When you’re on a budget, Christmas can feel a lot less like ‘the most wonderful tiiiime of the year’ and a lot more like ‘the tiiiiime I’m most likely to sell several valuable possessions in order to afford nice gifts for my family and friends instead of buying them a 4-pack of air freshener from the 7/11’… which really doesn’t have the same ring to it.

There’s no need to rely on cheap store-bought material possessions to fill the stockings this Christmas. You can stick to your budget and still afford to make great memories with your loved ones. Whether they’re a foodie, an explorer or a creative type, there are experiences across the country to give them something to look forward to in 2020.

Having said that, if you’re looking to splash out a little bit more, there are hundreds of experiences to suit a higher budget, turning Christmas 2019 into the day you made dreams come true!

Under $25

Maybe you have a lot of people to buy for this Christmas. These Christmas gifts for under $25 are a couple of great budget options that impress without breaking the bank.

Photography Tour of Milwaukee – $22

The perfect Christmas gift for your best friend

This Milwaukee Photography Tour is a great budget option at just $22. For the price of one average dinner or one really expensive smoothie, you can treat your best friend – or any creative type! – to this 2 and ½ hour artistic outing in photogenic Milwaukee. During their tour, they’ll learn tips and techniques for getting the most out of their camera, and explore the history of Milwaukee’s Public Market, Scenic RiverWalk, Wisconsin Avenue, Art Museum, lakefront and more! While they learn about this fascinating area, they’re sure to capture some beautiful photos.

Stillhouse Whisky Distillery Tour – $11

The perfect Christmas gift for your dad

This Stillhouse Whiskey Distillery Tour is the perfect gift for any whisky lover. During this 1 hour distillery tour in Red Hook, your lucky giftee will get to explore the full distilling process at Van Brunt Stillhouse. Traditional in their process, Van Brunt source rye, corn and wheat directly from Upstate farmers. Once the tour is complete, guests will head to the tasting room to sample a cocktail or two. The perfect outing for those who favor a tipple!

Under $50

These Christmas gifts for under $50 are a great way to spread the cheer amongst everyone on your list.

New York City Ghost Tour – $32

A fun budget gift for Christmas

We all have that friend who swears they saw the ghost of their great, great, great grandma Gertrude in the hallway one night when they were a child, or who attributes any sudden unexplained movement in their household to their live-in poltergeist, for whom they probably have a name. (Mine’s Bernie.) Just a hint, if you can’t think of who the paranormal enthusiast in your friendship group is, it’s probably you. But whether or not you truly believe that we keep living on as ghoulish spectres after we die, a ghost tour is a great way to explore an area’s history through storytelling. And if there’s anyone who’s committed to storytelling, it’s ghost tour guides. With this immersive tour, your giftee will get to explore their chosen New York neighborhood through the eyes of the ghouls who haunt them: Lower Manhattan, Greenwich Village, or Hell’s Kitchen. Whichever they choose, they’ll hear historical and modern tales of bedlam, mysteries and murders.

Hilton Head Dolphin Watching Cruise – $32

The perfect Christmas gift for your parents

Parents can be tricky to buy for, and we think this Hilton Head Dolphin Watching Cruise is the perfect antidote to the oh-god-I-don’t-know-I-guess-another-pair-of-slippers-even-though-they-haven’t-worn-the-last-five-pairs-I-bought-them conundrum. You know, that classic conundrum. If your parents aren’t keen on the water, this gift would be perfect for anyone you know who is interested in water and marine life.

Meditations In Clay Pottery Class – $40

The perfect Christmas gift for arty types

The meditative benefits of art are no secret to those who like to put paintbrush to paper on a regular basis, and beginners can reap those same benefits – even if they need a little help throwing on the wheel. This Meditations in Clay Pottery Class, in Albuquerque, is the perfect way to introduce a beginner to the wonderful world of art, or to treat those with existing skills to an opportunity to brush up! Your arty giftee will spend 3 ½ hours learning how to build their own clay creations under the tutelage of an expert art instructor. Classes take place in a tranquil, supportive environment; perfect for making a masterpiece!

Bike Tour of Chicago – $45

The perfect Christmas gift for active types

Whether they’ve seen the city a thousand times or have never been there before, Chicago is a great place for an active type to explore by bike. During this guided tour, your giftee will spend an informative two and a half – three hours learning the history of Chicago and it’s landmarks, all while getting a good work out! They can choose the Lincoln Park Tour, which will take them through sights such as the Chicago Lakefront, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, North Avenue Beach and The Conservatory. Or, they can go for the Night Bike Tour, during which they’ll ride along the Magnificent Mile and take in views of the Chicago Skyline, with stops at the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park ending with the fireworks show at Navy Pier. The perfect Christmas present for active types!

Boston Winter Sports Adventure – $42

The perfect Christmas gift for your boyfriend

Those sporty types, we just can’t keep up! This Boston Winter Sports Adventure is the perfect Christmas gift for those who favour snowy weather (and at this time of year, who can resist?) and love to get stuck into a new sport. During this 75 minute lesson, your sporty giftee can choose from classical skiing, cross-country skiing, or skate-skiing. Their knowledgeable guide will fit them with all the equipment they need for their lesson of choice, and stay with them every step of their snow-filled adventure – so all they need to bring is their enthusiasm!

Dream Queens Greenwich Village Tour – $47

The perfect Christmas gift for New Yorkers

This Dream Queens Greenwich Village Tour is a unique Christmas gift for New Yorkers who are looking to explore their city’s rich LGBTQ+ history. From the brave community behind the Stonewall riots who set a whole movement in motion, to the thriving gay bars who keep the LGBTQ+ scene alive today, they’ll experience a true insiders tour of the 200 year history and culture of this exciting neighborhood. Your lucky giftees will meet their hilarious Dream Queen Guide, Glace Chance, at one of New York’s oldest continuously running gay bars, for an informative and fun 2 ½ hour walking tour! They’ll hear about the personalities who have shaped the village, enjoy a cocktail or two, and have a lot of laughs along the way.

Under $100

In a position to spend a little more than usual this year? These Christmas gift for under $100 are perfect for those with a slightly higher budget.

Los Angeles Farmers Market Food Tour – $69

The perfect Christmas gift for foodies

What’s the perfect Christmas gift for the foodie who has it all? You know who we mean; they have every kitchen gadget available, know a hundred different ways to cook a steak, and have a mental map of all the best restaurants in town. You might feel like there is nothing food-related worth getting this Queen of Cuisine, but you’d be wrong! There’s nothing a foodie loves more than food shopping, and this LA Farmers Market Food Tour allows them to tour LA’s 3rd Street Market, sampling delicacies as they go. They’ll meet their guide and the rest of the group at the market, where they’ll enjoy a variety of food from the stalls. Highlights include artisan butchers, gourmet bakers, speciality candy-makers, cheese counters, international spice merchants, and local celebrity chefs!

Private Boulder Guitar Lesson – $70

The perfect Christmas gift for music-lovers

Make Christmas an occasion to give a new skill! If you’re struggling for Christmas gift ideas for the music-lover in your life, don’t just buy them another C.D. (…actually, do people even still buy C.D.’s?), give them the opportunity to learn their own instrument! This 1 hour private guitar lesson in Boulder will see them work one on one with a talented instructor, who can show them how to get the most out of their instrument. Whether they’re completely new to it, or are looking to improve their technique, this lesson is perfect – and all styles are welcome, from classical, modern, pop, jazz, rock, R&B, metal, country and blues.

Floral Arrangement Class – $70

The perfect Christmas gift for your mom

… or anyone who likes to be creative! During this 2 hour, hands on floral arrangement class, your lucky giftee will create a beautiful handmade masterpiece for display in their home. Available at locations across the country, this experience begins when your giftee meets their guide at a local bar and enjoys a drink before getting stuck into 2 hours of DIY floral fun! They’ll be provided with an apron, clippers, freshly cut flowers and a vase before the lesson begins. Their instructor will show them all the tricks of the trade, such as composition, color, symmetry and design. After the class they can grab a drink and mingle before taking their beautiful arrangement home.

Hollywood Hills Hiking Tour – $52

The perfect Christmas gift for outdoorsy people

You’re either outdoorsy or you’re not. If you’re not, this Hollywood Hills hiking tour might be your personal idea of hell… but maybe you have someone on your Christmas gift list this year for whom hiking in the glorious California sunshine is their idea of absolute heaven! This California Christmas gift is the perfect way to make them smile this festive season.
Their outdoor adventure will begin when they meet their guide and group at Griffith Park. During an ascent up Mt. Hollywood, they will enjoy breathtaking views as their guide provides insights and history on the area. After taking in the 360 degree views of the valley below, they will head over to a vista with the Hollywood Sign – the perfect backdrop for a quick photograph!

Boston Northern Lights Jazz Cruise – $54

A romantic Christmas gift for your partner

This Boston Northern Lights Jazz Cruise is the perfect romantic gift for your partner this Christmas. Treat them to an evening of glitz, glamour, jazz and cocktails. The elegant Northern Lights awaits them, headed up by the friendly captain and crew who will greet the guests as they board the vessel. As the yacht cruises to the harbor, guests can watch the city lights dazzle above the waters, and relax to the sound of jazz played by expert musicians.

Sacramento Wild West Dinner Train – $58

A fun Christmas gift for your sibling

Whether your sibling is a fan of the Wild West, or simply a fan of a unique adventure, this Sacramento Wild West Dinner Train is an unforgettable Christmas gift. During this 2 and a half hour train ride to Sacramento River, your sibling will enjoy a barbecue dinner, and entertaining performances from the on-board characters such as Bad Bob and the Sheriff, who may even stage an old-fashioned gun fight! A laughter-filled experience gift guaranteed to make your sibling smile.

Air Combat Fighter Pilot Simulator – £59

The perfect Christmas gift for your brother

… or anyone who has enjoyed the movie Top Gun but might not be ready to ACTUALLY fly a real plane. They’ll settle into the ejection seat and be amazed at how realistic the flight simulator really is, featuring instrumentation, full immersion audio, throttle and joy stick to bring their piloting fantasies to life. They’ll get into their flight suit, and receive a briefing from their flight instructor. Once they’re briefed on their mission and have learned how to operate the controls, it’s time for them to take to the virtual skies! They’ll develop their skills in the cockpit before engaging in virtual air to air combat dog fights. Once their mission is complete, they’ll be guided back in by the control tower for landing. A thrilling Christmas gift!

Under $200

Browse these Christmas gifts for under $200, perfect for your close friends and family.

Bucks County Intro To Fencing Lessons – $119

The perfect gift for those who like to try something new!

If you have someone in your life who is always trying new things, or has simply expressed an interest in learning to fence, this Bucks County Fencing Lessons experience gift is the ideal Christmas present for them. Over the course of three one-hour group lessons, they’ll discover first-hand the thrill of this ancient sport. Throughout their lessons, their USFCA certified instructor will discuss the history of fencing, while teaching them the basic footwork and hand positions. By the end of their three week course, they will have learned the basic skills they need to take up the sport!

San Francisco Craft Cocktail Tours – $121

A fun Christmas gift for your girlfriend

If your girlfriend is fond of a tipple (and who isn’t?) this craft cocktail tour of San Francisco will be a fun Christmas gift, and the perfect way for her to explore the area through it’s fabulous alcoholic concoctions!
The tour begins Downtown, where the local guide will begin the night with a hands-on bitters making class. At the end of the class, participants can take their own bitters home in a custom made jar. Next, the group will head over to some of the best bars in San Francisco, to sip on some innovative off-menu cocktails, learn about the art of mixology, and savor high end drinks. They can also enjoy a banh mi sandwich and sausage samples during their tour.

Los Angeles Indoor Skydiving – $132

A unique Christmas gift for adrenaline junkies

If you know an adrenaline junkie to whom you want to give the thrill of a lifetime, this indoor skydive in Los Angeles is the ultimate gift! They can experience the true exhilaration of free-fall without ever having to jump out of a plane… but you never know, maybe this will set them on the path to outdoor skydiving in the future! The flight chamber is a 40 foot high, vertical wind tunnel that simulates the free-fall of real skydiving as it produces air speeds of up to 160mph. During their flight lesson, participants will take turns leaning into the wind and flying indoors!

Lets Go Surfing LA – $140

The perfect Christmas gift for your sister

Siblings can be difficult to buy for, but if yours is always hanging out at the beach, this surfing lesson in LA is sure to tick all the right boxes. They’ll begin their lesson in Santa Monica by meeting their certified personal instructor, who will get them set up with all the gear they need. Once they have their wet suit on, it’s time to grab their board and head to the beach. Here they will get a 20 minute lesson on how to pop up, water safety and surf etiquette. They’ll then jump into the ocean, and spend the rest of the lesson learning how to ride the waves. The perfect Christmas gift for your beach-loving sibling, or anyone who has always wanted to learn how to surf!

