12 Experience Gifts The Travelers In Your Life Actually Wants

Experiences are some of the best gifts you can give—whether it’s for someone else or yourself!

In our opinion, “experiences” sure beats “stuff”. Things get old. Things cause clutter. Experiences are what really stick with you—they’re the kind of memories you’ll be telling your grandkids about one day.

For the travelers in your life, an experience gift is like handing over a new story waiting to be written, whether it’s a local adventure, a trip halfway across the globe, or a special weekend trip at their favorite destination.

In this gift guide, we’re rounding up some of what we think are the best experience gifts that’ll likely make any travel lover light up.

This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!

---

An All-Inclusive Vacation To Cancun

Great For: New parents that need a break from their busy lives

For new parents or families who need a quick escape from their busy lives, a stay at GR Caribe Cancun is the ultimate treat.

This beachfront resort in Cancun combines Mediterranean-inspired elegance with all-inclusive perks—think unlimited meals, a private marina, pools, Jacuzzis, and even a kids’ club to keep little ones entertained.

And with 20% off rates for a limited time, it’s an easy way to give the gift of relaxation, luxury, and some well-deserved downtime in paradise.

Our Bucket List: Journal for Ideas and Adventures for Couples

Great For: Couples planning that trip-of-a-lifetime

Our Bucket List is a fun little journal for adventurous couples to record their wildest dreams and out-of-this-world goals.

Want to go skydiving, swimming with dolphins, or climbing a few mountains in France? Simply record the idea, the story behind the idea, and the completion date once done!

Grab one for all the couples you know… or even one for yourself!

We love this journal because it stirs up so much collaboration, discussion, and creativity between couples. This journal makes for a great anniversary or Valentine’s Day gift for newlyweds, couples looking to explore more together, and even couples who have been together for decades.

A kid-friendly stay at a Great Wolf Lodge resort

Great For: That travel-loving family you know

Great Wolf Lodge is an awesome resort line for families with young children. These resorts have everything under one roof—water slides, games, and activities to keep kids entertained all day.

Parents can relax knowing the little ones are having a blast in a safe environment, plus there are plenty of spots to unwind for adults too.

With locations all over the U.S. (Anaheim, Colorado Springs, Arizona, Kansas City, Boston, Atlanta, the Poconos, and more), it’s an easy travel option that doesn’t require major planning or going too far from home.

A Trip To The Happiest Place On Earth

Great For: That Disney-obsessed couple / family you know

For the Disney-obsessed in your life — you know, the ones who can’t seem to stop going to Disneyland whenever they do get the chance to travel — a stay at the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel is a great way to make their Disneyland dreams come true.

Located less than a half mile from the park, this castle-themed hotel offers spacious rooms and 13 acres of lush gardens, complete with fountains and a koi pond.

Pair the stay with park tickets, and you’ve just given them the ultimate Disneyland experience—and guaranteed yourself a top spot as their favorite gift-giver this year!

Read Next: Disneyland Hotels With Free Parking (That Don’t Suck)

America The Beautiful National Parks Pass

Great For: Outdoor adventurers, campers, and national park lovers

Now more than ever, people are heading outdoors to find peace and adventure.

If sightseeing at Yellowstone, sleeping under the stars in Joshua Tree, or hiking through Zion National Park are all things that the traveler in your life would love, then an America the Beautiful Park Pass is gonna make for a great gift.

This annual pass covers the entry cost to thousands of federal recreation sites across the country, including national parks, national monuments, national forests, and more.

Gifting this pass is practically gifting someone a bunch of bucket list opportunities!

An Epic 9-Day Tour Of Japan

Great For: That recent grad who’s figuring out their gap year plans, or anyone who wants a done-for-you Japan trip, really!

If you’re looking to go all out on the most epic gift ever, this 9-day guided tour of Japan is it.

This adventure features Japan’s top destinations and will take them through Tokyo’s city lights, the beauty of Mount Fuji, Kyoto’s ancient temples, and Osaka’s colorful food markets. With guided tours and free days mixed in, it’s the perfect balance of sightseeing and downtime.

