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Do you have travel lovers on your holiday shopping list? Are you looking for ways to spend more quality time with your family? Do you want to give your family experiences instead of stuff this year? If so, here are 7 smart ways to give the gift of travel to the ones you love this year, regardless of your budget.
Idea #1: Give a piece of a trip
Do you want to give the gift of travel to a special someone this year but can’t afford to pay for an entire trip? No worries! Give them a part of a trip instead.
Consider giving them airline tickets or paying for a hotel room. You could also pay for the rental car during a trip. Alternatively, you could buy tickets to an experience or attraction for them to do during the trip.
For newlyweds or someone celebrating a special occasion on a trip, you could give them an upgrade on their hotel or flight. You could also call the hotel and arrange for a special gift, such as champagne or chocolate covered strawberries, to be waiting in their hotel room upon arrival.
Want to surprise someone taking a Disney trip with a special gift? If they are staying at a Disney resort hotel, contact Disney Floral and Gifts. They have a wide variety of gifts from stuffed characters to chocolates to flowers. Plus, they can leave it in the recipient’s hotel room for them!
(To stretch your budget even further, see our tips on saving money on rental cars, hotels, and flights to get the most bang for your buck in the process.)
Idea #2: Give money
Another gift idea is money. This is, by far, the easiest way to give the gift of travel, not only for you but for your favorite travelers too. By giving money, you enable your loved ones to put your gift to the best use.
They can either use the money to pay for a portion of the trip, or they can take the money with them to use for food and souvenirs while traveling.
Anytime my mom asks me what I want for my birthday or Christmas, my answer is always money for my next trip!
Idea #3: Give gift cards
A great alternative to money is gift cards, especially if the recipients may be tempted to spend the money before they leave for vacation.
These days, you can easily find gift cards for hotel chains and airlines anywhere gift cards are sold. You could also give gift cards to a favorite restaurant that they can use on their trip.
Consider giving general ones, such as Visa gift cards, to your favorite travelers. These are great because they can be used to pay for various things, including hotel rooms and rental cars.
If someone on your list is planning a trip to Disney World or Disneyland, consider giving them Disney gift cards.
Whenever my husband is at a loss for gift ideas for me, he always gives me a Disney gift card. And it is always a winner!
Another good option is to buy a CityPass for the destination city your loved ones are headed to next. Most large cities have these cards which give you discounts on most of the city’s popular attractions.
Idea #4: Pass on your rewards points
If you are a frequent traveler yourself, you may have accumulated airline miles or hotel loyalty reward points. A great way to give the gift of travel is to give these points or miles to your loved ones.
These points or miles can be an easy way to give a free hotel room, airline ticket, or maybe just an upgrade.
But, know that when you give someone your airline miles, you may have to pay a transaction fee. For more information on gifting airline miles, look at this article from Forbes magazine.
Another way to give the gift of travel through points is to use your timeshare for your loved ones’ vacation stay.
Idea #5: Buy luggage
If you would rather have something to actually wrap, luggage is always a good option for the travel lovers in your life. Luggage is something every traveler needs.
So, whether you decide to buy a new carry-on bag or an entire set, your favorite travelers will be thrilled with your gift! But, spend the money to buy good quality luggage that will withstand the test of time.
Additionally, opt for more colorful and unique luggage as opposed to the traditional black. This will make it easier for your family to find their luggage at baggage claim in the airport.
If you have a little traveler on your holiday shopping list, consider buying them luggage with their favorite character on it.
Idea #6: Give gadgets
Another way to give the gift of travel is to give travel-related gadgets. Whether you are looking for high-tech or low-tech items, there is an endless supply on the market these days. Gadgets can make traveling more enjoyable and convenient.
For high-tech gadgets, consider options like GPS units, cameras, noise-canceling headphones, or tablets.
If you would rather buy low-tech items, packing cubes, travel pillows, travel-size games, sunglasses, water bottles, or books are all good choices. You could also buy hiking boots, a snorkel, or other specialized gear.
For more ideas, see our guide to the best gifts for travelers and gift guide for travel-loving kids.
Idea #7: Stock up on supplies
My last idea for giving the gift of travel is to help your favorite traveler stock up on supplies needed for their trip.
These supplies can be anything from travel-size toiletries to sunscreen and bug spray. Supplies could also include beach towels, or camping supplies.
Giving these needed supplies can make planning and preparing for a trip much easier. While they may not be what you immediately think of when thinking about giving the gift of travel, they can be just as appreciated as giving a plane ticket.
Conclusion
When you have a travel lover on your holiday shopping list, it can be difficult to decide what to give them. Sometimes, giving the gift of travel can seem out of reach, but these ideas show you some options at every budget level. I hope these ideas help you with your holiday shopping!
For more ideas, see how to give the gift of Disney travel, gifts for beach lovers, unique gifts inspired by travel, and how to have amazing vacations on any budget.
Happy travels!
P.S. Need help finding the best places to go on your family vacations? My Ultimate USA Bucket List for Families will instantly give you 60 of the best vacation destinations for families in the United States! Get it for FREE in the box below and start planning your next trip today! Plus, as a bonus, you will receive my weekly email newsletter full of family trip tips and inspiration!
Great ideas, Christy!