THE ULTIMATE FAMILY TRAVEL GIFT GUIDE: HOLIDAY GIFTS & STOCKING STUFFERS THAT INSPIRE ADVENTURE

The Magic of Gifting Memories

Every year in our house, the holidays mean family get-togethers, twinkling lights, and at least one living-room dance party to Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Last Christmas, my husband and I added a little extra sparkle to the season,  we surprised our preschoolers with a Disney World trip. Once they realized that they were going to see Mickey Mouse, I was reminded that the best gifts aren’t always things you can wrap. Sometimes, they’re memories waiting to be made. As a family travel advisor (and mom of two littles), I’ve rounded up some of my favourite travel gifts and stocking stuffers for families who love to travel. Whether you’re planning ahead for a big adventure or just want to make your next trip smoother, these ideas are fun, practical, and perfectly packable.

Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers on the Go

 We’ve personally used a many of these over multiple trips, and they’ve all earned a permanent spot in our carry-on, especially the anti-throw straps, stroller hooks, and so many stickers. The Water Wow colouring pads and spinning suction toys, when the kids were younger, have saved us during more than one layover!

These toddler-friendly items are compact, practical, and meltdown-preventing:

Travel Toys & Entertainment

• Water-Wow Colouring Pads - Shop Here

• Spinning Suction Toys - My Son Loved These - Get Here

• Suction Toys - Get These on Amazon

• Toddler-Sized Headphones - Find it Here

• Bubble or Light-Up Wand - Grab One

• Going on an Airplane Book - My Kids Loved This  - Shop Here

• LCD Colouring Tablet - Great for kids too - Shop Here

On-The-Go Essentials

• Reusable Snack Bags - We Use These For Lunches Too - Buy Here

• Stroller Hooks - Shop Here

• Anti-throw straps - Get These on Amazon  

• Foldable Potty Seat - Find Here

• Disposable Placemats - Shop Here

• Face Sunscreen - Get Yours Here

Amanda’s Tip: Depending on your toddler's age and when you are travelling, keep a few of the toys hidden until you're en route, surprise entertainment is travel gold.

Stocking Stuffers for Little Explorers

 Our kids are obsessed with Imagine Ink books and Dot Art kits, they keep little hands busy on long flights and even at the resort. The I Spy and Look & Find books are always packed in our carry-on; they make great hotel downtime activities too.

These picks keep kids entertained on flights, road trips, or resort downtime.

Creative Fun

• Travel colouring books (Theme to your travel destination)

  • Mexico - Get Here  

  • Cruise - Grab Yours

  • Hawaii - Shop Here

• Spiderman Imagine Ink - Find on Amazon

• Disney Princess Imagine Ink - Find on Amazon

• Dot ART

  • Animal Dot Art - Shop Here

  • Disney Dot Art - My Daughter Loves This - Shop Here 

  • Letters & Numbers Dot Art - Find Here

• Stickers-

  • Puffy Sticker Books Sets - My Kids Love These - Find on Amazon

  • Princess Sticker Book Number - Grab Yours

  • Sticker by Number - Shop Here

Books & Learning

• Airplane-Themed Book for Children - Find Here  

• Look & Find Books

  • Marvel - Get on Amazon 

  • Disney Princess Search & Find - Grab Yours Here

  • I Spy Books - Do You Remember These? Get Here & Here

Travel Toys & Games

• "50 Fun Things to Do on a Plane" - Grab Here  

• Collapsible Beach Bucket Set - Find Here

• Mini Magnet Tiles - Shop Here  

• Compact Travel Games

  • For Uno Jr. - Shop on Amazon

  • Guess Who (card version) - Get Here

  • Mad Libs - Get Yours Here

  • Disney Mad Libs - Grab Here

    • Princess - Shop on Amazon

    • Marvel - Find Here

• Guess in 10 - Animal Edition - Grab Here

• Guess in 10 - Disney Edition - Shop Here

• Guess in 10 - Countries of the World - Find Here

• Waterproof Cards - Get Your Deck Here

Hack From a Travel Mom: Wrap these with a little tag that says “For our next adventure” to build travel anticipation!

Practical (& Packable) Travel Gifts for Parents

Here are a few Christmas gift ideas for the traveller in your life. A few of these have become personal must-haves for our family, like the phone tripod for capturing family memories, shampoo bars and wrist strap lanyards for airports and theme parks.

Packing Essentials

• Packing cubes (total game changer for family suitcases) - Get Yours Here

  • Compression Packing Cubes - Shop on Amazon  

• Tech Organizer Case - Find Here

• Jewelry Organization Pouch - Get One Here

• Travel Liquids/Cosmetic Bag - Find on Amazon

• Travel Hat Clip - Shop Here

  
  

Personal Care

• Purple Shampoo Bar - Great for my Blondies - Get Yours Here

• Shaving Cream Bar - Shop Here

• Laundry Strips - Find Here

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Gadgets & Memory Makers

• Phone Tripod - Great for Mexico & Cruises but not Disney Parks - Shop on Amazon

• Portable Power Bank - Find Here

• Waterproof Phone Pouch - Shop Here

• Wrist-strap Phone Lanyards - Get Here

• Reusable Metal Travel Straw - Get Yours Here

Cruise or Mexico Vacation Items

• Tumblers - For hot coffee or icy poolside drinks - Get on Amazon

• Magnetic Hooks — A cruise must have - Get Yours Here

• Collapsible Travel Cup - Find Here

• Towel Bands - Shop Here

Family Gifts That Spark Adventure

These gifts turn wanderlust into a shared experience. These travel traditions build excitement for what’s ahead and help your kids reflect on their favourite moments along the way.

• Matching Luggage Tags - Get Here

• Scratch Travel Maps - Find Here

• Travel Journals - Find on Amazon

• Memory Books - Shop Here

If Physical Gifts Aren’t Your Thing: Gift an Experience

If physical gifts aren’t really your thing, consider gifting a vacation instead, an experience where your family can connect, unplug, and create lasting memories. Maybe it’s a surprise Disney trip tucked into a Christmas card, a spring-break beach getaway, or a multi-generational cruise. Whatever your version of magic looks like, experiences bring families closer together and that’s something no store can wrap.

Even if you’re just planting the seed for next year, start dreaming now. A simple “save for travel” envelope or a printed photo of your dream destination can be the first step toward the ultimate gift of time together.

If you love chatting and learning about family travel, Disney, cruises and all-inclusive getaways, come join my free Facebook community: Elevated Family Vacation Planning with Amanda | Disney, Cruises & Mexico

You’ll find real travel tips, destination inspiration, and a group of families who love making memories together.

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Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase at no added cost to you. I only share products our family has personally used or that I genuinely recommend for smoother, stress-free travel.