What about going into space? Virgin Galactic has opened up the chance to space tourists, basically, those that have the money to go into space, for a cool $250,000.  Each tourist will take part in three days of pre-flight preparation and training, which includes mental and physical preparation for the rigours of going into space. The chance to eat space food cannot be missed and although I think it would be a stressful experience to some extent to see the earth from above would be life-affirming that's for sure.



Another experience would be to fly over to Iceland, drive to a secluded hotel, and sit in one of the hotel's outside hot tubs with a glass of champagne in my hand watching the northern lights. A waiter would bring me a platter of the most delicious food and I would relax in the warm water looking up to the stars and seeing the amazing phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis.  

Last year for my husband's birthday I gave him a voucher from buyagift for a hotel stay with dinner. We hadn't got around to using it until recently so we decided it would be great to use it for Father's Day. 

We've used buyagift many times in the past. One year I bought my husband a driving experience day, the triple supercar driving day. This started his love of driving fast cars. The thrill of driving an Audi R8, Ferrari and Lamborghini is something you never forget. The power of these cars is amazing and the instructors were very helpful. It was such an excellent day, watching from the sidelines I wanted to join in too. 



Driving a supercar gives you an adrenalin rush

There are a lot of driving experiences on the website from a taster experience driving one car to a VIP superdrive experience at Goodwood. With over 55 miles of track the Goodwood experience sounds a fabulous experience, and you get to drive a Formula Ford 2000 which is the closest you can get to driving a F1 car. Other cars you can drive include a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Jaguar D-Type, American muscle cars and more. Driving a super car gives you a real adrenalin rush that is hard to beat.



If your partner doesn't like the idea of driving a super car what about an experience fighting zombies!? For my son's 16th birthday I treated him to a Zombie battle experience in an abandoned shopping mall in Reading, and my husband went along for the ride.



A memorable experience never forgotten

As one of a handful of survivors trapped inside a disused shopping mall, you have to save yourselves by battling the zombies and relying on teamwork. With training from the 'police' and equipped with air soft weapons, you have to think of tactics to avoid the zombies and complete the challenge. 

What made this especially authentic was that the abandoned shopping mall was a real disused shopping centre and the setting was so atmospheric, when the zombies banged the shutters of one of the shops, I think everyone jumped!



Buying a gift from buyagift doesn't have to be all about adrenaline though, it can be about good food, fantastic hotels, and days out sightseeing too. From brewery tours to stadium tours, flying lessons and cookery lessons there is something for everyone. My husband really enjoyed his Tiger Moth flying experience recently, although I think his heart was in his mouth when the instructor did a couple of loop in the plane!



I will be reporting back on our hotel stay very soon.

Tell me would you give a gift experience as a present? What type of experience would you father or loved one enjoy?

I'm a great fan of experiences, things that you do that are different, that can give you a buzz, some excitement, maybe something you have wanted to do or try for a long time. 

About 18 months ago I bought my husband a flying lesson for his birthday from Buyagift.com  He had wanted to try this for a long time. He tried it, and loved it! Since then he has been having flying lessons through his local flying school with the aim to get his private pilots licence. 

He wanted to fly because "It sounded cool and exciting!".

With a flying lesson, you can also take people up with you in the aeroplane. My husband invited his father up with him one day last year. When my father-in-law turned up for the flight, he was wearing a Biggles hat and scarf! They both laughed and had a great flight. My father-in-law took some photos when he was up in the air of the beautiful South Wales coast and my husband gained some flying hours and practised landing under supervision.



Sadly little over a month later my father-in-law passed away but my husband will always remember the time he had with his father up in the air. That's the thing about experiences like this, they give you unforgettable moments. 

Moments you will still be talking about in years to come. 

Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, had been studying the question of money and happiness for over two decades. He has found that the satisfaction we get from buying holidays and experiences is high and keeps on growing when the satisfaction we get from buying objects like the latest TV or newest car wanes. That is because the experience belongs to us, it is personal, it gives us incredible memories. We adapt to buying objects - the latest TV gets older, it doesn't give us as much pleasure any more but we remember, talk and share our experiences and our satisfaction just grows. Experiences give us better stories.

An experience can also literally change our lives, like it has in my husband's case, and add fun to our everyday living. Want to try a skydive but too scared, try a tandem skydive? Always wanted to make your own record, well what about a day in a recording studio? Want to own a fast car but can't afford it, then what about a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Aston Martin driving experience?


So when I wanted an extra special present, for my husband for our 10th year wedding anniversary I thought about a tangible gift, but then thought - where is the fun in that? So, I decided on a Tiger Moth experience with Buyagift.com so he can see what it was like to fly a plane in the 1940s. 

This will surely be one gift he will never forget.



This open-cockpit plane is reminiscent of flying in World War 2, as it was used by the Royal Air Force to train its pilots. You get the chance to have your photo taken in an authentic 40's pilot jacket and goggles too. With this experience, you get the chance to actually fly the plane under the supervision and even be involved in some acrobatics with your instructor at the helm.

So, the scene is set. We were on holiday in New Orleans celebrating our wedding anniversary when I presented him with the gift, and, of course.... he loved it!


So now to book the experience, so look out for my post soon.

Tell me, have you ever thought about learning to fly? Have you ever bought or been gifted an experience?