Speaking as someone who is now approaching 17 years of experience traveling with kids, having the right “stuff” matters more than you might think.
Something for the kids to do, something to keep the devices charged, something to hold all the stuff, something to hold the kid and something comfy to wear (with pockets!) throughout the process are just a few of the things that can make family travel a little easier along the way.
So, as we approach the holiday season, here are 11 of my tried-and-true recommendations for gifts, whether you’re shopping for yourself or another family on the go.
Away Kids Carry-On Luggage
Best for: Preschool-aged kids who fly frequently
If your family travels a lot and your preschool-aged kid wants a really cool piece of luggage all their own that matches yours, then the Away Kids Carry-On Luggage is a great choice. It’s not only fun, but really well made.
It comes in colors such as berry pink and dragonfly blue — and there are even some limited-edition colors and collections, including a current Toy Story line. The handle adjusts to two heights: one for them and one for you when they … decide to be done. Like the full-size models, it has a TSA-approved lock and a compression system.
Once your kiddos get much past the preschool years, they might be better off with full-sized Away Carry-On bags simply because they hold more. But there are a few good years when these bags are absolutely perfect for little frequent flyers.
TPG tip: Not only does Away sometimes run pretty decent Black Friday sales, but there are periodically Chase Offers that save you $50 or more on certain Away bag orders with cards such as the (see rates and fees).
Anker MagGo Power Bank
Best for: Families with multiple devices they need to keep charged on the go
Phones, tablets, headphones — virtually everything requires power on the go these days, so having a good charger for the family is a must. Anker makes some of the best, and one that can be especially handy when you have a family’s worth of devices to keep charged is the Anker MagGo Power Bank. It has a kickstand, shows you the battery percentage and time remaining to charge, can charge itself while recharging your devices and can get an iPhone to about 50% power in just 30 minutes.
TPG tip: Anker chargers are sold at many big retailers, so to earn bonus miles or cash back on this (and other) purchases, check CashBackMonitor.com before buying to see which shopping portal is offering the biggest reward for clicking through first.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Camera
Best for: Teens and tweens who like taking pictures and having something tangible to show for it beyond photos on their phones
Gen Alpha and Gen Z are into nostalgia — and with that comes photos you can hold in your hand instead of just viewing on your phone. Frankly, I’m here for it.
One of the mini cameras that makes this easy is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 13. It has two self-timer options, a cute design available in five colors and produces instant prints measuring roughly 2 by 3 inches. It’s a fun way to give your kids physical memories of their travels instead of having every photo live somewhere in the cloud.
TPG tip: The camera typically does not come with film, so be sure to pick up Instax mini instant film to go with the gift.
Shop Fujifilm Instax Mini 13 on Amazon
Vuori Halo Essential Wide Leg Pants
Best for: Moms who want to be comfy on the plane but also a tiny bit on trend
Being comfortable when kiddos are involved is often priority number one, whether you’re running around at home, navigating an airport or flying halfway around the world.
Enter one of my favorite brands: Vuori, which makes some of the most comfortable clothes I own.
My current favorite is the Vuori Halo Essential Wide Leg Pants in black. They go with almost everything, are cozy for the plane, are made with Vuori’s DreamKnit material and have pockets — an absolute must on travel days. They also come in short, regular and long lengths, so you can find the right fit.
TPG tip: If you want even more comfy athleisure in your luggage or under the tree, remember that the comes with a quarterly up to $75 credit for Lululemon (enrollment required). And you can still check to see if Lululemon is on a site such as Rakuten to potentially earn some bonus points or cash back.
LCD Drawing Tablet
Best for: Ages 3 – 10 often love these, but they can really work for virtually any age who likes to hold a ‘pen’ and draw.
LCD drawing tablets are the definition of punching above their weight (er, price) class when it comes to how much entertainment they provide for how little they cost.
We’ve had tablets like these draw a crowd at a delayed boarding gate full of children before, especially when Grandma was smart enough to buy a few extras “just in case” since they are so affordable.
