Christmas 2024 is coming, and it's time to start thinking about unique and meaningful Christmas gift experiences for your loved ones. Instead of the usual trinkets, why not consider giving the gift of an experience? In this article, we'll:

  • Explore the common dilemmas in buying Christmas gifts
  • Explain why you should gift experiences this Christmas over material items
  • Unveil the best Christmas gift experiences that are sure to delight your loved ones

How To Always Buy Great Christmas Gifts

What's the most common Christmas gift?

brothers exchange christmas gifts from hotelgift
It might not be the most original, but money is the most popular Christmas gift. It's easy to give, versatile and useful for everyone! Want to step it up a notch this year? Consider gifting a personalised gift card for travel.

What are the 5 rules for Christmas gift giving?

hotel gift vouchers uk are the best way to give Christmas experience gifts
Want to always give the best Christmas gift? Then follow the 5 rules by ensuring their Christmas gift falls under one of these categories:

  • Something they want
  • Something they need
  • Something to wear
  • Something to read
  • Something they don't know they want yet

What's the most unwanted Christmas gift?

75% of people get up to seven Christmas presents each year that they never use! The most common unwanted Christmas gifts include hankies, soap and cufflinks!

How Can You Gift Experiences This Christmas?

friends enjoying a gift experience at christmas dinner
A Christmas gift experience is all about empowering someone to create new memories, rather than giving them physical Christmas gifts. This trend has gained popularity as people seek more meaningful and memorable presents.

Instead of your standard gifts, experience gifts involve giving your cherished ones the chance to enjoy fun activities like:

By choosing experience Christmas gifts, you're providing the people you love the most with unique and personalised moments that are often treasured more than material objects.

5 Reasons to Gift Experiences Over Things This Christmas

1. They Create Lasting Memories

a mother and her kids enjoy a christmas baking gift experience
When you buy Christmas experience gifts, you're essentially offering the gift of an unforgettable and unique moment in time. Unlike physical possessions that can lose their charm over time, experiences have the incredible power to embed themselves in the recipient's memory. Plus, these memories last forever because they are filled with emotional and personal significance. Whether it's:

  • A romantic hot air balloon ride
  • An adventurous weekend getaway
  • A Christmas cooking class
  • A tour of their favourite football stadium

These Christmas gift experiences leave an impact long after its finished. They become stories to share, anecdotes to recount, and moments that continue to bring joy, happiness, and a sense of connection, making them more valuable in terms of sentimental worth than any material possession ever could be.

2. They Reduce Clutter

Christmas experience gifts provide a clutter-free and eco-friendly alternative to traditional Christmas presents for several reasons:

  • They don't clutter your home: This is especially vital in a world where many people are embracing minimalist lifestyles and seeking ways to declutter and simplify their living spaces.
  • They're more sustainable: Physical products often involve manufacturing, packaging, and transportation, contributing to environmental pollution and resource consumption. In contrast, experience gifts have a significantly lower environmental footprint. Experience Christmas gifts use fewer materials, generate less waste, and require fewer resources, making them a more sustainable Christmas present.

In essence, giving experiences as Christmas gifts not only avoids adding to physical clutter but also helps reduce the broader environmental impact associated with traditional gift-giving.

3. They're Personalised

one of the best luxury gifts for her is a hotel gift card from hotelgift
When you give Christmas experience gifts, you have the opportunity to create a deeply personal and meaningful connection with your recipient since it shows your thoughtfulness in truly understanding their interests and preferences. Whatever you choose, you're demonstrating that you've taken the time to buy a Christmas gift that matches their interests going beyond the one-size-fits-all approach of standard Christmas gifts.

4. They Let You Have Quality time

people sipping coffee at a christmas market
Experience Christmas gifts have a unique power to encourage spending quality time together, ultimately strengthening relationships and fostering deeper connections with loved ones. When individuals receive an experience gift for Christmas, it often involves shared activities or adventures, such as going to a concert, taking a cooking class, or embarking on a weekend getaway. These shared experiences create opportunities for bonding, communication, and the creation of lasting memories.

5. They Promote Health and Well-being

gift a christmas experience gift for a yoga class
Many experience Christmas gifts are carefully designed to prioritise the recipient's health, well-being, or personal growth. For instance, they might include options like:

  • Spa days
  • Yoga retreats
  • Fitness classes
  • Workshops on skills such as yoga or painting.

The unique benefit of these gifts lies in their potential to promote a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle.  They give them the chance to prioritise self-care, stress reduction, and personal development, improving overall quality of life. Whether it's the relaxation and rejuvenation of a spa day or the sense of accomplishment gained from mastering a new skill, these experiences have a transformative impact.

The Best Christmas Gift Experiences for 2024

a lady enjoys breakfast in a luxury hotel stay thanks to a hotelgift voucher
Now that we've convinced you to buy a Christmas experience gift for your family this year, allow us to unveil the best Christmas gift experiences for 2024.

  • Dog-Friendly Getaways
    For dog lovers, Hotelgift unlocks tons of dog-friendly hotels, letting them take their doggy along for the Christmas gift adventure. From rural retreats to beachside hotels, this gift is perfect for pet owners.
  • Solo Travel Adventures
    Encourage solo travellers to explore the world on their own terms with a gift voucher for hotels. It offers peace, reflection, and personal discovery with access to a wide range of hotels across different destinations.
  • Spa and Wellness Retreats
    Treat your loved one to a relaxing spa and wellness hotel stay. From massages to yoga classes, Hotelgift opens doors to wellness retreats focused on well-being and rejuvenation.
  • Haunted House Stays
    For thrill-seekers, a haunted hotel stay makes for a memorable Christmas experience gift. With a gift certificate for hotels, they can choose from spooky haunted hotels or mansions for an eerie and exciting experience this Christmas.
  • Rural Getaways in Nature
    Gift a rural retreat where your loved ones can escape city life and unwind in the tranquillity of nature. A hotel gift card gives access to cosy lodges or cabins, perfect for recharging in the new year.
  • City Breaks for Friends
    Another great Christmas gift experience for friends is a fun city break. With a hotel gift certificate, they can explore local hotspots, enjoy vibrant nightlife, and relax in stylish hotels that will make their holiday unforgettable.
  • Hen Do/Stag Do Accommodation
    Planning a hen or stag do? A hotel gift voucher offers accommodation at lively hotels or relaxing resorts tailored for celebrating. Whether in the city centre or rural escape, it’s an ideal choice for pre-wedding fun.
  • Eco-Friendly Holidays
    For eco-friendly travellers, a hotel voucher provides access to sustainable hotels and eco-lodges. These properties focus on reducing environmental impact while delivering a memorable and responsible stay.

Whether you're shopping for your other half, family, or friends, a Hotelgift card unlocks all of these unique Christmas gift experiences, making them perfect for everyone. With a hotel voucher, you’re giving the ultimate flexibility and choice for unforgettable stays in the UK and worldwide.

How to Give a Christmas Experience Gift For Hotels?

the best hotel gift card in the uk from hotelgift
All set to buy a Christmas experience gift for your family and friends this Christmas? Then just click Buy a Hotel Voucher and follow all the instructions provided. It takes less than 5 minutes and is super simple:

  1. Choose a hotel gift card format: eGift, PDF or luxury
  2. Add a monetary value: between £25 to £10,000
  3. Add an image and write a message
  4. Send for free!

Once your loved one gets their multi-hotel gift voucher they can redeem it on over 750,000 hotels around the world from York to Ireland to Croatia to Budapest. They'll have 2 years to use their gift vouchers for hotel and if they have any questions at all, our customer service team are on hand to help 24/7.