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Gift of Travel: The Gift That Keeps Giving

What are the most desired things from the millennial generation? The gift of travel. A lot of us love going to new places, making new friends and memories, and buying priceless experiences. This post is to serve as a guide of what to get for this travel-enthused generation.

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The Gift of Travel: A Surprise/Planned Vacation

Surprise! (Personally, I hate (and kind of love) surprises.) Planning a surprise vacation for someone is one of the most thoughtful things to do. Why? It takes a lot of effort, energy, and time to plan a surprise trip. Therefore, it means a lot more to be gifted a surprise vacation. Even if the vacation is not a surprise, going on a planned vacation is just as exciting. My aunt gifted my cousin and me a trip to Disney World (Orlando, Florida) for a week. Although I knew about it, I didn’t have any less fun. It was one of my favorite vacations that I’ve ever been on.

It can get stressful planning a trip. I would definitely advise confirming the appropriate dates or getting travel insurance when gifting a complete trip. It can get tricky figuring out the best time to book a vacation for someone else. Use your best judgment, find out more about their schedule, and go from there.

The Gift of Travel: Travel Essentials

What’s a good trip without the necessary essentials? If someone went through my Google drive, they would find at least ten different packing lists or lists of travel essentials. Why? First, it provides order for when someone is packing. Second, it is harder to forget something behind with a list. Third, it helps to keep up with the latest and greatest travel essentials.

If you are unsure what I mean by travel essentials, let me break it down for you. Travel essentials are things like a toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, underwear, deodorant, etc. These are the nonnegotiables for every trip. If you find yourself going on a solo trip, a necessary travel essential is the Octopus Portable and Adjustable Stand with Remote, which is great for taking those wonderful shots. (You do not have to limit yourself to selfies.)

In addition, another very important travel essential is a great bag. Personally, I prefer to only use carry-on sized bags such as this and this. If you prefer, however, to use bigger luggage, or would want more bang for your buck, check out these luggage sets: smooth, hard, and glossy, standard and affordable, or even fashionable and unique. By no means are travel essentials limited to what is listed. Pinterest is a wonderful resource to get a packing list best suited for you. Happy packing!

The Gift of Travel: Bits and Pieces

If you happen to have life responsibilities outside of gifts, then this section might appeal to you. Giving the gift of travel means several things to several people. You may not have the ability to gift an entire vacation. On the other hand, you may very well be capable, but are unsure of the timing.

Nevertheless, there is a way to gift the bits and pieces of travel. That simply means gifting airline tickets, or hotel costs, or travel essentials, or whatever it may be. It can be a relief to worry about one less thing when planning a vacation. Gifting someone a hotel room, even for a staycation, is appreciated. Airline ticket prices are the most unpredictable thing. Buying someone tickets are nothing short of amazing. It saves them the hassle of price checking, or even last minute price increases.

Perhaps they are traveling for an extended period and will need to check their bags. Checking bags through the airlines can get pricey. If you fly airlines like Spirit and Frontier, where you have to pay for everything including the oxygen you breathe, you will have to pay to bring anything other than a backpack/purse. You can even consider paying the costs for them to check/bring their bags. It is easy to spend $70 checking ONE bag both ways. I can’t speak for others, but I am pretty low maintenance. I would love, love, love if someone paid for me to check my bags. (This is an example. Honestly, I would prefer not to check a bag.)

What’s the Big Deal?

It is an established fact that more and more millennials are valuing traveling. However, let’s not ignore the other generations. It is becoming more common to book travel deals and vacations. People are valuing the experiences of visiting new places or even getting rest from their typical environment. Should you need additional tips for saving on vacations you can check out: The Vacation Savings Guide. Also, if you find this post helpful please share it.

What are some of the things that you consider when it comes to the gift of travel? Would you want to go to a specific destination? Would you want to plan it and someone else pay for it? Or would you want them to surprise you with a vacation? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks!

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Comments

  1. Great advice. I love traveling so for me any travel related gifts are awesome especially things I don’t like splurging on myself like cameras to capture the best moments. Thanks.

    Reply

    • Thank you! Funny you say that a camera was put on my graduation wishlist. However, it’s not that I wouldn’t mind getting it for myself, it’s just that I prioritize other things over it. I completely understand where you’re coming from.

      Reply

    • Same! While I enjoy the thought of venturing outside of the country, there is still a lot that I want to see here, too. I plan to do both! 🙂

      Reply

  5. I would love a surprise holiday, but unfortunately with a young family, any travel is kind of a military operation. I love travelling, so I try not to let anything get in the way, so we try to make the most of it when it comes to experiencing new adventures and creating memories.

    Reply

    • I understand. Sometimes traveling even includes having a staycation in your own city. It may be taking a day for yourself, or for you and your partner. It can mean different things, but the best of luck to you! 🙂

      Reply

    • Traveling just seems like more bang for your buck. I love it! I never realized until recently that I’ve always asked for the gift of travel for my adult birthdays and Christmas.

      Reply

    • Thank you! It comes from my own experience(s). It really helps when someone helps with the aspects of the trip. I have been able to enjoy several vacations through the gifts of others. The vacation doesn’t feel any less fun.

