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AutumnSpring

Well-known member
I hate surprises so I would rather know. Also in terms of spending money the money for Dubai is a lot more than Cyprus (I’ve been to both) so I’d like to know for that reason as well.
I am covering spending money too so that’s all factored in anyway but I agree completely!
 
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 😂🙈
 

AutumnSpring

Well-known 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!
I can afford to change it to another destination just where to change it to is the problem! Thank you xx

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
Well that was my original plan to reveal a fake destination eg Cyprus and then when we were at the airport say surprise it’s Dubai! With the dress code I’ve been saying it’s cooler in the evenings so to take light cardi for the evenings (for the mall etc in the day time). To this person they probably wouldn’t pack much different from Europe to Dubai and I’ve been helping them buy outfits and leading them that way haha!

I just wanted to take them somewhere they would never be able to afford to go as one big final trip for us together. I have had a look at Mauritius and it’s similar price.

Some of my friends have said maybe now is the time to fess up and just let them know where we are going so I thought I’d get some more views on it. The other thing is we might be delaying until May and I just feel like the whole surprise isn’t going to shit!
 
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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 !
Maybe don’t change it but arrange some surprises when you’re there?