Did your travel-loving mom put her dreams of adventure on hold the past couple of years? With the world opening back up and most destinations easing their COVID-19 requirements, she’s likely making plans to hit the road – and skies – again soon. We’ve pulled together a list of Mother’s Day gift ideas, from practical to indulgent, for the mom who’s eager to return to the wonderful world of travel.
All prices were accurate at the time of this writing.
For the frequent flyer: Whimsical compression socks
$36
Don’t dismiss compression socks just because they might make mom feel old. Proven to improve circulation and prevent swelling and blood clots during long flights, these cute and stylish socks from VIM & VIGR will make a fashion statement while potentially saving her life. Unlike some brands, they’re offered in a variety of sizes and calf widths.
For the insomniac traveler: CBD Pillow Mist
$40
“Mom brain” never seems to take a rest, even at night, yet many women are hesitant to take a sleep aid to combat their sleeplessness. This spray from Raw Botanics Co. could lull you to sleep – in flight, at home or in a hotel – with its calming scents of lavender and eucalyptus.
For the armchair-traveling foodie: Global cookbooks
$25-$40
If your mom is a foodie who loves to travel but is holding off due to pandemic concerns or other reasons, these cookbooks will transport her taste buds around the world. “Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide” shares recipes from all seven continents while “The Gluten Free Cookbook” takes a similar approach featuring cuisines from around the world for moms with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance.
For the active mom: Water bottle sling
$44
One of the tenets of travel is to always stay hydrated. That’s not easy when you only have two hands that may be holding a baby or pulling a suitcase. This crossbody or over-the-shoulder water bottle holder from Béis is the perfect solution for day trips, hiking or sprinting through airports.
For the fashionista: A versatile scarf
$68
The great thing about scarves is that they can take you from frumpy to fabulous in a hot second. And they don’t take up much space in the suitcase. A scarf can be used to keep warm, tie back hair, hold up pants, cover bare legs when visiting holy places or to just look and feel better.
This poppies scarf from LouLou Damour is a good choice, with the pop of color that pairs well with jeans or more upscale attire.
For the posh mom: Microfragrances
$59-$140
We all want to smell good but, let’s be honest, no one wants to pack a full bottle of perfume and risk it leaking onto everything. Microfragrances to the rescue! MicroPerfumes offers top-selling fragrances that have been decanted into small sample-size vials or travel sizes. The good news: TSA won’t confiscate it from mom’s carry-on.
For the nature lover: Travel binoculars
$95
It sometimes takes an eagle eye to spot a rare bird or wild animal from a distance while bird-watching or on safari. These Standard Issue Waterproof Binoculars from Nocs Provisions offer 8x magnification and the very cool feature of being able to use them as a 400 mm camera lens when shooting photos with a phone. The binoculars weigh less than 12 ounces and a carrying pouch, neck strap and lens cloth are included.
For the ultra-organized: Packing organizers (travel set)
8-pack for $120
Is your mom a type-A traveler? If so, these stylish packing cubes and organizers from Bag-all will not only keep her organized, but you can also feel good about the company’s commitment to sustainability. All products are 100% natural cotton with ribbons made from recycled PET bottles. Mom’s initials can also be embroidered on the cubes and bags using water-based eco-friendly colors.
For the day-tripper: Crossbody anti-theft bag
$120
Every mom has a “bag of tricks” in which she carries everything anyone might need at any given time. Finding the right vessel for it all is the challenge. The Soleil 12L Crossbody Anti-theft Bag from Flashpacker features just the right amount of space (unless you have a baby or toddler, that is).
It can be carried crossbody, as a shoulder tote or as a backpack. But perhaps most appealing for travelers are the security and anti-theft features, including front panel RFID protection, an anti-slash base, a chair loop wire lock and a security clip for the main zipper.
For the traveling gourmet: A travel knife
$130
If your mom loves to camp and cook, or just loves quality cutlery, the folding travel knife from the Messermeister Adventure Chef line is both practical and posh – and is accompanied by a clever folding cutting board. Designed by artisans around the world, the company is women- and mom-owned, which explains its practical and efficient design aesthetic. You can also have your mother’s name or initials lasered on the gift.
For the mom on the move: Fashionable fitness tracker
$200
Fitness and step trackers are not new, but FitBit’s Luxe model offers a special edition stainless steel gorjana bracelet to look more elegant while still tracking the eighty billion steps you may take on active vacation days. Links can be removed to ensure the right fit and the clock face is updated and more visually appealing.
For the nomadic mama: Multifunctional backpack
$250
If your mom is an adventuring backpacker, or just wants to keep her hands free, the comfortable medium-sized Dux Backpack from STM Goods features repositionable and removable dividers, which provide flexibility for packing anything from clothing to camera gear. Particularly noteworthy is its SlingTech™ technology that suspends a laptop and other devices away from the bottom of the backpack to prevent damage from impact.
It doesn’t hurt that it’s super comfortable and includes a back panel for slipping onto luggage when needed.
For the bespoke traveler: Global carry-on spinner suitcase
$699
Different people have different needs when it comes to suitcases, but this bag might meet them all. The Briggs & Riley Global Carry-on Spinner is part of the brand’s recently upgraded Baseline Collection. It features the world’s only one-touch CX™ expansion (and loads of other amazing features), which means that mom can increase the suitcase’s capacity with the touch of a button.
Among other appealing features are its RFID blocking pockets to protect personal data and a PowerPocket™ that can store a battery pack or cell phone to charge on the go.
For the mom you want to splurge on: A golden week in Italy
$5,500-$6,700
If you really want to spoil mom, sign her up for a golden week in Italy. Or, better yet, make it a mother/daughter adventure. This women-only tour has a max of 14 participants and includes hotels, ground transportation, immersive experiences, local guides, gratuities and most meals (airfare is not included). It was created and is led by travel writer and Italophile Susan Van Allen, author of “100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go.”
