Experience Gift Cards for the Holidays
November 26, 2025
When you think of holiday shopping, you may feel joy and stress all at once. Picking something out and finding the right size and color for everyone on your list can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. So why not consider giving something more unique than a material item, like a gift that can create new memories? An experience gift is just that. It’s the gift of an adventure, whether it’s an exciting retreat, an entertaining night out or a unique journey that appeals to the taste of the recipient, making the gift distinctive for that individual. That means it can be personal yet a little simpler to select and purchase. Read on for ideas of special ways to gift this season with holiday experience gifts.
How to Choose Good Experience Gifts?
When you’re thinking of an activity or outing to give someone, you’ll want to consider the person and specifics about them. What are their interests? What is their budget for any associated expenses? What is their accessibility related to time, location or ability to take advantage of the experience? With these thoughts in mind, you’ll be on track for creating a gift that contributes toward a special experience.
Try pairing gift cards with themed experiences so you can provide funds and ideas, for larger or smaller gifts, like combining a Delta Airlines Gift Card with a travel itinerary or giving a Soothe Gift Card with plush robe.
Travel Experience Gifts for the Holidays
When it comes to planning a trip, there are many personal considerations related to destination, schedule and budget. That makes travel experience gift cards an ideal gift, so you can suggest trips while allowing the recipient to book based on their timing and terms. An excellent option includes TripGift Gift Cards, which can be used to book flights, cars, hotels or for other vacation essentials, making them a flexible travel gift.
Our Top Entertainment & Wellness Experience Gift Cards
The Gift Card Shop offers a range of gifts for recipients of all ages with all kinds of interests. Check out these experience gift card ideas to craft a themed gift that will give them an adventure to remember.
How to Create the Ultimate Holiday Experience Gifts?
You can create seasonal surprises with gift cards and thoughtful suggestions for winter getaways or tickets to local holiday events that the recipient would love. Want to keep it a little more general? Hint at a gift with seasonal suggestions like ice skating, festive dinners or theme park events, and pair them with American Express®, Mastercard® or Visa® Gift Cards they can use anywhere they’re accepted.
What Are the Best Experience Gifts?
While no one gift is the “best” gift, there is a fitting choice for each person based on their unique preferences. With gift card categories like travel, entertainment, and relaxation, you can consider what they enjoy doing in their spare time or what they’d appreciate most as a treat. And with a variety of branded gift cards and widely accepted bank-issued gift cards, you can create a gateway to memorable experiences.
How to Find Unique Experience Gifts?
The personalization of a gift depends on the individual. Make it unique to the recipient based on their tastes by getting to know their wants and interests. Here are some tips for selecting personalized gifts that suit the recipient:
- Pay attention to what they talk about most, from hobbies to desires
- Consider the things that are most important to them, like cooking, hosting or traveling
- Think back on experiences that have been meaningful to them in the past and anything that is sentimental to both of you
Complete your gift by using creative ways to present gift cards as part of a curated experience.
What Experience Gifts Are Popular Now?
With a range of active endeavors and peaceful pastimes, there are a variety of current trends that make experience gifting popular for all the people on your list. Consider these meaningful ideas:
- Adventure tours to destinations in the mountains
- Sporting events to a local game
- Wellness retreats that focus on yoga or meditation
- Activities like indoor skydiving
- Spa treatments for relaxation
With the knowledge of the recipient’s interests and your budget, there are many ways to create holiday or Christmas gift experiences that are unforgettable.
Are There Any Holiday Experience Gift Ideas?
However the recipient celebrates the holidays, there are many ways to focus on their favorite aspects of the season. By creatively packaging suggestions with gift cards, you can treat them to an experience that only happens during this wonderful time of year:
- Offer suggestions for holiday-themed experiences, such as Christmas markets or New Year’s Eve events
- Incorporate unique options like magical holiday experiences for families, from ice skating performances to theatrical productions
- Gift a holiday-themed Visa, Mastercard or American Express Gift Card with an itinerary for the day that inspires joy
Where to Buy Experience Gifts for Holidays?
Consider The Gift Card Shop your gift-giving sidekick. Our experience gift cards are available for purchase online and ready to be sent as a physical gift card or can be sent as a digital gift! Whether you’re planning your holiday shopping ahead or gifting last minute, The Gift Card Shop is a great destination for experience. With a wide variety to choose from and the ease of ordering in one place, you can track all your orders while preparing experience gifts for each person on your list. Plus, you can schedule your gift cards ahead of time for the holidays, ensuring stress-free gifting and peace of mind.
Give the Gift of Memorable Experiences This Holiday Season
With a desire for something more meaningful than a material item, experience gifts are growing in popularity. They allow for a range of budgets and flexibility for a gift of possibilities paired with a gift card to make it happen. These types of gifts are ideal for the holidays, when people can celebrate the season with family or friends using a gift. Consider the individual when determining what experiences to gift for Christmas or the holidays and package the gift creatively for a personalized present. Use these convenient yet thoughtful gift ideas as a starting point as you explore other unconventional ways of gifting for loved ones this holiday season.