Automotive

• Garmin nüvi 250 Portable GPS Device (Favorite Things Summer 2008) $180
• Magellan RoadMate GPS Navigation (Favorite Things 2004) $150
• Volkswagen 2012 Beetle (Favorite Things 2010 — just a peek at the silhouette, not a giveaway)

Beauty and Body Care

• Andre Walker Hair Care Products (Favorite Things 2010) $65
• Bath & Body Works Purifying Mask (Favorite Things 2003) $18
• BlissLabs Glamour Gloves and Glamour Gel (Favorite Things 2002) $60
• Bourjois Lipsticks, Lipgloss, Lipliners and Lipbrush (Favorite Things 2004) $25
• Clarisonic Skin Care System (Favorite Things 2007) $195
• Claus Porto Soaps (Favorite Things 2007) $45
• DreamTime Foot Cozys (Favorite Things 2002) $50
• Frédéric Fekkai Creme Luxueuse (Favorite Things 2003) $65
• Frédéric Fekkai Apple Cider Clean Shampoo and Conditioner (Favorite Things 2003) $24
• “Grace” Basket from Philosophy (Favorite Things 2005) $115
• Hope in a Jar by Philosophy (Favorite Things 2010) $38
• Kai Body Butter and Body Buffer (Favorite Things 2007) $83
• Kiehl’s Limited Edition Gift Box (Favorite Things 2002) $265
• Lollia Lifestyle Collection Hand Cream and Foaming Bubble Bath (Favorite Things 2004) $58
• Lovely Perfume by Sarah Jessica Parker (Favorite Things 2005) $62
• MAC Cosmetic Carrying Case (Favorite Things 2003) $125
• NARS Kabuki Artisan Botan Cosmetics Brush (Favorite Things Summer 2008) $75
• Origins A Perfect World White Tea Body Cream (Favorite Things 2002) $31

Beverages

• Holiday Favorites Assortment from Talbott Teas (Favorite Things 2010) $150
• MarieBelle Hot Chocolate Powder (Favorite Things 2002) $25
• Piper-Heidsieck Champagne (Favorite Things 2002) $40
• SpecialTeas (Teavana) Fine Tea Gift Certificate (Favorite Things 2004) $100
• Starbucks Gift Card (Favorite Things 2004) $100

Books and Magazines

• The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel by David Wroblewski (Favorite Things 2008) $17
• A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle (Favorite Things Summer 2008) $8
• A Course in Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson (Favorite Things 2010) $25
• Everyday Grace by Marianne Williamson (Favorite Things 2002) $11
• O, The Oprah Magazine Cookbook (Favorite Things Summer 2008) $18
• O’s Guide to Life (Favorite Things 2007) $20
• The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo (Favorite Things 2010) $19
• The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (Favorite Things 2007) $15
• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (Favorite Things 2002) $7
• O, The Oprah Magazine subscription (Favorite Things 2002) $18
• The Neiman Marcus Cookbook (Favorite Things 2003) $45

Charitable Gifts

• DonorsChoose.org Gift Card (Favorite Things 2010) $100
• Kiva Gift Card (Favorite Things 2010) $100

