Compression socks
Long-haul flights do horrible things to your legs. We both wear these on anything over four hours now — your ankles will thank you.
No random gadgets you’ll never pack. Everything here is something we use ourselves — tested on long-haul flights, road trips and more than 20 trips around the world.
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Long-haul flights do horrible things to your legs. We both wear these on anything over four hours now — your ankles will thank you.
Long flights are a completely different experience with a decent pillow. Worth every cent once you’re past the four-hour mark.
For flights, overnight trains and hotels with thin curtains. A good one stays put and actually blocks the light.
Noisy hotels, loud flights, Padraig snoring after a long travel day. You only need them once to never travel without them again.
These genuinely changed how we pack. Less chaos, more space, and you can actually find things when you arrive.
We started using these after a bag went missing in Lisbon. Now they go in every checked bag — total peace of mind at the carousel.
Keeps passport, cards and boarding pass together. Saves so much rooting around at check-in — and the Irish one is a lovely touch.
A tiny thing that saves a lot of airport stress. We weigh our bags before we leave the house every single time.
You only forget this once. One adapter covers almost everywhere — one less thing to panic about at the gate.
Some hotel rooms don’t have one, and we don’t function before a cup of tea. Folds flat, works everywhere.
For airport mornings and long drives. Keeps things hot for hours and fits in a car cup holder.
For long driving days, picnics and beach stops. We bring one on every road trip and wonder why we ever didn’t.
Picnics, airport food, long train journeys — this bamboo set lives permanently in our day bag.
The one we use for nearly every reel where we’re both in shot. Lightweight, extends well, folds down to nothing.
Compact enough to go everywhere, sturdy enough to actually use. We’ve had cheap ones collapse mid-shot in enough countries to know the difference.
For boat trips, beach days and anywhere your phone shouldn’t go but you want it anyway. Keeps everything dry.
For the person who has every gadget already: book them something to do on their next trip.
Skip-the-line tickets, food tours, Christmas market trips and day tours all over the world. Many have free cancellation, handy if their dates aren’t fixed yet.
For a special birthday or anniversary: a multi-day guided tour, all organised. It’s how we did Morocco — one of the best trips we’ve ever taken.
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Practical things they’ll use on every trip make the best travel gifts — packing cubes, an AirTag for their luggage, a universal adapter or a good travel pillow. For something more memorable, give an experience: a day tour, food tour or attraction ticket for their next trip.
Small things that solve real travel annoyances: ear plugs, an eye mask, a luggage scale, compression socks or an Irish passport wallet. They’re inexpensive but get used on every single trip.
Yes — booking a day trip, food tour or attraction ticket for their next holiday makes a lovely gift. Many activities on GetYourGuide have free cancellation, which helps if travel dates aren’t fixed yet; check each listing’s terms before you book.
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