Ideas for 40th birthday Mallorca trip gift bags on a budget

[ChampagneCharlotteLemonadeBudget]

Looking for some inspiration around what to include in party/gift bags for a 40th birthday trip to Mallorca in September. There are 9 of us girls going but we range in age from 33 to 78 - I have a budget of maybe £20-£30 each but would like to start buying a little something each month so that I don't need to pay for it all at once. I was thinking things like:

• Mini-hangover kit (although to be fair we are split between big drinkers and not)
• Personalised bracelet/keyring
• Small bottle of prosecco or can of cocktail (although our flight is at 6am and we are only 15 mins from the airport)
• Printed itinerary

They all seem a little bit boring to me though so would welcome other suggestions! I've no qualms about shopping on Shein/Temu, etc. as want to keep it cheap. We already have sashes and not interested in getting t-shirts, etc. as it's not really the done thing in the resort we are in (planning to wear the sashes when we go to the nearest 'party' town)

So because hen do’s have become insanely over-blown, over-expensive all-inclusive holidays, the bride now spends more money compensating the hens for having spent so much, by spending money on tokens to basically apologise / thank them for spending all that money on their hen…. What next? The hens then set up a new ritual of buying the bride something to say thanks for the stuff the bride bought them to say thanks for the holiday the hens bought in honour of the bride?

Eurgh. If this consumerist madness is modern life then I’m glad to be a Gen-Xer 😒

#TeamFunSponge

It isn't a Hen do,

Corporate holiday got given a little bag of nice salty snacks for rehydration, some sweeties, nice sunscreen handbag sized and a bar of local choc. All very welcomed!

How about a lipstick or gloss in a colour chosen to suit each person (instead of the bag of stuff)? Posh lip balm for those that don’t like makeup?

The disposable camera is a good idea but will use up most of your £30 budget even before you consider the cost of developing afterwards.

Mini sunscreen/hydration spray and a fan are good ideas.

This is the thing - I already have an eye mask that works for me (I only like the moulded neoprene ones that completely blackout your vision) and am not into audiobooks so I wouldn't use this. It's reallt tricky to think of things that are not tat to someone.

😂
I was referring to the people that were poo pooing the idea altogether and implying that the concept was childish and unnecessary - she could still organise gift bags without there being lots of tat!

Instead of this I would be the person who gathers together everyone's photos of the trip and creates a lovely online album to share. Zero cost, zero waste and a much better memento of the trip.

Honestly, cheap rubbish is just that- rubbish. My sister bought loads of stuff for my hen night that just ended up in the bin- sunglasses, hats, personalised glasses we'll never use again and I just thought it was a total waste of money.

Caring about the environment really isn't being a 'fun sponge'. One thing each, a lovely gift to remind everyone of the event would be good. Tatty Devine jewellery might be worth looking at.

Just make sure everyone knows what they’re doing with the cameras!

I was at a party where they had them last year & it was far too easy to forget to wind on or use the flash.

I'd much rather you put £20-£30 per person towards dinner/drinks then a bag of tat!

Well said, OP. I genuinely don’t get why some people feel the need to post snarky, judgemental comments or go on about how much they’d hate it.

If it’s not your thing, scroll on by!

I read plenty of threads on here where I think ‘I couldn’t think of anything worse’ but most of us manage not to pile in with negativity. I don’t post ‘eurgh why on earth would you want to do that!! What a silly idea!’ I do wonder if these people walk about talking like this in the real world.

You didn’t ask for opinions on whether you should do it—you asked for ideas. It’s not hard to stick to that.

Because nothing says “thanks for paying to come on a trip” than a cheap bag of shite!
just pay for a cocktail or airport lounge

A hangover kit for grown women? I’ve heard it all now 😂. Happy to join the fun sponges on this one.

@IDrinkTeaAllTheTime So grown women don't get hangovers? Tell that to my menopause after two glasses of wine... you carry on drinking your tea but I would like to celebrate my birthday

@Peonies12 and others suggesting the airport lounge, I've already looked into it and they don't allow groups of more than 6. It would be a bit pointless anyway as it's the only flight leaving the airport at that time so is always fairly quiet (Teesside Airport)

It's not that grown women don't get hangovers (or comedowns, if that's your thing) - it's more that we already know how to deal with them without the need for a 'kit'. It just seems a bit naff.

It's odd that you assume the objections to it are because we all gave up drinking at the chime of midnight on our 30th birthdays.

Oh, we absolutely get hangovers. I’m in my 40s, and rarely drink these days because just one glass makes me feel rubbish and I will suffer badly the next day. I’ve never needed a kit, though. Just the usual painkillers, Lucozade and a healthy dose of existential dread. It all just seems a bit twee and over the top for a grown adult’s birthday.

Not sure if you'll be having pool time but how about buying a book per person, wrapping them up & everyone chooses one. Then people can swap if they finish them.

A Costa voucher to buy a coffee at the airport?

Cocktail in a can, or glass of wine with removable lid?

Obviously you know your friends best, and whether they'd like lots of small bits from Temu etc.

Personally, I think putting the money towards a meal out or trip would be nice.

Agree really naff, this was a thing about ten years ago - I went to a few weddings abroad and the hosts provided goody bags with hangover kits in the rooms. I think it’s wasteful, I have my own painkillers etc.

Each: SPF lip balm, maybe some body glitter, maybe a tote bag. To me the ideal would be one souvenir type thing, and the rest consumables to either use whilst there, or to start using there then bring back and finish.

Could also do a Combined: couple of lilos/ big rubber rings, pool toys (eg reusable water bombs, mini water pistols etc), maybe a communal emergency kit (plasters, pain killers, first aid kit etc). Birthday cake

Totally understand wanting to do it, but am also in the camp of would rather pay £20 less for the holiday, or have the money put towards an experience (I did a river sightseeing cruise with bottomless prosecco on a city break which was about this much!), or into the communal pot for booze/food at airport or on a day trip.

I’d hate a bag of tatt & wouldn’t use anything from Shein or Temu

Is there any echo in this thread? Not sure how many times I have to state that I am not asking if YOU personally would want this, but what I could actually give to my friends/family. I had drawn up a list and it would actually all things that would be used.

Also looked into the airport lounge but it was a no go for groups of more than 6, and offered to pay some money towards a beach club but turns out the majority of them don't want to go (so much for it being my birthday hey)

But now my friend has decided she is going to 'sort' all of it out so I don't need suggestions anymore. Thanks of those who responded to my actual question

I haven’t read the whole thread, only the OP’s replies, so apols if this has already been suggested, but I went on a similar big bday trip, and the bday girl did us all a goody bag that contained, among other things, a Yeti wine cup. The cups were all in different colours and had our names on. It made for a great photo opportunity, and I still use it every week, years later. It’s a lovely memory of an amazing trip! I’m sure there’s a lower cost version that could work for you.

Don't overlook the googly-eyed ravens...