posted on December 22, 2015
Perhaps you can’t purchase the extravagant gifts you’d like for the loved ones in your life, like a boat or photography equipment. But with the explosion of the sharing economy, you can still give them the same experience, only on a more temporary basis.
You can treat your family and friends to some unconventional gifts this holiday season that can only be experienced thanks to the booming sharing economy.
Boat captain for the day
Most of us can’t buy a boat for a loved one, let alone for ourselves. BoatBound offers the chance to experience being a captain for a day, whether to celebrate, hop onto a pair of water skis, or go for a romantic getaway.
Bonus: Is your loved one not licensed to drive a boat? You can find boats with captains and boats that are captain-free.
Professional photographer for the day
ShareGrid offers the chance to be a real photographer or filmmaker — top-of-the-line equipment and all — for the duration of a rental. You can rent drones, lenses, DSLRs, and anything else to make the shoot for a photographer and film enthusiast.
Bonus: The recipient can ask a pro questions when they pick up the equipment, so they’ll likely learn a thing or two.
A dog-free getaway
Is there someone in your life with a dog who also loves to travel? DogVacay offers peer-to-peer dog sitting that would allow them to get the heck outta dodge without worrying about their pet, or taking on the extra expense of boarding them.
Sports car driver for the day
Turo offers a vast selection of cars for any number of adventures. Take a sports car for a spin, trade in the minivan for a day, or rent the classic car you used to drive (or wanted to drive) when you were younger. The possibilities are endless!
A room with a view for the night
Give the gift of a breathtaking view for a night or two through Airbnb. Think outside of the box (or the hotel room), and splurge on something out-of-the-ordinary like a tree house rental, a house boat rental, or a beach house.
All kinds of extravagant gifts are now possible thanks to the sharing economy.
Happy holidays!
Amanda Grossman
Amanda L. Grossman is a stretcher of paychecks and a post-it note lover. When not blogging at Turo, she's transitioning to her new Mommy-role in Houston where she lives with her husband and two cats.
