The Best Christmas Gift Baskets for 2008

Gift baskets are a great gift idea for many people on the Christmas list, and today's gift basket options are practically endless. There are gift baskets for just about every interest, ranging from the inexpensive DIY gift baskets to exclusive high-end luxury gift baskets. Most gift basket selections fall somewhere in the middle. The best gift baskets of 2008 are all easy to purchase or put together.

1. Wine Lovers Gift Basket

One of the easiest gift basket ideas for wine lovers is a gift basket delivered from wine.com. Wine.com is an online wine superstore that offers wine and other gift baskets with dozens of unique themes. A basic Gourmet Wine and Cheese Basket starts at $29.99. The California Wine Tour gift basket includes 3 bottles of wine along with other goodies ($99). Another unique gift basket idea at wine.com is the Frances Ford Coppola Gift Basket, which also has 3 bottles of wine and other treats for $99.

Wine.com will ship your gift basket directly to the gift recipient. Gift towers and gift baskets filled with Godiva chocolates are also available at wine.com. The best way to choose the perfect gift basket for a wine lover is to peruse the website at www.wine.com, and look over the many different wines and unique gift baskets available for holiday gift giving.

2. Bath and Body Works Affordable Luxury Gift Baskets

Bath and Body Works makes the best gift baskets list this year because it offers affordable luxury in baskets priced as low as $15 for a small gift basket. Gift baskets at Bath and Body Works often come in unique and reusable packages or craft decorations. Aromatherapy gift baskets with titles such as Beauty Sleep and Peace and Harmony ($30 each) are just a few great gift basket ideas available at Bath and Body Works.

Bath and Body Works has both online and local chain retail stores. The online site for ordering a Bath and Body Works gift basket this year is www.bathandbodyworks.com.

3. Hickory Farms Gift Baskets

Who wouldn't love a cheese and sausage gift basket this holiday? Hickory Farms is the classic, traditional gift basket, especially helpful for those people who are hard to buy for. A gift basket from Hickory Farms is ideal for neighbors, co-workers, or long distance relatives, who you want to send a family sized gift to. Hickory Farms specializes in holiday gift baskets and most of their business is done over the holiday season, making this gift basket idea a popular classic.

Hickory Farms offers gift baskets on their online website starting around $30. Local holiday Hickory Farms stores can often be found at the local malls, and there are often last minute sales if you are looking for a few last minute gift baskets. A Perfect Picnic Basket ($55) comes packed with cheese and sausage in its own picnic basket. The Hickory Handyman Tool Bag presents an array of cheese and sausage in a real men's tool bag ($90).

The online website is www.hickoryfarms.com.

4. Gift Baskets from Giftbaskets.com

One of the best places to search for the perfect gift basket this year is at the online store which specializes in gift baskets of all kinds. There are gift baskets at giftbaskets.com to send to just about anyone. College snack pack gift baskets, Mrs. Field's Holiday Bite Size Nibblers basket ($34.99), and a large Holiday Cheer basket($89.99) are just a few of the gift baskets offered on this site.

5. The Ultimate DIY Dollar Store Gift Basket

It would be hard not to include one of the ultimate do-it-yourself gift baskets from the Dollar Store. Though, this gift basket may seem not as upscale as other gift baskets on the list, a DIY Dollar Store gift basket is still one of the best gift baskets for 2008. This type of gift basket is inexpensive, since all items will cost a mere $1 each to fill the basket. For about $20, you can complete a DIY Dollar Store gift basket filled with the gift recipient's favorite things. Dollar Store gift baskets also allow you to design a specific themed gift basket.

Teachers might enjoy a gift basket filled with classroom items, some snacks, and a gift card to their favorite coffee shop. A kids' Dollar Store gift basket can include a bunch of arts and craft supplies, puzzles, play-doh, or small toy sets. Creativity can go a long way when putting together a DIY Dollar Store gift basket, and this gift basket idea makes the best gift baskets list for being one of the most personalized and affordable ways to show you care this holiday season.