Unwrapping adventure: The gift of travel

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Unwrapping adventure: The gift of travel

By Thurston Hatcher for 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.
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