Why Travel Is the Most Meaningful Gift

For Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations – all those special occasions, we try to think of just the right gift that our loved ones will enjoy beyond the initial excitement of unwrapping pretty paper and ribbons. But, gifting has become difficult. The kids outgrow clothes and become bored with toys so quickly. The adults I know really don’t “need” anything. Some are worse than others at buying themselves the things they “want”, leaving no ideas for us to give them. Gift cards and cash are so impersonal, and it’s silly to just trade currency with each other. 

Instead, consider giving an experience, the gift of travel. It’s a gift of joyful anticipation that can last for months and happy memories that can last a lifetime. We’ve done this in our family for years, and it’s wonderful!

Undoubtedly, the most fun was the Christmas my son was seven and my daughter was three years old. They didn’t notice that all the wrapping paper was Disney themed when they opened their Mickey Mouse and Tinkerbell ornaments, or that we all got new pajamas with our favorite Disney character on the shirts. It wasn’t until the last and biggest box under the tree was torn open and helium balloons with a large Mickey and Minnie balloon floated out with a certificate tied to them promising a trip to Disney World. No other gift has ever elicited the joyous screams, leaping, and dancing around as that one did. For two months, we were all filled with excitement, and then – we got to go to Disney World!

The Value of Collecting Memories, Not Things

With both children and adults, there is value to “collecting memories, not things.”  Research consistently shows that experiences create longer-lasting happiness than material items. A well-known study led by psychologist Dr. Thomas Gilovich at Cornell University found that people get more lasting happiness from experiential purchases (like trips or concerts) than from material things. His research shows that while we quickly adapt to new possessions, experiences become part of our identity and create memories that grow more meaningful over time. In simple terms: we remember and relive experiences, but objects fade into the background. This is why giving the gift of travel can spark joy that lasts long after the suitcase is unpacked.  

It’s also been shown that the shared experiences deepen our relationships with those we’re traveling with.  So when you give the gift of travel, you’re not just offering a getaway—you’re giving someone a story to tell, a moment to cherish, and a boost of happiness that lasts far beyond the trip itself. 

Creative Ways to Present the Gift of Travel

There are as many creative and memorable ways to present the gift of travel as there are types of trips – simple to extravagant, big or small.

1. Themed Gift Baskets or Boxes: 

As in the example with my kids’ Disney trip, a fun way is a themed gift basket or series of small ‘hints” alluding to a destination. Typically, the more expensive the travel, the less expensive the presentation can be. It might be a little risky, but it is kind of fun to see a bit of confusion if it’s a gift for a big occasion, and your recipient opens a lovely little package with nothing but a luggage tag in it. I’d probably add a note on the insert card like “Use this on our trip to Paris.” 

Here are a few ideas you can build on:

• For a beach vacation, put some sunscreen, flip-flops, and beach towel in a new beach bag. 
• Prefer a ski trip? A basket with a pine scented candle, warm socks, ear muffs, and ski goggles might do the trick. 
• Traveling to a European city could be revealed with a mini guidebook, local treats, and a phrasebook.

Tip:  Add a small envelope or nice certificate revealing the trip and important details like prearranged dates, the itinerary, and who all is going. 

2. Scavenger Hunt:

Another fun idea is to use a scavenger hunt. Start with the hint “you’re going places”, then send them from one hidden spot to another with each revealing a detail about their “final destination”. For example, the first find could be a package of spaghetti, the second a postcard of the Colosseum, the third a Venetian mask, the fourth an Italian flag, and so on until they catch on that it all relates to Italy.

Alternatively, for your phone-savvy young adults, use QR codes leading to photos, videos or sound clips that begin to reveal the destination. Be sure to throw in a few less obvious pieces so they don’t guess too quickly. 

3. Build-Your-Own Bucket List:

Gift a notepad with a list of meaningful experiences you want to share with your recipient. Then, let them choose which ones inspire the actual trip and build the itinerary together. Want to stargaze and explore new hiking trails together? Then a road trip to the national parks might be perfect. This could co-ordinate with a gift of a stargazing app or a small book of the best hiking trails in the US. Working together to make the plan makes it more collaborative and personal, and insures that you’ll both be happy with the final trip. 

4. Simple is Good Too:

When I planned a mother-daughter trip to Greece, the value was more than any high-school graduation gift we would get for her, and her birthday would come a few months later. Fortunately, I like to plan travel well in advance. So that year for Christmas, she got a very large box in bright red Christmas paper, inside of that was a blue & gold package (her high school colors), and inside of that was a smaller box with birthday wrapping. So, she received a fabulous trip knowing that it counted as her main gift for all three of those occasions. 

