Surprise help needed!

[KittenCatt]

It’s going to be my mother’s 60th birthday on Christmas Eve 2023.

I have been saving up, and have enough money to pay for us both to fly out and to stay in New York (her dream!) for 5-7 nights over the Christmas period 2023.

My dilemma is… how and when do I tell her?! I want it to be a big surprise, but of course she’ll need to prepare for the trip.

Any ideas will be greatly received. TIA 😊

I’m tempted to tell her on her birthday (Christmas Eve) this year… or should I wait until closer to the time?!

I’m hoping to book the trip at some point in November this year…

If she works, tell her to book x date to x date off.
Probably as soon as her AL allowance restarts as Xmas times can be busy for people wanting time off.

Personally I would tell her what type of clothes to pack and not tell her till we got to the airport.

You're going to get a range of views here! Personally having turned 60 this year myself I would say the planning and anticipation would be half the fun so a birthday card this year with a picture of New York would allow her time to get excited and make plans for the trip.

You know her best, but I would hate to be told at the airport. I'd find it so stressful it would take away from a wonderful trip.

What a great daughter btw!

It's my 30th next year, and on my birthday this year my husband surprised me with a trip to Venice for next year. He gave me it after my other gifts and I had no idea. But I'm so excited I have a year to plan / plot what to do and see and prepare myself to leave the kids 🤣

Yes tell her on her birthday this year. Let her get excited. If it’s her dream I’m sure there are specific things she wants to do that you might have to book. The popular shows sell out quickly too etc.

I got a weeks notice of my surprise 40th birthday trip to New York. It was rubbish - although DH had sorted childcare, I had no spending money saved, only just enough time on my passport and no time booked off work.

Tell her this year. Maybe give her a guidebook to NYC. Let her have a lovely year of planning.

We did this for one of our DC, but for Christmas, it had always been her dream too and she'd had a tough few years. I gave her some small gifts, mostly 'neutral' but with a few NYC or travel themed ones thrown in - a small framed picture of New York, a locking luggage strap, that kind of thing. I also gave her a calendar with the dates circled (which she didn't spot). The last gift was a US plug adaptor, which really confused her! Then I got her to look at the relevant month in the calendar. It finally dawned on her.

It was so much fun, and she loved the excitement of finding out that way. Could you maybe do something similar on Christmas Eve? For DC (and me) the anticipation and excitement was a huge part of it, so telling her in advance worked really well.

Tbf everyone else is right.

I love surprises and my mum does so being told at the airport would be so exciting for us but know that's not for everyone!

A box filled with New York related things to give her this year would be lovely

Thank you, everyone!

I’m taking her out for lunch on her birthday this year, so I think I’ll tell her then. I might her her one of those scratch and reveal cards that says we’re going to New York on it :)