This Christmas, we’re contemplating the magic of connection, and the feeling created by giving and receiving experiences rather than material items. 

While physical gifts can inspire fun and joy, experiences given with meaning and mindfulness are often profound. Experiential gifts often demonstrate a high level of thoughtfulness, and invite your loved one to spend time with you in a world where we can be like ships passing in the night. Plus, long after material gifts have been forgotten or discarded, the memory of an experience endures. Here, we explore how and why it can be so meaningful to gift experiences. 

give a gift that connects

A 2016 study by researcher Cindy Chan at the University of Toronto found that gifting an experience is more likely to enhance a relationship than gifting a physical object. Chan says this is because experiences tend to evoke emotional responses — from excitement to relaxation. When we gift experiences, we gift a feeling.

The feeling guests describe after bathing at Peninsula Hot Springs is usually deep restoration: the simple act of soaking in geothermal mineral water offers a range of health benefits, from easing muscular tension to improving mental health and sleep quality.

Explore bathing.

deeper social bonds

Experiences create an opportunity to strengthen social bonds. Whether it’s a cooking class, a surf lesson or a relaxing meal, shared experiences hold the potential to inspire lifelong memories and contribute to our overall wellness.

Deepen your connection by gifting a Dine & Bathe package, which is an opportunity to enjoy a nourishing buffet breakfast, lunch or dinner together (wearing robes, if you like) in our Spa Dreaming Centre dining room, followed by immersion in our healing waters. This package includes bathing in both the Bath House and Spa Dreaming Centre, along with robe, towel and locker hire.

hedonic adaptation

Holding a shiny new object may spark excitement, but unless it truly enhances your life, that joy tends to fade. This is due in part to a phenomenon called hedonic adaptation, which is our tendency to adjust to new possessions once they lose their novelty.

An experience like a spa treatment is a sensory memory that stays with you. If you’re looking for Christmas gifts that inspire relaxation, our Tranquillity package includes a 75-minute massage, facial, or body treatment, plus bathing in both areas, and robe, towel and locker hire.

anticipatory and retrospective enjoyment

Experiences are multi-dimensional: there’s the excitement of anticipation (like looking forward to a concert or spa treatment), the enjoyment of the moment itself, and the pleasure of reflecting on it afterward. In positive psychology, this act of reminiscing is called “savouring.”

Booking accommodation at Peninsula Hot Springs provides enjoyment on these multiple levels. Glamping or Eco Lodge bookings include overnight accommodation in a beautifully appointed room nestled in Mornington Peninsula coastal bushland, geothermal bathing across two days, buffet breakfast, and a wellness activity of your choice. To enhance your experience, you might like to add spa treatments or dinner. 

Whether you’re gifting a memory to share with someone you love or giving them an experience to enjoy on their own, an experiential gift certificate can make a thoughtful present at a time when many of us are in need of relaxation, connection, and fewer material belongings.

Give more than a present — give a gift that connects. Explore hot springs gifts and ways to gift experiences here.