Do Something Different This Christmas – Give Gift Experiences!

Sometimes it seems to me that Christmas shopping has become a real bore How many times can I buy my mum the same sweater in different colours? Or my brother the same silk tie in different designs? If you have been finding your holiday shopping list a bit stale, I say screw it up and throw it away. Take a cue from me and make all of your Christmas gifts memorable by giving gift experiences to everyone. They’re much more fun to pick out than sweaters and silk ties!

If you’ve been buying the same old boring gifts for years, you might not be familiar with these unique gift options. Instead of schlepping down to the nearest shopping centre and picking out yet another pile of lame gifts this year, you can buy up some experience days for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Sure, your mum might not be thrilled if you give her an indoor sky diving experience, but she might love tickets to a West End show, complete with a voucher for a restaurant meal before or after. No matter what your budget, you can find a gift experience that won’t break the bank. Plus, you can shop online from home, which is great if you’re a hermit like me

When I was looking for an experience day to give my dad, I toyed with the idea of a Segway tour for two. The thought of him riding that contraption in the ridiculous little helmet put me in a jolly Christmas mood for days! In the end, I chose the sporting stadium tour as his gift experience. He gets to visit his favourite rugby ground and I didn’t have to leave my flat to buy his gift.

Of course, you can find a variety of gift experiences for the guys on your gift list – and we all know they’re the hardest to buy for! My brother loved the sushi-making class for two that I gave him and his girlfriend. And my uncle tried to learn how to surf on the experience day I gave him. Other options that might appeal to the men in your life include driving a Ferrari, going hot air ballooning or attending a premium wine tasting.

The gift experiences for women and kids are just as impressive. I even found something for my crazy aunt Cindy, who loves animals more than people. I sent her on an experience day to feed some lemurs at a local animal park. While we were all worried that she might try to stay with the lemurs, she couldn’t wait to get back and show me her photos from the day. Other options you might be interested to hear about include afternoon tea for two, scuba diving, a chocolate-making workshop, a cooking class, a weekend escape, a spa visit and sphering.

Regardless of who you have to buy for this Christmas, giving gift experiences can turn you into everyone’s favourite gift giver. At least that’s what my nephew calls me now!