One of the hardest things about long-term travel is not being there for your loved one’s special occasions. Whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, anniversary, promotion, engagement, new baby, or they simply need cheering up, a simple Skype call will rarely convey just how much they mean to you.
So what do you do when you’re travelling and you want to show your friends and family members just how much you care? Here are the best gifts for your loved ones while you’re travelling:
A Call
It may seem strange, but while you’re off having your adventures, it’s easy to forget that your friends and family members are simply going about their day-to-day lives. When it’s a special occasion and your family members haven’t heard from you for awhile, it can be a good idea to give them a call to touch base and find out what’s going on in their lives. One of the best gifts you can give is your time, so be sure to give your loved ones a call on their special days.
Flowers
Flowers can say a lot of things, and can be a great way to celebrate an occasion like a birthday, anniversary, graduation, marriage, or baby, and they can also let someone know that you miss them, or that you feel sorry that they’re going through a tough time. One of the great things about ordering flowers while you’re travelling, is you can do the whole ordering process online- meaning even if it’s the middle of the night and you’ve only just remembered someone’s birthday, you can get online and sometimes even get same day delivery.
I also enjoy the fact that you can write a personal note with the flower delivery, letting your friend or family member know you’re thinking of them. If you need flowers for a loved one while you’re travelling, check out Flowers for Everyone.
A Spa Day
This is a great option for your mum, and I’ve used it a few times for Mother’s Day. Find a great spa located near their house, and give them a call to see if they do vouchers. Sometimes they’ll even deliver the voucher personally, and you can also have a little message written in the voucher.
Often mums will be too busy to take time out for themselves, so you can also combine a spa day with a lovely bunch of flowers, and you’ll know that your mum is getting to relax and enjoy herself on her birthday or Mother’s Day.
Groceries
This one is a good option if you have a grocery store that delivers in your hometown. I’ve used it when my mum was sick, and you can get cough meds, soup, chocolate, and anything else that will make your friend or family member feel a little better. Often you can also write a get well note, to let them know you’re thinking of them.