“The joy of brightening other lives becomes for us the magic of the holidays.” W.C. Jones
Christmas gifts we can hold are usually what we find under the Christmas tree, but what about giving the gift of an experience to remember forever + you’re included! Everyone would love to find a holiday under their trees this festive period because spending time unwinding and connecting with you is truly an irreplaceable experience your loved ones can treasure.
Yeah, THINGS are awesome – they rock! Getting new devices, game consoles, home décor, pamper treats, etc. is AMAZING. But getting to join you on a weekend vacay, midweek getaway, or 7-day holiday is as epic as it gets for the person you want to treat this Christmas! And we know you and your loved ones deserve EPIC! When gifting a getaway, it’s all about WHO you’re asking to join you on the getaway and what they would like. It’s amazing because you’re part and parcel of the gift – but don’t worry, you DON’T have to wrap yourself up with a bow on your head and have a Christmas jingle prepared – but you DO need to do a little planning to ensure it’s the gift that keeps on giving! We’ve got all the details you will need to plan that perfect getaway gift…
Step One. Decide on who you’re taking on a holiday…
- Spouse/Partner
- Family
- Bestie or your crew
- Sibling, family member, or a special someone you are craving time with
Step Two. Find out what kind of holidaymakers are coming on vacay with you! It’s all about knowing what your favourite humans like! This can be the hardest step because everyone has different preferences when it comes to holidaying! Everyone has a holidaymaker type, even you! And because you’re joining in on the vacation, finding the best spot for all to enjoy is the trick to booking the perfect holiday that suits everyone involved – it makes the getaway gift-giving a legendary experience. Before you go ahead and book the holiday gift you’re itching to go on with your favourite humans… first, let’s understand each kind of holidaymaker…
Workaholic Holidaymaker
Everyone knows that person who finds the time to work ALL.THE.TIME! That near-and-dear work-lover who is sending emails, checking their inbox, making calls, and setting goals and deadlines EVEN when it’s supposed to be “switch-off-from-the-grind” time. Even on holiday, they need a comfy place to charge and use their work devices and have access to WiFi. Well, a workaholic holidaymaker is the trickiest of all the holidaymaker types. Workaholic holidaymakers will be in their work-life-balance element at a resort with business facilities such as stable Wi-Fi and childminders available.
If your partner or bestie is a workaholic, take them on a holiday to Club Mykonos Langebaan where they will be perfectly positioned to access work and downtime at the flip of a switch – blending the two and creating a balance of work and play that works for them and your getaway plans too. Club Mykonos has everything a workaholic would want from WiFi, meeting rooms, and conferencing options to fun-in-the-sun activities and relaxation hot spots onsite and nearby.
Adventurer Holidaymaker
We’re all a little afraid of this holidaymaker because they’re daring and courageous and always looking for the next big thrill. While many of us are just okay going to a resort to relax, chill by the pool or even nap longer, the Adventurer holidaymaker is someone who thrives on adrenalin, and they seek it out at every opportunity. Think: long hikes, galloping along a mountain or beach trail on horseback, spinning on an off-road quadbike track, or running around with clear targets in a paintball war!
If your children or crew are adventurers looking for that next big thrill, booking somewhere like Bushman’s Nek Berg and Trout Resort is the ideal spot to quench the adrenaline-junkie thirst, with a variety of onsite activities in the nearby vicinity including adventure golf, ziplining, horse-riding, hiking, paintball and much, much more!
Beach Bum Holidaymaker
Now, we’re not in the business of judging the ‘beach bum’ holidaymakers we know (and love) – instead, we EMBRACE these beach-loving, sand-covered, wind-in-their-hair beach folk – because we know how much the beaches rock. While we may enjoy the beach in moderation, the beach bum craves an overload of the sand, surf, and sun. These are the people in your life who enjoy bonfires on the beach and chilling on the sand watching the sunrise or sunset over the ocean with sand between their toes (and everywhere else!) They revel in nature, run into the waves with no inhibitions and soak up every chance they can to be on the beach with the salty wind in their hair. Don’t run from the beach bum, embrace them – help them find their beach bliss and take them on a holiday where ‘Life’s a Beach’.
