Holiday Gift Guide for Future Study Abroad Students

10 “Must Have” Items for Every Study Abroad Student

Words by Jenna Gustafson, who studied abroad with ASA in Florence during fall semester of 2024.

My name is Jenna, and I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, in Fall 2024 with ASA! Before I went abroad, I wanted to make sure I was as prepared as I could be, but it’s hard to know what you’ll really need before actually going. In this article, I will provide the top 10 gifts or “must-haves” for study abroad students. This is a list of things I personally brought, and some that I wish I had been gifted before leaving. I will provide links to the items online, but overall, they are just suggestions and can be purchased anywhere!

1. OUTLET ADAPTOR - $19.99

An outlet adapter is an essential gift for anyone studying abroad because different countries use different plug types and voltages. This adapter from Amazon has every type of plug style for any country. Being in Italy, I had a single adapter that was widely used in EU countries, which worked great for me. However, for someone planning to travel to many other countries with different outlets, this versatile adapter would be a great option!

2. PORTABLE PHONE CHARGER - $23.99

A portable phone charger can be a lifesaver when traveling abroad. Whether I was on weekend trips or just walking around Florence for the day, my portable charger was always with me just in case. When traveling or walking around a new city, it’s very helpful to have a fully charged phone for directions or to look something up. I chose this portable charger from Amazon since it is small and easy to carry around with you, but any one will work! 
Tip: Make sure it fits your specific phone or whoever you’re buying for!

3. DIGITAL CAMERA - $129.99

Personally, my digital camera was my favorite gift I got before studying abroad! Taking pictures everywhere I traveled was something I loved doing in the moment, and now, a year later, I am so thankful that I did so that I can look back on all the amazing memories. I used the popular Kodak camera linked on Amazon. It takes great quality pictures and is easy to use! Along with the camera, you will need an SD card, also linked on Amazon. Additionally, for quick and easy upload to your phone, I would highly recommend getting the SD card reader that plugs directly into your phone! (SD CARD - $11.99, Card Reader - $9.99)

4. TRAVEL BACKPACK - $33.99

A travel backpack is a must-have for students studying abroad! It’s very common to go on weekend trips where it's not practical to bring a suitcase. I personally used this backpack linked on Amazon, and it was great! Many students use this or similar backpacks due to the size and amount they’re able to pack into them. It’s the perfect size for a weekend trip and also fits the measurements of a carry-on item for most airlines.

5. COMPRESSION PACKING CUBES - $27.99

Sticking to the theme of packing, compression packing cubes worked great for me as an over-packer. These cubes usually come with several separate bags that you can put clothes or other soft items in. Using two sets of zippers, the bags compress your items down to be much smaller than if you packed them normally. These cubes would be a great gift for anyone studying abroad who wants to keep their items organized and upgrade their packing!

6. STUFFABLE NECK PILLOW - $9.99

This one may seem silly, but I got a lot of use out of my stuffable neck pillow. This neck pillow allows you to pack even more if you’re running out of room, while being a great pillow to rest on while traveling. It acts almost as a pillow case that you stuff with clothes and clip together to become a neck pillow shape.

7. APPLE AIRTAG - BLUETOOTH TRACKER FOR LUGGAGE - $29.99

A Bluetooth tracker is one of those things you don’t realize you need until you really need it. Traveling in and out of airports, taking trains, or even exploring a new city can get a little chaotic, and being able to check on your phone where your luggage or backpack is at all times is such a relief. I used Apple AirTags throughout my semester after getting them as a gift, and they gave me peace of mind, especially when I was carrying around my passport. It’s a small, simple gift that makes traveling abroad feel less stressful, which is something every study abroad student will appreciate!

8. AIRBNB TRAVEL GIFT CARD - Amounts available from $25.00-$2,000.00

An Airbnb gift card would be an extremely useful gift for a future study abroad student. This is something I would have loved to receive before going abroad because we always stayed in Airbnbs while traveling on the weekends. This gift would definitely not go to waste!

9. COMFORTABLE WALKING SNEAKERS. 

When studying abroad, students are constantly on the go and walking everywhere. A nice pair of sneakers that will go with any outfit is a MUST! It’s difficult to bring all of your shoes abroad, so getting a good quality pair that you’d be able to walk in the whole day is very important. (This one isn't linked because everyone has their own style and brand preferences!)

10. TRAVEL JOURNAL - $25.96

A travel journal would be a very thoughtful gift for someone studying abroad. Similar to the camera, when you come back home from studying abroad, you will be dying to relive the memories and share them with your friends and family. A journal that you can use to write about your trips, new friends you meet, and the little things you loved about your experiences is the perfect way to save memories to look back on.

BONUS GIFT - LOCAL CURRENCY!

Local currency is a super practical and thoughtful gift for students heading abroad. During the first few days in a new country, it can be hard to figure out where to exchange money or which ATMs to trust, and having cash on hand makes everything so much easier. I remember being so thankful I had euros when I first landed in Florence, just for things like grabbing a coffee or paying for a taxi. It takes away a lot of the stress that comes with arrival day, and it’s a gift that will definitely be put to good use right away!

TOP PICKS FROM THE ASA TEAM: 

To go alongside Jenna's list, here are the top choices from a couple of the team members at ASA: 

• Juliana Lindsey, Senior Programs Advisor: Warm socks! Socks were the first thing gone when we did an end-of-the-semester "pick-me-up" to get through finals. Folks also took quality Chapstick. I'm always down for a beanie, too.
• Lee Frankel, Executive Director & Founder: AirTags, a quick-dry towel, and a foldable backpack.
• Kelly Kirkwood, Senior Programs Advisor: I love my SPI belt for phone and keys when traveling or hiking.
• Chelsea Kaloupek, Director: A Wander Anti-Theft Crossbody Bag and a FlyKitt anti jetlag system.
• Mary Meadows, Assistant Director, University and Alumni Relations: Packing cubes and shoe bags. 
• Katie Roller DiDonato, Assistant Director, Student Welfare & Alumni Affairs: I've been telling the students about Lonely Planet Travel Guides and the ISIC Card. And, because I've been known to blow things up with bad converters, I recommend Apple's tried and true World Travel Adapter Kit.
  
• Paul Hopkinson, Assistant Director of Growth & Partner Development: My wife got me an AIRGLO Flying Flex Tablet and Cell phone holder years ago, and I use it on flights when there is no phone holder. 
• Have some suggestions of your own? Head over to @ASAStudyAbroad on Instagram or TikTok and leave us a DM!