10 Last Minute Going Away Gifts for All Types of Travelers
For Jetsetters, Vacationers, Businesspeople, and Students Studying Abroad, Here are the Best Gift Cards You Can Find
As old Bill Shakespeare once said, parting is such a sweet sorrow. Nobody knows that better than someone preparing a fond farewell for a loved one who is headed out on a great adventure. Maybe your child is taking a semester abroad, your brother is headed for a two week business trip on the other side of the world, or mom and dad are road tripping across the US this summer to celebrate their retirement. Whatever the situation may be, you’ll soon be saying bye for now.
In the whirlwind that is travel prep, it’s easy to let things slip through the cracks – and that includes picking out the perfect present to send them off with. Luckily, our team has pulled together some of the best last-minute going away gifts out there that will help your traveler:
- Handle necessary details like boarding their pet and getting their car inspected
- Find an exciting place to stay
- Study up on local languages and customs
Plus, all of the ideas we’ve covered can be sent in the form of a GiftYa digital gift card in just a few clicks, making them the ultimate last-minute gift.
Meet GiftYa, Your Go-To for Last-Minute Gifts
On the surface, GiftYa is an e-gift card, but it’s so much more than that. Yes, just like any other e-gift card, it can be used easily from a smartphone and keeps track of the gift balance so your favorite traveler doesn’t have to.
But unlike other digital gift cards, GiftYa can be linked up to a credit card your traveler carries with them every day anyway. Their gift balance will automatically be applied toward their purchases, and they’ll still get to rack up rewards points on their card. That could include miles they can put toward their next adventure.
Choose from thousands of local and national brands to find a gift that your jetsetter is sure to love. Even if they don’t love it, they can exchange it just a couple of clicks for something that they really can use on their adventure.
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s get to the good stuff – our list of the best last-minute going away gifts out there.
- 1 - Sheetz
- 2 - Rosetta Stone
- 3 - Dogtopia
- 4 - Airbnb
- 5 - Pep Boys
- 6 - Spirit
- 7 - Barnes & Noble
- 8 - Sonic
- 9 - Citgo
- 10 - Visa
1 - Sheetz
Helping Travelers Fuel Up Since 1952
Based in Altoona, PA, Sheetz is a convenience store chain that has developed a near cult following. So why do people love Sheetz so much? According to the company website, it’s because for more than 70 years, Sheetz has been able to meet the needs of people on the go.
What started with quick road trip essentials and gas pumps has expanded to include fresh pastry items, hot food, and more. If you’re looking for a gift for someone who is headed out on the open highway, particularly on the east coast, a gift card to Sheetz will help them stay fueled up for their whole journey.
As of this writing, there are 676 Sheetz locations in the United States, spread across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina.
2 - Rosetta Stone
Open the Door to New Travel Experiences with a New Language
Text a Rosetta Stone gift card
Shopping for a student who’s taking a semester in Europe, a friend who got a new job in Asia, a loved one taking a long-anticipated trip to South America? For friends and family who are “going away” to somewhere much further from home, learning the language of their destination country – at least well enough to get around comfortably – is probably part of their travel preparations.
Rosetta Stone is one of the biggest names in language learning, featuring an immersion-style course setup designed to tap into your brain’s innate language-learning ability. With courses in 25 languages ranging from French to Hindi to Dutch, they’re sure to find one that will open the door to new experiences and conversations on their travels.
3 - Dogtopia
Keeping Their Furry Friends Safe While They’re Away
Dogs can be left alone for an afternoon, but if you’re heading out on a trip for a couple of weeks, it’s time to find a pet sitter. And if grandma can’t stop in to feed Fido and let him out every day, paying for a sitter or kennel for your pooch can quickly get expensive.
That’s where a gift card to Dogtopia comes into play. At North America’s fastest growing pet franchise, the philosophy is to give fur babies the same level of care and attention two-legged kids get at a people daycare – because after all, pets are part of the family too.
During their stay, dogs will enjoy socializing, interacting with professionally trained staff, and getting plenty of exercise and enrichment. Plus at many locations, pet parents can view a video feed of their dog via smartphone app, just in case they’re missing their puppy pal on their travels.
4 - Airbnb
Stay Somewhere Exceptional to Experience Town Like the Locals
Buy a last-minute Airbnb gift card
Some travelers are all about the luxury experience – all-inclusive resorts, five-star restaurants, the works. But there’s another sort of traveler too, the kind that’s more interested in getting an authentic glimpse of local life. Whether they’re traveling to the other side of the state or the other side of the world, Airbnb has plenty of unique accommodations for the traveler in your life to choose from.
