15 Insanely Thoughtful Travel Gift Cards for the Traveler in Your Life

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This post is about travel gift cards.

Struggling to find the perfect gift for the traveler in your life? Trust me, it’s difficult! Shopping for someone who values experiences over material items seems like a daunting task. 

But fear not! It is possible to give your traveler a gift they’ll thank you endlessly for. 

And the answer is…Gift Cards!

Now hear me out. Some of the largest expenses in the travel world are ones that you can’t really buy for your traveler (ex. Flights, accommodations, transport, gear). So, a gift card is the best way to help contribute to the priciest part of the journey. 

Even better, it may make their biggest excuse for not traveling disappear! With finances somewhat covered, they’ll be even more excited that the money they saved with your gift card will go towards something they didn’t think they would be able to do! Like a fancy dinner or a pricey excursion! 

The list I have created has every category of travel covered. So, there is something here for every traveler in the world!

Travel Gift Cards to Buy Gear

Amazon

Traveler or not, an Amazon gift card is a great gift. Whether they forgot an item and need to buy it quickly or have been keeping it on their wish list for months, Amazon has pretty much anything a traveler may need.

I know gift cards may seem impersonal, but a very quick and easy way to make it more meaningful is to specify what they could use it for. For example, your traveler expresses they have been dying to buy a new set of packing cubes, so you give the gift card specifically to contribute to that packing cube set. This shows that you have been listening to your traveler. Instantly a gift card becomes a thoughtful gift.

REI

REI is the go-to brand for anything outdoors, so if your traveler is a hiker or camper, this is the best place to send them shopping. Tents, backpacks, boots, hammocks, fishing gear, hiking gear. Everything! They even have great clothing options for outdoor activities.

Columbia / Patagonia

Clothes, clothes, clothes. Can you ever have too many? The answer is yes, but when it comes to quality brands like Columbia and Patagonia, it’s okay to have lots of clothes that will last a lifetime. Sweaters, pullovers, winter jackets, rain jackets, wool clothes, hiking clothes, and the best socks you’ll ever own! These brands are always on my own personal wish list every year.

Best Buy

Is your traveler a gearhead? Photographers and videographers always have some new expensive piece of gear they’re saving up to buy. Best Buy is one of the best places to shop for all things tech because they have all the different brands: Cannon, Sony, Nikon, DJI, GoPro, Apple, Fuji, Samsung. Your traveler will be extremely excited to run out and buy that new camera lens or gimbal with your thoughtful gift card!

Travel Gift Cards to Buy Transportation

Airline Travel Gift Cards

I swear if someone didn’t know what to get me, I would immediately recommend an airline gift card as an option. If your traveler is planning a trip abroad, then odds are the airfare is the most expensive part of their entire trip.

So, any amount contributed to the flight fees is extremely appreciated. Whether it’s just enough to cover their checked bag expenses or to aid in the overall flight purchase, this is a really clever travel gift card idea.

Unfortunately, not all airlines have gift cards available, but luckily some of the most popular ones have them (Southwest, Delta, American, British). You can also look for airline vouchers like Aer Lingus offers!

Uber

On the subject of transportation, rides to and from the airport or around the city can be hidden expenses that travelers do not budget for. So, having an uber gift card on hand for anytime your traveler doesn’t feel like walking the two miles it takes to get back from the bar to their hotel, is such a help! I can’t tell you how many times an uber has come in handy on long travel days.

Travel Gift Cards to Buy Accommodations

Airbnb

I am an Airbnb girl through and through, so the majority of places I book while traveling are going to be Airbnbs. With lodging probably being the second most expensive part of a traveler’s trip, I was over the moon to find that Airbnb provided gift cards! Another really great gift idea especially when it might mean the difference between a small private room and an entire place for your traveler to stay.

Hotels.com Travel Gift Cards

Another great option while traveling is budget finds on hotels.com which also offers gift cards! Hotels.com is a super easy place to find hotels either on the road or in any foreign destination where Airbnbs may not be an option. 

Travel Gift Cards to Buy Excursions

National Park Pass

I will never stop raving about the “America the Beautiful” pass. If your traveler is looking to travel the US, a national park yearly pass is the best thing you can gift them. Not technically a gift card since it is so much more than a gift card could ever give to a traveler who loves exploring the outdoors. This pass gives you full access to all 63 US national parks for an entire year for only $80! 

Get Your Guide 

Another great travel gift card idea is one that will contribute to any tours or excursions your traveler is hoping to take while on their adventures! Get Your Guide is one of the best places to find and book tours especially for trips abroad. Whether it’s a walking tour or a bus trip to a castle outside the city, Get Your Guide tours will make your traveler’s trip even more special.

Disney and Universal Theme Parks

Who can resist a trip to the greatest theme parks the world has ever seen? Whether it’s the famed Disney World or Universal Studios, these are truly magical places! There are a few ways to gift this experience to your traveler. You can give towards the park passes, purchase fast passes, or gift cards that can go towards their food or in park purchases. This is also a great travel place where you could even tag along!

Cruise Excursions/Spa Days

If your traveler likes to cruise around the world, most cruise lines make it very easy for you too gift your traveler with amazing experiences while they are away. You can find amazing cruise excursions on the days the cruise is docked at a destination. Or book spa days for the days when they are sailing out at sea. You can even be generous and put your credit card down for their bar tab (although that may get pricey depending on your traveler!)

Other Amazing Travel Gift Cards

Rosetta Stone

If you want to get creative, you can gift your traveler the gift of language! Rosetta Stone is one of the best language platforms for anyone in their language journey. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or expert, there are dozens of languages to choose from. Recently they even added live chats with fluent teachers in your target language, so you can practice speaking and receive direct feedback on how you are progressing.

My favorite part of Rosetta Stone is that you make your schedule and set your own pace. If you have only 15 minutes a day, you can set up your lesson for that period of time. You can also take your lessons anywhere you go with their mobile app! It’s perfect for people always on the move.

You can purchase Rosetta Stone for different lengths of time, but I highly recommend waiting for a sale on their lifetime membership which gives you access to all the languages provided by Rosetta Stone for LIFE! It is a one-time payment, and you have it in your back pocket for the rest of your life. An amazing gift!

Shutterfly

Lastly, when the trip is over and your traveler has returned with dozens of stories of their adventures, what better way to help them share their memories than with a photo album! A Shutterfly gift card is a brilliant idea for those who enjoy looking back on their travels through the images they captured on the trip. You can simply print the photos through Shutterfly or create a whole photo album they mail directly to you! This is a perfect way to express your interest in your traveler’s adventures!

Best Travel Gift Cards

Voila! The best travel gift cards you can give the traveler in your life! Like I mentioned throughout this post, gift cards don’t have to be thoughtless gifts. If you listen and pay attention to the things your traveler has been hoping to purchase before their next trip, a gift card towards that proves that you have been interested in their traveling life. 

Nothing is more thoughtful than gifting someone something they will actually put to good use. Trust me. Your traveler will appreciate how thoughtful and useful your travel gift card is when preparing for their next adventures! You may even get a post card as a thank you.

If gift cards really aren’t your thing, then go check out my last post all about the perfect travel gifts you can buy your traveler. There is something on that list for every kind of traveler, so I highly recommend you take a look!

This post is about travel gift cards.