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7 Travel Companies That Plan Mystery Vacations

Meet the newest trend in full-service trip planning: surprise travel. You won't find out where you're going until it's time to go.

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For most people, the joy of traveling isn’t the researching or booking—it’s that moment you step off the airplane in a place you’ve never been. So why not skip the planning and let someone else chart your next adventure for you, including choosing the destination? Besides, who cares where you go when you’ve got expert travel agents finalizing every last detail for you?

Introducing the latest trend in travel: surprise trips to places that won’t be revealed to you until it’s go time.

Jubel , a tech-enabled travel company founded in 2015 in California, offers customized multi-destination getaways and route planning. It can also save you more than 55 percent in travel costs compared with booking a trip yourself, thanks to insider travel deals. Jubel also offers surprise trips .

Fill out its survey with your preferred dates, budget, and travel style, and it’ll send you a trip proposal. You can be completely surprised by the destination or learn the continent or country ahead of time. Once you’ve booked, you’ll get sealed envelopes to open along your journey, plus details on what to pack and when to show up at the airport. International trips start at around $1,000 per person per week.

Pack Up and Go

Want a weekend getaway in the U.S. without any hassle of planning it? Enter Pack Up and Go , founded in 2016 in Pittsburgh. Give the company your dates and budget, and complete a quick survey (sample question: Do you want action, relaxation, or culture?), and it will do the rest for you. Prior to your trip, you’ll get a packing list, flight information, and a weather forecast. Days before you leave, an envelope with your destination and itinerary will arrive in the mail. Open it at the airport. Trips start at $400 per person.

The Vacation Hunt

Whether you have three days or two weeks, the expert travelers at the Vacation Hunt , started in 2017 by a husband and wife in Washington, D.C., will plan a trip for you. Tell the reps what you’re looking for (spas or zoos? bars or museums?) and they’ll start sending you clues as to where you’re going. Packaged trips in the U.S. start at $750 per person; international trips start at $950. They also offer gift certificates if you want to give someone else a surprise trip.

Magical Mystery Tours

With Magical Mystery Tours , you won’t know where you’re going until you show up at the airport. First, enter your preferences: Do you want a foreign trip? Do you dislike the cold or the beach? Would you prefer heading to the desert or someplace tropical? Then input your dates, budget, and who you’re traveling with. The company will take care of the details. Magical Mystery Tours has been booking destination vacations to locations all over the globe since 2009. Cost depends on the length of the trip, whether it’s international or domestic travel, and the kind of accommodations you want. Weekend trips for two start at $1,500.

Surprise Me Trips

Choose between quick road trips from your hometown or far-flung destinations via airplane. You’ll get details about what to bring and where to be just before your departure. For its weekend road trips, tell the company where you want to start, and it will plan a surprise itinerary around your region, including a few nights in different locales and major landmarks and activities to check out along the way. Despite this travel company’s name, it will also arrange trips that don’t come as a surprise, if that’s more your thing. Surprise Me Trips was launched by three well-traveled friends in Texas in 2016. Weekend regional road trips start at $375.

Black Tomato

In 2017, high-end travel company Black Tomato  debuted its  Get Lost service, which creates adventurous tailor-made expeditions to wilderness destinations like Mongolia or the Arctic that are kept entirely a secret from you. Here’s how it works: select a polar, jungle, coastal, desert, or mountain trip—or have Black Tomato choose that, too—and book at least six months in advance to give you time to train and prepare. When you arrive at your location, you’ll be outfitted with all the gear you need, plus a private transfer from the airport to your starting point and a satellite phone for emergencies. Chart your way through a series of mapped-out checkpoints using navigational technology and your own two feet. The journey ends at a luxury retreat. Average Get Lost trips cost around $15,000 per person—but there are shorter, less expensive options, too.

Rustic Pathways

Designed for high school students looking for an exciting summer group trip, student-travel company Rustic Pathways offers a mystery trip to an unknown international destination. Before departure you’ll get a Patagonia duffel bag sent to you that’s filled with clues and a few essentials. Then arrive at the designated airport and spend the next two weeks exploring foreign cities and remote villages with other intrepid students as a guide leads the way. As of press time, there were still a few spots left on an upcoming trip in late June. It costs $5,995, not including airfare.

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10 Companies That Will Plan a Surprise Vacation for You

Adele Chapin

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What if you got ready for a vacation and showed up at the airport with no idea where your plane was headed? That’s the idea behind a new type of travel agency that will plan surprise vacations for very adventurous travelers. At the airport, you’ll receive a destination and custom itinerary (usually based on a survey or interview to determine your travel style). The idea is that you leave the planning, details, and logistics to someone else, and just pack up and go. Here’s how to take a surprise vacation of a lifetime with the help of these 10 travel companies.

BlackTomato

If you’ve always wanted to test your survival skills, Bear Grylls-style, BlackTomato’s elaborate surprise adventure tours might be the next best thing. Choose between terrains like “Polar, Jungle, Desert, Mountain, and Coastal,” and BlackTomato’s experts will figure out a country to drop you in—with advice on how to train for your expedition beforehand. Then it’s up to you to navigate through a series of checkpoints (with BlackTomato ops teams watching from afar to make sure all is well).

Blind Experiences

Imagine a surprise honeymoon where stressed-out couples didn’t have to plan anything at all. That idea kickstarted the luxury travel agency Blind Experiences , which then expanded into putting together tailored itineraries for families with young kids and multi-generational groups— with more surprises gradually revealed throughout the trip via sealed envelopes 

The surprise trip survey for Jubel begins by narrowing in on a country, continent or destination (beach or mountains?), then asks whether you’re more of a museum or nightlife person (you can pick both, for example). Jubel’s experts go from there to put together a proposal for you that’s just vague enough that your vacation is still a big surprise.

