Surprise holiday- please help!

[Bigapple2456]

Hi!

so just a bit of context, my mam has been desperate to visit NYC but we’ve just never done it. She’s always wanted to go and see the Christmas decorations. After years of studying I’ve finally graduated and started my full time job and earning a serious adult salary rather than my part time student wage haha and one of the first things I’ve done is book us a surprise trip to NYC. I’ve always promised I’d take her but it was in a loose ‘one day I promiseeee I’ll take you’ kind of way and now it’s actually happening and I’m so excited for her!

i told my mam I’ve booked us a trip to London to see the Christmas lights so she’s definitely got it all off work and she’s so excited for us to go, but I’m planning on telling her nearer the time we’re actually going to NYC instead. Just wondered if anyone had any ideas of how I could go about surprising her with it? I was thinking of getting her some gifts which seem random (eg a big apple) and then eventually the last gift reveals it but I can’t think of any other ideas other than an apple 😅

if anyone has any ideas of what I could do I’d be really grateful! She’s been a wonderful mam over the years and I just want this trip to be perfect😊

Make sure she’s got a valid passport and can get an ESTA first (hope she’s not been to Cuba since 2021).

A bag of bagels and a toy car yellow NY taxi. Also check her passport date and get an ESTA in time!

Front page of The Times cut into a square 🙂

A cookie from Subway in the Subway bag

Pack of New York bagels

This sounds like a ‘balloon in a box’ surprise to me: ticket to New York at the bottom of the string!

Do not tell her closer to the time! Tell her now, check her passport and make sure your ESTAS are sorted

Are you sure her passport is in date?

Oh yeah by closer to the time I meant end of august when we’re all home and it’s her birthday so that way she’ll have plenty time for estas etc, I’m not going to leave it later than that

passport all grand 😊

Get ESTA sorted. To do that she needs to submit a live video, they recently changed it. I'm afraid you have to tell her in advance.

For my DN and her husband, we had a mock mini magazine cover printed with their photo on. The headline read something along the lines of 'The Smiths hit The Big Apple' and we put cash inside as a wedding present.

Bagels, taxi, and the Times Square picture sound perfect for the gifts! And I’ve never heard of the balloon in the box thing but that sounds gas so I’m going to look it up! Thanks so much 😊

Make sure she’s got a valid passport and can get an ESTA first (hope she’s not been to Cuba since 2021).

Well, I've been to Cuba 3x and am on my second ESTA.

not going near the place with the orange horror at the controls

Enjoy New York! It's fantastic!

Is this true? We transited through SF in February, ESTA took five minutes online.

• Would you go to the theatre? Maybe some (mock up) tickets but you’d scrub out west end for broadway?
• NY style brunch? Get some friends / central perk coffee cups etc and some bagels and cream cheese?
• NY is gonna be cold. Get her a home alone style hat / scarf?
• buy a little guide book (they’re cheap on WOB)

And when you’re there have the BEST time. Keep lots of space in your suitcase for shopping - esp places like Century21.

Aah how lovely. Your Mum is so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter.

I have never heard about a "live video" and neither is it on the web site assuming you both have UK passports (or one from a country part of the visa waiver programme).

Rather than paying to visit the statue of liberty you can do a crossing on the Staten Island ferry and it goes past, it's also free!

What a lovely daughter you are. No ideas about the planning, but some of my favourite things in NYC at Xmas are:

walk 5th ave
get a big apple greeter if you can
take a walking food tour
have a drink in the plaza
go up the Rockefeller Centre, not Empire State. You can see empire state, and it’s cheaper.
The Nutcracker is an awesome ballet to see at Xmas

enjoy!

There's a new ban on US tourism to Cuba. No idea if it'll mean no entry for non nationals.

What a fantastic daughter you are, your mam will be sooo excited, well done

Is she on long term meds that need a hospital or GP letter for Customs and Immigration?

Health insurance?

Is she taking controlled drugs?

Mini Statue of Liberty. (Amazon have them). Or a keyring of it. Sex and the city gifts. Play ‘Empire state of mind’ when you do the reveal. Mets or yankees related gifts. Have a great time, you sound like you appreciate your mum which is lovely ☺️

I can’t top the great suggestions for the surprise… ok maybe one, a Frank Sinatra cassette or CD Amazon link There also appear to some on eBay.

This is so sweet of you I hope you have the best of time. Remember to pack your warm woolies… it will be cold in December.

NY is VERY expensive now!! Just in Telegraph last week picture of deli sandwiches - ham and cheese -$29, egg $25. that was just for 2 pieces of bread and filling!

Enjoy it, your lucky Mam.

So many ‘downers’ on here (or is it just jealousy)…it is expensive, check insurance, hope she hasn't visited Cuba…

Go and enjoy. Well done for your hard work.