Yeh.. diversion is beautiful! She always wanted to go to Venice but I gave her the impression that I was thinking about Paris... I dropped lots of hints on Paris, like the odd French Cafe music tune would pop up on the ipod when we were driving and I would laugh and say: "I wonder how that got there." I asked her to book a few days off... and this was the hardest thing I ever did... but I packed for her... then we were driving around with a suitcase full of her stuff in the boot and she had no clue... on her birthday... I woke her up early... and said we had to get to the spa for 9am and that I was sorry it was a bit of a drive but it was worth it... I drove us to the airport. She found out we had flights booked to Rome... we got there... it wasn't over. I had arranged for transport to Venice as well.
You know what though? Diversion and surprise may work after all... but we are 3 years in... the first year I booked the Orient Express, the second year was an all inclusive spa package and tea at the Ritz... this year was Rome/Venice... but I am fkd for 2013!!! So I will bookmark this thread and hope we get more ideas... and to think that when we knew each other for 4 years I could get away with a decent wine/chocolates and cooking a meal for her...