10 Trips Millennial Travelers Will Love

Magical Mystery Tours

The founders of Magical Mystery Tours started their surprise travel agency back in 2009, and they’ve planned many customized vacations since then. The questionnaire quizzes travelers on everything from whether seasickness is a concern to which places they’ve visited and absolutely loved.

Pack Up & Go

Looking to go on a surprise road trip, a plane or train trip, or even a staycation in your own town? Those are the types of trips that Pack Up & Go specializes in, and travelers have headed off to 125 U.S. cities for a fun and completely unexpected trip with a planned-out itinerary of activities and meals. 

Spontaneous and courageous travelers are the ideal clients for SkipTown , an agency that will plan short surprise trips for you—even if you can only get away for one day. A “daycation” includes one night’s accommodation, one meal reservation, and one activity, all of which will be unexpected.

The 10 Best Group Travel Tour Companies for 2021

With Surprisit , you’ll find out your unique surprise destination a few days before your vacation begins (in case you need a bit of time for some Googling). The agency plans surprise trips in the Caribbean in addition to the U.S. and Canada, as well as a “ Eurotrip ” where you head off to a new European city every three days.

The Vacation Hunt

If you’re a beach person, but you still want a big surprise, The Vacation Hunt will set you up with an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean, Mexico or Latin America. Other surprise destinations for this travel agency include a trip within Europe or the United States, or you can open it up to any destination in the world. Surprise honeymoons are a speciality for The Vacation Hunt as well. 

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Whisked Away

Leave the real-world behind for a while with Whisked Away , which will plan surprise week-long flying or driving trips. The idea is to make this the easiest vacation ever for honeymooners, solo vacationers, families, girls’ groups, or anyone who wants an out-of-the-ordinary experience. 

Splurge trips, surprise vow renewals, solo adventures: Whym will plan a surprise vacation for all sorts of travelers. At the moment, the travel agency is only sending travelers out in the U.S.—and the surprises keep coming throughout the vacation, with blank spaces in your itinerary that are revealed gradually via “whymsies” text messages.

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Desperate to travel anywhere? Mystery trips will make it happen

May 12, 2021 • 5 min read

Ready for a surprise? © Hello World/Getty Images

Mystery trips - where you pay an agency to organize your vacation and don’t find out the destination until the last minute - have been a niche section of the travel industry for a number of years. With travel gradually returning to some countries, they’re betting on people wanting to shake up their routine and embrace spontaneity after many months of staying at home.

Lonely Planet reader Markus Wittich from Germany is a very frequent traveler, racking up 18 trips in 2019 alone. After more than a year of staying at home, the idea of holiday where he doesn't know the destination is extra-appealing to him right now.

“That Groundhog Day feeling is real! We've been stuck at home for over a year and it feels like every day has been kind of the same. Since there haven't been many - or any - pleasant surprises throughout the pandemic, a surprise trip could be a fun idea to visit places that haven't been on your radar before.”

For river cruise company Uniworld, that bet is already paying off. A 10-day Mystery River Cruise in June quickly sold out and a September voyage is on the horizon. CEO Ellen Bettridge confirmed to Lonely Planet the original idea actually came from their customers.

“Our guests communicated that they’re willing to travel anywhere to get back out there and explore the world again as vaccines began rolling out and the light at the end of the tunnel finally neared. We created the Mystery Cruise with that sentiment in mind, to spoil our guests and provide them with a surprise trip of a lifetime with all details and decisions taken care of.”

But after so long being careful, are travelers ready to hand over the reins to someone else, especially when safety is still such a top priority? A quick poll of Lonely Planet readers revealed a mixed bag; 21% said they would be more likely to take a mystery trip now but 27% of people said they would be less likely, expressing concerns of safety or the possibility of being exposed to COVID variants despite being vaccinated. But others were tempted by the novelty. Rachel Van Raan-Welch, a reader from New York City is torn.

“I LOVE the idea of a mystery trip, and especially after being more or less on lockdown for the past year, I'm totally up for traveling anywhere right now. But that's in a hypothetical world in which COVID suddenly totally disappeared. In reality, it's hard to know when ‘after the pandemic’ may be. I wouldn't be comfortable taking a trip without knowing where I'm going or what I'm doing, and I think I'll probably feel that way for a long time.”

Safety and reassurance are priorities of any travel company right now and established surprise travel agencies have been quietly changing up their offerings. Netherlands-based Srprs.me expanded their themed vacation packages to include self-guided road trips in 2020. As travel slowly returns to Europe, spokesperson Anneke told Lonely Planet that road trips remain the top choice for their customers.

“We only send our travelers to safe destinations, so there's no need to stay updated on the travel advice to decide where to go; we do that for them. I think that people definitely still have an appetite for the mystery [and] spontaneous element, but under the current circumstances they prefer the more 'safer mysteries', such as our road trips closer to home.”

Of course, there’s another big reason why many seasoned travelers want to try out a mystery trip and it has nothing to do with the pandemic. “I sometimes plan out my trips too much by researching all the restaurants, museums and sights that I absolutely want to visit,” Markus says. “This can sometimes eliminate the opportunity to being spontaneous. Not knowing the destination before you arrive at the airport forces you to keep an open mind and to go with the flow.”

“Please sign me up!” he adds.

5 mystery trips you can book right now

Pack up + go.

A surprise travel agency specializing in domestic US vacation packages. After a personalized survey, they’ll send you to a mid-size US city with a list of curated recommendations. Since COVID, they also have a Staycation option to explore closer to home. 

Guess Where Trips

Embracing the hyper-local, this Canadian company specializes in creating itineraries around Ontario. They are all self-guided which means it’s a great budget option when you really want someone else to do all the planning for you. They are expanding their offerings to trips starting from Vancouver soon. 

Uniworld Mystery River Cruise

A 10-day river cruising experience, the first voyage in June this year has already sold out and a second date added in September due to popular demand. Everything is included in the price and you’ll be sent a detailed recommended packing list beforehand, One thing you’ll need for definite is your passport. 

With departure airports in Europe, this company specializes in city breaks and has a few different themes that you can choose from or you can specifically request them to send you somewhere new. Self-guided road trip itineraries are also available from the UK, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. 

Departing from the UK, Spain, Germany and more, this is a straightforward surprise platform where they will set you up with a flight and a hotel. There is no option to customise with your interests though you can veto a few places during your booking process. 

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The Mystery Travel Experts!

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From haunted locations and ghost towns to abandoned building and cryptid sightings, we are here to help you add something unique and unusual to your next vacation!

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“This was just an amazing experience. I’ve always been such a planner when I travel, but now that I’ve gotten out of my comfort zone and know that I cannot only succeed but really flourish, I feel like I can take on anything life throws my way. I can’t wait for my next Magical Mystery Tour!”

“We were impressed with the professionalism at the attention to detail by everyone at MMT, and most especially our travel planner, Katie. The travel document was well organized, had all the travel information we needed, and was personalized for our travel preferences. We happily recommend MMT to anyone and everyone—it’s nice to do business with a company like Magical Mystery Tours that delivers on all their promises, provides personal service, and goes above and beyond to satisfy their clients!”

“Our trip was obviously booked with care. New Orleans was a wonderful choice, flights were timed to make the most of the partial days, and the hotel location was perfect. Would definitely do again!”

“It is our second time using Magical Mystery Tours, and it is without hesitation that we would use it again. The first time was as a couple and the most recent trip was as a family. Six of us as a matter of fact. It’s one thing to manage and plan for two, but to plan for six people who are coming in from all parts of the country, now that is a challenge. Katie managed that challenge seamlessly. She is so professional, she is prompt in keeping you updated, and her assessment of our families’ anticipated trip was exceptional. She provides a platinum service and I recommend her anytime.”

“We had a FANTASTIC time in Santa Barbara. Can’t think of a better way to have spent my 40th. Well done! I’m your newest, biggest fan!”

“Katie was so patient with my questions and made me feel very comfortable and assured that logistical details of our trip will be taken care of. She went above and beyond our expectations. I can’t wait to do it again. I have been on many vacations, both planned for me (by my parents when I was younger) and those planned by me. By far, this is the first time I felt I truly lived in the moment on vacation. You guys are awesome.”

“Banff was already on our bucket list, but we realized as soon as we arrived that it should have been higher. We loved it! The restaurant guide in the travel document was the best part, especially the first night when we were tired, hungry, and without much inclination to research. It was great to have a perfect-for-us spot at our fingertips, and the meal really set the tone for the trip. We wholeheartedly recommend Magical Mystery Tours!”

“Katie provided impeccable customer service from beginning to end! Toronto would have never even entered my mind but was a perfect choice, and the hotel was IMPECCABLE. It was a super fun adventure, and Katie did a magnificent job planning my long weekend getaway!”

“The element of surprise was awesome, and not having to plan anything was icing on the cake! The purpose of our trip was to celebrate my birthday and to PARTY, PARTY, PARTY! Mission accomplished! We had such a good time and were able to pack lots of fun into a short period of time (3 nights). Our flight times/connections, transportation, and hotel accommodations were awesome. The overall experience is one that I’ll never forget. It’s a definite must-do and must do again! Thanks MMT!”

“Katie took such good care of me! I really appreciate the thoughtfulness that was so obvious in the planning of my trip. The experience was just amazing! Katie crossed every T and dotted every I so there was no stress or planning on my part other than deciding what I wanted to see first when I got to Taiwan. Thank you for planning such an amazing trip for me!”

“We will be working with you again, hopefully soon! The travel document truly made going to a mystery destination very easy. Lots of information about what there was to do. Many members of our family are interested to try this after seeing how great of a time we had.”

“Katie did a great job explaining the process and answering our questions. The travel document provided was extremely helpful and comprehensive; it was really handy having hotel info, hotel directions, dining and activities options in one place. We loved the location—it was exactly where we wanted to go, we just didn’t know it!”

“The trip was fantastic, the booklet provided was extremely helpful, and our overall trip was one-of-a-kind. Thank you!”

“We loved our vacation. We wouldn’t have chosen our destination, but it ended up being perfect. We gave Katie quite a challenge to meet our varying demands and she surpassed our expectations. We will definitely use your services in the future.”

“This was easily the best vacation we both have had. Katie was amazing—always helpful and asked great questions. The travel document was extremely easy to read and very helpful, especially when in another country with a different language. Loved the resort and everything about it. We will be calling again!”

“This vacation was a great experience and everyone I told about it wanted to try it as well!”

“We loved the whole experience. The suggestions in the packet were great, and the day tour booked for us was perfect for the type of activities we like. It was great that Katie was still in contact with us even when our return flight got canceled. We had a great time and would do it again!”