For people who yearn to experience Japan’s best highlights without the hassle of planning every detail, it doesn’t get better than this.

Has Japan piqued your interest? Check out a few of our other useful travel guides for Japan:

• Japan On A Budget: 50 Pro Tips For An Affordable Vacation
• 18 Deliciously Popular Foods To Try In Japan
• 12 Other Cities Worth Visiting Near Tokyo, Japan
• 15 Amazing Onsen Towns In Japan To Visit On Your Next Trip

TokyoTreat

If you can’t travel to Japan anytime soon, TokyoTreat is the next best thing.

TokyoTreat is a monthly subscription box that delivers a unique and hard-to-find selection of Japanese snacks, candy, and other treats straight from Japan–right to your doorstep!

With each box, you can expect a whopping 15-20 full-size Japanese snacks. This means they won’t be sample-sized bags, but they also won’t be massive, USA-sized either (USA-sized snacks are way too big in our opinion).

The boxes typically include a mix of sweet and savory items, such as candy, cookies, chocolate, ramen, rice crackers, chips, mochi, and even Japan-exclusive and seasonal KitKats. Tell me, who doesn’t love Japanese KitKats?

Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Country

Great For: The adventurous spirit who happens to also love wine

Know someone headed to California soon? Or a CA transplant who has yet to road trip through Northern California?

This Muir Woods and Wine Country tour is an awesome choice for anyone with an adventurous spirit and a passion for wine. They’ll get to marvel at the breathtaking old-growth redwoods of Muir Woods, then spend the day savoring wine tastings in Napa and Sonoma—two of California’s most famous wine regions.

Plus, with comfortable, eco-friendly transport and an expert guide, they can just relax and soak up every moment of this memorable NorCal experience.

Explore Local Box

Great For: Travel lovers who can’t actually travel

This travel-themed subscription box is so creative and fun, especially for people who are cooped up at home but have a travel bug that never really goes away.

With Explore Local Box, you can explore a new US city every month through premium, locally-made snacks!

Boxes include food and non-food items that are locally produced by small businesses and local artisans from the featured month’s city. Previous cities include Albuquerque, NM, Chicago, IL, Brooklyn, NY, Portland, OR, and many more.

Our tip is to start off with a 3-month gift subscription. If they hate it, cancel it. If they love it, renew!

Go City New York Attraction Passes

Great For: Travelers planning an epic first-timer trip to NYC soon

Go City’s digital attraction passes are a game-changer for saving money in NYC—a must-have in a city where things are far from affordable.

With the Go City Explorer Pass, you can explore at your own pace, choosing from over 90 top attractions, tours, and experiences as you go. Enjoy iconic spots like the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock Observatory, One World Observatory, the Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Tour, and more for up to 50% off retail prices.

This pass brings the best of New York within easy (and budget-friendly) reach!

Go City San Diego Pass

Great For: Travelers who love a healthy mix of beaches, eclectic neighborhoods, and amusement parks

East Coast weather not your vibe? How does the West Coast sound? If San Diego is on someone’s horizon, compliment their trip with the Go City San Diego Pass.

As you can see, we’re huge fans of Go City attraction passes because they let you bundle multiple experiences for one set price, which is usually a lot cheaper than buying tickets individually.

With the SD version of the pass, you get access to popular attractions like the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, speed boat rides, whale watching tours, and more.

While there’s an all-inclusive version available, we personally prefer the Explorer Pass for its flexibility and value!

Read Next: 60 Fun-Filled Things To Do In San Diego, California

A Photo Book Of All Their Previous Trips

Great For: The jetsetter that already has everything they could ever want

Know a traveler who just doesn’t really seem to want anything? A photo book of their past adventures is the perfect gift for the “ungiftable” traveler who already seems to have everything they could ever want.

With Shutterfly’s customizable options, you can design each page to reflect their unique journey—adding layouts, text, and embellishments however you like. Plus, you can give the book an extra level of oomph with options like metallic covers or lay-flat pages, making it extra fancy to match their lifestyle.

Right now, you can get up to a whopping 87% off photo books with this Groupon.

---

Other Posts You’ll Love: