surprise trip reveal ideas new york

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How to reveal suprise trip to New York? - New York City Forum

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Any ideas would be great :)

You could get a NYC travel book & wrap it up for him.

Great ideas! Thank you!

Will be giving him the present when we are on our holiday in Cuba :)

An apple? A big one :)

A guidebook - and then it's a practical present too.

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13 Ways to Surprise Someone with a Trip

Last Updated: December 4, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was reviewed by Seth Hall and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano . Seth T. Hall (ICF ACC, CLC, and MNLP) is a Certified Life Coach and Founder of Transformational Solutions, a Los Angeles-based life-coaching company that helps people achieve their toughest goals, find their own voice, and think outside the box. He has been a life coach for over 10 years, specializing in personal development, relationships, career and finance, and wellness. He has helped his clients break the negative cycles in their lives and replace them with a positive, proactive mindset. Seth believes that everyone has the potential to live a fulfilling and rewarding life, and works passionately to help them reach their full potential. With a deep understanding of how our minds work and the power of positive thinking, he encourages his clients to find their unique paths in life and find success on their own terms. He is a certified master practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a featured co-author for WikiHow, and co-author of "The Mountain Method”, “The Happy Tiger”, and “The V.I.S.I.O.N.S. Program”. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 77,841 times.

Your loved one is going to be over the moon about the surprise vacation you’ve planned just for them, but how do you reveal the surprise? Luckily, there are tons of ways you can surprise someone with a trip and make the reveal unique to them! In this article, we’ll fill you in on the best, easiest, and most creative ways to gift your partner, parent, kids, or friend the trip of a lifetime. What are you waiting for? Keep reading because we have a trip to reveal!

Things You Should Know

• Create a scavenger hunt or play a balloon popping game to get kids excited about discovering their gift.
• Watch a movie featuring the surprise destination or dine at a restaurant specific to the culture they’ll be experiencing to surprise an adult.
• Reveal the secret at the airport the day of the trip to give kids the ultimate surprise.

• Order custom puzzles through sites like Shutterfly and Collage.
• Consider adding a message to your puzzle’s image like, “Surprise! You’re going to Hawaii!” or “Happy Birthday! Mickey’s waiting for you!”
• If the puzzle comes in a box with the puzzle’s image on it, put it in a blank box or bag, so your loved one won’t know what they’re revealing until the puzzle is complete.

Treasure hunt

• Theme your clues around the destination. For example, if they’re going to the beach, hide clues near a pair of sandals, under popsicles in the freezer, or beside the pool.
• Make the final clue their ticket or a message saying something like, “You’re going to Disney World!”
• Keep the clues age appropriate. If the vacation is for a younger child, help them read the clues or use pictures to describe where the next clue is.

Daily riddle

• Write the riddles on notes to stick randomly around the house for them to find.
• Text them a clue in the middle of the day to lift their spirits.
• Make the riddles as easy or difficult as you like; just keep your loved one’s age in mind.
• One of your riddle clues might be, “I measure time, I build castles, and I’m small enough to fit in a spoon. What am I?”

• Create a QR code easily on website like QR Code Generator , QRCode Monkey , or beconstac .
• If you don’t want to make a video yourself, no problem! Link the QR code to a travel brochure or documentary featuring the destination.

Box in a box in a box

• No boxes, no problem! Try this same idea but use various sizes of envelopes instead.

Hide the ticket in another gift

• Place the ticket in the fold of a piece of clothing, so they’ll have to unfold the item to find it.
• Slide the ticket in between the pages of a self-help book.
• Tape the ticket to the underside of a box of chocolates.

Write a message on a cake

• “Happy Birthday, Abby! P.S. You’re going to London!”
• “Pack your bags! The Eiffel Tower is waiting!”
• Consider theming the cake around the destination, even if it doesn’t go with the party’s theme.

Ask a friend or family member for help

• Try getting your loved one’s favorite celebrity or influencer involved using Cameo (a personalized video service). Simply pay the celebrity or influencer through the service, and ask them to reveal the trip in their message.

Gift a travel essential

• Try wrapping up a series of items for the trip separately but make the final present a note about how they’ll need everything for an upcoming getaway.

Cook a meal from the destination

• For instance, if you’re taking them to Italy, try making pasta from scratch and serving wine imported from the country.
• If cooking isn’t your thing, take them to a restaurant featuring the country or culture’s cuisine.