Turtle Cove Private Golf Lesson – $140

The perfect gift for your husband

… or anyone you know who loves golf, but can’t justify buying a lesson for themselves. This private golf lesson begins at Turtle Cove Golf Center, where your lucky giftee will meet their qualified instructor. Their instructor will evaluate their fitness level and skills, isolating areas of improvement. With the use of cutting-edge technology, they’ll discover the best source of power for their swing, and learn to create a motion that best compliments their style.

Speedway Racecar Ride Along – $149

A thrilling Christmas gift for petrol heads!

We all know someone who’s obsessed with cars, and if you’re stuck for ideas for their Christmas gift, this thrilling day at the track will put your name firmly on the ‘Nice’ list!
At one of the American Speedways, this ride-along adventure begins with an overview of safety procedures and everything they need to know to prepare them for this thrilling race car adventure. They’ll strap in, and wait for the professional driver to put the pedal to the metal! When the thumb up is given to the driver, they will start the V8 engine, pull out of pit lane and onto the track for 3 heart-pounding laps. A truly unique gift for racing fans.

Manhattan Makeup Class – $150

The perfect Christmas gift for your best friend

If your best friend is into their makeup, there’s no better gift than a professional makeup class in stylish New York City.
This 1 hour class is led by Manhattan makeup artist, Dina Rudman, who will guide your best friend through a world of products, in order to develop a makeup routine that works best for them and their features! During their hour session, they’ll transform their face into a work of art as they learn what it takes to create a color palette perfect for their own skin tone, the secrets of the small but mighty makeup brush, and receive individual feedback from Dina, assisting with the application and touch up for creating a makeup routine.

Under $400

There’s no shame in splashing the cash this year… show the people close to you how much you care with these experience gifts for under $400.

Temecula Scenic Vineyard Flight Tour for 2 – $375

The perfect Christmas gift for wine-lovers

This scenic vineyard flight tour of Temecula provides participants with a combination of two luxurious activities: a scenic flight and a vineyard tour! Whether the person you’re buying it for is a wine expert, or knows nothing about wine except that they really like to drink it, this aerial adventure is a unique Christmas gift for a couple, or two friends. During this scenic flight tour, they will enjoy bird’s eye views of Temecula’s wine country and lakes as their pilot directs their attention to the noteworthy locations below.

Once the flight portion of this unique gift concludes, they will receive vouchers to enjoy a vineyard and winery tour of one of the area’s most prestigious wineries – Falkner Winery, Europa Village or Mount Palomar. Located only a few miles from the airport, they will have the opportunity to enjoy a wine tasting and learn more about Temecula wines from one of the region’s best producers.

Seattle Barista Class – $195

The perfect Christmas gift for coffee snobs

For those ‘coffee snobs’ who enjoy a well-made latte, there’s no greater satisfaction than learning how to make latte art. This fun, 3-hour barista class in Seattle is the perfect Christmas gift for coffee-lovers. This class is taught at the area’s premier barista school, by friendly and professional instructors. They’ll discover how to extract espresso and diagnose taste problems, how to steam milk properly with tips and recipes for competition quality espresso beverages, and more!

Hudson Valley Hot Air Ballooning – $225
A romantic Christmas gift for your wife

This hot air balloon experience gift is the ultimate romantic Christmas present. Why not add yourself onto the voucher for an unforgettable couples’ outing?
With this hot air balloon flight, you’ll get to gaze on the gorgeous leafy landscape of Hudson Valley – and if conditions are just right, you might even catch a glimpse of the famous New York City skyline! At the end of an incredible flight, you’ll toast the occasion with a glass of champagne and a delicious picnic. What could be a better way to celebrate Christmas?

Thank you for reading… now get back to writing your Christmas cards!

We know everyone’s very busy around this time of year, frantically writing out Christmas cards, running to the post office and back again, and hauling bags of gifts home from the shops, so we appreciate you taking the time out of your Christmas preparations to read our gift guide. Remember, you can save your poor shoulders from the peril of a thousand shopping bags by Christmas shopping online. And if you’re bored of handing out the same material possessions this year, experience gifts are a fun and unforgettable way to show someone you care, and make memories without breaking the bank. Whatever your budget, explore Christmas gifts for him, for her, for couples, for mom and dad… whoever you have on your list! From all of us at Xperience Days, have a very merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!