“We’ve been wanting to go to San Antonio for over 10 years. The experience was fun, fun, and more fun. We’ll be talking about this vacation for years to come!”

“Katie is a great travel consultant, very prompt in responding to questions. I loved the travel document, which offered a wide variety of suggested things to do. I’m always satisfied when I book with MMT!”

“The location was excellent! Katie, my travel consultant, was AWESOME and exceeded my expectations. I’m already thinking about my next solo adventure with Magical Mystery Tours!”

“We had an AMAZING time!! Everything was so well planned out for us! The hotel was extraordinary, and the suggestions for all the tours were so helpful for us when deciding where to go! We will definitely be booking another trip in the near future!”

“We absolutely loved our time in California—what a memorable trip! Mystery travel was great. I’m a project manager and it allowed me to take a break from researching, budgeting, decision making, and planning, to make sure that we would have a perfect trip. Giving up control allowed for adventure and discovery. Our days prior to vacation weren’t spent googling and trying to find/book/plan the very best places to stay and things to do; we just took it day-by-day. Further, we ended up in a location we likely never would have considered—and absolutely loved it. It was a great way to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary. So thank you, Katie!”

“Thank you so much for helping us organize this trip. We had such a great time, and Lisbon really blew us away. The information packet that you sent through was invaluable, and we really felt like you took on board everything we answered in our survey. We will be sure to recommend your service to others!”

“Where to begin…while I know it’s your job, we really must thank and commend you for creating such a memorable, MAGICAL experience for us to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We could not have planned it better ourselves!! All of the meals and activities you planned for us were perfect. The Grand Hotel Central was in an ideal location for us to explore the area on foot; the room was contemporary, the rooftop views were amazing, the staff was lovely and kind, and the breakfast which was included was absolutely spectacular. The addition of Penedés to our itinerary was brilliant. As for the Mastinell, OMG!!!! The property itself is breathtaking and our suite blew our minds. It was absolutely stunning. I feel I may be being a bit effusive in this message, but seriously this trip exceeded our every expectation. We can’t thank you enough for the time and care you took to organize this extraordinary vacation. What a wonderful way to kick off 2020 and our next decade of marriage!!”

“You have no idea how excited we were to see Singapore this morning! It wasn’t on any of our radar, but it was amazing. We all had a fabulous time. Singapore was safe, clean, and friendly – a perfect location for our girls trip! Great job and thank you for an amazing 50th birthday!”

“The trip was more than we could have hoped for! It had EVERYTHING we wanted—a local flavor, easy travel around the island, and a perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. It was a little hard to come home! We would do it again in a heartbeat.”

“We had an absolutely wonderful trip! You read our survey and planned the trip absolutely perfect for the two of us. Everything went flawlessly, from the plane to the rental car to all the prebooked activities. It was fun trying new places to eat and seeing the different atmospheres of each place. We also took many short road trips to see the surrounding areas. The book you put together was awesome and so helpful. Everything we needed was right there. We would recommend Magical Mystery Tours to anyone wanting to try something new and possibly out of their normal go-to places to travel.”

“You did such an awesome job with our vacation – it was, yet again, exactly what we needed to rest and recharge. Even the smallest details, like shops we might want to visit or recommending that reservations be made for certain restaurants, were spot-on. The accommodations were beautiful and absolutely perfect – totally luxury, and complete social distancing. I just can’t say enough good things about the vacation – it was so needed, and so perfect!”

“We had so much fun! It was literally the trip of a lifetime and our only complaint was that we couldn’t stay another five days. The three things that you planned for us were all perfect as well. We told everybody that we had a chance to about our mystery honeymoon, the process, and the unbelievably amazing result! Before we left, we had already started trying to plan our next trip out there! Thank you so much for taking all of our likes and dislikes into account and coming up with the most perfect honeymoon we could’ve possibly asked for or imagined.”

“What a fantastic vacation! We loved Seattle! It was the perfect spot for us to experience new things, have fun adventures, eat amazing food, and just simply spend much-needed time as a family! Thanks for all you did to make this trip a memorable one that we will cherish for a lifetime!”

“Copenhagen was amazing. You truly hit the nail on the head, this trip had all the things we wanted! Walkable, history, and great food! We LOVED the hotel you picked. We felt like we were walking into a postcard every time we returned for the evening. The personal touches in the travel packet made us feel so special, and the restaurants and activities you suggested all exceeded our expectations. We absolutely cannot thank you enough.”

“You knocked it out of the park again. Thanks for all you do to create memories for me and my family. This was incredible!” (Kerri) and “We could not have had a better time, and I cannot thank you enough for assisting on our wonderful trip. It was magical and by far my most memorable vacation yet.” (Claire)

“Our Magical Mystery Tour was fantastic! We can’t stop telling people about it. We feel like you read our Q&A and sent us to the most on-the-nose excursion imaginable! We loved the food reservations and recommendations. The hikes at Lands End and John Muir were incredible. The Academy of the Sciences was right up our alley. We couldn’t be happier! Thanks for putting together a great experience for us.”

“We had a beautiful trip! I had always wanted to return to Charleston with Fabian, so this was perfect. Although we unintentionally planned the trip around Valentine’s Day, it was a truly romantic getaway. The hotel was charming and in a great location with shopping, delicious restaurants, and the historic city within blocks. We signed up for a food and history tour and spent the rest of the trip exploring the city, indulging in food, drink and culture; we couldn’t have asked for more. We’ve been lucky enough to travel the world, but the fried oysters, raw oysters, cheesy grits…I can go on…will hold a place on my all-time best foods lists! This trip really checked all of our boxes, even down to sitting next to each other on each flight and having the window seat. We really appreciate your quick responses to all of our emails and your hard work creating this trip for us!!”

