How to surprise your child with a vacation
11 Fun Ways to Reveal a Surprise Beach Vacation
Vacations are fun no matter how you go about planning them, but, at least once in a lifetime, you should attempt a surprise beach vacation! Whether you’ll be going on vacation with your kids, friends, extended family, or the love of your life, you can make this trip as exciting for them as it is for you by trying out these fun surprises.
Ready to get your unforgettable beach vacation surprise underway? Read on for 11 great ways to reveal a surprise beach vacation!
Good to know: If you’re considering vacation destinations, an all-inclusive family resort in the Caribbean is the way to go! Gorgeous islands like the Turks & Caicos and Jamaica don’t take long to get to from the U.S. and make for a perfect surprise beach vacation.
Picture: With five unique European-inspired villages, and up to 21 restaurants serving cuisine from all over the globe, there is so much for your group to do, explore and experience on your one-of-a-kind beach vacation at Beaches Turks and Caicos.
Ways to surprise your children with a beach vacation…
1. Puzzle
A great way to surprise your kids with a beach vacation is with a custom puzzle. There are quite a few companies that specialize in creating and printing custom puzzles. You can design one with a photo of your choice, or if you’re feeling artistic, you can try making your own puzzle right at home. If you opt to go the DIY route, you’ll need glue, cardboard, and a picture. To create your puzzle, just glue the printed photo onto the cardboard, then mark and cut your puzzle pieces out. The size of your DIY puzzle pieces should depend on the ages of your kids. Smaller kids will lose interest if there are too many pieces, so cut your puzzle into bigger fragments to give them a grand surprise!
Photo credit: Hasim Ramle/Shutterstock.com
Expert tip: If you’ve never planned a family vacation before, our family vacation checklist is just the tool you need to get started!
2.
Treasure huntWho doesn’t love a good treasure hunt? I’m sure your kids do! Give them an unexpected surprise at the end of their treasure hunt by announcing a surprise beach vacation. Have your kids hunt for treasures that hint at your upcoming trip. Use things like flip flops, bathing suits, beach toys, or even something hidden in a suitcase to get them thinking. All your clues should help them get that much closer to figuring out the surprise. Make your final clue a letter (or maybe even a postcard!) that’ll share exactly where you all are going, and when!
3. Balloon pop
Balloons always get kids excited! Their mere presence suggests that there is something to celebrate. You can clue your kids into your planned family beach vacation with a balloon popping extravaganza. Put small clues or a single note detailing your vacation into one (or several) of many inflated balloons. Your kids can have fun popping them and looking for the surprises inside.
For this reveal, use a picture, postcard, or note which you can slip inside a balloon before blowing it up. You can get another adult to help younger kids with the popping, so they can be part of the fun too.
4. Bring a loved one in on the surprise
There are few things more exciting than a surprise beach vacation, and the reveal of it can be pretty fun too. If you’re planning a multigenerational vacation, increase the anticipation by including surprise guests in the reveal. Have one of the family members or close friends who’ll be coming along give the kids a surprise call or visit. They can ask the kids if they would like to go on a vacation together with the whole family. It is very likely that your kids will be thrilled and say yes, and once they do, your friend or family member can reveal that beach vacation plans are already in the works!
Photo credit: fizkes/Shutterstock.com
Expert tip: Heading off on a surprise vacation with family? Here are some family vacation ideas and vacation ideas for families with teenagers that’ll help you make great memories.
Ways to surprise your partner with a beach vacation…
5. With a meal or drink from the destination country
Want to surprise your partner with a beach vacation in the most unexpected way? Why not treat them to a delicious meal associated with the country you have in mind? Take Jamaica for instance — you’ll have loads of great Jamaican food and drinks to choose from, but some traditional jerk chicken or even meat patties will do the trick. Or if the plan is to go to the Turks & Caicos, some delectable seafood will be just what the doctor ordered. Once you’ve served up your meal, ask your partner how they like it. Tell them they'll have the opportunity to try the same dish made by locals on your special vacation for two! If cooking isn’t your thing, you can try a cocktail recipe, a beer, or another native drink for your special beach vacation surprise.
