For study abroad students such as yourself, a Secret Santa gift exchange is a great way to celebrate Christmas away from home with all the new people you've met along the way and to cap off your "exchange" (mind the pun!) semester!
But if you're running out of ideas (or time) on what to get your Secret Santa, look no further! We, here at the MiTravel team, have compiled a quick list of great gift ideas that are unique and out-of-the-box and will surely delight your Secret Santa!
By the way, in case you don't know, here's how a Secret Santa gift exchange usually works: Everyone who participates will be assigned another person to anonymously buy a gift for. There's usually a spending limit or budget that is agreed upon by the group.
1. Food
Who says no to food, am I right? There's probably no safer gift choice out there!
Sounds too safe? Here's how you can make this more unique!
A few weekends before the big day, either on a weekend trip to another city or even a visit to the local farmer's market, there's sure to be plenty of interesting food items and sweets you can buy for your Secret Santa. For example, where I studied, we had a special chocolate you could only find in that city called quernon, a blue chocolate made of nougatine with almonds and nuts, coated with chocolate.
There should also be plenty of ongoing Christmas markets wherein you can find plenty of quirky and local specialty foods that could serve as a great, mouth-watering present! Check out our article and find out what you could get!
If you're worried about food spoilage, you can always resort to getting local specialty teas or coffee blends!
If you love to cook or bake, this might be a chance to show off your skills! You can prepare a traditional dish from your country as a way to share your own culture with others! You can try a dish specific to the country you're spending your semester in! Or you can even cook a dish from the country your Secret Santa is from - wouldn't that be the sweetest thing?
You not only learn and try out some new recipes along the way; you also get to show off your skills and "literally" share what you've learnt with others!
Here are a few fun recipes from all over the world for inspiration!
2. Experience
Now you might think, is that a typo? Did I read that correctly, an experience? How vague, isn't it?
Well, it really depends on how you interpret it! What is an experience to you?
I'm not saying to buy your Secret Santa an entire weekend trip, but a train ticket is a start. How about a ticket to an amusement park, a concert or a music festival? How about stand-up shows or theatre musicals? Maybe a museum that he/she had been meaning to go to or a meal at a favorite restaurant he/she loves?
As you can see, there are endless possibilities to this! You're not only giving this person a fun time, but lasting memories from their exchange semester that they'll remember forever.
It doesn't even have to be as grand as what I've mentioned, it could be as simple as subscription to their favorite media apps (like Disney+, Netflix, Spotify, and more!), meditation or fitness apps, workshops or classes of their hobbies, ride-sharing/food delivery apps or even a gift card to the local mall, coffee shop or fashion outlet.
These are all still experiences and though not as grand, will still help your Secret Santa along with their day and I'm sure they'll appreciate it!
3. Item Tracker
As you can imagine, being an exchange student and traveling often during weekends, there are lot of things you should keep track of - your phone, keys, wallet, passport, camera bag, toiletries, bags, luggage, etc. It's more surprising if you've managed NOT to misplace or lose anything so far!
Well, a very practical solution and great gift is, of course, Item Trackers (like Apple Tags or Tile)! These devices are a great way to keep track of your belongings and to make sure all your possessions are accounted for.
4. Translation Device
I've honestly never tried this myself, but can you imagine how easy this could make traveling? A pocket-sized two-way translation device that you could use to talk with foreigners and locals alike!
Now you might ask why buy a translation device when one can use Google Translate, instead? The argument for it is that these translation devices usually implement AI and cross-reference from different translation engines including Google to produce the best high quality speech translations. It also has a better mic to capture conversations and provides higher data security! You can worry less about inaccurate translations or using up your phone battery or leaking private info over unsecure WiFi!
It makes most sense for people who are interested in learning a new language and pronunciation or people who are going on business trips and want to leave the right impression!
5. Scratch Off World Map Posters
Since we're on the topic of traveling, this item is sure to be perfect gift for avid travel enthusiasts!
Scratch Off World Map Posters are detailed and visually-pleasing world map , with cartographic outlines for each country and its landmarks. After visiting a place, you can then scratch the foil off using a coin or eraser, revealing fun and colorful art underneath! Perfect as a travel tracker and decoration for anyone's home!
If the world feels too big, you should also be able to find smaller country or even region-specific scratch-off maps online!
6. Donating to Charity
You could always give cash, but it doesn't really leave the best impression at times. Better yet, you could always choose to donate to a charity on behalf of your Secret Santa. Make sure to choose a cause that your Secret Santa feels strongly about!
After all, Christmas is the season of giving and nothing epitomizes this more than helping out the less fortunate. So, go ahead and share your blessings; there's no shame in donating to a good cause under their name!
Conclusion
At the end of the day, a Secret Santa gift can be anything you think the recipient would enjoy, whether it be something personal or something practical! Whatever you choose to give, be grateful for the friends you've made along the way and appreciate the time you have left for the rest of your exchange semester! It has been such a blast and you will miss it dearly!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the MiTravel team! Wishing you the best of luck in your travels!
Plan Ahead with MiTravel!
It can be real stressful and challenging to plan your travels for the holidays! Well, you're in luck 'cuz we have the best side-kick for you - MiTravel!
Sign up today to explore, test, and build your own MiTravel Planning Board and begin your stress-free holiday trip planning.
If you want to learn more travel planning tips and hacks visit our Resources Library or YouTube channel. Stay updated with any social media or new features by following our socials down below!
