13 Experience Gifts for Travelers

Looking for a gift for a traveler? Whether it’s a retiree setting off on a long-awaited trip or a seasoned traveler who already has all the latest travel gear, consider giving the gift of a unique travel experience!

Sure, your gift recipient would appreciate a guidebook, new travel bag, or headphones; but, once the trip is over, those items will soon be forgotten. A unique cultural or educational experience will provide immediate pleasure as well as memories for a lifetime. Unique travel experiences add local flavor to a trip, and often broaden one’s view of the world. 

When giving a travel experience gift, think about the recipient’s hobbies and interests. Are they into music or culture, knitting or photography?  Maybe anywhere outdoors is where they would prefer to be. Whatever their passion, with just a little bit of thought, you can offer them a unique gift they will enjoy during their trip and for long afterwards.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Dining 

What better way to experience a new place than to sample the local flavor.

1. Use Trip Advisor to find the top rated restaurants in the area. If you can’t purchase a gift card online, you can print out the menu and put in it an envelope along with cash. If you are really thoughtful, you’ll convert the cash to the local currency or provide a pre-paid credit card (be sure to do your homework if getting a pre-paid card as there are often hidden fees).

For less touristy search results, check out Luxeat.com. Aiste Miseviciute is a former model who travels the globe, seeking out memorable food and stories. 

2. Have dinner with a local. Companies like Traveling Spoon and  EatWith.com allow you to book a meal hosted by a local. Your friend will eat in their host’s home and enjoy a traditional meal cooked especially for them. Gift cards are available.

Classes and Workshops

Match their interests or learn what the locals do

3.  Imagine presenting your friend with a perfume workshop in Paris, a hands-on Ninja experience in Tokyo or a yoga class in Stockholm. Viator is a great place to search for experience gifts. Enter a destination and then click on the link for classes and workshops.

Cultural Experience

Give a unique travel experience gift that educates and enriches

4. Museums are a great way to learn about the history and culture of a new place. If you can’t get a gift card online, print out the museum information and give cash for the entrance fee. 

5. Get immersed in the local culture. Backstreet Academy connects travelers with local communities to provide unique hand-crafted experiences. Give a Thangka Painting Class in Nepal or participate in a Traditional Khmer Buddhist Water Blessing Ceremony in Cambodia.

Tours

Whether a tour of historical sites or local breweries, the gift of a tour is sure to please

6. Walking tours are a great way to experience a new place up close and personal. A bit of internet research will lead you to the many walking tours available in most cities. Context Travel  offers private tours given by architects, art historians, and more. These tours are ideal for travelers who love to learn. 

7. Shop where the locals shop with Urban Adventures Shopping Tours. These tours will get you out of the tourist traps and provide interactions with local artisans. Visiting a local street market in Rio de Janeiro and meeting local artists or learning about local art in Greece are just two of the many experiences offered by Urban Adventures. 

Viatour is a safe way to book tours as a gift. Affiliated with Trip Advisor, they offer more than 200,000 experiences, offer 24/7 customer service and a 24 hour cancellation policy. It’s safe to say your gift of a Scottish castle tour in Edinburgh or a cave tour in Bonaire will be remembered long after the trip is over.

Entertainment

8. Are you giving a gift to a sports fan? How about tickets to a local sporting event?

9. Concert tickets will be appreciated by your music-loving friends

10. Local Festivals are a great way to get immersed in the local culture.

11. Seats at a theater performances are a thoughtful gift and provide a unique visitor experience. 

Search for “Calendar of Events” in the city you are looking for. You’ll find a list of upcoming concerts, plays, festivals and events. Print out the event information and package with the cost of the tickets.

U.S. National Parks Pass

12.  A National Parks pass is a great gift for someone who wants to travel throughout the United States.

DIY Gift Baskets

13. Gift Baskets are a great way to give a travel experience gift. Include information about the experience, the gift card, cash (in the local currency if possible), or pre-paid card, and a few items to make their travel easier (earplugs, a book, a water bottle, etc.). 

Check out my Etsy shop for journals, travel mugs, tote bags and other items you could add to the gift basket! All items are designed with photographs I have taken during my travels.