Unforgettable Experiences: Holiday Travel Gifts for Every Passion

Posted by Tim Cotroneo
on December 1, 2023

Holiday season is here and this year instead of racking up presents, give your friends and family the gift of a travel experience for lasting memories.

From your foodie friend to the wine lover and even trips for the adventure enthusiast, read on for a list of the best recommended trips and experiences to gift this holiday season:

For the Foodie Friend:

Grand Velas Los Cabos in Mexico offers a celestial Dinner Under the Stars, featuring two Michelin-starred Chef Sidney Schutte’s creations after a sunset cruise. For up to 10 people, this exclusive experience embraces the breathtaking night skies of the Los Cabos Baja Peninsula, considered by NASA one of the top 20 places to research the night-sky.
SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites in Mendoza, Argentina offers a 14-course Chef’s Table inspired by art. Chef Flavia Amad Di Leo’s journey is paired with wines from Susana Balbo, Argentina’s first female winemaker. Traditional Argentinian cuisine meets high-quality, sustainable, and organic ingredients. Guests of La VidA become interpreters of each dish, embracing free interpretation and concentrating their senses as each course builds.
For a sustainable and immersive foodie journey, Up Norway presents a 7-night Norway for Foodies, offering hyper-local sourcing, daily culinary adventures, insights into biodynamic farming, and unique experiences like tea and wine tastings. Up Norway’s commitment to sustainable luxury ensures an enriching exploration of Norway’s culinary offerings.
Foodies traveling to Rome have the opportunity to bite down on Rome’s food scene with a new itinerary developed by Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese in conjunction with Davvero Rome, one of the city’s leading culinary influencers. The five-night experience includes everything from a street food tour, pizza workshop, and truffle hunting to an aperitivo tour, sampling of the city’s top gelato, and tasting dinner at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant.

For the Wellness Enthusiast:

Begin with the Forbes 5-star rated SE Spa by Grand Velas Riviera Maya, a unique spa concept at the luxury all inclusive resort. Rooted in Mexican culture and the changing seasons, SE Spa, meaning ‘one’ in Aztec, symbolizes the journey to self-discovery and renewal. The award-winning spa follows a distinct wellness path represented by a totem, aligning with Mayan and Aztec traditions. SE Spa offers a nature-inspired journey through the four seasons, providing spa guests with evolving flavors, aromas, and experiences. The solo traveler at Grand Velas Riviera Maya can enjoy premium spa treatments, bike tours, and daily in-suite amenities with a the resort’s solo wellness journey. The curated program facilitates immersion into Mexican culture, connecting guests with locals, and offering a range of activities such as ancestral spirit tastings, pilates, and a locally inspired Bacal Massage. Additionally, the inclusive solo traveler package features day tours to cenotes, swimming with sea turtles, and an exclusive beach club, providing a perfect blend of relaxation and exploration in the vibrant Riviera Maya region.
For a comprehensive wellness journey, Up Norway presents a 15-day Nordic Wellness Journey through Scandinavia, exploring sustainable destinations in Gothenburg, Bergen, and Copenhagen. This curated trip includes Nordic wellness practices, unique gastronomic experiences, mental and physical activities, and sleep therapy. Travelers enjoy the tranquil landscapes of Norway, a rail journey through UNESCO heritage-protected fjords, and coastal wellness in the Island Kingdom of Austevoll.
HomeExchange Collection allows travelers to discover unique local cultures and customs at one’s pace within an exclusive community of home exchanges.. Travelers can enhance their well-being journey with thoughtfully equipped amenities, such as premium yoga gear for mindful practices and cutting-edge Peloton bikes for virtual fitness experiences, ensuring a holistic retreat for the mind and body during travels.
A stay at SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites allows guests to indulge in massages, body treatments, aromatherapy, and more vino therapeutic wellness rituals guided by the in-house Wellness Butler. The only wine hotel in Latin America with integrated spa features, the suites feature in-room spa services, including steam rooms, sensations showers, locally made bath amenities, and curated wine fridges. With turn-down services and private gardens, SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites provides a luxurious and holistic wellness escape.

For the Wine Lover:

SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites in Mendoza, designed by Susana Balbo, provides an array of unique wine experiences, including luxury wine safaris, ultra-premium wine tastings, vinotherapeutic spa treatments, and custom blending classes. The wine safaris via seaplane are the only of its kind in Latin America and allow for high-end wines to meet imposing nature for guests. Novel experiences in the destination can also be arranged by the house’s Experience Curator to connect to the culture of wine on a new level.
Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, opening in December 2023, promises a luxury adults-only sanctuary with an expansive wine selection inspired by the proximity to Mexico’s fine wine region. A part of the ongoing activity program, a new Mexican Wine & Cheese Pairing, included in the nightly rate, showcases regional cheeses paired with Mexican wines like Casa Madero Shiraz and Tres Raices Rose.
A stay at Hotel Supetar in Cavtat, just south of Dubrovnik, comes complete with access to its inviting Wine Bar with a fine selection of local and international wines, emphasizing the indigenous Dubrovacka Malvasija.
HomeExchange Collection offers the perfect retreat in wine country, with homes in Napa Valley, Bordeaux, Tuscany, and more, close to all the renowned wineries. From exclusive pairings to immersive expeditions, these wine-centric escapes cater to every oenophile’s palate.

