Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list is no easy feat. Maybe you’re shopping for the friend who has everything already or someone you don’t know that well—you’re stumped on what to buy, but still want their gift to be thoughtful and practical. Or, maybe you’ve accidentally waited too long to finish up your holiday shopping and need a gift with zero shipping time required. In any case, a gift card is a great idea for travelers. We put together a list of the very best gift cards for travelers, with options for book worms, outdoor enthusiasts, and beauty gurus included. From suitcases to skincare to entire vacation rentals, you can put your gift to good use and rest easy knowing your giftee got exactly what they wanted: something they picked out themselves. Plus, some have physical card options, if sending an email isn’t the glamorous gift-giving experience you imagined.
All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Meredith Carey.
Find the best gift cards by category:
Emma Fishman
For the frequent flier
Airline gift cards
Tons of airlines offer gift cards so you can offset someone’s flight to their dream destination. You can buy a digital or physical Southwest Airlines gift card from the airline directly or a physical card from Amazon, from $50 to $200. American Airlines offers virtual and physical gift cards from $50 to $1,500. Delta’s gift cards range from $50 to $1,000 and can be sent via e-mail or through UPS. Low-cost airline Norwegian offers digital gift cards up to a whopping $11,000, while Ireland’s Aer Lingus offers gifted flight vouchers up to $500.
Airbnb
For the person who has everything, there’s only one thing to buy: experiences. Think tours, cooking classes, and even entire vacation rentals—all of which you can do with an Airbnb gift card. Of course, the traveler in your life can spend their gift card on some stellar home stays, like this luxe space in Florence with a private terrace, a Colorado cabin with mountain views, or a cozy Copenhagen apartment with an impressive vinyl collection. Giftees can also use Airbnb gift cards to book IRL experiences like azulejo-painting workshops in Portugal, city tours through Paris on a motorbike, or many more of our favorites.
Away
Whether you’re shopping for the budding traveler or the frequent flier, the chance to upgrade your luggage will always be appreciated. When it comes to luggage, we often turn to a favorite among our readers, Away. It’s known for its lightweight, durable designs, especially styles like The Bigger Carry-On, The Carry-On Flex, and The Medium Flex. Gift a customizable digital card with up to $1,000.
Béis
Is sleek, neutral-toned luggage more your giftee’s style? They can easily upgrade their collection with new travel essentials from Béis. Choose from the brand’s bestsellers like The Weekender, The Carry-On Roller, and The Check-In Roller. In addition to its classic travel bags, Béis also makes thoughtfully designed baby travel bags, kids luggage, and work bags ideal for commuters. Choose an e-gift card amount from $25 to $500.
Calpak
We’re big fans of all things Calpak here at Condé Nast Traveler, so it’s no surprise that the brand is on our list of the best gift cards. Whether someone you know could use some new luggage for upcoming travel plans, a duffel bag for weekend getaways, or packing cubes to help stay organized, there’s something for every traveler who receives a Calpak gift card. Send a digital gift card for an amount ranging from $25 to $500.
Paravel
Paravel makes some of our favorite packable duffels, beachy totes, and chic rolling suitcases. But it’s more than just quality that draws us to the brand: Paravel’s commitment to sustainability—from the recycled water bottles, fabrics, and aluminum used to make some of its best-selling bags to the brand’s carbon-neutral outlook on its factories and shipping models—keeps us coming back for more. Pick up a digital gift card stocked with anywhere from $25 to $1,000 to let your giftee upgrade their luggage with the exact pieces they need.
Courtesy Girlfriend Collective
For the sporty traveler
Alo Yoga
From compression leggings and sports bras to cute matching sets, there’s plenty of sporty must-haves to score at Alo Yoga. Whether your giftee is a yogi, hiker, or runner, they’ll be more than excited to start shopping for their favorite new workout set. The brand also makes great-quality yoga mats, equipment, and gym bags. Alo Yoga offers e-gift cards for $50 to $1,000.
Girlfriend Collective
Our editors love the supportive leggings, exercise dresses, bike shorts, and sports bras from size-inclusive and sustainable brand Girlfriend Collective. The brand also designs packable jackets that are great for travelers and ultra-warm puffers for winter adventures. Send your giftee a virual gift card from the brand for $25 to $200.
Lululemon
If someone you know is a fan of Lululemon’s mega-popular leggings, they’ll appreciate a gift card to shop for even more cult-favorite items the athleisure brand. Active travelers can snag any of its bags like the Fast and Free running belt, the City Adventurer duffel bag for the gym, and of course the Everywhere Belt Bag (when it’s not sold out, that is). Choose a digital gift card or have one sent by mail.
Nike
The fitness junkie you know will definitely make good use of a Nike gift card. Buying activewear or knowing exactly what running shoes someone likes can be tricky, so a gift card to this iconic brand is a safe bet. It’s always a good time to invest in a new pair of sneakers, sweatpants for long-haul flights, or accessories for the gym. Shoppers can choose a custom amount up to $500.
Courtesy Patagonia
For the outdoor enthusiast
Parks Project
Know someone who absolutely loves the National Park Service? A gift card to Parks Project opens doors to not only rep some of their favorite parks on impeccably designed T-shirts, woodsy candles, and essential camping gear—but to protect the parks, too. The Parks Project supports wildlife restoration, visitor programs, youth initiatives, and clean-ups to keep the parks accessible and maintained for years to come. Load anywhere from $25 to $300 on the gift card.
