Each year "the most wonderful time of the year" fills us with both excitement and anxiety as we gear up for the season of gift-giving.

The pressure to find the perfect gift hangs over our heads like an anxious mistletoe, the ghosts of presents past not far from our side.

While electronics are obsolete as soon as you bring them home, and clothes can be the wrong size and style, the gift of travel is more fashionable than ever.

And your choices for holiday travel are endless. From beaches to historic cities, to luxurious spa resorts, you can cater your vacation to your loved one’s most specific interests.

And best yet, you get to go to!

Now, no matter where you go, giving someone the vacation of their dreams is going to cost more than giving them a toaster—but I’m sure they’ll like it better. Plus, if you’re like me, you have too much stuff already. You can never have too many great memories, and that’s exactly what traveling gives you.

So, you spend a little more… but most of us take a few vacations a year anyway, right? So kill two birds with one stone and feel like the best husband, partner, friend, or “roommate” around. When your loved one opens your present, they’re not thinking about the fact that you’re giving yourself a gift at the same time.

Heck, they’re going to Brazil, that’s all that matters.

Before you give the perfect gift, the most important thing you have to decide is when and where. To answer the first question, my advice is that you take the trip during the holidays themselves.

Depending on the profession, this can be a good time to get away. Besides, it’s the perfect excuse to get out of a week spent with relatives whose names you can’t remember.

In considering where, you need to decide what kind of vacation you and your recipient desire. Do you wish to spend your days relaxing on the beach, or taking in a bit of culture in a cosmopolitan city? Perhaps all you want is to party until the break of dawn?

Whatever the case, some places are better than others in achieving these results, and we’ll touch on current hot spots for the gay traveler.

Both the climate and the crowd in destinations like Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town during the winter holidays are hot, hot, hot!

While cultural activities abound as well, the party scene takes center stage, and you will likely spend your days meeting fellow gay people from all over the world.

If a mystical vacation, filled with culture and history is what you desire, than seek no further than Peru , and the magic of Machu Picchu.

Peru also offers incredible cuisine, enchanting hotels, and a gay-friendly attitude.

Costa Rica has long been a favorite destination for gay people desiring a bit of adventure and romance.

You’ll find active volcanoes, beautiful beaches, and some of the best white-water rafting in the world, and that’s just scratching the surface!

A weak US dollar makes European destinations a little tricky right now to get the most for your dollar. Instead, try Buenos Aires considered the most European city in South America. Charming cafes and grand architecture will make you feel like you’re in Paris , only the weather is much better and it is four times more affordable.

However, if your heart is set on Europe itself, you certainly cannot go wrong with
Amsterdam.

A trip to this liberal and accepting city may be just he vacation you need.

This holiday season, instead of sending your loved ones something nice, send them some where spectacular.

They’ll have memories of their travels to last throughout the year.

Zoom Vacations offers independent and gay group departures to the hottest destinations for gay travelers. Go to http://www.zoomvacations.com or call 773 935-1728 for more information.