For those who live to travel, there’s nothing more romantic than the promise of a future adventure or a keepsake from a past trip. Though Valentine’s Day seems like the best time to give more traditional gifts, an adventurous partner will appreciate a break from the chocolates and flowers. Why not get creative this year and ignite your loved one’s passion for travel as we all prepare to explore the world once again in 2021.
Travel-themed gifts might not seem like intuitive choices for Valentine’s Day, which is why we’re offering up a few suggestions of our top picks. From unique reminders of past trips you’ve taken together, to promises of future vacations when it’s safe to do so, here are some travel-themed Valentine’s Day gifts an adventurous partner will enjoy.
Personalized Luggage Tag
It may be impractical (and also incredibly expensive) to surprise your partner with a trip this year, but giving hints that you hope to plan a trip in the future can also be romantic. These customizable, leatherette luggage tags will do just that. Made in pairs with the laser-engraved saying, “Let’s get lost together,” these tags are waterproof and durable enough to withstand wherever you both go. Simply choose the color and add your names, and you’ll have a specialized accessory ready to jet-set when you are.
Buy it here: Personalized luggage tag | $22
Matching Wine Tumblers
If camping or trips to national parks are your partner’s cup of tea, then you’re going to want to keep that tea hot. Insulated mugs and tumblers are necessities for adventures in the great outdoors, and YETI happens to be one of our favorite brands. Made with double-wall vacuum insulation and kitchen-grade stainless steel, YETI mugs will keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for a very long time. We especially love the 10 ounce wine tumbler because it’s perfect for taking date night out on the road.
Buy it here: YETI 10 oz. Wine Tumbler | $19 | Normally $25
Homesick Candle
Chances are your partner isn’t homesick right now, but rather sick of home. Homesick still has a candle for that. Made specifically to evoke the scents and feelings of different locations, Homesick candles can offer your partner 60 to 80 hours of imaginative travel time as they breathe in the familiar aromas of their favorite destination.
Buy it here: Homesick Country Candles | $34
Customized Coordinates Bracelet
If you and your partner went on a life changing trip you both wish to remember forever, customizing bracelets with the coordinates of that destination is a great way to memorialize it. You can buy these bracelets in a set or individually and choose from aluminum, brass, or copper. The bracelets are adjustable and come with coordinates hand-stamped onto the bracelet for a sentimental keepsake that doesn’t feel like a cheesy souvenir.
Buy it here: Customized coordinates bracelet | ~$20 to $52
An Extra-Special Carry-On
There’s nothing wrong with getting a practical gift for Valentine’s Day, especially if that practical gift happens to be one of the best of its kind on the market. If your partner’s carry-on has taken a beating from trip after trip, then it’s time for a new one. We’ve put Away carry-ons to the test on 30+ trips and we can definitively say they’re not just stylish; they’re incredibly durable, versatile, and functional. The polycarbonate hard shell ensures everything your partner packs stays safe and dry, no matter how aggressively they throw their luggage into the overhead bin. The 360-spinning wheels also make this carry-on easy to maneuver throughout a crowded airport, and if your partner is the perpetually-late type, that can be a blessing in disguise. Get it with or without a battery so your partner can charge electronics on the go.
Buy it here: Away Carry-On | $225
Jewelry Organizer
Jewelry is probably one of the hardest things to pack. Necklaces can easily get tangled, rings can get lost between other accessories, and earring backs can disappear, never to be seen again. An avid traveler has likely learned this the hard way, and would therefore greatly appreciate a space-efficient organizer as a fix. The Vlando Travel Jewelry Box has several separate compartments designated to keep smaller jewelry in place so it won’t get lost. The box is no bigger than 5 inches, so it can easily be thrown into a carry-on, and for under $12, you can’t go wrong.
Buy it here: Vlando Travel Jewelry Box | $12
Two-Person Hammock
Outdoorsy types do love exploring rugged terrains and hiking up mountains, but they also love kicking back in a comfy spot with a book. For the nature-fueled traveling partner, a two-person hammock you can both enjoy is an ingenious idea. ENO’s SingleNest Hammock has been christened by Wirecutter as the best for camping and the DoubleNest is ENO’s bigger iteration that you can share with a loved one.
The hammock itself weighs about a pound and comes with its own carrying pack, so it doesn’t feel like too much extra to bring with you. Made with nylon taffeta, the hammock holds strong against wear and tear, and it can support up to 400 pounds. At about nine feet in length and six feet in width, it can hold two adults comfortably.
Buy it here: ENO DoubleNest Hammock | $70
Picnic Set
Even if you and your partner aren’t hopping on a plane to tour natural wonders, nearby parks and campsites are still available to you, so why not go for a picnic? This picnic backpack for two comes with an insulated compartment for food and drinks, a detachable, insulated wine/water bottle holder, and a fleece blanket with a waterproof back. You’ll also get flatware, plates, plastic wine glasses, napkins, a bottle opener, and a chopping board so you can have whatever meal you crave while taking in the sites.
Buy it here: Picnic Backpack for 2 | $57
Couple’s Map
Another great way to remember past trips is by marking where you’ve been together and where you’d like to go on a map. This personalized pushpin map by Uncommon Goods features your names and anniversary date, along with pins to mark your favorite travel destinations, hometowns, honeymoon spots, or whatever else you want. The vintage-style map comes framed so it can be easily hung up in your partner’s space.
Buy it here: Personalized Anniversary World Map | $149
International Cookbooks
Cooking cultural cuisines at home can be a fun staycation activity or a unique Valentine’s Day date idea for you and your partner, and an international cookbook can be the perfect gift. Whether you’re looking to make neapolitan-style pizza or try hand at Bangkok street food, one of our favorite international cookbooks can help you find a recipe that gets you in the traveling spirit.
Buy it here: International Cookbooks
Double-Charging Battery
It’s all but impossible to travel these days without a fully charged phone, and so a good portable battery pack is a practical, if not quite romantic gift. Make sure to get one with two USB ports and enough power to share, like the new Anker PowerCore Fusion 10000, which also doubles as a wall charger. Unlike almost every other power bank out there, once it’s time to recharge the battery, you just plug it straight into the wall.
Buy it here: Anker PowerCore Fusion 10000 | $46
Travel Friendly Rings
It may seem almost heretical to get your betrothed a new wedding or engagement ring, but metal rings can actually be kind of dangerous for adventurous travelers, and are always at risk of being lost or stolen when you’re away from home. That’s why we recommend swapping out your regular rings for silicone alternatives from the likes of Enso when you’re out and about. For Valentine’s Day, start your search with the Elements series rings, which feature trace amounts of precious metals like gold and silver to add a surprising amount of sheen to the rubbery accessories.
Buy it here: Enso Silicone Rings
A Shareable Travel Blanket
Whether you’re stretching out for a spring picnic, camping together under the stars, or trying to stay warm on a future flight, a travel blanket is a great gift for any occasion. The Gravel Layover blanket is packed with unique features like a footwell, a kangaroo pouch, and a zipper pocket for your phone. You can even snap two of them together to better share the warmth.
While they’re better suited for picnics than planes, Rumpl’s packable outdoor blankets come in an endless variety of colors, designs, and sizes to match your valentine’s style. Better yet, they’re made from recycled plastic water bottles and filled with recycled organic fill that packs down to nearly nothing.
Buy it here: Gravel Layover Travel Blanket | $129
Buy it here: Rumpl Outdoor Blankets | $99+
Main photo by Timo Stern/Unsplash.
