Not every Christmas present can be boxed, wrapped and stuffed under the tree. Some gifts are bigger than that, and might just add a smile-inducing lifetime memory to someone you love. While jewellery, books and kitchen gadgets start gathering dust once the new year arrives, a holiday is a present that won’t be forgotten so easily – and can be bought without having to brave the manic Christmas shopping crowds.

Whether it’s exploring a culture-packed city with your parents, partying on an island getaway with your best mate or going off the tourist trail in Eastern Europe with your sibling, travel is a life-enhancing gift – and it’s more affordable than you might think. Whoever’s on your gift list, there’s a destination out there that’s perfect for them, and we’ve rounded-up some ideas below for inspiration. Even better, you might be able to make a hefty saving on your gift destination with our Big Orange Sale – take a look and see what’s on offer.

TAKE YOUR PARENTS TO VENICE

Getting lost in Venice’s labyrinthine streets – the kind that are lined with ancient, vine-covered townhouses and which lead to secluded squares and meandering canals – is about as magical as a city break gets. The place is full of surprises, from hidden bridges with picturesque views down waterways bobbing with gondolas to off-the-beaten-track aperitivo spots. Treat mum or dad (or both of them, or just anyone you care about, really) to a break in the Floating City, where you can tick off bucket list sights together like the bombastic domes of St Mark’s Basilica, the romantic Rialto Bridge and the grand Doge’s Palace. Or make memories together by riding on a water taxi down the Grand Canal and filling up on pasta and frìtole in a traditional trattoria.

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TAKE YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER TO PARIS

The City of Light looking lit up / Image: Adobe Stock

Wow your hard-to-please sibling with a jaunt to Paris. The French capital is packed with enough food, culture and sightseeing to satisfy everyone and make them feel all cool and cultured. Spend days wandering its landscaped garden squares and leafy boulevards dotted with iconic monuments, including the Eiffel Tower (obvious but still mind-blowing) and Arc de Triomphe. Culture vultures can visit world-famous art galleries, museums and theatres; foodies will find gastronomic excellence on almost every street; shopaholics can visit vintage boutiques and flea markets; and partiers will find underground clubs and bars pumping with music and slinging craft beers. Being bored here isn’t an option.

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TAKE YOUR PARTNER TO COPENHAGEN

The nautical vibes are strong in the Danish capital / Image: Adobe Stock

Surprise your partner with a city break to Copenhagen, where the romantic vibes are laced with a cool, alternative edge. It’s a fairytale place of turreted castles and botanic gardens, plus canals lined with 17th-century cottages and turn-of-the-century amusement parks. Or you could head to one of its cutting-edge design quarters, where you’ll find museums, urban parks, independent shops, post-industrial street food markets and cocktail bars. Feel the love while having dinner in some of the best restaurants in the world or swimming together in one of the city’s bathing zones.

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TAKE YOUR BEST MATE TO MYKONOS

It’s always party time on Mykonos / Image: Adobe Stock

When it comes to your best pal, there’s no better gift than a trip to the fun-filled Greek island of Mykonos. Party into the night together at an ocean-side club, where famous DJs and underground selectors spin tracks until the sun comes up. Prepare for your big night out by eating alfresco at buzzing restaurants and sipping sundowners on the beach. When you’re ready for some rest and recuperation, sunbathe by shimmering seas, explore the charming chalk-white buildings of the Old Town (one of the best-preserved on any of the Greek islands, and boasting sights which include those famous whitewashed windmills) or investigate the island’s wilder side on boat trips out to uninhabited islands and hiking trails through sun-bleached countryside.

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TAKE THAT PERSON WHO’S DONE IT ALL TO LJUBLJANA

Just one of Ljubljana’s many moods / Image: Adobe Stock

What to buy that annoyingly well-travelled person who’s been pretty much everywhere? Easy. Go off the tourist trail by gifting them a trip to Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. The city centre is completely vehicle-free, so grab a bike and head out to medieval castles, the quaint Old Town (packed with museums, galleries and a bustling square), wooded parks and Baroque architecture everywhere you look. Food-wise, there’s everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to street markets. Afterwards, try the graffiti-strewn streets of Metelkova to hop between underground clubs and bars. As with some other lesser-travelled Eastern European destinations, Ljubljana should also be relatively affordable, meaning yet another reason to get booking those flights.

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