Gift Card Ideas for Military Overseas
If you have someone in the military overseas, a gift card is one way to show your appreciation and let them splurge on something special. If you are planning a gift for someone overseas, consider, as well, sending them a care package! The bottom line is that there are a lot of items they can’t get while they are deployed on base, and a care package of items tailored specifically to them is bound to put a smile on their face for a long time.
If you do want to buy a gift card for a military overseas friend or family then there is one major shop where you should get your gift card. Read on for information about The Exchange, as well as gift card ideas for your military friend upon their return to the states!
Gift Card Granny is an excellent site where you can shop for all of your gift cards. Not sure where to start? No worries! In this article, we are covering the top 6 gift card ideas for the military overseas, including:
- Gift cards for The Exchange
- Gift cards for food and groceries
- Gift cards for hobbies and fun
Earn Cash Back On Gift Cards for Military Overseas with Gift Card Granny
As a quick reminder, we’ve pointed out all of the retailers on this list that you can find on Gift Card Granny as of this writing. Gift Card Granny makes it easy to buy and send customized gift cards online and earn cash back while you do. Gift Card Granny carries thousands of local and national brands including Visa gift cards, Mastercard gift cards, and gift cards for many of the awesome spots on this list.
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s jump right into our list!
1. The Exchange
The best gift card for military overseas
The great majority of gift cards purchased in the United States are only usable within the United States. The rules and regulations around sending international gift cards are very strict and vary from company to company. If you are looking to send a gift card to someone in the military who is overseas — and will remain stationed there for some time — then a gift card to the exchange is the way to go. The Exchange is a company that has a lot of staples and a huge variety of items sold specifically to the military. These warehouses are placed on military bases and, of course, their gift cards are meant to work internationally. If you want to show your support to a friend or family member in the military overseas then you must go with a gift card to the Exchange.
Gift Cards for Military Overseas Upon Their Return to the United States
If your military overseas friend is almost at the end of their deployment you can start thinking about the stuff that they will want to get their hands on when they are back in the states!
If the recipient of your gift card is currently overseas but will return to the states soon then you’ve got plenty of options for what to get them when they arrive home! These next ideas will cover a variety of stores that they might want to go to first thing upon their return. When you are planning this gift for your friend, think about the kinds of stores that they absolutely love. They’ve been overseas for a long time, and when they get back this could be something extremely special that will make their day. Try to use this list as inspiration — the perfect store might be one of the following few but if not, think about which store might be the best!
2. Uber Eats
A meal of their choice — no more MREs
Uber Eats is a great gift card for the military who have just returned home for a pair of reasons. One is that on a night when they are at home and feeling lazy they neither have to cook nor go out to eat. The food is delivered right to them. One barrier that might stop them from ordering out is the cost, and that’s where you come in! Giving them a gift card to UberEats means that they will have money in their account, meaning that their meal is free or much reduced.
Another excellent reason to get military personnel an UberEats gift card is that they have a huge choice of restaurants. They can get any kind of food delivered, and just about any meal they can think of could show up on their doorstep with the snap of their fingers and, say, 40 minutes of waiting. This is amazing! Any craving they’ve had for the time they’ve been deployed can be fulfilled and they don’t even have to leave the house.
3. Airbnb
Be exactly where you want to be
Now that you’ve returned home, you should have total control over which place you go next for much-needed rest and relaxation. Enjoy a vacation in style when you book with Airbnb.
Browse thousands of different locations in your home country and around the world. Whether you like urban streets, small towns, or the quiet countryside, Airbnb has tons of vacation rentals to choose from. Book a weekend getaway or stay for weeks at a time – it’s totally up to you. Airbnb has fitting rentals for everyone, and it’s a great treat for returning military service members.
Earn cash back when you buy an Airbnb gift card from Gift Card Granny!
4. Prepaid Visa Gift Card
Endless doors to be opened to the recipients of a Visa gift card
Prepaid Visa cards are not the most personalized of gifts but they are incredibly practical. They allow the military member, upon returning home, to get something of their choice either for free or for a fair discount. With a Visa, the recipient can decide on their own where to go and what to buy with their gift card money. That is a safe bet to ensure they end up with an item they are excited to use in the future. It is likely that your friend or a family member has a variety of things that they want to buy now that they are back in the states.
Do you know what’s on their mind for possible items? If so, you could get them a gift card to a store that has that specifically! It is, of course, not necessary, as a Visa card lets them spend the money anywhere. If you want to get someone who recently returned from the military overseas a gift and aren’t sure what to get then a Visa gift card is always a safe bet.
Grab a Visa gift card from Gift Card Granny!
5. Tidal
Music when you need it most
Now that there’s plenty of time to enjoy relaxing afternoons lounging at home, a gift card to a music streaming service like Tidal makes perfect sense. After all, new music never stops coming out and there’s a lot to catch up on.
Tidal gives users access to millions of songs across a variety of genres. They are the first global streaming service with high fidelity sound, delivering crisp, uninterrupted audio right into your ears. You can also watch hi-def videos, connect with other fans, and browse an array of amazing playlists perfectly crafted for any event.
