Frequently asked questions

LuckyFish lets family and friends send a college student a local experience as a gift, instead of another care package. Experiences are provided by independent local businesses in Virginia college towns (currently Harrisonburg, Charlottesville and Blacksburg), from spas and restaurants to outdoor adventures and photography.

As soon as payment goes through, we email the student their gift with a unique gift code, your message and how to book. The thank-you page also lets you text, WhatsApp or copy a link to their gift, so they can open it on their phone.

They contact the business directly, using the booking link, phone number or email in the gift, and choose a date that works for them. When they arrive they show their gift code, and the business checks and redeems it. One gift is for one experience, used in a single visit.

Anyone aged 18 or over: parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends, or one student treating another. You need the recipient’s name and email address.

The price shown on each experience is the total you pay. There are no booking fees or service charges added at checkout, and no fees for the student.

Every gift is valid for at least 5 years from the date of purchase. The exact date is shown in the gift email. Gifts never lose value or carry inactivity fees.

Gifts are non-refundable once bought, including if plans change or the gift goes unused. We refund in full if the business can no longer provide the experience, or if there was a payment error. If the gift email went to the wrong address or got lost, we will resend it. See our refund policy for details.

Each gift covers the experience named on it. If the student chooses to add extras or upgrade on the day, they pay the business directly for the difference. No balances are carried forward.

No. LuckyFish is an independent Virginia business and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any college or university. We simply help people send gifts to students living in college towns.

Yes. Payments are processed by Stripe on its secure checkout page; LuckyFish never sees or stores your card details.

We are starting in Harrisonburg, Charlottesville and Blacksburg, Virginia, and adding more towns over time. If you would like us to come to your student’s town, email gifts@youluckyfish.com.