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Hosting out of town guests for the holidays is one of the most festive parts of the season. You have an excuse to go all out on the cozy home décor, you get to plan elaborate (and indulgent) meals because everyone knows calories served while entertaining don’t count, and the lyrics to “(There’s No Place Like) Home For the Holidays” hit just a little bit differently.
The downside, of course, is how do you celebrate the season with fun, useful, and thoughtful gifts without weighing down your guests’ luggage? That crockpot might be just what they wanted, but no one wants to check one in or try to cram it into an overhead compartment.
That’s why we’ve found gifts in a variety of price ranges that travel well without skimping on thoughtfulness or charm. Send your guests off with something that will bring them fond memories … not have them muttering “how the heck do we get this home?”
Top Picks $50 and under
Top Picks $100 and under
Top picks over $100
Keep reading to learn more about our quintessential list of small gifts that have a big impact.
Clean & Pure Lip Balm Kit
Why We Love It: This quartet of chapped-lips saviors comes in a variety of flavors from coconut to manuka honey is sure to please. The oval shape of the lip balm makes for easier application while the formula is so spectacular, your recipient will want to stash one in every room and coat pocket. Good thing there are enough to do that.
Price: $9.99 at Amazon
Personalized Travel Cable Organizer
Why We Love It: Why not send your guests home even more organized and efficient then when they arrived? These smart, durable leather cable organizers look like elegant journals, and can hold laptop cables, power cords, and even computer mice. You can also personalize them with the recipient’s name or a fun in-joke!
Price: $25 at Etsy
FineInno Desktop Vacuum Cleaner
Why We Love It: Everyone knows the biggest struggle creative, crafty people have is keep their workspace clean. These fun, compact mini vacuum cleaners are designed to pick up small scraps of paper, and they fit in the palm of your hand. Available in soft blue, green and pink hues, these are a useful little devices that travel easily.
Price: $11.93 at Amazon
Zesica Women’s Waffle Knit Long Sleeve Top and Shorts Set
Why We Love It: Lightweight and made for comfort, this rayon top and short set not only fit well into a suitcase (since they’re not bulky) but they may also be your guest’s new flying uniform. Breezy, machine-washable and elegant – they even have pockets! – these are a lounging gamechanger.
Price: $35.99 at Amazon
Make Beauty Heat Stroke Dewy Gel Cheek Tint
Why We Love It: The ideal gift for holiday parties — but also to give a little extra color to the cheeks for January and beyond, this innovative gel tint set boasts skin-enhancing pigment for the ultimate glow. It also includes skin-plumping algae for radiance. It’s available in eight beautiful shades.
The Cost: $30 at makebeauty.com
RPZL Polisher Brush
Why We Love It: Designed for those with extensions but equally effective and delightful for everyone with hair, this brush massages as it detangles and styles. In fact, it’s a far more wallet-friendly stand-in for that other brush we know and love that rhymes with Jason Learson. Ideal for men and women, thanks to its gender-neutral black colorway.
The Cost: $29.99 at RPZL.com
ClaLARQ PureVis Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
Why We Love It: It’s always important to hydrate, especially when you travel. So why not send your guests home with this innovative way to have a steady supply of fresh, clean water nearby? The LARQ uses non-toxic mercury-free UV-C LED light technology to sanitize water and clean the inner surfaces of the bottle, ensuring its free of bacteria and harmful chemicals.
Price: $99 at Amazon
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
Why We Love it: Send your guests home with a little pampering self-care. These eye contour gel patches hydrate your face and are especially good for treating under-eye darkness. Make sure they arrive looking refreshed, and can keep it up well after the holiday rush is over.
Price: $55 at sephora.com
Hotel Lobby Signature Candle
Why We Love It: Inspired by the elegance of the world’s finest hotels, this complex fragrance blends the richness of agarwood with warm, spicy undertones, crafting a scent that is profoundly sophisticated and luxuriously captivating. Ideal for the coziest time of year, this candle gives good throw (the magnitude of scent when lit) but also good cold throw (the scent when not lit). Plus, the packaging will make people think you’ve entered a new tax bracket this year.
Price: $58 at hotellobbycandle.com
The Elena Toiletry Kit
Why We Love It: Whether you use it to package up other items or gift it on its own, this little bag brings a lot of design into a tiny little package. The Elena Toiletry Kit is a collaboration with archivist and textile designer Lilli Elias of Autumn Sonata. This elegant bag will make toting your skincare an upgraded affair, no matter your destination.
Price: $140 at capbeauty.com
Assouline Travel From Home Mini Scented Candle Set
Why We Love It: The best part of traveling is daydreaming about where you want to go next. Why not inspire your guests with scents that capture the spirit of exotic, faraway places like Ibiza and Mykonos?
Price: $140 at assouline.com
Craighill Tycho Puzzle
Why We Love It: Who doesn’t love a little brain-teaser, especially on long flights? This tiny, compact puzzle is made of brass and stainless steel, and even features a hidden inner cavity in which you can store another tiny surprise gift!
Price: $125.00 at afternoonlight.com
The post The Best Holiday Gifts You Can Fit in Your Carry-On for Easy Travel appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