“I’m usually the kind of person that plans trips down to the hours, so literally not having the ability to do that was amazing, and made the trip that much more relaxing because I wasn’t sitting there thinking about the next thing we should do. I can honestly say that’s one of the first times I’ve been able to just enjoy the moment without obsessing about the future. All in all 100% great experience and I think we’re going to try to make this an annual thing. We’re both very busy with school/residency, so having 3 days away where we don’t have to plan anything at all and can just enjoy each other is absolutely priceless.”

“The Canopy was a great hotel and perfectly situated in the city for everything we wanted to do. Both of the tours you planned were absolutely perfect, and the two restaurants you booked for us were delicious. You killed it once again and continue to remind me why I love doing these trips!”

“Thank you SO much for planning an amazing trip! Asheville was not a location that we would have picked for ourselves, but it more than exceeded our expectations! It checked all the boxes that we requested for our mystery trip. We loved the city, its culture, and all the sights! All of the accommodations were fantastic and very well planned. We were so excited to share our vacation with our families and friends! I know we will definitely be requesting you to plan another mystery trip in the near future!”

“This was worth every single day I waited to book it! I had the absolute time of my life. From the get-go, I felt like this trip was planned by someone who knew me. Chicago was number 2 on my list of ‘must go’ places and I’m so excited this process took me to one of the places on that list! I basically had one meal and one event planned for me each day, which was absolutely perfect! It gave me a nice structure to my day, but left plenty of time for me to explore the city on my own. I would do this again in a heartbeat! I have not stopped smiling since I opened my envelope!”

“We want to thank you so very much. Our trip was AMAZING! Absolutely everything we were hoping it would be. I can’t remember a trip we’ve ever taken that was so stress-free. We were able to relax and just have a great time. No worrying about itineraries and plans. We would definitely consider doing it again. So. Much. Fun. Thank you for the fabulous trip!”

“We had a great time exploring Seattle and surrounding areas. We loved the museums, the food, the time on the water, the gorgeous scenery, and the most calm, beautiful beach. It was a good surprise, and somewhere we might not have chosen on our own, but are so glad you chose for us. Thank you again for putting so much thought and effort into our special trip. The personalized travel book was awesome. We have recommended your service to many friends.”

“We had a wonderful time. Lots to eat, fun things to do, and such a beautiful city. We will be recommending this to all our friends. It was so organized and well done. Thank you! Not only was the anticipation fun for us, but for several family and friends — it made it SO fun!”

“We just wanted to thank you immensely for the absolutely amazing trip to Curaçao!!! It was better than ANYTHING we could have planned. I loved seeing the look on people’s faces when we told them about our travel plans! The best part was not having to plan it. We will absolutely be using Magical Mystery Tours again!!!”

“I can’t tell you enough how wonderful it was to be able to have this experience. It was so great the way this sort of childlike enthusiasm filled us both. When we saw where you were sending us, we were so excited and giddy for the whole trip out. The hotel was great and the staff was wonderful. Our guide for the architectural tour was a walking encyclopedia and she basically guided us for 4 hours straight, it was unreal. All your food recommendations were spot-on. The best part of the trip was not always looking at our phones for things to do or places to eat–we followed your recommendations and they were all unique and great. We both agree it was the best trip we’ve taken in a long time. I’ve told everyone I’ve spoken with since returning and they have all taken your contact info down. Thanks again, Katie, and you’ll be hearing from me again!”

“We had the best time in Madrid! It was such a perfect match for what we both wanted. Even though Spain has been on our bucket list of places to visit, we never took the initiative to plan. So what a delightful surprise when we opened the envelope at the airport! Hotel was perfect! It was such a cute boutique hotel in a central location with all the amenities Americans look for. I liked the excursions you picked out for us, and we did several tours per your recommendations. Katie, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip and you did an excellent job picking our destination. We certainly will book again in the future and will recommend to our friends. Thanks for always answering our questions promptly and following up. The mystery element certainly added to our excitement!”

“My trip was fantastic! The hotel was WONDERFUL. Top notch. I loved the location, amenities, the service was fantastic, breakfast was awesome. BAHR was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time, period! The food tour was a super way to get oriented to the city and history, and they did a great job. Overall, I saw, ate, walked, met a number of nice travelers on the group outings, and reallyyyyy enjoyed the trip and traveling solo! It was freeing in a way I really enjoyed! Your suggestions were spot-on, as was the destination. THANK YOU! I can definitely see another solo trip in my future, perhaps one a year!”

“Thank you SO much for the thoughtful planning. I had a fantastic time! Truly, you planned a trip that would have stressed me out to think about and research, and I loved that the destination was only the first surprise of many! Seriously, this was an excellent experience. I think I’ve got a few takers to join me next time.” 🙂

“Thank you for planning an awesome vacation! We loved the two cities and everything you planned! You really listened to our feedback and picked some great things for us.”

“Thank you again for planning such a magical trip for our 20th anniversary. We would have never chosen Spain to visit, and we had an amazing time. We both could have stayed longer. All of the restaurants that we were booked at were fantastic; our anniversary dinner at Mont Bar was seriously worth the hype, it was the best meal we ate in Spain. We enjoyed the tapas walking tour so much in Madrid that we booked one in Barcelona as well. Our most favorite part was getting to know the culture and history of both Madrid and Barcelona, both different and beautiful. We cannot wait to do another mystery trip.”

“We had a great time and truly enjoyed the trip. When we opened the reveal envelope, we were pleasantly surprised to see we were going to Portugal. It was not really on either of our radars — which is exactly why we thought a mystery trip would be a good idea. We kept going to the same types of places over and over; the service provided by Magical Mystery Tours offered a breath of fresh air for our travel planning. We’d certainly book another mystery-type vacation again.”

“We had such a wonderful trip, thank you so much for all your hard work on getting the itinerary built! We were feeling a bit nervous not being in control of the planning, but we were so happy with what you came up with! :)”

“We had an awesome time! Everything went great – really no issues at all, and fantastic choice for us. We made memories that will list me/us forever – exactly what I was looking for!! We were thrilled with the trip you arranged for us.”

“Can’t thank you enough! What an amazing time we had on our Magical Mystery Trip! I can’t begin to explain the excitement, awe, and anticipation we felt as we opened our envelopes at the airport! Our destination – Kauai!!! Everything was planned with meticulous detail, with all our wishes executed perfectly. In addition to the requested excursions, Katie provided a list of other popular places to visit as well as a wonderful list of restaurants. I believe we did and went everywhere she suggested! Life doesn’t have too many surprises; I highly recommend having Katie plan your next holiday. It will truly be Magical!”

“Our mystery vacation was absolutely amazing! Santa Fe was beautiful and all your suggestions were perfect – from the lunch recommendation on Day 1 to our fancy dinner at Sazon (where we met the chef!), you made the experience very special. Everything was so spot-on in terms of our preferences that it would be easy to think I planned the trip myself! This entire experience (from survey completion to trip conclusion) has been great fun – we’re already talking about doing a Round 2.”

Thank you so very much from the bottom of our hearts. Magical Mystery Tours was amazing, and the anticipation was completely worth it. When we arrived at the airport, we opened our packet and it stated we are going to Costa Rica! We stayed in amazing resorts with friendly and caring staff and amenities that some only dream about. The activities planned each day and reservations at dinner every evening were incredible. The flora and fauna we saw was like nothing we’ve ever seen before. You did an amazing job at planning the best birthday vacation I could ever ask for. We will definitely be booking another magical mystery tour next year.

10 Mystery Travel Adventures You Need To Book For Your Next Vacation

Mystery Travel means getting a company to book a trip... that you know nothing about! Adventurous souls should check out these companies.

10 10. Jubel’s Surprise Trips

Jubel 's travel technology has over 1,000 destinations built into their system. They don't use filters or presets to find your perfect vacation though-- they're system works hand-in-hand with your personal preferences so that you are getting a dream vacation. Their website is great for those looking to save time, money, and the stress of deciding on your next travel destination.

9 9. Pack Up And Go

The official Surprise Travel Agency doesn't let you plan a thing. They organize a fun-filled three-day getaway by expertly organizing your desired travel locations. The idea is to explore more and enjoy the ride as they use your questionnaire to find the perfect place for you to visit. They emphasize open-mindedness so that you won't be disappointed on your journey. They fully prep you before you go, giving you weather forecasts and send a preparation list one week before to let you know if you need to bring specific items like hiking boots.

8 8. Clue Venture Travel

This unique idea takes the mystery travel adventure to a whole new level. Clue Adventure Travel offers a personalized travel game. The game involves the travel agency customizing your destinations and experiences without cluing you in the details. The only way you get to see your final destination is if you solve the series of clues they will give you leading up to your adventure!

7 7. Global Scavenger Hunt

This mystery travel adventure is a bit different as it involves a team of explorers. The global scavenger hunt takes place once a year. Couples compete in a scavenger hunt that takes them on a trip around the globe.

6 6. The Vacation Hunt

The Vacation Hunt gives you the chance to book vacation packages or even honeymoons! They save you the time on planning, but offer destination in the US, internationally or at all-inclusive resorts. Your vacation can be three days to fourteen, with flights, hotel, and activities all laid out for you. All you have to do is fill out their survey and they will send you off to on one of their three travel journeys.

5 5. Magical Mystery Tours

You'll know your journey once you get to the airport (if you can hold out that long), but everything up until that point is a mystery. Magical Mystery Tours gives you the opportunity to share as much or as little of your travel ideas as you want to disclose in their personalized survey. They also make sure to ask you about your previous travels so that they don't send you somewhere that you've been before! They do all of the research, the planning, and the reservations.

4 4. Headlands Gamble

Headlands Gamble is a story-driven journey that is unparalleled in its creativity. A thrilling story built for two takes travelers through a woven weekend getaway. You get your own custom car with an interactive tablet that guides you through your mystery-based story excursion where you get the play detective.

3 3. Surprise Me Trips

Surprise Me! lets you choose whether you want to test this mystery travel adventure as a one-time weekend getaway or a full-fledged undisclosed trip. They especially enjoy planning trips for wedding parties, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, or trips where they are going to pop the question!

For the weekends, you can choose to tell them when and who you want to travel with and have the opportunity to provide you with transportation if necessary. The week-long vacation works the same way, except this time they'll let you know pertinent information like which airport to report to and when. This travel agency is also available to book regular trips if being surprised isn't your thing.

2 2. Black Tomato's Get Lost

Black Tomato debuted its "Get Lost" deal in their luxury travel business plan after mystery travel became a huge hit. To stand out from the crowd, their Get Lost package sends you off to uncharted destinations to give travelers the chance to find themselves. They won't even tell you what you will need for your trip; all you do is show up to the airport and wait for your next instructions.

Adventurers should expect some type of wilderness or outdoor destination, as Get Lost's explorations bring you to barren terrains where you can indulge in nature's beauty.

