Every year we look forward to Christmas, while at the same time dreading the gift shopping that needs to take place before. How do you even come up with Christmas gift ideas that suit everyone?
Shopping for Christmas gifts should be fun, but honestly, it makes you miss going back to work sometimes. Therefore, we wanted to make it easier for everyone by putting together a list of Christmas gifts that suit us all.
READ MORE: Why not choose some handmade gifts for your loved ones
Gifts are meant to be personal, relevant and useful to the person you’re buying them for, so generic lists of random products make no sense. Our Christmas gifts are meant to inspire and also make it easier for you to get the person you love something truly special.
Christmas gift ideas for her
Buying gifts for your lady can be tough, so we put together some of our favourites curated by the lovely ladies at Travel Wanderlust.
Ayesha – cashmere scarves
So, the squeal from the team when we opened up the package from Ayesha Cashmere was pretty much enough said and done to know we picked right. Their signature twill weave gossamer large scarves are must-haves and the best part is that it comes in a beautiful wrap bag that can be carried with ease in your handbag.
The brand offers contemporary fashion and home products using 100% sustainable textiles developed in collaboration with heritage crafts artisans. We’re huge supporters of sustainable fashion, so we hope you support them too.
Available on Ayesha Cashmere for ~ USD 220.
Liht Organics
Get makeup for your girlfriends or partners if they’re going on a party holiday or if they just have to look great for a business meeting. Remember that travel size bottles and liquid containers still apply everywhere, so a good travel kit won’t go amiss for anyone.
These makeup bundles come in travel-friendly sizes and exotic, as well as classic colours that make looking amazing easy.
Available on the Liht Organics website starting at $75
Kusshi everyday bag
Every woman in this world deserves a nice makeup bag and we honestly believe that this is a great travel gift for her. We highly recommend getting your woman a Kusshi everyday bag.
It will help her organise her daily necessities and carry all her makeup in an easy-to-use bag. Aside from roomy compartments, this little bag can be an excellent addition to her gym bag or purse. With this bag, she’ll be ready to go anywhere in no time.
Available on Kusshi at $45.00.
The Crane Tote from Dia Guild
This tote, which retails at USD 150. This bag was handmade by a working mother Shirley Ong, who carefully sources vintage obi and kimono silks from Japan. The wooden handle on this tote adds an elegant touch to this handmade gift.
Check out our list of handmade gifts from Southeast Asia that will change the way you see sustainable fashion.
Available on Dia at $150
T3 Featherweight folding hair dryer
Now, if you’re struggling with damaged hair, choosing a suitable hairdryer is absolutely critical. That’s where T3 can help you out a lot. It’s not only a compact appliance – it’s also considered the best travel hair dryer for damaged hair.
It comes with unique SoftAire technology usually found in full-size dryers. It generates high-volume ionised air capable of drying large sections of hair in minutes. Other features include two different speed settings, a cold shot button, a dual voltage switch, 9ft of cord, and so on.
Buy it here for $150.00
Christmas gift ideas for him
Shopping for guys is apparently quite tough, because who doesn’t love to get feedback or suggestions in the form of grunts. We’re here to help with that.
Mark and Graham leather charger rollup
In the wake of supporting sustainability and eco-green initiatives, no man should be using a plastic bag for their everyday necessities. Well, if your man needs a solution for keeping his cables and charges organised while travelling, this leather charger organiser is like a dream come true. It comes with three separate pockets, and you can add your man’s initials free of charge.
Available on Mark and Graham at $39.00.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Yes, we know that noise-cancelling headphones are not exclusive to men, but darn it we love it, so we’re including it here anyway. These over-ear headphones deliver excellent noise cancellation and are comfortable, which is essential for any traveller.
Grab a pair on the Bose website for USD 299.
Walleon, GPS Smart Wallet
The Walleon is a modern and cutting edge smart wallet that comes with an in-built power bank, global GPS tracking, numerous security features and is also quite stylish. No bulge or bulkiness despite having a power bank in it.
They are currently bringing this to market via an Indiegogo campaign. The Walleon pricing starts from $123 for early backers and $145 during the Indiegogo campaign.
Get yours on the Walleon website now starting from USD 123.
Matein travel laptop backpack
Let’s face it – you can’t go for a trip without a proper backpack. Matein has come up with a solution that you can use for travels, school, work, and pretty much anything else that comes to your mind.
It’s quite spacious, water-resistant, and has extra fortified pads for safely placing your laptop. The backpack also comes with an external USB charging port.
Durable, solid, and functional, this is an excellent solution for bringing both your laptop and day-to-day essentials with you for a busy day on the beach or while visiting the best sites to see.
