Give the Gift of Travel

You know all about the joy of travel. It’s lifted your spirit, empowered your confidence, and broadened your awareness of how the world is and could be. But many others haven’t had that pleasurable, healthy vacation getaway. And perhaps now, your heroic side is awakening, and this might be the kind of giving experience you’d like to make happen.

If the people in your life need a lift or a bit of rejuvenation, travel is likely the best way to get those results.  Travel takes them away from their worries, helps them clear their mental registers, ease their fatigue, open up their imagination, and help them see themselves and their world differently. Keep all that in mind as you look for the perfect vacation for them. And if you’re going to be a hero, do it right by using your travel advisor/agent.

If you have airmiles or travel reward points of some type, you may be able to use them to buy flights, hotel rooms, for them too. Paul Rubio a travel writer published on the Luxury Travel website, Afar.com said he paid for his family trip of ten, worth $21,000 by using his travel points. I can’t even imagine that many travel points, but I guess top travel writers are worth what they create.

As you’re reading this, I know you’re impressed with the benefits of travel, and there are people in your life who don’t travel because they can’t afford it. And there are those we all know who are completely involved in their small, shrinking world. The travel gift can be a great helper to help them expand their consciousness and find a new source of enjoyment.

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” – John Holmes.

Why Would Anyone Be So Nice?

First off, generosity is perhaps the highest virtue. Those who are frequently generous have more confidence, self-esteem and can be more evolved than others. It’s an act of courage, faith, and goodwill toward mankind.  If that’s you, congratulations for what is more important than materialism.  In fact, you’re converting harmful materialism into healthy life-giving experiences.  You likely enjoy seeing that kind of growth and character in others when you give them a gift of travel.  You lead by example.

Let’s review what might be motivating you, so you fully appreciate your gift and they’ll appreciate it more.

1. Creating Lasting Memories

• Travel is a unique gift because it creates lifelong memories rather than just material possessions.

• The giver may want the recipient to experience something transformative, like seeing a new culture, relaxing in paradise, or embarking on an adventure.

2. Sharing Their Own Passion for Travel

• Some people love travel so much that they want to share that joy with others to build connections with them.

• They may have had a life-changing trip themselves and want to pass on that feeling of generosity.

3. Celebrating Milestones in a Meaningful Way

• Instead of traditional gifts (like jewelry or gadgets), they choose travel for graduations, retirements, or weddings.

• Example: Parents gifting a European tour to a college graduate.

4. Strengthening Relationships

• Couples, friends, or family members might gift trips to spend quality time together.

• A surprise getaway can rekindle romance or deepen bonds.

5. Philanthropy & Paying It Forward

• Some donors sponsor trips for underprivileged individuals (e.g., Make-A-Wish Foundation sending kids on dream vacations).

• Others may gift travel to essential health service workers, underprivileged families, or military families as a thank-you.

6. The Joy of Surprise & Generosity

• Some people get genuine happiness from giving unexpected, grand gestures.

• Viral stories of strangers paying for honeymoons or bosses gifting employees all-expenses-paid trips often stem from this impulse.

7. Encouraging Personal Growth

• Travel pushes people out of their comfort zones, fostering independence and new perspectives.

• A giver might want the recipient to gain confidence or see the world differently.

Research the Right Trip at the Right Price

Of course, travel isn’t inexpensive, and you have your limits, but trips come in a variety of price points and types from train rides to flights to resort stays to ocean cruises to camping/fishing adventures. Cruises are popular packaged trips where the cost of the vacation is much more certain and paid upfront.  Cruises are available on a massive scale now which has driven prices down.

A 9-day travel adventure featuring a flight, hotel rooms, food, and local tour adventures is a good way to help your special people to escape their cramped world, to let their mind, heart and spirit soar with delight.  Yes, that can be life-changing in terms of personal health, self-esteem, and they’ll get the idea they can evolve and move onward with their lives. And today, it is so challenging for many of us. For other hard-working friends who have never been anywhere, it’s absolutely a life-saving gift.

Some Great Travel Gift Adventures You Might Give

Here are a few travel theme ideas to get your imagination going.

