Gift vouchers are a popular gift choice for many people. They allow the recipient to choose their own gift, and are often valid at a range of retailers or for a variety of different products and services. But what exactly can you use a gift voucher for? Here is an overview of the main things gift vouchers can be used for.
Shopping
One of the most common uses for a gift voucher is for shopping. Many retailers issue their own gift vouchers that can be used to buy products in their stores. For example, you may receive a gift voucher for a clothing store that allows you to use the voucher towards clothing, accessories or shoes.
Some retailers also offer multi-store gift cards. These allow you to spend the voucher amount across a range of participating retailers. So you may be able to use a multi-store voucher to buy clothing, electronics, books, or other products depending on the retailers involved.
Common retail gift vouchers
Some of the most popular retail gift vouchers include:
- Department store vouchers like Myer, David Jones or Kmart.
- Supermarket vouchers for Coles, Woolworths or Aldi.
- Electronics and entertainment vouchers like JB Hi-Fi or EB Games.
- Pharmacy gift cards for Chemist Warehouse or Priceline.
- Homeware and furniture vouchers like Adairs or Fantastic Furniture.
- Bookshop gift cards for Dymocks, Booktopia or Book Depository.
The advantage of retail gift vouchers is that they allow the recipient to choose exactly what they want. With a wide range of products available, they can select items they’ll really use and appreciate.
Travel
Travel gift vouchers open up options for the recipient to book flights, hotels, tours and other travel services. Some popular travel voucher choices include:
Flight gift vouchers
These allow the recipient to use the voucher amount towards booking flights with a particular airline. Often the voucher amount can be used for any flight, domestic or international, that the airline offers. Some airlines that offer flight gift vouchers include Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Rex.
Accommodation vouchers
Accommodation vouchers may be issued by specific hotel chains or accommodation booking sites. They can be used to pay for hotel rooms, apartments, resort stays or other lodging. Some options for accommodation vouchers include Hotelscombined, Lastminute, Booking.com and Airbnb.
Travel experience vouchers
Rather than just flights or accommodation, some vouchers cover specific travel experiences. These may include tours, cruises, rail journeys, safaris or theme park visits. Popular experience voucher companies include Red Balloon, Adrenaline and Virgin Experience Days.
The benefit of travel vouchers is they help cover the cost of trips and getaways. The recipient can choose a destination and travel dates that suit them.
Leisure & Entertainment
There are a wide variety of gift vouchers available for different leisure and entertainment options. These allow the recipient to enjoy experiences and activities of their choice.
Dining & hospitality
Dining gift vouchers can be used at restaurants, cafes, bars or other hospitality venues. Some dining voucher options include:
- Restaurant vouchers for individual restaurants or chains like Chili’s, TGI Fridays or Mad Mex.
- Multi-venue dining vouchers like Entertainment, Red Balloon or Virgin Experience Days covering various restaurants.
- Hotel or resort vouchers that may include dining at onsite restaurants or bars.
Movie & events
Gift vouchers can be used for movie tickets, concerts, theatre shows and other events. Some entertainment voucher choices include:
- Cinema vouchers for large chains like Hoyts, Event and BCC Cinemas.
- Live entertainment vouchers for Ticketmaster or Ticketek covering various concerts, shows and events.
- Memberships to entertainment venues like zoos, aquariums or museums.
These types of gift vouchers allow fun leisure activities to be gifted.
Services
As well as products and experiences, gift vouchers can also be used for services. Some examples include:
Spa & beauty
Give the gift of pampering with spa and beauty vouchers. These may offer set treatments or values that can be used for services like massages, facials, nails and hair styling. Some options are vouchers for:
- Day spas
- Hair salons
- Tanning salons
- Massage clinics
Sport & fitness
Sport and fitness related vouchers allow the recipient to get active. Types include:
- Gym memberships
- Personal training sessions
- Yoga or pilates classes
- Swimming lesson vouchers
Home services
Vouchers for home services give the gift of time and convenience. Some home service options include:
- Cleaning
- Gardening
- Handyman services
- Meal delivery services
Services vouchers allow useful things to be gifted that people may not splurge on themselves.
Gift Cards
For maximum flexibility, there are also generic gift cards the recipient can spend almost anywhere. These include major gift card brands like:
- Visa Gift Card – Usable wherever Visa is accepted
- Mastercard Gift Card – Spend anywhere Mastercard is accepted
- American Express Gift Card – Used for any American Express purchases
Other widely accepted gift cards include:
- Amazon Gift Card
- Apple iTunes Gift Card
- Google Play Gift Card
With these types of gift cards, the recipient has total control over where they spend the voucher amount.
Charitable Donations
Some gift vouchers allow you to provide a gift to charity. The recipient can redeem the voucher to make a donation to their chosen charity or cause. Some charitable gift voucher options include:
- World Vision Gift Catalogue – Supports humanitarian programs
- Oxfam Unwrapped – Funds projects like clean water and schooling
- Red Cross Wish List – Helps people in crisis
Charity gift vouchers turn the gift into a donation that helps worthy causes.
Conclusion
Gift vouchers offer a great deal of flexibility and choice for the recipient. From shopping to travel, leisure to services, or donations to charity, there are many ways gift vouchers can be used. The key benefits are:
- Recipient chooses own gift
- Wide range of options
- Introduces new experiences
- Allows luxuries to be gifted
- Supports charitable causes
So whatever the personality or interests of the person you are gifting, there is likely a gift voucher out there they can appreciate. With plenty of retailers and online services offering vouchers, you can find the perfect one to gift.