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Original poster

Surprising someone with a holiday - at the airport! What to remember?

114 replies

Goingonagondola · 19/07/2019 22:30

For my Mum's 70th I'm taking her to Venice.

I've told her I'm taking her on a trip, and she's coming to mine the day before we fly. Then in the morning I'm telling her we are going to the station but instead will go to the airport and surprise her with tickets. But I'm worried I'll forget something that will mess it up, due to the surprise element. Here's what I've done or thought of so far - have I forgotten anything?

I've got her passport (under false pretences)
I'm applying for an EHIC card for her
I'll get Euros for her and lend her the money
I'll put roaming on on my phone and pinch hers the night before to activate it on hers (but it can take 24 hours apparently so might be a gap before she has use of it)
Booked someone to look after her dogs (and told her)
Obviously have either booked or planned flights, accommodation and transport to/from airports.
Will get an adaptor plug
Will get money belts for us both due to pickpocket issue in Venice
Will tell her at the airport and get her to shuffle any liquids from bag into her suitcase and anything from suitcase she'll need on the way into her hand bag.
Maybe pressure socks (necessary for a 2.5 hour flight?) She is obviously nearly 70 and overweight, and diabetic (not sure if relevant)

OP posts:

KickBishopBrennanUpTheArse · 19/07/2019 22:35

Travel insurance. Make sure you've told them about all her health issues.

Anything else need sorting at home? Milk deliveries? Plants watered? Other plans or appointments cancelled?

Have a great time!

nothingtowearever · 19/07/2019 22:35

All sounds good. Did you pay for a suitcase because it's normally just hand luggage so I'd be weary about liquids

Passmeabrew · 19/07/2019 22:35

Does she inject her insulin or tablets? If injects might need proof a print out of medication to take with you for flight. Book/puzzles or something for flight? Snacks!!!

SkelterHelter · 19/07/2019 22:40

Will she be bringing sufficient medication with her? If she injects, do you need to let the airline know about syringes (sorry I don't know). Have you sorted travel insurance? An EHIC card won't cover repatration etc.

How hot will it be? Will she need sun cream, a hat maybe? Comfy shoes for walking further than normal, that won't rub and injure the skin on her feet.

An sure others will be along with lots of other ideas. Have a lovely time!

eurochick · 19/07/2019 22:40

Letter for any medication she needs to carry through airport security?

I think liquids might be the biggest issue unless you are checking in a bag.

Original poster

Goingonagondola · 19/07/2019 22:41

Yes - travel insurance will be taken. I'm slightly worried as I've already paid for half of the accommodation but not the flights because I'm waiting a week or two to see if prices go up or down (risky I know!) At what point do I take out the travel insurance - is there a time limit from booking? Accommodation is currently cancel 100% refund (at this stage) so no worries with that bit being uninsured right now.

Home stuff should be sorted as she knows she's going away just not where. I sorted the dogs as she struggles to leave them except with one person and I knew she wouldn't want to put upon that person so I did it for her and they were delighted to be part of giving her a treat for her birthday!

When I book the flights I plan to book us a suitcase each. I can't tell her not to bring one for what she thinks is a local weekend shopping somewhere like Oxford or it'd give the game away, and tbh I'm not a light packer...

Tablets not injections so should be ok. Thank you all so much, I'm scared of forgetting something vital!

OP posts:

Original poster

Goingonagondola · 19/07/2019 23:11

I've actually just realised the EHIC card is a problem. When I apply for it, they're going to send it to her address aren't they? And I can't really ask her to bring it can I?!

OP posts:

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 19/07/2019 23:14

Can’t you put your address?

SimonJT · 19/07/2019 23:15

Get travel insurance now as you have already booked the hotel.

Original poster

Goingonagondola · 19/07/2019 23:29

I don't think I can put my address as I think that would invalidate it wouldn't it? I've never had one.

(Oh by the way, did I mention I haven't been abroad in over a decade and am shitting myself!)

OP posts:

Nanamilly · 19/07/2019 23:34

Op, I think taking your mum on holiday is lovely but please have a think about the impact the surprise could have on her. It could throw her off kilter and the holiday might not be all you want it to be for her.

QOD · 19/07/2019 23:36

Do the quote for travel insurance online and put a correspondence address on too

Plexie · 19/07/2019 23:37

Get travel insurance as soon as you have committed money that isn't refundable, which in your case sounds like when you book the flights. Bear in mind that you may need to spend time inputting medical details on different travel insurance sites to compare prices - they can be high for people of that age with health conditions, and they do vary a lot between countries. I think I used a list of companies on Martin Lewis's Moneysavingexpert site when looking for insurance for my mum.

