Give a trip plan instead of a thing
A trip plan makes a good gift for a couple because it hands them a ready-made stretch of time together. A day-by-day itinerary shows what to do and when, and the two of them pick their own dates and book their own flights and hotels.
Below are six plans, from three days to ten. Some are tied to a season: the Christmas market trips only work in Advent, and the northern lights are best chased in the dark months. The last section explains how to give a plan.
Three days in Paris
The three-day Paris plan suits couples who like walking, museums and long meals. Each day stays in one part of the city: the islands and the Louvre, then the Left Bank and the Eiffel Tower, then Montmartre, the Marais and the Canal Saint-Martin.
It ends most days with a bistro or wine bar dinner, and day two finishes with a night cruise on the Seine.
- Sainte-ChapelleMorning light makes the 1,113 glass panels glow; book a timed ticket.
- Eiffel Tower SummitGo up near sunset; summit tickets can be booked up to 60 days ahead.
- Le Verre VoléTiny natural wine bar with small plates; reserve ahead.
Three days in Rome
The Rome plan is for a couple who likes history and good food in equal measure. Day one covers the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill, day two the Vatican and the Tiber, and day three the fountains, gardens and Galleria Borghese.
Several stops need tickets booked ahead, and the plan puts the bookings in order so the couple can reserve in time. Evenings go to Trastevere and the area around Campo de' Fiori.
- Colosseum undergroundThe 8:30 timed entry beats the tour groups.
- Trattoria Da EnzoTrastevere's classic trattoria for cacio e pepe; reserve ahead.
- Trevi FountainNearly empty at dawn, before 8 a.m.
Christmas markets in Alsace
The Alsace plan is a three-day weekend by train, built around opening weekend. Strasbourg's market runs from Friday, November 27 to Thursday, December 24, 2026, and Colmar's runs from November 23 to December 29. The train between the two takes about 30 minutes.
It suits couples who like mulled wine, canals and small towns. The days split between Strasbourg's old center and a day trip to Colmar.
- Ponts CouvertsTwilight on the River Ill as the lights switch on.
- La Petite VeniseTimbered houses along the Lauch canal.
- Place KléberThe 30-meter Christmas tree and its hourly light show.
Christmas markets in Vienna and Prague
The Vienna and Prague plan runs five days in early December. Vienna gets three days: the Rathausplatz market, Schönbrunn, Spittelberg and an evening concert. Then a direct Railjet, which runs roughly every two hours, takes the couple to Prague in about four and a half hours.
Vienna's main markets open on November 13, and the plan is set for December 7 to 11. It suits couples who like cafés, concerts and old squares.
- RathausplatzWiener Christkindlmarkt, open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
- Spittelberg Christmas MarketCraft stalls in the Biedermeier alleys; weekdays open from 2 p.m.
- Charles BridgeTwilight views of the lit castle.
Northern lights in Tromsø
The Tromsø plan is five days with two guided aurora chases, husky sledding, reindeer, a fjord cruise and a floating sauna. Daytime is for activities and slow meals, and the nights are for the sky.
The northern lights can show from late August to early April when the sky is dark and clear. Because weather changes quickly, the plan keeps several nights free for the chase.
- Arctic CathedralThe 1965 church with a monumental stained-glass window.
- Sauna Pust TromsøHarbour sauna with a cold plunge, right in town.
- PrestvannetForested lake away from street lights for a self-guided look.
Ten days in Greece
The ten-day Greece plan is the biggest gift of the six: Athens, then Naxos, then Santorini, joined by ferry. It starts at the Acropolis, moves to marble villages and beaches on Naxos, and finishes with a caldera hike and wine on Santorini.
It suits a couple who wants a proper holiday with a few active days and a lot of long lunches.
- Acropolis of AthensThe first timed slot beats tour buses and heat.
- ApeiranthosMarble-paved mountain village with small museums.
- Venetsanos WineryClifftop tastings of Assyrtiko and Vinsanto; book a flight ahead.
How giving a plan works
Any trip plan on Highlights can be given as a gift from the plan's page, for $5 a plan. You add the recipient's name, your own name and a short note of up to 500 characters, which shows on the gift. You then get the link by email to forward or print as a card, or have it emailed straight to them.
The recipient opens the link whenever they like, and the plan is copied into their own Highlights account. They need no account beforehand. A plan is a day-by-day itinerary with places, times and maps, not a booking, so no flights or hotels are bought and they choose their own dates.
The plan is theirs to change: they can move the dates, swap stops and share it with whoever goes along. It is a one-time price with no subscription and a 7-day refund. A refund before the gift is opened cancels the link. More details are on the gifts page, and the gift of travel ideas guide has more ways to give time away.
Frequently asked questions
What is an experience gift for a couple?
It is a gift of time together, such as a trip, a class or a special evening, rather than a physical object. A trip plan is one version: a day-by-day itinerary for two to follow.
How much does it cost to give a trip plan?
A gifted plan costs $5, a one-time price with no subscription. There is a 7-day refund, and a refund before the recipient opens it cancels the link.
Does the gift include flights or hotels?
No. A plan is an itinerary with places, times and maps, not a booking. The couple picks their own dates and books their own travel.
Can the couple change the plan?
Yes. They can move the dates, swap stops and share the plan with whoever travels with them.
Does the recipient need an account?
No. They open the link whenever they like, and the plan is copied into their own Highlights account.
