09 Dec 2016
- Four in 10 Brits would rather receive an experience this Christmas over a physical gift
- Over a third of lucky Brits admit there are no physical gifts that they need this Christmas
- Afternoon tea, spa days and helicopter rides top the list of experiences people really want to try
- Supercar track days top the list of experiences 'for him' whilst afternoon tea is the most sought after gift experience 'for her'
01 December 2016: With cut-price gifts the constant hot topic, lastminute.com have developed the perfect egg-nog tonic to mass consumerism: the first ever Christmas Experiences list to help you feel warm and fuzzy with loved ones this Christmas.
Forget chocolates and bath salts, it's all about living life with Brits desperate to find fun and adventure under the tree! Whether you've been naughty or nice – it's the quintessential British afternoon tea that tops the experiences list, with 24% admitting the traditional gift of high tea would be the icing on the cake this Christmas.
Feeling your best with a relaxing spa day come second as the perfect pamper pressie with 23% of Brits eager for some festive rest and relaxation. But conquer that fear of flying by zooming across town like Simon Cowell in a private helicopter: an activity that completes the top three list!
The top 10 Christmas Experiences List for Brits and corresponding deals:
1. Afternoon tea
Premium Sparkling Afternoon Tea at a Brasserie Blanc, London
Prices from £20.00
Up to 50% off
2. Spa day
Très Spa at Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel
Prices from £35.00
Up to 30% off
3. Helicopter ride
London Helicopter Sightseeing Tour for Two
Prices from £198.00
4. Wine tasting experience
Cheese and Wine Tasting for Two in London
Prices from £24.00
Up to 66% off
5. Hot air balloon ride
Weekday Virgin Hot Air Ballooning for One
Prices from £147.00
6. Stand-up comedy gig
Prices from £ 17.00
7. Visit to an art museum or gallery
Prices from £14.66
Prices from £20.00
Prices from £22.00
8. Supercar driving
Prices from £109.00
Up to 35% off
9. Learning to fly a plane
Prices from £129.00
10. Cooking classes
90 minute Cooking Class at L'atelier des Chefs with Wine for Two
Prices from £149.99
Four in 10 (39%) Brits who took part in the study admitted they'd rather live life by receiving an experience this Christmas rather than a physical gift. In fact, over a third (35%) of spoilt Brits admit there are no physical gifts they actually need or would like. Sailing over the clouds in a hot air balloon tops the UK's most unusual gifts they've ever received.
But it comes as no surprise that more action-men are rev-ing to try their hand at daredevil activities than women. Helicopter rides (20%), supercar racing (15%) and learning to fly a plane (14%) all feature in the top 10 experience gifts for him, list, whilst spa days (35%) and afternoon tea (36%) stole the show when it came to experience gifts for her.
The top 10 Christmas Experiences List for Him:
1. Supercar racing
2. Helicopter ride
3. Learning to fly a plane
=4. Hot air balloon ride
=4. Stand-up comedy night
6. Wine tasting
7. Go-Karting
8. Visit to a museum or gallery
9. Motor truck and tank driving
10. Afternoon tea
The top 10 Christmas Experiences List for Her:
1. Afternoon tea
2. Spa day
3. Wine tasting
4. A helicopter ride
5. Visit to a museum or gallery
6. Stand up comedy night
7. A hot air balloon ride
8. Cooking classes
9. Tickets to a theme park or attraction
10. Secret dining
Over a third (35%) of Brits believe experiences are more memorable than gifts and declare that they want to live bold this Christmas! But don't count on taking part in the experience as the gift-giver as 48% of the nation admit that they don't feel obliged to take the giver along for the ride.
With almost half of the nation (45%) admitting that they have never received an experience as a gift, it's time to look no further than the lastminute.com Christmas Experience List for unique gift-inspiration this Christmas.
Behaviourist and broadcaster Jez Rose, says: "With so many seasonal sales and online bargains, it's easy to get carried away effortlessly buying Christmas gifts without the need for much thought. However, because we remember for longer and more accurately how others make us feel, sharing experiences with loved ones is an important and much more thoughtful way in which to help create a unique memory this Christmas. Not only does the research support the likelihood that it'll be gratefully received but the impact will be felt and remembered for many years to come.”
A spokesperson from lastminute.com says: “As we get closer to Christmas, there's an abundance of retailers offering gift guidance. But if you want to gift a loved one with a unique experience there's next to no credible advice out there for what to buy. We've discovered a real appetite for people wanting to share experiences in place of physical gifts, which is why we wanted to create the ultimate his and hers gift experience lists to help Brits this Christmas.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The survey of 2,000 British adults was conducted by One Poll on behalf of lastminute.com in November 2016.
For more information, please contact:
M&C Saatchi PR: lastminutepr@mscsaatchi.com / 0207 544 3600
lastminute.com PR Team: Communications_Team@lastminute.com
About lastminute.com
Offering last minute travel and experiences online before anyone else across Europe, lastminute.com serves up hotels, holidays, flights and city breaks and created unique products such as Top Secret® Hotels as well as a raft of pamper and going-out offerings in the UK (spa days, West End theatre shows, restaurants, days out and experiences). lastminute.com is part of lastminute.com group, a European leader in the online travel and leisure industry, also operating brands like Bravofly, Rumbo, Volagratis and Jetcost.
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