Not sure what to get them for Christmas this year? Why is it that every year we return to this same state of panic… and we’re all in the same boat. It’s getting harder and harder to get a find a good gift that they’ll really love, but we think we’ve cracked it. We’ve established that while you might forget the material presents you receive, you do vividly remember the experiences, all the subsequent stories and how it made you feel.

So here are our tips for the best present you could give this Christmas…

GIVE THEM SOMETHING THEY COULDN’T HAVE ASKED FOR

Sometimes it takes a bit of thinking outside the box – and the best gifts just don’t fit in a box. It’s a cliche, but think about the different pieces you could put together to make for the perfect night out or weekend away. Presents don’t have to be standalone items that hit different things that they enjoy – they can be lots of bits that accumulate into one exceptional experience.

You know them, you know what makes them tick, and you know what your budget is. I’m not going to pretend that there is one thing that will suit everyone, so to be able to give them the ability to choose the way they spend this experience is incredible.

HIT THE SPOT

We all love performing arts, it’s one thing that we all know would be a great way to spend time together. Whether you’re glued to Would I Lie To You, love going to gigs, or having nights at the theatre, there is so much to choose from at the Edinburgh Festivals.

Would you give them a weekend of whiskey tasting and stand up comedy,  or fine dining followed by the Edinburgh Tattoo? Or would you let them choose from the best comics out there, dancers from every corner of the earth, lectures from globally-renowned authors, world musicians, opera, symphonies, theatre, plays, musicals… etc! Nowhere else in the world is there the opportunity to see the richness of variety as there is at the Edinburgh Festivals.

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

Determine your budget. If you have a small budget, go to the Free Fringe shows – honestly, the best show I saw last year was a free one. If you read the reviews before you go, you’ll know which ones to aim for. There’s no reason to miss out just because you have a small budget.

Decide how you’re going to travel. Virgin East Coast has some really cheap tickets available at the moment, so if you want to pop open a bottle of bubbly on the way up, get train tickets and put the bubbly and some plastic wine glasses under the tree. If you’d rather drive, Edinburgh Festival Camping has free parking and easy bus routes into the city centre.

Decide where you’ll stay. If you’re on a budget, why not camp? No seriously, think about it. A private room that doesn’t break the bank and space to spread out. You can spend your savings on shows and nice dinners. We recommend Edinburgh Festival Camping – it has an on site cafe, licenced bar, on site Fringe Venue, helpful staff, fun atmosphere, good public transport links, free parking (to name a few). There’s fully kitted out Bell Tents and Pre-Pitched Tents, or bring a tent or hire a motorhome.

Decide if you want to give any show tickets for Christmas. The Edinburgh Tattoo went on sale on December 1st and they sell out every year – they’re a great choice for a Christmas present, really a grand event. But if you’re thinking more along the lines of the Fringe, why not make some ‘IOU’ vouchers for shows of their choice, dinner of their choice, a nightcap or tasting sessions at the Whiski Rooms.

BECOME A GIFT GIVING LEGEND

You can look forward to the anticipation, keeping an eye out for the shows you want to see and researching which restaurants you’ll go to. After your break, you’ll be talking about it for months, and remembering it for years to come. Is there a better gift?