Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Holiday as a Christmas present

29 replies

Murrfect · 30/11/2019 09:14

Just how can you ‘give’ it? DM wants to give DS a weekend break for a present.

She’s v generous, hates giving ‘stuff’ and also has a “doesn’t see why should leave it for the tax man” approach.

I’ve been asked to figure it out and am feeling a bit lost. Can you get vouchers? I don’t want to just book it (before she’s given him n his gf tickets to an event which is easy but also not a surprise) and she doesn’t just want to give money

Any suggestions would be v gratefully received

OP posts:
SuperMeerkat · 30/11/2019 09:17

Get a card made from MoonPig with a picture of the destination and the tickets or email confirmation inside? I’ve got DH a hot air balloon ride so my plan is to get a helium balloon in a box and attach the tickets so when he opens the box the balloon will
Fly up with the tickets attached 🎈

AtillatheHun · 30/11/2019 09:18

Guide book for the place inquestion with a printed itinerary

CallSignCharlie · 30/11/2019 09:18

Is it a specific holiday to a specific place ? Or she letting him choose ?
If the first, what about a travel guide to the destination with a note inside

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Christmas Events & celebrations General shopping
Singlenotsingle · 30/11/2019 09:19

Isn't it very common to give tickets to events as presents? Cinema, theatre, balloon rides? I had a ticket given to me for a flower arranging afternoon with a florist. So why not a holiday? If you give people "stuff" it just hangs around gathering dust.

Original poster
Murrfect · 30/11/2019 09:33

Oh some lovely ideas of how to give it thank you! She was thinking of two places possibly (Paris/Amsterdam) so I’ll ask her to pick one - DS will be totally happy whichever. And definitely the guidebook but I love the balloon idea as well

I haven’t seen gift vouchers for holidays maybe I’ll ring them and see if the dates can be left open :-/

It would be go Friday night come back Sunday night but I’m not sure what weekend they are free so thought vouchers (but don’t know where to find them) breaks are under £200 for two with flights right now going on Valentine’s Day

Totally agree about stuff, we always try n give experiences even if they are free so DS has given photos to his DGM and voice recordings reading poetry (which he’d never read voluntarily himself) as she likes to hear him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Murrfect · 30/11/2019 09:35

She’s given me several little breaks as presents in the last few years but I know and so can book it, and events are easy as you know when n where it’s just the open nature of this for it to be a surprise but still booked.

I’m probably being stupid but just can’t see solution yet

OP posts:
Jupiters · 30/11/2019 09:58

I think a guide book is a great idea.

RebootYourEngine · 30/11/2019 10:05

I'm not sure if I would like a booked holiday as a present. How does the booker know the recipient will be free on those dates. What if they couldn't get the time off of work.

splishandsplash · 30/11/2019 10:06

You can buy vouchers for last minute.com which my parents have done previously and I have booked a holiday using them.

Amys136 · 30/11/2019 10:10

Could she book it with him on Christmas Day? So give him a guidebook or pictures of the place on a card then book the flights and hotels together on Christmas day

squashyhat · 30/11/2019 10:11

Can she use a computer and printer? She can make a 'ticket' illustrated with landmarks of the destination, with a guidebook.

Original poster
Murrfect · 30/11/2019 10:27

Haha she can’t/won’t use a computer she’s v resistant to being a silver surfer, is having an echo under sufferance with the promise it can play any classical music she can think of, but I can and that’s an excellent idea!

Moonpig card, guide book and either last minute.com vouchers or pretend tickets and book it on Christmas Day. He’ll love it!

I do like the balloon idea so thinking how to use that for something different.

They’re students so any treat is a fantastic treat!

Thank you lovely Mumsnetters! Mumsnet inspiration wins again!

OP posts:
BlouseAndSkirt · 30/11/2019 10:36

Pretend tickets.

I wouldn’t tie yourself down with vouchers and they might end up being bad value.

The method of payment doesn’t have to be part of the present, just the offer to pay and book

A guide book and make a cover for it: the guide book cover with a photo of him and his gf photoshopped or just glued into the scene!

And maybe a little treat from the place , a miniture bottle of absinthe for Paris, or liquorice or those caramel waffle biscuits for Amsterdam. And a €10 note.

Spam88 · 30/11/2019 10:39

My parents got us a holiday for Christmas once - they have us some money in the relevant currency and wrote the details of the holiday on the card.

You can get Lego/nanoblock Eiffel towers if she goes with Paris?

I think a home made voucher is the best bet though :)

stucknoue · 30/11/2019 10:50

Guide book and an iou is the best option, a prepaid credit card with the budget she plans to spend is another. I've done this for my parents but I had to check the dates first, get passport numbers etc, it's not straightforward

Harriett123 · 30/11/2019 10:51

You could ask him what weekend he is free. Say you wanted to plan a family weekend away some time in say March for example. Let him arrange his time off then grandma could surprise him with the tickets.

Or the other idea a pp mentioned of vouchers for a travel site would also work.

I love this idea I think adventures are way better then stuff. We routinely give our 7 year old holidays ( tickets and night in a theme park) as his birthday present and have done since he was 5. He loves it and says he prefers it to toys.

DazedandConcerned · 30/11/2019 11:06

Just a quick thing:

If they are students and supplying their own spending money you may want to swerve Paris if they like a drink. Was there recently and it was €10 a pint in Montmartre (so not even in the touristy arrondissements). Happy hour does reduce it by half from 5-8/9pm.

Also, I do this every year for my parents. I tend to buy them a guidebook and also put the itinerary with the brochure under the tree.

pantsville · 30/11/2019 11:10

Amsterdam is also expensive for drinks to be fair.

Gizlotsmum · 30/11/2019 11:12

Passport holder with a letter? Travel plugs? Ticket holder? I think you can buy personalised scratch cards too

StCharlotte · 30/11/2019 11:12

As suggested by a pp, this is what I unwrapped when DH booked a trip to Paris as a birthday present (mug for scale).

Maybe a joint if it's Amsterdam?!

Holiday as a Christmas present
Bluewavescrashing · 30/11/2019 11:16

DH and I are giving each other a minibreak to Prague with flights from our local airport. I've bought him a guide book for under the tree 🎁

Ragglesnaggle · 30/11/2019 12:24

Send them to Seville! It's lovely and warm and drinks are super cheap!

Bluewavescrashing · 30/11/2019 12:55

Ooh Seville sounds nice! 🌞

Original poster
Murrfect · 30/11/2019 13:51

Seville is lovely! But he and I have been there (and did the Macarena by the Macarena wall!)

Maybe Lisbon? Amsterdam isn’t for the cafes as they are both very anti so maybe Den Haag which I think is more romantic.

Ooo to be young and in love with a generous DGM!

OP posts:
Lunaballoon · 30/11/2019 13:57

What a brilliant idea for a present. I also think memorable experiences are better than yet more “stuff.”