1 1. Rustic Pathways

This is a student-only travel agency. They offer their services to anyone in school between the ages of 12 and 22. The idea was founded in 1983, but they didn't start their Mystery Trip package until later. The mystery starts when a Patagonia duffel bag arrives at your home, giving you subtle hints to your destination. A month before you leave, they'll send you a packing list as well. But that's all you get. There's no itinerary either-- young adventurers will get a wake-up call each morning with clues as to what journey awaits you.

What Is a Surprise Travel Agency?

Explore the world of mystery travel and find out how a surprise travel agency can help make your next trip extra exciting!

The days of the professional travel agent are all but gone now. With the advent of Airbnb and supersaver flight engines like Google Flights and Skyscanner, most intrepid travelers have found planning their own trip far more economical and fulfilling. But what about those you who hate travel planning? What if there was a way for you to leave all the details up to someone else, and we mean all the details? What if we were to tell you there is an option out there that affords you the ultimate adventure, with super minimal preparation, and no outrageous traditional travel agent fees? If this sounds good to you, then the surprise travel agency might be right up your alley. 

If you have never heard of a surprise travel agency, don’t fret. You are not alone. While this kind of travel has been around for a while, it has really taken the travel world by storm in the last few years. So, what is a surprise travel agency? Let’s dive into what they are, how they work, and if a surprise trip is right for you!

Pack Your Let’s Roam Adventure App

If you’re headed off on a mystery vacation, ask your surprise travel agency to ensure that cities nearby are on our list of scavenger hunt locations ! We cover over 400 cities in 18+ countries (and counting), and our highly-rated exploration app makes a perfect travel companion. Wherever you roam, consider including scavenger hunts , ghost tours , art walks, and pub crawls in your adventures!

What Is A Surprise Travel Agency?

A surprise travel agency is essentially a modern upgrade on the old-school travel agent. These virtual platforms plan your entire trip for you, including the location! That’s right, it’s a mystery vacation (hence the word, surprise )! You don’t even have to decide where you wanna go. It is all done for you based on the information that you provide on a quick survey. These agencies will book flights, intercountry transfers, rental cars, accommodations … all of it! They will even send itineraries of suggested activities based on your likes and dislikes. You even get to choose how much of the plan is accessible to you. You can decide to know every detail of your trip(which spoils the fun), or you can choose for it to be a total surprise vacation. Intrigued? Here’s how it works.

The Process Is Simple

With most surprise travel agencies, your whole input takes less than ten minutes. When you access the website, you will give them some basic information like name, email, and birthday. The platform will then take you through a series of questions that distinguish your travel style and what kind of getaway you would like. These include but are not limited to: your budget, any countries you would like to visit, and any activities you would specifically like to do. If you want a totally surprise trip, you do not have to answer these questions. You can just put in a budget and move on. The more questions you answer and the more detail you give, the more the travel agent can customize your trip. So give as little or as much info as you are comfortable with.

After the basic info, the questionnaire will then ask you about your personal travel style. These questions are more personality-based and cover areas of travel like your nightlife preference, your activity level, and your interests. FAQs include things like: Do you prefer budget or high-end accommodation? Are you willing to fly, or do you want a road trip? Do you feel comfortable taking public transit or do you prefer a rental car? Are you a nature-lover, city-dweller, or culture vulture? Most forums offer simple multiple-choice questions with an optional free-text box to include more information.

After the questionnaire is complete, you will be assigned to an online travel agent. They will work up a trip with your qualifications in mind and present it to you via phone or email. You will then have the ability to work one-on-one with them for the rest of the process. With some companies, you will be able to tweak your trip. They will alter your itinerary until you are perfectly happy with it! Other companies keep it a complete surprise, only revealing your itinerary on the day of travel. They will only give you the necessary information for your to pack and prepare appropriately.

 Obviously, there is a small agent fee for using these programs. However, that fee is minimized by how much you save through the company’s travel discounts. Plus, you must consider the hours you didn’t have to spend crunching every number and the stress you avoided. 

What Are The Perks?

These vacation packages are pretty awesome! Not only do they take into consideration all your personal preferences, but they add an element of surprise too. The fees are minimal. The travel agents are professional and have access to loads of discounts that are hard for travelers to find on their own, since the travel companies often have group discounts. 

Aside from saving money, using a surprise travel company saves you from hours of planning and stress. For some travelers, the preparation is part of the fun! But, for others, it’s an unnecessary amount of pressure. These guys take all the worry and stress out of the vacation hunt!

Who Is A Surprise Destination Best For?

Some of you are reading this thinking, “Oh my gosh, that sounds so fun!”  Others, not so much. Some of you are terrified at the thought of showing up at the airport having no idea where you are going, what you are doing, and if you will like it. Some of you aren’t sure which camp you’re in. We get it! Vacations are expensive. There is a lot of money at stake. Americans also don’t just have an abundance of vacation days to burn on somewhere that doesn’t interest us. No one wants to regret their vacation choice and have it be too late to do anything about it! (Rest assured, this is extremely unlikely!)

If you are wondering if a surprise vacation is right for you, we don’t blame you for being skeptical. Obviously, you need a sense of adventure to let someone else book your whole precious vacation. As discussed earlier, the level of secrecy is completely up to you with most of these companies, so take a breath. You will likely know where you are going and what you are doing before you pay. 

