Surprise trip is booked!

[PSUWethr]

Well, I took the plunge a booked my hubbys surprise 40th birthday trip for August. The hardest part will be keeping this trip a secret for so long plus I have to have mom and dad keep it quiet. Trying to book free flights with airline miles was a FIASCO! I got my tix, then tried to book hubby's. Well, apparently for him to be on the same flight as me he had to use 70,000 miles for the same trip I just booked using 25,000 miles. Then I had to share some of my mile with him so I could book him. This meant I had to book him separately but on the same flight. Then I had to buy a ticket for our 3 year old daughter. Since she has no miles, I had to then book her separately. This got flagged by USAirways since she is a minor and I couldn't book her alone. Then after I called USAirways to get authorization to book her ticket with us, they wanted to nail me with the $35 fee for talking to a human. I finally got that resolved.

We are going down to STJ on Aug 29th. Then on Sept. 1 we are hopping over to Little Dix Bay for 3 nights (without the child . I book a great room and even got a deal on a private romantic dinner on the beach on his actauly birthday. Then we will come back to STJ and spend some time with mom and dad and all of her island family.

I sure hope my hubby is thrilled with all the effort I have put in to planning his "over the hill" birthday. I will be reaching this unpleasant milestone next year and hope hubby takes the hint to plan something special for me. Of course knowing him, my birthday surprise will be front row seats at a NASCAR race. Then I will get, "what honey, isn't this what you always wanted?"

[PA Girl]

What a pain with the miles. What you described is what has held me back from trying to use my USAir miles.

I hope you all have a wonderful trip!

[GraysonDave]

Good luck keeping it quiet! At what point will you tell him?

[Coden]

Wow - fantastic trip planned. You all enjoy every single minute!!

[KAY]

I'm sure he will be thrilled and it will be well worth it! I surprised my husband for his 50th birthday with our first on island stay and it was the best surprise/vacation! Told him we were just driving to Chicago for the weekend and halfway there had to tell him to step on it so we would not miss our flight. Still would not tell him our destination but the porter did when he confirmed "Going to St Thomas sir"? When my husband asked how he could ever top that for my special birthday, I told him to just bring me back which is already in the planning for 2012. We couldn't wait that long though, leaving for our 3rd trip in 2 weeks!!!

[PSUWethr]

We leave on a Monday so I think I will tell him that Saturday so he can help me prepare the herd. (We have 2 labradors, 2 cats, fish and a turtle to buy food for and to get the house ready for the pet sitter). Thinking mom will spill the beans between now and then.