Anticipation is part of the fun: 

There is a reason many of us like to have our next trip planned even while we’re on one. It’s the joy anticipation. With that in mind, it’s nice to also consider gifts that can encourage that excitement. 

One such idea is a Countdown Calendar. This can be printed or digital and include little images, interesting facts about your destination, inspirational quotes or local sayings and key phrases to learn. Heading to Costa Rica? Did you know that even though it covers only 0.03% of the Earth’s surface, it contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity?  It’s “Pura Vida”!  

You could also do a little art project and make a poster of a landmark you’ll see and a saying that represents the location. My favorites are Italy’s “Il dolce far niente” – the sweetness of doing nothing, and France’s “La vie est belle” – life is beautiful.

More of a digital storyteller? Make a short teaser video or “movie trailer” featuring images and clips of the places you’ll be seeing. There are several good, free apps for this. You could also share a Pinterest board or Instagram folder to save ideas and wish lists like photo ideas and restaurants to try.

A great activity for kids is to create a “Passport to Adventure” Booklet. This can be as simple as a small journal or a little notebook where you can put in some destination photos or fun facts, as well as things you hope to experience there together. Then, while on the trip, encourage them to journal, draw, and/or collect stickers while traveling. Add writing prompts for creative challenges. This becomes a great keepsake and let’s you see the trip from their perspective.

Travel gifts don’t have to be expensive vacations, they can also be for things as simple as a short day trip or weekend escape. Create a certificate for a future adventure.

Some ideas could be:

• A scenic drive

• A new hiking trail

• A small-town café crawl

Remember, the whole point is to prioritize quality time spent together over material things. 

Tips for Gifting Travel to Children vs. Adults:

For Kids:

• Make it magical or mysterious.

• Use characters, stuffed animals, or surprise boxes.

• Include hands-on items (stickers, simple crafts, themed pajamas).

For Adults:

• Make it thoughtful and elegant.

• Consider experiences over objects (tastings, local tours).

• Focus on giving space: time away, rest, reconnection.

How to Make the Experience Last Long After the Trip:

One of the most rewarding gifts my husband or I have ever given was when we gave his dad a trip to Alaska. He loves his past travels “out West”, and has always loved bears, especially Grizzlies. Going to Alaska had been his dream vacation for most of his life, and he’d never gotten the opportunity to go. At 80 years old, he thought that chance had passed, but we surprised him with a small wooden bear and certificate for an Alaskan cruise tour with us. 

When he saw a Grizzly in the wild for the first time, we were all moved to streams of joyful tears. Even now, a few years later, we can relive those wonderful memories because his next birthday gift was a photo book that captured them. He tells me it is his prized possession. 

Photo albums or printed photo books are one great way to commemorate travel. There are also a number of other photo “products” that you could make, such as a calendar or coffee mug. 

We have also enjoyed having family or friends over for dinner after a trip and projecting our photos on the TV while enjoying foods specific to where we’ve been. 

Some other ideas for commemorating a trip are:

• Creating a shadow box with photos and small souvenirs. 

• A digital photo frame rotating favorite vacation photos.

• A framed map with pins for destinations visited.

It’s nice to encourage ongoing creativity by looking back at the trip and taking the time to journal more in-depth about what was seen and experienced. Travel often touches us in ways we don’t fully appreciate until we get home and have time to process all we learned while in the midst of it. 

This is also a great opportunity to reach into new creative outlets. Try sketching or painting something you found particularly lovely on the trip using your photos as inspiration.

Final Tips for Thoughtful Travel Gifting

Remember that the purpose is to give something meaningful. Don’t overwhelm with too many items — the heart of the gift is the memory, not the wrapping. Keep the focus on connection and intention.

Personalize the reveal so it reflects the recipient’s personality and interests. Some people love guessing games, others do not.  

Closing: An Invitation to Wander

Though my husband and I have given travel as gifts for a long time, we realize the value of it even more now that we’re older and don’t have much time left with our aging parents, or as much time to just spend with our adult children. Every moment is precious, and it’s so much fun to get to experience new places together. It’s also rewarding just to know our kids can successfully navigate travel independently. I love them “to the moon and back”, but in a small way, it’s as if we really have given them the world. 

Travel is not just a luxury, but a path to joy, connection, creativity, knowledge, and a deeper understanding of so many things. Consider ways you could share this with those on your gift list this holiday season. I’d love to hear what you’re doing.