Giving the gift of travel: Tips and advice
If you’re looking for the perfect present for someone who you have no idea what to get or the person who has everything – a trip might be just the gift to wow them this holiday season.
What to consider
The person. Having a good understanding of the person you’re buying for can ensure you aren’t sending your sun-loving pal on a winter ski retreat in Whistler. Consider the types of activities they enjoy and try to book something around those. For example, a trip to France or Italy would be perfect for a die-hard foodie, while the fashion-lover in your life might enjoy a weekend of shopping in New York or Beverly Hills. If they’ve ever mentioned a dream destination, now’s a perfect time to make it a reality.
Your budget. While you might want to give the most expensive trip you can afford, it could make your recipient feel uncomfortable since they might not be able to reciprocate such a generous gift. “Nobody likes a show-off,” says Brian Simpson, Manager of Operations and Media Relations for Travelocity.ca.
Make it usable. Unless you know they’ve already made some of their travel plans, Simpson recommends not buying just part of a vacation gift, such as the hotel stay or flight. “Then the recipient feels obligated to use it and then has to pay for flights, meals, and other incidentals, which can add up,” he says.
Timing. While hotels are more lenient, says Simpson, most airlines and tour operators charge (sometimes pretty hefty) fees if you want to make changes to a trip which is why it’s extremely important make sure that the recipient's schedule allows them to travel for the dates you book. If you want the experience to be a true surprise, get in touch with the receiver’s boss, family and friends to help you pull off your plan. Often these types of surprises are fun for employers to be a part of too and they’ll have no qualms about helping you out, but do try to let them know.
Remember, “Regardless of who you're going to work with, don't communicate with them through a method that the recipient can find out, like Facebook or any other social media,” reminds Simpson.
Another important thing to consider is whether or not the person can realistically take time off work or school. “For many Canadians, vacation time is precious,” says Simpson, “So if you know the person has limited vacation days, booking a trip that uses up a lot of their allotment may not be realistic unless you can get a hint from them somehow.”
Other things to keep in mind
If a flight or cross-border travel is involved, make sure you have their correct birthday along with the proper spelling of their name, as it appears on their identification. “A name correction can be considered a change by the airlines and that means a change fee. And most airlines require the traveller's date of birth be provided at time of booking,” notes Simpson. If the person doesn’t already have a passport, they will need enough time to apply for one before the trip.
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