      Reply

  10. Completely agree with your emphasis on travel. I value any trip, whether it is a surprise or one planned for months, over most things. And a travel gift just gets you excited to go!

    Reply

    • Thank you! Vacations are just amazing. I truly value the experiences and memories picked up on my trips. I still recall childhood vacations that stick with me. Materials come and go, but memories are truly forever.

      Reply

  14. This is such a great article, and it rings so true! I loved going on vacations with my parents as a child (even though 99% of them were road trips, and not leaving the country, or even the province)! It instilled a wanderlust in me that I’ve never been able to shake — now I’m planning 3+ trips a year across the globe and can’t stop myself! Haha 🙂

    Reply

    • That sounds amazing, a small start can lead to a great finish. Now you’re a world traveler all from the gift of travel that your parents provided. I love it!

      Reply

  16. I think travel is a wonderful gift. My husband and I are planning to skip material gift-giving in our family and plan a family trip instead. Memories and experiences are treasures forever!

    Reply

    • It’s more meaningful to build memories with the ones you love. A family trip will sound wonderful, and I’m sure you all will have an amazing time.

      Reply

  18. Enjoyed reading your article. Great advice, I mean who doesn’t enjoy a little travel? I did a lot of travel when I was younger, I was in the Navy. My husband will be retiring in a few years, so I plan on picking up where I left off!

    Reply

    • Thank you! I don’t know too many people who don’t enjoy traveling. I’m on a plane any chance I can get. I’m sure that will be nothing short of amazing.

      Reply

  20. Honestly, when it comes to travel, I totally agree with what you’ve written here! (and I’m a Gen Xer, and my kids are too young to be Millennials lol). When it comes to gifting travel, besides scrimping to cover the plane tix needed for a family of 4 to fly, I often give travel-related gifts to my family, especially my girls – new bathing suits next-size-up at Christmas for a winter family vacation, travel toys and amusements, new books for their next flight or road trip (they love to read!), etc.

    Reply

    • I’m a reader, so I love hearing from/about other readers. I think you are an amazing gift-giver, and that’s exactly what I want to share with my audiences. Tickets and hotels can be a tricky thing, but that’s what makes it fun for me. Searching for the best deals and planning far in advance. Your comment has definitely energized me and made me see that others understand. I love it! Thanks.

      Reply

  22. Packing for any trip is nerve wracking for me, so I can’t imagine packing for a spontaneous trip….🙄 More power to you and thanks for sharing tips for our next adventure.

    Reply

  24. I have to plan every detail of the vacation myself. I seldom get the chance to travel so when I do I want to make the most of it. I can get away for a full day perhaps two. With my hectic schedule a surprise trip is out of the question. I would not turn down an offer to plan a free trip though. 🙂

    Reply

    • Ironically, this makes a lot of sense to me. It’s a control thing, and I’m the same way. That’s why my family will often gift the expenses, but leave me to plan the trip. Or, they will give me a budget, and I’m up for the challenge of meeting it. It’s the thrill of it all. Thanks for your comment. I love seeing different perspectives.

      Reply

  25. I would love to surprise someone with a paid trip; that would be so awesome! Even though I do not travel a lot, i love the idea of it and it is a goal of mine to travel numerous times a year!

    Reply

    • I’m working on that for my mother and my niece. We’re going to take a trip to Disney World next year, and I’m super excited about it. This year kicked off my wanderlust, and I plan to continue traveling throughout the year next year.

      Reply

  27. The best kind of gift. If someone were to gift me travel, I’d ask them to gift me packing! I hate packing!! Some great ideas for gifting someone travel even if you can’t afford the tickets

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    • lol You are definitely not the only one who hates packing. It gives me the motivation to pack when I don’t have to pay for travel. Thanks!

      Reply

    • True! That’s why I ask for people to buy plane tickets or pay for my hotel, or I plan and they pay. Then again, my loved ones know how I can get. We all hate to relinquish control.

      Reply

  29. This is such a great article along with great tips. Enjoyed reading. I would love “surprise vacation.” Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply

    • Agreed! Personally, I prefer the elements of the trip itself, such as the flight or the room, but it’s important to have a bag or necessary travel tools. I’ve been exploring travel gift guides and have found some necessary things to order for my upcoming trip.

      Reply

    • I have finally made up my mind to invest in a camera, they are just super expensive, but are definitely worth the investment.

      Reply

    • Thank you! It was the one place that my cousin and I wanted to go that we haven’t been to in Florida. I’ve been to Universal Studios several times, but her gifting us that trip was much needed.

      Reply

  38. We’ve centered our whole lives around traveling, because we think it’s so important! We, and our son, learn so much about the world, ourselves, and grow closer to each other through those experiences. The gift of travel is so valuable!

    Reply

    • I must agree, and I believe that it is a beautiful thing. My mom has always encouraged me to travel and explore the world. She was a young mom when she had my brother and me, so she missed out on some opportunities, but I make it a point to travel as much as I can, especially because I am single and child-less.

      Reply

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