If you haven’t heard of Etsy, you’ve been missing out! Etsy is a gathering place for talented artists worldwide selling their handmade pieces. While you might naturally think that this is more for arts & crafts lovers that are looking for quilts and jewelry, you’ll also find amazing rustic wooden crafts, leather goods, home décor, and much more. It’s a handmade and vintage e-commerce marketplace all on one platform!
So what does this have to do with travel? Well I was poking around the other day and found quite a few unique travel gifts and gear that I thought I’d share. These are some of my top picks for smart and creative travel-related items that can be found on Etsy. You’ll find out soon enough that they make great gifts but what will most likely happen is that you’ll like them so much that you’ll also want to buy it for yourself too.
Must-Buy Travel Gifts on Etsy
Here are 10 great products that are all hand-made with love on Etsy. These are great travel gifts on Etsy that you can either give to a friend or perhaps even keep it for yourself because you’ll find it THAT amazing.
Etsy has truly revolutionized the arts and crafts industry with 2.1 million vendors. It’s quite the remarkable story of how the company came to be and how it’s evolved over its 15 year history. According to ConsumerAffairs, Etsy has a 4 star rating based on 2,164 customer reviews which also shows you how many people love and appreciate the platform.
[1] Leather Travel Wallet
This travel wallet is simply stylish and puts my current nylon passport holder to shame. You can almost smell the leather just by looking at it. As a good organizer it has a ton of compartments for cards, pen, passport, and coins. So if you’re the organized type, this is definitely something for you.
Shop: The Atelier Leather
Price: $54.61 USD (prices will vary with exchange rate)
[2] Recycled Rubber Wallet
If you are looking for a smaller compact wallet with minimal impact to the environment, this might be for you. Made out of a bicycle’s inner tube, each piece is unique. Quite the clever use of repurposed rubber!
This makes a great travel gift!
Shop: mnmur
Price: $40 USD (prices will vary with exchange rate)
[3] Cord Organizer
No more tangled cables! This cord organizer has individual elastic sections for each cord and a handy zipper pouch. This design comes in hardwearing and stylish leather, perfect for matching travel sets! Bonus for the ladies, you can even use this for your makeup when you’re on the road.
Shop: Benetton Leather
Price: $45.99 USD (prices will vary with exchange rate)
[4] Paracord Bracelet
I know what you guys are thinking, there are already so many paracord bracelets on the market, but this one is more than a simple bracelet. The buckle has a built in compass, a sharp metal edge and a whistle, and within the paracord there’s flint and steel to start a fire. You never know right?
Shop: Paracolt
Price: $12 USD
[5] Personalized Luggage Tag
Custom luggage tags are all the rage right now and this shop offers a number of customizations including name, date, and logos. It’s a fabulous gift idea for any fellow traveller. Imagine having one of these with your blog’s logo? *hint hint nudge nudge*
Shop: MyPersonalMemories
Price: $11.99 USD
[6] Buff Style Headband
You know I love my Buffs! This Buff is custom made with original art with a beautiful design of the North Cascades. The colours on here are quite spectacular.
It is also made with 95% recycled material, so it is good for the environment too!
Shop: robynnolsonartshop
Price: $19.40 USD (prices will vary with exchange rate)
[7] Natural Body Butter
This is the perfect travel-sized 6 pack of body butter. Being in the dry north, dry skin has always been an issue and so something like this is great at replenishing your skin. Experiencing extreme dry skin on my latest trip to Egypt, this is a must-pack for any travel toiletry kit.
Shop: QueenBeeTradingCo
Price: $11.50 USD (prices will vary with exchange rate)
[8] Push Pin Travel Map Canvas
If you are an avid traveller, you have to get a world map for your home. I love how it gives you a visual of the places you’ve been to by using push pins to mark the cities you’ve been. As a constant wanderluster, this also helps you visualize where you want to go to next. This map is offered with an LED light option to really brighten up your home and you can choose from three different sizes. It’s a beautiful artwork piece that will guarantee to take front stage in your living space.
Shop: Only Craft UA
Price: $111 USD (prices will vary with exchange rate)
We love this idea so much that we created a whole post with incredible world map pin displays for your home right here! Check it out for more gift ideas!
[9] Double Peak Mountain Shelf
Where do you put all your souvenirs and trinkets that you have gathered during your expeditions? On this beautiful wall mounted shelf made out of reclaimed wood of course!
Shop: GDDesignCreations
Price: $52.21 (prices will vary with exchange rate)
[10] Vintage Suitcase
I’m not sure if you know but Etsy also has a special “Vintage” section. This is where awesome antique owners can sell their one of a kind and collectable items. Finds like this suitcase would be great additions to your house especially if you’re looking for a place to put all those city maps and museum pamphlets that you collect along the way.
Shop: Black Solar
Price: $549 CAD
What has been your favourite find in Etsy after roaming around? Drop a comment down below!
What you should read next
Travel Resources For Your Next Trip
If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.
Credit cards: Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card. Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.
Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature. Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.
Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.
Rideshare: For new Lyft users, use code WILLIAM4825 to get 50% off your first 2 rides (max $10 USD per ride). Offer valid for 14 days after you take your first ride. For new Uber users, use code psuqbjg4d7rn for the same offer except it’s valid for 30 days.
Airport Parking: You’ll need a spot to leave your car at the airport so why not book a spot at a discount. Use code AWESOME7 to get at least $5 off at Airport Parking Reservations or Park Sleep Fly packages.
eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. We’ve tested several over the years and we have access to a few special promotions.
- AmigoSIM – Use GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 25% off. Code is re-useable.
- Gigsky – Use TANG149 to get $3 USD when you sign up, then use code GOINGAWESOME to save 20% on all eSIM orders.
- KnowRoaming – Use code GAP10 to save 10%.
- AloSIM – Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 15%.
- Airalo – Use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase.
- Ubigi – AWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order.
Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.
Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.
Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).
Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.
Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.
- HeyMondo – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks. By booking through our link to get a 15% discount (from June 19-29)!
- RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
- SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
- Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
- InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.
If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.