Available on Amazon at $25.99.
Anker powercore 20100 portable charger
If your man is an iPhone fan, here is a perfect travel gift that is also quite useful. Anker powercore 20100 portable charger is an excellent way to ensure your man’s phone is always at 100% during his travels.
Powercore is a high-speed charger that is capable of charging an iPhone up to 7 times. This ultra-high capacity charger comes with a travel pouch and a micro USB cable.
Available on Amazon at $45.99.
Christmas gifts to inspire
Inspiration comes in many forms and since I love to read, I thought why not recommend some amazing books that I’ve either read or have been recommended to me. From amazing biographies and inspirational stories to the irreverent and hilarious, here are some books that should be on your list.
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
Our first suggestion is from the creator of Nike. Shoe Dog is a memoir by Nike co-founder Phil Knight. The book chronicles the history of Nike from its founding as Blue Ribbon Sports and its early challenges to its evolution into one of the world’s most recognized and profitable companies.
Get the paperback on Amazon now.
The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger
This number-one New York Times bestseller follows the story of the executive chairman of Disney. He shares the ideas and values he embraced during his fifteen years as CEO while reinventing one of the world’s most beloved companies and inspiring the people who bring the magic to life.
Get the paperback on Amazon now.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
We really loved this memoir by comedian and Daily Show host Trevor Noah. It is a story of one man’s coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed. Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison.
Get the paperback on Amazon now.
Surface Children by Dean Blake
This book of short stories by independent author and friend of the publication, Dean Blake has compiled some of his most poignant work yet.
From a satirical tale of a group of teenagers who crave nothing but perfection to a horrific account of a young man who claims to eat people, Surface Children introduces its readers to a generation consumed by vanity, self-indulgence, violence and a twisted understanding of love and heartbreak.
Addictive, funny, brave and sometimes heartbreaking, Surface Children is said to be Dean Blake’s most significant work to date.
Get the paperback on Amazon now.
The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT by Russ Harris
Give your loved one a Christmas gift that inspires happiness. Russ Harris explains in his bestseller, that the way most of us go about trying to find happiness ends up making us miserable, driving the epidemics of stress, anxiety, and depression. This empowering book presents the insights and techniques of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) revolutionary new psychotherapy based on cutting-edge research in behavioural psychology. By clarifying your values and developing mindfulness (a technique for living fully in the present moment), ACT helps you escape the happiness trap and find true satisfaction in life.
Get the paperback on Amazon now.
If you’re not a reader, get your first audiobook free on us over at audible. Just follow that link.
Alcohol makes a great gift too
We love a good drink as much as the next person and we’ve got a few special gifts for those that like to partake in some amazing alcohol. See, we don’t just stick to the same old Christmas gift ideas that everyone suggests.
READ MORE: We have a full list of Christmas Drinks gifts for you here.
Malfy Gin Con Limone
Depending on what you like, there are so many gins out there that it suits so many different palates.
Why not try the Malfy Gin Con Limone, which we’re huge fans of. You can check our unbiased, but highly positive gin review that we did before.
The gin is a premium Italian gin, which might not be the first place you associate with the new wave of gins taking over the world and we were excited to try it because it isn’t something that we’re that familiar with. It is distilled at Torino Distillati in Moncalieri, Italy.
To grab a bottle, visit the Malfy gin website. Prices vary per market.
Auchentoshan Three Wood or Maker’s Mark
We couldn’t make up our minds honestly. You can enjoy the smoothness of the single malt Auchentoshan or the smokey depth of the Maker’s Mark. Both are an amazing gift to someone who enjoys whiskeys.
If you’re keen to find out more, we did an interview with Marcus Low from Beam Suntory about the Southeast Asian alcohol industry.
To grab a bottle or two, visit the Beam Suntory website. Prices vary per market.
Hendricks Lunar Gin
Why not get your friend or loved one a small batch Hendrick’s Lunar Gin for Christmas. It is one of those funky and fun Christmas gift ideas that no one else would even think of including.
Hendrick’s Lunar Gin is a small-batch, limited release gin that offers a smooth and polished finish. It has a strong floral essence, offering a delicate balance of warm baked spices, and is finished with a hint of citrus. It is best enjoyed during casual nights at home and is a curious companion for sundowners and starry nights with friends.
We’re not going to wax lyrical about it, because you can read our review and interview with their ambassador for that.
To get yourself a bottle, visit the website. Prices vary per market.
