24 Great Gift Ideas for the Military Traveler in Your Life

No more scrambling to find the right charger on arrival—this one does it all.

Tracking Devices

We’ve all heard stories about AirTags helping owners find everything from lost luggage to entire shipments of household goods. They’re also handy for keeping tabs on smaller items like keys or a passport, offering peace of mind for travelers who don’t want to lose track of their gear.

AirTags are compatible with Apple devices (iOS). Tile trackers work with both Android and iOS.

Adjustable Hanging Toiletry Bag

This toiletry bag adapts to what you need on the road. It features multiple roomy compartments that zip on or off depending on how much you’re packing. Use the full setup for longer trips, or detach sections you don’t need to save space and lighten your load.

The clear interior compartments make it easy to see what’s inside and keep items organized, while the hook is essential for hanging the bag when counter space is limited.

My husband and I bought these in different colors. They make a great gift for men or women.

A Hotels.com Gift Card

Make your recipient’s next trip more affordable by covering part of their lodging with a gift card.

This one is also a great deal for you, because you can get a bonus gift card! Now through 1 January 2026, buy a $150 Hotels.com gift card and get a $25 bonus card for yourself. Or, spend $250, and get a $40 bonus card. It’s a win-win!

The Ultimate Guide to TRICARE: Getting the Most From Your Military Medical Benefits

All TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries should know how to use their TRICARE benefits, which cover them anywhere in the world. This comprehensive guide is a must-read to learn how the coverage works.

The book explains everything about how to seek medical care while traveling, how much they can expect to pay, how to file claims, and what to do about prescription refills. It’s definitely in the category of “practical” travel gifts, but I promise the recipient will thank you!

| Related Reading: How TRICARE Has You Covered Overseas

For Inspiration

These gift ideas will set the wheels turning and spark wanderlust in anyone on your list.

Frameable Scratch-Off Travel Map

What better inspiration for a travel-lover than a visual representation of all the places they’ve been . . . and the places they have yet to go?

This frameable map is incredibly detailed and large enough to see all states and countries. The scratch-off tool reveals the bright colors of each state, country, and flag.

It’s a fun way for military travelers to showcase their duty stations, deployments, and adventures.

The Epic Retirement Bucket List: 150 Globe-Trotting Ideas to Inspire Your Next Chapter

This is a good book to give someone well in advance of retirement. It has so many great ideas that recipients will need time to plan them into their schedules!

Written by an Air Force retiree who traveled the world with the military and then spent years exploring the U.S. in her RV, this book is a reminder that life’s adventures are just beginning after retirement.

With suggested activities for all levels of fitness in every corner of the world, it’s actually a great gift for anyone you know who loves to travel, retired or not!

National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States

With free entry to all U.S. National Parks for veterans and active duty members, this guidebook is both practical and inspiring.

The guide includes profiles of all National Parks, plus tips from park rangers, detailed maps, suggested hikes, and stunning photos.

| Related Reading: 11 National Parks to Visit and Stay in Military Lodging

For Easy Packing

Our years of travel have taught us that having the right bags to pack and carry our belongings is almost as important as what’s in them!

Packing Cubes

A gift to help your traveler stay organized, compression packing cubes also help them fit more in their bag.

Made of thin, durable, lightweight fabric, these packing cubes squeeze out the extra air, leaving up to 50% more space for other items. They come in a pack of 4 with multiple sizes and a choice of colors.

Discovering packing cubes was revolutionary for me when we first started traveling. They make the task of packing and unpacking so much easier, plus I can always find what I’m looking for in my suitcase!

Weekender Bag with Shoe Compartment

This lightweight canvas tote is the perfect “go bag” for a short getwaway. The coolest feature? A bottom compartment that you can use for shoes, dirty clothes or anything else you want to separate from the rest of your belongings.

It also makes a great carry-on for longer trips and has a handy suitcase handle sleeve if you want to stack it securely on your rollaboard.

Packable Backpack

This is a backpack to pack within other luggage for use during the day when out and about.

Stash this foldable daypack in your luggage and pull it out when you need it. It’s lightweight, has several compartments, and folds down to fit in the palm of your hand.

For Traveling in Comfort

Help your favorite traveler enjoy the journey with a gift that will make their time in transit more comfortable.

Twistable Memory Foam Travel Pillow

When searching for a comfortable position in a plane, train, or car, we all like something a bit different. This flexible travel pillow puts the support exactly where you need it, whether it’s around your neck, next to your head, or in the small of your back.

It has a snap closure, so you can easily attach it to your bag, and the removable cover is machine washable.

Noise-Canceling Earbuds

For blocking out distractions, listening to music, and watching movies, noise-canceling headphones are essential for travel.

These tiny wireless earbuds do the job without taking up space in a carry-on. They come with three different styles of eartips to ensure a proper fit and have a carrying case that also serves as a charger.

For Traveling In Style

These clothing items look nice and travel well.

Lightweight, Packable Vest

A versatile item that’s well worth the little space it requires is a puffy vest like this one.

Perfect over a light sweater on cool days or under a coat for extra warmth, this vest also fits into its small stuff sack when not needed.

Any clothing that layers well is great for travel. My puffy vest quickly became one of my favorite travel pieces the moment I got it.

This vest comes in many colors and a men’s version.