Balloon pop

• Fill the balloons with confetti or sparkles for extra fun.
• This game is best to play with children of elementary age and older as sitting on balloons could cause a few boo-boos.

Movie reveal

• Greece: Mamma Mia
• France: Ratatouille
• Scotland: Brave
• London: Love, Actually
• New York: West Side Story

Reveal the destination at the airport

• Consider keeping your kids guessing even after you get to the airport. This way, they’ll have to use context clues and observational skills to “crack the code.”

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://www.travelingmom.com/disney-surprise-children/
• ↑ https://momontheside.com/vacation-announcement-scavenger-hunts
• ↑ https://youtu.be/wSFi2iyvOCU?t=99
• ↑ https://aprilveralynntravels.com/planning-surprise-trip/#how-to-reveal-the-surprise
• ↑ https://youtu.be/yLqd3dQ1Y8w?t=80

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Surprise New York Trip Treasure Hunt - Vacation Reveal - custom printable

OpenChests.com does not ship physical products.  We sell digital downloads and deliveries are made via automatic email.

Once your payment is processed you will receive 2 automatic emails;

- one email from OpenChests providing you with a generic game in the format of PDF files.

- and a second email from Corjl.com inviting you to access the templates and edit them if you wish to.

You can choose to print the PDFs at home or get them professionally printed.

Surprise New York Trip Treasure Hunt - Vacation Reveal

Great for revealing your surprise trip to New York

These Editable Treasure Hunt Clues and Jigsaw Scavenger hunt are the perfect printable if you want to build the excitement when revealing vacation to New York.

Fun Rhyming Riddle Treasure Hunt with Treasure Map too

Hide the trail of riddle clues and enjoy watching them find and solve each one until they reach the mailbox where they will find a Treasure Map.  The icons on the map show where they should look to find jigsaw pieces, which when put together will allow them to read your secret message telling them to look under their pillow where they will find tickets telling them when are where they are going on vacation.

Straight to your email inbox

Once the payment has been processed you will get an automatic email giving you access to the Treasure Hunt Clues kit as a printable PDF.

Generic clues work in most homes

You'll print the PDF, at home or at a professional printers, and hide them as per the hiding reference. When they are ready to play, t he seeker(s) are given the first clue which leads to clue 2, and so on until they reach the treasure at the end. 

You will have options

You will also get an automatic email from Corjl.com inviting you to edit the clue templates online where you can do the following:

• Personalize   with their name(s)
• Customize for your property/location   by changing the clue answers so they lead to interesting hiding places you would love to use.  
• Create your own clues   using the blank templates.
• Change the   clue numbers   - useful if you want to create a game for teams or swap out a clue you don't love with one of the extra clues provided.
• Edit the   map   by changing the text and the icons.  There is a huge bank of images on Corjl.com for you to choose from.
• Edit the text on the   jigsaw   message and you can even change the jigsaw image once your preferred image has the right proportions.
• Edit the   tickets   with their names, the trip details and a special message from you
• Edit the text on the   envelope.

Complete the look:

Adventure Treasure Hunt Clues for older Kids and Teens

Riddle Treasure Hunt Clues - older kids, teens, adults

Outdoor Treasure Hunt for Teenagers | Challenging Clues | For Adults too

Email delivery

Once your payment has been processed, you will receive PDFs of everything you need via automatic email. No shipment delays!

You can customize on Corjl.com

For no extra cost, you can also edit the templates on Corjl.com. Once your payment has been cleared, you will receive a second email from Corjl.com inviting you to edit the clues/map template you purchased.

Each kit has a link to an editing demo that you can try out before you place your order.

How long to I have to edit the templates on Corjl.com?

To prevent the designs from being exploited for commercial use, there is a 30-day expiry on the templates on Corjl.com. Please reach out if you need more time.

How many different sets of clues or maps can I create and download in Corjl.com?

For maps, you can create and download as many different maps as you wish within the 30 day window. For clues, you can customize and download 4 times. Again, reach out if you need more downloads. It's just put in place to prevent the bad guys!

Do you offer a print and ship service?

I am currently not offering this service. If you purchase you will receive the printable kits as PDFs via automatic email. You can then print at home or bring the file to a professional print service.

Can you customize the kits for me?

If you have an idea for a theme, then let me know and depending on my workload, I might take on the project.

If you are trying to customize on Corjl.com and feel stuck or overwhelmed, please get in touch, and I'll try to help - most people find the editing process fairly easy.

About OpenChests.com

Click here to learn more about OpenChests

How Editing Works

If you choose to edit the Treasure Hunt Templates, here's how it works .

Click here to learn more about me.

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Any Occasion Surprise New York Trip Boarding Pass

Instantly download this printable Surprise trip to New York Boarding Pass template. It’s perfect for your surprise NYC trip reveal!

Designed as a fake boarding pass, this ticket has been dressed up with a fancy font, the Statue of Liberty and comes in either gold glitter, silver glitter, red or blue.

You easily personalize this template yourself at home. Simply open it in Adobe Reader, highlight my sample text & type in your own.

This ticket is super versatile and works for any kind of trip to the big apple – whether it’s visiting the iconic NYC sights such as Central Park, Empire State Building, Times Square, Rockefeller Center etc, going shopping on Fifth Avenue or going to the theatre.

Type in the occasion “Happy Birthday”, “Happy Anniversary”, “Girls Trip!” or anything you like on the left side of the ticket, then fill in passenger names, destination (this could also be a hotel or event name), date, comments etc.

You can also edit the “Pack your bags, you’re going to New York!” text to further customize your gift.

How it Works

• Additional information

Included Templates

Important info, required software.

• Reviews (4)

1. INSTANT DOWNLOAD Instantly download this printable Surprise trip to New York Boarding Pass template immediately after your payment has been processed.

2. PERSONALIZE AT HOME Open the template in the FREE Adobe Reader on your laptop or computer and simply start typing over my sample text. This template will ONLY work in Adobe Reader not in any other program (or on your mobile device). Note that the the “Surprise trip to New York” text and the “Your Boarding Pass” on the barcode on this template cannot be changed.

3. PRINT Print as many times as you like on your home color printer (or at your local copy shop) on 8.5 x 11 inch (or A4 sized) bright white Cardstock. See all my printing tips here .

4. CUT Cut out your Surprise trip to New York Boarding Pass using the provided cut lines as a guide.

1. Instructions 2. PDF file with 2 x tickets per page (each of the 2 tickets can be for a different passenger and/or date etc).

Each ticket is 8.353 x 3.5 inches.

TICKET SIZE:

Each Surprise trip to New York Boarding Pass template is sized 8.353 x 3.5 inches. There are 2 x tickets per page

REQUIRED SOFTWARE:

Adobe Reader (the latest version is called Adobe Acrobat Reader DC). The printable Surprise trip to New York Boarding Pass template will only work in this FREE download from: https://get.adobe.com/reader/

MOBILE FRIENDLY:

NO – templates will not work in an App. Edit using the full Adobe Reader program on your laptop or computer only

EDITABLE TEXT:

YES – type directly over my sample wording using Adobe Reader on your laptop or computer

EDITABLE GRAPHICS:

NO – templates are locked. Graphics, colors, sizes, fonts or backgrounds cannot be changed

EMBEDDED FONTS:

YES – fonts are already embedded in the file

EMAILABLE TICKET:

NO – this is a printable file

Editable PDF

PAPER SIZE:

US Letter (8.5×11 inches) or A4 paper

RECOMMENDED PAPER:

110lb (300gsm) bright white Cardstock (or the thickest your printer can handle)

PRINT AT A COPY SHOP:

YES – save to a USB and take to your local copy shop

PRINT AT A PHOTO LAB:

NO – these are not JPG or photo files

This editable template works best in the FREE desktop version of Adobe Reader on your laptop or computer. You may have issues editing in any other program OR on your mobile device.

The latest Adobe Reader version is called Adobe Acrobat Reader and you can download a copy of this program to your computer or laptop for FREE here: https://get.adobe.com/reader/

4 reviews for Any Occasion Surprise New York Trip Boarding Pass

Kyla D – January 13, 2021

Washington, USA

Leah G – October 12, 2020

Awesome product, super easy to edit! Prints great!!! A++++ Missouri, USA

Hayley L – February 17, 2020

Rochester, United Kingdom

Jaime – January 7, 2020

Massachusetts, USA

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.

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How to reveal suprise trip to New York? - New York City Forum

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Any ideas would be great :)

You could get a NYC travel book & wrap it up for him.

Great ideas! Thank you!

Will be giving him the present when we are on our holiday in Cuba :)

An apple? A big one :)

A guidebook - and then it's a practical present too.

