A trip as a gift

CEBU, Philippines - Giving a gift contained in a box has become quite customary at Christmas. And in this season of gift-giving, most people for sure are looking for nice presents to give. Many gift-givers nowadays want something a bit different from the usual - they want to give something unique, something the recipient will value and remember them by.

Clothes, gadgets and even jewelry have become common gift items. These no longer stand out as a gift idea. And so there is need to come up with fresh ideas, to give something out of the ordinary.

Here's an idea: What about giving a trip as a gift? Now, it's really out-of-the box. (Well, you can't put a trip in box, can you? Just kidding.)

A trip somewhere is sure to amount to more, much more than its cost. It's an experience, and hardly can the value of an experience be measured in money terms. A travel experience can last a lifetime; and as memories of it are cherished, the giver always crops up in the recipient's mind.

Things wear out, fade or get lost after a while - but memories become more valuable with time. And so a trip is a smart gift to give. Now, there's also no more need getting stressed in searching for a gift that often ends up among many others in a store box kept somewhere in the house.

And a trip does not necessarily have to cost much. With proper planning, it's possible to save on costs. Proper planning also precludes possible hassles on the part of the recipient, which can affect his or her perception of the gift trip.

Matt Villano, writing at www.travelandleisure.com, shares some sensible ideas on giving long-distance trips:

Don't transfer. Giving someone your surplus miles might sound smart, but you'll probably get hit with transfer fees. With most programs, you can simply book travel for others through your account. Some airlines let you pool miles in household accounts for free.

Consider the fees. Airlines usually add sales tax and processing fees to mileage purchases. When they use the miles, recipients may also have to pay redemption charges, which can range from just a few pesos to more than ?1,000, depending on the airline and class of seat.

Do the math. If you're buying points, don't spend more than you would if you paid for a flight or room in cash. Compare the total cost of the miles you want to purchase at the retail price of whatever they'll probably be used for, to make sure you're getting - and giving - a deal.

Look for specials. Most loyalty programs offer bonuses or discounts on mileage purchases or transfers at some point during the year. If you can, hold off for a really good one - they're especially common before the holidays. (This is when it pays to be on the e-mail list.)

Okay, it may be late already to arrange for a holiday trip. Or, if at all possible, costs may have probably gone up in view of the high traffic of holiday travelers. Too bad, but it's no problem.

For a trip as a gift, the giver may simply have to be a little creative - say, come up with a hand-made gift certificate redeemable at a later date. Summer is a good time to go. Or, sometime between now and summer, when traveler traffic is light, may be better.

The gift-giver doesn't have to think far and wide with his or her trip gift. There are nice places nearby that offer a good solace to recharge body, mind and spirit. There's Bohol or Siquijor or Romblon. There's also Bantayan or Malapascua or Camotes. The country is never short of good destinations to visit.

Both the gift-giver and the recipient may even travel together. That way the giver is there to make sure that everything goes well with his gift. And they will both have a great time. (FREEMAN)