What the Budget Traveler Wants For Christmas

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(Photo: Shutterstock)

Let’s face it. Millennial travelers are on the rise, but that doesn’t mean they have money. They find ways to make travel happen in their lives because they crave experience.

They care less about cash and more about seeing the world and meeting people around the globe.

These travelers get by on Ramen noodles when they have to so they can put their money toward that plane ticket that holds the promise of a new adventure. Do you know one of these travelers? Splendid! Perhaps you can afford to get them a gift or two that they wouldn’t buy for themselves. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

GoPro

If your favorite budget traveler is an adventurer of any kind, get him or her a GoPro video camera to document their adventures. It connects to the GoPro app, allowing for easy access to photos, videos, and posting online so you can follow all the adventures. Cost: $300 to $400 on Amazon.

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Ziplining with GoPro Hero 3 in Hawaii. (Jackie Laulainen/Yahoo Travel)

Backpack

Choosing a quality backpack needs to be personal, so a gift card for at least $200 to an outdoor equipment store like REI should do it. I always recommend getting fitted for a backpack at REI because in my experience, they have the most qualified and helpful staff, and choosing the right backpack should not be taken lightly.

Related: How to Choose the Perfect Travel Backpack (Video)

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A gift card to allow your traveler to choose the right backpack is the perfect travel gift. (Jackie Laulainen/Yahoo Travel)

Merino wool shirts

The best way to describe this sweater is: “the kind you can wear for days and they don’t even smell.” Don’t judge, just gift. Brands include SmartWool and Icebreaker. Cost: Approx. $100.

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Merino wool shirts are available in a variety of colors and styles and keep you comfy for days. (Photo: Icebreaker)

Related: How to Travel to Mexico on $17 a Day

Silk sleep sheet

This is a silk sleeping-bag-like liner your favorite traveler can insert into hostel beds to guarantee clean sheets. Cotton sleep sheets are heavy and bulky, but silk is light and packable. Cost: Approx. $70.

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Travelers will love skipping the itchy (and perhaps not quite clean) hotel or hostel bedding for their own silk sheets, like these from Grand Trunk. (Photo: Grand Trunk/Amazon)

Kindle

We all know that guy who carries around a tattered copy of On the Road or rips pages out of a secondhand copy of The Beach to keep his pack light. Travelers often have plenty of time to read in transit, but no space to pack bulky books. With the capacity to carry countless books in its slim design, the Kindle is a winner in the budget travel world, and your traveler will never buy it for themselves. Cost: From $79 on Amazon.

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An entire library of beach reads right in your bag! (Photo: Amazon)

Canon EOS M

The perfect camera for a traveler who enjoys photography and packing light at the same time. This is Canon’s compact system camera, and with the 22mm lens, it fits in a jacket pocket. It’s lightweight and takes amazing photos and video. Cost: Approx. $350 on Amazon.

Related: Canon EOS M Review: A Digital SLR That Fits in Your Pocket!

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So small, and yet the pictures seem so big. (Photo: Canon)

Elizabeth Anne Shoes “Purse N’ Boots”

For the lady travelers in your life, check out the European style. These are gorgeous leather boots with hidden pockets inside for a passport, cell phone, ID, and credit cards. Genius. Cost: Approx. $300.

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Keeps your passport safe and is way more stylish than a fanny pack. (Photo: Elizabeth Anne Shoes)

Related: Cheaper Alternatives to Pricey Vacations

Dry Bag

Give the gift of protection for electronics and other belongings as your favorite traveler participates in all manner of water activities. Dry bags exist in various sizes, and some even come in a backpack style for extra convenience. These water-stopping wonders can save the lives of cameras, phones, and the like while still enabling travelers to bring their favorite items along for the ride. Cost: From $15, depending on size and quality.

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Dry bags keep electronics and other items safe from the elements. (Photo: The Friendly Swede/Amazon)

Mophie Powerstation Mini

Strange name, awesome product. When fully charged, this little guy can provide your smartphone with about twice its battery life. This means you can charge your phone while it sits in your purse or dry bag, as I do on most trips. It is USB compatible, so it will charge anything that plugs into a USB, including Kindles, iPods, etc. Cost: Approx. $59.

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With the ability to charge their phone on the go, they’ll never have to miss an Instagram opportunity. (Photo: Mophie)

Jackie Laulainen is a travel blogger and podcaster at TheBudgetMindedTraveler. She began traveling internationally in 2003 and has followed her passion for inspiring and equipping others to travel the world as well — on a budget.

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