Ultimate girly day (with hubby) in Sydney, budget $1k

Lcoops53 on 23/09/2014 - 09:52

Hi all, my wife's birthday is coming up and I would like to really surprise her with a fantastic day out without breaking the bank! Unfortunately it cannot be overnight as we don't want to leave our kids with someone else. Therefore the time period is 0930-1700.

I was thinking of going to a spa for a massage and swim to start. She really likes the Park Hyatt one, but the couples package is $580 and I cannot see how to reduce this (although I did see a website to reduce an overnight stay to just over $300)

Then I was looking at a place to have lunch. She likes Jamies Italian on Pitt St (she is a veggie) but am open to other suggestions. Budget $200.

Then I thought we would go clothes shopping, maybe I should buy her some vouchers? She likes Karen Millen, French Collection and Cue. Budget $300? No idea really.

Finally a quick cocktail before heading home for reality. Thought maybe the Opera Bar. Budget $80

Any OzBers out there that can give me any suggestions, could really do with keeping this below $1k but also want to make this a really nice experience for her/us.

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • djones145 on 23/09/2014 - 10:11
    +1

    the park hyatt one is quite good,

    this place aint bad too
    https://www.ayurve.com.au/
    location is not as nice, but still quite good (near QVB)

    not a fan for jamies, especially if its for a special occasion, its quite noisy! mejico next door is quite nice too, good vegie options but that's noise as well!

    rockpool black was quite nice, it will set you back around 150 a person but well worth it

    u could consider other things like soap making or pottery, quite a few places in the city

    high tes in the tea room or intercon

    opera bar is nice for drinks, could consider wine odessey, in the rocks, can get food there too

    • coops53 on 23/09/2014 - 18:36

      Thanks, will check those suggestions out. Didn't consider high tea so will look in to it.

  • Malarkey on 23/09/2014 - 10:49
    +5

    I wouldn't worry about vouchers for the shopping, just tell her to pick out something nice and buy it for her :)

    There is no real point giving her a voucher if you'll be with her while she shops, plus it's probably nicer just having you pay for it instead of using a gift voucher imo.

    A nice dress from FC or similar is probably $100-$150?

    Good luck, it sounds like a fantastic day.

    • coops53 on 23/09/2014 - 18:37

      Thanks, was thinking maybe could get a voucher for less than the face price but I guess not?

      • Malarkey on 24/09/2014 - 08:59

        hmm, I personally think the gesture of actually saying "pick anything you want" far outweighs the savings of a few dollars on a voucher. But that's just me :)

  • [Deactivated] on 23/09/2014 - 10:50
    +9

    Take her to Sizzler all you can eat.

    • cypher67 on 23/09/2014 - 17:22

      Nothing says I love you like french toast

  • cypher67 on 23/09/2014 - 10:52
    +5

    I've said it before and I'll say it again, all you need is an empty box with a hole cut in it.

    • mick123 on 23/09/2014 - 11:30
      +2

      and start by saying "Girl.. you know we've been together for such a long long time" and the rest will come to you..

  • John on 23/09/2014 - 11:37
    +1

    You don't want to accompany her shopping. She'll be looking around and not sure what to get, you might spend too much time and not getting anything in the end. And don't buy gift vouchers either.

    I'd say use the spa money to add to shopping budget and buy something branded that will last a long time (eg. scarf, wallet, purse, clutch etc). You may also consider Tory Burch, seems like the girls love the brand. Its affordable, well known, and it ships to Australia. Try mention it to your wife and see what her reaction is to it.

    You can consider taking her for massage which is cheaper than spa. But if you are doing spa/massage in the morning, consider the fact that she will have her make up ruined during spa, so she may not feel as pretty going into lunch and cocktails (depending on the type of wife you have, she may not like it). May consider doing this at the end of the day.

    It all depends on your wife type.. my wife would prefer having a nice lunch and a great gifts. Without cocktails and massage. Because she likes to eat, and she likes branded stuff.

    All the best!

    • coops53 on 23/09/2014 - 18:40

      Thanks John, she is more of an experience kind of girl so not too bothered about a bigger shopping budget, just wanted something nice to remember the day. My wife usually wears very little make up so should be ok with a morning spa, she might want to bring along her make-up kit though. More to think about!

  • pull the lever on 23/09/2014 - 12:08
    +1

    High Coffee!
    http://www.interconsydney.com.au/cortile/high-coffee

    Cocktail with a view!
    http://www.shangri-la.com/sydney/shangrila/dining/bars-loung…

    Does she like Chocolates? Chocolate Walking Tour
    http://www.chocolateespresso.com.au/chocolate-tours.html
    http://foodi.com.au/event/106

    Leave the shopping to her girlfriends.

    • coops53 on 23/09/2014 - 18:43

      Thanks, that's 2 votes for intercon so will look in to it. Just wanted to get a memento for the day from the shopping. Trust me, the last thing I want is to get dragged round the shops all day.

  • stimpyjcat on 23/09/2014 - 17:07
    +1

    Endota Spa in Martin Place might give you more flexibility in pricing and packages. Partner has used their Paddington one some time ago and has also gifted a voucher to a relative. All positive feedback afaik.

    For $200 and under and a top notch feed you could prob do two-course meal (69 p/p) or three course (99 p/p) for two at Est. They usually do a cheaper set menu lunch, check out merivales website. I think that place will be a good notch above Jamie's quality and food wise. Otherwise, bit out of the city in Woollahra is Chiswick (Matt Moran), might be a nice out of the rat race option if you don't mind throwing in a return cabfare.

    I'd keep high tea open for some other lower key occasion.

    • kiitos on 25/09/2014 - 00:18

      I'd also throw in Aria for lunch as well - $89 for 3 courses (great food), plus views of the harbour.

  • coops53 on 23/09/2014 - 18:50

    Thanks for all of the suggestions. I am still leaning towards the Park Hyatt as you get the views of the harbour rather than just being locked away in a non-descript building like some of the others.

    I might also go down the high tea route as I did not consider than some (most?) places will not be serving cocktails by the time we need to leave.

    Any more suggestions would be appreciated

    • pull the lever on 23/09/2014 - 22:16

      Since this is Ozbargain, you might want to look into the groupon-related deals to see if anything matches your requirements.

      • coops53 on 24/09/2014 - 10:34

        Yeah, am checking groupon and living social but think it is unlikely to find one that fits..

  • srhardy on 24/09/2014 - 08:13
    +4

    …If things don't ever work out, ill marry you!

    • coops53 on 24/09/2014 - 10:35
      +1

      Noted, thanks!

  • pax on 24/09/2014 - 12:33
    +1

    Maybe instead of you going along, send her and her best friend.

    That might let them do overnight and leave you to look after the kids. Means they can shop at their leisure too.

  • coops53 on 24/09/2014 - 19:34

    Have considered that and have actually done something similar for her in the past but I remember she said she would have rather gone with me and we always have a great time out together so this option has got the greatest chance of success!

    • djones145 on 26/09/2014 - 14:03

      how about doing something with the kids too
      some pottery or painting or cooking class
      make something together

      unless the kids are too small for that

      • coops53 on 29/09/2014 - 08:53

        We do so much as a family and it is great, but sometimes it is just nice to spend some one on one time.

  • Geewhizz on 25/09/2014 - 08:03
    +1

    If you need time-fillers there are a few Sydney based options on Coke rewards for not many points if you think she'd be interested? Tower Eye, Aquarium, Zoo, 200 points each. The only restriction is there is one redemption for each per account.

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