Travel gift cards have come a long way in terms of popularity as they are very convenient to use and easy to buy. They can be used in the same way that gift cards are used in any restaurant or store. A travel gift voucher is loaded with a specific value that is deducted whenever you use it.

E-Gift Card vs. Plastic Gift Card

Electronic or e-gift cards and typical plastic cards are two different types of travel gift cards. Plastic gift vouchers are simply the cards look like the store or restaurant gift card that you may have got last Christmas from your cousin. They look just like credit cards and are of the same size. You may need to present it to the travel service provider to redeem the same. They are also ordered from a travel service provider and you can send them directly to your recipient. You can store the plastic travel gift cards with other cards in a purse or wallet and they are also handy in use. In case you lose this card, the seller won’t give it another. So, you need to keep this card safe. On the other side, e-gift cards or electronic travel cards are delivered through email. You should have the right email address of your recipient before placing the order. The seller will not be liable for the e-gift card which is delivered to the wrong address. You can easily order e-gift cards at the last moment as they are sent to your recipient whenever your payment is processed. Hence, e-gift cards are the best last-moment option for you. You can get e-gift travel cards delivered directly to your email and it includes a gift card or code number you can use to redeem the card. When it comes to making a reservation, the recipient will be required to print out the gift card and provide this number. You cannot lose your e-gift cards as long as the email is saved. In case you miss the hard copy, you can simply print out another.

Types of Travel Gift Cards to Look For

A lot of airlines and hotel chains like Marriott, Best Western, Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines offer travel gift voucher. You can easily buy them from airlines or hotel website and some are even available in retail and grocery stores. Sellers like PayPal and Amazon offer Airbnb gift cards online or in stores. You can also buy a cruise gift card if your loved one loves to cruise. There are “onboard gifts” sold by individual cruise lines which are specific services or items like massage or flowers. Some of the cruise lines also offer gift card certificates on board. You can also buy gift cards from official websites of cruise lines like Carnival, Princess Cruises, or Norwegian Cruise Line or PayPal. You can also buy someone a sightseeing or restaurant gift card. You can choose from different sites offering restaurant gift cards like Restaurant.com. Some restaurant chains also offer gift cards. For sightseeing, one of the best places is CityPass booklets which are available for 12 cities in Canada and the US. Each booklet consists of a specific number of attraction tickets.

Is there an expiry date on a travel gift card?

Some travel gift cards don’t come with expiry dates. Some travel gift cards should be used in a specific period of time. You need to check the terms and conditions properly before shopping for the gift card.

What Else You Need to know before buying a Travel Gift Voucher?

You need to know the terms and conditions of a travel provider before buying a gift card because these vary from each travel provider. If you are looking for a travel gift card in another currency and you pay using a credit card, you might need to pay a transaction fee. A transaction fee is usually charged on a specific percentage of sales prices by credit card Company, even though the seller belongs to your home country.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]