How to Give a Bon Voyage Party

Giving a send off to friends or family members heading off for an extended trip is a tradition which began before the times when travel was a far more rare occurrence than it is today. Surprise guests with this bon voyage party created for an imaginary journey.

Instructions

1. Make and send invitations. Make color copies of the front of a passport. Glue to the front of a plain white card cut the same size as the passport. Inside write the following message: Where in the World is (name of guest)? Find out on (date and time) at (place) when (your name) hosts a Bon Voyage Party in your honor. Add a phone number or email address for the RSVP.

2. Start with an icebreaker. As guests arrive, hand them each an envelope and ask them to figure out where they are going. Inside the envelope they’ll find a puzzle. On an index card, you will have written a clue for the guest. For example “The Eiffel Tower;” however, you will have scrambled the letters in the words into one long sequence of letters.

3. Create conversation. One at a time, have each guest introduce himself to the group by saying, for example, “I’m Paul, and I’m going too Paris and I need some input.” Invite guests to give opinions and advice about Paul’s destination. Encourage misinformation and satirical comments.

4. Play a team game. Provide each team with a large sheet of poster board and pencils, and colorful stickers. Separate the teams (in different rooms, if possible). At the signal, ask each team to draw a world map and place a sticker on the spot where each guest will be visiting. Teams should guard their map from being seen by players from other teams—even though they will be approached by scouts who will need to find out everyone’s destination and report back to the team. Call time when the first team is just about finished. Produce a world map at that point and enjoy the hilarity over the imaginative creations your guests have designed.

5. Serve the refreshments. Choose an eclectic assortment of appetizers which you can serve throughout the evening to help carry out the theme. These treats should represent a variety of countries. For example, Chinese egg rolls, Italian bread sticks, miniature filled croissants (France), Mexican nachos, Indian samosas and assorted Spanish tapas,

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish