It’s the holiday season!

If like me you’ve had quite busy few months and are trying to catch up on your holiday shopping or just haven’t been able to find the right thing to give, worry no more, there is still time! Most travel-related gift guides suggest luggage or tech products or lounge sets. Those are great options for sure, but if you want to give something that isn’t a material thing or your recipient has everything already, consider giving an experience!

There are tons of options to give someone an experiential gift whether for somewhere close to home or on a trip you know they’ll be taking in the near future! Here are some of my suggested experience gifts for the traveler or out-and-about person in your life:

Airbnb Experiences

There are so many different things offered on Airbnb Experiences. You can book anything from a city walking tour to a cooking class to wine tastings to surf lessons, etc. The options are endless and there is something for everyone. If you know your loved one is taking a trip somewhere in the near future and you want to gift them a memorable experience on that trip, this is a great place to look. When looking, make sure the guide is local, and if you see they have a business that you can book through outside of Airbnb, do that so they get the full profit from your booking! I’ve done a handful of Airbnb experiences myself in Australia and Portugal and had great experiences!

The 12 apostles on the Great Ocean Road near Melbourne Australia Airbnb Experience

Get Your Guide

Get your Guide is a platform with all sorts of pre-planned day tours, adventure experiences, or workshops. Here you can book something like a guided tour, an evening boat cruise, a pasta workshop, or even a private airport or train station transfer so they don’t have to worry about getting from the airport to their hotel or vice versa. There are lots of possibilities in locations all over the world.

AllTrails subscription

Does your loved one like to hike? Gifting them an AllTrails subscription is a perfect idea. They can access trail maps offline so when they’re out of cell service or out of the country, they can still use the detailed trail maps, be alerted at wrong turns, and stay safe out there. They also get more details about the trail conditions and can be part of a community of other hikers and share info! Safety and fun!

National Park Pass

Living in Colorado, a National Parks Annual Pass is one of the best things to have! There are so many national parks just a short driving distance away so it’s easy to just visit on a weekend and not have to pay a fee every time you enter. Plus the fees go towards conserving the parks and making them more infrastructurally capable of handling the increasing number of visitors. A great gift for anyone who lives near a national park or national forest.

Mule ride on a trail in Grand Canyon National Park

Museum Entrance/ Tour

Is your loved one an art or history buff? Do they love exploring museums and learning? Getting a museum entrance ticket or guided tour is a great gift for someone who is excited to learn more about the place they are planning to visit. Alternatively, a museum or botanic garden membership is a great idea for someone who likes to visit local museums and see the changing exhibits, or who has curious kids who like to learn! You can’t go wrong with museums in my opinion.

Concert tickets

Is a band coming to town that your loved one is crazy about or will their favorite performer be in the same place as them while they’re traveling? Concert tickets are a fun way to give a memorable experience at home or a unique experience abroad! Maybe their favorite band is FROM somewhere abroad and they have a chance to see them perform in their home country. How special would that be? Music and the arts are so meaningful for people so gifting a concert is the perfect thoughtful gift.

Plan a trip

You know I had to throw this one in there. If you know a loved one is planning to travel next year but is feeling overwhelmed by the process, hire Roamwell to plan it for them! Take the stress off of them and remove some things from their to-do list by hiring me to do it all for them. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a bucket list trip, help give them the gift of a trip full of experiences.

With all of these gift ideas, you don’t have to worry about shipping fees and if they’ll arrive at your doorstep before a set date. Experiential gifts are more sustainable too! You avoid the carbon footprint of shipping and won’t contribute to more material consumption and waste. These ideas will all create unique, meaningful, and memorable experiences your loved ones will thank you for. So consider giving an experience this year!

Happy holidays and hope you have exciting things planned in 2023!