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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:
timeforakinderworld · 20/07/2019 18:09

The EHIC card doesn't get you free health care necessarily. It just gets you the same "deal" for emergency care as a local would get. In Italy you pay for some things at A & E (if it is deemed not to be an emergency for example). You still need health insurance too as it won't cover some things e.g. medical transfer home if needed.

EleanorReally · 20/07/2019 18:27

Hopefully you wont need any medical care anyway.
it might be an opportunity to warn her, of the necessity for a flight

Goingonagondola · 20/07/2019 18:48

I’ll definitely get insurance. It is only 3 days so I’m really hoping we won’t need any medical care but you just have to have the insurance I know.

OP posts:
wibbletooth · 20/07/2019 23:12

Does she get travel sick? If so will she need some medication or travel bands to help? Or even ginger to help.

Does she have a particular teabag or drink that she starts the day with? Might want to take a few teabags with you or some favourite biscuits etc to have a take with you as a taste of home, particularly if she is ever likely to have hypos and need a quick sugar fix.

Some sucky sweets to the airplane to suck on take off and landing.

To go with the adapter get a multi plug and one with usb ports in too so you can charge several things at once.

A money belt so you can split your cash up.

As well as a guide book do some research beforehand to see if there any things that you would like to do and see if you can get advance tickets more cheaply. Also download maps onto your phone do they are on there and you don’t need to rely on data for it (regardless of cost, the moment you need it is going to be down a back street with rubbish reception!). Also see if there are any good tourist guide apps to go with the book so you have both options.

Also google tourist scams in Venice so you can be aware in advance - you hear horror stories of people looking at menus that seem reasonable without realising that they are for indoors and if you want to eat outdoors then it’s 85 Euro’s per head or 50 euros for a coffee and ice cream in st marks square etc. Forewarned is forearmed!

Does she have any other relatives or friends that might want to give her a present that would be something to do in or to do with Venice? They (so long as they can be trusted not to spill the beans!) could give her a card and just say present later or with OP etc - then give you a card and euros to say ‘your present is a trip to Murano and Burano and the money to buy a glass necklace as a momento of your trip’ for example. Or a voucher for a photo book to make up for memories of the trip etc.

If either of you have a camera rather a camera on your phone - a spare memory card as I bet you’ll take loads of pictures. If you just have phones then do you have a way of backing them up while you are out there? You can get memory sticks that you can use that again won’t use data to transfer images.

A small light day bag to put things in when you buy things out there, or want to put your coats somewhere safe rather than in your hand if it’s a nice day and you don’t want to wear them all day. (I have a couple of ‘sue’ shoppers from a company called Mia tui that are only £4-5 but hold loads and also have a zip section and fold down very small and are very light. They also have a slightly bigger stronger travel bag that folds small but has a slip on it so it will go on the handle of a wheelie bag.

Would she enjoy a novel set in Venice to read as light relief while out there?

Goingonagondola · 21/07/2019 22:37

Wow! Thank you @wibbletooth - what an amazingly helpful post. The teabags thing is just sheer genius and will make a huge difference to mum when we arrive.

Photos I think will back up on the cloud as both iphones with storage.

The day bag is a genius idea as well - I probably wouldn't have thought of that as we'd have suitacases and handbags but nothing to take out with coats and things in.

Thanks again for giving it so much thought.

OP posts:
TapasForTwo · 21/07/2019 23:02

When we took 76 year old MIL on holiday with us the insurance company wouldn’t let me take out travel insurance on her behalf without talking to her first.

Waterproof trousers and wellies October-Jan is the high water season and venice often floods

This ^^
When we visited Venice one October the water was ankle deep all around St Mark’s basilica. I was miserable having wet feet all day.

Pickpocketing is rife in Venice so a jacket with inside pockets for phone and cards is a good idea and a cross body handbag for larger items.

