I’ve been traveling professionally since 2012, have visited more than 70 countries, and I still get wide-eyed and bushy-tailed at the prospect of going somewhere new. Getting to call this my job is something I’ll never take for granted. It’s also why, when the holidays roll around, I don’t buy my 7-year-old a million things to unwrap. Instead, I “gift” trips and experiences throughout the year, the kind she talks about long after the packaging is gone.
And I’m far from the only one is trading material things for memories. A new Ipsos survey for Wells Fargo found that 29% of Americans prefer receiving experiences like travel and events. Even holiday travel itself is staying strong, with a new study in the NerdWallet reporting that 45% of U.S. adults plan to spend gift money on flights or hotels during the holiday season, suggesting that “time together” is more important than gift cards or candles.
Below, we break down why families are choosing a getaway as the big-ticket gift this year, from economics to psychology to simple practicality.
Related: 6 Biggest Travel Trends Defining 2026, Per New Report
Why “One Trip” > “More Stuff”
One of the biggest reasons is just simple math. During economic times like now, when inflation and prices feel very unpredictable, families are very conscious of what they’re spending. They want a better ROI for their big-ticket items, and want to ensure what they’re spending their hard-earned money on is “worth it.” PricewaterhouseCooper’s (PWC) 2025 Holiday Outlook found overall holiday spend dipping, with material gift spending very down while travel and entertainment hold steady. Mastercard’s 2025 Holiday Shopper Snapshot also points to “value for money” as the top purchase driver, which equates to memories and trips over stuff.
The Science Behind Memory-Making Gifts
Then there’s the psychology piece. Experiences often outlast things, because they turn into stories you retell, photos you frame, and inside jokes that randomly pop up months later on the way to soccer. Research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychologyfound people report more happiness from experiential purchases (like trips) than material ones. Another study also found that part of the magic of travel is that experiences are less comparison-prone than physical purchases, which can make them feel more satisfying over time (and prevent the inevitable fights and competition that happen with siblings.)
When the Gift Is Just the First Step
From a practical standpoint, “gifting a getaway” is far more flexible and affordable than it sounds. If you cannot cover the entire trip at once, you can build it over time at every holiday, birthday, or special occasion. Start with the hotel deposit, then add flights, a rail pass, and one splurge activity, and suddenly the whole trip is booked and paid for. It’s also an easy way to crowd-source a big-ticket purchase. Grandparents can chip in for an experience or a flight, and aunts and uncles can cover luggage or local transportation. For an even simpler route, The Points Guy recommends options like travel gift cards and using points or miles to book flights or stays for loved ones, which makes “gifting the trip” feel even more accesible. And travel is already part of how people budget for the season, anyway. In the AICPA’s 2025 Holiday Spending Survey, “holiday spending” includes travel and travel-related gifts, as well as food and entertaining. 42% of people surveyed said they plan to spend over $1,000 across those categories this year.
How do you gift a getaway without turning it into a group project?
Gifting travel works best when you keep it simple and tangible. Give a “travel window” instead of a fixed date to allow for spontaneity and flexibility, then cover one real piece right away, like a hotel deposit or flight credit. From there, build the trip in smaller gifts throughout the year, and let family pitch in with whatever fits, from points and miles to travel gift cards, luggage, or a transit pass. Add the details in the gift note (what it’s for, the date window, and whether it’s a full trip or a trip fund) and you’ve given a getaway head start, not a headache.
Related: 7 Cruises Every Woman Over 50 Should Consider, From a Cruise-Savvy Travel Pro
Sources:
- Ipsos Survey for Wells Fargo
- Nerd Wallet
- PWC Holiday Outlook
- MasterCard’s Holiday Snapshot
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
