I’m always on the lookout new travel-related products, but it seems like more and more there’s surprisingly little deviation from this neck pillow or that portable charger.  As I approached this year’s gift guide, I decided to take a step back and look at some of the items I’ve personally sought out for inspiration.  With that, I landed on the theme of “the little things” that have the power to make travel experiences a little easier or a little more pleasant.  Hopefully you’ll come away with a few ideas for even the most practical person on your list who doesn’t need another tote bag.  I also try not to repeat items year after year (even though there are some products that I love that much), so for even more inspiration you can browse past guides here.

Happy gifting and happy holidays!

1. Cord Organizer
Raise your hand if you find yourself packing more and more cords every year – chargers for phones headphones, smart watches, etc.  With so many cords this task was fast becoming an unorganized mess until I found the perfect solution to keep them organized in one place.  This storage case is easy to throw in your carry-on bag and has two separate zipper compartments with a variety of smaller pockets to secure an ever-growing collection of cords.  I’ve found this so helpful that I now leave it packed with extra USB cords and a power bank so it’s always stocked and ready to go.  amazon.com

2.Multi Cord Charging Cable
On a related note, with so many devices to charge at a given time, I love this all-in-one-solution that allows you to charge up to 3 devices simultaneously.  It comes with a USB-A/C, cable, lightning cable and a magnetic charging cable, and is compatible with most popular phones, watches, tables and even gaming devices.  This product also seems to charge things pretty fast and wraps up nicely with the attached strap (and stays packed in my travel-ready cord organizer case).  amazon.com

3. Power Strip
While this may seem like a basic (and frankly boring) item to recommend, it has fast become one of my favorite travel essentials.  As the number of devices we bring with us continues to increase, hotels never seem to have enough outlets in the right (reachable) location.  That’s why bringing your own power strip is a great solution, and I particularly like this one since it’s relatively compact in size and has multiple outlets as well as USB ports.  It’s also good if you’re traveling as a family and have kid devices to charge in addition to your own, or for traveling in a foreign country to make one plug adaptor stretch even further.  Plus, it’s 5-foot extension cord and flat wall plug makes it easy to reach even the most elusive wall outlet.  amazon.com

4. Bluetooth Speaker
The last tech-related item on this list is the ultra-portable JBL Clip Bluetooth speaker.  At just under 6 inches, it’s a small but mighty speaker that boasts up to 12 hours of battery life and comes in a variety of colors.  With a built-in carabiner clip, it can easily be attached to any bag or bike to amplify your tunes wherever you go.  The speaker is also waterproof and dustproof, and has a protective hardshell case so you can easily take your music to the beach, poolside party, camping trip or epic hike knowing that it can handle any adventure you throw at it.   jbl.com

5. Packable Backpack
I’m often in the camp of “you can never have too many bags”, and this Fold-Up Backpack is great for everything from everyday errands to extra travel bag.  One of the many beautiful products from Paravel, it’s super lightweight and compact, made from water-resistant nylon, and comes in a handful of classic color combinations that can even be personalized with your initials.  Its clean and simple design features a large main pocket, smaller outside pocket and trolley sleeve to fit over the handle of a roller suitcase.  In between uses, the backpack folds up tight into a tiny zipper pouch, making it perfect for daytrips, daily communities, as carry-on or to bring back extra souvenirs.  tourparavel.com

6. Travel Notebook
I don’t go anywhere without a pocket-size Moleskine notebook for travel notes, but recently the Leuchtturm1917 notebooks have also caught my eye.  Available in both hard and soft cover options, these notebooks come in a variety of sizes from the large Master A4+ to the smallest Pocket A6 size, with different types of paper (blank, lined, grid and dot) and in an array of colors to choose from.  I also appreciate little extras like the gusseted pocket, page marker ribbons and an elastic band to keep everything together.  With so many options, it’s easy to find the right notebook for every type of traveler, from writers and journalers to doodlers and sketchers.  leuchtturm1917.us

7. Lego Postcard
Kudos to Lego for its ever-expanding collection of creative and inspiring sets, including those from maps to monuments that have a special appeal to the wanderlust crowd.  The postcard series in particular is one of my favorites, featuring a buildable 3D postcard scene from iconic destinations like London, New York, Australia and Japan.  It’s a fun and perhaps unexpected gift idea for a travel enthusiast, Lego enthusiast or perhaps someone on your list who is both.  lego.com

8. Kids Travel Journal
I’m all about activity books to help make travel more engaging and memorable for kids as they venture out into the world.  A travel journal like this one from Loney Planet is a great way to make and preserve memories no matter how near or far the destination.  It features page after page of fun templates for kids to fill in before, during and after the trip.  From packing lists, wish lists and music playlists, to games, activities and other prompts to inspire little ones to write or draw about their adventures big and small.  lonelyplanet.com

Want more ideas?  Check out gift guides from past years here.