Why a Trip is Better than Gifts this Christmas

‘Tis the Season//Standing proud in the middle of the Grove in Los Angeles, this Christmas tree dons an assortment of shiny, colorful ornaments for the Christmas season. Tourists come from all over the United States to different places during the holiday season, and LA is a prime spot to see all of the amazing decorations and get into the Christmas spirit. (Photo by Natalia Arieli)

The best time of the year is approaching: Christmas! Now that Halloween is over, it’s time to get in the holiday spirit, with people putting up their Christmas trees and listening to Christmas music as early as November 1st. The holiday season is special for many families, as it is the time to spend time with family and friends, curl up with some hot chocolate, and watch your favorite holiday movies (or Stranger Things if you’re like me), and of course write your list of 100 things you want and expect to see them wrapped up all pretty at the bottom of the Christmas tree on the morning of December 25th. 

One can begin to feel the excitement of waking up at 5 a.m. and rushing downstairs to open presents with my family. Just tearing the tissue paper is fun in itself. Feeling the joy and excitement an hour later, playing with a new iPad or trying on all the fun clothes I got. Then also remembering the two hours that go by with the gifts just sitting there while you’re bored on the couch, playing Roblox or watching Christmas movies for the rest of the day. And just like that, the Christmas morning magic just… disappears. 

Presents are something super fun to look forward to for Christmas, and it's what many people anticipate excitedly on Christmas Eve. However, are the hundreds of dollars spent on the presents you got really worth looking forward to your entire holiday season? There’s no doubt you’ll enjoy and use those presents, but one day, those presents will be used up, or sitting in your closet with dust on them, and you won’t feel the Christmas spirit anymore, looking at those materialistic gifts that you asked for and received. What if I told you that the best Christmas should be spent, not purchasing expensive gifts and opening them on Christmas day, but going on a trip you’ll remember forever? 

First, I know what you’re thinking: “Presents are one of the best parts about Christmas! Remember the Grinch movie when all those poor kids got sad because they didn’t get any presents?” Well… I see what you mean with the Grinch reference, but I think you need to rewatch the movie if you think that’s what that was about… Anyways, presents are one of those things that just “come along” with Christmas. Plus, when else can you ask your parents to get you all of these items that you’ve been wanting but don’t want to spend your own money on?

However, think about the last time you went on a trip, even if it was just a quick road trip to Disneyland or the beach. See, you can remember the specifics of it. The laughter with your family as you got ice cream by the beach, or the joyful screaming of going on the Incredicoaster with your sibling by your side. Now, think about what you got for Christmas last year. I bet you can think of maybe one or two things. For example, I forgot almost everything except for the tickets I got to go see a show I really wanted to see. That brings me to the memory of the show, and getting all dressed up, laughing and singing along when my family and I went to go see it. 

Furthermore, this brings me to my point: the things you will remember in your lifetime are experiences, not materialistic things. You won’t remember the pair of mini Ugg boots you got two years ago, but I bet you will remember the trip to Disney World you took with your friends three years ago. Getting to go on a trip or experience this year for Christmas will be remembered forever, or at least a long time, which is my first point of why you should go on a trip rather than spend your money on gifts.

Additionally, you may be currently reading this and thinking: well, there’s no way I can afford to go on a trip. Well, I'm here to tell you that there are tons of ways to spend the least amount of money when going on a trip. 

The article “10 Affordable Places to Travel During Christmas” by Sierra in the City explains, “...celebrating Christmas away from home doesn’t have to drain your bank account. There are actually some amazing, budget-friendly winter destinations that are perfect for soaking up the holiday spirit.” There are several budget-friendly places, whether you’re looking for something snowy and cold to ski and have hot cocoa for the holiday season, or something warm and tropical to escape the harsh weather. Other articles and sites also list several different places that are affordable that you can visit during Christmas like, “30 Places to Travel on a Budget,” and “12 Best Cheap Destinations to Escape the Harsh Weather.” You can even do the easiest and least time-consuming research using ChatGPT to help you find a vacation for you based on your budget, how far away it is from where you are now, and the best things to do and see there. So, a trip really isn’t that bad to consider now that you know that there are affordable places to go. Even if it isn’t somewhere fancy like a cruise in the Caribbean or a trip to Puerto Rico, simply going and seeing things you haven’t is such a fun and memorable experience.

Lastly, going on a trip for Christmas is something that you’ll look forward to for the entire holiday season, and will be talking about and remembering it for a while after Christmas. While the school semester comes to a close and you’re already celebrating with your friends and family before Christmas, you’ll be thinking about your trip and how much fun you’ll have, which, in my opinion, is exhilarating and an eagerness that isn’t like opening presents. I bet, of course, you look forward to presents on Christmas, and there is something about that excitement that isn’t the same for much else. However, looking forward to a trip involves planning and buying outfits that you’ll wear during it, looking forward to all the exciting things you’ll do there and planning an itinerary, and (one of the best things in my opinion) looking all over Pinterest for ideas for pictures and places to go during the trip. The anticipation and excitement before going on vacation start at least a month in advance, while you’re only excited about getting presents once you’ve told your parents your list of things you want, and once you see them under the tree.

In conclusion, going on a trip is a much better investment than buying gifts for the holiday season. A trip will be something you remember forever, and will be a much more enjoyable and longer experience than opening presents and using them on Christmas day. There are also affordable options when it comes to looking to invest in a trip. Additionally, the excitement of planning and organizing a trip is such a fun experience that doesn’t compare to looking forward to opening gifts. For all these reasons, I highly recommend and encourage investing in a family or friends trip rather than purchasing presents for Christmas this year. Whether you want to go to Universal Studios or New York City, there’s a place for everyone, and the experience will be worth it.