18 Gifts for Every Business Traveler in Your Life
As a recent inductee to the world of business travel, I have quickly learned what items make business travel easier, more comfortable, and bearable (hint: business travel is NOT the same as travelling for fun…)
Everything in the list below I personally own, have tested, and bring with me on every trip. If you see me in an airport hugging an outlet while typing away on a company issued laptop, be sure to say hey, and let me know which item is your favorite!
BUBM Tech Case
One of my biggest struggles with travel used to be making sure I had all of the cords I needed, and having access to them when I needed them. I took a trip to Mexico and had to sit through my 4-hour flight not watching television or movies because I thought I had lost my head phones, to only find them at the bottom of my bag once I got home. Annoyed is the nicest way to describe my mood. I vowed to get organized, and searched Amazon for something, anything that could make my cords stay together all in one place while traveling.
I stumbled on this tech case, and ordered it immediately…after all, 2,000 reviews couldn’t possibly be wrong! This tech pack is amazing, and is the first thing both my husband and I pack for a trip. I am able to fit 2 cell phone chargers and cords, multiple camera cords, an external hard drive, and a hard case of camera memory cards in this little pack. When folded up, it slides into my purse and takes up next to no room, and I opted for the orange color so it would be easy to spot in my bag. Now it is so easy to find my seat, get situated, and pull this case out for the headphones, and get my inflight movie going. The best part? My cords are NEVER a tangled mess anymore!
UGG socks
Holy cozy, Batman, these socks rock! The reason I love these socks for business travel so much, is for those nights when I’m curling up in bed with a hot bag of DoorDash food, flipping between the two channels the hotel room offers. Just a little bit of comfort goes a long way, and having these comfy cozy socks on my feet keep me, a chronically cold person, warm, and makes me feel little bit more at home. Even if I am in a corporate rate hotel room.
Wet Brush
Funny story with this brush. As a salon blonde, my hair dresser made multiple hints that I should buy this brush to help protect my hair since it was under so much stress every few months at the salon. After a few gentle nudges, I bought this wet brush, and it has changed my hair game.
But why is this a good gift for business travelers? First of all, our shower routines are compromised when we travel for work. Water is different, and we may have to use hotel shampoo and conditioner. This brush detangles hair like nobody’s business, and does so without breaking the hair, causing split ends and the need for a sooner haircut. Another reason is this brush is lightweight and small. Perfect for a carryon bag, not taking up space or weight on its journey.
Laundry Bags
I like this item as not only a gift of convenience for the receiver, but also a gift of sustainability. Not only does this bag fit up to 2-weeks’ worth of laundry, but it also means we don’t have to use those complimentary plastic laundry bags hotels usually provide. This reusable laundry bag keeps plastic out of the landfills, and smells away from the clean clothing for an upcoming meeting out of town that is still stowed in our bag.
Tumi Dopp Kit
I also listed this gift in my Best of Luggage gift guide, and I wanted to mention it here, because it is just that good. I love that this little dopp kit can be monogrammed to give it a little bit more flair and personal touch, but stays looking cool and professional for even the most serious of business travelers. The inside pockets have clear pouches, making it easy to see product while in a rush in a hotel bathroom, but also contains any spills, so one busted bottle doesn’t ruin the whole trip for you and the rest of your product. While spendy for such a small bag, this dopp kit is well worth the price tag for anybody who will be traveling a lot for work.
Luggage Scale
Oh look, another item that was part of my Best of Luggage shopping guide! That just means that I really believe in these items, and think that they’re usable for not just wander lusters, but business travelers alike. To avoid luggage fees and one more thing that has to be entered into an expense reporting software that shall remain unnamed (we all know what it is…), use this little gadget to weigh your luggage before heading to the airport, and ensure you don’t have to swipe your card for bag overages. This Luggage scale has saved me from serious luggage fees, and is so simple to use, and is so small and easy to stow away.
Foldable Hair Dryer
Admittedly, I discovered this little hair dryer through my mother-in-law on a weekend when we were visiting for the holidays, but forgot my hair dryer. She grabbed me this little guy, and I proceeded with my normal hair routine. This hair dryer is great because it dries hair quickly, is light weight, and is so cheap! I immediately bought my own, and have had it for 2 years now, with no sign of it slowing down. The best part about this hair dryer for me is that it folds down to be half its size when not drying hair, so fits perfectly in luggage. It takes up so little space, but is a powerful tool that I swear by!
Hanging Toiletry Bag
If I am allowed to be honest, which, you know I always am, I don’t actually own this toiletry bag. The exact one that I use is no longer being made, and when it eventually rips, I will have to find a new one. I can say, however, if you need something bigger than the above mentioned Tumi dopp kit, then this would be my next stop. This style receives regular rave reviews, and holds just about everything under the sun, including your full-sized bottles of product. I also love that this can hang from a door, as business hotel bathrooms are not exactly known for their counter space, and this keeps everything organized, and away from water splashes.
