Jeremiah Brent’s Favorite Travel Gifts of 2024

When the holiday season rolls around, there are always a few people on your shopping list who can be tricky to buy for. Even fellow travelers can pose gift-finding problems: how many packing cubes can one person actually need? Will they really use another travel pillow? And don’t they already have a trusty carry-on? Luckily, people like Jeremiah Brent, famed interior designer and newest member of Queer Eye’s Fab Five, are here with sage advice for where to start with everyone on your list.

“For me, with the holidays, it’s so important that what I’m buying means something for the people I’m buying it for,” Brent tells Travel + Leisure. This season, he recommends taking a five-senses gift-giving approach, which he not only uses for creating gorgeous spaces for the makeover recipients on the hit Netflix show but also for treating his loved ones to thoughtful — and useful — gifts. In partnership with Klarna, an AI-powered shopping assistant that allows you to make four interest-free payments over time, Brent created a gift guide inspired by the five senses — and includes many gifts that are perfect for travelers.

Rimowa Medium 26-inch Checked Bag

Right away, we spotted the Essential Check-in Bag from T+L-approved luggage brand Rimowa on the list (Brent is also a fan himself), but it was just one of his many standout recommendations that lean into sound, scent, and taste to avoid giving another generic gift this year.

“One of the best gifts that I ever received — and that I take everywhere with me — is a small speaker,” he says. “If I’m in a city and it’s super chaotic and I still want to have a cup of coffee [while getting ready], I put my morning playlist on and it makes me feel at home wherever I’m at.”

Sonos Move 2 Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker

What Brent especially loves about shopping on Klarna is that it lets him compare prices — which is one of the first steps he takes with his holiday gift lists. Shoppers can easily compare how much an item costs across sites, making it easy to spot a deal.

“It’s never about opulence or price,” Brent emphasizes, noting that the best gifts are about personalization. “The most important things that I’ve ever received had nothing to do with how expensive they are. They were all about what story [they were] telling and the sentiment behind them.”

Another gift he recommends for travelers might also come as a surprise but makes total sense with this story-forward approach: incense. 

“Again, [it’s] this idea of taking your home or something that feels like home — or the ritual of something you would normally do at home — and bringing it with you,” he says. He recommends the Frank Bros Tom Dixon Incense Cones, which give off a citrusy, woodsy scent and can be easily toted in a carry-on. There are plenty of other incense aromas to browse, from floral to earthy (like P.F. Candle Co.’s foresty Enoki Cedar scent).

P. F. Candle Co. Enoki Cedar Incense Cones

Another idea you might not have considered for the traveler in your life is a mug — but not necessarily an on-the-go mug. While in Las Vegas shooting season 9 of Queer Eye, Brent actually bought himself the same mug he uses every day at home with his husband, fellow interior designer Nate Berkus, to drink from while filming. “I’ve had it since Nate and I got together,” he says. “It just reminds me of home. So I got one of those when I was there that I would drink out of every morning.”

Hermes H Deco Tea Cup and Saucer

If you know someone whose morning cup of coffee is an important ritual, getting a splurgy mug might be a thoughtful idea to let them feel luxurious and special in the morning — even if that morning’s brew is coming from their at-home coffee maker and not a fabulous cafe overlooking the Seine. Of course, for those friends who are always on the go, buying a travel mug like this Hydro Flask one might be just as special. It mimics a regular mug so even hotel coffees might feel a little elevated.

Hydro Flask Insulated Mug

But if you’re really looking to add a special touch to your gifts this year, Brent has just the gesture. Since joining the Queer Eye team, Brent tells T+L that the show has reminded him of the importance of connection, showing up for people, and talking to actually understand one another. Those lessons are only expounded upon during the holidays, he says: “This is the perfect time of the year for us to slow down and really look at the people who we care about and show them through our actions how much we care for them.” 

And while giving thoughtful gifts is a way that he shows up for his loved ones, Brent also learned an invaluable piece of advice from an unsuspecting mentor: Oprah. Brent and his husband have been long-time friends with Oprah since 2001 when Berkus appeared as a regular guest on her daytime show.

Rifle Paper Co. Letter Writing Set

“The most important thing she’s ever given me is a handwritten note,” he says. “She is known for them, especially with the people who know her and love her.” Some of her letters are so poignant and special that Brent and Berkus even have them framed in their home.

For Brent, sending a handwritten letter with every gift is also a crucial component. “I know it sounds cliche, but a handwritten letter expressing love, appreciation, and gratitude goes a long way,” he says. “She taught me that.”

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