The holiday shopping season is officially here and if you are anything like me, that means it’s time to scramble to come up with gift ideas! Here are my favorite gifts for people who love travel as much as I do.

Airline Gift Cards

People think of gift cards as being a thoughtless gift, but when it comes to travel you want to think about the airline carefully.

Does the person already belong to a loyalty program or have a preferred airline? If you know their favorite airline then this is an easy one. Also take into consideration which airlines have the most flights from their home airport.

Is there a specific destination that they are hoping to visit soon and what airlines will get them there? If they are trying to plan a trip somewhere specific that you want to help with, then it’s worth it to look at the airline options they would research. Southwest might be their favorite airline, but if they are trying to get to Asia then that won’t work.

What are the terms of the gift card? Some airline gift cards have expiration dates, while others never expire. Most airlines also limit redemption to flights only, meaning they won’t be useful if trying to pay for a seat upgrade or checked bag fees.

As a bonus perk for you if you have an airline credit card, gift card purchases usually count as airline purchases and get you the extra points or miles!

Weekend Getaway

If you want to go big and get someone a weekend getaway, websites like Travelzoo and Groupon usually have great deals for various budgets. You can go really big and find an all-inclusive or international getaway, or keep it closer to home and get a hotel deal. Some of the hotel deals include extras like spa or dinner credits or welcome bottles of wine. Join their email lists to get updates for the best deals, or just search their websites by area to see what’s nearby. With most of these deals you buy a voucher and the recipient will pick the dates that work for them, but there are others that are specific to holidays or events. When looking at deals pay close attention to blackout dates and the use thru date to make sure there’s enough time for the person to use it.

Excursion or Tour

When your traveler already has their trip booked, find out if there is an activity they would like to do and see if you can book it or get a voucher. Check Travelzoo, Groupon or Tripadvisor for ideas and deals by plugging in the location to see what comes up. From sightseeing tours to concerts or museum admission, there should be something to get your traveler excited for their trip!

These gifts may look small under the tree, but will be sure to create experiences that will be unforgettable. Happy shopping and Happy Holidays!