This Christmas give the gift of an experience. Given that a good one comes wrapped in anticipation, is fun to undertake, and leaves memories that last, it beats physical gifts into a cocked hat. Here are a few suggestions.
Take gifting to new heights
Atlantic Flight Training Academy, based in Cork and Waterford, is taking holiday gifting to new heights this Christmas with a selection of unique flight experiences designed to delight aviation enthusiasts, future pilots and even that smug insufferable: the person who has everything.
For thrill seekers, its aerobatic airplane flying experience is the perfect gift. Recipients take to the skies with one of Ireland’s top aerobatic pilots in a Slingsby T-67 Firefly to experience the exhilaration that only aerobatic flying can give, performing manoeuvres such as loop the loops, barrel rolls and Cuban eights.
For those looking to get a taste of flying for themselves, it offers airplane flying lessons suitable for ages 12 and over. Priced from €120 to €240, depending on the duration, this one lets recipients take the controls. While, to whet their aerial appetite without even leaving the ground, its immersive B737-800 NG flight simulator experience gives recipients the thrill of flying a jet airliner all by themselves.
The gift of love – and music
Give the music lover in your life a treat with the Irish National Opera’s production of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, The Elixir of Love. It has all the ingredients of a perfect romantic comedy: a young man in love, a dubious elixir, heartache and plenty of obstacles. Donizetti’s score takes audiences from tender, heartfelt serenades such as Una Furtiva Lagrima to exuberant, energetic ensembles, all brought to life by soprano Claudia Boyle as Adina, US tenor Duke Kim as Nemorino and John Molloy as the rogue “doctor” Dulcamara. Conducted by Erina Yashima and directed by Cal McCrystal it features the Irish National Opera orchestra and chorus. Performances take place in May and June 2025, at the National Opera House in Wexford, Cork Opera House and Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre, where tickets are €48.50.
Send them out and about all year
You don’t have to be prescriptive with an experience gift. A Heritage Ireland card gives them access to a range of historic properties, from the ancient farms of the Ceide Fields to Derrynane House, childhood home of Daniel O’Connell, to Dublin Castle, whose guided tour reveals a glimpse of the hidden river Poddle. An adult card costs €40, or €90 for all the family, and it’s a gift that will get used all year long. Ditto a Coillte Forest pass, which costs €50 and allows entry to car parks at forest parks such as Ards, Gougane Barra, Farran, Curragh Chase, Donadea and Avondale with zero flustering. All in all, it’s a gentle nudge towards 3,000km of Coillte trails just waiting to be explored.
Living the high life with Zipit
Zipit, the country’s high-wire and zip-line specialists, has fun for all the family at Lough Key Forest Park in Co Roscommon, a great spot for a day out or an overnight camping adventure. Or they can spend their gift at Farran Park in Co Cork, next to the National Rowing Centre and Inniscarra lake, where there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained with a children’s playground, deer enclosure and duck pond. Alternatively they can live the high life with Zipit in Tibradden Wood in Dublin. Situated in the foothills of the Dublin mountains, just 15 minutes from Dundrum Town Centre, it offers panoramic views of Dublin Bay and Howth. Or at least, it would, if they weren’t flying along 500m of zip trail. Prices from €19 to €42. Pictures of your bezzies trying to look cool while dangling from a harness: priceless.
Be the Zen meister for your mates
For a different take on forest fun, how about a voucher for Aqua Sana Forest Spa, tucked away at the edge of Center Parcs Longford. It’s a lovely add-on for any family planning on holidaying there and allows the grown-ups to enjoy an immersive and sensory experience inspired by the natural world – think hot springs, forest glades and mineral caves. The whole vibe is relaxation, including a new acupressure and cryo body sphere massage – an acupuncture-inspired body treatment that increases circulation, improves metabolism and reduces muscle tension costs €119 per person. Or they can opt for a Himalayan salt back, face and scalp massage; a tranquillity pro-sleep massage, or a Gua Sha revitalising and toning massage which incorporates techniques from Chinese medicine. Voucher bearers don’t even need to be staying at Center Parcs: it’s open to anyone looking to chill for a luxurious spa day.
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Gift an escape from the comfort of their own sofa
The chance to dive into a good book is one of the best things about Christmas. Even better is a gift that sends your loved one a new title, tailored to their tastes, on a monthly basis. The Book Resort, a family business run by Aisling Finn and her sons Liam and Euan, has a range of subscription gifts, including a monthly gift box that nets the recipient a book in the genre of their choice, a large bar of chocolate, an artisanal gift from an Irish maker and a dedicated card from you. Boxes ship on the 1st of each month, which makes it a lovely way of delighting and surprising someone year-round. Alternatively, stand-alone gift boxes cost from €38.95 each, while its 12 Books of Christmas gift box contains a dozen books, all individually wrapped, for €100.
Put them on the sloe boat to a good day out
For gin lovers a distillery tour packs a particular punch, so why not book the gin bunny in your life in for an afternoon at the Boatyard Distillery on the banks of Lough Erne. The Boatyard Distillery tour experience shows visitors how its innovative range of spirits are made and gives them the chance to sample some spirits neat, to appreciate their full flavour, before being guided through different serves and cocktails that allow the spirits to shine. Each tour lasts 90 minutes and includes a Boatyard double gin and tonic reception, a presentation of the history and origins of the distillery, a neat tasting of the full spirits range, two cocktails and a behind-the-scenes tour. With a steady hand they can finish up with the opportunity to sign and label their own personalised bottle to take home. It’s £55, so at current exchange rates about €65 per person.
Presents for pooches
Finally, the dog lover in your life will love nothing more than a pet-friendly gift they can both enjoy, and the Kingsley Hotel in Cork city has just the ticket. Forget spa days (though it does them too), think Spaw days, a pet-friendly getaway that will see pooch dropped off at specialist canine cleaner the Spaw nearby for treats and treatments, including exclusive microbubble wash and ozone therapy cleaning, guaranteed to have everyone’s tail wagging. The gift of a two-night stay at the hotel for two people sharing a pet-friendly room costs from €249, with treatments from the Spaw from €39 and up, which gives the humans a bit of time alone too.
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