I'm sure you've heard it before:  "Gift cards aren't personal …They can lose value if not used right away … your giftee won't appreciate a gift card."

Well, I don't buy it!  Times have changed and so have gift cards – at least the ones I get my friends from Buca di Beppo.  A lunch or an evening out IS a personal gift.  It can even be intimate.  Buca's gift cards never expire or lose value, and my friends and family absolutely adore them.  Are restaurant gift cards easier to give than holiday gifts you need to spend hours shopping for?  Yes.  But what's wrong with that?

I used to literally spend days at the mall looking for great holiday gifts.  It involved strategy and tactics, careful coordination between my gift list and holiday sales and specials.  For years I went out at midnight after Thanksgiving to score Black Friday doorbusters.  It can be fun if you're up for it, but if you HAVE to work that hard to find the best presents every year, it can definitely get old.  Plus, after all that work on my part, there was generally only a 50-50 chance that the person I gifted would like what I gave them, that it would fit, or that they wouldn't already have it.

In today's economy, I cannot afford to give great presents that won't be used!

I'm not saying I never go Christmas shopping anymore – I'd hate to miss the busy crowds and decorations completely – but I AM saying I'm able to cut to the chase with restaurant gift cards.  They make the best Christmas gifts ever for teens and young adults who enjoy going out with their friends, young couples with children and anybody else who enjoys a delicious meal, great service and good company.

Variety and personalization are just 2 reasons Buca's are the best gift cards to give.

You can totally personalize Buca gift cards online by uploading your own photo and writing your own message. And you can personalize a greeting card message to go with it!  Or make things super easy for yourself by choosing a gift card and greeting card from Buca's house designs, which already feature holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

You can buy Buca gift cards at any of their restaurants or online.  If you purchase gift certificates on the Buca website, you can have them mailed to you for distribution or to your recipient(s).  It's absolutely the easiest holiday shopping you'll do this year!

Friends and family are sure to think you're giving the best present ever!

A good time out for a bite to eat is always fun, and you can be sure everybody will have fun at Buca di Beppo.  It's a feel-good kind of place where your loved ones will find yummy food and great service in a delightful atmosphere.  Everything is served family style, so it's meant to be shared.  Vintage photos and outrageous memorabilia decorate the party rooms that constitute each restaurant, encouraging conversation and laughter. And Buca's staff knows how to make sure everybody has a good time.

If you're lucky, your gift card recipients will take you along when they redeem their holiday gift, so it's possible you'll get a number of delicious meals from grateful loved ones. (If you're single, this makes Buca gift cards the best gift for men and/or women, and — of course — the best present for boyfriends and girlfriends.)

Streamline your holiday shopping this year with holiday gift certificates from Buca di Beppo.  They'll make the season merrier for you AND for those lucky enough to receive your gift!