Clothing and Accessories

• Apple Bottom Jeans by Nelly (Favorite Things 2004) $70
• Balboa Medallion Rolling Duffel by Toss Designs (Favorite Things Summer 2008) $168
• Barefoot Dreams Robes and Throw Blankets (Favorite Things 2003) $135
• Burberry Coat and Purse (Favorite Things 2005) $1385
• Cambio Jeans (Favorite Things 2003) $150
• Cashmere Cable Sweater by Ralph Lauren (Favorite Things 2010) $498
• Cashmere Scarf by Burberry (Favorite Things 2004) $250
• Classic Sparkles UGG Australia Boots (Favorite Things 2010) $175
• Dooney & Bourke Leather Duffle Bag (Favorite Things 2004) $495
• Eileen Fisher Cardigan (Favorite Things 2004) $200
• Eileen Fisher Pants (Favorite Things 2004) $178
• FitFlops (Favorite Things 2008) $50
• H&M swimsuit (Favorite Things 2008) $15
• Karen Neuburger Pajamas and Socks (Favorite Things 2002) $68
• Kashwére Shawl Collar Robe (Favorite Things 2005) $145
• lululemon Relaxed Fit Pants (Favorite Things 2010) $98
• Magaschoni Embellished Tunic and Leggings (Favorite Things 2010) $298
• Miraclebody Jeans by Miraclesuit (Favorite Things 2010) $110
• Nike “Free Run+” Shoes (Favorite Things 2010) $85
• Nike Dri-FIT Workout Outfit (Favorite Things 2003) $130
• NikeiD Custom Shoes (Favorite Things 2005) $110
• Nordstrom Lingerie $500 gift card (Favorite Things 2010) $500
• Pure Color Cords (Favorite Things 2005) $170
• Quilted Jacket by Burberry (Favorite Things 2004) $195
• Rachel Pally Sailor Pants (Favorite Things 2007) $194
• Rachel Pally Swing Turtleneck (Favorite Things 2007) $141
• Ralph Lauren Black Label Cashmere Slim Fit Crewneck Sweater (Favorite Things 2003) $450
• Ralph Lauren’s Black Label Cashmere Cable-knit Sweater with Front Placket in Camel (Favorite Things 2005) $498
• Reva Ballerina Flat by Tory Burch (Favorite Things 2010) $195
• Season 25 T-Shirt from the O Store (Favorite Things 2010) $38
• Silver Ox Cuff Watch from Chico’s (Favorite Things 2002) $40
• Sophia Satchel by Coach (Favorite Things 2010) $398
• Tory Tote by Tory Burch (Favorite Things 2010) $250
• Tube Readers and Case (Favorite Things 2002) $30
• UGG Australia Classic Crochet Tall Boots (Favorite Things 2007) $120
• UGG Australia’s Uptown Boot (Favorite Things 2005) $180
• UGG Classic Short Boots (Favorite Things 2003) $140
• Yummy Tummies Tank (Favorite Things 2008) $62

Electronics

• Apple iPad (Favorite Things 2010) $500
• Apple iPod (Favorite Things 2005) $300
• Blackberry Smartphone from T-Mobile (Favorite Things 2005) $130
• Dell Wide-Screen LCD TV (Favorite Things 2004) $800
• Digital Camera from Frontgate (Favorite Things 2002) $250
• Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera (Favorite Things 2010) $700
• Samsung mobile phone/camera (Favorite Things 2002) $350
• Samsung Progressive HD Camcorder SC-HMX10C (Favorite Things 2007) $750
• Sony BRAVIA LX900 HDTV with 3D (Favorite Things 2010) $3600
• Sony Camcorder (Favorite Things 2006) $300
• Sony Handycam (Favorite Things 2003) $1000
• Sony VAIO notebook (Favorite Things 2005) $1500
• Talking Photo Album (Favorite Things 2002) $30

Food Favorites

• Beecher’s “World’s Best” Mac ‘N’ Cheese (Favorite Things 2010) $29
• Brownies from Moveable Feast Geneva (Favorite Things 2005) $25
• Centerville Pie Company’s Chicken Pie (Favorite Things 2010) $20
• Ciao Bella Blood Orange Sorbetto (Favorite Things 2007) $33
• Cranberry Creations Chocolate Covered Cranberries by Nantucket Clipper (Favorite Things 2002) $35
• Croissants from Williams-Sonoma (Favorite Things 2002) $40
• Fat Witch Baby (Brownies) Gift Tin (Favorite Things 2002) $47
• Garrett’s Special Limited-Edition Favorite Things Tin (Favorite Things 2010) $135
• Good Karmal (Caramels) Mini Crates (Favorite Things 2002) $10
• Gourmet Florida Key Lime Bundt Cake (Favorite Things 2004) $28
• Greenberg Smoked Turkeys (Favorite Things 2003) $50
• Holiday tin of Garrett’s Popcorn (Favorite Things 2002) $80
• Key Lime Pie from The Little Pie Company (Favorite Things 2002) $65
• Oatmeal Cookie Dough from Fox & Obel Market (Favorite Things 2005) $50
• Perfect Endings Desserts from Williams-Sonoma (Favorite Things 2007) $60
• Williams-Sonoma Mini Croissants (Favorite Things 2010) $40

Games

• Scrabble App for the iPad by Electronic Arts (Favorite Things 2010) $5
• Scrabble Premier Edition from Hasbro (Favorite Things 2007) $300