Expert tip: There are just as many popular foods from the Turks & Caicos that you can use for inspiration.
Try adding your own flair to a traditional dish!
6. Give them travel essentials as a gift
Is there a ‘must have’ travel essential your partner can’t stop talking about? Did you two previously go on a trip and forget an item like sunglasses? Or could your partner use some more sunblock for the next time you travel? If you can think of any incidents or items like this, you’ll have the perfect tool to surprise your partner with for your surprise beach vacation announcement. Simply gift them with the item of your choice, and once they’ve opened it, you can inform them that they will very likely need it for your upcoming beach vacation!
7. Movie reveal
There’s lots of room for creativity with a movie reveal. There are so many movie genres to choose from and lots of movies have stunning beach scenes. If you want to showcase just how romantic a beach getaway can be for a couple's vacation, try using a romantic comedy to subtly clue your loved one in on the vacation surprise.
Simply set up a movie night and let your partner know you’ve got a special movie already picked out. Once the perfect beach scene comes up, be sure to comment on the beauty of the place to draw them into the moment. You can even comment about knowing exactly where it was filmed. Once they’re interested, casually let them know you two will soon be able to explore the island together in real life on a surprise beach vacation!
8. QR code
It’s easier than you might think to use a QR code to surprise the love of your life with a beach vacation. If you want to go this route, there are a few things you will need to do first. Start by filming yourself telling your partner about the beach vacation you’ve booked or, as an alternative, you can search for a video review of your destination. A webpage would also work really well. Use the app of your choice to create a QR code that will take your better half straight to the video or webpage that you have selected.
Once you’ve created your QR code, send it to your partner by text or email, print it out, or put it into a card.
If you really want to get fancy, get a custom cake made with the QR code printed on it! Any of these options will work as long as your partner can easily scan the QR code with their phone to access your special announcement. One thing’s for sure, they won’t see this beach vacation surprise coming!
Expert tip: While there are many all-inclusive family resorts in the Caribbean that make it more convenient to travel with kids, you can look forward to an outstanding getaway for couples in the Caribbean as well.
Ways to surprise a group of friends or family members with a beach vacation…
9. Box in a box in a box
Planning on surprising a group of people with a beach vacation? A fun way to do this is with a series of boxes that will seem never-ending as you all open them together. For this option to have the maximum effect, get everyone together for a casual hangout. Serve up some drinks and appetizers, and, while everyone is enjoying themselves, bring out the special gift you prepared ahead of time.
The idea is to fill a gift box with airline tickets or travel details, then place that gift box into a bigger box. You’ll place the bigger box into a bigger box, and a bigger box, and so on, until your surprise is deep in a sea of gift boxes. As your friends take turns opening this endless gift, everyone’s curiosity will gradually mount. The room will explode with excitement once the main box is opened, and your beach vacation announcement is read aloud by the final opener!
10. Casual reveal
A more casual option for a group reveal can involve getting together for dinner or a drink. As you all are relaxing and enjoying each other’s company, bring up the topic of the holidays. Somewhere in the conversation, it’s very likely someone might bring up how nice it would be to travel during the holidays — that will be your cue. Jump in, and agree with them wholeheartedly. Then, you can reveal to your friends that this was the precise reason you went ahead and booked a beach vacation for the entire group.
Your friends will likely be very surprised, so give them a moment to let this revelation sink in!
Expert tip: Is your heart set in Jamaica? The island is an incredible destination for a beach vacation that your friends will love. Here are some things Jamaica is known for that you can share with your traveling companions in advance of your big trip.
The ultimate surprise reveal…
Don’t tell them until you get to the airport!
This one is a bit harder to pull off and may require some deception, but if you’re looking for the ultimate surprise vacation reveal, don’t tell your loved ones where you are going until you get to the airport. If you’d like to try this option with your partner, a close friend, or family members, keep in mind that it’ll only work if you’re familiar with their schedule (work vacation time included). Disguising your surprise beach vacation as a more routine getaway (like a day trip or a weekend stay at grandma’s house) will help you to avoid suspicions until much later.
Photo credit: LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com
As long as all scheduling concerns have been addressed, it’ll be much easier to get your travel partner or partners to pack, so you can head to the airport. Or you can even pack for them in secret. It’ll all be part of the surprise. Once you get to the airport, if they haven’t picked up on the packed luggage in the car, you can expect quite a bit of shock and excitement when you finally make your surprise beach vacation announcement!
Expert tip: In all the excitement of secret packing, don’t forget to bring along your passports, other required documents, and your travel necessities!
Big reveals are great, but your surprise beach vacation must live up to the hype!
There are many ways to reveal a surprise beach vacation, and we hope we’ve helped you figure out an exciting way to tell that special someone or a group of your favorite people that you're taking them on a beach vacation.
The only thing that will excite them more is telling them all about the all-inclusive resort you have secured for the occasion!
Picture: Beaches Negril captures the essence of a laid-back paradise along with the elegance of a luxury resort.
Consider an all-inclusive resort in Negril if you can see yourself sailing the western coast of Jamaica aboard a catamaran snorkeling cruise with the ones you love. You’ll be fascinated by the beautiful scenery, and will delight in the vibrant sea life you see as you snorkel the coral reefs. All-inclusive resorts in Ocho Rios will give you the benefit of being close to popular activities and attractions on the island. Your family will love climbing to the top of Dunn’s River Falls hand-in-hand, and splashing about in the refreshing pools below.
As for putting together the best surprise reveal for your exciting vacation, with some creativity and patience, you’ll be well on your way to a truly amazing experience!
15 Creative Ways to Surprise Kids with a Trip to Disney
We pulled our first surprise trip on our daughter when she was four and we were headed on a weekend trip to Disneyland.
We had her convinced that we were all driving Grandma to the airport to go on a trip to Orange County, and then we revealed the secret that we were all going on the trip as we pulled up to the departure gates. It was simple surprise and required very little planning to really knock her socks off. Obviously it doesn’t take much to really keep secrets from little kids, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t over-the-top fun to pull off some really cool ways to surprise kids with a trip (I mean, they make for some epic YouTube videos, don’t they?)
From treasure hunts to elaborate hoaxes, you’ve got some serious planning to do if you want to top these epic surprise vacation reveals:
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1. They Just Came to Drop Off Mom at the Airport
It takes a special skill to keep three young girls in the dark about surprise travel plans. But the fact that this mom packed up hairbrushes days earlier in the week and sent them off with Dad to Disneyland and they still didn’t suspect anything is truly a magical skill.
RELATED: 12 Smart Tips for Planning the Ultimate Disney Princess Vacation
2. Computer Countdown Surprise
These little girls thought they were 365 days away from a trip to Walt Disney World, but their parents had other plans. They created an elaborate countdown program that just kept counting down once they hit play, and it turns out they’re leaving tonight!
3. Treasure Hunt Surprise Trip
Being allowed to open “just one present” at Christmas time felt so indulgent, but these kids won the jackpot. They got a treasure hunt throughout the house and a wonderful surprise at the end.
4. A Personal Invitation from the Princesses
These parents went the extra mile when they were planning out their daughter’s birthday surprise. They put out a call to friends who were visiting Walt Disney World in the prior months and got some very special friends to record greetings for her daughter. She put them all together in a video and shared it with her daughter as they got close to Orlando on her daughter’s birthday.
5. A Little Game of Pictionary with a Surprise Ending
Sometimes the best way to make a surprise really stand out is to hide it in a normal place. These kids were just playing Pictionary at home and kept guessing that the answer was “A family trip to Walt Disney World,” but it wasn’t correct until they realized it was THEIR family trip!
6. When the Kids Surprise Mom but the Surprise Is for Them
I love a great birthday surprise, but this one is a perfect set-up from the parents. It’s mom’s birthday, and the kids are all in on trying to surprise her with a cake. What they don’t know is what is written around the cake will be a surprise for everyone.
7. A Twist on a Normal Game Night
It’s just family game night in the Rupp household with a good ‘ol game of Monopoly. That is, until their daughter gets a card she hasn’t seen before…
8. When Your Daughter Thinks She’s Getting a Phone and Gets a Trip Instead
A previous attempt at surprising her daughter with a trip to Walt Disney World fell flat, so she did everything to make sure this birthday surprise six years later did not.
9. A Boring Work Trip with Dad
These parents had convinced their kids they were hanging out at a hotel in Georgia while Dad was on a work trip. Little did they know that they were waking up in Florida instead and headed out to Walt Disney World that morning.
10. Do You Choose to Accept This Mission?
These parents went all out and pre-recorded a secret spy mission video for their kids. They had no idea that when they accepted the mission and started the tasks they would end up with a surprise trip at the end of the day.
11. Don’t Tell Your Child Where She’s Going Until She’s Already There
There’s a lot of dedication when you don’t let your daughter in on the surprise trip to Walt Disney World until AFTER she’s boarded a plane to Florida and is in the vacation hotel room.
12. A Puzzling Trip Surprise
This family thought ahead and created a photo puzzle to help them reveal their surprise trip. They gave five of the pieces to each of the five kids and let them solve the puzzle to reveal the surprise. They were so excited to complete the puzzle they needed help to see the hidden meaning!
13. We’re Not Going to “Camp Iowa”
Lots of parents make shirts for their families to wear at Walt Disney World, but very few will go to the effort of making shirts for a fake destination. These parents had their kids convinced they were headed to “Camp Iowa” for their family trip, down to the matching T-shirts they were wearing in excitement, but then broke the news the night before.
14. There’s Treasure Buried Under the House
This epic surprise involved a treasure map arriving in the mail, cryptography, and a whole lot of serious effort by all family members.
15. The Best Advent Surprise Ever
Surprising kids using an advent calendar might seem like an easy task, but these parents kept their kids on their toes with twists and turns before the final surprise reveal: a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
More Family Vacation and Travel:
- 8 Tips for Taking Your Kids to Disney Without Losing Your Sanity
- 21 Things All Moms Worry About When Planning a Vacation
- 11 Ways to Connect With Your Kids On Your Next Family Vacation
12 ways to entertain your child during the autumn holidays | BuyMama Vologda
The autumn break is only one week long and the weather this week is far from the best.
So what can you think of so that your children and you yourself do not get bored of spending this week without classes? Of course, you can bury your eyes on the TV or lie down on the sofa, but we want to offer you other, more exciting ways to spend these days.
The two most important rules for a great vacation:
1. In the first 2-3 days that fall on the weekend, allow the child to do nothing, just lie down, relax, walk, watch cartoons and the like. Your baby needs a break and a few days of "doing nothing" will be very helpful. nine0007 2. You need to do your homework in the first days of the holidays, so that you can relax later. Firstly, this way you will not forget about them, and your child will not get into an awkward situation. Secondly, they will not hang like a "dead weight" and it will be possible to have fun and relax with a clear conscience.
Vacation destinations:
1. Go to a nearby town. It is possible that there are no special attractions in it, but being in an unusual environment, finding new unexplored paths and corners with your child is very exciting and incredibly close. Explain to your child how to use the map, how to politely ask for directions or specify where the transport is going. nine0003
2. Study all the posters in your city.
During the autumn holidays, many cinemas, museums and exhibition centers offer special programs for schoolchildren at low prices. Explore the entire "range" and, together with your child, choose where he would like to go.
3. Lay out a maze or leaf pattern.
A walk can become even more entertaining if you lay out a labyrinth from dry leaves, and then have fun exploring it with friends. nine0003
4. Become a volunteer.
This option is suitable for older students. You can spend one day at an animal shelter, plant a tree, or have a community work day. Socially useful work provides invaluable experience and this can be the beginning of a graduate resume. A socially active person will definitely attract the attention of the selection committee.
5. Participation in master classes.
Go with your baby to an interesting master class. It can be making a postcard using the scrapbooking technique, felting from wool, drawing, modeling, culinary art - anything. The time spent together for creativity will have a positive impact on your relationship and your child's hobbies and may be the beginning of a new interesting hobby. nine0003
6. Photo session in the autumn park.
A very good idea for a holiday with children - come up with an interesting image or just dress in bright clothes, collect colorful autumn leaves and go for a walk in the autumn park to create a series of unforgettable photos. Let the child be himself and he will surprise you with a whole range of emotions.
What to do at home?
If the weather is not at all happy and you don’t want to go outside, then you can spend time interestingly at home. nine0007 7. Arrange a board game championship.
Every evening when the family gets together, you can bring out a new board game. Record the results in a table so that at the end of the holidays you can compare the results and give out prizes. Or maybe you will come up with your own board game, draw cards with your child and write the rules?
8. Start exercising.
During the holidays, you should not get out of the regime and sleep until dinner. Try to use this time to introduce a new tradition - family exercises with cheerful music. nine0003
9. Fashion show.
If you are unsuccessfully trying to get your child to clean up the closet, then the holidays are the time to turn this process into an exciting game. Arrange a fashion show, teach your child to combine things with each other, dress according to the weather and the occasion. On the other hand, it will be easier for you to notice what clothes it is time to remove from the closet, what is missing in your baby’s wardrobe, etc.
And you can also combine this pleasant activity with a photo session - when you don’t know what to wear for a child, look through the photos and find the right option. nine0003
10. Make a feeder.
The real cold is coming soon. Invite your child to build a feeder out of wood, a can, or a plastic bottle. The joint production of this useful unit, and then the observation of birds and small animals that will visit you, will definitely bring you together, and also instill an interest in research in your baby. Not to mention that the birds will definitely say "thank you" to you.
11. Culinary experiments.
Holidays are a good opportunity to try cooking with your child according to the simplest and most unpretentious recipes. It can be various breakfasts that you can surprise your dad with, it can be different sweets - donuts, cheesecakes, homemade cookies or sweets, or maybe you will come up with your own recipe and call it your own way?
12.
Album of pleasant impressions.
Even the brightest impressions are gradually erased from memory, so invite your child to make an album of pleasant memories together: let him write his impressions of the holidays, make sketches, glue stickers, attach photos, autumn leaves, movie tickets, etc. Filling in such an album will not only be a pleasant joint activity, but will also help develop writing skills and fine motor skills in a playful way. nine0003
Be closer to your children, do not be lazy to come up with interesting joint activities and they will definitely thank you for an exciting childhood.
9 unusual surprises for a child that he will remember forever
Once you give free rein to your own imagination - and you are a hero to whom children applaud and vied with each other asking: “Dad, can you do the same bathyscaphe, but with a live octopus?” The main thing is not to be lazy to come up with something new and seem ridiculous. "Mel" and "Banderolka" chose cool ideas on how to have fun with a child.
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Let's say you don't like solving puzzles from "Entertaining Geometry", you have nightmares all the time on playgrounds, but you need to do something with your child. It is worth remembering about the fascinating crafts that can be done even without the participation of the kindergarten teacher. In fact, as ridiculous as the idea of putting on a giant cashew nut costume is, this is exactly what a child will thank you for decades later. No, he will not tell his grandchildren about the fact that you fed him nutritious porridge and bought waterproof pants. And the giant nut will become a meme for decades, its shell will seep into all family albums, and you will receive the status of the most loving and, possibly, crooked parent. But this is not so important. nine0003
In today's world, there is little we can do to truly surprise our loved ones. Entertainment, delicacies and pants with kittens became available and lost their former appeal. The boom in hand-made is only explained by the fact that a living real person spends a piece of his life on a felt bag.
It's incredibly weird and cool. If we want to give children something unique, we should devote our time to them, firstly, and secondly, try to do something unique. Just for them and just for them. I mean, it's a good idea to ask the guy from the nursery in advance if he is allergic to nuts and who he is according to the horoscope. nine0003
So, here's what you can do if you find in yourself both a desire to surprise a child and a creative attitude.
1. Equip a rope park in the children's room
While a person is away for a short time to school, screw several rope ladders, ropes to the ceiling, and stretch hammocks between them. Spread mats on the floor, they can be useful for both a child and a grandmother who can get tangled in nets. In the middle of the room, a tent will be more appropriate than ever, where guests of the planet of the apes can hide. Let the room take on an unusual look, the happiness of a child who hung upside down is worth all the design frills. nine0003
2.
Organize a science lab (yes, at home!) If the child is still young, he will be happy to make a potion out of soda and a bag of spices. The older the alchemist, the more spectacular the work should be. Show a person all these simple experiments: soda pop, non-Newtonian liquid, a lot of foam from dishwashing liquid, water colored with food coloring hidden in the sleeve. The triumph of science and the power of a parent in one bottle. More precisely, not only in a bottle, but also on the floor.
3. Arrange space in the apartment
Any person will be pleased to wake up on a day off and understand that the whole Universe is open before you - just stretch out your hand. And the effect is not so difficult to achieve. Hang the moon on the wall, install a planetarium - the "Death Star" in the middle of the room. If you don't have a spaceship at hand, just display the starry sky on the wall through the projector. The main thing is not to appear in front of a child in flowered pajamas.
Household robes should indicate that the galaxy is in danger and the power in the kitchen has been seized by the Sith. nine0003
4. Dress up as a witch or a robot (or whatever)
An adult disguised as a dog is always liked by the younger ones. Not because he looks like an idiot, but because he is an adult who is seriously immersed in the game. Invite your son to have breakfast as a robot. No, one sleepless night over the reports will not be enough. A box from a vacuum cleaner and a corrugated pipe from a hardware store will complete the stylish look. You can, in fact, get a ready-made suit. What is valuable is that while you are in the role, you can behave like the last witch: make the child eat fish, pore over the lessons, do push-ups. And no one will be offended. nine0003
5. And make a cool costume for the child
“Dad, I want to go to class in the form of a huge crab!” - when a child voices his preferences in a school uniform, many parents begin to comfort the younger in an inappropriate way: "Maybe I'll just braid your pigtails in the form of claws?" It's not all that, of course.
We rarely take children seriously anyway. Let us at least sometimes allow ourselves to fulfill their unexpected requests.
Metallic tape, boxes, multi-colored wire, your beaded dress from the last corporate party - all of this can be made into such things that the guys from the Burning Men festival want to take a picture with you. My son somehow went to class, wrapped in paper tape (he was a mummy), and the day somehow immediately set. In winter, the child will feel comfortable in a beetle outfit: a belly made of an artificial fur coat, and botanical glasses on his head. nine0003
Any, even the craziest costume, can be found in American online stores: in the USA, they just love costume parties. Hundreds of cool looks can be found on Amazon, Disney Store or Costume Craze. Whatever you look at, the "Banderolka" service will take care of the most difficult: if it's hard for you to understand the English-language site, the service workers will help you choose the right products and make a purchase.
6. Make a "fabulous" tuning on the car
This will definitely remain for centuries. When you turn your car into a Cinderella carriage, a giant peach, or a car with the face of a Cheshire Cat, you will win recognition for your child wherever you take him. True, if you have a teenager and an airbrush in the form of talking sausages is on your car, your son may ask you to buy him a bus pass. And when they meet, pretend that they don't know you. nine0003
7. Prepare a bunch of suspicious food (better burgers or cotton candy!)
Caring dads and moms try to get their kids spinach tartlets, but rarely succeed. For some reason, most children have irreconcilable differences with spinach. But if you invite your child to the kitchen to make hot dogs and giant burgers, the situation will change. Many will be attracted to trying to blow a cloud of cotton candy in the kitchen - don't give it up. The main thing is not to try to do everything clearly, quickly and according to plan, in the kitchen, like nowhere else, there is a place for creativity.
And if a client is trying to attach sausage-shaped space antennas to a burger and is talking to him, make small talk. Feast so feast. nine0003
8. Developing real photographic film together
Locking yourself in the dark in the bathroom with a parent who says “Here it used to be” is not very interesting. Only if at the same time you do not soak photos in an antediluvian developer. Invite the younger one in for an intriguing atmosphere, glittery images on strings, and the words "phenydone hydrochlorinated." This will enrich the children's palette of curses and will sound when some extra ghost appears in the photo.
9. Hide treasures for a child
Your child seems to have accidentally found a piece of a map with a skull and a cross. And now you are already walking through the park, and under the oak, tearing up a pile of foliage, the younger one finds a clay pot with real jewelry. If you have ever invested in a profitable venture, you can appreciate the joy of a child.
