9 Thoughtful Long Distance Family Holiday Gift Ideas

By December 8, 2020 April 12th, 2023 uLink Blog
Young family of three decorating a Christmas tree

Holiday shopping is hard enough. As for sending gifts long distances to family? That can be even harder.

While spending the holidays away from home is difficult, sending the right gift can make all the difference. 

Here are 9 Thoughtful Long Distance Family Holiday Gift Ideas:

1. Send Flowers

Thanks to our increasingly global economy, several companies make it possible to send fresh flowers to over 200 countries around the world. 

Here are three of the top vendors to consider:

  • 1800Flowers: In addition to flowers, 1800Flowers also lets you send gift baskets and plants to most countries. Click here to check out their top-selling products per country.
  • 1st in Flowers: While lesser known than their competitors, 1st in Flowers offers a large selection of choices with low fees and quick delivery times. Click here to see their full list of products.
  • Teleflora: By working directly with local neighborhood florists, Teleflora allows you to customize your flowers and have them hand-arranged by professionals around the world. Click here to learn more.

2. Send Something Local

There’s something incredibly personal about receiving mementos from a local town. If you’ve ever received a gift from home, you know how special it feels. 

Whether you’ve recently settled in the United States or have already been here for several years, consider sending a gift that reminds your family exactly where you are. 

If you live in a major metropolitan area, you could send little items from a popular museum, an art gallery, or from a local sports team. If you live in a smaller town, you could send local candies, dry goods, or even something simple like a postcard. 

You can’t go wrong with sending home something local for Christmas. 

3. Gift An Experience

Want to impress your loved ones? Gift them an experience with Tinggly.

According to their tagline, Tinggly “gives stories, not stuff.” Here’s how it works:

You start by purchasing one of their many packages according to destination and occasion. Available activities include things like skydiving, helicopter rides, romantic getaways, and a number of exciting experiences across the world. 

One gift buys an entire collection of potential experiences, and the recipient then chooses the one they want to have. 

The best part is, there’s no expiration date. So while the world waits for the end of the pandemic, you can give your loved ones the gift of guaranteed future adventures. 

Click here to learn more!

4. Give the Gift of Music

While many millennials have a Spotify or Apple Music subscription, the majority of older generations do not

According to Deloitte, only one-fifth of baby boomers have a music service subscription. 

This makes room for an excellent (and affordable!) Christmas gift. By giving your loved ones the gift of music streaming, you provide them direct access to one of the best known mood-boosters. 

Studies show that listening to the right music increases optimism, especially during times of uncertainty. 

If you’re shopping for one person, you can purchase a single Spotify or Apple Music account for just $9.99/month (with three free months to start). Or, if you’re shopping for a full family, you can purchase 6 separate accounts for just $14.99/month. 

Check out Apple Music or Spotify to get started!

5. Send a Gift Basket

When shopping gets overwhelming, it’s best to go with a gift basket.

Shipping to over 200 countries, Gift Basket Overseas offers a range of custom holiday gifts including Hanukkah, Christmas, and other fully customizable baskets.

You can design your own gourmet baskets with wine and cheese, fresh fruit, chocolate assortments and more. Click here to view all of the options at Gift Basket Overseas.

For an alternative option, Gourmet Gift Baskets also ships internationally and offers special Christmas items to show your love from afar. Click here to learn more!

6. Give Books

In an increasingly technological world, books are becoming even more valuable. 

While they might seem old-fashioned, books actually make for a wonderfully personal gift. That’s true whether you plan to start a new book club with your loved ones or simply send them one of your personal favorites.

Amazon may seem to be the go-to destination for buying books, but we’d recommend an even better alternative: The Book Depository

With a vast supply of over 20 million books, The Book Depository not only ships internationally, but they do so for free to over 160 countries. 

Click here to check out The Book Depository website.

7. Give the Gift of Flight

The pandemic won’t last forever. When COVID-19 finally goes away, there’s one thing the entire planet will quickly resume: traveling the world. 

This holiday season, give your loved ones something amazing to look forward to: the opportunity to visit you in 2021. With Flight Gift, you can give your family a gift card that works for all major airlines flying to over 70 countries. 

Your purchase is valid for two years and can be sent by gift card (or email) to your recipient. 

Click here to learn more!

8. Give (Borderless) Gift Cards

While gift cards might not seem particularly personable, they give your recipient maximum freedom to get what they really want. 

Here are a few companies whose gift cards can be used anywhere in the world:

Starbucks: Need a quick gift for a coffee enthusiast? Simply go to the Starbucks website, purchase a custom gift card, and send it directly to your recipient’s email.  

Amazon: If it exists, you can buy it on Amazon. To get your long-distance loved ones an Amazon eGift, simply click here

Hyatt Hotels: Usable across North and South America, Hyatt Hotels gift cards can give your loved ones a much-needed breath of fresh air. Click here to view available gift cards and ship them right to your recipient’s email.

9. Send Money Home

Sending money home can be the best way to show your love. And when it comes to long distance gift giving, uLink has you covered. 

With great exchange rates and fees starting as low as $0, uLink helps you send money home in a fast and affordable way. 

However you choose to show your love, uLink is here to help you give your family a holiday season to remember.

Plus, after your 1st, 2nd, and 5th transactions, we’ll send you a $10 gift card to use at your favorite retailers. That’s $30 in gift cards after your first five transactions with uLink. 

Miles from home — just moments away with uLink. 

Send Money Now!

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