For the Art & Culture Aficionado:

SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites in Mendoza, Argentina, presents ‘Nature, Wine & Art,’ a five-night slow travel program set amidst vineyards and the Andes Mountains. This boutique estate, designed for wine lovers by renowned Argentine winemaker Susana Balbo, seamlessly integrates art and nature into the experience. Guests indulge in a 50-minute massage upon arrival, explore a renowned winery with a private lunch, engage in art and craft activities at a local studio, and enjoy an unforgettable day in Potrerillos with water activities and glamping. The evenings are filled with turn-down services of in-room aromatherapy, unique spa suites with private gardens, and a culinary journey at La Vida restaurant, providing a holistic blend of culture, art, and natural beauty.
Give the gift of the thrilling “Fly Over Tequila” journey at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, inclusive of a private helicopter ride to the Tequila region, horseback excursions through agave fields, spirited spa treatment at a Forbes Five-Star SE Spa, tequila pairing dinner, and more.
Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese’s Senses of Rome Journey is an all-encompassing experience engaging sight, touch, scent, sound, and taste. This unique package engages all five senses with experiences like an exclusive Colosseum tour with ArcheoRunning, a hat-making workshop at the oldest hat shop, a floral arranging class with Rome’s premier florist, and a rooftop restaurant takeover accompanied by live opera performances. From personalized Colosseum explorations to crafting classic hats, floral workshops, and a taste of traditional Italian dishes with live opera, the journey invites guests to fully immerse themselves in the rich culture of Rome.
Hotel Excelsior in Dubrovnik adds a historic touch to the holiday with its prime location in the heart of the ancient city, allowing guests to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site and immerse themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of Dubrovnik.
Up Norway offers a thought-provoking Wittgenstein-Inspired Workcation, tracing the footsteps of renowned philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein in Norway. Nestled in Nes Gard near Wittgenstein’s retreat in Skjolden, this five-night journey encourages contemplation amidst breathtaking fjords, providing a serene setting for creative introspection. The curated experiences include a private guided visit to Wittgenstein’s cabin, forest bathing, private nature hikes, and a harbor fjord sauna session, creating an ideal environment for philosophical exploration and cultural enrichment.

For the Outdoor/Nature Adventurer:

Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese’s “Yoga Around Rome” features private 90-minute Hatha yoga classes at iconic locations or on suite terraces with breathtaking city views.
Ski enthusiasts can revel in Up Norway’s “Ski and Sail Journey,” exploring the Sunnmore Alps with guided summit-to-fjord runs and a private boat trip around Hjørundfjord, showcasing the stunning Norwegian winter landscape.
For the nature lover, the ultimate experience awaits at SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites, a boutique hotel from pioneering winemaker Susana Balbo and daughter Ana Lovaglio Balbo, offering vintage car tours through Mendoza’s vineyards, unparalleled Andes Mountain views, a cooking lesson featuring authentic empanadas and Argentine asado, along a blend of authentic wine experiences, stunning views, and unparalleled culinary delights for a memorable holiday escape.

For the Fashion Forward Friend:

The perfect gift to give your fashionista friend is a luxury fashion experience featuring a private wardrobe curated by Italian fashion influencer Selvaggia Capizzi. Offered at 5-star hotel Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, Capizzi takes guests and curates unique experiences at boutiques all over the historical city including Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Marni, and Margiela as well as indie hot spots in the center of the city. Custom jewelry at a Roman atelier is available as well as a celebrity hair and makeup artist to get guests ready for a night out with Italian society in the Eternal City. Suite accommodations and VIP transportation from the Rome Airport are also included in the 5-night Bellissima Experience.
Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese also invites men to revamp their style and create a custom wardrobe with the help of Italian menswear consultant Giorgio Giangiulio. With the new fashion experience, Giangiulio will share the key elements to a classic Italian wardrobe and offer styling tricks that create an enviably nonchalant look. He will accompany guests to both designer boutiques and generational ateliers around Rome, including shoemaker Bocache & Salvucci, silk designer E. Marinella, and tie maker Cruciani & Bella.

For the Whole Family:

Those looking to give a gift for the whole family can book an activity packed getaway inspired by top influencer visits to the resort at Grand Velas Riviera Maya. The experience starts right at check-in with a welcome gift, cookies and milk for the kids from the resort’s monkey mascot Pancho while parents are treated to some Veuve Clicquot. From there, guests are taken to their two-bedroom Presidential Suite where they will find deluxe custom robes and slippers to commemorate the stay. The suite also comes complete with 24-hour suite and poolside private butler service and private terrace with plunge pool.
Up Norway invites families to discover the enchanting landscapes that inspired the film on the sustainable luxury travel curator’s Frozen Fairytale Journey. On the tenth anniversary of the film, this specially crafted 6-day journey not only brings the fairytale world to life but also provides an opportunity to connect with Norway’s rich culture. Travelers can immerse themselves in the breathtaking landscapes that inspired the film, from majestic fjords to snow-covered mountains, and encounter the indigenous Sami people, the real-life inspiration behind the Northuldra in Frozen.

For the Four-legged Companion:

Gift your furry friend this holiday season a package from Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese that pampers pets with a bevy of fido-friendly amenities and services. The hotel’s location, adjacent to Villa Borghese, is ideal for furry friends to enjoy a walk around Rome and its timeless attractions. The stay includes activities such as a ‘bark in the park’ sunset picnic, signature pet services including a lavish groom and ozone bath therapy, daily a 2-hour walk around the city and its parks, and even a dedicated room service menu for dogs.