Home and Office Furnishings

• Barefoot Dreams Throw Blankets (Favorite Things 2003) $130
• Cashmere Cable Throw by Ralph Lauren (Favorite Things 2010) $595
• Elfa Customizable Closet System from the Container Store (Favorite Things 2010) $1000
• Lafco House and Home Collection Candle Set (Favorite Things 2010) $55
• Officemax Gift Card (Favorite Things 2004) $100
• Picture Frames by Jay Strongwater (Favorite Things 2002) $115
• Williams-Sonoma Home Bedsheet Sets (Favorite Things 2004) $388

Jewelry

• Jessica Leigh Diamond Earrings by Dana Rebecca Designs (Favorite Things 2010) $1900
• Judith Ripka Eclipse Earrings (Favorite Things 2010) $525
• Judith Ripka Necklace (Favorite Things 2003) $400
• Museum Automatic Arte Watch by Movado (Favorite Things 2004) $1000
• Philip Stein 25th Anniversary “Oprah” Watch (Favorite Things 2010) $2475
• Philip Stein Diamond Watch (Favorite Things 2005)
• Philip Stein Watch (Favorite Things 2003) $595
• Sophie Jewelry Box from Pottery Barn (Favorite Things 2010) $180
• TOYWATCH Crystal and Colored Crystal Watch (Favorite Things 2007) $150

Kitchen and Appliances

• Baker’s Edge Brownie Pan and Ghirardelli Brownie Mix (Favorite Things 2010) $35
• Baker’s Edge Lasagna Pan (Favorite Things 2010) $50
• Breville Panini Press (Favorite Things 2010) $100
• FoodSaver Vac 800 (Favorite Things 2003) $120
• Hand-Blown Crystal Champagne Glasses by Deborah Ehrlich (Favorite Things 2004) $195
• HDTV Refrigerator with Weather and Info Center (Favorite Things 2007) $3800
• Herb Savor by Prepara (Favorite Things 2010) $30
• Kyocera Ceramic Cutlery Set by Ming Knives (Favorite Things 2010) $75
• Le Creuset Cookware (Favorite Things 2010) $600
• Maytag Top-Load Washer and Drying Center (Favorite Things 2004) $1100
• Melamine Bowls, Measuring Cups and Spoons from Williams-Sonoma (Favorite Things 2007) $54
• Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit (Favorite Things 2007) $90
• The Artisan Stand Mixer from KitchenAid Home Appliances (Favorite Things 2007) $350
• Weber Genesis EP-310 Gas Grill in copper (Favorite Things Summer 2008) $700

Movies and Television

• Five-Year Netflix Membership (Favorite Things 2010) $600
• The Discovery Channel’s Planet Earth DVD Set (Favorite Things 2007) $31
• The Oprah Winfrey Show 20th Anniversary Collection DVD Collection (Favorite Things 2005) $40
• United Artists 90th Anniversary Prestige Collection (Favorite Things 2007) $870

Music

• A Christmas Prayer by BeBe Winans (Favorite Things 2004) $5
• Decoded by Jay-Z (Favorite Things 2010) $35
• Illuminations by Josh Groban (Favorite Things 2010) $13
• Let It Be Me by Johnny Mathis (Favorite Things 2010) $12
• The Beginning by the Black Eyed Peas (Favorite Things 2010) $18
• The Christmas Album by Johnny Mathis (Favorite Things 2002)
• Josh Groban’s Noel (Favorite Things 2007) $10
• Growing Pains by Mary J. Blige (Favorite Things Summer 2008) $10
• Together Book and CD Collection (Favorite Things 2002) $149

Travel

• $200 gift card from Courtyard by Marriott (Favorite Things Summer 2008) $200
• Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas Cruise (Favorite Things 2010)
• Trip to Miraval Resort and Spa (Favorite Things 2004)

Browse these web sites for hotel comfort gifts for home. High-end linens make a fine second anniversary gift. (Cotton is the traditional anniversary gift.)

• Hilton to Home
• Hyatt at Home
• Shop Marriott
• Omni Hotels at Home
• The Ritz-Carlton Shops
• W Hotels: The Store
• Distinctly Waldorf (The Waldorf=Astoria)
• Westin at Home (also Nordstrom, pictured above)
• Wyndham at Home

I keep a Moleskine Large Sketchbook for drawing up and scribbling down my ideas. I like the notebook’s sturdy feel in my hands with its durable cover and thick cream-colored pages. I’d love even it more as a Paris journal, sketching from a bistro overlooking the Seine.

#10. Southwest Airlines
“Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines attributes its customer-service success to personality… and free peanuts.” Consider a Southwest gift card.

#9. Costco
“The company’s prices have also won Costco fans. Costco stocks its stores with bulk items that consumers can buy at discounts. It keeps its margins low in order to keep prices down and makes up the difference in sales volume.” Shop at Costco.com.

#8. Apple
“If they can’t fix it, and it’s new enough, they’ll often hand you a replacement device free, on the spot.” Visit the Apple Store.

#7. Whole Foods Market
“[Whole Foods] has created a loyal following by committing to sell high-quality food that’s free of many additives and antibiotics that concern health-conscious customers.” Order a Whole Foods gift card.

#6. Publix Super Market
“[Spokeswoman Maria] Brous also attributes Publix’s success to discount programs intended to help struggling families afford the basics.” Purchase a Publix gift card.

#5. Nordstrom Department Store
“The company gives many of its salespeople the latitude to deal with customer complaints without running them up the management chain.” Shop at Nordstrom.com.

#4. Amazon.com
“Amazon considers its free shipping a form of advertising. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Amazon said it had saved customers more than $800 million in shipping costs in 2008.” Shop at Amazon.com.

#3. NetFlix
“Netflix has 58 distribution centers across the country, enabling 97% of members to receive new DVDs the day after Netflix gets their returns, says Steve Swasey, the company’s director of corporate communications. The company ships more than 2.2 million DVDs each day to a network of 10.3 million subscribers, he says.” Give a NetFlix gift subscription.

#2. Trader Joe’s
“Trader Joe’s owes its customer ratings to its cheese, chocolate cake… and the rest of its product selection, says satisfied shopper Lisa Hsu.” See TraderJoes.com for the closest grocery store location. TJ’s does not sell its products (not even their gift cards) online.

#1. USAA
“USAA certainly isn’t your average insurance company or financial institution. Its 7 million members are all in the military, former servicemen or family members of military personnel. Members are stakeholders. They pay premiums and are paid back a portion of the insurer’s profits each year.” If you qualify for USAA services, visit USAA.com to learn more about buying a U.S. savings bond as a kid’s gift. Albeit practical, savings bonds help children understand the power of growing interest.

MSN Money based its top ten on a survey of 3,015 respondents, rating the customer service of 145 companies in 15 industries. Zogby International conducted the survey and also asked which aspect of service was most important. The results (rounded up) are as follows:

• Knowledgeable staff – 44%
• Friendly staff – 18%
• Readily available staff – 15%
• Flexible policies for return/exchange of merchandise – 9%
• Service after the sale – 9%
• None — product is all that matters – 1%
• Not sure – 1%
• Other – %1

That’s a great customer follow-up use of social media. Gazelle’s prompt response made me think about other sites I frequent. How many of my favorite retailers are using Twitter? And when did they start posting tweets? I compiled the table below using Twitter’s “Find People” search and MyTweet16, which lists a Twitter user’s first 16 tweets.

Retailers Using Twitter

Of the 40 retailers above, grocery chain Trader Joe’s use of Twitter impressed me the most. Nearly all of Trader Joe’s posts are simply retweets of customer talking about TJ’s food and beverages on Twitter. (Jargon alert: Retweets repeat someone else’s message on Twitter — crediting the author — to help spread the message to others. Often abbreviated as RT, it’s word of mouth, Twitter-style.)

Finally, as I’m writing this post, Gazelle sent me another Twitter reply. This time, Gazelle thanked me for my tweet and offered me a 5% bump in value on my next Gazelle gadget trade-in.

Check with work
I’m not sure every employer would be as understanding as my wife’s, but I contacted her supervisor directly. (It helps that I had met her boss before.) Before calling, I checked our personal calendar to make sure I was not overlooking any existing plans. Then I asked her boss about specific dates that my wife might take time off for a surprise extended weekend. Her boss approved my first suggested days as vacation on the spot and made sure my wife’s calendar stayed clear. If you don’t think contacting the giftee’s boss will work, try asking a co-worker who you know and might suggest potential travel dates.

