calmyourritas
VIP Member
I’m the kind of person who would like to know where I’m going so I can look forward to it, plan stuff and outfits etc
- Notice
OutrageouslyScarlet
VIP Member
It’s defo not conservative, I’ve lived there never seen a more debauched place. That said October it will still be 40+ temperature wise.
bexgreen1983
VIP Member
I would 100% prefer to go to Dubai then Cyprus - keep the original destination esp for a special birthday (after typing I realise that your looking to do both places I think...
AutumnSpring
Well-known member
Just after some advice please...
I booked a surprise holiday to Dubai for a close family member back in January for a “big” birthday coming up in October. Obviously due to Covid that is all a little up in the air however during lockdown I let the person know I had booked a trip and we would be away for their birthday (I thought it might be nice to know they have something to look forward to with all that’s going on).
Fast forward to today and it turns out their line manager at work accidentally let slip last week the destination of the holiday - I had to speak to them earlier in the year arrange the annual leave and stupidly also said where we are going. I haven’t confirmed to the person that what they said is correct I just said “hmm might be or they might be throwing you off the scent“.
I am absolutely furious because for me the surprise part of it is just as exciting at the actual holiday. We don’t have a lot of money so a trip to Dubai for us really is something special that I know the person would of been completely overjoyed at and it’s once in a lifetime for them. I have been dropping subtle hints that we are off on a cheap holiday to Europe so I know it would of been a complete shock when I said at the airport that it is in fact Dubai. I’m the sort of person now who wants to cut off my nose to spite my face and change the destination so as to keep it a complete surprise and feel like I now need to “outdo” Dubai and go even bigger and better to make it special. Am I being silly?
If it were you on the other end of the surprise. Would you rather know ahead of time where you were going anyway so you could look forward to it or would you rather be completely surprised? (Just so I know how to play this now...)
Thank you !
I booked a surprise holiday to Dubai for a close family member back in January for a “big” birthday coming up in October. Obviously due to Covid that is all a little up in the air however during lockdown I let the person know I had booked a trip and we would be away for their birthday (I thought it might be nice to know they have something to look forward to with all that’s going on).
Fast forward to today and it turns out their line manager at work accidentally let slip last week the destination of the holiday - I had to speak to them earlier in the year arrange the annual leave and stupidly also said where we are going. I haven’t confirmed to the person that what they said is correct I just said “hmm might be or they might be throwing you off the scent“.
I am absolutely furious because for me the surprise part of it is just as exciting at the actual holiday. We don’t have a lot of money so a trip to Dubai for us really is something special that I know the person would of been completely overjoyed at and it’s once in a lifetime for them. I have been dropping subtle hints that we are off on a cheap holiday to Europe so I know it would of been a complete shock when I said at the airport that it is in fact Dubai. I’m the sort of person now who wants to cut off my nose to spite my face and change the destination so as to keep it a complete surprise and feel like I now need to “outdo” Dubai and go even bigger and better to make it special. Am I being silly?
If it were you on the other end of the surprise. Would you rather know ahead of time where you were going anyway so you could look forward to it or would you rather be completely surprised? (Just so I know how to play this now...)
Thank you !
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Hinchhater1442
Chatty Member
It depends what the person is like. If I thought I was going to Europe in October I’d pack completely differently than if I was going to Dubai in October. Also being mindful of respectful dress codes in some public places. So I personally might like to know. Is it possible for you to make up a little ‘itinerary’ pack as a way of revealing the destination a few weeks before? You can go on eBay and get like scratch cards that reveal that sort of thing
In terms of destination, I’m not sure if you can ‘out do’ a trip like that. What were you hoping to gain from the trip? If it’s a mix of city and beach with warm weather you’d be hard pushed to change it for anything else so easily I think
In terms of destination, I’m not sure if you can ‘out do’ a trip like that. What were you hoping to gain from the trip? If it’s a mix of city and beach with warm weather you’d be hard pushed to change it for anything else so easily I think
AutumnSpring
Well-known member
Thank you for this! I’m only trying to keep it vague incase someone they know reads here haha!! This person dresses modestly anyway so it’s not like crop tops and bum shorts. I thought some light cardigans/wraps just to cover arms and shoulders while we are out and about.
The most frustrating part is that it wasn’t even me who got to reveal it and the months of hard work are just wasted!
I’m the same as you haha! I wasn’t going to say anything until just before but with lockdown spirits were low and they are nervous about turning this age and thought no one had planned anything. Now we are looking at changing it to May next year the whole thing has just turned into a nightmare. If I reveal it now it just feels like waiting 9 months to go now the excitement won’t be the same.
I know it’s an extremely minor issue with everything going on at the moment it’s just frustrating as I would love to of kept the surprise x
calmyourritas
VIP Member
Can I come?
AutumnSpring
Well-known member
Ah I checked this too and we are due to land a few days after it’s finished now!
