26 Foolproof Gift Ideas for Moms Who Love to Travel

I’m a mom who loves to travel, so I thought I’d be an ideal person to put together a list of gift ideas for traveling moms.

I have to admit, gift-giving is one of the HARDEST things for me, and for a lot of people. In a list like this, with my personal favorites and products I’ve traveled with, as well as input from my “mom friends” who may share travel styles with me, we’ve covered all the bases: from stylish luxury travel moms to down-to-earth crunchy traveling moms.

Ready to give an awesome travel gift to a mom you love this season? Let’s dig in.

Gifts for New Moms who Travel

Being a new mom who travels is maybe the hardest: figuring out how to balance a baby’s needs, as well as your own desires, while on vacation. These gifts can help with the transition into family travel!

Kibou Diaper Bag Fanny Pack

I love my Kibou Bag, and I recommend it as one of the all-time best gifts for moms everywhere! In short, it’s a regular fanny pack with a few secret additions: a fold-out changing pad, a waterproof zippered wipes pocket and a main bag compartment big enough to fit 1-2 diapers and some snacks for my baby, toddler or kid.

This waist bag is fantastic (I bring it on all our trips, big and small) and I detailed it with photos at my Kibou Diaper Bag Fanny Pack review!

Make sure to check color availability for the original Kibou and Kibou Mini Wallet Bag.

Quince Cashmere Blend Shawl & Nursing Cover

For my second child, I’m upgrading my nursing cover to the Quince Lightweight Cotton Cashmere Nursing Shawl. You may be able to tell that I’m pretty excited. I’m most looking forward to taking it on the go, for nursing during outings, trips and travel. I named it one of the best gifts for new moms and it’s also nice for pumping moms.

Check availability for the Quince Cashmere Nursing Shawl and the Quince Lightweight Cotton Cashmere Nursing Shawl.

Breastfeeding shirts

If you read my travel interview with Danielle Goller, you’ll know how much this friend of mine loves to travel EVERYWHERE and she’s very good at it. So I trust her recommendation that these affordable nursing shirts do the trick for breastfeeding your little one whether you’re at home, or across the globe.

A travel neck pillow, but “not the old kind”

My friend Becca, who is an avid traveler, says every mom needs a good neck pillow, and I agree. Further, she said, scrap “the old kind” of neck pillow—she means those inflatable ones or those bean bag ones that sag.

So, get the mom on your gift list an amazing neck pillow: I recommend the Cabeau Evolution (the new one), or any of the neck pillows for travel in this list.

Gifts for Moms with Multiple Kids

Moms with a few kids have their hands FULL, so they need gifts to make traveling a bit more seamless and simple.

ALPAKA Passport Case & Travel Wallet

I’m new-ish to the ALPAKA brand, but when I was choosing what I wanted to try, I saw that the brand’s Zip Travel Wallet fits 3-4 passports. This solves heaps of issues for us, as we’ve been traveling with 3 separate passport holders, and that’s a drag! A mom with one, two or three kids may really like a smart way to carry passports on travel days for all the children in tow.

Check availability at ALPAKA.

Finisterre Rain Coat

With a few kids on a trip, there’s going to be a lot of opinions, and some of those opinions may be, “Let’s do this activity in the rain.” So, what does a traveling mom need? An amazing raincoat.

I recently tried the Finisterre Stormbird Jacket and it’s the raincoat I’m going to wear in the rain until I die (seriously). With amazing quality, sustainable practices and great features, not to mention a flattering fit, this one’s coming on all my family trips! You can see a little more at my Finisterre women’s review.

Check availability at Finisterre.

Nike Flyknit Walking Shoes

With multiple kids, there is never a dull moment or a minute for sitting still. Moms of multiples are on their feet, ALL the time during travel!

One of the best travel shoes for women I have ever put on my feet are the Nike Flyknit Sneakers. I suggest those for any mom who’s been wearing worn-out kicks and needs an upgrade for some trips on the horizon.

Check availability for sizes and colors at Nike.

Quince Check-In Hard Shell Luggage

Ding ding! This is going to be one of the best travel gifts this year. So many Facebook groups I am in have moms asking for the best hard shell luggage currently on the market.

If you want to help Mom skip right to the point, get her Quince’s Check-In Hard Shell Suitcase, which can help pack enough for her, plus a kid or two. We used this suitcase to go to Canada, Mexico and Colombia.

