Last-Minute Holiday Gifts: Give an Experience from Travelzoo

The holidays are going to be a bit different this year. Gatherings will be smaller and reconnecting with loved ones may even be postponed. At Travelzoo, we believe you should be able to give the gift of anticipation with an experience to look forward to in the future. 

That’s why we've curated a collection of inspiring experiences that can be shared instantly and come with flexibility if plans change. Many are valid all the way through 2021 or even into 2022, which means the recipient will have something to look forward to in what we all hope will be a very different next year. However, for extra peace of mind, all of our experiences are fully refundable.  

To help inspire your last-minute Christmas shopping from home, we've pulled together our favourite picks below — or you can shop the entire collection.  

For the romantic

January is notorious for being a blue month — but it won't be if you book a surprise getaway and give your partner something to look forward to. Our 40%-off deal from the CAA 4-Diamond Pillar and Post — one of Niagara-on-the-Lake's most popular inns — only comes once a year and it makes for the perfect couple's getaway. Stay a night in elegant accommodations and receive dinner for two, wine passes and a waived resort fee.

Escape to Quebec City for a romantic stay at Hotel Port-Royal, a boutique property in the Old Port at the foot of the city's fortified walls. Enjoy over 30% off a getaway into spring, with packages that include breakfast for two, parking and a bottle of sparkling wine.

For the spa lover (or anyone who just needs some self-care time)

Let's face it: 2020 has been utterly exhausting. Give someone special some needed quality time and help them melt away the stresses of daily life with a relaxing break at one of many gorgeous spas across the country.

In Toronto, we're thrilled to offer a first-ever deal at the swanky Guerlain Spa inside Hotel X, where you can choose from three sumptuous packages and spend the day luxuriating in blissful surroundings. Treatments start at $85 (reg. $140), and all options include complimentary bubbly, macarons, 20% off retail purchases, parking and access to the rooftop pool with spectacular views of Lake Ontario.

In Vancouver, Spa Revive is offering more than 40% off a package that includes 90 minutes of pampering. For $139 (reg. $244), receive an hourlong deep-tissue massage or foot reflexology treatment, plus a half-hour organic customized facial and a decollete treatment ($119 value). 

For the outdoors thrill seeker

There’s nothing better than getting your fresh air fix by doing something you’ve never done before. Head to Whistler to experience the thrill of soaring down the mountain high above the trees on an exhilarating zipline adventure. Or, head in the backcountry and tromp through freshly fallen snow on a Whistler snowshoe tour. 

If exploring Ontario's serene wilderness sounds good right about now, a guided trip into the Haliburton Highlands might be the perfect getaway. Two-night family-friendly canoe trips in 2021 are over 35% off from May-October and include all meals, camping equipment and permits. 

For the foodie

If your loved one is always making you delicious meals from scratch, Christmas is the perfect opportunity to treat them instead. Dutch-inspired dishes, tea-infused cocktails and an exclusive dessert — it's all part of the $65 (reg $89.50) experience for two at Winnipeg's Amsterdam Tea Room. Tuck into plates like beef tartare, Manitoba lamb sausage and kale and cashew cream dumplings. 

Sip your way through Niagara wine country on a full-day tour for $38 per person (or $70 for two, reg. $150) that includes tastings at four wineries, transportation and pickup and drop-off from the Niagara area. 

For the international travel lover (when you're ready)

It’s been a tricky year for holidays, so cheer up the thwarted traveller in your life by presenting the trip of a lifetime next year or in 2022. Amazing savings, luxury resorts, far-flung destinations and complete peace of mind — we've created fully refundable vouchers for international getaways that combine all of the above. Plus, they offer travel windows well into the future, so you can buy now and book when you're ready.

Save over 50% on stays at Hopkins Bay Resort, a top-rated beach retreat in Belize, where two (even three) can stay for a week for just $759.

If waking up in a 16th-century villa with a view of Tuscany's rolling green hills is more your thing, spend five nights in the Italian countryside at Villa Curina Resort for $545 off. Our deal for two is $1075, including daily breakfast, welcome drinks and late checkout.

For something completely different, start looking forward to eight nights of yoga, meditation and hiking, all backdropped by views of the staggering Himalayas. Pay just half the regular price of a once-in-a-lifetime Nepal trip, on sale for $999 and available for travel through 2022.

And for the ultimate bucket-list experience, unplug for a luxurious week in the Maldives with a choice of beach pavilions or overwater villas on sale for over 40% off at one of the top properties in the Indian Ocean (Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards 2020).