From cave homes carved into the beautiful red rock of Utah, to waterfront villas on Lake Como, to a veritable real-life Barbie dreamhouse, they can find tiny homes, covered wagons, condos, train cars, cottages, and everything in between.
5 - Pep Boys
Deals for Tires, Oil, Brakes, and Anything Else a Driver Might Need
Going away takes plenty of prep, and this last-minute gift will definitely put some Pep in their prep. If the traveler in your life is heading out on the highway, a Pep Boys gift card will help them give their vehicle a tune-up before they hit the open road.
They can take their car in for some preventative maintenance, get new tires for their travels, or if their vehicle is already plenty road-worthy, grab some stylish automotive accessories like steering wheel covers and vanity plates to upgrade their ride.
6 - Spirit
Get Away Without Emptying your Wallet
Text a Spirit airlines gift card
Air travel is notoriously expensive, and things have been even worse over the last couple of travel seasons with companies unsuccessfully cutting corners and leaving travelers stranded. Luckily, you don’t have to sink the down payment on a new car into airline tickets in order to get off the ground if you’re willing to forgo some of the luxuries, like in-flight peanuts.
Spirit airlines is all about paying for what you need and not wasting money on what you don’t. A plane ticket will get you a seat on a jet to your destination, with most other services (luggage, snacks, and so on) for an extra charge. That makes this gift card the perfect option for thrifty travelers.
7 - Barnes & Noble
Get Them Through Downtime with a Good Book
Buy a Barnes & Noble gift card
When we think of travel, we usually think of the action – driving, flying, sailing, exploring. But in reality, traveling involves plenty of downtime, too. Whether that means hanging out in a bus station until your Greyhound arrives, keeping your arms and legs out of the aisle on a plane, or parking your car for the night so you can get some much needed rest before getting back on the road, there are also plenty of quiet moments to fill.
A Barnes & Noble gift card will help your favorite traveler stock up on analog entertainment before the head out, that way no matter what the wifi situation is, they’re covered. Whether that means some magazines to flip through, beach reads, or travel guide books, they can grab whatever sparks their interest.
8 - Sonic
Complete the Road Trip Experience With an All-American Drive-In Meal
Some images are inextricably tied to Americana: a baseball player watching the ball soar over the wall for a home run, burgers and dogs served up on a star-spangled tablecloth for the Fourth of July, American-made cars chugging through small towns as they cruise along Route 66. Right along with malt shops and apple pies is the quintessential American drive-in.
Once a pretty popular phenomenon, drive-in restaurants are now few and far in between. Sonic keeps the tradition alive. Simply pull up, place your order, and Sonic staff will deliver it directly to your car. The menu includes burgers and fries, plus plenty of creative apps and tasty beverages (cherry limeade fans, anyone?)
That’s why this gift card is the perfect option for anyone heading out on a road trip!
9 - Citgo
Get Them Where They Need to Go with a Full Tank of Gas
With gas prices soaring, any traveler heading out by car is definitely feeling some pain at the pump. Citgo is an American company that refines and distributes motor fuels and other industrial products. With locations across the eastern seaboard, along the gulf, and into the American heartland, a Citgo gift card will help your favorite traveler get where they’re going, wherever they are.
10 - Visa
For Any of the Other Expenses Travel Throws Their Way
Build a custom last-minute gift card
When it comes to traveling, you have to expect the unexpected. Try as you might to anticipate all of the souvenirs you’ll encounter or car trouble you might experience, there’s always something out there that will surprise you.
For all of those unplanned adventures, a Visa gift card will help your loved one keep on moving. Visa gift cards are accepted anywhere that accepts Visa credit cards, which means they can cash in their gift practically anywhere they want.
Customize your Visa gift card with a personal message and photo, and no matter how far your loved one goes, they’ll always have a sweet reminder of home.
Build a custom last-minute gift card
That’s it for our list of last-minute going away gifts.
We hope you found something here that’s a perfect fit, but if you’re still searching for the ultimate going away present, don’t worry. The GiftYa catalog contains thousands of local and national brands, so if you’re shopping so late that even two day shipping won’t save you, you can still send them a digital gift card to somewhere awesome.
From all of us at GiftYa, happy shopping and safe travels!
Trae Bodge
Trae Bodge is the shopping expert here at GiftYa. Trae helps people find the best deals and ideas on popular new items to purchase.
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