Kuhl Travel Shirts (for men)

It’s not easy to find a good-looking travel shirt . . . that doesn’t look like a “travel shirt.” Fortunately, these button-up shirts fit the bill.

They are quick-drying, wrinkle- and odor-resistant, have sun protection, and hold up well after many washings. They’re also very comfortable, with a bit of stretch in the fabric. Plus, they come in many different colors.

But what’s different about these Kuhl shirts – and the reason why my husband stopped buying other travel shirts – is that they work just as well for a hike as for a nice dinner. The look and styling don’t scream “tourist,” which makes these shirts a versatile addition to any packing list.

For Active Travelers

These make great gifts for someone who loves to hike, explore, or otherwise stay fit while traveling.

Flexible Roll-Up Water Bottle

I bring these water bottles on trips when I plan to do some hiking and want the capacity to carry a lot of water without the bulk of bringing multiple bottles.

When empty, they weigh only 2 oz and roll up so small I can toss them in my purse or coat pocket. When the bottles are full, I like that I can clip them to my backpack (or anything else) using the carabiner that comes with them.

This is an inexpensive, practical gift that shows the recipient you understand their travel style!

Resistance Bands

You don’t always have access to a gym while traveling, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay fit!

These resistance bands are an easy, convenient way to maintain a strength-training program on the go. They come in a pack of five with varying levels of resistance (up to 125 lbs), a carrying bag, and a workout guide.

If you need a gift for someone who loves to travel but doesn’t like to miss workouts, this is the perfect solution!

GetYourGuide Gift Card

GetYourGuide (GYG) is one of our go-to sources of trips, tours, and activities when we travel. They have great options for everything from bus and walking tours to kayaking trips and wine tastings.

Your recipient can use a GYG gift card for any activity they want in locations all over the world, so you don’t need to know their travel plans to give the perfect gift!

For Space-A Travelers

Flying Space-A on military aircraft is an option that is unique to military travelers, and it requires unique gear.

Inflatable Sleeping Pad

This is a must-have for anyone planning to fly Space-A. Many military flights are on cargo planes where passengers can stretch out on the floor or across the seats.

A sleeping pad like this one makes the ride much more comfortable and even provides a decent night’s sleep! It also has all of the other important features of a sleeping pad purchased for Space-A travel: small and light, easy to inflate/deflate, and durable.

| Related Reading: How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Space-A Travel

Compact Sleeping Bag

Another important item for Space-A travelers to bring in their carry-on is a small blanket or sleeping bag. It’s usually very cold on military cargo planes, and having a cover keeps out the chill.

You can unzip this compact sleeping bag to make a large blanket, so it’s useful on any type of aircraft. The compression bag shrinks it down to fit in the palm of your hand.

RyanAir Gift Card

This gift idea is for travelers heading to Europe. When flying Space-A overseas, the best strategy is to take the first flight that will get you across the Atlantic, rather than waiting for a mission to the exact place you want to go. After landing in Europe, it’s often easier and cheaper to take a low-cost airline like Ryanair than to attempt to fly Space-A all the way to the target destination.

RyanAir has cheap last-minute fares and flies to destinations all over Europe, so a gift card from this airline is very handy!

For Travelers Who Love Japan

Japan is a truly unique place, and many past visitors and military members who were stationed there have a special love for it!

Japanese Snack Box Subscription

The perfect gift for someone who longs for an authentic taste of Japan is a subscription to Tokyo Treat or Sakuraco gift boxes. Anyone who has been to Japan and tried to find the unique, delicious snacks outside the country knows how difficult it is, and these gift boxes are the solution.

Both boxes have a monthly theme, usually related to a particular city or region of Japan. The Tokyo Treat box has fun, well-known snacks like Kit Kat, Pocky or animation-inspired items. The Sakuraco box has more traditional Japanese treats.

Both boxes come with a colorful guide to the current month’s contents, and the recipient will recognize the signature Japanese attention to quality and detail.

| Related Reading: The Best Japan Travel Guidebooks

For Foodies

This idea is for travelers who follow their taste buds in search of the tastiest and most interesting food.

A Local Food Experience

Part of the fun of travel is discovering local cuisine, and that’s why a gift card to EatWith is a great present for any foodie.

EatWith connects travelers with local hosts for food tours, cooking classes, and dinners in private homes.

I’ve used it for unforgettable meals in Florence, Italy and Bordeaux, France, It was a fun way to meet new friends and enjoy authentic cuisine!

For Non Tech-Savvy Travelers

We have the perfect gift idea for anyone who struggles with technology while traveling, particularly overseas.

An Hour of Your Time for Tech Support

If you know the basics about setting up phone apps, using WiFi vs. cellular service, and swapping out SIM cards, give a less tech-savvy traveler the gift of your time.

Spend an hour helping them set up their phone with all the apps they may need while traveling (e.g. WhatsApp, transportation or hotel apps, etc.) and demonstrating how to use them.

Help them figure out whether they should use their cell phone provider’s international plan, purchase a local SIM card at their destination, or rely exclusively on WiFi.

Make sure they’ve installed a VPN on all electronic devices and that they understand how and when to use it. Pro Tip: To make things simple, I added my parents to our TunnelBear VPN account (we have the unlimited plan) so they did not need to establish their own account.

All of this assistance costs you nothing except for your time (and patience), but it’s priceless for the traveler!

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We hope you found some ideas for yourself or other military travelers on your list!

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