Pick up a Tidal gift card from Gift Card Granny to earn cash back!
6. Whole Foods
A gift that cooks are certain to love
Cooking in the military is not exactly something they can do. Meals are eaten in the mess or cooked on robust cooking surfaces designed to work in any condition. Food is often practical and nutritious but not very flavorful. Does your friend like to cook? If so, a gift card to a place like Whole Foods could be a great way to get them back into the cooking scene back home!
Whole Foods is a great place to pick up ingredients for a special meal. Unfortunately, Gift Card Granny does not currently offer Whole Foods gift cards, but check back soon for exciting new retailers!
7. AMC Theatres
Who doesn’t love dinner and a movie?
Going to the movies is one of the most enjoyable pastimes around, but being deployed means your access to movie theaters is pretty much nonexistent. Once you're back in the States, be sure to check out your local AMC Theatres location for nonstop entertainment.
AMC Theatres is one of the largest movie theater chains around. You’ll find showtimes for all the latest and greatest blockbusters, alongside comfortable seating and delicious food to keep you company during your show. Grab a popcorn, fill up on soda, and secure your seat before the theater gets too crowded.
Check out Gift Card Granny for an AMC Theatres gift card!
8. Buffalo Wild Wings
All you can eat and all you can watch
Buy a Buffalo Wild Wings gift card
Enjoying a night out with the friends you love most is certainly one of the best parts of being back from deployment. Kick back and relax with some of your favorite brews and bites when you visit Buffalo Wild Wings.
This casual dining restaurant and sports bar is the perfect environment to chill with your buddies while snacking on some delicious pub grub. Plus, the various TVs give patrons access to all the mainstream sporting events, so you won’t have to miss out on the big games while you enjoy your social outing.
Grab a gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings from Gift Card Granny and earn cash back!
9. Beer Drop
The quintessential gift card for beer lovers
Chances are that during the time they were overseas they were not drinking an exciting variety of alcoholic drinks. If they enjoy a good beer, then upon their return it will definitely be on their mind. Beer drop is a website that ships boxes of craft beers anywhere in the country. The best part — users can pick and choose every can and bottle that comes their way. For someone who loves beer but was stuck drinking whatever they could find for the length of their deployment, the sheer quantity of options on this site is certain to make their day.
Beer drop is undoubtedly on the expensive side, so a gift card is perfect. It lets them splurge on beers while acclimating to being back in the states. Beer Drop is, naturally, exclusive to beers, but there are plenty of other services if they are into a different kind of drink. It doesn't have to be an alcoholic one, either! You could get them a subscription that nets them a great bag of coffee beans, some tea leaves, or anything else!
If your friend really loves beer, a gift card to Beer Drop is an excellent way to show your appreciation. Unfortunately, Beer Drop is not one of the many retailers available at Gift Card Granny, but you can purchase a gift card on Beer Drop’s website.
10. GameStop
Fuel all of your gaming needs
Being deployed overseas puts quite the distance between you and your beloved video games consoles at home, but that distance makes returning all the more exciting. A GameStop gift card is great for returning soldiers who want to get their hands on the releases they initially missed out on.
GameStop carries thousands of video game titles for most modern consoles, from the Nintendo Switch to the PlayStation 5. From racing games and first-person shooters to rhythm games and JRPGs, GameStop has video games for pretty much everyone. They also stock plenty of pop culture merchandise and electronic accessories to help you get your geek on.
Earn cash back when you buy a GameStop gift card from Gift Card Granny!
11. Check out GiftYa
If you aren’t interested in any of the retailers previously mentioned, don’t hesitate on checking out everything that GiftYa has to offer! GiftYa offers digital gifts to over two hundred thousand locations found across the country, meaning you’ll find a great gift to give to any returning military members.
Those are our most popular military overseas gift card ideas!
If you aren’t super close with the friend or family member, we recommend talking with someone who has sent them gifts in the past! Everyone has their own set of gift cards and care packages that they appreciate the most and chatting with someone who knows for sure what will brighten their day is always a good move.
While talking with someone you can also offer to put money towards their gift! That takes some of the difficulty off of your end because you don’t have to make the final decision, and you can rest easy knowing that your contribution will go towards funding the perfect gift for the member of the military overseas. If they are staying overseas that definitely limits your options when getting them a gift card, but care packages are also much appreciated! If they are about to return home you have more options of picking out a gift card that’s specifically personalized to their tastes in order to let them enjoy their first few days back at home!
Gift cards are a fantastic way to show your appreciation and a great gift. Gift cards allow them to take the initiative, and sometimes you get to come along for the ride. Gift cards are always valuable gifts, and we hope that you have found the perfect card for the occasion with the new knowledge you possess.
Remember: many of the retailers on this list are available at Gift Card Granny, where you can earn cashback and rewards on all of your gift card purchases.
From all of us here at Gift Card Granny, happy shopping!