The past year has taught us that modest weddings and birthday parties provide the same amount of pleasure, if not more, than the expensive and over-the-top celebrations mandated by our social status. Though weddings still tend to be large affairs, birthdays are best celebrated through intimate gatherings at home, or for the more adventurous, through travel. Children especially appreciate the novel experience of a well-planned destination birthday party. If you are planning one for your child, here are a few tips that will help you make it a truly momentous occasion:
1. ASK YOUR CHILDREN WHAT THEY WANT
Every child has a distinctive personality and interests. By letting them guide you on the choice of destination based on their interests, the destination birthday is far more likely to be successful. Do they love the water? Choose a beach holiday. Are they fond of animals? Go for a safari.
2. PICK A DESTINATION NEARBY
It is much easier to organise a birthday trip when you visit a place that you can drive to. Having your own car allows you to transport extra luggage with ease. Further, the shorter the time it takes to reach your destination, the longer the enjoyment of the actual getaway.
3. CHOOSE SOMETHING OFF THE BEATEN PATH
A less-frequented destination ensures exclusivity and a certain level of uniqueness. With smaller boutique hotels or home stays, you have the advantage of booking the entire place for your party, allowing you to enjoy the space as if it were your own.
4. PREPARE A SMALL GUEST LIST AND SEND INVITES BEFOREHAND
Destination celebrations are enjoyed best with smaller groups of people, and with the pandemic, this principle has become even more important. It is prudent to limit the invitees to immediate family members or the closest of friends. Be sure to give everyone advance notice so they may change any prior appointments and allow you to do the booking without hindrance.
5. PREPARE THE DAY’S ITINERARY IN ADVANCE
Planning the activities for the trip beforehand will save you a lot of time and effort later. Especially for the day of the birthday, have a rough timeline in place—from meals to cake-cutting, gift-opening to any special activities that you may have planned. Treat it as you would a regular birthday party that needs to be planned from start to finish.
6. SEARCH FOR LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Whatever destination you choose for the birthday, do your research on the local attractions beforehand. You will be surprised at the number of lesser-known gems you will come across to make your visit especially memorable. Look for blogs or go through forums on various travel portals. Google’s Local Guides and review feature are very helpful for on-ground research.
7. CHOOSE A LOCAL VENDOR TO PROVIDE THE CAKE
The cake is one of the most important parts of any birthday celebration, and children usually have very specific demands for their birthday cakes. Instead of opting for a generic cake from the hotel’s in-house bakery, look for a local baker to do the job. Facebook groups and hashtag searches on Instagram are the best untapped resources for tried and tested recommendations provided by locals. Reach out to a minimum of 5-6 bakers, so that you can find one closest to your specifications and budget.
8. KEEP SMALL TOKENS AS MEMORABLE GIVEAWAYS OF THE HOLIDAY
It is not necessary to spend exorbitant amounts of cash on useless tokens as return gifts or giveaways for your guests. Instead, you should attempt to DIY or create something specific to your child’s interests and the chosen destination. An example could be a small photo-frame in which a picture from the holiday can be inserted.
9. TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES
Talking of pictures, do not forget to document the various memories you are sure to make on this trip. Use a DSLR camera if you have one, otherwise your phone will do. Just make sure you have enough memory on your device!
A destination birthday is the best gift you could give your child in these unprecedented times, as experiences are always cherished more than possessions.
The writer is a lawyer who write lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be found on Instagram @nooranandchawla.