The holidays are approaching, and many people are trying to figure out what they will get their loved ones. This year, why not give them international travel? As a luxury travel consultant, I’ve helped clients of all ages give international travel as gifts.  Whether it be a romantic anniversary gift or the multi-generational inheritance of a lifetime, there’s nothing quite like the experience of international travel as a gift. Whether the person is into adventure or relaxation- there’s something for everyone!

Why give travel?

Psychological studies give us some pretty straightforward advice when looking for the perfect gift: it’s better to spend money on experiences rather than things.

Experiences make people happier for various reasons, whether it’s a present or something you’ve purchased for yourself. For starters, scientists have observed that, on average, any happiness people experience towards a physical object evaporates in seconds or days- a behavior called adaptation.

“We adapt to material gifts faster,” says Joseph Goodman in a Fast Company article, an associate professor at Washington University who studies the effects of giving experiences as gifts. “Whereas experiences tend to be more exciting in the beginning, and we tend to take longer to adapt over time.” To that end, travel is a great gift because the memories you create will last a lifetime.

Giving the Gift of Travel: Do’s and Don’ts

In our years of planning epic trips for folks, we’ve had the pleasure and opportunity to create lifetime memories for several families.  I often say that the best legacy and the best inheritance is memory.  That said, there are definitely some do’s and don’ts to consider when giving the gift of travel.

Do’s:

Go all out.  There are plenty of places out there that will tell you not to take a risk by thoroughly planning a vacation for your loved one.  While it’s not necessarily bad advice in some cases, the truth is a well-planned, well-executed vacation can be the perfect gift. Of course, there are some parameters to consider, like- how much of the vacation are you willing to pay for and whether there will be ancillary expenses, but there are ways to mitigate those challenges.

Set a date. While international travel can be an excellent gift for many people, it’s important to remember that not everyone is up for planning an international trip.  If someone says they want to go on vacation but aren’t sure where or when don’t feel bad about taking the reins and booking something in advance- know you’re making their life easier!

When families are looking to plan a gift, one of the most common problems we encounter is determining when everyone would be available. We’ve found that the greatest solution to this problem is to set a date 18-24 months in advance and leave it up to your recipients to arrange their schedule. Selecting a date so far ahead should allow everyone enough time to make it work.

Get help.  If you’re looking to give international travel as a gift, rely on an expert travel consultant to help you make the plan (if you are looking, we know a thing or two about traveling).  We can help with the logistics and planning, in addition to providing recommendations for places that your recipient might like based on their interests.

Don’ts:

Be stingy. The holidays should be about the generosity of spirit rather than being tight with your wallet. While there are certainly some cheaper options out there if you do some research online, skimping this year will only hurt your loved one in the long run because chances are good they won’t get another chance anytime soon due to cost constraints- so go big or go home.

Be vague. If you give a person international travel as a gift, don’t be afraid to show them exactly where they’re going and when. This is the perfect opportunity for showing off your excellent research skills. Still, it’s also important that whoever’s receiving this gift knows what they’re getting into- nothing dampens excitement like uncertainty!

Overwhelm them. There’s nothing worse than having someone plan an epic international trip for you, only to find out that they’ve planned too much.  While it’s important to be thoughtful with the planning process, make sure your recipient feels like there are opportunities to relax and enjoy themselves along the way without feeling overwhelmed by every single minute of their international vacation! Having an experienced travel consultant can make all the difference here.  Look for a travel consultant who is an experienced traveler themselves (ahem, Rodney and Lisa George are great candidates) so they can give you advice based on first-hand knowledge.

Forget about ancillary expenses. The reality of international travel is that there are a lot of ancillary costs- from international transportation to visa fees. Of course, that doesn’t mean you need to foot the bill for all these things, but it does mean being prepared and having a plan in place ahead of time, so you don’t have any surprises during your gift-giving process!

So there you go- the perfect holiday gift does need some care and consideration if your goal is to give someone special memories they’ll cherish forever. Still, with the help of an experienced travel consultant, it can be an easy and rewarding process. So give the very best gift- the gift of experience and memory- it will leave a legacy that will last a lifetime.