The Surprise Anniversary
Burgundy, France
Husband, 45, planning surprise 20th anniversary trip for wife. Budget: $10,000 (saved for 2 years). Here's how we turned their vision into a booked trip.
35 minutes
Time to book
Specific dates locked around anniversary
Planning window
$7,200 for 6 nights including flights
Final price
15+ hours
Time saved
The Brief
"I want to surprise my wife. She always plans everything. For once, I want to get it right without her help. She loves wine, she's always wanted to go to France, and she doesn't like 'roughing it.'"
Their requirements:
- • Must have: Wine region, France, feels luxurious but not "stuffy rich"
- • Can't do: Backpacking-style, budget accommodations
- • Dealbreaker: Messing this up (high stakes)
Our Process
What we ruled out:
- × Paris — They've been, she wants countryside
- × Bordeaux city hotels — Too urban for the vibe
- × Provence — Great but everyone does it
What we considered:
- ○ Burgundy — Wine-focused, smaller scale than Bordeaux
- ○ Champagne region — Unique, less crowded
- ○ Loire Valley — Châteaux + wine, romantic
The Booking
Small château hotel outside Beaune
- Why it won: Intimate, wine tastings on-site, Michelin restaurant, felt "discovered not Googled"
- Price: $7,200 for 6 nights including flights
- Extras added: Private vineyard tour ($300), hot air balloon ($450)
The Outcome
DIY Research Estimate
15+ hours
With Otherwhere
35 minutes
Want this for your trip?
We turn overwhelming options into effortless bookings. Text us to get started.
Text Us to Plan Your Trip