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• What To Do During Layovers?
• Hotels: Kitchenettes and kitchens in 100+ Manhattan Hotels
• Hotels: Two queen beds plus a kitchen/kitchenette
• Hotels: Guests under 21 years old (but at least 18)
• Hotels: Which ones charge an additional Resort or Facilities Fee
• Hotels: When is the best time to go for cheaper rates?
• How Do I Ride the Subway (UPDATED)?
• Tips, Hint and Suggestions for First Timers
• SCAMS to avoid in NYC
• What Will the Weather Be Like During My Trip?
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• Where to eat in NYC - Part 2
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• What Should I Do on New Year's Eve?
• What is there to see and do near WTC/SOL/Brooklyn Bridge/SI ferry?
• What should I know about visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum?
• What Is There to See and Do in Brooklyn?
• How Do I Get to the Brooklyn Bridge?
• What Is There to See and Do in Queens?
• Exploring neighborhoods - where should I go and what should I see?
• Which is the best? ESB or TOTR or OWO?
• Which are the significant churches in Manhattan?
• Hidden Gems in the city - not so touristy
• How do I get from NYC to the Meadowlands and back?
• I'm Getting Married in NYC...what do I need to do?
• Should I Buy Knock-Off Purses?
• What to Do with Kids and How to Do It?
• What should we do at night -- especially with kids or under 21's?
• Places to eat (and drink) with a view
• Where is the Old FAQ?
• Trip Reports: Families with Young Kids - Add yours!
• Trip Reports: Groups of Friends - Add yours!
• Trip Reports: Families with Teenagers - Add yours!
• Trip Reports: Couples - Add yours!
• Trip Reports: Solo Travelers - Add yours!
• Trip Reports: Families of Adults - Add yours!
• Trip Reports - VERY short visits to the city.

My Top 7 New York City Surprises

Sharing is caring!

After decades of seeing, hearing and reading about New York City it’s easy to have some misconceptions built up in your mind. Here are the top seven things that surprised me on my first visit:

1. Free Tours

Like any big city, a trip to NYC can put a big dent in your wallet if you are not careful. That’s why I was surprised to learn how many free tours are available, including ones for such notable places as the New York City Public Library and Grand Central Station, to neighborhoods such as Union Square and Little Italy. Most of these tours are led by passionate locals, eager to share their city’s history with visitors.   Here is one good list of Free New York City tours to get you started.

2. Unfiltered Tap Water

I am no wine connoisseur, but when it comes to tap water, I’m a real snob. I’m used to delicious, untreated well water, so when visiting big cities, I stick to the bottled stuff. That’s why when my husband and his brother (who both grew up on Long Island) suggested I refill my water bottle right out of a restaurant’s tap, I thought they were crazy. Eventually, though, my thirst got the best of me, and I drank from a New York City water fountain. To my surprise, that water tasted great! I’ve since learned that NYC is one of only five major cities in the United States with water so pure it does not require filtration.

3. Union Square Greenmarket

They may call it the Big Apple, but I did not expect to discover fresh fruit and vegetables in the heart of Manhattan. The Union Square Greenmarket is a full-fledged farmers market open four days a week. It’s a great place to find fresh produce, local cider and wines, genuine maple syrup, pure honey, artisanal breads, farmstead cheeses and much more. In fact, with the park right there, you can buy enough to have an impromptu picnic.  The market is open every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, check out the Union Square Greenmarket official website for more information.

4. Manhattan is Walkable

Much to my surprise, Manhattan is quite walkable, weather permitting. The subway is still handy when you need to to get somewhere in a hurry, but for more leisurely explorations, you can’t beat hoofing it. Walking in Manhattan leads to the type of unplanned moments that create the best travel memories. For instance, I never would have had my two celebrity sightings (Deepak Chopra and John Krasinski) or discovered a French cheese showcase (with free samples) if I had taken the subway instead of strolling down Broadway.

5. General Worth is Buried in Manhattan

There are statues all over New York City, but I was surprised to learn that the body of General Williams Jenkins Worth, for whom Fort Worth, Texas is named, is buried at the intersection of Broadway and 5th Avenue, right across from the famous Flatiron Building.  Although well-marked, it is easy to walk right past this 51 foot tall monument without realizing it is a historical grave site (in photo at top). I also found it interesting to learn that the pickets on the cast-iron fence surrounding this monument are replicas of General Worth’s Congressional Sword of Honor.

