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AIBU?

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Surprise holiday- please help!

36 replies

Bigapple2456 · 05/07/2025 12:25

Hi!

so just a bit of context, my mam has been desperate to visit NYC but we’ve just never done it. She’s always wanted to go and see the Christmas decorations. After years of studying I’ve finally graduated and started my full time job and earning a serious adult salary rather than my part time student wage haha and one of the first things I’ve done is book us a surprise trip to NYC. I’ve always promised I’d take her but it was in a loose ‘one day I promiseeee I’ll take you’ kind of way and now it’s actually happening and I’m so excited for her!

i told my mam I’ve booked us a trip to London to see the Christmas lights so she’s definitely got it all off work and she’s so excited for us to go, but I’m planning on telling her nearer the time we’re actually going to NYC instead. Just wondered if anyone had any ideas of how I could go about surprising her with it? I was thinking of getting her some gifts which seem random (eg a big apple) and then eventually the last gift reveals it but I can’t think of any other ideas other than an apple 😅

if anyone has any ideas of what I could do I’d be really grateful! She’s been a wonderful mam over the years and I just want this trip to be perfect😊

OP posts:
Bigapple2456 · 05/07/2025 12:37

Bagels, taxi, and the Times Square picture sound perfect for the gifts! And I’ve never heard of the balloon in the box thing but that sounds gas so I’m going to look it up! Thanks so much 😊

OP posts:
Tooty78 · 05/07/2025 12:36

For my DN and her husband, we had a mock mini magazine cover printed with their photo on. The headline read something along the lines of 'The Smiths hit The Big Apple' and we put cash inside as a wedding present.

ToClimb · 05/07/2025 12:36

Get ESTA sorted. To do that she needs to submit a live video, they recently changed it. I'm afraid you have to tell her in advance.

Bigapple2456 · 05/07/2025 12:35

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 05/07/2025 12:32

Do not tell her closer to the time! Tell her now, check her passport and make sure your ESTAS are sorted

Oh yeah by closer to the time I meant end of august when we’re all home and it’s her birthday so that way she’ll have plenty time for estas etc, I’m not going to leave it later than that

passport all grand 😊

OP posts:
CeffylCoch · 05/07/2025 12:33

Are you sure her passport is in date?

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 05/07/2025 12:32

Do not tell her closer to the time! Tell her now, check her passport and make sure your ESTAS are sorted

Myfridgeiscool · 05/07/2025 12:31

This sounds like a ‘balloon in a box’ surprise to me: ticket to New York at the bottom of the string!

Aboutmeabouttime · 05/07/2025 12:31

Pack of New York bagels

Raquelos · 05/07/2025 12:30

Front page of The Times cut into a square 🙂

A cookie from Subway in the Subway bag

InSpainTheRain · 05/07/2025 12:28

A bag of bagels and a toy car yellow NY taxi. Also check her passport date and get an ESTA in time!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 05/07/2025 12:28

Make sure she’s got a valid passport and can get an ESTA first (hope she’s not been to Cuba since 2021).