Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is coming and it’s time to spoil your better half.
While flowers and chocolates are all well and good (what girl doesn’t love a bouquet of red roses!), true travel lovers will be impressed by a travel-inspired Valentine’s gift.
I scoured the web for romantic travel gifts that don’t cost a fortune. Because let’s face it, we’d all rather save money for a vacation than buy a tacky present. If you’re short on budget for a romantic weekend, here’s the next best thing…
personalized travel posters
Best for: Couples who have traveled together
If you’ve traveled a lot together, this is a great present to remind you of all the trips you’ve taken together. Customize it with a print of places you’ve been or plan on going together in the future.
travel list
Perfect for: People who like to make plans
I have this book and I love it, even though I’m sure it’s made for kids. A must buy for anyone who loves planning future trips or reminiscing about past trips.
mittens for couples
Perfect for: Outdoor-loving couples with a good sense of humor
If you like long walks and walking hand in hand, you need these mittens. Holding hands with gloves on is different, so get your Smitten Mittens ready. One mitten is a regular mitten, and the other is a pair of mittens that you wear together, so you can put your hands together in the middle and get a hands-on experience. Oh, how sweet.
leather world map wallet
Best for: Men (because it’s really hard for men to shop on Valentine’s Day!)
It’s hard to buy romantic gifts for men that aren’t too clingy. I also like that it comes in a world map tin.
personalized love letter necklace
Best for: Romantics
Who doesn’t enjoy receiving love letters? Well, I haven’t had one since I was about 11 years old, but I’m sure I still love it. Even better if it comes as jewelry.
travel amenity gift set
Best for: People who like to be pampered
Don’t ask me why, but all girls love miniature amenities. It’s super cute, you can try lots of new products, and it’s really useful if you’re traveling with hand luggage only.
Kindle
Best for: Bookworms
There’s no better gift for a book lover than a Kindle. I know a lot of you are book purists and love good old paper and ink, but trust me, once you try Kindle, you’ll never go back.
Kindles are great for traveling because you can download guidebooks and you don’t have to carry around heavy books.
Although high-end Kindles are now available, I still choose the standard Kindle. If it’s not broken, then everything else. Also, with all the flashy features on your Kindle, social media and email notifications can distract you from your book. Keep it simple.
Trtl Sleep Scarf®
Best for: People who are planning a long flight
ONA camera bag
Perfect for: Energetic, happy travelers
Most travelers like to frolic and be happy. If your loved one has a DSLR camera, check out ONA’s line of luxury camera bags. I like that it doesn’t advertise the fact that you’re carrying an expensive camera because it looks like a regular bag and not a camera bag.
handmade instagram collage
Perfect for: Crafty types and buyers on a budget
Remember when I made Instagram collages for less than $10? No? Go and check it out. This collage makes a thoughtful and unique gift. And it’s very cheap!
Airplane ticket!
Best for: Earn brownie points
For travel enthusiasts, there may be nothing better than a flight to a new place, so we’ve saved the best until last. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can buy super-cheap flights so you don’t have to worry about booking accommodation, food, and activities on a shared budget.
Read more: How to give the holidays as a gift
If all else fails, card them. Grab your printer paper and felt-tip pens and let’s get crazy! The more hearts and vulgar poetry, the better.