By Lavinia Rajaram, on June 18, 2020

Expedia Recommends 5 Travel-Inspired Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Show the special man in your life you care with these unique virtual holidays

Father’s Day on 21st June is just around the corner and every father deserves a special gift to show your love and gratitude. While celebrations might look a little different this year without the usual shopping and communal dining activities due to social distancing rules amid the COVID-19 pandemic, this really shouldn’t dampen your spirit from gifting the dads, stepdads, grandads and dad figures the treat they deserve for being the pillar of support in your life.

For many fathers, staying cooped up within the four walls at home has been extremely stifling. So why not take him “out” on a virtual holiday this Father’s Day with these 5 travel-inspired gift ideas curated by the Expedia team?

1. Indulge Him in Good Food From the World (and Your Heart)

Unsplash photo by Huden Harui

As the saying goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. That’s why the best way to delight and satisfy the big man in your life is through a jolly good meal! If you’re up for the challenge, take dad right to the heart of downtown London without leaving home by whipping up a hearty English breakfast. Pan fry some bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans and toast and plate them in a heart-shaped formation to convey your heartfelt appreciation for him. Serve it up to dad with fruit juice or coffee on a bright Sunday morning, and this will be sure to satisfy the appetite of even the harshest of food critics.

If cooking isn’t quite your thing, consider supporting a local favourite by ordering take-out or delivery from one of the cafes that serve up good English breakfast, including Symmetry, Kith Café or Wild Honey.

2. Take Him on a (Virtual) Tour to the Furthest Destination You Can Think Of

Photo by Expedia

While making that physical trip overseas remains out of bounds for now, there’s no stopping you from bringing daddy dearest along for a virtual trip to the furthest destination you can think of.

Explore the wonders of Yellowstone National Park, take an ice-cold hike to Patagonia or fulfill his lifelong desire to explore the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu – all in a single day! Simply create that perfect virtual tour by picking out the best ones from Expedia’s Travel from Home page.

To complete the virtual tour experience, check out the specially-curated Spotify travel playlists by Expedia. With the wide selection of music originating from Paris to New York, Hawaii, Toronto and even Chile, you can make dad feel like he’s walking down the streets of Paris, New York or anywhere else in the world!

3. Speak His Love Language by Watching a Football Game with Him

Unsplash photo by Mika Korhonen

No matter which football club your dad supports, nothing will mean more to him than celebrating a goal with you by his side. According to Expedia’s Generational Fans Study, 9 in 10 Singaporeans agree that travelling to football games with their children is quality time with them. In fact, half of Singaporeans say that the best thing about watching live football is creating memories with family.

While travelling physically to Old Trafford, Anfield or the Emirates Stadium ain’t possible at the moment, this doesn’t stop you from bringing the overseas matchday atmosphere back to your old man at home. Buy dad a new kit, order some beer and fried chicken and catch a live football game on TV together as a family. With new memories made and photos for the record, this is as good as it gets minus the extravagant travel spending.

4. Prolong His Vacation State of Mind with Memorabilia from His Favourite Destination

Unsplash photo by Finan Akbar

Where’s your dad’s favourite destination? If you know the answer to that, you can prolong his Vacation State of Mind by surprising him with memorabilia from his favourite overseas destination.

Even without the physical act of travelling, the mindset and mood of positive effects of a holiday – what we call the Vacation State of Mind – can also be experienced at home. According to Expedia’s 2019 Vacation Deprivation® Study, 7 in 10 Singaporeans agree that surrounding themselves with pictures and mementos of their vacation can help prolong their holiday mood.

Take this time at home to look through your camera roll to craft dad a travel scrapbook, or create a care pack with unique souvenirs from his favourite land. From Japanese snacks accompanied with a daruma doll, or tom yum flavoured chips paired with a pair of Thai boxer shorts, we are sure that dad will appreciate the surprise, and the thought!

5. Fulfill His Post-Covid Travel Aspirations with a New Antibacterial Travel Pack

Unsplash photo by The Honest Company

If your dad simply can’t wait to book his next trip overseas, why not get him prepped in advance for travel with a new antibacterial travel pack?

Keep him safe on his travels by replacing his travel suitcase with one that has antibacterial and deodorising properties. Surprise him with a Proteca luggage and a travel packing cube packed with health essentials, including reusable face masks, hand sanitisers, antibacterial wipes and a UV steriliser for his phone – so he can jetset to his next overseas destination with less worries for the family!

For more activity ideas for your Father’s Day celebration, check out Expedia’s Things to Do From Home page. You can also find live online cooking classes and virtual tours to major cities like New York to connect with your family wherever they are.