THEThe choice to give experiences as a gift is a trendalso confirmed for this Christmas 2024. Gift Cards are definitely well-ranked among the favorite gifts according to a report by Mordor Intelligence, which predicts them to grow between now and 2029. Experiences are liked, the Confesercenti report assures. And the trend is confirmed by the Amex Trendex of American Express Italia, according to which, among the experiential gifts, the most popular are trips (59%), followed by entertainment (50%) and from cooking courses, wine tastings or dinners (40%).
Why give experiences as gifts at Christmas 2024
There are several reasons why experiences make people happier than actual gifts. One of the issues, highlighted by several studies on the topic, is what researchers call adaptation: whether it takes a few minutes or a few days, any excitement people feel about a new gadget will fade, more or less quickly. The opposite happens for experiences.
Perhaps, when you receive the gift, objects and experiences provide the same happiness. But if overall satisfaction with material things decreases over time, satisfaction with lived experiences increases. This is also becausemore difficult than objects, are compared to each other: every experience is unique and, as such, unrepeatable.
Smart gifts: Gift Cards
There are many options for “experience” Christmas gifts, and they can be found tailor-made for each recipient. Some operators, like Smartbox and Boscolocan be considered industry veterans, devoted to travel. Others are startups and offer gift cards with a specific denomination, perfect for personalized Christmas gift experiences. For example Yescapaa camper sharing platform that offers time-based cards. OR Freedomewhich has a vocation foroutdoor. But Eataly, for example, also offers interesting offerings Eatineraries to give as gifts, for example in Barolo or in the world of truffles, but also cooking lessons and courses. The recipient loves sea and adrenaline? The right portal on which to look for experience Christmas gifts is BeBlue, which offers sailing trips. It’s a globetrotter (or aspiring one) inclined to make new friends while travelling? There are the WeRoad Gift Card.
The Montevergine Hermitage, which dominates the beach of San Francesco, in Ischia, is the structure proposed in the Boscolo Gift “Islands of Italy”. But the beauty of the box is that it allows you to give as a gift, and the person receiving the gift to choose from many other destinations and solutions (750 euros). Among the ideas selected by Boscolo to experience unusual, romantic or exciting moments are same-day experiences, such as “Create wine“which allows you to create an exclusive personalized Collio Bianco, with the help of an expert winemaker. AND surprising stays, for example, in one of the “Cool cities“: trendy, modern, emerging cities such as Rotterdam, Sofia, Riga, Timisoara (2 nights for 2 people for 399 euros). The Boscolo Gift Selection boxes are only available online and immediately ready for use.
With Freedome, an adventure into the Classics: from “Frozen” to “Balto”
Christmas gift experiences can be designed for adults and children. Like those, capable of rekindling in both the magic of the most loved stories, on the snow and in contact with nature, selected by the startup Freedome, which offers over 4,500 outdoor experiences throughout Italy. We go from Sled dog racingthe dog sled, to relive Balto’s courage (in Castelmagno, in the province of Cuneo, at 120 euros per adult) at snowshoeing for families, to explore landscapes worthy of the kingdom of Frozen (in Bardonecchia, 25 euros per person). Or, why not, one walk with alpacascapable of evoking the enchantment of Little Red Riding Hood (in Venasca, 25 euros).
Cannavacciuolo signature lunches and relaxation in its Laqua boutique hotels
Not only that tasting menuhow “Grandpa Antonino”, signed Cannavacciuoloto try in the 1 Michelin star restaurant in Vico Equense (275 euros). Or the one titled “Breeze” created by the Head Chef Gianni Bertone on the shores of Lake Orta (100 euros, in the photo). There are also Laqua Collection Gift Cards wellness stays and experiencesalways to be enjoyed in the Laqua di Cinzia and Antonino Cannavacciuolo boutique hotels: in Tuscany, Piedmont and Campania. Like the “weekend that tastes like Tuscany” proposed by Laqua Vineyard, in the province of Pisa (which includes the Prologo tasting menu in the 1 Michelin star restaurant), at 1169 euros.
Journey into the greenery, with naturally Smartbox
Leader in the Gift Card sector, Smartbox has created a new range of boxes, dedicated to lovers of escapes into the countryside. This offers 150 relaxing stays in selected Italian facilities, from Piedmont to Tuscany (199.90 euros, valid for 3 years and 3 months).
Couple experiences, from relaxation to adrenaline
The 59.90 euro Smartbox box set which includes around 10 thousand activities to do as a couple to choose from. To experience the magic of Christmas for two, in the name of complete rest or in search of the most adrenaline-filled adventure.
You and me like in a Disney fairy tale
The Smartbox dedicated to the French Disney Parks “You and me like in a fairy tale” allows you to choose between Disneyland, where you can immerse yourself in thematic itineraries and fantastic challenges, and Walt Disney Studios, to discover the mastery behind each work, through the props and sets. Entitles you to 2 tickets for adults, valid for 1 day (198 euros, valid for 3 years and 3 months).
Give the gift of the freedom of a camper trip
Give the gift of a sunset over the ocean, the culmination of a road trip in a camper? It can be done, thanks to Yescapaa platform that allows you to organize travel by camper or van, starting from the rental of the vehicle. Among the different types of gift cards, “A weekend getaway”, worth 200 euros to take a break. “A week of freedom”: worth 800 euros, to travel the streets of Europe. But there is also the “Make your own trip” option: to be able to freely choose the amount of the gift card. Gift cards are valid for one year and also include multi-risk insurance.
For those who love the mountains, ski passes, paragliding and snowmobile trips
Perfect for those who love skiing and snowboarding, the open date ski pass allows you to choose when to go to the slopes in the location chosen during the purchase phase (it is possible to give a single or multiple days of skiing as a gift). An alternative is the Snowit gift card (valid for one year and available in denominations of 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 500 euros), to be used on the site snowit.ski to purchase ski passes or ski lessons, but also adrenaline-filled experiences such as paragliding flights over the Dolomites and snowmobile tripsentrances to the spa, snowshoeing or even typical dinners in a hut with passage on a snowmobile. You can also use the Gift card for multiple transactions.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED