Whether you’re looking to book some quality time together away from your otherwise hectic lives or simply think it’s time to show your loved one how much you appreciate all they do, injecting some romance into your relationship will never go amiss. While the idea of a holiday abroad with your other half is a significant gesture in itself, we’re sure you’ll agree that planning the entire trip yourself and revealing your intentions only once you’ve finalised all the arrangements will ensure your gift is never forgotten and forever appreciated.
We recognise that the prospect of organising an entire holiday on your own seems like a mammoth task riddled with obstacles in itself – let alone keeping your activities a secret from your partner. That’s why, in today’s post, we’re providing you with a few tips worth considering before you begin booking your time off work.
Free up your schedules
Picture this: you’ve planned out every intricate detail from the spare plug adaptor to the airport snacks, when you find out that your partner is booked in on an important conference call the day you’re due to travel, turning your romantic soiree for two into a solo, lonely retreat.
So, to make sure you avoid a similar situation like this happening and spoiling your efforts, once your destination has been decided on and your dates selected, liaise with your loved one’s boss with plenty of advance notice to ensure that the time you’ll need them to take off at work suits them too. Once their boss is on board, call around friends and family to make sure there are no forgotten-about birthdays that’ve been missed from the calendar. Then, after you’ve confirmed that your holiday doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s plans, it’s time to finally book up!
Choose your destination
While it’s obviously the company that counts, making memories in a new and beautiful destination with your loved one will cement your surprise trip as special and unique. With hundreds of European destinations to choose from, from idyllic, sunny coastlines to vibrant, bustling cities, opting for a European break will ensure your trip is well worth resisting the urge to let your partner know where you’re going.
Before picking the destination with the cheapest flights you find online, it’s worth considering how suitable the place you’ve chosen is for your intended purpose and personal requirements. For example, if you only have a few days away to treat your partner then consider the travel distance from your home to the airport, flight duration and the distance your proposed accommodation would be away from central activities. Comparatively, for those of you looking to fill your week with as much adventure as possible, check out the surrounding area and find places you can visit and explore on day trips during your stay.
Book in your activities
Despite the thought of being wrapped up on the sofa together for a full week sounding tempting, getting outside and exploring the treasures in the area that you’ve spent valuable time picking will make your trip ten times more exciting and worthwhile.
Depending on your own personal preferences and the time of year you’ve planned your trip, immersing yourself in a few activities and bursts of culture before a cosy wine-filled night in will help you enjoy your trip even more. For the adventurers, why not plan a trip hiking or cycling through the mountains or hunt out a secluded beach perfect for soaking up the sun while catching some waves? For additional equipment that will help you unlock your adventurous side and won’t fit in your hand luggage, Shuttle Direct offers a transfer service tailored to every individual requirement and any holiday agenda to ensure your items safely arrive at your accommodation, activity ready!
Deliver the surprise
Once the organising is out the way, it’s time to plan out arguably the best part of your surprise trip – the big reveal! In order to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible, for those of you who share a joint bank account, make sure any pre-payments you’ve made have been billed to your own, personal account. Then, once the practicalities have been taken care of, it’s time to deliver the surprise.
If you’ve chosen to do this as part of a birthday or other celebratory occasion, then it could be worth considering dressing up your treat within another gift to create the ultimate, unexpected wow-factor. For your female partner, why not hide your plane ticket within a box of stunning amber jewellery that can be worn on your evening strolls in Europe? Alternatively, for the man in your life, we suggest incorporating practicality into your gesture by hiding a note of surprise within a new shirt or pair of sandals fit for your destination.
Wherever you select as your location and no matter how many days you have available to spend there, nothing says ‘I love you’ or ‘thank you’ better than surprising your loved one with an unexpected gesture – it’ll make the months of planning worth it, we promise!
