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Long-distance relationship gifts

Updated

A gift for a long-distance partner has a special job. It should make the distance feel smaller between visits, and it should still mean something when you live together.

These ideas connect two places or count down to the next visit. Each one says how it works across time zones.

At a glance

Gift ideas, who each one suits, and typical cost
GiftBest forTypical cost
Two star maps of the same momentPartners in two citiesFrom US$49 per print
Open-when lettersAny long-distance partnerFree
A ticket to visitPartners who rarely see each otherOver US$150
A pair of connected lampsPartners in different time zonesUS$75–US$150
A dual time zone clockPartners across time zonesUS$75–US$150
A care packageA partner who misses homeUS$25–US$75
A countdown calendar to the next visitA visit with a fixed dateUnder US$25
A shared journal sent back and forthPartners who like writingUnder US$25
A photo book of your visitsCouples with many visitsUS$25–US$75
A sound wave print or a voice recordingA partner who misses your voiceUS$25–US$75
A book you read togetherCouples who like to readUS$25–US$75

  1. Two star maps of the same moment

    Star Crossed Skies can print the sky above each of your cities at the same moment, as two matching star maps. Enter the local time in each city: for example, 9pm in London in January is 10am the next morning in Auckland. Each person hangs the other's sky.

    Make your star mapRead more: The night we met star map

  2. Open-when letters

    Write a set of letters for your partner to open at set moments: when you miss me, when you cannot sleep, the night before a visit. They cost only time and they work across any distance.

  3. A ticket to visit

    The gift a long-distance partner wants most is often time together. Book the train or flight and give the plan in a card. If the date is not fixed, give a voucher with your promise and a deadline.

  4. A pair of connected lamps

    Connected lamps work in pairs over wifi. When one person touches their lamp, the other lamp lights up. They are a quiet way to say I am thinking of you without a message.

  5. A dual time zone clock

    A clock or watch that shows two time zones lets your partner see your time at a glance. It helps with calls and reminds them where you are in your day.

  6. A care package

    Fill a box with things from your city and your life: a snack they only get when they visit, a T-shirt that smells like you, a playlist, a printed photo. It suits a partner who misses the small things.

  7. A countdown calendar to the next visit

    Make a calendar with one small note, photo or treat for each day until the next visit. It turns the wait into something to open each morning.

  8. A shared journal sent back and forth

    Write in a journal, post it to your partner, and let them write back. It is slow on purpose. After a year, you have a book of your time apart.

  9. A photo book of your visits

    Print the photos from each visit as a book, one chapter per trip. It reminds you both that the time together adds up. Leave empty pages for the next ones.

  10. A sound wave print or a voice recording

    A print of the sound wave of a voice message, or a soft toy with a short recording inside. It lets your partner hear you when you cannot call.

  11. A book you read together

    Buy two copies of the same book and read a chapter each week. Talk about it on your calls. It gives you something to share that is not about the distance.

Think about time zones

Across time zones, the same moment is a different clock time in each place. For a call, a shared film or a pair of star maps, write both local times down before you plan.

The clocks change on different dates in different countries, and in opposite directions in the northern and southern hemispheres. The gap between London and Sydney, for example, is 9, 10 or 11 hours, depending on the time of year. Our star map editor uses each place's own time zone rules, so you only need to enter the local time.

Choose a gift for two places

The best long-distance gifts come in pairs, or connect the two homes: two star maps, connected lamps, a journal that travels between you. A single gift for one person works best when it counts down to the next visit.

Think about the day you close the distance too. A pair of prints can hang side by side in your shared home.

Make the wait shorter

Between visits, the days feel long. Gifts that mark time, such as a countdown calendar or open-when letters, give each week a small moment.

Agree on the next visit date before you give a countdown gift. A countdown without a date is harder to enjoy.

Send gifts early when they cross a border. International parcels can take longer and may pass through customs.

Questions

A star map for this occasion

More gift ideas

Start with the night you want to keep.

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