Quick and easy last minute gifts of travel – My Top 10 ideas that don't look last minute!

Never found that “perfect gift” for the very important someone or someones?   You are NEARLY officially out of time for a Last minute Holiday Shopping – for actual travel, anyway ~ however, there is something about being home for the holidays that inspires wanderlust!  And a trip together will give you something to look forward to!

If an IOU for any of the cruises I have recently posted don’t do the trick, there here are some ideas on how to pull off a last minute destination inspired gift –requiring very little money and very little time, and looking like you have thought long and hard on it! 

These trips are mostly centered on events, and can be ready to gift in a jiffy as a small physical gift with an IOU tucked in the box for the trip to be planned TOGETHER – over or after the holidays!

Caveat:  You had better call me to help plan that trip, because if you screw up on the fulfillment of that Christmas IOU, well, it won’t be a Happy New Year!   

Here’s my top 10 travel inspired ideas, starting with the ones I have been booking all day!!!! 

1.  Colorado, Utah and More … a Ski Trip

         Gift:  New Gloves, UnderArmour or a gift certificate to a ski shop

2.  Islamorada/Key Largo for Scuba Diving, Deep Sea Fishing or Sunning

         Gift:  Rum Runner Glass and Sunscreen

3.  Vegas, Baby!  Las Vega   …. , any time! 

         Gift:   A deck of cards, poker chips and/or promise of a special show

4.  New Orleans for Mardi Gras (Feb. 21, 2012)
         Gift:  Hit the party store and grab a handful of shiny Mardi Gras beads! 

5.  Louisville for the Kentucky Derby  (May 4^th & 5^th, 2012)

         Gift:  Broad-brimmed hat for her or a Bourbon Flask for him

6.  Chicago for “Taste of Chicago -- the world’s largest outdoor food fest!

     (June 24^th – July 3th, 2012)
         Gift:  Go to www.tastesofchiago.com and order a Lou Malnati’s Pizza

7.  Fantasy Fest in Key West (events span over a week with the main

     Parade usually Saturday closet to Halloween in October)

          Gift:  Think Mardi Gras meets Halloween  -- Maybe a glittery mask

        from the party store – OR a bottle or Margarita mix!!! (You're in Margaritaville!)

 8.  Head to California Wine Country for “Crush” – (Usually October 

     depending on weather) Ask me about some of the lesser known areas!

          Gift:  A Bottle of Wine … perhaps from one of potential destinations

  

9.   Epcot Food and Wine Festival, Orlando, Fl  -- Sept. 28 – Nov. 11, 2012

Gift:  Mix this with a trip to Disney for the kids --- a gift card or mouse ears from the Disney store – for adult gifting: a cookbook or a bottle of wine – or both!

10.  New York City – any time is good, but my fave is over the first weekend in Dec.

       The Tree in Rockefeller Center is lit and Christmas Spirit abounds. 

          Gift:  My husband's idea:  Sabrett hot dog!!!  Hold the sauerkraut (too messy.)

I am speechless after that one!  Maybe a Macy's Gift Certificate.

** Here is a Bonus Idea --- this is the Gift I want to see under

MY tree and will likely give my in-laws next year

11. Christmas Markets on a River Cruise –markets open mid Nov. – mid Dec. 2012

          Gift:  German markets being the most known: give a blown glass German

          Pickle ornament and/or a passport case. (Maybe add passport app off web?) 

Happiest Holidays to all, and please call or email me if I can help you in pulling this 

together … and looking like you have been planning this special gift for MONTHS!!!

Foodies and Wine Lovers will adore the gift of this Inaugural Oceania Riviera sailing!

I would love to find today’s gift of travel under MY tree! Today’s featured sailing departs Athens (Piraeus), Greece on April 12, 2012.  Experience the inaugural sailing on the brand new Oceania Riviera.  This stellar ship’s debut visits Israel, Greece, Turkey and Egypt.

Click to see full size!

With fares starting at $3,699 per person, this package includes their 2-4-1 fares, free roundtrip air, one night pre-cruise stay at a 5 star hotel AND prepaid gratuities.  (For what you save on the gratuities alone, you can purchase the new wine beverage package making this nearly the most all inclusive vacation afloat!)  Signature Chef Jacques Pepin will be in attendance. One can imagine there will probably be some special events in the only hands-on cooking school at sea! (... besides the one onboard her sister ship, Marina!) 

We have only select cabins left in this limited time group. I can help you with this -- or nearly any other vacation on land and at sea, and Oceania is one of my very favorite lines.  (My personal photos to follow -- AFTER holiday shopping ends!)

Update:  Top requests today:  Ski Vacations and Las Vegas, Baby!  (Just because I don't post the perfect trip -- doesn't mean we can't find it!)  Thanks for following me!