Unwrapping adventure: The gift of travel

By Thurston Hatcher
CNN

(CNN) -- If there's simply no tie, sweater, DVD player or robotic dog that will do the trick this holiday season for that relative who has everything, why not send your beloved's spirits soaring this Christmas with the gift of travel?

While it's a good bit more personal than cash, it still leaves plenty to the recipient's imagination and ambition. And it doesn't have to be overwhelmingly expensive.

Of course, you could always just book a plane ticket for someone, but that's a little chancy if you haven't cleared the time and date with the would-be traveler. And even if you have, where's the fun if there's no surprise?

A safer bet might be a gift certificate that defrays travelers' costs but still gives them the freedom to decide the time and destination of their journey.

Most any airlines sell certificates that can be applied to the cost of a ticket. Northwest Airlines gift certificates, for example, can be ordered online in denominations ranging from $50 to $500, and can be used for flights on Northwest or partner KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

At American Airlines, you can give gift certificates worth $50, $100 and $250 that can be used to a variety of the airline's vacation packages. The certificates are nonrefundable and valid for one year.

If the recipient isn't much into flying these days, Amtrak also sells gift certificates for rail travel, in denominations ranging from $25 to $500.

Frequent flier miles

If you're not into giving something with dollar signs attached, you can also buy and give frequent flier miles.

American Airlines, for example, allows you to purchase and give frequent flier miles as gifts ranging from $27.50 for 1,000 miles to $375 for 15,000 miles, the maximum per account, plus tax and a $25 processing fee.

The same goes with United, which sells miles for 2.5 cents per mile plus 7.5 percent tax and a .001 per mile processing fee. That amounts to $27.88 for 1,000 miles and $278.75 for 10,000 miles. And if you don't know the recipient's frequent flier number, no problem.

At Alaska Airlines, prices range from $50 for 2,000 miles to $250 for 10,000 miles.

Buying miles isn't necessarily the most economical way to pay for travel, since the amount you spend on those 10,000 miles -- which still leave a traveler well short of a "free" round-trip ticket -- might actually pay for a ticket outright. But if someone's on the brink of having enough miles for, say, an overseas trip, a gift of a few more miles might just put him (or her) over the top.

There are some other potential down sides to consider before you choose travel as a gift.

Most important, if you're not prepared to pay for the trip outright, or at least a substantial portion of it, be certain your recipient will be able to -- and will want to -- cover the difference. Otherwise the money could go to waste.

And buying a gift certificate for a particular airline may tie the travelers' hands both in finding the best fare and even choosing a destination. If you're going to go that route, make sure you choose an airline the serves the recipients' community and offers a reasonable number of destination options.

Some travel companies and agencies also sell gift certificates, which could give the recipient more flexibility in choosing airlines and destinations.

More options

Here are a few other alternatives for travel gifts:

-- Marriott International offers gift cards in $50 and $100 denominations for use at any of its establishments, including Marriott Hotels and Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn and SpringHill Suites.

The cards can be used for lodging, dining, spa treatments and restaurants, even golf, and you don't have to be a hotel guest to use the card for other services.

Hyatt has a similar program, but sells certificates either in dollars or for a specific number of nights at participating hotels. They're delivered in a decorative package with a personal greeting.

-- Help send someone off on an adventure. Backroads and -- if someone's really into roughing it -- Outward Bound sell gift certificates for their wide range of adventure travel packages.

-- For that stressed-out family member, consider giving a spa visit. At Spa Finder (www.spafinders.com), you can buy certificates worth $50 to $10,000 that can be used at hundreds of spas across the world.