21+ Fantastic Christmas Gifts to Send Overseas

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As the days get shorter and the temperatures get colder, we start thinking about the upcoming holiday season.

From shopping for gifts to decorating the tree, it’s a festive season that most look forward to all year long.

But what do you do if you have friends or family abroad and want to show them a little holiday cheer?

Sending a Christmas gift abroad can be tricky, but with a bit of planning, you can make your loved ones abroad feel special this holiday season.

Whether you’re sending a gift to your family members living in another country or a friend who moved overseas, I’ve rounded up a selection of thoughtful Christmas gifts to send abroad that will bring a smile to the faces of your friends and family far away.

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Editor’s Choices: Christmas Gifts to Send Overseas

The Top Gift Ideas to Send Abroad for Christmas

1. World voltage adaptor and converter

If your loved one lives abroad, they probably have several electric appliances they can’t use due to the different plugs.

Numerous countries have differently shaped power plugs; they’ll likely need an adapter to connect their electronic items to a power source after moving abroad.

Rather than spending money on new products, you can gift them an adaptor connecting their electronics to the power source.

I like the FOVAL International Travel Adaptor Power Step Down 220v to 110v Voltage Converter.

Despite its small size, a FOVAL International Travel Adaptor is compact, easy to transport during a move, and simultaneously powers multiple devices, including health devices like CPAP machines.

2. Travel journal

A beautiful travel journal is one of my favorite Christmas gifts to send overseas.

Your friend will have the opportunity to journal and transcribe the details about their new adventure abroad.

I like this journal option because you can customize the exterior of the journal with your friend’s name and favorite color.

Unlike social media, your friend will have a space to record intimate details about their trip that they may not want publicly shared.

3. Give them an experience in their new home

Experience gifts are my favorite presents to give overseas friends!

It takes time to get acquainted with a new city.

If your loved one recently moved abroad, help them explore the local attractions this holiday season by purchasing an experience through GetYourGuide or Viator.

4. A care package of food from home

In my family, food is part of our yearly Christmas traditions.

If your loved one is missing their favorite holiday snacks from home this year, send them some curated tasty treats to help them fight homesickness.

While I’m sure your friend has been enjoying the local cuisine, they’ll love having a personal stash of comfort foods in their new home.

I love receiving a thoughtful gift box from Packed with Purpose because they have delectable treats.

Also, the company directs its profits towards benefiting suppliers that serve specific communities and the environment.

A Packed with Purpose bundle is a present you’ll feel good about giving and an edible gift your friend will love receiving.

5. A subscription to Scott’s Cheap Flights

Is one of the reasons your loved one isn’t coming home because they couldn’t afford the flight?

Flight expenses are one of the priciest hassles about moving abroad–especially during the holiday season.

The price of airfare can be a barrier for your friend to make special visits back home for the holidays or keep them from traveling to other incredible places near their new city.

However, some fantastic resources are out there to help cut costs on flight expenses.

Purchasing a subscription to Scott’s Cheap Flights has been one of my favorite methods for saving money on flight expenses.

Flight Experts at Scott’s Cheap Flights discover flight deals specific to your preferred airports and notify you of the flight deals.

Subscribers have saved nearly 90% on flight fees when using this subscription service.

6. Create a photobook of memories

Year’s end is a time to reflect on the past twelve months and look ahead to the future.

One of my favorite Christmas gifts to send overseas is a Mixbook.

You can take all your favorite memories and amazing photos you’ve captured together over your past visits to give them a sentimental gift as a touch of home while they’re away.

I have a complete guide on creating a Mixbook if you’re interested in learning more!

7. Language learning subscription

I’ve made so many mistakes mispronouncing words in foreign languages–especially Italian.

I studied Italian in school for years, and although I now live in Italy, there are still days when I butcher one of the languages of love.

While it often provides locals with some entertainment, it can be pretty embarrassing not to be fluent in the local language.

Encourage your friend to practice their new language by buying a Babbel or Pimsleur subscription.

I love these two language learning programs because they have interactive interfaces, which makes language learning fun and easy.

Also, their subscriptions can be accessed from smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

8. VPN subscription

Tech experts advise that everyone should use a VPN subscription as a primary way to protect their private data on electronic devices, especially when using a public internet connection.

Using a personal VPN will help prevent scammers from accessing your friend’s personal information when they log onto insecure WIFI in airport terminals, train stations, and unfamiliar cafes.

The most popular VPN service for everyday consumers is NordVPN.

It’s a perfect Christmas gift for a friend abroad since all you need to do is pay the subscription or purchase fee and send them the set-up information–no mailing required!

9. Kindle Paperwhite

If your friend loves reading books but likes to explore the world, consider giving them a Kindle Paperwhite eReader.

This device is designed specifically for reading, with up to ten weeks of battery from a single charge, warm light view options, and allows users to read books while offline.

Plus, since this device is waterproof, you don’t have to worry about accidentally getting wet.

10. High-quality SSD hard drive

My external hard drive was one of the most essential items I brought when I moved abroad.

I have libraries of family pictures, research papers from college, and other documents that I definitely do not want to lose.

Check in with your friend–are they running out of space on their computer hard drive?

If so, a high-quality SSD hard drive is one of the best gifts to send abroad for Christmas for them.

With the Samsung SD T7 Portable External Solid State Drive 1TB, you can easily access your data anywhere thanks to its compact size and lightweight design.

A solid-state hard drive means no moving parts inside, so they don’t break as easily as a hard-disk external hard drive.

This portable drive features a USB Type C connector that allows you to connect the device directly to your computer without having to remove it from another port.

