Best Gift Ideas for Visiting Relatives
Having relatives out is always a blast! Check out this list of amazing gifts to make their stay one to remember
Everyone loves when their relatives come to visit, right? Well, even if they can be a bit much, family is family. We think a little welcome gift can go a long way. After they do their traveling, it is nice to have something to give them. We think that a gift card is the way to go. Sure, there are tons of gift ideas for visiting relatives, but a gift card is the one thing that lets them go out and explore the area, serving a dual purpose of giving you a little time on your own as well as treating them to an exciting time. This is best when coupled with an idea of what they like to do when on a little vacation, whether it’s shopping for clothes and fun products, going out to eat, or exploring the area. You are the perfect person to point them in the right direction!
Before we get into our list, you can always include a gift card to your favorite place and, of course, hype it up to get them excited to go there. Whether it is a local cafe, a restaurant, or something else, a gift card could be exactly what makes the visit with your relatives fun for everyone. Let’s jump into some of the best gift ideas for visiting relatives!
Text eGift Cards on GiftYa
GiftYa is a popular gift-giving site that also offers customizable eGift cards! GiftYa lets you add custom photos or videos to all your gifts as a virtual gift wrapper. A GiftYa can be sent by text or email, so the gift is always delivered within minutes. You can also schedule the gift to be sent on a specific date, such as a birthday or holiday.
Earn Cash Back on Gift Ideas for Visiting Relatives with Gift Card Granny
Another awesome gift card provider is Gift Card Granny. Well, as an online discount retailer of gift cards, Gift Card Granny provides you with a huge selection of gift cards for local and national brands. For every gift card you purchase via Gift Card Granny, you will earn a set amount of cashback, depending on the retailer you choose. Save a ton the next time you do your gift card shopping by using Gift Card Granny and reaping the cash-back perks!
1. Sephora
Get a gift card for a quality beauty product
Beauty products are very popular, and a gift card to Sephora is the perfect gift to let your extended family peruse this awesome store and pick out the products they love or even try out some new ones! Sephora is a great choice because they are dotted all over the country, so there is likely one within easy driving distance. Sending your visiting relatives on a shopping spree is a fantastic activity when they come to visit.
When push comes to shove, they can also shop online for their beauty products! More than anyone, they will know which products need to be refilled, and your gift card can take a bit of the weight off of them getting that expensive bottle of hand cream that they love.
2. DoorDash
Because we all know there are nights when cooking seems impossible.
There are always nights best spent in the comfort of one’s own home, and on those nights, cooking can be a big problem. Prepping the meal, waiting for it to cook, and the cleanup afterward could be just enough to ruin a fantastic night indoors. That’s where this gift card comes in! An excuse to grab a meal from a local takeout restaurant and lounge while it is delivered right to your door cannot be beaten. When your relatives are in, well, you might not want to cook for a whole extra family! When that’s the case, DoorDash has you covered. You can sponsor a takeout meal, but giving a DoorDash gift card is a great way to cover your bases. Perhaps you are out and about, and your relatives get a hankering for takeout. With your gift card, they can order it straight away!
The one downside to meal delivery services like DoorDash is that they have convenience fees associated with the order, so it is always less expensive to go out and pick up the food yourself than to use a service like DoorDash. That’s what your gift card is for! Even a $5 gift card covers the fees, making it an excellent option for the next time they have a very specific craving from a local store.
3. Amazon
You know it, you use it, and it has almost everything you can ever want!
Amazon. The colossal online shopping hub that has literally almost everything you could want. If you’re in the market for groceries at the end of the week and need them without messing up your busy schedule, Amazon has the ability to order all your food online. It is always nice to greet your relatives with a gift. An Amazon gift card is an excellent way to do that. You can even tie it in as a prize for a little trivia game or puzzle.
Amazon’s got you covered! Video games, movies, music, TV shows, clothes, jewelry, and so much more are all available at this megastore. Plus, if you have Prime, you can get 2-day shipping on supporting products, so there’s no need to wait for your package! With so many options, there’s plenty to choose and your visiting relatives will always be happy with an Amazon gift card!
4. Macy’s
A gift card perfect for shopping anytime
A gift card to Macy’s is great for your visiting relatives. They can shop and pick out some great new outfits for the next season. Even the most filled closets get old after picking out outfits every day. Macy’s has a great selection of clothes in a wide variety of styles and they have a pretty substantial bath and body section as well. Macy’s is a great place to shop around, and it is easy to find the products you need within these halls.
Clothes shopping is not everyone’s favorite, but it is a necessity. That’s where your gift card comes in! Going shopping with a gift card in hand is always a good feeling.
