The gift of travel: how to give a trip plan and six to choose from

Giving a trip without booking one

The simplest way to give the gift of travel is to give a plan, not a booking. A Highlights plan is a day-by-day itinerary with real places, times and maps. No flights or hotels are bought, so the person you give it to picks their own dates and decides who comes along.

That makes it a safe gift for someone whose calendar you can't see. It also works as a nudge for a trip they keep putting off. Any plan can be given for $5, and the six below are a good place to start.

How to pick a trip for the person

Start with how they like to spend a day. Someone who loves museums and long lunches will enjoy Paris or Rome. Someone who likes being outside in the cold or wet may prefer Tromsø or Costa Rica.

Then think about time. A three-day city plan fits a long weekend, while the 10-day plans suit someone who has been saving up vacation. If the person is a first-time traveler abroad, the Japan and Italy plans link their cities by train.

For more ideas, see our guide to experience gifts for couples, or the Christmas getaway ideas.

Three days in Paris

The three-day Paris plan keeps each day in one area: the islands and the Louvre, then the Left Bank and the Eiffel Tower, then Montmartre, the Marais and the canal. It suits anyone who wants a first Paris trip without rushing.

Days start with a morning highlight and end with a dinner reservation or a wine bar. Several stops need timed tickets, the Louvre is closed Tuesdays and the Musée d'Orsay is closed Mondays, so the recipient should choose dates with that in mind.

• Sainte-Chapelle1,113 glass panels, best in morning light.
• Musée d'OrsayThe largest Impressionist collection; closed Mondays.
• Canal Saint-MartinIron footbridges and locks for an evening stroll.

Ten days in Japan

The 10-day Japan plan runs Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka by train. It suits a first trip, a food lover, or anyone who wants temples and city nights in the same itinerary.

It includes a Hakone onsen night, a Kyoto dawn walk through the torii gates and a day with the deer in Nara. Afternoons are kept lighter between cities so travelers can rest.

• Fushimi Inari TaishaThousands of vermilion gates, near empty at dawn.
• Tōdai-jiA 15-meter Buddha in the world's largest wooden hall.
• Kuromon MarketGrilled scallops and uni for a last Osaka breakfast.

Northern lights in Tromsø

The Tromsø plan is five days with two guided aurora chases, huskies, reindeer, a fjord cruise and a floating sauna. It suits someone who likes winter and doesn't mind waiting for a clear sky.

Visit Tromsø says the lights may be visible from late August to early April on dark, clear nights, with activity often highest from about 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.. It advises spending several nights, since weather changes quickly. Organized tours usually run from September to early April.

• Arctic CathedralIconic 1965 church with a monumental stained-glass window.
• Tromsø Villmarkssenter TownMush your own husky team through snowy valleys.
• Sauna Pust TromsøHarbor sauna with a cold plunge, right in town.

Three days in New York

The New York plan is a first-timer's Manhattan and Brooklyn, one neighborhood at a time. It suits a theater fan, a museum lover or someone who wants to walk a lot.

Day one covers Midtown, Central Park and Broadway tickets, day two Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge, and day three the High Line, the Village and a comedy night. Dinners and the Comedy Cellar are worth booking ahead.

• The Museum of Modern ArtStarry Night, Warhol and modern classics; buy timed tickets.
• Comedy CellarStand-up night; reserve 7-10 days ahead.
• Via CarotaWest Village trattoria; no reservations, arrive early.

Ten days in Italy

The Italy plan links Rome, Florence and Venice by train, with a day in Tuscany. It suits a couple or friends who want big sights and good meals, with slower mornings between them.

Rome gets four days, Florence three, including the Siena and San Gimignano day, and Venice three. Many of the biggest sights, like the Colosseum and the Uffizi, need timed bookings made well ahead.

• Colosseum undergroundRome's arena at timed entry, before heat and crowds.
• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore463 steps to rooftop views; timed slot mandatory.
• Cantina Do MoriVenice's oldest bàcaro, founded 1462; stand at the counter.

Seven days in Costa Rica

The Costa Rica plan moves from Arenal's volcano and hot springs to Monteverde's cloud forest and then Manuel Antonio's beach. It suits nature lovers who want a mix of hiking, wildlife and time in the water.

Days are active, with early starts for birds and wildlife. Manuel Antonio National Park is closed Tuesdays, so the recipient should choose a start date that keeps the last day from falling on one.

• Ecotermales FortunaStone-lined hot pools with capped capacity.
• Monteverde Cloud ForestEarly guided walk for quetzals in the mist.
• Manuel Antonio National ParkSloths and monkeys at opening; buy tickets online.

How giving a plan works

Open the plan you want and give it as a gift from its page, for $5. You add the recipient's name, your own name and a short note of up to 500 characters, which appears on the gift.

You then get the gift link by email, to forward or print as a card, or you can have it emailed straight to the recipient. They open it whenever they like, and the plan is copied into their own Highlights account. They don't need an account beforehand.

The plan is theirs to change. They can move the dates, swap stops and share it with whoever travels with them. It is a one-time price with no subscription, and there is a 7-day refund. A refund before the gift is opened cancels the link. You can see more on the gifts page.