And with a capacity of 1 TB, this drive gives you plenty of room to save your favorite music, videos, and other media.

11. Personalized luggage tag

Lost luggage won’t be found without a luggage tag listing your contact information.

If your friend is worried about checking their suitcase the next time they plan on flying home, gift them custom luggage tags (along with an AirTag!)

These lightweight luggage tags are durable cast acrylic, making them extremely strong and resilient.

They’re available in a variety of colors, so you can choose the color that matches your luggage perfectly.

They’re also very discreet, so your personal information can’t be read from far away–you have to get close to the luggage tag to read the information.

12. A small personal safety device

This Christmas, give the practical gift of safety and peace of mind.

When I lived in New York City, keeping a bottle of pepper spray on my keyring always made me feel a little bit safer.

Although you can’t take pepper spray on a plane when moving abroad, you can bring a personal safety alarm.

She’s Birdie–The Original Personal Safety Alarm is a device made by women, for women, to keep us safe.

It comes with a 130dB siren and strobe light, which helps create a diversion and alert your immediate area if you’re being attacked.

13. American measuring cups

When cooking or baking, American recipes use imperial measurements. However, most of the rest of the world uses the metric system.

If your friend abroad loves to cook or bake, gift them a set of American measuring cups so they can make their favorite Christmas recipes overseas.

Otherwise, you’ll have to convert the measurements every time you need to weigh flour, eggs, butter, and every other ingredient.

14. Personalized photo blanket

Personalized blankets are great Christmas gifts to send overseas since they’re thoughtful, practical, and unique.

You create a design on Canva or Shutterfly’s system with pictures of your favorite memories together and print it on a sherpa, fleece, or plush fleece blanket, or use one of their pre-made templates.

These are perfect for cozying up on cold winter nights, and what better way than with your most heartwarming memories.

15. Create a playlist with your favorite music

Bringing it back old school with a modern twist!

Instead of making a mixed tape, or burning a CD with your favorite music, create a festive Christmas playlist on Spotify and listen to your favorite holiday music together–no matter where you are in the world.

16. Get them a museum card or city pass

Another one of the best Christmas gifts to send overseas is gifting them a membership to a museum or historical society in their city abroad.

By joining a historical organization, they might receive exclusive access to their archives, discounted admission to events and sites, or unique research opportunities.

They’ll be able to engage with like-minded individuals, learn more about their favorite topics, and make new friends while living abroad.

17. Give them a One Day University subscription

A One Day University subscription is another excellent gift to send abroad for Christmas since it’s an online subscription.

With hundreds of recorded lectures to choose from, the recipient of this gift certificate can select a course tailored to their specific interests.

Topics range from history to mathematics, musical theatre to mental health.

They will have the opportunity to learn from the world’s leading professors and educators you ordinarily need to pay thousands of dollars to access.

This is an ideal gift for expats passionate about learning but may not have the time to commit to a traditional university setting.

18. Or a Curiosity Stream subscription

With Curiosity Stream, the gift of knowledge and exploration is genuinely priceless.

This documentary subscription service provides access to thousands of high-quality documentaries and series, with topics ranging from science to history and culture.

Available to stream whenever you have a connection, it’s easy to watch on any device, and subscription plans are affordable at just $20 per year.

With its diverse library, professional production values, and focus on lifelong learning, a Curiosity Stream Documentary Subscription is a great Christmas gift.

Even better, if your friend is also a history lover, you can bundle a subscription to One Day University and Curiosity Stream!

19. A gift card to their favorite store

Although this seems like an obvious choice for a Christmas gift, hear me out!

Every country has its own cool stores, in addition to the major global retailers.

In Italy, we have brands like United Colors of Benetton, OVS, and La Rinascente that you typically can’t find in the United States.

Or they’d love an Apple gift card to buy a new phone or an Amazon gift card since they ship almost anywhere.

This way, they’ll be able to shop in their abroad country conveniently without having to worry about shipping costs.

Just make sure to read the fine print–there are often restrictions on using gift cards out of the country they were purchased in.

20. A map of their hometown

Homesickness can really kick in, especially around the holidays.

If your loved one is really missing home this Christmas season, consider sending them a beautiful map of their hometown.

This personalized map shows off the beauty of your chosen city.

It is a fun, decorative piece to hang in their home and provides a meaningful reminder of the places and memories that have shaped their life and the journey they took to get to where they are today.

Each map is printed on museum-quality art papers, making it a true piece of art.

21. Have their favorite flowers delivered

Sending your loved one a delivery of fresh flowers is a great Christmas gift, no matter how far away they are.

1-800-FLOWERS is a worldwide company that can provide same-day and next-day flower deliveries (in some countries) to over 195 countries.

You can tailor a bouquet to your friend’s tastes with a wide array of arrangements and customizable options.

You can be sure of the quality and freshness of the flowers thanks to the expert selection processes that 1-800-FLOWERS uses.

Or, if you do a quick Google search of their city abroad, you can find a least a few local businesses that can get beautiful, fresh flowers to them just in time for the holidays.

The Best Christmas Gifts to Send Overseas: FAQs

Christmas Gifts to Send Overseas: Wrap-Up

Whether you send a personalized, physical gift, a digital subscription, or a gift voucher, there are so many incredible Christmas gifts to send overseas. With all the options available, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for your loved one abroad.

Lyndsay

Read More

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• 40+ of the Best Travel Gifts Under $20
• 13 Top Zero-Waste Travel Essentials for the Eco-Friendly Traveler
• The Most Important Things to do Before Traveling

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