I revealed the getaway a few days before we left. Even though her boss approved the vacation days, my wife now had some time to wrap up work tasks and ready her luggage. Still, the unexpected can happen. If booking airfare and lodging, avoid non-refundable airline tickets and understand the hotel’s cancellation policy in case you must reschedule.

Present in advance without purchase
For our sixth anniversary, I planned a return trip to Hawaii — where we spent our honeymoon. Then I created a slide show that described the specifics: departure date, airline, hotels, restaurants and return date. I burned the slide show to DVD, but you might also print it or show it from a laptop or desktop computer.

However, I did not buy into any reservations yet. I just made sure that the trip was possible. I also got some Mauna Loa chocolate-covered macadamias, a Hawaiian favorite, to sweeten the deal. Or you might pick up a travel guide for your surprise destination. Two days later on our anniversary, I showed her the DVD outlining the plan with tropical photos from Maui and Kauai. She was delighted, and I finalized all of the reservations that day.

Give open-ended gift cards
If you can’t be sure on the timing, travel gift cards offer flexibility. This option also helps when you are not joining the giftee in travel. Several travel and hotel companies offer gift cards that allow your giftee to choose their own itinerary.

Travel Gift Cards

• American Airlines Gift Card
• Carnival Cruise Lines Gift Certificate
  
• Continental Airlines Gift Certificate
• Delta Airlines Gift Certificate
• Frontier Airlines Gift Card
• jetBlue Gift Card
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Gift Certificate
  
• Southwest Airlines Gift Card
• Travelocity Last Minute Packages
• US Airways Gift Card

Hotel Gift Cards

Travelocity offers the most flexible of the hotel cards, good at 55,000 hotels worldwide. Several hotel chains offer individual gift cards to pay for lodging, but not necessarily to hold a reservation guarantee. Most still require a credit card to book your hotel room.

• BedandBreakfast.com Getaway Gift Card
• Best Western Travel Card
  
• Choice Hotels Gift Card, including Cambria Suites, Clarion, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, MainStay Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn hotels in the U.S.
• Fairmount Hotels and Resorts Gift Card
  
• Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Gift Card
  
• Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Gift Card
  
• Marriott Hotels Gift Card
  
• Omni Hotels Gift Certificate
  
• The Ritz-Carlton Gift Certificate
  
• VEGAS.com Gift Card (redeemed online for purchases of any Vegas hotel room on VEGAS.com)

1. Gifts.com Christmas Gift Guides offer a collection of gift guides. The Top Holiday Toys for 2008 showcases The LeapFrog Tag Reading System (pictured).
2. Surprise.com Hottest Holiday Gifts can inspire ideas, such as the Craftworks Toolbox Garage Refrigerator for handy giftees.
3. Newsweek’s Tip Sheet Holiday Gift Guide features a slide show of 100 gifts, including the Epson PictureMate Dash Photo Printer.
4. Amazon.com Gift Central ranks gifts by price, personality, relationship, most gifted and most wished for, like Wall-E on DVD.
5. Williams-Sonoma Top 20 Gifts may please with the Breville Ikon Panini Press and the Bialetti Hot Chocolate Pot.
6. Yahoo Shopping Holiday Gift Guide lists popular gifts, including the iGolf neo Pocketsize Golf GPS. Also see the Top 10 Holiday Gift Lists.
7. The New York Times Critics’ Picks 2008 Holiday Gift Guide shares critic favorites, including top 10 books like The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel.
8. ThisNext.com’s 2008 Holiday Gift Guide list 27 categories of suggestions such as Holidays Gourmet (featuring the Tear Drop Tea Set by Tea Forté).
9. The Container Store’s Great Gift Ideas offers clever stocking stuffers, like a Cyclops LED Book Light.
10. ThinkGeek Holiday Gift Guide 2008 has almost everything for the lovable nerd in your life: an official Indiana Jones fedora, the I Can Has Cheezburger? LOLcats Collection book, and Shower Shock Caffeinated Soap.
11. The Washington Post 2008 Holiday Gift Guide highlights travel gifts, including the Silk ‘N Dreams Luxury Lounging and Travel Set.
12. The Ars Technica Holiday Gift Guide 2008 recommends tech gear and gadgets this Christmas. Apple fans will enjoy gifts from the “Infinite Loop” section (Apple Travel Accessories, Mac Apps and Services, and Mac Accessories).
13. TreeHugger.com’s 2008 Gift Guide will appeal to those who lean green. Consider Earth-friendly cookware from La Chamba Black Clay Cookware.
14. RedEnvelope.com’s Holiday Catalog Collection features personalized gifts like a monogrammed cashmere two-tone scarf.
15. Cool Hunting 2008 Holiday Gift Guide selects stylish and unique gifts such as the elegant Kor One Hydration water bottle.
16. Reader’s Digest Holiday Gift Guide 2008 offers categorized gift recommendations, including the Take Four Word Game as a “Top Family Night Game” for ages eight and up.
17. Fredflare.com Holiday Gift Guide has you shop for quirky gifts by 54 themes like Audrey Hepburn, Nancy Drew and Lumberjacks.
18. The JustGive Guide lets you donate to charities that your giftees care about in their names. Give to causes that support their passions like The World Wildlife Fund, The American Red Cross or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

1. Give one 2009 Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 with a 638-horsepower engine; one 2010 Fisker Karma hybrid sports sedan; a spot in the two-day driving event, The Quail Rally, in California’s Monterey Peninsula; transportation and access to all events during Monterey Car Week; and one week of premium accommodations for two at the Quail Lodge resort in Carmel, California.

   Gift price tag: $1 million.

2. Make your billionaire the first person in the world to personally own a zeppelin. Customize both the exterior and the interior cabin. Receive zeppelin-pilot training and certification.

   Gift price tag: $17 million or more, depending on customizations.

3. Join golf legend Greg “The Shark” Norman and two of your friends at Cornerstone Colorado. Includes round-trip private air transportation to Montrose, Colorado. Spend two nights’ lodging at Cornerstone plus a welcome reception and meals, including a dinner with Norman. Enjoy up to 80 cases of Greg Norman Estates Wine through 2014 and selections from Norman’s apparel line over the next five years. Also, receive a set of custom-made MacGregor irons.

   Gift price tag: $750,000.

4. For the sculpture lover, give the Blue Venus, an 18th-century blue-sapphire statuette of the Roman goddess of love, once owned by Catherine the Great.

   Gift price tag: Price available upon request.

5. Commission a custom Vacheron Constantin men’s wristwatch, crafted during a five-night trip to Geneva, Switzerland, for two. Receive a full tour of the watchmaking plant and a hand-ons workshop with master watchmakers.

   Gift price tag: $1.4 million.

6. Have your giftee create a custom single-malt whisky at the Glenmorangie distillery in Tain, Scotland. Visit Missouri’s Ozark Mountains to pick tree wood to make casks with a master distiller. Go to a Kentucky cooperage to learn about cask making. Receive 20 barrels, cellar space and five bottled versions of your whisky for up to 25 years. Take a private jet with three guests to all destinations.

   Gift price tag: $6 million.

7. Visit all nine of chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurants in New York, Las Vegas, Palm Beach, Vancouver and Beijing via private jet for six guests. Enjoy luxury accommodations, a personal concierge for sightseeing, eight-course meals, and exclusive tours of Boulud’s kitchens.

   Gift price tag: $1.1 million.

8. Give a 24-karat gold leaf MV Agusta F4RR 312 1078 motorcycle. This ultra-high-performance motorcycle comes from an Italian manufacturer, now owned by Harley Davidson.

   Gift price tag: $150,000.

9. Give the Picasso painting, Sans Titre (Tête de Jeune Femme), with a tour of the artist’s studio in Antibes, France, now the Musée Picasso. Includes five nights’ accommodations for two in the Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc.

   Gift price tag: $3.5 million.

10. Jet from New York to Champagne, France with another couple. Stay for three nights as VIP guests at Dom Pérignon‘s Château de Saran. Taste Dom Pérignon’s rarest vintage champagnes. Tour the Champagne region by helicopter and take part in the grape harvest. Each couple receives a dozen bottles of Dom Pérignon, six of them in a Karl Lagerfeld-designed guitar case.

    Gift price tag: $3 million.

11. Lavish your giftee in a 5,760-square-foot suite at the new Montage Beverly Hills with a housewarming dinner for 12 guests, prepared by Wolfgang Puck. Weekly spa treatments, a private dinner for 14 annually, plus 14 nights each year at Montage Laguna Beach, all through 2020.

    Gift price tag: $36 million.

12. Give the Cartier Le Ciel mystery clock. The “mystery” comes from the hands of the clock: they appear to float in midair with no connection to the clock’s face.

    Gift price tag: $2.5 million.

13. Prequalify your giftee with a guest for the Mille Miglia Storica 2009 race parade in Italy. Gives an opportunity to drive or navigate a historic racecar with a dedicated team of mechanics. Travel, admission fees, meals and four-star lodging included.

    Gift price tag: $1 million.

14. Give a 328-foot yacht designed by Ken Freivokh.

    Gift price tag: Starts at $300 million.

15. Commission a model railroad masterpiece with four trains and 32 train cars, a 2,500-square-foot layout with landmarks, major cities, and stations on the trains’ routes from New York to Los Angeles, all run from a control center with four flat-screen TVs.

    Gift price tag: $2 million.

16. Give the ultimate Chanel jewelry experience: a 70-carat necklace with an 8-carat white-diamond center stone and 2,218 smaller diamonds, and a 6-carat ring with 144 white diamonds. Receive two tickets to Chanel’s exclusive fashion show in Paris, a private tour of Coco Chanel’s Paris apartment and dinner at Chanel’s boutique at Place Vendôme.

    Gift price tag: $2.7 million.

17. Create a custom 33-carat diamond Tibaldi pen with Baccarat case. Travel to Italy first-class and enjoy five-star accommodations, helicopter transport between Florence, Bologna, and Naples, and dinner with the Tibaldi board members.

    Gift price tag: $1 million.

18. Design a custom-built library in the style of the Vanderbilts’ 19th-century Biltmore estate. Tap the services of library consultant Kinsey Marable and buy 10,000 books to shelve.

    Gift price tag: $7.3 million.

19. Give eight wooden cabinets designed by David Linley as replicas of Bordeaux’s most celebrated wine châteaux. Each cabinet holds 18 bottles of each château’s finest vintages. Then travel to France for a private tour of each château.

    Gift price tag: $3 million.

20. Establish a custom-made men’s wardrobe from Bergdorf Goodman: one week’s worth of suits, a topcoat, a tuxedo, footwear, and accessories. Enjoy a trip for two to Italy to select materials with Bergdorf Goodman staff.

    Gift price tag: Starts at $300,000.

21. Make your giftee the named benefactor of a 15-year program to save the northern white rhinoceros from extinction. Includes a one-week trip to South Africa, with luxury accommodations, meetings with rhino experts and a helicopter flight to follow rhinos through the Rooipoort Nature Reserve.

    Gift price tag: $2.3 million.

• Weber Genesis EP-310 Gas Grill in copper ($700)
• NARS Kabuki Artisan Botan Cosmetics Brush ($75)
• Balboa Medallion Rolling Duffel by Toss Designs ($168)
• Garmin nüvi 250 Portable GPS Device ($180)
• $200 gift card from Courtyard by Marriott
• O, The Oprah Magazine Cookbook ($18)
• Mary J. Blige’s album, Growing Pains ($10)
• Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose ($8)

• AFI’s 100 Top Genre Movies
• Atari Flashback 2.0
• Best of Mad Libs
• College Gifts
• Espressione Café Retro Espresso Machine
• iPod Lego Mini Speakers
• Lego USB Flash drive
• MAD for Decades: 50 Years of Forgettable Humor from MAD Magazine
• Mad Men – Season One (2007) on DVD
• Pan Am Travel Wash Bag
• Ray-Ban New Wayfarer sunglasses
• Retro Candy Gift Box from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s
• Retro NFL logo tee shirts
• Rubik’s Cube
• Star Trek Original Series Communicator
• Swingline Collector’s Edition 747 Rio Red Stapler
• The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden
• The Greatest American Hero – The Complete Series (Cape and Notebook Included)
• The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 1: 1934-1936 on DVD
• USB Mix Tape

(Originally published on December 28, 2008, but backdated to February 8, 2008 to fit in with the Guy Gift Guideline series)

Next: #6: Go with Manly Gifts

Previous: #4: Give an Adventure