Finding Discounted Gift Ideas in the Orlando Area

Here area a few gift ideas that I have come across for the 2008 Holiday Season. Some I received through email, others I found through the newspaper or coupons. Please call to verify if the gift option is valid and still available.

This holiday please be careful when giving out gift cards. Many stores are considering closing after the holidays and if this happens, you may be stuck with useless gift cards.

So, if you plan on giving gift cards around the holidays, you need to be careful that the cards will be honored after the first of the year. Stores that are planning to close after Christmas are still selling the cards through the holidays even though the cards will be worthless January 1.

I have only tried a few of these offers myself, and am not endorsing them, only passing along information that I have received.

Gift Cards at a Reduced Cost:

• Dining Deals
  Check the Orlando Sentinel for some outstanding deals at local restaurants. Pay $15 for a $30 certificate, $25 for a $50 certificate. I've ordered these certificates several times and was impressed at how quickly they arrived in the mail.
  On-going promotion.

• Beauty and Spa Deals
  Again from the Orlando Sentinel, these half-priced certificates are available for local spas throughout the Orlando area.
  On-going promotion.

Gift Cards With a Bonus:

• Outback Restaruants
  Purchase $100 in gift cards from for OSI Restaurants and receive a $20 bonus card. These cards can be used at Carrabba's, Roy's, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's, Lee Roy Selmon's, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Blue Coral Restaurants.
  Found on their website 11/20/09.

• Straub's Seafood
  Receive a bonus $10 gift certificate with every $100 gift certificate purchase.
  Found on-line 11/20/09.

• First Watch
  Receive $20 bonus bucks for every $100 in gift certificates purchased. Bonus Bucks do have a short expiration date. First Watch is one of my favorite breakfast spots, so I went ahead and gave this one a try.
  Found at the Longwood restaurant 11/20/09.

• Buca di Beppo
  Earn a $25 reward card with every $100 purchase.
  Found on-line 11/20/09.

• Luma on Park
  Season's Givings - Get in the Holiday Spirit with a gift form Luma. Purchase a $100 gift card for someone else and receive a complimentary $20 gift card for yourself.
  Received in an Email dated 11/20/09.

• Flemings
  Receive a $20 bonus card for every $100 in Fleming's gift cards you buy. Bonus Cards are valid from 1/1/10 to 2/10/10. .
  Received in an Email dated 11/20/09.