- Mr Plane Guy
- Sep 25
- 6 min read
The Best Christmas Gift? Travel Gift Cards, Skip the Socks, Give a Travel Gift Card This Christmas.
By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger, Flight Expert & Avios OBSSESSED
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog running (and fuels my habit of buying overpriced airport lattes at the airport). Thanks for your support!
Every year, without fail, Christmas sneaks up on us. One minute it’s pumpkin spice lattes and autumn walks, and the next bam! You’re staring at your calendar, realising Christmas is less than two weeks away. And what do we all end up doing? Rushing around the shops or scrolling online, panic-buying socks, scented candles, and novelty mugs nobody asked for.
But what if, this year, you gave something different? Something exciting, thoughtful, and, let’s be honest, way cooler than slippers.
This year, I want to convince you that travel gift cards specifically lastminute.com gift cards are hands down the best Christmas gift idea. They’re flexible, memorable, and turn into real adventures instead of clutter. Add in a Priority Pass lounge membership (with a cheeky discount I’ll share below ), and you’ve got a Christmas present that might just win you "Best Gifter" status for years to come.
So grab a mulled wine, get cozy, and let’s talk about why a holiday gift card might be the smartest present you’ll give this season.
Why Travel Gift Cards Make the Best Christmas Gift
We live in a world where most people already have too much stuff. Ask around, and you’ll hear the same thing:
👉 “I don’t need anything.”
👉 “Please, no more mugs.”
👉 “I’d rather save for a holiday.”
That’s where travel gift vouchers step in. Instead of giving someone something that gathers dust, you’re giving them the gift of an experience. And experiences? They get remembered forever.
Here’s the beauty of a lastminute.com gift card:
It works just like cash.
The recipient can choose their own flights, hotels, or even Flight + Hotel packages.
They get complete flexibility on when and where they travel.
It’s valid until the credit is used or the expiry date is reached.
That means no awkward “You’ve got to use this before January” pressure. Your loved one gets to browse dream destinations, pick their dates, and book when it suits them.
It’s like giving freedom, adventure, and a little dose of wanderlust all wrapped up in one sleek digital package.
But here’s where lastminute.com gift cards stand out:
They cover flights, hotels, or both together (many cards only cover one).
You can redeem them in parts, multiple times, until the balance is gone.
They’re super easy to use just pop the code in at checkout.
So, while you’ll see competitors like Expedia travel gift cards or Hotels.com gift cards, the lastminute.com ones give your giftee more flexibility. And trust me, flexibility is key when planning travel in today’s world.
Wondering what to buy someone who loves to travel? Read this Blog Post: The Best Gifts For People Who Like To Travel
Who Would Love a Travel Gift Card?
Honestly? Pretty much everyone. But let’s break it down:
Your partner – Surprise them with a romantic weekend away in Paris or Rome (bonus points if you tuck the card inside a cute gold foil passport reveal gift card holder from Etsy).
Your parents – They’ve got everything. But what they don’t have? A relaxing sun escape waiting for them in Spain.
Your best friend – Because experiences together are way more fun than exchanging wine bottles every year.
Your colleagues – Secret Santa just got a glow-up. Imagine pulling out a holiday gift voucher instead of socks.
And the best part? They don’t need to be travel experts. The site does the heavy lifting, they just choose what looks good.
Or did you have somewhere in mind ? You can get these amazing tickets printed out!
Turn Dreams Into Destinations with the Ultimate Travel Gift Card Here for more information
How to Make a Travel Gift Card Extra Special
A digital voucher is practical, sure, but if you want to wow when they open it, presentation is everything. Enter Etsy.
Two of my favorite finds:
🎁 Suitcase Gift Card Box – A mini vintage-style suitcase that hides the gift card inside. Way cuter than an envelope.
🎁 Gold Foil Passport Scratch & Reveal Travel Ticket – A creative way to announce a surprise trip or gift card. They scratch off to reveal the surprise!
Small touches like these make the gift feel extra thoughtful.
Pair It with Priority Pass: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Here’s where you can level up your gift even more. A travel gift card covers the trip itself, but what about the journey? We all know airports can be chaotic. That’s where Priority Pass comes in.
Imagine this: your giftee books their flight with their lastminute.com voucher, then shows up at the airport and skips the gate chaos to relax in a lounge with:
Free food & drinks
Comfy chairs
Fast Wi-Fi
Peace and quiet
And the math makes sense too. If they fly even just twice a year (that’s 4 to 6 lounge visits), it pays for itself. Lounges usually cost over £40 a pop so for £48 year (with my exclusive discount), they’re basically winning and can go into over 1700 lounges worldwide for around £24 per visit!
It’s one of those gifts they’ll use again and again, and every time, they’ll think of you as the genius who gave it to them.
Why This Gift Works for Every Budget
Here’s another reason I love recommending holiday gift vouchers: they’re budget-flexible.
Got £50 to spend? Perfect for a hotel contribution.
Want to splash out £300? That could cover flights to Barcelona or even a long weekend abroad.
Adding Priority Pass? That’s a luxe add-on for under £50.
You control how much you spend, but the value feels way bigger than the number on the receipt.
But Wait… Why Not Just Cash?
I hear you: “Why not just give money?”
Here’s the thing. Cash often disappears into bills, groceries, or random Amazon purchases. A travel gift card, however, can only be used for yep, you guessed it travel. That means the gift can’t “get lost” in the shuffle of life.
Instead, it becomes a dedicated pot of money waiting for something amazing.
Quick Guide: How to Use a Lastminute.com Travel Gift Card
For anyone worrying it might be complicated, nope. It’s ridiculously simple:
Go to lastminute.com.
Search for flights, hotels, or packages.
On the payment page, pop in the gift card code.
Click “Apply.”
And boom done. You can even use the balance across multiple bookings until it’s gone.
Read this Blog Post: Guide to Riga’s Christmas Markets in 2025
Final Boarding Call: The Gift of Adventure
At the end of the day, Christmas gifts should make people feel excited, loved, and maybe even a little spoiled. And I can’t think of anything that ticks all those boxes quite like a travel gift card.
So this year, skip the last-minute panic buys and give the people you love something they’ll actually remember:
A lastminute.com travel gift card for their next adventure.
A Priority Pass lounge membership with 30% off to start their trips in style.
Trust me they’ll be thanking you when they’re sipping sangria in Barcelona, skiing in the Alps, or just chilling in a lounge before their flight.
So, are you ready to be the hero of Christmas gifting? Because honestly… socks are out. Travel gift vouchers are in......... or are they?
When I said “skip the socks”? Well, if you do want to gift socks this Christmas, make it a pair that actually means something. I’m proud to be partnering with Discover Stand4 Socks, creators of the most comfortable and sustainable socks on the planet. Each pair celebrates iconic UK cities (I’ve got the London pair, and they look brilliant, and for every single pair purchased, a pair is donated to someone experiencing homelessness in your local community.
That means you’re not just giving stylish, eco-friendly socks you’re making a direct impact where it matters most. So if you want a gift that’s thoughtful, practical, and purposeful, Stand4 Socks is the one. Together, let’s keep feet warm this winter both yours and someone else’s.
Your next travel read:
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading The Best Christmas Gift? Travel Gift Cards.
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