What’s the best gift you can get someone? Why, the gift of travel, of course. The next best is something to enhance the travel experience. As fun and enlightening as seeing new places is, the whole part of getting there can detract from the overall experience, especially for those who find themselves traveling a lot for work.
That’s a camp I fall into, and as such, I’ve been curating a selection of gadgets that help make the process of getting from point A to point B a little less arduous. Everything included below is something I use myself and will happily recommend to anyone you’re shopping for.
Apple AirTag — $29; 4 for $99
AirTags and Find My have reprogrammed my brain to a degree that probably isn’t healthy. Any time I misplace something now, my first thought is to reach for my phone. Sadly, the technology isn’t quite that ubiquitous — for now.
Even so, these little watch-battery-powered accessories deliver a lot of peace of mind when it comes to keeping track of your valuables. Pop an AirTag on your luggage, and that’s one less thing to worry about while traveling.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra — $429
The latest (and priciest) entry in Bose’s perennial favorite travel headphone line look, feel, and sound great. As far as travel companions go for long trips, you can’t beat the QuietComfort Ultra.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M3 — $1,099
If you really want to treat someone this year, the current MacBook Air is a truly excellent travel companion. In fact, the Air is the best laptop Apple has ever made. My one hesitation in recommending it for the holidays is that Apple has yet to introduce an M4 version of the machine. The truth is, however, the M3 is more than enough for most. Heck, even the M2 version — which starts at $999 — is fully capable of running Apple’s new AI suite.
Native Union Voyage 2 charger — $100
This versatile and extremely slim little charger can manage your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. For those who appreciate the freedom of checking in without checking luggage, accessories don’t get much smaller than the Voyage 2. At $100, the price is perhaps a bit steep, but isn’t the whole point of gift-giving getting something for someone they wouldn’t get for themselves?
Nintendo Switch Lite — $199
With Nintendo set to announce its latest console sometime next year, the 2024 holiday season may well bring some deep discounts on products getting a bit long in the tooth. In fact, the portable-only Switch Lite has already had around 10% of its price shaved off on places like Amazon.
Ozlo Sleepbuds — $299
I put these earbuds in last year’s guide, even though they hadn’t actually come out yet. Hardware is hard, and the launch was pushed back several times. Now the Ozlo Sleepbuds are here, and I’m happy to include them again. I’m not the sleepy type, but these buds have me out like a light. I plan to take them on all future trips.
Kindle Paperwhite — $160
The Colorsoft is a fun novelty, but I currently can’t recommend it over Amazon’s tried-and-true Paperwhite. It’s the best-selling Kindle for good reason, and a recent upgrade brings faster page turns and more storage.