6. Last Minute Broadway Show Tickets

I thought deals on Broadway show tickets were only possible with advance planning, and since we didn’t know when we would be in New York City, I crossed that idea off my list. Turns out there are a couple of ways to find last minute Broadway show tickets at good prices. One is through TKTS, which sells discounted tickets (up to 50% off) the day before and the day of any show. The other way to get a last-minute deal is to drop by the theater where the show you want is playing shortly after their box office opens and see what’s available. That’s how my husband and I snagged box seats to Mamma Mia , and I was able to see my first Broadway show.

7. New Yorkers are Friendly

All my life, I have heard New Yorkers described as a brusque, even rude, group, however, this was not my experience at all. Everywhere I went, locals were warm, friendly and eager to help a gawking tourist such as myself. When we looked lost, strangers were quick to offer directions and at lunch, a passerby pointed us to a great lunch deal . Later, when our pizzeria server overheard that my iPhone battery was low, he brought an extension cord over to our table so that I could charge it up during our meal – yet another pleasant surprise about New York City.

Photos: Courtesy of the author

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Tui Snider is passionate about exploring the world, and loves sharing what she finds at home and beyond in her travel writing and photos. You can find her online at Discovering-Dallas-Fort-Worth.com, mentalmosaic.com/blog and on Twitter @mentalmosaic. Her top three travel destinations are Italy, London and anywhere a cruise ship will take her.

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Automatic Refunds and No More Hidden Fees: D.O.T. Sets New Rules for Airlines

The Transportation Department issued new requirements on refunds when flights are canceled or delayed and on revealing “junk” fees before booking. Here’s what passengers can expect.

By Christine Chung

The Transportation Department on Wednesday announced new rules taking aim at two of the most difficult and annoying issues in air travel: obtaining refunds and encountering surprise fees late in the booking process.

“Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them — without having to ask,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement, adding that the changes would not only save passengers “time and money,” but also prevent headaches.

The department’s new rules, Mr. Buttigieg said, will hold airlines to clear and consistent standards when they cancel, delay or substantially change flights, and require automatic refunds to be issued within weeks. They will also require them to reveal all fees before a ticket is purchased.

Airlines for America , a trade group representing the country’s largest air carriers, said in a statement that its airlines “abide by and frequently exceed” D.O.T. consumer protection regulations.

Passenger advocates welcomed the new steps.

Tomasz Pawliszyn, the chief executive of AirHelp, a Berlin-based company that assists passengers with airline claims, called it a “massive step forward and huge improvement in consumer rights and protection” that brings the United States closer to global standards in passenger rights.

Here’s what we know about the D.O.T.’s new rules, which will begin to go into effect in October.

There’s now one definition for a “significant” delay.

Until now, airlines have been allowed to set their own definition for a “significant” delay and compensation has varied by carrier . Now, according to the D.O.T., there will be one standard: when departure or arrival is delayed by three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights.

Passengers will get prompt refunds for cancellations or significant changes for flights and delayed bags, for any reason.

When things go wrong, getting compensation from an airline has often required establishing a cumbersome paper trail or spending untold hours on the phone. Under the new rules, refunds will be automatic, without passengers having to request them. Refunds will be made in full, excepting the value of any transportation already used. Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in the original form of payment, whether by cash, credit card or airline miles. Refunds are due within seven days for credit card purchases and within 20 days for other payments.

Passengers with other flight disruptions, such as being downgraded to a lower service class, are also entitled to refunds.

The list of significant changes for which passengers can get their money back also includes: departure or arrival from an airport different from the one booked; connections at different airports or flights on planes that are less accessible to a person with a disability; an increase in the number of scheduled connections. Also, passengers who pay for services like Wi-Fi or seat selection that are then unavailable will be refunded any fees.

Airlines must give travel vouchers or credits to ticketed passengers unable to fly because of government restrictions or a doctor’s orders.

The vouchers or credits will be transferable and can be used for at least five years after the date they were issued.

Fees for checked baggage and modifying a reservation must be disclosed upfront.

Airlines and ticket agents are now required to display any extra fees for things like checking bags or seat selection clearly and individually before a ticket purchase. They will also need to outline the airline’s policies on baggage, cancellations and changing flights before a customer purchases a ticket.

The rules, which apply to all flights on domestic airlines and flights to and from the United States operated by foreign airlines, have varying start dates.

For example, automatic refunds must be instituted by the airlines within six months. But carriers have a year before they’re required to issue travel vouchers and credits for passengers advised by a medical professional not to fly.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Christine Chung is a Times reporter covering airlines and consumer travel. More about Christine Chung

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .