Giving the gift of travel is great… but as an alternative, we asked our team of travel experts at KAYAK and OpenTable (which, ICYMI, is one of our Booking Holdings sister brands) to share their favourite travel items from the past year. As a result, we put together a little guide just for you. Here’s some gift-spiration for every type of traveller on your list:
- For the traveller who needs to hydrate…
We all have that friend who never drinks enough water – which is why Jordan, a Digital Video Marketing Manager from our KAYAK North America team, suggests “closed-lid water bottles (extra bonus if they have a straw like this one) and travel-sized lotions/bottles”. The parched traveller on your list will thank you.
- For the traveller that’s a nervous flier…
For Morgan, a Senior People Business Partner from our OpenTable team, a stress reliever helps take the edge off a bit. “I’m jealous of folks that find flying relaxing! As someone that is a bit of an anxious flier, I will not leave my house to get on a plane without this. It helps calm me and makes flying much more enjoyable.” Talk about a perfect stocking stuffer.
- For the traveller that doesn’t mind a layover…
It’s nice to have somewhere to relax while waiting for your connection – just ask William, an Account Manager from our OpenTable team. He recommends giving a Priority Pass membership (or a similar program) because it’s “great for layovers, cancellations, delays and avoiding meal planning on travel days.” Want it for yourself? Check with your credit card first, many companies offer it as a membership perk.
- For the traveller that loves a good transit nap…
Help them take their coziness to the next level – Shannon, a People Operations Specialist from our OpenTable team, loves this wearable blanket because it’s perfect to “bring for the plane – if I’m going somewhere cold it (also) comes in handy!”James, a Graphic and Motion Designer from our KAYAK LATAM team, swears by this velcro neck pillow because “you can fold over and connect with a velcro strap to have added neck support to sleep sitting up. I think it’s one of the best neck pillow designs out there!”
- For the traveller that forgets their charger…
Having a juiced-up smartphone is a travel must – take it from Stacey, a Brand Director on our KAYAK North America team. She recommends a portable charger for someone on the go because there’s “Nothing worse than getting off a flight and realizing you have no battery to call an Uber at your destination.”
- For the traveller that could use an upgrade…
Time for them to finally put that tattered suitcase to rest. After discovering that they had the same brand of luggage during a marketing team offsite, Kelly and Taylor, from KAYAK’s North America team, both recommend Beis for travellers seeking new luggage.Kelly, a Marketing Copywriter, said she was pleasantly surprised when she was able to “fit everything needed for a 10-day trip to France in the carry-on alone”. Taylor, a Marketing Coordinator, said she loves the weekender for “the separate shoe compartment and all the pockets! Also, it’s so pretty.” A nice bonus? Their products come in an array of colors, which makes it easy to build a matching set.
- For the traveller that needs peace and quiet…
Noise-cancelling headphones are a must for these nomads. Zachary, an Associate Commercial Partnerships Manager from our KAYAK North America team, likes these Sony Noise Canceling Headphones because “they (make) a huge difference, whether watching a video or just taking a nap with the noise cancelling (feature) turned on. It was great to cancel out the (plane) engine noises.”Ralf, an SVP of Technology from our KAYAK team, actually prefers Apple’s AirPods Pro headphones instead. He noted that he “love(s) flying with (them)” and that they have “better noise-cancelling and battery life”.
No matter what kind of traveller you’re shopping for this holiday season, we hope that our team of travel experts provided some bright ideas for what to give your loved one. After all, they’re going to need some new gear for all their 2023 travels.
