The Best Subscription Gifts for Travelers
Keychains and magnets aren’t cutting it anymore. In lieu of last-minute souvenirs (though we've found some great stand-ins for those, too), opt for a gift that keeps on giving with subscription boxes that bring the world to your loved ones—wherever they may be. Each subscription box listed has a special way of enticing the five senses, and offers a unique lesson to be learned, whether it’s testing our familiarity in the kitchen, quizzing one’s self on their knowledge of a certain place, or even identifying common scents in a perfume. They also are a way to bring the world to your doorstep during seasons when travel might not fit into your plans. We’ve pulled together our 15 favorite subscription gifts for travelers in every category, from food and spices to beer and wine, perfume, travel books, and more, so your giftee has something new to unwrap each month.
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Little Passports
Subscription boxes aren’t just for adults—indulge the little travelers in your life, too. Little Passports lets children explore 12 different countries through popular food staples like Cacio e Pepe from Rome, Keema from Pujab, and Pionono from Buenos Aires. The Kitchen Adventures’ Little Passports box offers over 60 kid-friendly recipes that offer a wide range of flavors. It will give your kids a chance to not only learn about themselves by opening their palette, but to learn about different food delicacies around the world.
Rent the Runway
It’s an ideal subscription for those who are constantly looking for new vacation outfits but aren’t sure how much wear they’ll get out of them. Rent the Runway has three different membership options that allow recipients to pick out both trendy seasonal pieces and staples they’re not ready to splurge on. If there's some skepticism about committing to a monthly membership, have no fear—they also offer one time rentals.
Scentbird
Scentbird brings a wide range of perfumes and colognes to your doorstep. With a monthly membership, you’ll be able to test out two fragrances from luxury brands such as Versace, Chanel, and Dior. A bonus is that each fragrance comes in a small, TSA-approved 0.27-ounce bottle that can fit in your carry-on.
Explore Local
Fifty states is a lot of ground to cover, and trying to visit each major city can seem nearly impossible. Explore Local brings the charm of cities like Austin and Charlotte to your doorstep every month by way of local snacks and products made by small businesses and local artisans in that area. Beyond cool, local goodies, you’ll also find history facts and a map of the city in each shipment.
World Connoisseur
For those in a recipe rut, explore new recipes with World Connoisseur’s global pantry picks. Each month celebrates a new country and the unique, regional resources it has to offer. Explore Morocco through its smoky spices, Japan through its notable wasabi, or France through its revered black truffle.
The Nomadik
Your interests are at the forefront of each Nomadik shipment. The company curates each box of travel gear based on responses from the initial gear quiz that you or your giftee takes. Each month, you’ll be met with the latest supplies, clothing, and gadgets to enhance your next off-road adventure. Buy this subscription for travelers who take monthly camping trips and are looking to upgrade their gear.
Undiscovered Artisan
Explore the world through the creations of artisans. Every quarter, learn about and connect with new cultures and traditions of a region through handcrafted jewelry, clothes, art, and more. You have a choice whether to have a box curated by Undiscovered Artisan or to handpick what is sent to you. This spring, subscribers will get a peek into the different cultures and traditions from those that call the Andes Mountains home.
Superlost Coffee
Upgrade your morning coffee routine with Superlost’s subscription, which brings a pound of coffee to your door every two weeks. The company works directly with foreign farmers to source the very best beans, as well as with local, independent artists to create the packaging for each bag. For real coffee aficionados, each selection also comes with details about the specifics of the bean’s background from farming techniques used to the altitude it was grown at.
The Wordy Traveler
With this gift box, travel books are delivered on a monthly basis covering everything from guidebooks to atlases to photo essays. It’s perfect for the relative who needs some inspiration to plan a dream trip someday (or for yourself to research the next great city to check out).
Winc
Whether you (or your giftee) are the kind of wine drinker who picks out a bottle based on its design or the one who’s spent the last few months getting really into varietals and learning all about tannins, Winc has your back. Arguably one of the most popular subscription boxes, Winc brings a select number of bottles to your door and learns your preferences as you continue to rate the wines after they’re delivered, ensuring more bottles you’ll love over time.
Spice Madam
For anyone who loves spending time in the kitchen, Spice Madam could be the perfect subscription box. Spices from around the world arrive monthly to add an extra kick to any dish you want to whip up for the family. Fresh saffron, oregano, paprika, and more are all on offer to keep at-home cuisine feeling restaurant-quality.
Universal Yums
Universal Yums brings the world’s 7-Eleven counters to your doorstep with amazing snacks and candies from every continent—think Haribo gummies from Tokyo and Italian creme truffles. The boxes can't be customized, but with a mix of sweet and savory snacks in each shipment, there's bound to be something for every snacker inside.
Beer of the Month Club
For those who prefer a nice beer after a long day at the office, this monthly subscription service delivers a variety of high-quality beers for as little as $30 a month. Beer of the Month offers five different membership types, but we are partial to The International Beer Club, which sends 12 bottles each of two different beer styles from lightly distributed international craft breweries (read: you probably won't find them at your local grocery store). There's a U.S. and International Variety Beer Club, too, with bottles from four U.S. and international craft breweries in each box.
