Build Your Own Travel-Themed Advent Calendar Or Christmas Countdown With These 12 Gifts
By Andrea Limke|Updated on November 06, 2023(Originally published November 03, 2023)
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
For many, a Christmas countdown is a tradition that only adds to the excitement and anticipation of the holiday season. DIY Advent calendars are one way to mark the days leading up to December 25th, but you can also celebrate with a 12 days of Christmas countdown, or really any number of days you like! We love counting down the days to Christmas and finding a little reason to celebrate each day of this magical season. We also love traveling – and we know many of you do, as well – so we’ve created a 12 days of Christmas countdown with small gifts that would be the perfect Christmas Advent calendar for travelers. If you don’t want to use these as a part of a DIY Advent calendar or countdown, they also make perfect stocking stuffers or small gifts under the Christmas tree for those who love to travel.
And if the idea of coming up with these Advent calendar filler ideas isn’t your thing, we also love this travel-themed Advent calendar. But, we’ve made it really easy with these 12, handpicked items, that would make for memorable gifts this holiday season. If you need more than 12 gift ideas, remember that gift cards, stickers, Christmas crafts, or even candy canes are also great for DIY Advent calendar ideas.
First off, you'll need a way to wrap up these mini gifts. There are many DIY Advent Calendars on Etsy and these can also be used as a countdown or little surprises throughout the holiday season. I used these numbered pouches last year for my children and they loved using them to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas - and I loved what they added to our Christmas decor. Whether you choose these mini bags, a paper bag or a box advent calendar, you could also use these to hold our travel-themed gifts.
Jewelry always makes a great gift and any traveler would love to receive this dainty, airplane necklace. This particular necklace comes in gold, rose gold, and silver and is more affordable than you'd think!
If you're going to gift an airplane necklace, you might as well grab an airplane ring to go along with it. We love this stackable ring that also comes in gold, silver, or rose, as well as a wide variety of sizes.
If you are giving someone an airplane necklace and an airplane ring, then they'll need a travel jewelry case to go along with it. "If you give a mouse a cookie..." so they say. This personalized jewelry case is ideal for travel and if you're not using these gifts for an Advent calendar, combine all three of these first options for one memorable, travel-themed gift for under the Christmas tree.
Sticking with the personalized theme, our next gift idea for travelers is this monogrammed luggage tag. It comes in a beautiful Vegan leather and the color options are sure to match your loved one's favorite.
A passport is a must for any avid traveler, so a passport holder seems like a practical - yet fun - gift for the holidays. I would love to receive this personalized passport holder in my stocking this year. It has over 13,000 5-star reviews and is just waiting for your review next!
If the traveler in your life has a passport, they likely have a plane ride coming up soon. Especially on long flights, an eye mask is a necessity. We handpicked this airplane sleep mask for our Advent calendar for the traveler. The map print was just too irresistible!
Anything cozy makes a great gift and these next two items can be squeezed into a Christmas countdown bag or a stocking. My daughter loves her L.L. Bean pom hat and many of the patterns even have a travel theme. They come in adult and youth size and so many fun color combinations!
Don't forget the cozy L.L. Bean hiker socks to go along with the hat. Also in many sizes and colors, these socks keep your feet warm and dry as you travel the world - such a practical addition to any make-your-own Advent calendar.
A few more items left for our travel-themed Christmas countdown and an ornament was an easy addition to the list. This travel suitcase ornament can be personalized to commemorate a favorite trip that can be hung on the tree year after year. This ornament would also be perfect as a holiday decor gift if you need to bring along something for one of your Christmas activities this year.
Travel is an adventure all on its own, but these Travel Challenges add to the excitement. Another great travel gift, this game of sorts provides challenges to take on during a trip. Be sure to check out their video tutorial to see more of this game. And it also just so happens to fit perfectly in a small pouch, gift box, or stocking!
Another personal favorite, this little Travel Turtle keyring is adorable for travelers of all ages. Even the most experienced traveler would love to receive a thoughtful gift as a reminder of home. And if you want to make it a true DIY Christmas, you could always design your own stickers with a similar message for your traveling friend.
On the 12th day of Christmas... you HAVE to gift a beautiful set of custom vintage map magnets. Purchased in a set of 3 or 4, you can pick the cities or towns. Have you traveled to special places with a loved one? Imagine them opening up magnets that they can look at everyday, reminding them of those memorable travels.
One of my favorite things about the holidays is seeking out the perfect, little gift for my loved ones. These small, travel-themed gifts are perfect for 12 days of Christmas countdowns, easy DIY Advent calendars, stocking stuffers, or any time you need a little something to gift from the heart. If you love to travel, add these to your list this Christmas season, or plan on giving one or all of them to the traveler in your life. We can’t wait to gift this as the perfect DIY Advent calendar for travelers.
Need more travel-themed gift ideas? We have MANY more in our comprehensive list of Gifts for Travelers. This list includes all sorts of travel goodies, including gifts from Amazon, more items to personalize, gift cards, and more. It’s a fun way to play Santa and shop for Christmas gifts for the whole family.
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