Holiday Gift Guide 2024: The Best Experiential Travel And Culture Gifts

Are you guilty of a regift? Do countless candles, bottles of booze and engraved bobbles line your mantel each holiday season?

If the above are true, this is the holiday gift guide for you.

Travel and cultural moments are truly the gifts that keep on giving, as the recipient will have those memories for a lifetime—and more counter space free of Christmas gift clutter.

While coming up with ideas may seem hard, there are many unique travel packages out there to book for a friend or loved one, plus companies that specialize in unique cultural experiences or once-in-a-lifetime adventures.

Read on for our list of the 9 best experiential gifts, many of which you can book right now or buy virtually, to ensure an easy delivery before the holidays.—no shipping or wrapping paper required.

For the thrill seeker: Be an astronaut for a day

Yes, you read that right. You can now experience zero gravity and not just in a flight simulator pod or theme park. ZERO-G offers this experience aboard a Boeing 727 G-Force One, specially configured to allow passengers a zero gravity moment in mid-air.

Check out the schedule of flights here and make special notice of the Kennedy Space Center flights that go up with a real astronaut and have special perks like VIP passes to the KSC, exclusive merch and more.

For the indecisive traveler: Take a mystery trip

Have you ever wanted to spin a globe and just go wherever it says? Now you can give that experience and save the planning with Journee. The company allows you to book a trip, but you don’t know where you are going until you’re at the airport the day of! Journee uses a survey to curate the group, plan the itinerary and book everything for you, sending you a packing list and arrival time at an airport and a sealed envelope for your destination reveal.

Book your adventure here for you and your loved one, or you can opt for a gift card to allow them to take their Journee on their own time.

For the dapper gentleman: Get styled, groomed and photographed by an Italian fashion mogul

Rome is the eternal city, and any fashionable man would be eternally grateful to receive this cultural experience as a gift. The Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese hotel offers a men’s fashion experience that includes a shopping trip, a traditional shaving service at one of the oldest barber shops, a cigar experience and stops to get custom, handmade shoes, fitted shirts and handmade ties. The experience ends with a professional photoshoot by Giorgio Giangiulio, who will be your guide throughout the day.

Check with hotel concierge for more information, or inquire here.

For Dry January and sober loved ones: A zero-proof cocktail subscription

If you have a sober person on your gifting list, or want to get in on the mocktail craze, this is a perfect gift that keeps on giving. Raising The Bar is a 100% alcohol free subscription box that sends all the ingredients and recipes for three unique mocktails that serve up to 10. This means it’s not only a gift for them, but the chance to host a party or share the experience with others this holiday season.

Choose from a one, three, six or 12-month plan and be sure to select “This is a Gift” at checkout to add your note and ensure that the gifted subscription won’t renew.

For the outdoorsy indoorsy person: Give a glamping getaway

Why gift a tent and a backpack when you could gift the whole campsite. Postcard Cabins, formerly called Getaway House, provides upscale cabin rentals all over the US. They feature plumbing, hot water and plush beds, but also amazing views of nature, and many also have areas for bonfires, hiking and more.

Click here to see their current locations. You can book a stay for a friend, or purchase a gift card for use later.

For the one that needs to relax: Book a spa or daypass near them

There’s nothing better than some rest and relaxation during the holidays. SpaFinder is the perfect way to give your loved one just that, no mater their location. The site allows you to book day passes to spas, hotels, lounges and more at great rates, which can be far cheaper than booking a full hotel stay or package.

They offer the ability to both purchase a gift card online and email it to your recipient, or mail it for an IRL surprise in the post.

For the homeowner that has everything: Trade their home for a vacation

If your loved one has everything, allow them to get out of dodge while not worrying about who will watch their home while they are away. Home Exchange offers a yearly membership in which you can list your home and then trade others across the globe, allowing you to travel hassle free.

You may want to consult your buddy before signing them up for this one, as they will need an account and the commitment to travel, but at a decent price point of $220 for the whole year, you could easily offer to gift them a one-year membership.

For the sea-lover: Charter a captain and rent a boat for an adventure at sea

For those that live near a body of water, this is for you. Boatsetter is a boat rental site that not only allows you to seamlessly book a book for a day, but can also provide a captain and help plan a whole experience while out on the water. They have options for yachts, fishing boats, party boats, sailboats, pontoons and more, and can set sail on both oceans and lakes across the US and some global destinations.

Search for a rental here and then be connected with the captain to ask any questions and plan the perfect trip.

For the one that still loves gift cards: This one gifts an experience of their choosing

Instead of a stack of Amazon or Starbucks gift cards cluttering their wallets, give a different kind of gift card. Virgin Experience Gifts offers e-gift cards for all of their many experiences, from helicopter rides and skydiving to cooking classes and wine tastings.

Browse the thousands of offers on their site, or go with the e-gift card here and let your loved one choose their own adventure—literally.

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