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Travel gifts under $25

Gift exchanges, going-away presents, a thank-you for the friend who drove the whole way — sometimes the budget is $25 and the person loves to travel. Here is how to find something they will use on the next trip without going over.

Updated 2026-10-17 · Every case $24.99 · free US shipping · free 30-day returns

The maths

Every Park Bound case is $24.99 and shipping is free within the US, so the total stays under $25. Nothing is added at checkout. Returns are free within 30 days, which helps when you are not sure of their phone.

Why a phone case works as a travel gift

On a trip, the phone is the ticket, the map, the camera and the boarding pass. A case is used constantly, weighs nothing and takes no space in a carry-on. It is one of the few under-$25 gifts that does not become clutter.

Picks for the traveller

Sunset over golden water, a misty village in a mountain valley, a green valley full of wildflowers, and a blue-and-gold wave for the beach crowd.

Picks for the animal lover who travels

A puffin on a sea cliff, a sea turtle in clear shallows and a stag in the mist.

Secret Santa and going-away gifts

Orders ship within 48 business hours and delivery depends on the carrier. For the winter holidays we recommend ordering by Dec 14 for the best chance of US delivery by Dec 25. If the exchange is before it arrives, print a free gift ticket and put that in the envelope.

Making it look like more

• Wrap it in an old paper map.
• Tie on a luggage tag with their name.
• Add a printed photo from a trip you took together.

If you do not know their phone

A digital gift card lets them choose the design and model. It is the safest option for a coworker or a friend of a friend.

A few more under-$25 travel ideas

• A packing cube set, for the friend whose suitcase is always chaos.
• A small travel journal and a good pen.
• A universal adapter for the friend heading abroad.
• A refillable toiletry bottle set for carry-on-only travellers.

Any of these pairs nicely with a case if you want to stretch the budget a little, or stands on its own if the case is not right for them.

For frequent flyers

Frequent flyers have their routine nailed: the same carry-on, the same airport snack, the same seat. A new case is one of the few things that freshens up the routine without adding weight. A calm view — sunset water, a misty valley — is a nice thing to look at in a departure lounge.

For the friend who always drives

Every group has one person who always drives on trips. A small thank-you for all those miles goes a long way: a case with a road-trip view, a fuel gift card and a playlist you made for the next drive. It costs little and says a lot.

For a group gift exchange with a travel theme, you could even coordinate: everyone draws a name and picks the view that best matches that person's dream destination. It makes the unwrapping half the fun, as people guess which place was chosen for whom and why.

More ideas on the gifts page, or use the route finder.

One last tip

The most memorable small travel gifts connect to a real trip: the place they are about to visit, a trip you took together, or the dream destination they keep talking about. Pick the view that matches, write one line on the gift ticket about why, and the price stops mattering. A small gift chosen with the next journey in mind always feels bigger than it is.

Questions

More gift guides

• Gifts for theme-park fans — For the season-pass holder who knows every wait time by heart.
• Road-trip & national-park gifts — For the friend collecting park stamps and highway miles.
• Adventure gifts for teens — Bold outdoorsy designs for teens who never sit still.