The destination is the present

A trip that has been booked in secret has one good moment in it before it even starts: the moment the other person finds out where they are going. The card is for that moment. Under the foil is the place; around it the card is printed with an aeroplane, a dotted flight path, a suitcase and a postmark.

Making the card

1. Start from “Trip”.
2. Replace “Goa” with the destination. Change the emoji to suit — a beach, a mountain, a tower — by typing it into the emoji box.
3. Put the dates in the small line under the message: “14–18 December”.
4. The heading printed above the foil is “Pack your bags”. For children you might write “Guess where we're going”.

Clues first

The best trip reveals make the person guess. A link can hold up to five cards, scratched in order, and only the last sets off the fireworks:

• Card 1 — “You will need a swimsuit.”
• Card 2 — “And your passport.”
• Card 3 — “The flight is four hours.”
• Card 4 — “We're going to the Maldives!”

Use “+ Add a card” in the editor; each card has its own heading, message and emoji.

Everything else goes in the note

Once they know where, they will ask when, how and what to pack. The longer note opens after the last card and holds up to 600 characters: flight times, who is looking after the dog, whether leave has already been arranged with their manager, what the weather will be.

When to send it

• On the day. Lock the card to the morning you leave and send it the night before. It shows a countdown until then.
• At the airport. Hand over your phone at the departure board and let them scratch.
• For the whole family. Open the link on your phone, tap “Party mode” and mirror it to the television: the countdown button reveals the destination for everyone at once.

Honeymoons and family visits

The same card works when a couple's families have paid for a honeymoon together — put all the names in the note — and for the reverse surprise, telling grandparents that you are coming to visit. For them, set the language on their screen to the one they read most easily; 36 are available.