Not sure what you mean about roaming taking a day to set up. Do you mean data? Because calls and texts will work just by you connecting to a local phone network when you arrive. I've found that my smartphone doesn't connect automatically though, I have to go into settings and manually prompt it to connect. It might be worth looking on your provider's website to see who their network partner is in Italy.

Plexie · 19/07/2019 23:40

I meant insurance prices vary among companies, not countries.

Northernsoullover · 19/07/2019 23:43

Its a lovely thing you are doing but a word of warning. A friend did this for his partner. She was a bit upset because although this sounds trite she fretted about clothes (she wanted her favourite hot weather stuff) and she felt she had missed out on some of the excitement of getting ready to go. Obviously you know your mum better than anyone else but she might be a little shocked. I'd tell her an hour or so before you are to leave. That gives her the opportunity to have a little bit of preparation.

memaymamo · 19/07/2019 23:43

Op, I think taking your mum on holiday is lovely but please have a think about the impact the surprise could have on her.

Have to agree with this. My Mum would not enjoy this surprise, she'd so much more enjoy the anticipation and getting ready for Venice, choosing just the right things to bring, etc.

Of course, you know her best OP, but do be careful.

Plexie · 19/07/2019 23:47

Also what Nanamilly said. For me, a lot of the enjoyment is in the anticipation. Didn't you say on your other thread that your mum is a bit of a flapper when away? Is telling her on the day likely to stress her? You could tell her a few days beforehand but that might set her off too.

Original poster

Goingonagondola · 19/07/2019 23:53

She knows that she's going away and that the destination is a surprise. She just won't expect it to be THIS much of a surprise. She's always wanted to go to Venice. I've promised to tell her the forecast/temperature (which - as we're going in October - isn't likely to be very high) so she can plan clothes and to tell her anything she needs to bring, like sensible walking shoes, a nice top for going to a restaurant etc. I threatened to make up fake items like a bottle of antivenom for snake bites. ;)

My mum is a real panicker and worrier so she doesn't do anticipation so much as flapping. The surprise element is designed to take that from her (and put it on me haha). She's also not super fussed about clothes as long as she's comfy so she'll be ok. We're going for a long weekend.

@Plexie Don't you have to switch on roaming on your phone with your provider? As I say, totally inexperienced.

OP posts:

choppolata · 19/07/2019 23:58

I'll get Euros for her and lend her the money
If it's her birthday surprise shouldn't you be paying?

Original poster

Goingonagondola · 20/07/2019 00:01

@choppolata I'm paying for the flights and accommodation. I mean Euros for anything she spends while she is there. She'll definitely insist on paying me back for that bit (actually she's going to go nuts at me for treating her to so much - which is another reason to do it as a surprise as she would probably try to talk me out of it otherwise as she would find it so hard to let anyone spend so much money on her!)

OP posts:

UltimateIrritant · 20/07/2019 00:06

Will she require Special Assistance to get to the plane? Would a wheelchair make it any easier? It's better to book this in advance with the airline.

Also, make sure she doesn't have liquids or sharp objects in her carry on.

Have a great trip, and don't forget some comfy shoes

FilledSoda · 20/07/2019 00:08

I'd be a bit wary of springing anything on a 70 year old , but she knows it's a trip but is expecting somewhere in the UK ?
Meds , insurance , money , ticket , passport are the essentials . Everything else can be bought out there.

Original poster

Goingonagondola · 20/07/2019 00:14

Thanks everyone! No special assistance - she's quite a young 70. Yes - liquids and sharps will have to go into her suitcase after I've told her.

She came to visit me once and bought some antique butter knives and tried to take them back on the plane in her hand luggage. I will always remember the security guy tapping the box and saying 'what are these?' and her saying indignantly 'My knives!' like that was a totally ok thing to take through security. Though in her defence, it would take a while to butter someone to death, especially with a fragile old knife.

It's a surprise, but a surprise she's expecting. I gave her the choice to know where we are going or keep it a surprise and she chose to keep it a surprise. Granted it'll be more of a surprise than she's expecting. But in a way I really think for a notorious worrier and overthinker (and a single mum of many many years who hasn't had a thing done for her in a long time and had to plan every trip, every chore herself) it will be part of the holiday to know we are going NOW and it's all booked and taken care of.

OP posts:

Worrier1234 · 20/07/2019 00:16

I think there's a tourist visa you need to pay in Italy? Seem to remember this from when I went to Venice a few years ago - think we paid it at the hotel. Worth making sure you have accounted for that in the money you are taking.

Have a fab trip!

DelphiniumBlue · 20/07/2019 00:17

Yes, do book special assistance at the airport. They will pick you up from near where you get dropped off/ station exit, and take you through the airport, avoiding queues and stress about where to go, and the endless standing around, which can be really hard for older people. It's free, and you don't need to prove anything, it just means that if you have any mobility issues, you are looked after and don't arrive at your destination needing to rest up!

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