5. Nordstrom
A gift card for high-end clothing
Nordstrom is a high-end clothing store. This department store is one of the best around, and a Nordstrom gift card for a new teacher is great if they like expensive clothing. The risk with a Nordstrom gift card is that the bills are always high. Gift cards to more expensive locations are best given to regular customers. Nordstrom is expensive! You don’t want to force your visiting relatives into shopping somewhere expensive unless you can produce a gift card that covers the cost of at least one item. When you’re working or have a task to complete, your relatives can wander the hallowed halls of a nearby Nordstrom and come back with new and exciting clothing items.
Unless your relatives shop at Nordstrom, you run the risk of the gift card sitting unused. Make sure to ask where they like to shop before purchasing a gift card from a clothing store.
6. Yankee Candle
Fragrant candles come in different forms.
If you want your relatives to get a great candle for the return home then Yankee Candle is the perfect gift idea. A gift card from Yankee Candle will make a teacher’s home smell amazing and change the vibe of the place. A good scent can make a home feel calm, lively, or warm, and teachers deserve to be in a good mood.
Some fragrances your Yankee Candle sells include Art in the Park and Fresh Cut Roses. Your teacher will get the opportunity to choose from a variety of sizes and even order personalized candles, signature candles, or original jar candles as well as room sprays and plug-ins. We love Yankee Candle gift cards because, let’s face it, walking into a Yankee Candle store is awesome. There are so many scents all competing for space in the air, and you can wander happily, picking out the scents you like the best.
7. Barnes and Noble
A home for readers
Buy a Barnes & Noble gift card
Now, not all your relatives are readers, but if you know these are: gift cards to Barnes and Noble is a great choice. Books are costly! Older paperbacks go for seven to twelve dollars, and new hardcovers can be over $20 each. Regardless, Barnes and Noble is a calm sanctuary for book lovers.
They have such a diverse collection of books on their shelves that readers of all ages and interests can find a book that they enjoy. If, however, you know they are a fond listener of audiobooks, we put forward Audible as an excellent alternative. Audiobooks are a stellar alternative to reading, and let people listen to their favorite book while up and about. This is perfect for commutes, chores around the house, or drifting off to sleep.
Buy a Barnes & Noble gift card
8. The Cheesecake Factory
A gift card for a lovely meal
Get a Cheesecake Factory gift card
The Cheesecake Factory is our stand-in for restaurants as a great gift idea for visiting relatives. The Cheesecake Factory is a sit-down, affordable restaurant providing guests a great experience. This is a great gift card for teachers that like to enjoy a quality meal at a local restaurant. The Cheesecake Factory is great for dinner and, of course, great for dessert! Their cheesecakes are always a special treat.
We want to single out the Cheesecake Factory as a great option for a restaurant gift card, but there are many restaurants at this price point where your friend could enjoy a delectable meal.
Get a Cheesecake Factory gift card
9 - Panera
Coffee, tea, bagels, cookies, soups, and more are all hot & ready to serve!
If your relatives like to go out for breakfast pastries and coffee or just sit in a cafe where they can enjoy a good meal, then a Panera gift card might be the way to go! Panera Bread is a well-known fast-casual food chain that has locations all over the country, selling a variety of baked goods, sandwiches, and other cafe-like foods.
On the menu right now, there’s Chicken Tikka Masala Soup, Mac & Cheese, Cinnamon Crunch Bagels, Asiago Bagels, Brownies, Pepperoni Flatbread Pizza, Mediterranean Bowl, Smoky Buffalo Chicken Melt - Toasted Baguette, an array of coffee, tea, breakfast before 10:30, and more is what makes Panera a great place to go. You get all that delicious food either in-store or to take home with you!
10. Visa
Customize a Visa Gift Card for a Personal Touch
The best gifts are always the ones your recipient can actually use. It doesn't matter how expensive or flashy those gifts are if your friend doesn’t know what to do with them. A Visa gift card cuts that risk out of the equation. Usable anywhere Visa credit cards are accepted, these gift cards are as good as giving cash -- just a little more polished. Plus, Gift Card Granny makes it easy to customize it with a photo and a custom message. Click the link to learn more!
These are our favorite gift ideas for visiting relatives!
We hope that this article has helped you figure out which is the best gift idea for your visiting relatives. This will help ensure the trip goes without a hitch, and that they can get out and explore your city if you are busy at any point and time.
Remember: many of the retailers on this list are available at GiftYa, where you can send a gift card in just a few clicks.
From all of us here at GiftYa, happy shopping!
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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