Not everyone can keep asecret. So it’s often best to say nothing at all – to anyone – if you don’t want your precious info leaked. One woman learned the hard way. She had spent ages saving money and planning the perfect surprise trip for her husband. He was none the wiser while she put all the wheels in motion for his 40th birthday.
That’s until the woman made the grave mistake of mentioning the surpriseoverseas tripto his parents. What had taken her months to plan and cover up was all unraveled in a matter of seconds, when her in-laws got a bout of verbal diarrhea. They blurted out everything. More than once. To say the wife is livid is an understatement. She’sturnedto the internet for advice.Bored Pandareached out to travel expert Lukas Van Lishout fromSecret Africafor some tips and tricks when it comes to planning a surprise trip for a loved one.
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A 40th birthday is a big milestone for many people
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One woman’s attempt to make her husband’s big day extra special hit a snag when his parents totally ruined the surprise
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What’s the secret to planning an epic surprise trip to Africa? An expert spills the beans
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The woman mentioned Morocco as the secret destination. Although it’s very possible she used the country as an “eye-blind,” it’s not unlikely she’ll be whisking her husband away elsewhere on the beautiful African continent. Bored Panda reached out to the team fromSecret Africafor some travel and planning advice. It’s a bespoke African safari specialist travel agency, specializing in tailor-made, luxury experiences on the continent.
“Before planning a trip to the African continent, one should know the preferences of their partner,” travel expert Lukas Van Lishout told us during our interview. “Are they more interested in going on a safari, do they want to relax at one of the pristine beaches, or do they want a holiday packed with adventure and cultural experiences?”
Van Lishout says once you’ve established this, the next step is todo some research on the countries that match your partner’s preferences. “South Africa, for example, is great for wildlife and adventure, but not so much for a beach holiday (as the ocean is freezing here). The Seychelles, on the other hand, is incredible for a beach holiday, but you can’t do a safari on the island.”
“A milestone birthday like a 40th deserves a trip that is unforgettable,” says the expert. His top suggestions include Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique and the Seychelles.
Van Lishout says securing the necessary travel documents for your partner can be a challenge when planning a surprise international trip. But there are ways to handle bookings discreetly.
“The most important document is their passport, as you will need it for booking flights and securing visas. If you don’t have direct access to it, some airlines allow you to reserve tickets with just their full name and date of birth, and the passport details can be added later,” he advises. “Booking hotels or lodges is possible without your partner’s passport.” A company like Secret Africa can easily help with this, he adds.
The expert says visas are also important to consider, but they vary from country to country.Beyond documentation and logistics, several other factors can influence the success of a surprise trip.“Certain destinations requirevaccinationsor malaria prophylaxis. If your partner isn’t up-to-date, you’ll need a clever way to arrange this, such as suggesting a generalhealthcheckup,” suggests Van Lishout.
“If you’re packing for them, ensure they have suitable clothing for the destination’s climate – neutral tones for safari, warm layers for early morning game drives, and lightweight attire for beach locations,” he adds. “If packing is too tricky, you can provide them with vague hints (e.g., ‘We’ll be somewhere warm’ or ‘Bring a swimsuit and hiking shoes’).”
The expert advises that when it comes to luxury safaris, you should start planning at least six months in advance. This will help you secure the best lodges, he says.
“But it’s better to play it safe and to start organizing your trip a year ahead. Safari lodges operate with limited guest capacity, and peak-season availability fills up quickly and you don’t want to miss out,” warnsVan Lishout, adding that booking through a travel agent will help you save time, as they know all the good lodges and deals.
You can now pay someone to plan a surprise trip for you
Image credits:Kateryna Hliznitsova (not the actual photo)
Not everyone is a fan ofsurprises. If you consider yourself somewhat of acontrol freak, you might not be too thrilled if someone sprung it on you that they had packed a bag for you, and you’re en route to the airport, to board a flight to who-knows-where…
But then there are those who love surprises – and mysterytravel. So much so, that they aren’t waiting around for a partner or friend to plan a surprise trip for them. They’re doing it themselves. With some help from a travel agency that loves keeping secrets.
Surprise travel has become all the rage in recent years. More and more companies are offering their services to plan trips where the finaldestinationis a well-kept secret.
Accordingto BBC Travel, the general way it works is you first choose a package based on your budget, how far you want to go, and how many days you want to travel. You’ll then be asked to fill out a questionnaire, which includes things about your past trips, interests, mobility issues, and dietary restrictions. In-house researchers then start planning your trip.
“About a week before your departure, an email arrives with cryptic hints about where you’re headed – such as the weather forecast – so you know what to pack, and what day and time you should arrive at the airport,” reads the BBC site.
“Then a few days before departure, you’ll receive a letter in the mail containing two things: a smaller envelope and a letter explicitly telling you not to open the second envelope until you get to the airport.”
The second envelope is usually the one that carries your surprise destination and itinerary. It’ll often include restaurant reservations, as well as suggestions for places to see and things to do on your trip.
The experts advisepackingfor all eventualities, although many mystery travel organisers will give you an idea of what weather to expect, along with a few packing tips.
Optimism and a positive mental outlook are essential, writes one of Timeout’s Travel experts, Laura Hall. “Sure, you might be disappointed, but that is the risk you run – you just have to make the best of it. While many companies like Journee do try to match travellers to their preferences, you can’t be married to a destination or trip type. Otherwise, what’s the point? If you like to be in control, this is not the style of travel for you.”
Some felt the wife should continue keeping the trip a surprise, while others didn’t see the point
Thanks! Check out the results:Monika Pašukonytė
Indrė Lukošiūtė
Viktorija Ošikaitė
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