The 16 best travel gifts to buy for Father’s Day

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.


Father’s Day is right around the corner (June 20), so we’ve gathered the top 16 travel gifts to inspire him to get back on the road after a long year of staying at home.

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And if you play your cards right, you can earn bonus points on your Father’s Day gift purchases to use toward your next trip, too. First off, you’ll want to use one of the best cards for online shopping, such as the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American ExpressBank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card or Chase Freedom Unlimited.

The information for the Amex EveryDay Preferred card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You can also take advantage of online shopping portals to rack up miles with your favorite airline and earn even more points to travel. This is something we like to call double-dipping since these miles are in addition to the credit card points and miles you earn.

Since Father’s Day is coming up in a few weeks, you’ll want to be proactive and order your gift sooner rather than later. Plus, depending on what credit card you have, you can get free two-day shipping from a handful of major retailers thanks to a program called ShopRunner.

Here are our favorite gifts for the dad who loves to travel this Father’s Day.

MasterClass membership

(Photo courtesy of Masterclass)
(Image courtesy of MasterClass)

MasterClass became quite popular throughout the pandemic as we were staying at home. This monthly membership features classes from world-renowned CEOs, chefs, authors, athletes and more. You can blame us if you have a hard time pulling him away from the computer later.

To buy: The $15-per-month membership is billed annually, bringing the total to $180. You can sign up directly on the website. If you’re a cardholder of The Platinum Card® from American Express, use the temporary $30 monthly PayPal credit perk until June 30 to lower the annual cost of the MasterClass membership to $150. Enrollment required for select benefits.

Related: 18 creative ways to use Amex Platinum’s monthly $30 PayPal credit

Vintage travel poster

(Photo courtesy of Etsy)
(Image courtesy of Etsy)

Bring your dad back to the golden age of travel with a vintage travel poster. Whether he’s more of a Pan Am or TWA guy, these will no doubt put a smile on his face.

To buy: There are a ton of posters available via Etsy, from just $4 each.

Related: First impressions of the TWA Hotel in New York

Skyroam Solis Wi-Fi hot spot

(Photo courtesy of Skyroam)
(Photo courtesy of Skyroam)

Since international travel’s picking back up, we know Dad will want to stay connected (especially to watch those aforementioned MasterClass classes). The Skyroam Solis hot spot will keep him connected anywhere he is in the world. It has LTE speed for up to five users and comes with more than 18 hours of battery life — and he can even use it to power up his smartphone and tablet.

To buy: Wi-Fi day passes are $9; you can also pay $9 per 1GB a month or buy an unlimited monthly subscription for $99 a month.

Goldbelly food delivery

(Photo courtesy of Goldbelly)
(Image courtesy of Goldbelly)

While you might not be able to hop on a flight and go dine with your dad for Father’s Day, that doesn’t mean he can’t have a meal from one of his favorite restaurants. We’re fans of Goldbelly since they deliver food from some of the country’s top restaurants anywhere within the U.S. For Father’s Day, we’d recommend Westholme Wagyu, Joe’s Pizza or Buffalo wings from Bar Bill Tavern.

To buy: Goldbelly prices vary depending on what you order.

Related: Take a trip around the country with these famous foods delivered straight to your door

Clear membership

(Photo courtesy of Clear)
(Image courtesy of Clear)

Frequent flyers are obsessed with Clear, and once you have it, you’ll understand why. It helps you clear (no pun intended) security in no time at all, so Dad never has to worry about missing another flight. And now, more than ever, it’s a great way to escape the crowds at the airport (and go through security using just your eye scan) — a perk that Dad will no doubt appreciate once he gets back on the road.

To buy: The normal rate for a Clear membership is $179 per year. TPG readers, however, can use the promo code TPG149 to get a discounted membership of $149 for the first year or can use the promo code TPG2M to get a two-month free trial membership. Additionally, both Delta and United have partnered with Clear to offer special membership rates — you can learn more here.

Lululemon At Ease joggers

(Photo courtesy of Lululemon)
(Photo courtesy of Lululemon)

Once Dad has these joggers, he’s not going to want to travel in anything else. They’re incredibly soft and comfortable — so much so that he’ll be itching to sit on a 16-hour flight. If that’s not on his radar anytime soon, though, they’re excellent for lounging around the house and eating food from Goldbelly. Sounds like a great Father’s Day to us.

To buy: $128 from Lululemon.

Lululemon City Sweat pullover

(Photo courtesy of Lululemon)

Dad will always appreciate a new travel hoodie. This one from Lululemon is designed for those on the go with a soft French terry fabric. There’s even hidden pockets that make it ideal for travel.

To buy: While the City Sweat hoodies typically retail for $118, a handful of colors are on sale for just $59 on Lululemon’s website.

