Special Report: Travel Trends

It's a gift fit for everyone. Could be hot. Could be cold. It could be relaxing, exciting, serious or silly.

This holiday season, why not send your loved ones away? Or bring them home? You can do it by giving the gift of travel.

Elaine Osgood, Atlas travel
"Travel is a wonderful gift for the holidays."

Sherri of Atkinson, New Hampshire always dreamed of skiing in Utah.

Sherri Hays, Received gift of travel
"They have the greatest snow on earth."

Still, she could never justify the cost... until now.

Sherri Hays, Received gift of travel
"My mother, bless her heart."

This holiday season, her frequent flyer mom was able to transfer her unused miles...so Sherri could go on her dream vacation.

Sherri Hays, Received gift of travel
"I think it is awesome."

With travel - the beach bum on your list can catch some waves or your child can hang with Mickey Mouse.

Elaine Osgood, Atlas travel
"It's probably one of the most exciting gifts someone can get on the holidays."

Travel gifts are fast becoming a trend in the U.S and companies are introducing new ways to make it easier to give.

Delta Airlines, for example, now allows you to purchase frequent flyer miles from their web site and give them to loved ones.

And America West has just introduced the first airline gift card... available at local retailers.

Carlos Bertolini, America West
"The person you give it to can use it to travel anywhere we fly."

Companies like the vacation outlet offer gift certificates... and say they've already sold over $200,000 worth this holiday season.

Mark Venezia, Vacation Outlet
"Everyone loves to travel and not everyone can afford to."

And at Atlas Travel... they can get the whole family involved in the gift.

Elaine Osgood, Atlas travel
"We set up a registry where certain family members can come into our office and donate certain dollars to that gift. Then we put together a gift certificate and let the recipient know where they can go."

Sherri can't wait for her trip to Utah and says for her - it's the best gift she could have gotten.

Sherri Hays, Received gift of travel
"I would so much rather have the experience of going somewhere than a thing or an object. I just can't think of anything better.

So whether you want to send your family away... or bring them back home - the gift of travel is always the right size.