to keep our memories alive. I have a scatch map myself and it’s great fun to come home from a trip and scratch off a new country each time. My friends got me this when we moved to Amsterdam and I definitely think it’s the best travel gift anyone can get. The scratch off map is a perfect framable size, at 24×17 inches. I hang it on a cork board with push pins, where I also pin souvenirs or memoirs (like bus tickets) from each trip.
28. Wireless Headphones
One of the best travel gifts for teenagers is wireless headphones so they can to listen to their own devices whilst traveling. I just love the wireless headphones, no more tangled cords to worry about. These over ear wireless headphones are good quality and feature a built-in microphone and earmuff controls. They are suitable for iPhone, Smart android phones, Tablet, iPads, MacBook and other bluetooth devices. These PowerLocus headphones are also really cool, and are suitable for boys.
29. Go Pro Action Camera
For the budding adventure travel photographer, the Go Pro would be a dream travel gift for teenagers. It’s not cheap, but it will last them for years. And hey you’re definitely going to score some points with your teenager kid! The latest model is the Go Pro Hero 8 and it’s got incredible quality footage and three levels of stabilisation. Plus your kid can capture time lapse videos and bring it underwater up to 33 feet (10m).
30. Ebook Reader
I used to prefer print books until I was gifted a Kindle a few years ago. I was an instant convert. The Kindle is so light and you can store hundreds of books in there — many of them for free. This new Kindle Oasis e-reader is even better: it is waterproof, and has a large, high resolution display so it feels like you’re reading real paper without the glare. You can also listen to the world’s largest library of audiobooks on the Oasis. A single charge lasts weeks, not hours.
31. Instant Printer for iPhone
Another neat and innovative new product, this Prynt Pocket is the best travel gift for teenagers who love to take photos on their iPhone. It prints photos from your phone (even Instagram) in just 30 seconds. The new Prynt case is half of the size of the original version, with an easy-to-remove paper cartridge. No ink necessary — photos are printed directly onto ZINK (zero ink) Sticker Paper. Peel off the adhesive backing to turn any photo into a sticker! Only compatible with the Apple iPhone.
What kids travel gifts did you get this year? If you’re doing Christmas shopping for the whole family, don’t forget to check out my list of gift ideas for travelers of all ages, gender and interest.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links i.e. I get a small commission when you purchase anything through my links, at NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.
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