Holiday Gift Guide 2019: The Best Subscription Boxes For Travel Lovers - Forbes
If you want to give a gift that keeps on giving, subscription boxes ensure your recipient feels the love on a regular basis.
They may come monthly or quarterly, but they’re so much fun to open and unbox, to see what surprises await.
There are so many great boxes now focused on travel. They can help you prepare for trips by making sure you have the right clothes and equipment or offer you a way to experience a place you may never be able to visit in person.
Here are the best boxes for travel lovers.
These boxes for outdoor enthusiasts are an adventure in themselves and are packed with the best gear (a hammock! a backpack!), apparel and even shoes. The Original Box is filled with top name brands but the Obsidian Collection—delivered quarterly—kicks it up a notch with up to ten premium products. Cairn is truly a gift, and you’ll wish they could just drop the boxes via drone to you on a mountaintop somewhere so you can start using them immediately. Price: From $29.95/month
The Wanderlust box looks like a vintage suitcase and is so cute, you almost won’t want to open it. But once you do, you’ll be thrilled to find a carefully curated selection of stylish travel products, from dry body spray sunscreen and reusable stainless steel straws to tie-dyed tank tops, passport cases and wristlets. This is a really fresh, modern travel collection that keeps you looking and feeling good on the go. Price: From $85
Try coffee from a different country every month with this heavenly scented subscription. Each box comes with your choice of 6, 12 or 24 ounces of freshly roasted coffee, flavor notes, a postcard and brewing tips. Choose your roast preference and grind type, then wait for your beautifully packaged coffee to arrive. It’s like having your own personal barista. Price: From $9/month
This authentic Japanese snack box always focuses on a fun theme, like this month’s Snowy Hokkaido. Not only is it packed with more than a dozen sweet and savory goodies perfect for a cold winter’s day but it also comes with a 24-page culture guide so you can get to know the makers and traditions behind them. Bokksu fills both your stomach and your soul. Price: From $24.99/month
Adventurers, rejoice! Every month, you can get a hand-picked selection of the best outdoor gear, curated around a specific theme and customized for your interests. The recent “North Bound,” for example, included a pocket stove, gear clip, gaiter, glow-in-the-dark keychain, coffee and dirty chai — all from top brands. You also get discounts, tips and a monthly challenge which can win you prizes. Get ready to explore. Price: From $29.99/month
Billed as the sneaker club for adventurous kids, this is such a smart idea because little feet are always outgrowing their shoes. Choose how often you want new ones — from four times a year to every month — and, each time, you’ll get to pick from a variety of Nike and Converse styles. They’ll be delivered in a personalized box with your child’s name on it, along with exclusive activity pages. Twice a year, you’ll receive a prepaid bag to send back old shoes to be recycled or donated, depending on their condition. Deciding whether to get these for all your kids? Just do it. Price: From $20/month
Just seeing the quarterly Spiritú box in your mailbox will make you feel good. Each artful box features—and supports—the work of Latina artisans, creators and entrepreneurs. In the current box, for example, you’ll find handcrafted shawls and earrings, along with a variety of beauty products and a handmade bracelet that gives back to LIDE Haiti. Price: From $39.99
Books can take us places even if we never leave the comfort of our sofa. Every three months, The Wordy Traveler carefully handpicks a selection of books about a place probably on your bucket list (the current offering focuses on Greece) to send out in their season travel collection boxes. Because a good book should be accompanied by a good cup of tea, they also include an ethically sourced premium tea from that region, as well as a limited-edition fine art print. A portion of proceeds from every box help support education for women and girls around the world, encouraging more readers. Price: From $49.99
California dreaming on such a winter’s day? This box will make those dreams come true through a unique monthly collection of products made by artisans in the Golden State. You’ll find great jewelry, cosmetics, culinary treats and accessories—all created locally and many giving back in some way. California Found also gives back as a member of 1% for the Planet. This is a box that helps you look good while doing good. Hello, sunshine, indeed! Price: From $49
The best thing about traveling is getting to experience a place like a local. This subscription gets it right by immersing you in the best of a city. You get to taste the food it’s famous for and you’re gifted locally made items you would likely buy yourself as souvenirs. Plus, maps, history and fun facts are included, so you’ll feel like you’ve actually visited cities from Albuquerque to Brooklyn to Moab. Price: From $39/month
Raise the next generation of travelers with this educational and entertaining subscription that will send kids running to the mailbox in anticipation every month. Choose from the USA edition or the World Edition that comes in an adorable little suitcase. Each kit focuses on specific states or countries, and features a world-class selection of souvenirs, hands-on activities, maps and toys. “The passport is the new diploma,” Keith Bellows, late editor of National Geographic Traveler, once said. With its rich content and fascinating fare, he could easily have been talking about Little Passports. Price: From $12.95/month
If you crave the sand and ocean, this is the box for you. Even if you live in the heart of an urban area, SeaCrate will deliver the best of the coast to you every month. The current Tidal Treasures theme features beachy items for home, bath and body including jewelry, tasty treats and a beautifully illustrated calendar to get you through next year. Price: From $42/month
Delysia INDULGE: Personal Chocolate Experience
Acclaimed chocolatier Nicole Patel has created an exclusive chocolate subscription box that is so beautiful and so delicious, it’s pretty much the perfect gift for anyone. Not only does it include limited-production chocolate truffles, barks and confections, but it also provides complimentary tickets to Delysia’s popular SAVOR chocolate tastings in Texas as well as other events. Sweet. Price: $59.99/month
Universal Yums takes you around the globe, delivering snacks from a different country every month so you can taste sweets and savories you may never otherwise get a chance to try. The box also comes with a 12-page booklet so you can learn more about what you’re eating as well as the culture that celebrates it. This is the ultimate food tour! Price: From $13.75
Everything is better with a British accent, and these snacks are the ones most of us bring home with us whenever we visit the U.K. Each month features ten signature items, including classic chocolates (oh, Cadbury!), childhood favorites, savory snacks and a mystery mix n’ mix bag. This box is a delight in any language. Price: From $22/month
This aptly-titled collection brings a ray of sunshine to your mailbox with its tropical touches, palm trees and pelicans. So when you can’t go on vacation, it comes to you via full-sized beauty products, snacks, fashion and home accessories. Having a bi-monthly subscription is truly like a day at the beach. Price: From $39.99