Treat Your Loved Ones with Texas Gift Cards This Christmas

What's your idea of a happy Christmas? If you are the type who would rather give than receive, then bless your soul! There are so many choices of gifts nowadays that it's almost impossible to pick which gift goes to who. Since I live in Texas, I find that I have a lot of stores to check out here in the Lone Star state. I can do online shopping too.

Last year my husband and I sent a Texas gourmet spice basket to his sister in Virginia. What would it be this year? If your relatives live in another state or country, it's a great idea to send a Texas gift basket for Christmas just like we did. But if they live here, don't you think it's a lot easier if you could send them something nice like gift cards to their favorite Texas establishments?

I'm thinking food, luxury, restaurant, or beauty gift cards. But where to go?

GAME TICKETS GIFT CARDS

If you're planning to send gift cards to a sports fan, you won't be disappointed. There are tons of gift cards for Texas football and baseball lovers and Texas sports outfits. The Texas Rangers offer gift cards at MLB.com from $25 to $250. Collegegear.com has gift cards your recipient can redeem from $25 to $100.

RESTAURANT GIFT CARDS

Probably the best type of Christmas gift card you could give to someone who loves Texas food. Texas style restaurants have a really distinctive menu ranging from steakhouses to Tex-Mex. You could send a Taste of Texas gift card from $25 to $100 and treat your loved one to a steak dinner. If they love roadhouse food, send a Texas Roadhouse gift certificate. Some restaurant gift cards come with promotions such as Texas de Brazil where you will get $10 more on the gift card if you buy within the promo period. Of course, if we're talking about Texas food, it won't be limited to restaurants alone. You can always send a Christmas gift card for gourmet Texas dishes and wines.

GETAWAY & EVENTS GIFT CARDS

In Texas, there are a lot of vacation resorts for singles, couples, and families who would like to get away for Christmas holidays. Many hotel chains in the United States offer gift cards for historic hotels and popular tourist spots. Some boutique hotels in Texas such as Dolce Hotels and Resorts sell gift cards for services such as spa and luxury retreats. If your recipient loves to go to concerts or hang out bars, try sending him a Billy Bob's Texas gift card.

BEAUTY GIFT CARDS

Ladies will have such a grand time if you send them beauty gift cards for Christmas. In cities such as Austin and Dallas, beauty salons and spas thrive -- and offer great gift cards for day spa, massage therapy, facials, haircuts, hair waxing, and manicure and pedicure. In Avant Garde SalonSpa (Austin), you could buy a gift card starting at $25. The Eco Salon in Plano is famous for its body polish, body wrap, one-hour massage, manicure, pedicure, and "backacial" for men.

SHOPPING GIFT CARDS

Even though not everybody loves to shop, it seems everybody will love to receive a Texas shopping gift card for Christmas. In Dallas alone, shopping malls abound. This is the type of gift where you don't have to decide what to get for your loved one, because they will have to figure out what to get for themselves on Christmas. Texas stores can be anything from dollar stores to outlets to more upscale department stores at Galleria or Grapevine such as Neiman Marcus or Macy's. Renaissance Houston Hotel gives a $50 shop till you drop gift card on select weekends from September 3, 2008 to December 31, 2009.

SUBSCRIPTION GIFT CARDS

Anybody in your family or circle of friend loves to read? Why not get them magazine or membership subscription gift cards? The Texas Monthly, Texas Gardener, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Sportsman, Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine and Texas Highways all offer affordable gift cards anytime of the year. Find out what your recipient loves to learn about, and send them a gift of magazine subscription to add to their reading collection.