They’re fun, mess-free, inexpensive and perfect for long flights or car rides. Plus, many are designed to be resistant to some inevitable drops and spills that come with traveling with kids.
TPG tip: Because they are so affordable, it might be worth picking up an extra one.
Shop drawing tablets on Amazon
CalPak Packing Cube Sets
Best for: Travelers who want to stay organized (honestly, I think everyone who travels can benefit from these)
The list of reasons I recommend packing cubes for family travel is longer than The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King extended edition. But here’s the abridged version: You can easily pack by person or by day, stay organized and often fit more into your bags than you could without packing cubes.
And a bonus reason I bet you wouldn’t have guessed is that packing cubes can be a good way to help reduce the chances of bringing bed bugs home if you use them in your larger packing and unpacking strategy, as I do. Calpak makes very durable packing cubes that also come in really cute patterns and colors, such as polka dot and dark cherry, alongside classics like black.
TPG tip: Even if you don’t pack for the whole trip by day, having a packing cube full of the first night and next full day’s worth of clothes so you don’t have to dig through all the bags right away is one of my favorite travel hacks.
Best for: Anyone with Apple devices who owns virtually anything they don’t want to lose.
At this point, we probably almost all know and love AirTags. But with the second generation now offering improved range, they’re even more useful, and honestly, I don’t think you can realistically ever have too many.
Put one in each piece of luggage, your kids’ backpacks, your sling bag, on your keychain, on your pet’s collar, even in your carry-on bags you don’t plan to be parted from … just in case.
TPG tip: You can now share the location of the AirTag you put in your checked luggage with many airlines in case your bag is delayed, helping reunite you with your things faster.
Quince Carry-On
Best for: Travelers who want a sleek, cool, functional bag that looks like it cost a lot more than it did.
I have luggage brands that cost double or more what this Quince bag costs, but it was just as light as those pricier brands I’ve tried and rolled at least as well with its 360° spinner wheels, had a very smooth and easy-to-use handle and came in a fun dark green color.
TPG tip: The Quince expandable carry-on is the one I was gifted by Quince to try out, and I love the extra space over the traditional carry-on size and it fit in the overhead bin just fine. However, be aware that some airlines (and certain gate agents) can be stricter than others about size limits on expandable luggage and may ask you to unexpand it.
Doona Stroller
Best for: Families with newborns and young babies
When I look back on our time with little kids, there’s one purchase that I’d make a million times over: The Doona.
And I still see parents-in-the-know using it now more than ever for the same reason we loved it once upon a time. The Doona transforms from a car seat into a stroller in seconds, without even having to take your baby out of the seat.
It’s fantastic for hopping in and out of cabs, navigating airports and bringing an approved car seat aboard a plane, all without having to lug both a car seat and a stroller.
One caveat: It’s rated for babies weighing 4 to 35 pounds and measuring up to 32 inches tall, but in my experience, it isn’t uncommon for kids to outgrow it well before their first birthday. For those early months when it works, though, it’s fantastic.
TPG tip: You can typically fly with your Doona if you purchase your baby a seat, even though you typically don’t have to have them in their own seat until they turn two.
Younglingz Lil Flyer Ride-On Suitcase
Best for: Parents who love to travel with kids ages 2 to 6 who weigh under 80 pounds
There’s an awkward phase of family travel when your kids might be too big for you to want to haul a stroller everywhere with you but still can’t be trusted to walk through an airport at a reasonable pace for more than 30 seconds.
And for that phase, having luggage that little kids can ‘ride’ on can be both handy and fun. One of the brands that offers that is Younglingz with their ride-on suitcases that come in fun themes like unicorns, fire trucks and motorcycles. This way, you are getting your kids and their things through the airport even when the walk starts to get a little longer than you’d like.
TPG tip: If you are purchasing this (or anything) on Amazon, be on the lookout for periodic promotions that can save you $15 to $40 (or sometimes more) by using just a few Amex Membership Rewards points toward the purchase.
Shop Lil Flyer ride-on suitcase on Amazon
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