Holiday Gift Guide for the Female Traveler in Your Life

Sometimes it can be really tricky buying the perfect gift for a loved one. Maybe, you just don't even know where to start. If you have a female traveler in your life, here's a great list of my favorite travel items that I use on a regular basis.

This stylish, well-made bag can be worn a variety of ways and holds way more than what you'd think. My husband calls this my 'Mary Poppins' bag'. While the Aeronaut 30 is very comfortable to wear as a backpack, you can also stow the straps and use the Absolute Shoulder Strap to carry it over your shoulder. The convenient handles allow for ease when storing under the seat in front of you on an airplane or in an overhead bin. Plus, the inside has tons of fun colors to choose from! This bag is amazing.

If the female traveler in your life is also eco-conscious, look into some of the amazing clothing options made by prAna, advertised as 'clothing for positive change'. They are Fair Trade Certified and use organic cotton, recycled wool and responsible down in their clothing. My personal favorites are the Halle Pant and Cozy-Up T-shirt. These clothes will make you look great and feel great about purchasing from such an environmentally friendly company.

The Osprey Fairview 40 backpack is perfect for the outdoor female traveler. There's tons of room, which is perfect for minimalist packers like myself. And I love the clamshell opening that allows you to reach items in the bottom of the bag without having to fully unpack. The straps are comfortable and specifically made for females-you'll even need to measure based on your torso length for what size will fit your frame the best. I recently took this pack on a trip to New York City and Egypt and was able to easily pack for 10 days only using this bag. It also made going through the eight airports on our itinerary a breeze because we didn't have to wait for checked luggage. On one flight, there wasn't room for me to fit this bag in the overhead, but I was easily able to fit under the seat in front of me instead.

You could certainly build your whole travel wardrobe around Betabrand products, but the Black Dress Pant Yoga Pants should be the first thing in your cart. These are professional enough for business trips but comfortable enough to wear on long flights-plus they don't seem to wrinkle! These pants made me feel like I was wearing pajamas the whole time, but instead, I kept getting compliments on how nice I looked. Do yourself a favor and go ahead and get at least two of these since they come in so many colors and styles.

Maybe you're not a minimalist packer but still wish to only have a carry-on? Organization is key then. These packing cubes work perfectly with the Aeronaut 30 (or 40 for those who need a little more room). You can fit multiple outfits in one cube when you roll them up, plus it will help you stay organized with your clean and dirty clothes.

Blanket scarves are so trendy right now, and they're perfect for travel. Airplanes get so cold and these are nice to use as a blanket or pillow while on a long flight. Then you can just loop it around your neck again and look stylish while getting off the plane.

Screaming children, constant humming engines, or just a person snoring in the seat next to you, can all be canceled out with a pair of these headphones. I love that they're wireless, but they still come with a chord in case you want to connect to the tv in the headrest in front of you. Plus, the ultra-cushiony feel of the ear pads make it feel like you're not even wearing headphones. These are the perfect gift to help someone relax during those long flights over the holidays.

This has come in handy so often while I travel. It has two US standard plugs and two USB ports. I initially got this for when I travel internationally because I only have one plug converter, but multiple electronics that need charging at one time. However, I've used this countless times stateside too when there's only one easily accessible outlet in a hotel room. This travel power strip is great, especially if you travel with a companion, so there will be no fighting over who gets to charge their phone first.

Here's the power strip I use.

Some may see the traditional passport holder as just a trendy accessory that isn't always necessary. I disagree. I don't like carrying a purse with me when I travel, so my passport holder has to have space for all my travel documents and cards. Be sure to get one that is RFID blocking to protect against electronic pickpocketing.

I love my camera, and I'm constantly taking pictures. But the most annoying message anyone can receive is the notification that your storage is full. You can either wind up missing the shot or have to quickly find other pictures to delete. Instead, do your loved one a favor and grab her a couple extra SD cards so she can continue clicking away without a worry in the world.

Like I mentioned before, I don't like carrying a purse when I travel. This is mainly because I like to keep my camera away from the elements in a camera bag, and I really don't want to be known as the 'Bag Lady' walking around the airport. Each individual-and camera/lens setup-is different, so you'll really want to tailor this to the woman in your life.

I'm an avid reader and always like to have a book with me, but I also don't want to lug ten books around because I don't know what I'm going to be in the mood to read. Kindle presents the perfect solution. It's lightweight, can easily fit in your carry-on and holds thousands of books, all at the touch of your fingertips. I love that it does not strain my eyes like staring at a computer screen can too. Sometimes I miss the feel of reading a physical book, but the pros really do outweigh the cons with this device. Plus, the new Paperwhite version is waterproof, so it's perfect for those beach vacations or reading by the pool.

This is a necessity for anyone who plans to travel overseas. Just be sure to get one that is compliant with the country you plan on visiting and that you get the correct voltage converter if necessary. A voltage converter is usually only necessary with hair dryers, but it's good to double check all your electronics.

Normally I just like using the shampoo and conditioner that comes in my hotel room, but hotels are starting to do away with mini-toiletries more and more. Therefore, I opted for this nifty little set. I can fill it with my normal shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and lotion. The bottles even come with preset labels, so you don't get them mixed up. Everything is TSA approved, so you just need to pull the clear plastic pouch out while going through security checkpoints.

Maybe you're not ready for the backpack lifestyle of minimalist traveler, but you still want to be carry-on only? Check out this high-tech carry-on luggage that's safe for flying. The Away Carry-On is the perfect hard-sided wheeled luggage for the stylish traveler. It even comes with a removeable backup battery, so you don't have to look all over the airport for an available outlet.

It stinks that you can't always trust people. Give yourself some extra peace of mind by adding a set of luggage locks to your Christmas wish list, which also happen to be the perfect stocking stuffers. Just make sure to get a set that works well with your go-to luggage.

As an extra bonus, you'll also be prepared for when you want to leave a lock on the Love Lock Bridge in Paris!

A comfortable pair of shoes is essential for any traveler, but how often can you find a comfortable pair that is also cute? Tieks Ballet Flats are the perfect solution. They are great for walking miles in, come in a multitude of colors, and are super cute! As an added bonus, these fold up, taking up hardly any space in your luggage.

Airports don't always have an outlet available when you need one. And even when you see one, it might just be a prank. Instead, come prepared with your own portable battery back-up. Just be sure to charge it at home before your next trip.

Here's the Power Bank I use when traveling.

Still unsure what to get the female traveler in your life? Go with a gift card for Google Play or iTunes-depending on their preferred platform. These are great for purchasing digital movies, music or books they can entertain themselves with en route to their next destination. If all else fails, just get an Amazon gift card. There are literally hundreds of items for every type of traveler, and you don't have to worry about duplicate gifts.

Surprise getaways are always a great idea. They don't have to be long or extravagant vacations either, just taking the time and initiative to plan a short escape will make most anyone's heart melt. Be sure to check out one of these hotels around the world offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.