See all about it at my Quince suitcase review and what a steal it is.

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Check color availability at Quince.

Gifts for Moms who Travel Solo

Even moms need a break! Moms who travel solo may be going away for business, or for a little “me time.” Learn about these must-have gifts for independent travel experiences.

Vessi waterproof travel shoes

Going on a much-needed getaway pairs great with waterproof travel shoes from Vessi—some of my favorites for travel. You never know when a rainstorm will come during a sightseeing tour, or when a storm will strike a trip that was supposed to be sunny!

Vessi’s styles are all on-trend and some are even timeless, like the “Weekend Chelsea,” and all are weather-proof, storm-proof and rain-proof. They’re some of the travel gifts I’m fastest to recommend. See more at my Vessi shoes review.

Check size availability at Vessi.

Canvelle Weekender (Medium & Large)

This hyper lightweight weekender bag comes in two sizes, Medium and Large. It’s one of the best Canvelle products to take on a trip because of how it supports all the weight inside, so it’s a favorite of mine from this brand that makes all bags out of recycled bottles.

Check for color availability, as well as limited-release color choices, at Canvelle.

Free Fly Travel Apparel

For excellent flattering leggings, shorts with zippers and chilled-out tees and hoodies, I choose Free Fly Apparel, which you can learn more about in my Free Fly travel clothes review. I’ve worn the leggings on flights and while hanging out in El Retiro, Colombia, and the zipper-pocket shorts are some of my favorites for travel days or just sitting at the pool.

Shop the Free Fly site to see which new releases are trending.

Gifts for Luxury Travel Moms

Some moms wait all year to take the trip of their dreams! Check out these luxe travel gift ideas for a mama in your life.

Paravel Aviator Trunk Set

Paravel means luxury to me: when I got my Aviator Trunk Set, I was impressed. I was mostly impressed with the fact that this uniquely-sized suitcase actually runs at the same total dimensions as a regular check-in size suitcase, so it’s good to go for checking as a bag with most airlines.

What comes inside? Tack on the “Trunk Packing Suite,” the set of made-to-fit packing organizers that go right in the Paravel Trunk suitcase, to make staying neat a breeze. This is an excellent gift for traveling moms who need a new dashing suitcase for trendy trips.

Check color availability at Paravel.

The Insider Packing Cubes, by Away

My friend Marisa reminded me that every mom who travels needs a set of her own packing cubes. It’s true: I always reach for mine first as soon as we start packing for a trip!

For a great gift for at travel-savvy mom, pick up Away’s Insider Packing Cubes, which come in a dazzling array of 11 cool colors (they’re also designed to fit right into Away luggage).

Get them before they sell out at Away.

Lounge access

Of course, if a mom in your life is often away on business trips, or simply likes taking solo trips or girlfriend trips, she needs lounge access. I’ll admit it: having lounge access all over the world changed my life as a traveler, and when traveling with Dan and our baby, being able to sit in a lounge with snacks and access to a family restroom made all the difference.

I recommend an easy Priority Pass membership, to get Mom access to airport lounges all around the globe.

Choose your membership level at Priority Pass.

Travel roll-on essential oils

Thank you to my friend and savvy traveling mom Kruti for the idea of travel-sized roll-on essential oils for a mom who loves travel!

At only 10 ml per bottle, the roll-on essential oils in a gift set like this would make any mom happy. I can keep these in my purse, personal item, carry-on or checked bag, and use them when I want to freshen up in between flights or when I land. Perfection.

Quince Cashmere Travel Wrap (doubles as a scarf)

My friend Marisa’s (who has a toddler and baby on the way!) idea was suggesting a cashmere wrap as a luxe travel item for moms who like style and coziness.

Having tried the Quince Cashmere Wrap myself, I thought it would be the perfect travel gift idea to add to this list: it’s perfect for napping on a flight, or wrapping yourself up in when you land and need to look chic. It’s a versatile gift that will please any travel-savvy mom!

Check for in-style colors at Quince.

Noise canceling headphones

Yup, moms need really good noise-cancelling headphones, especially for travel. If a mom in your life is using outdated or beat-up headphones and needs a new pair, seek out a pair of luxury-level noise-cancellation headphones for travel like the Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones (with Bluetooth). You can’t go wrong with these as a travel gift.

Gifts for Down-to-Earth Travel Moms

I consider myself a down-to-Earth travel mom: I love a good backpack, a nice hike, a laid-back travel outfit and some useful and functional travel gear, whether I’m traveling with my toddler, or not! Check out these gift ideas that come from my travel favorites.

Cotopaxi Coso Hip Pack

A Cotopaxi waist bag is an amazing gift this season because it’s trendy and functional, as well as colorful and attention-grabbing.

What matters most is what’s on the inside and outside: an interior fleece-lined phone pocket, compression straps and a zippered pocket for security. A bum bag like the Coso 2L Hip Pack is perfect for Mom to sling over her shoulder or at her waist and be ready for a flight, a trek or sightseeing.

See which colors are in stock at Cotopaxi.

Paka Apparel Hoodie or Crew Sweater

I recently tried Paka Apparel’s original hoodies and crew-neck sweaters and what I like about them is that they’re meant to be worn multiple times until I really need to wash them. They’re so unique that I think of them first as a gift for an adventure travel mom.

They’re unisex, totally relaxed and chill, great for camping and hiking, or just staying cozy on a flight across the world. All Paka handknit sweaters are made in Peru and have “unique Inca ID” tags on them, so I suggest checking out the brand at my Paka Apparel review to learn more!

Check sizing and availability at Paka Apparel.

Rumpl Camping Blanket

For moms who go camping and glamping, a fun gift is a travel camping blanket from Rumpl. This colorful outdoors brand makes all its products for hiking, camping and even the beach, so that you’re never without high-quality adventure gear to set up a night’s sleep, or a daytime picnic.

I tried out the OG Puffy Blanket and found it to be fun to use, easy to clean and above all, sustainably-made. Check out all the designs available at the Rumpl website.

See all the available designs at Rumpl.

Bluffworks Utility Travel Scarf

My first thought about travel scarves is the Bluffworks Utility Scarf: it has a secret zippered phone pocket where you can keep valuables (just don’t forget about them!). This is one of my scarves that has somewhat of a weight to it: it’s a bit warmer than lightweight gauze-like scarves, and it’s good for travel in all temperatures.

As my friend Ariella says, “I love to travel with a good scarf bc it can double as a blanket on the plane to get more cozy and it’s very versatile.”

See if it’s still on sale (!) at Bluffworks’ site.

Mammut Women’s Hiking Backpack

I tried out the Mammut Lithium 20 Women’s Hiking Backpack this year. What sets it apart is the sheer lightweight-ness of it, and the fact that the design is tailored to a women’s body. If a mom on your gift list is into hiking, whether it’s 45-min day hikes or long-term trekking, this daypack is a winner.

See more photos at my Mammut Lithium 20 Women’s Backpack review before buying.

Check current pricing at Mammut.

A trusty reusable water bottle

Every mom needs to hydrate while traveling! I don’t know any moms that don’t travel without a big and trusty reusable water bottle. A few high-quality ideas are the Owala FreeSip, recommended by Ariella, and my Ocean Bottle, which I like because it goes right in the dishwasher for cleaning.

Gifts for Moms who Travel in Style

I know plenty of moms who travel in style: for me, it’s comfy clothes on flight or travel day, but looking good for photos! Here are some ideas for moms who like to be photo-ready while traveling.

Travel eye mask from Nidra or Quince

Personally, I can’t travel without an eye mask, both for sleeping on flights and in new environments like hotels. My friend Ariella calls the Nidra Deep Rest Sleep Mask “a bra for your eyes,” which makes me giggle (but it’s true). I like the one from Quince, because it’s basic, yet soft.

See all available color choices at Quince.

Travel romper

World-traveler and “mom friend” of mine Danielle is a wiz with travel clothes and suggested this travel-friendly romper for looking cute in trip pics, and being comfy, too. Plus, it is so incredibly affordable as a quick gift.

Cute passport cover

As I became a more stylish traveler, I adopted passport cases to protect the edges and pages of my passport.

My friend Marisa suggests a cute passport cover as an all-star gift for moms. I have the timeless one from Harber London, and I’m also looking at the RFID-blocking Passport Holder from Quince for future gifts.

Check pricing at Harber London.