Athleta Stash Pocket Tights
The Athleta Stash Pocket Tights are a must for me anytime I travel, but especially when I travel for business. Not only are they a great yoga and workout pant, but they have a great waistband system that holds them in place, and they won’t ride down while walking (or running) through the airport. The stash pockets on these are amazing as well. They are deep enough to hold the biggest iPhone currently on the market, and sit on the outside of both legs. I often shove my phone in the pocket while walking through the airport, and on the occasions where I did have to run, my phone stayed put, and didn’t bounce out onto the floor. Stash your phone, ID, boarding ticket, or even a pack of tissues in these pants, and try to tell me they aren’t the most useful pant you own!
Tulsi Kaftan
Two of my all-time favorite travel dresses are from Tulsishop. Run by a British woman named Deborah, Tulsi is based in Marittima, Italy. Tulsishop is an amazing boutique that brings handicrafts from all over the world into one little shop. The last time I was in Italy, I stopped by Tulsi, and picked out the Valentina Kaftan in white. Luxuriously billowy and effortless, this dress is great for a business traveler with a long flight ahead of them. It will be incredibly comfy en route to destination, but with a belt, bag, and fun necklace or earrings, this Kaftan can go from cozy to chic in an airport bathroom. Deborah sources only the finest materials and goods, and I know anybody receiving a dress or kaftan from here would be impressed with the gift giver’s shopping prowess.
Ban.do Passport Holder
A lot of people think a passport holder is not necessary, and is actually a nuisance. I personally love them because they not only keep a passport safe, but they also help hold documents, and make a passport easy to spot in a bag. I love this Ban.do passport holder because it perfectly fits my vaccination card in the pocket, which is something I foresee needing going forward in travel. It also is such a bright color that it is easy to locate when I am asked to present my passport, but also when I am scanning my bag to make sure I have all of my belongings ready to go.
AirFly
While I don’t own these, I have asked for the for this Christmas, and am really hoping I get them. These are an adapter for the cordless Air Pods, and make it so you don’t need to carry two sets of headphones (cordless for every day, and corded for the plane). This is perfect if a larger noise cancelling headphone set isn’t in the cards either from a price perspective, or a desire to carry perspective.
Bose Noise Cancelling
There is a reason these are used on Delta One international flights. They work, block out any sound the plane is making, and seals the movie sounds in your ear so you get great sound quality. These would be great to pop on inflight if you are heading somewhere on a longer flight and need to get work done (I think headphones re the international symbol of “please leave me alone I’m working”), and also for in the hotel room when you’re trying to wind down while watching a move or television on your laptop. These are an awesome gift, and will make a business trip feel a little more elevated.
Moleskine Journals
I have a different Moleskine journal for every different part of my life. I use one for blogging, one for work, and one for business planning. They are tough, and hold up to being shoved in bags, tossed on desks, constant opening and closing, and overall wear and tear. They stay together incredibly well, and the thicker paper holds up to any pen with no ink bleeding through. These will be great for any business traveler to take notes, jot down ideas mid-flight, and have a more pulled together option for work than a spiral bound notebook. I prefer the larger size as these are a glue bound spine, and easier to have open at the larger size.
Reusable cutlery
Another item I personally don’t own, but have asked for for Christmas is this reusable cutlery set. As a business traveler, we often find ourselves ordering out every single night, eating from a hotel room, and using cheap napkins and plastic cutlery. In order to cut down on waste and plastic use, I want to start packing this cutlery set, and requesting in my food delivery app to not include plastic forks and spoons. These, matched with my reusable straws will make me one heck of a sustainable business traveler!
Yeti Mug
I am the first person to say that I think Yeti products, for the most part, are overpriced and unnecessary. A $400 cooler? Get outta here with that noise. However, I found this mug in my parents’ house, and filled it with hot chocolate when we decided to drive around town and look at Christmas lights. It kept my drink hot for HOURS, and the lid is so easy to sip from! But why is this on a list for gifts for business travelers? This could be a game changer for the coffee drinking business traveler in your life. They can take it to a café near their on-site office, have them fill it with their coffee or tea of choice, and it will keep the drink hot (or cold!) for hours. No need to find a microwave to reheat (especially if they are in meetings all morning and won’t have time to find a kitchen), which means less expensive coffee being dumped down the drain.
Beautiful Scarf
I studied abroad in Rome, Italy, and am thankful every day that I did. While my Italian language skills leave much to be desired, something I brought back with me was a gorgeous pashmina scarf. It goes with me on every trip, and is so useful, that I consider it a non-negotiable on any trip, especially business trips. It keeps me warm on flights as a blanket, keeps me warm in airports has a shawl or scarf, and helps class up my outfit if I am meeting with a member of leadership, or need something to take my outfit to the next level for dinner out. The store in Italy in which I bought my pashmina has long since closed down, but I found a comparable option on Amazon. Mine is most similar to the “Big Paisley Black” option, and matches so much of my wardrobe, it really is the most versatile item in my luggage.
Allbirds Sneakers
I used to wear Converse on every trip I took as they were low profile, and matched so much of what I packed. My feet started to hurt on trips, and long days of being on my feet and moving around got harder and harder. I made the switch to my Allbirds about a year ago, and it was the best decision to date. These shoes are so comfortable for long days on my feet, and are lightweight enough to not be burden when I’m walking. I love wearing these shoes on business trips as they go with a lot of my outfits (I wear them with denim and black denim, as well as casual dresses), but they also collapse easily in luggage if they need to be packed. These shoes are a win-win-win!