Finding the perfect gift for travelers is always tricky, but even more so when ongoing restrictions mean that hotel, flights and experience bookings can fall through overnight. A thoughtful gift voucher provides the perfect compromise – the promise of travel with freedom and flexibility.
Tinggly offers thousands of once-in-a-lifetime experiences across the globe (Photo: Tinggly.com)
As vaccination passports, red lists and lockdown become the new normal, gift vouchers are becoming increasingly popular Christmas, birthday, anniversary and wedding presents. Thousands of companies from the full spectrum of the travel industry are offering gift voucher ideas that can be redeemed against everything from spa breaks to helicopter rides. What’s more, many companies are throwing in additional incentives too, such as bonus credit, travel literature and complimentary cocktails. With so many options to choose from, we’ve cherry-picked ten of the best gift voucher ideas for travelers.
Tinggly
Tinggly is a US-based travel experience website that offers cool and quirky getaways and experiences in more than 100 countries across the world. With a couple of swipes and clicks, travellers can book anything from one night in New York to a helicopter ride. Gift vouchers start from $10 in any denomination and can be redeemed against any experience or getaway. A portion of Tinggly profits goes to sustainable projects to remove polluting plastics from the environment too.
Find out more at www.tinggly.com/collections/experience-gift-card
BnB finder
Recipients can choose from 10,000 properties across the US and Canada(Photo: BnBFinder.com)
This Austin-based business is the most comprehensive global site for finding unique, professionally operated B&Bs, inns and boutique hotels. Gift vouchers can be redeemed against more than 10,000 properties in the United States and Canada. The platform provides detailed descriptions, accurate imagery and Google and TripAdvisor to make it easier for travellers to find the perfect place to sleep too. Gift vouchers are available for $100 or more and BnBfinder is currently offering even more bang for your buck with a bonus $25 on $100 gifts cards too.
Find out more at www.bnbfinder.com/gift-cards
Amtrak
As the world gets cleaner and greener, train travel is fast becoming a popular alternative to flying. Amtrak is the United States’ only intercity rail passenger train operator. Formed in 1971, the service offers more than 40 different routes to over 600 destinations across every region of the country. The longest route reaches a staggering 3,924 km. You can now purchase gift vouchers for any amount up to $500, with no fees or expiration date. Each gift voucher is available as an e-voucher or a physical card posted through the recipient’s door too.
Find out more at www.amtrak.com/giftcards
Flight Gift
Choose from over 300 airlines and 980 destinations (Photo: FlightGift.com)
With Flight Gift, you can give someone the freedom to decide when and where they travel for their next adventure. Flight Gift works with over 300 airlines in over 980 global destinations, so your loved one can choose from the best flight times, destinations and prices too. Each voucher is available as a physical gift card, printable PDF or an e-gift. You can also make the gift more personal by adding a photo and writing a message. Each voucher is valid for two years, with free delivery worldwide and instant e-gift delivery.
Find out more at www.flightgift.com
The Holiday in a Box
Holiday in a Box offers destination-themed, activity-filled travel hampers delivered directly to your door. Each box combines artisanal products, a digital library containing virtual tours, music, playlists, and immersive games and activities to provide a fun introduction to a destination. Recipients can experience everything from recreating rooftop cocktails from luxury hotel brands to virtual temple tours. If you can’t decide which destination your gift-receiver would like best, you can send them a ‘travel ticket’ (gift card) for any value from £10. It can be redeemed at any time on any product or subscription.
Find out more at www.theholidayinabox.co/shop/p/gift-vouchers
Stay in a Pub
Cosy pub stays across the UK with Stay in a Pub (Photo: StayInAPub.co.uk)
Sleeping in a pub with rooms is one of the most quintessentially British ways to travel. UK-based Stay in a Pub is bringing power to the pub by making it easier than ever for travellers to book a stay in some of the country’s best pubs. The website currently offers stays at over 700 properties in some of the country’s most sought after locations, including Southwold, York and London. You can order vouchers worth between £25–300 and all vouchers are valid for two years after the purchase. The recipient can use them across multiple purchases or combine them towards a larger booking too. You can opt for a free e-voucher or pay a small fee for a physical gift voucher sent by a first-class post.
Find out more at www.stayinapub.co.uk/gift-vouchers
Euroventure
Euroventure makes travelling Europe by train easier and more efficient with bespoke interrail packages for travellers of any age. Individuals can either choose to organise an independent trip or a group tour with a small group of like-minded travellers of the same age bracket. Gift vouchers are redeemable on any group or independent packages and interrail passes but recipients must contact the team within 12 months of receipt to arrange the trip and redeem the full value. You can purchase vouchers worth £50–500.
Find out more at www.euroventure.com/gift-vouchers
Luxury Train Tickets
Gift vouchers can be redeemed against any luxury train journey (Photo: LuxuryTrainTickets.com)
If you’re looking for gift vouchers for a special occasion, why not whisk them back to the Golden Age of Travel? Luxury Train Tickets offers gift vouchers ranging from £100–£100,000 for individual trains across the range, including the British Pullman, Royal Scotsman and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Gift vouchers can be used for any luxury journey advertised on LuxuryTrainTickets.com. Vouchers are valid for up to two years, so participants will have plenty of time to find the train journey of their dreams too.
Find out more www.luxurytraintickets.com/gift-vouchers
Canopy and Stars
Canopy and Stars is a treasure trove of hand-picked unique and inspiring holiday homes across the UK and Europe. Whether it’s a yurt or a treehouse, each property has been selected after rigorous quality, authenticity and creativity control. Think roll-top bars, wild swimming and sleeping under the stars. Gift cards are available in any denomination and can be redeemed in over 850 destinations, from the northern tip of Scotland to southern Spain. Each voucher is available as an eCard or sent in the post, and a tree is planted for every booking. If you spend over £200, you’ll get a copy of Stay Wild for free too.
Find out more at www.canopyandstars.co.uk/gift-cards
The Travel Boxx
All of your travel essentials in one handy box (Photo: The TravelBoxx.co.uk)
The Travel Boxx is a quarterly subscription box filled with five TSA-approved essential items that have been carefully curated to save travellers time and money while boosting brand awareness for small businesses. Essentially, it’s a one-stop shop for those items easily forgotten on a trip, from smart gadgets and skincare to accessories such as collapsible water bottles and paper soaps. Recipients receive a new box every three months with seasonally-inspired products too. Each box retails at £30.
Find out more at www.thetravelboxx.co.uk