Deloitte

Need a last-minute gift? Discover 12 experiential gift ideas

I rounded up unique gift ideas that will replace material things with moments this holiday season, and help you snag a last-minute gift in a time crunch.

Best experience gifts from Groupon, AirBnB, Uncommon Goods and more.

Paste BN

Dec. 11, 2025Updated Dec. 24, 2025, 10:56 a.m. ET

A growing number of Americans are choosing to give experiences as gifts instead of physical products.
Experiential gifts can include activities like cooking classes, concert tickets, or outdoor workshops.
Several companies, such as Groupon, MasterClass, and Airbnb, offer a wide range of giftable experiences.

Over the last few years, my family and I have "quiet quit" traditional gifting; not in the sense that we never give gifts, but rather that we opt for more memorable presents like experiences or activities, as opposed to disposable products that'll be forgotten within a couple years.

Evidently, this has been a rising trend among many Americans; a 2024 Deloitte holiday retail survey projected that holiday spending on experiences would rise as much as 16% year-over-year, with more consumers favoring experiences over goods. And a TD Bank 2024 survey found that nearly half of consumers planned to give experiences as holiday gifts, with Gen Z (68%) and Millennials (61%) leading the charge.

Memories over material possessions—that's what's guiding the gifting market this year. And if you're among the holiday shoppers looking to tap into this thoughtful trend (or just need a last-minute gift in a time-crunch), below, I rounded up the best experiential gift ideas—with options that range from Sur La Table cooking classes to REI camping workshops and even tickets for live sporting events.

Keep reading to shop the best experience gifts from Groupon, AirBnB, MasterClass, Uncommon Goods and more, all of which double as the best last-minute gifts:

Shop the best experiential gift ideas

Groupon experiences

Groupon

Browse tons of experiential gifts on Groupon and get vouchers delivered in an instant to your phone—no wrapping necessary. Explore Groupon

Sur La Table cooking classes

Sur La Table Cooking Classes

Take their cooking game up a notch and explore Sur La Table cooking class experiences that range from elevated date night meals to holiday baking activities and more. Explore Sur La Table

MasterClass Subscription

Help them learn from the world's greatest innovators, leaders and creators with a MasterClass subscription. Explore MasterClass

AirBnB Experiences

AirBnB

For LA28, enjoy an AirBnB, with a wide variety of active locations, activities, prices and more. Explore AirBnB

StubHub live event tickets

Treat the sports fan in your life to an in-person NFL or NBA game and score tickets from StubHub—along with a number of other live events. Explore StubHub

Fever Events

Immersive art experiences, hot air balloon adventures, bar crawls—you can find (and book) every experience imaginable through Fever, with events happening nightly. Explore Fever

REI Beginner's Camping Workshop

Learn the basics of camping and braving the great outdoors in this beginner's workshop led by REI. Explore REI

Sofar Sounds Shows

Sofar Sounds specializes in unique musical experiences and intimate concerts, with events happening almost every night of the week nationwide. Get tickets to a local show in your area! Explore Sofar Sounds

Book of the Month Subscription

The avid reader in your life will be delighted with a Book of the Month subscription; they'll get a new piece of handpicked literary greatness delivered right to their doorstep. Explore Book of the Month

ClassPass

ClassPass is a hub for all things wellness, and with a ClassPass gift card, you can treat them to a self-care experience, plus access to thousands of appointments and wellness treatments across beauty and fitness. Explore ClassPass

Giftory Experiences

Supercar racing at MetLife Stadium? Baking classes led by stars of "The Great British Bake-Off"? Through Giftory, you can find one-of-a-kind experiences for everyone on your shopping list. Explore Giftory

Experiential gifts from Uncommon Goods

Uncommon Goods Flower Arranging Workshop

You can gift a bouquet of flowers—or you can empower a loved one to curate their dream arrangement on their own, all with the guidance of an expert florist in this workshop from Uncommon Goods. Explore Uncommon Goods

What are experiential gifts?

Experiential gifts are defined as giftable experiences or activities, as opposed to individual products; this could include tickets to a live event, flight vouchers for travel, a subscription to a class or even a certificate for a purchased activity, like horseback riding, candle-making and more.

How to choose the best experience gifts?

The best experiential gifts will vary based off your recipients' interests, shopping budget and time preferences. If they have a busier schedule and you're unsure of their availability, you might be better off gifting them a gift card or gift certificate that they can redeem on their own time—as opposed to a set event.

Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the Paste BN Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.