Patagonia
For insulated, packable jackets, fleece sweaters and zip-ups, fanny packs, and more outdoor gear, we turn to Patagonia. Your giftee will have plenty of options to shop with a Patagonia gift cards, whether they’re looking for everyday winter essentials or more specific hiking or camping gear. Our editors love the brand’s Black Hole duffels for the adventures that require lots of gear and packing must-haves (these travel bags hold a ton). Choose a custom amount up to $1,000.
REI
Give the outdoorsy traveler in your life the freedom to upgrade their gear however they please, whether they need a new crossover tent, sleeping bag, or hiking boots. Choose between a digital or physical gift card, which comes in dozens of creative designs. Unlike most other options on this list, you can denote a custom amount to put on the card between $10 and $1,000—plus, you can designate exactly when you want the digital card to arrive in the recipient’s email inbox.
Cour
For the fashion-forward friend
Anthropologie
There’s endless goodies to shop from Anthropologie, from party dresses and cozy loungewear to personalized mugs and unique home decor. The brand makes some of the cutest outfits for special occasions, with options for weddings, vacation, and cocktail parties. Choose from a variety of festive gift cards for amounts up to $2,000.
Everlane
If your giftee is all about building his or her capsule wardrobe, a gift card to Everlane will be greatly appreciated. The sustainable clothing brand makes some of our editors’ favorite travel essentials, from everyday tees and trousers to comfortable loafers and flats. Send a physical or a digital gift card for up to $500.
Madewell
It’s nearly impossible to buy someone other than yourself a pair of jeans. Instead of guessing what you think will fit, treat them to a gift card to Madewell so they can find their new perfect pair. In addition to great denim, Madewell is also known for its soft sweaters, well-made jackets, and versatile bags, like The Sydney crossbody and The Medium Transport tote. Shoppers can purchase e-gift cards or classic gift cards for amounts up to $500.
For the beauty guru
Sephora
Choose an amount up to $250 and let your recipient splurge on new makeup must-haves, skincare, and hair care products. This way, the giftee can pick out the exact products they already love or have been wanting to test out, like the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, Rare Beauty Soft Pinch liquid blushes, and the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless setting powder. They can also put this gift card toward the beloved Dyson Airwrap; this hair care tool is popular for a reason—trust me.
Spa Finder
Everyone deserves some time to pamper themselves and practice good self-care. Spa Finder offers spa gift cards for up to $500 in the form of a digital card, via mail, or as a print-from-home gift. Consider this a nudge for any busy traveler to take time out of their hectic schedule for a massage or facial—it’ll leave them feeling refreshed and relaxed.
Ulta
The friend who’s always perfecting their skincare routine will love a gift card to Ulta. They can shop travel-size minis of their favorites or try out new products from top beauty brands like Clinique, Tarte, Urban Decay, Dior, and Fenty Beauty. Ulta offers digital and physical gifts in a variety of fun designs for up to $250.
For the book worm
Audible
For your friend who keeps saying they want to get back into reading but can’t find the time, a gift card to Audible is the perfect way to help them make a dent in their reading list. Audible allows subscribers to listen to audiobooks, podcasts, and other original content on the go. Choose from one month, three months, six months, or one year of credits. Each month is equivalent to one credit, which is good for any book title in Audible’s entire premium catalog. You can also gift a specific book title if you already know what vacation read they’ve been meaning to get to.
Bookshop.org
Some of the best gifts inspire future trips, or let us travel back in time to destinations we visited years ago. New books, cookbooks, and coffee table books often make great gifts—but knowing what book to buy, and what your giftee already has in their personal library can be a challenge. Let them choose for themselves with a Bookshop gift card. Bookshop allows readers to support local bookstores online and gives 100 percent of the profits to local shops if you shop directly (check out this map to find your nearest indie) or donates 10 percent to a pool split between thousands of stores if you shop the general site. The gift cards come in denominations from $10 to a very generous $1,000. Plus, you can designate a specific send date so the recipient gets their digital gift right on time.
For anyone on your list
Amazon
When in doubt, everyone on your shopping list can make use of an Amazon gift card. Travelers will have their choice of just about anything they want—from tech must-haves like Apple AirPods Pro and Kindle Paperwhite to outdoor gear like this portable hammock or the LifeStraw personal water filter. Amazon offers gift cards in various gift boxes and can include a customized message, making them feel a bit more personalized. Select an amount ranging from $25 to $2,000.
Brooklinen
Whether someone you know just moved or is refreshing their current apartment, a Brooklinen gift card will certainly be appreciated. Brooklinen’s sheet sets and comforters are just as luxurious as the ones at your favorite hotel. The brand’s towels and plush robes are also bestsellers, and for good reason: There’s nothing quite like putting on a cozy robe and crawling into bed with a fresh set of crisp sheets.
Nordstrom
If you’re really stuck on what to get someone, a Nordstrom gift card is a great option. There’s something for every traveler to buy at Nordstrom—whether it be a new pair of outdoor boots for winter, a home decor gift, or a Hatch Restore 2 alarm clock. Choose a digital gift card for an amount up to $500 for anyone on your shopping list.
Uncommon Goods
If you want to give someone a gift card that still feels unique or just a touch more personalized, a gift card to Uncommon Goods is the way to go. The brand is an expert at curating gifts, ranging from personalized presents in a variety of categories like kitchen and bar, home goods, jewelry, clothing, wellness, and travel gear. Gifts from Uncommon Goods are little bit quirky and show some personality—like these rocks glasses inspired by your favorite city, this pickelball paddle tote bag, and these beer sleeping bags.
