Gift giving occasions can sometimes be stressful. When birthdays, Christmases, anniversaries and other special dates roll around and you want to do something special but can’t think of what to give it can be a bit of a pain. Some people in particular are really hard to buy for (especially if they usually keep things pretty simple and just buy themselves what they want, when they want it). But there are some great gift ideas you can consider if you’re looking to buy for someone who already seems to own everything.
If you think out of the box there are plenty of brilliant gift ideas that are so rewarding to give. Experience days are great for people who don’t care for material things or seem to already have everything! You can tailor this to exactly what they like, it could be anything from a relaxing spa day to a ride in a hot air balloon or tickets to a test drive in a muscle car. Have a think about what they enjoy and choose accordingly, get it right and it could be the best gift they’ve ever received! Here are the best places to look if you want to give an experience this year.
1. Giftory
- Best for: Last minute gifts and instant digital delivery
If you’re dubious about buying experiences as gifts because you’re worried about sorting out the logistics, Giftory makes it really simple. They offer some of the best US experience gifts around, boasting over 5000 different options across the country. What makes them so much better than standard booking sites is their flexibility and buyer protection. If you don’t know exactly what they’d like, you’re able to have a good guess as this platform offers completely free exchanges (and vouchers that never expire). So if for example you book a skydiving session and then they decide they’d rather go on a relaxed wine tasting tour, they can swap it out without any extra fees. They also offer a price match promise and only work with top rated partners, so you know that you’re buying quality.
2. Virgin Experience Gifts
- Best for: High adrenaline thrills and driving days
If the person you’re buying for enjoys a bit of a thrill, Virgin Experience Gifts is a pretty foolproof option. They offer everything from track days in super cars to actual flying lessons! With it being a bit of a luxury, it’s not really something people would buy for themselves which makes it a really nice treat. You can find experiences at different price points here, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be something expensive. And if they change their mind (or get nervous about jumping out of a plane) the vouchers are easy to swap for a different activity so neither of you will lose out on anything.
3. Tinggly
- Best for: Travel lovers and flexible choices
If the person you’re buying for loves to travel then why not find an experience for them that works along with their plans? Tinggly is one to look at if you want to get them something really special without having to guess exactly where they’ll be, you use the site to buy them a themed collection box and they get to choose what they want to do from tons of different options all over the world. They get the fun of browsing through and picking out their own treat, whether that’s a cooking class in Italy or a boat trip on their next big holiday. Plus you can get a really nice physical box sent out to them in the post, so they still have something great to open on the day. They do a lot of good for the environment too, like offsetting carbon emissions and planting trees for every gift sold too.
4. ClassBento
- Best for: Creative workshops and artisan crafts
If you know that the person you’re buying for is keen to try something new then a local workshop from ClassBento could be a great way to go. There’s tons of inspiring ideas to choose from on their site, with local classes for everything from pottery making to cocktail mixing. If they’re in any way crafty or inventive this one could be a good fit, the effort spent on choosing a class they’ll love will be obvious. When you book something like this, you know you’re giving something that’s totally unique.
5. ResortPass
- Best for: Pampering days and luxury hotel pools
If the person you’re buying for is a fan of pampering gifts then ResortPass is essentially the ultimate beauty and relaxation treat. Rather than buying something like a pre packaged beauty set that they’ll never get around to using, you can buy them a day pass to a luxury hotel pool, spa or private cabana! They get all the benefits of a fancy getaway without needing to book an overnight room. If you’re looking to go high end, giving someone a day of pure relaxation is sure to go down well.
6. Viator
- Best for: Sightseeing tours and holiday excursions
If you know that the person you’re buying for has got a trip coming up then Viator one way to book local tours and sightseeing days so you could give them an add on as their gift! They’ve got tons of options, evening harbor cruises, guided historical walks and so much more. You could go with tickets for a Broadway show if they’re a theater fan, or something at a local theater instead depending on where they’re travelling. These make fantastic presents in their own right, especially when you’re not sure what else to get.
7. MasterClass
- Best for: Learning from experts at home
There are so many great online tools out there at the moment, but MasterClass is good as it gives them an annual pass to watch beautiful video lessons taught by famous experts in cooking, acting, writing and business. The downsides are that it comes at a higher price point but if you’re planning on spending a bit more this year and know this is the kind of thing they’re into it’s an option to consider.
Regardless of whether your budget is big or small, when it comes to gift giving it’s definitely the thought that counts. These ideas show that you’ve really thought about the person you’re buying for and haven’t just picked up something generic off the supermarket shelves. Sure we should love and appreciate each other all year round, but let’s be honest, this is real life and it can be easy to take the people around us for granted. Picking out a really thoughtful experience day is the perfect way to remind them how much you care.