Show the beach bum in your life just how much you love them by booking into Hole in the Wall on the Sunshine Coast in the Eastern Cape. The nature-lover you take along will thank you for their getaway in nature’s paradise living right in the natural bay. There are beach hikes, nature trails, a playground on the beach for the kids, amazing daily food and drink specials at the resort restaurant, plus more!
Explorer Holidaymaker
When you think “explorer” sometimes Christopher Columbus or Vasco de Gama can come to mind – What about Dora the Explorer or Tad the Lost Explorer? They’re also recent popular choices that come to mind when you hear “EXPLORER.” And you’ll be right to think that! Explorer holidaymakers get involved and colour every experience with the “intrigued” brush. They find exploring bookshops, museums, antique stores, pristine beaches and quirky pavement cafes for people-watching exciting.
The Palace in Durban or Breakers in Umhlanga is a perfect spot to book for that explorer holiday where they (and you) can explore the vibrant and trendy parts of KZN – as well as find quirky, unusual and intriguing places to fill their time. From museums, historical sites and quaint bookshops to seaside explorations like boat cruises, whale-watching or dolphin-watching – you can excite the explorer in 100s of ways!
Penny Pincher Holidaymaker
This kind of holidaymaker is best kept close as they know the best deals at the best prices and how to make the best getaway out of any budget. This person loves the extra special deal where you get activities and extras at a discount or for free! So, even when you’re taking this kind of holidaymaker along, ensure you’re saving big and getting the biggest bucketload for every buck! This will surely put the Christmas sparkle in their smile when they find out you saved yourself some dough, too.
Stay with your penny pincher in a Bushveld setting at Manzi Monate, a tranquil resort just a short drive from Pretoria. You have access to the city hot spots or can choose family fun on the resort. There are tons of things to do without overspending: picnic followed by a dreamy snooze under the trees, games, playground, movie room, free-form swimming pool, gladiator’s course, tennis, bike rides, giant chess set, trampolines, fishing – or get the whole family together for a round of mini-golf or volleyball. There’s so much to choose from without breaking the bank. Spice up the life of the penny pincher holidaymaker by booking this resort with savings at every step. The budget-conscious person you are taking along might even agree to a small splurge to visit the nearby attractions like the Botanical Gardens, a game park, Pretoria Zoo, and the Sammy Marks Museum.
Holidaymaker Blending
Because YOU’RE part of the gifted getaway, it’s important to figure out what type of holidaymaker you are. Then, you can match it up with the holidaymaker you are taking on vacation.
If it’s a group of people, list their holidaymaker types and find a fusion vacay hot spot so that everyone’s excited when they find out – it also helps all prepare and look forward to the upcoming vacay slay. For example, a resort on the North Coast of KZN like Lake View Cabanas or La Montagne has WiFi facilities for those workaholics who still need a hit of the office access online and opportunities for the beach bum to laze on the shore, with water sports galore and game drive options for the adventurer, as well as tons of places to explore nearby if you’re looking to get to know the wilderness or city more – and their rates are affordable for the penny pincher holidaymakers to have some peace of mind that you got the best accommodation deal out there.
If you’re an adventurer but you’re taking your bestie along – who is an explorer – you can book Riviera Suites so that you can explore adventure activities like paragliding and shark diving while the explorer holidaymaker you take along can wander through Cape Town’s many museums, bookshops, outdoor discoveries and more.
Now, you’re free to enjoy the planning process because you’ve got all the info on how to go about taking your favourite person/people on a local getaway as a Christmas gift. Sharing the holiday fun is the most exciting gift to give. Taking your loved ones on a getaway to make great memories is the ultimate cherry on top of this year’s grand moves!
“It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.”- W.T. Ellis
Merry Christmas!
Flexi Club 