Briggs and Riley expandable toiletry kit

(Photo courtesy of Briggs and Riley)
(Photo courtesy of Briggs and Riley)

Dad could use a new toiletry kit for his next travels, no matter where they may take him. We like this expandable bag from Briggs and Riley in particular. It’s sleek yet functional and sure to fit all of Dad’s essentials (and then some). Even if he’s not ready to pack his bags just yet, there’s never been a better time for him to clean out his bathroom and organize his toiletries … right?

To buy: $75 from Briggs and Riley.

Adidas Ultraboost 20 shoes

(Photo courtesy of Adidas)
(Photo courtesy of Adidas)

You can never go wrong with a pair of Ultraboost sneakers from Adidas — in fact, they made our list of the best travel shoes. They come in more colors than you could dream of (we wouldn’t blame you if you ended up getting a pair for him and you) and are the ideal travel shoe. You can easily wear them on the plane and keep them on while you explore your new destination, even if that’s just a trip to the grocery store.

To buy: Adidas makes a handful of Ultraboost sneakers, but the “20” retails for $180 on their website (currently on sale for $158). At the time of publication, there are a handful of other Ultraboost styles on sale through Adidas, too.

Anker portable charger

(Photo courtesy of Amazon)
(Photo courtesy of Amazon)

Once Dad hits the road again, he’s not going to want to stop and charge his phone. Anker’s portable charger is one of our favorites to make sure all of your electronics are ready to take on the day.

To buy: $49.99 on Amazon.

Related: 8 Amazon hacks you’ll want to know before your next order

Buffway slim minimalist leather wallet

(Photo courtesy of Amazon)
(Photo courtesy of Amazon)

If your dad has a bunch of credit cards, well, he’s in good company. This wallet is small and compact enough to slip in his jeans pocket and features a handful of slots for all his most-used credit cards. He can even store cash and will find space for his hotel room key and license in here. TPG credit cards editor Juan Ruiz swears by this wallet to carry the seven credit cards in his daily rotation.

To buy: $12.99 on Amazon.

Malin+Goetz Detox face mask

(Photo courtesy of Malin + Goetz)
(Photo courtesy of Malin+Goetz)

Your dad will thank us for this. Trust us. The face mask only takes five minutes and removes all the grime and dirt — you know, the stuff that accumulates after lots of frequent travel. If anything, it might remind him of the Delta Sky Club since they used to stock the bathrooms with Malin+Goetz products.

To buy: You can buy directly on the Malin+Goetz website for $46.

Related: How to make your home feel like a five-star hotel

Authorized credit card user

(Photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy)

Give Dad some of the perks of having one of the top travel cards. If you have The Platinum Card from American Express, for example, you can make Dad an authorized user. He’ll get access to booking hotels through Fine Hotels & Resorts, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit (every 4 or 4 1/2 years, respectively) and access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection as well as Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Delta Sky Clubs. Enrollment required for select benefits. 

To buy: It costs an additional $175 per year to add up to three authorized users to your Amex Platinum card (see rates and fees). To do so, log in to your account, scroll down to Amex Offers & Benefits and click “Add Someone” next to “Add an Additional Card Member.” Since the annual price is the same whether you add one or three authorized users, think through who else you might want to add!

Related: Cards with the greatest value for authorized users

Guidance Whiskey

(Photo courtesy of Guidance Whiskey)
(Photo courtesy of Guidance Whiskey)

Dad could probably use a drink (or two) right now, so why not get a bottle of his favorite liquor? We especially like Guidance Whiskey — it “represents all those that came before and those that helped along the way,” as well as the journey along the way.

To buy: $59.99 from Guidance Whiskey.

Apple AirPods Pro

(Photo courtesy of Apple)
(Photo courtesy of Apple)

The AirPods Pro are going to be a game changer for your dad. They’re compact and comfortable and cancel out ambient plane noise. While they might not be as effective as standard noise-canceling headphones, they’re more than adequate for most travelers, not to mention much more portable and compact.

To buy: They’re available for $249 on Apple and come with free engraving. But keep an eye out on Amazon as prices there can fluctuate. They’re also sold at Best Buy, and we’ve seen Amex Offers for bonus points on purchases there from time to time. At the time of publication, they’re on sale for $209.99 at B&H Photo and Video.

Related: 5 reasons Apple’s AirPods Pro are my new go-to for long-haul flights

Apple Watch

(Photo courtesy of Apple)

Apple released their Series 6 version of the Apple Watch in the fall, and we’re huge fans of the new features. It measures blood oxygen levels and has ECG capabilities with an always-on Retina display.

To buy: You can find the Series 6 Apple Watch starting at $399 on Apple or $375 on Amazon but note that you can get cheaper versions such as the Apple Watch SE (from $279) or the Series 3 Apple Watch (from $199).

Additional reporting by Stella Shon.

Featured photo by Vladimir Serov for Getty Images.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.


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