This year has been a bust for the all of us. Some of us were able to travel and others postponed until 2021 for a whole list of reasons – contributed “unprecedented times” … the pandemic. COVID-19 really did a number to our plans in 2020, many postponed plans turned into maybes. That makes giving the gift of travel for the future oh so much sweeter. An experience that will last a lifetime and memories that will be shared generations on. There are many ways to give the gift of travel that don’t involve immediately hopping on a plane—you just have to get creative.
Now, giving the gift of travel can be tricky. Look beyond the material things for a trip. Shopping for people is just hard. You will either be remember as the person who gifted them their first tour to vineyard with scenery and experiences that will dub you as the best gift-er ever. Or it could turn into a tour to a vineyard not knowing that they would rather had toured a motor speedway. Or worse yet, the trip became a total bust because of some ailment. Again, shopping for people is just the worst. Why would you ever gift someone travel? That’s because experiences lead to greater levels of happiness than material goods do. Travel is a privilege that not everyone gets to partake in.
Here are some really good tips on just how to gift travel this holiday season.
Do not plan a FULL trip for someone.
Seriously, this is not what I mean by gifting someone a travel. Do not assume what you want to do on your next vacation is what your partner really want’s to do. You are going to need to consult with your recipient on what they would like to do. Yes, this will ruin the surprise but this will ensure that they will appreciate it even more. Also, take into consideration how they use their vacation days, not everyone uses them right away. Taking time out of ones schedule takes effort and not only that but added stress of trying to take off impromptu. There may be financial constraints on your recipient you may need to consideration as well. If you want to make it really special at the time of presenting the gift, reach out to a travel professional, we have so many creative ways that we can do for you. As a travel professional myself, I can assist in guiding in your budget and help you determine the best use of your funds.
Buy gift cards.
The holiday season, you will see promotions that offer gift card buyers a gift to use themselves. You will have to sign up for the suppliers (airlines, theme parks, etc.) that do these types of promotions. You can often find discounted travel gift cards or those offering some type of bonus for the purchase when you get on their mailing lists. Be warned, Airline vouchers can be restrictive, since they often only apply to a single airline, and hotel certificates can come with blackout dates.
Plan something on the beginning or toward the end of their trip.
Now that you have inquired to your recipient about a trip they would like to take, they already are in plans of doing so. Ok, now what? Gift them a massage when they arrive or the day before they leave, have champagne when they arrive to the room at resort, or arrange for them to have a private dinner on their last day of the vacation. If they are going to a resort that has excursions contact that resort to see what you can do to arrange a special excursion for them to experience. Remember to keep your recipient’s interests in mind.
Travel Accessories.
Get creative with travel accessories for your recipient. Find out what your recipient may be in need of or if there is a specific trinket you like get them one. You’d be amazed what findings you may enjoy that others did not know about. I have a little sound machine that is both a bluetooth speaker and night time saver. Think of trinkets for beauty or for on the go. Heck, gift them a new pair of travel slippers so they don’t walk barefoot in the plane. Please do not let your friends walk barefoot in the plane. Please.
Assist them in making travel plans for 2021 and beyond.
This pandemic has been a killjoy for travel plans. The thought of taking on the planning for future travel can be so overwhelming for so many people. Because we can not travel immediately does not mean you can’t plan to travel in the future. Begin with a simple construct of an itinerary with your recipient. Grab poster board and glitter to pinpoint sites, restaurants, and activities they would like to explore. Include yourself in those plans. Make spreadsheets. Contact people like me, travel professional to help get you started with options in the planning process. There is evidence that having a trip to look forward to is a gift for your mental health.
It’s probably a surprise to absolutely no one that the travel industry has been hit hard by the pandemic. Small Business Saturday really had you look into supporting your own town this past weekend. The lack of tourists in your own city may have clued you in some way. While it’s important to support places you know and love, it’s equally important to support travel industry workers out side from home. Travel is a privilege, and until we can support the travel industry with our foot traffic and our business, it’s imperative that we support them, however we can.
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