8 Last-Minute Gifts for Travelers (That Will Arrive by Christmas)

Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_ and on Instagram @shanmcmahon.

Shannon joined SmarterTravel in 2015. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about.

Her stories have also appeared online on USA Today, The Sun, Huffington Post, Business Insider, blog.TripAdvisor.com, Boston.com, and more. Her educational background is in journalism, art history, gender studies, Spanish, and film. She's been quoted as an expert travel source by CNBC, People.com, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Plenty of extra thick hair elastics. They tame my frizzy curls and come in handy in a surprising number of packing and hotel dilemmas."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Climbing (yes, climbing, it's steep!) the Great Wall of China before it's gone."

Travel Motto: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window, of course."

Email Shannon at smcmahon@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Shannon McMahon

Scrambling for a last-minute gift that will arrive in time to wow your favorite traveler this Christmas? Thanks to the rise of two-day shipping, it’s easier than ever to get last-minute Christmas gifts in a snap.

Last-Minute Gifts for Travelers This Christmas

Here are some travel gifts that will ship fast thanks to Amazon Prime (or with paid two-day shipping, if you’re not a Prime member).

Pacsafe Convertible Backpack

last minute gifts pacsafe backpack — Amazon

Who wouldn’t want to consolidate their purse and daypack into one anti-theft travel bag that’s transformable? Pacsafe’s Citysafe Convertible Backpack has wow factor and utility thanks to its 11-inch laptop compartment, secure zipper closure, and the unique ability to transform from a backpack into a cross-body tote.

Pictar Camera Grip Case

Smartphone photography accessories are virtually foolproof as last-minute gifts, especially for snap-happy travelers. Pictar’s Camera Grip case makes iPhones easier to use when it comes to zooming, adjusting exposure, mounting to a tripod, shooting, and simply gripping your phone in tricky travel situations. It’s perfect for reducing blur and overexposure, and for getting perfectly framed shots.

Osprey Travel Packs Big and Small

Need a last-minute gift for an adventurer? Osprey bags are a favorite among travelers looking for gear big and small. Duffels that can double as a hefty weekend travel bag or a daypack include the Osprey Transporter Expedition Duffel—which comes in sizes ranging from 40 to 130 liters. For extreme gear hauling in a rollable workhorse of a bag, the 130-liter Osprey Shuttle Wheeled Bag is as lightweight as it is spacious, with straitjacket compression straps and lockable zippers to ensure all their gear gets where it’s going.

spAIR Tray Travel Shelf

Give someone the Christmas gift of a better in-flight experience with an easy-to-pack plane accessory. A spAIR Tray Travel Shelf attaches to airline window seats for more compact (and cleaner) shelf space than your clunky tray table can offer. It’s a last-minute gift so smart they’ll never suspect you scrambled to get it.

Arden Cove Cross-Body Bags

Stylish and theft-proof cross-body bags make for a last-minute travel gift your frequent traveler will get plenty of use out of. Arden Cove’s Waterproof Cross-Body Bags are secure and versatile thanks to their multitude of colors. They come in two sizes: full (6.5 by 8.5 inches) and mini (6.5 by 4.5 inches). Both have plenty of pockets and a lightweight chain strap, and are deep enough to hold all your travel necessities, like sunglasses, a phone, a wallet, and a passport.

Briggs & Riley Sympatico International Carry-On Spinner

last minute gifts briggs & reilly — Amazon

Know someone who needs a carry-on suitcase? Briggs & Riley’s sleek options will seem like anything but a last-minute gift. The 21-inch Sympatico International Carry-On Spinner is expandable with plenty of organizing pockets, plus a built-in TSA-approved lock and high-quality swivel wheels that make it nimble enough to glide through any packed terminal.

Joby Magnetic Tripod

A great stocking stuffer or last-minute swap gift, a JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Mount and Tripod makes for an affordable way to mount your smartphone camera to anything that’s magnetic or thin enough for its adjustable legs to wrap around. Download a photo timer for those tricky times you don’t have anyone to take your picture.

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Associate Editor Shannon McMahon writes about all things travel. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.