Another point to remember is when eating out a cover charge is always added to the bill – this covers the tablecloth, cutlery and bread. Vegetables are usually an added extra on the menu so if you order a steak that’s what you will get – just a steak. So eating out can be expensive if you aren’t careful.

Goingonagondola · 21/07/2019 23:37

Great tips, thank you @TapasForTwo

I'll sort insurance this week but the ones I've had quotes for have been online with no question of speaking to anyone so hopefully that'll be the case.

It does sound like we take our chances with the weather. We could get sunshine, rain, floods etc. I'd love a dry and sunny October weekend but the weather gods hate me (wedding day was in August and it was freezing) so we will see. The apartment owners provide wellies so that people don't have to travel with them, luckily. Also, our apartment is reasonably near St Marks and that's the worst bit for flooding as it's so low lying (apartment is upstairs!) so if it's wet on the day we do that we can go 'home' and change and then head for a less flooded bit for the rest of the day.

OP posts:
TapasForTwo · 21/07/2019 23:41

Maybe check that the wellies are the right size first. It says something about Venice that the owners even keep a stock of wellies. When it rained when we were there it wasn't drizzle, but a torrential downpour all day.

Goingonagondola · 22/07/2019 00:10

Yes they've checked sizes already, they are incredibly efficient. They've sent loads of info as well. Feel thoroughly looked after in that regard. But they did also say that the aqua alta is usually a bit later than the dates we have booked and only affects a small number of areas so fingers crossed. We are Scottish as well so a wee bit rain will no stop us. Grin

OP posts:
Happynow001 · 22/07/2019 03:28

Also google tourist scams in Venice so you can be aware in advance - you hear horror stories of people looking at menus that seem reasonable without realising that they are for indoors and if you want to eat outdoors then it’s 85 Euro’s per head or 50 euros for a coffee and ice cream in st marks square etc. Forewarned is forearmed!
That was particularly in/near St Mark's Square I think? Check out TripAdvisor for info also and there may be other review sites also.

Pickpocketing is rife in Venice so a jacket with inside pockets for phone and cards is a good idea and a cross body handbag for larger items.
maybe see if you can add Velcro (order from Amazon) to those inside pockets to make it more difficult for pickpockets? Cross body bag is a good idea - just make sure that the flap is against your body or any top zip is in front of you.

Also photograph both your passport information pages and email it to yourself in case your passports go missing for any reason - that should help when reporting the loss and getting replacement travel documents.

Add a list (on your email account) of any valuables you take with you - keep those to a minimum.

Make a list of the medications you/your mother takes (including dosage) on your phone - email that to yourself also. Ensure you have a copy of the prescription in case if enquiries. I sometimes have a backup supply of medications in my checking bag - in case my handbag goes missing.

Put a sheet of paper in your name and OFFICE (not home) address inside your luggage so if it goes missing and/or your luggage tag gets ripped off you stand a good chance of getting it back.

I hope you both have a great time and don't forget to just sit and watch sometimes - rather than trying to do/see everything! 🌹

Sosayi · 22/07/2019 19:16

I would check the cost of travel insurance before you book any flights
You might find that due to her age and and medical conditions she is refused insurance or it’s crazily high with lots of restrictions
If she is waiting to see a consultant /hospital operation planned at any point many insurance companies won’t cover you
Once you get a good price for insurance book the insurance there and then as it could easily change nearer the time

Goingonagondola · 22/07/2019 20:25

Insurance all done now - thank you. It was actually very easy - type 2 diabetes is so common that I don't think it really flags much.

OP posts:
sunnyshoresgalore · 23/07/2019 18:57

I loved Venice but do your research because the food and drink prices were extortionate! And I'm no cheap skate. It's such a lovely idea I hope you both have an amazing time :) btw I went i October and it was actually lovely and sunny.

Somersetlady · 23/07/2019 19:02

Tell her you think she should apply for an EHIC card before Brexit OP and them it can be sent to her house.

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