16 Treat-Yourself Gifts That Are Too Good to Give Anyone Else

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto: "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at cteel@smartertravel.com.

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You know who deserves a gift this holiday season? You. You’ve (almost) made it through the year, and that calls for a celebration. Treat yourself with one of these traveler-friendly presents that are too good to gift to anyone else.

Click and Grow Smart Garden 3

Tired of coming home from your travels to a windowsill full of dead plants? Give yourself a green thumb with the Click and Grow Smart Garden 3. This cool indoor garden does all the work for you so your plants can thrive, even if you abandon them. The self-watering container only needs to be filled up every few weeks, and the LED grow lights will give your plants just the right amount of fake sun. The Smart Garden 3 will grow up to three different types of plants at once. Choose from edibles like basil, red sweet peppers, and arugula, or opt for decorative flowers such as cornflower or lavender. The seeds come in specially designed pods that save you from digging in dirt and are full of enough nutrients that you won’t need plant food.

Rothy’s Merino Wool Flats

Rothy’s devotees, your prayers have been answered—the favorite shoe company of many a traveler has released merino wool versions of its most popular styles, which means you can keep wearing them all winter long. The Merino line uses a combination of merino wool and Rothy’s signature recycled water bottle material to create an incredibly comfortable and climate-controlled shoe that wicks away moisture and prevents odors. The classic goes-with-anything flat is my favorite for travel, but the new material is available in everything from loafers to booties.

Victorinox Touring Wheeled 2-in-1 Carry-On

Whether you need a new backpack or a new wheeled carry-on, the Victorinox Touring Wheeled 2-in-1 Carry-On has you covered. This nifty bag converts in a flash from a rolling suitcase to a backpack, and functions beautifully as both. At six pounds, the bag is lightweight, but it’s packed with useful features including a padded laptop pocket, a zippered expansion section, and plenty of storage space.

Pakt Coffee Kit

Going to need a lot of caffeine to make it through this holiday season? Treat yourself to the Pakt Coffee Kit, a complete travel brewing system that lets you make a hot cup anywhere. The kit comes with a super portable electric kettle (that’s also handy for making oatmeal or soup in your hotel room), a collapsible stainless steel dripper, and a travel cup. Sound like a lot to pack? Everything is designed to ingeniously nest, and will take up about as much space in your bag as a pair of shoes.

Calpak Power Luggage Tag

Never fight a stranger for an airport electrical outlet again. Calpak’s Power Luggage Tag looks like a regular luggage tag, but it hides a secret charger inside. This stylish luggage tag will not only help you identify your bag, but it holds a 2000 mAh power battery inside that can quickly charge your phone or other gadgets. The battery pack easily slides out, so if you have to gate-check your bag, you’ll be able to leave the luggage tag on while pocketing the battery pack as per FAA regulations.

Lo & Sons The Waverly 2

Treat yourself to four bags in one stylish package with Lo & Son’s The Waverly 2. This versatile bag can be worn as a crossbody, belt bag, over-the-shoulder purse, or wristlet. Inside, plenty of pockets will keep you organized, including a secure zipper pocket with card slots that let you leave the wallet behind and bring just the essentials. This bag is made for city trips, with an easy-access exterior card slot that keeps your metro card at the ready.

LARQ Self-Cleaning Water Bottle

Germaphobes, give yourself peace of mind this flu season with LARQ’s self-cleaning water bottle. You’ll never again have to wonder if your bottle is really getting cleaned by your attempts to swish soapy water around inside the narrow opening. Instead, the LARQ uses a UV light to sanitize your bottle (and the water inside) in minutes. Plus, this insulated vessel will keep your water cold all day long.

Samsonite Wheeled Underseat Bag

Never be forced into the dreaded gate-check again. Samsonite’s Wheeled Underseat Bag will fit neatly under the seat in front of you, but still holds everything you need for a weekend away (or longer, depending on how well you pack).

Drunk Elephant Travel Set

The Drunk Elephant brand is beloved by beauty bloggers, reviewers, and skincare aficionados. Pamper your skin on your next trip with Drunk Elephant’s Travel Set, which includes perfectly portable versions of the brand’s best-selling sunscreen, face cleanser, eye cream, and more.

The Grommet Quilted Jewelry Portfolio

Carry your jewelry safely and stylishly in The Grommet’s Quilted Jewelry Portfolio. The handmade leather case keeps your necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets organized and untangled. It even prevents your baubles from getting tarnished, thanks to a treated suede LusterLoc lining inside.

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2

Treat yourself to tunes anywhere you go, with Ultimate Ears’ WONDERBOOM 2 portable speaker. This travel-sized (420 grams) package packs a big punch, pumping out crisp sound from 360 degrees. The wireless speaker lasts for 13 continuous hours of playtime, is waterproof, and even floats so you can bring it anywhere.

Jaybird Vista

Go truly wireless with Jaybird’s Vista earbuds, which deliver amazing sound without any cords. The ultra-lightweight earbuds are waterproof and sweatproof and have a firm sport fit that stays in during even the toughest runs. The battery will last for up to six hours on a single charge, and the charging case adds another 10 hours to get you through even the longest plane ride.

Born Olio Boots

Give yourself the gift of fashion and comfort with Born’s Olio boots. These full-grain leather boots mold to your feet for a comfy fit. A 1 1/3 inch heel offers the perfect amount of lift, and the microfiber sock and removable footbed add tons of cushioning. This is an ideal pre-holiday gift to yourself, as you’ll want to wear them with all your festive outfits this winter.

Matador FlatPack Toiletry Pack

Matador’s FlatPack toiletry bottles are the revolutionary invention your toiletry kit has been waiting for. Made from a waterproof fabric, these bottles are five times lighter and three and a half times more compact than typical plastic travel-sized bottles, but still hold up to three ounces of liquids/gels/pastes. The squeeze bottle design means you’ll never have to waste money on a travel-sized toothpaste again. These large-mouthed bottles are easy to fill and have a spot on the snap loop where you can label which product is inside.

Coyuchi Organic Sateen Travel Sack

I’m always freezing on long-haul flights, and I have a perfectly justified distrust of airplane blankets, so I make sure to pack Coyuchi’s Organic Sateen Travel Sack when I fly. Think of it as an extremely portable sleeping bag, one that can protect you from gross plane seats or questionable hotel bedding, all while keeping you surprisingly warm considering how light the sateen fabric is. The sack folds down small and flat, so you won’t even notice the weight in your carry-on.

Naadam Cashmere Sweater

Treat yourself to a hug in the form of a cashmere sweater. Naadam’s Essential Cashmere Sweater comes in a men’s and women’s version, extended sizes, and 14 colors—all for only $75.

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Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor at SmarterTravel. Follow her on Instagram @travelwithcaroline.

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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.