• US Sports Adventures – I have relatives that have visited most of the major league baseball stadiums and have more of them to visit. A sports trip is one of your own choice. If you’re giving them a trip to San Diego, you’ll want them to experience a Padres game at Petco Park, or if in Boston, a game at the venerable Fenway Park. I’ve been at opening days at both, and from jets to parasailing to marching bands, it’s something kids won’t forget.
• US Coastal Beach Adventures – there are beautiful beaches across North America and Mexico and Costa Rica you’ll be enthralled with. From Sarasota Florida to South Carolina over to Texas and San Diego County up to New Jersey, beach trips are a breath of fresh air. Some have extra features such as mini-golf in Myrtle Beach, roller-coasters in San Diego county, surfing lessons in Costa Rica, or a day of fun at Grand Haven freshwater beach in Michigan.
• US City Urban Cultural Tours – looking for history and cultural tours? New York, and Washington DC offers several massive museums to explore. And while they get enriched in America’s incredible history and culture, a host of tours and experiences await there as well. Your travel advisor will know what to recommend.
• Train Ride Adventures – From the Rocky Mountaineer in the western mountains and Western Canada (Vancouver to Calgary), to Pike’s Peak cog railway in Colorado, to the Grand Canyon railway, you can leisurely ride by many of the US’s greatest attractions. There’s the lengthy California Zephyr from Amtrac taking travelers from Chicago to San Francisco, or the day tripping, Smoky Mountain Railroad taking your through the North Carolina mountains, including excursions along the Nantahala and Tuckasegee Rivers. Of course, there are train rides in Switzerland that might be the best the world has to offer if you’re thinking epic trips.
• Canadian Mountain Lifestyle Trips – Trips to Banff National Park (Banff/Lake Louise) easily rival Yosemite and Yellowstone and offer more of a mountain village atmosphere with hiking and cable car rides, interesting Canadian restaurants, hot springs pools, white water rafting and hotels that are castles. Nearby Calgary or Kelowna BC offer additional enjoyment from beaches to rodeos.  Canadians trips offer a 40% boost for your vacation money.
• Mexico Beach Resort Trips – Mexico’s affordable resorts areas and villas are too numerous to list but offer a cultural break.  You can explore Mexico travel deals here. Some such as Oaxaca offer tours of ancient civilizations with pyramids, statues and artifacts. They offer exquisite beaches, amazing villages with friendly locals providing sumptuous and authentic Mexican food dishes along with traditional festivals for a real cultural treat.
• Colorado Rocky Mountain Lifestyle Experiences – Colorado remains the most visited state for its many cities, and natural features. Skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and adventure parks in Vale, Breckenridge, Aspen, Snowmass and Boulder await.
• Theme Park Experiences – for family fun Disneyworld and Disneyland come immediately in mind, but there are more, including Universal Studios, Six Flags, Knots Berry Farm, Busch Gardens, and Cedar Point theme parks, where kids and adults can scream in fear with the latest high-speed roller coasters or enjoy easy, kid-friendly rides.
• US National Park Adventures – The US is home to some of the world’s most epic national parks including Yosemite Park, Yellowstone Park, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain Park, Everglades Park, Crater Lake Park and more.
• Silicon Valley Tours – The San Francisco Bay Area area remains a fascinating one that travelers can’t get enough of. They’ll enjoy taking a cable car ride, crossing the Golden Gate bridge, taking in a MLB game at Oracle Park, the iconic Palace of Fine Arts to Coit Tower and Pier 39 where you can watch the seals rest, there’s never enough time to see it all. And the trip down the coast is the world’s most scenic. Silicon Valley tech tours are available, where you can visit spectacular companies and their buildings including Google’s

• Big City Staycation – Affordable, low-stress staycations can be a visist to the nearest big city. Your travelers can immerse in local theme parks, museums, pro sports parks, music venues, and tourist areas to experience. Try an adventure in a nearby state, one they haven’t visited and might have to drive hundreds of miles to reach. The getaway is what it’s all about.
• Dinosaur/zoo/aquarium Park Theme – Cities such as San Diego offer amazing wildlife adventures with its Wildlife Safari Park Adventure, San Diego Zoo and San Diego Aquarium combination. Near Calgary, Alberta the Tyrell Dinosaur Museum is massive and interesting. The highest rated Dinosaur museums are the American Museum of Natural History, in  New York and the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Colorado.
• Central America Vacations – Costa Rica and Belize offer incredible climates to enjoy where they might enjoy home rentals, beautiful beaches, towering volcanos to explore, ecotours, and quiet village life to help them experience another culture and cuisine, along with great tours and hikes in the world’s most ecologically diverse country.
• Summer Cottage Rentals – For millions of families, a trip to cottage country is the best of times. It might be on the seashore, in the north country in Minnesota, Muskoka, or the Adirondacks. It’s the water fun, boating, fishing, campfires, stargazing, and even sing-alongs that create positive lifelong memories.

Okay, you get the idea that you and your trusted travel advisor can put together some interesting trips that might feature several affordable elements from Lake Country or coastal beach visits to mountain biking trips to kid-friendly aquarium/zoo visits.

🚀 Launch your travel gift adventure by listing a few things:

• What do they (and their kids) need a break from?
• What do they like doing and what do they wish for?
• What new activities/destinations would best help them break out of their rut?
• What experiences would best give them a together experience?
• How much time can they take off of work or school?
• How much money will they need to enjoy themselves?

The gift of travel is highly underrated but can make the world of difference to many when they feel the self-esteem of opportunity. That trip helps them feel good about the world too, as take their excursion into places unknown and find them fascinating.

Contact your local travel advisor to get their help in organizing and choosing some great destination ideas. Your friends/family/others are worth the extra research and planning time. Leverage their experience and itinerary-building skills, their travel management platform, and their access to great travel deals so everyone gets the perfect vacation.

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