Surprise Holiday (Help!!)

[AutumnSpring]

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 !

 

[Gembo]

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!

 

[calmyourritas]

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

 

[Hinchhater1442]

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

 

[AutumnSpring]

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 tit!

 

[Hinchhater1442]

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!

 

[mcfeez]

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.

 

[HoGi]

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?

 

[BlobbyBlobbyBlobby]

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?

 

[AutumnSpring]

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.

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 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’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

 

[bexgreen1983]

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

 

[AutumnSpring]

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

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 ...

 

[bexgreen1983]

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 ...

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]

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...

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

 

[GiggleBee]

I 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

 

[AutumnSpring]

I 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

Thank you! I would LOVE to go to these places but they’re just out of my budget 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!

 

[Bumblebee]

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.

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

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.

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.

 

[Hinchhater1442]

Be mindful of Ramadan if travelling in May to Dubai X

 

[AutumnSpring]

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!