Update - I moved it to May! Revealing on birthday this year as Cyprus and then actually revealing at the airport when we check in! Fingers crossed no more hiccups between now and then xx
Hahahaha it’s literally ONCE in a lifetime. It won’t be happening again I can assure you
- the more the merrier though !!I feel like you can’t say “surprise I’m taking you away but you need £1000 to bring with you - is that alright?“
I am just such a control/organised freak and I love surprising people (I like to think I’m quite thoughtful, without blowing my own trumpet too much!) And seeing the look on their face when they are well and truly shocked.I would be annoyed if I was you however I wouldn’t worry. I know that is easier said than done but it sounds like Dubai is going to be a once in a life time opportunity so even if the boss has let it slip they probably don’t believe it’s happening
My hen do was a surprise this year and a few people let it slip before including the wrong place but until it’s confirmed you it’s just a suspicion. If you want I would do a few things to throw her off the scent. Depends how far you want to go but could always say you looked into it when you asked the boss for time off but it was so expensive you couldn’t afford it so it had to be Europe. I’m sure that would completely throw her off the scent it would me!
My other half had a surprise stag do too and one of the group told him when drunk a week after booking it that they were going to Portugal. The best man was so annoyed he deliberately went around telling everyone the wrong destination as Benidorm so no one else would know. In the end my other half still believes to this day (The stag do got cancelled obviously) that’s where he should have been doing just because so many people when let it slip as Benidorm despite being told it was actually Portugal
That’s so funny
I would definitely rather be in Portugal than Benidorm! I only had to tell this persons boss as they have quite an “important” job and aren’t actually allowed to go to certain countries and I thought this might be one of them but thankfully it’s fine.
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Gembo
VIP Member
Oh no! I can totally understand how upsetting that must be. Such a big surprise that you had planned and of course you didn’t want it ruined. I’m really sorry for you that that happened. I’d say that unless you can afford to I would keep the destination as it is, I’m someone who kind of likes surprises but for something like that I think I’d rather know a bit ahead of time so that I can get excited and prepare. Hope it all works out ok!
AutumnSpring
Well-known member
I have actually found a holiday to Cyprus this morning that is rather cheap that I’m thinking maybe we should just go there and whilst we are there I can say SURPRISE this isn’t the actual holiday!
Although after typing it I know that sounds rather mental just to keep the surprise going ...
AutumnSpring
Well-known member
Thank you! I would LOVE to go to these places but they’re just out of my budgetI would keep the holiday but other places I can think of on the top of my head that could 'top it' are the maldives or Hawaii.
One of my favourite places is St Marteens in the caribbean
the only place I can find for a similar price is Mauritius.I think I am going to stick with Dubai, move it to next May and then “reveal” the surprise on the birthday this year as Cyprus/Greece and just keep it as that. I guess by May all thoughts of Dubai will he gone from their head and it’ll still be a surprise at the airport!
HoGi
VIP Member
I personally hate surprises as I am a control freak! Especially if I know I am getting a surprise. A surprise surprise isn't as bad as I don't have weeks/months thinking/stressing about it. My husband booked a surprise trip for my 30th and he told me about a week after booking it as he knew I would be a pain haha.
I think with the way things are going with travel etc. I would tell them now. They will be over the moon that you have bought of such a thoughtful gift. And perhaps you can plan bits together once they know?
I think with the way things are going with travel etc. I would tell them now. They will be over the moon that you have bought of such a thoughtful gift. And perhaps you can plan bits together once they know?
Hinchhater1442
Chatty Member
Mauritius looks amazing so of course that would be a great alternative but it is completely different to Dubai so just depends what experience you are looking for. If it were me I’d be grateful to get whisked away to either destination!
Dubai has quite a different dress code to lots of places in Europe - I would say dressing a little more modestly for one, as it is a Muslim and quite conservative place. I'd probably like to know where I was going but I understand you're upset at the surprise being ruined. However, the surprise is only a momentary thing and if that is where you want to go, I'd go - the trip will still be amazing I'm sure.
Hinchhater1442
Chatty Member
Be mindful of Ramadan if travelling in May to Dubai X
bexgreen1983
VIP Member
What about somewhere like Morocco?? I get that the surprise has been revealed but the person could be getting so excited about it and might be gutted if you choose to change it.
my hen do was abroad but I had no idea where but one of my friends slipped up a few weeks before but honestly I didn’t care. They still surprised me with lovely things whilst there
my hen do was abroad but I had no idea where but one of my friends slipped up a few weeks before but honestly I didn’t care. They still surprised me with lovely things whilst there
AutumnSpring
Well-known member
AutumnSpring
Well-known member
hahaha yes but doing both is just psychotic and actually if you’re in Cyrus and then get told it’s not the actual holiday it makes it seem that Dubai is even more believable as you wouldn’t go on the best holiday first would you