Drinkaid to combat the hangover
We’re switching it up a little bit here. Why not gift someone, who loves to drink, but maybe gets too flushed or has bad hangovers, something to help them with that. DrinkAid uses 3D technology to create a scientifically-backed pill that is proven to reduce acetaldehyde levels (the chemical alcohol converts to).
This 100% natural formula contains herbs and antioxidants, with 9 ingredients, to provide the most complete alcohol defence in the market. From nausea, Asian flush to hangovers, it might help provide your loved ones with peace of mind after a night of drinking.
We tried it both before and after drinks, and it helped quite a bit with the next-day hangover. While it didn’t prevent a flushed reaction, it seemed to reduce it quite a bit, so it wasn’t so bad.
You can grab a Drinkaid box, which contains 12 capsules or 6 doses starting at ~USD 15.
Wakefield Taylors wine collection
Wakefield Taylors is a third-generation, family wine company in Australia that is challenging wine conventions by inspiring wine drinkers to chill – their red wines, specifically. Not convinced? Check out our review of Wakefield Taylors wines. We highly recommend the Wakefield Taylors Family wines, the chardonnay and the shiraz.
The myth that red wines are best served at room temperature actually comes from the medieval drawing rooms of French châteaux, which maintained a chilly temperature of 14°C. Australia and Asia’s tropical climate can average from 26°- 30°C – much warmer than what is traditionally considered ‘room temperature’ by wine standards.
Featured on the back label of all Wakefield Taylors Family Estate wines is a temperature sensor that utilises thermo-chromatic ink technology. The sensor changes colour depending on the temperature of the wine. Our sensors are customised to each individual varietal, telling you when your wine is at the perfect temperature to enjoy.
Enjoy a bottle or three with prices starting from USD 25.
READ MORE: Travelling for the holidays? Why not choose one of these places for your Christmas vacation?
For our readers in Australia, we also recommend a great alcohol gift from Whiskey Loot or Gin Loot, where they offer alcohol subscriptions. Follow this link for some great prices.
Christmas gift ideas for your traveller friends
We’re still a travel community, so here are gifts that every traveller would love to have.
The July Carry On Pro luggage
We really love the July Carry on Pro and our reviewer could not get enough of it when he gave it a try. Check out his review and let us know what you think. So it was pretty natural for us to add it to the list of Christmas gift ideas.
The luggage costs USD 295 and do check with them on the personalisation options, so you can get your name engraved.
Kindle Paperwhite
The thinnest and lightest Kindle Paperwhite offers a sleek, modern design so you can read comfortably for hours.
While you can read a book with any phone or tablet, a dedicated ebook reader is a completely different and better experience. When travelling, it is definitely worth the effort to use an ebook reader to enjoy a book on your flight.
The best part is that there are a lot of ebooks available for free or very affordable, so bringing along an entire library is actually possible.
Available on Amazon at $129.99.
Criacr phone camera lens
Wherever you go, you’ll need a good camera to capture all those most memorable moments on your travels. Regardless of how impressive your smartphone camera is, it simply won’t do.
Criacr provides the right solution with their 3 in 1 phone camera lens kit. Containing three lenses, wide-angle, macro, and fisheye, their kit is everything you need for making high-quality photos.
The kit comes with separate, use-alone lenses and is compatible with most devices making an ideal travel gift for men. Take enhanced photos while spending a day on the beach, exploring the city, hiking the hills, etc.
Available on Amazon at $16.66.
Fitbit Versa 2
Smartwatches make it more convenient for you to track your exercise and fitness as well as keep you up to date on your notifications. This may seem to go against a relaxing holiday, but let’s face it, we want to read the jealous comments when people see your holiday posts. That’s probably the main selling point for any gift.
Waterproof, shockproof and comfortable, these smart devices sync with most of your devices and keep you connected while not too bothered during your fun in the sun (or winter). That’s why it is one of the best travel gifts to get your buddy if budgets allow it.
This premium smartwatch comes with Amazon Alexa Built-in, new sleep tools, fitness features, apps and more. Grab it on the Fitbit website for $149.95.
Ostrich Pillow Light Travel Pillow
As far as Christmas gift ideas go, this one is a bit different, but we love it anyway. Finally a travel pillow so good, we had to write about it twice. Read our list of the best travel pillows out there.
The Ostrich brand is well-known for great comfort and actually offers a variety of unique pillow alternatives, so travellers can choose from the napping pillow to the mini handy pillow. The good thing is that it can be worn around your neck, as an eye cover or around your forehead depending on your preferred sleep position.
Available on Amazon at $44.99.
If we’ve left anything off the list that you think would make a great Christmas gift idea for your friends and family, drop us a comment or send us a message.
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