We find there are a few types of people who love these trips. The first are people who have little to no experience in trip planning. If it is your first time taking a big trip, and you need a little help, this is a great option. The second group is people who just want to get away. If everywhere is on your bucket list, then this type of trip is perfect for you. The final group is intrepid travelers. If you have traveled to a lot of destinations, and you just want a trip that you don’t have to go through all your normal weeks of planning and number crunching, then a surprise vacation might be great for you. Intrepid travelers are generally comfortable in a large variety of destinations and situations, so no matter where the surprise vacation takes them, they are good to go!

Where To Find A Surprise Trip

There are several great companies out there that offer surprise trips. Some specialize in solo travel, others in weekend getaways. Some do only the US, while others offer international travel options. Each operates on the same basic premise, but with variance in the details. Let’s take a look at some of the best out there and what they have to offer.

Pack Up + Go

Pack Up + Go are the weekend getaway specialists. Founded by Pittsburgh native, Lillian Rafson, in 2016, this company comes highly rated for weekend trips. Though you can book a longer trip, they are pros at the two-night, three-day vacation. This company works within the United States, generally sending customers to mid-sized American cities, within 4-6 hours from their home. This company limits its services to transportation and accommodation, so activities are on you. 

Their process is a total surprise for the customer. You fill out a detailed questionnaire, and then Pack Up +Go will design and book your trip. One week before you leave, you will receive a packet with the weather forecast, a suggested packing list, and directions to your departure point. Another envelope arrives a few days before the trip. This one is meant to remain closed until you reach your destination. It includes directions to your accommodation, a list of recommended activities, and maps. 

Pack Up +Go does the whole trip based on your total budget. They take 15% out for themselves and then use the other 85% towards your trip. We think this is a bit steep for the services offered. As stated, they only find and book accommodation and travel, so the rest is still up to you, but if you really don’t like planning, then it might be worth the fee for you. 

That being said, Pack +Go has excellent testimonials and write-ups online, by seasoned travelers. Their agents are knowledgeable and crazy helpful, even during your trip, should something not go as planned. Just don’t wait until the last minute because you must start the process at least four weeks before your departure date. This company makes it easy. You don’t need to do anything—just pack up and go—hehe!

The Vacation Hunt

The Vacation Hunt is a true mystery trip, complete with excitement-inducing clues. It works in a very similar manner to the latter, as far as the survey goes. However, The Vacation Hunt breaks down their trip options into mystery categories. Customers choose a package, with a set price, from “All-American Adventures”, “International Intrigue”, “European Escape”, and “All-Inclusive Resorts.”  Prices are quoted for couples and solo travel and range from $750/person to $4500/person. 

Once you have done your part, you will receive periodic clues about your trip via social media, increasing the suspense! You will again receive emails with pertinent packing and weather information about a week beforehand and receive your mailed envelope with specific information a few days before your departure

This company focuses on destinations that are well known with good tourism infrastructure and reliable public transit. Their packages include flights, accommodations, a limited amount of activities, and taxes and fees. You will have time and flexibility to add other activities of your liking from their recommended list or do your own thing!

Magical Mystery Tours

First of all, can we give these guys primo props on the company name? Bravo guys! Not only would the Beatles approve, but several other big names do too. They even got a rec from the Big O(Oprah) and Vogue, so they gotta be good! 

Magical Mystery Tours is one of the oldest companies on the list, making surprise trips happen since 2009. It started as a trip for a close friend. He needed a getaway and didn’t have time to plan. So, the cofounders planned it for him. He loved it so much that they decided to turn their idea into a company, “the original mystery travel provider.” It works the same as the others, as far as the survey and the total mystery goes. Your little red folder will contain all your trip information, and Magical Mystery Tours highly encourages you not to look until you get to the airport terminal! 

Their trips start at $1100/person for solo travel and $1500/person for two or more people. They take a fee of 7-15%, with a  $300 minimum, depending on your trip size. Make sure to book early, as there is a fee for anything booked within 8 weeks of your travel date, and the fee increases as the time to departure decreases. These guys are the originals, and they know how to plan a magical trip!

Black Tomato

Luxury travel specialists, Black Tomato , have gotten in on the surprise game too! Their trips are something extra though. They still do all kinds of traditional luxury travel, but that isn’t our concern here. Let’s talk about their incredible “Get Lost” services. 

This one is for the true adventurer. You answer one question on this survey, and that is your environment preference. Choices include Polar, Coastal, Mountain, Jungle, or Desert. You then enter your budget. Average trips for “Get Lost” are around $15,000/person, but they include everything you need. You will book 6 months in advance because these trips require training, which Black Tomato will advise on or book for you. 

A private transfer will take you to your first destination where you will be outfitted with your kit and equipment. This equipment varies by trip but includes a satellite telephone and, specialized clothing, and navigational technology. You will be given a starting point, an ending point, and several check-in points along the way. Then, you will head out into the wilderness and chart your course. It will just be you and nature from that point on, with the help of some satellite friends if necessary. Once you emerge from the wild, you will be greeted with nothing but luxury and decadence as a reward for your difficult journey! 

You can also feel comfortable booking with this company. Not only do they cover every single detail that you would expect an experienced luxury travel agency to consider, but they back it all up with their “State of Flex” policy. It accounts for the pandemic and allows cancellation and refunds for travel that becomes impossible. They offer some pretty incredible alternative trips too, with innovative themes like the “Drone the World,” where you travel the world from a bird’s eye view, and “Take Me On A Story,” which designs a trip to a destination featured in a beloved book or story! They really are quite imaginative.

It’s a rare company that combines this kind of adventure with this level of luxury. Travelers tend to either be the all-inclusive crowd or adventure backpackers. We rarely get a chance to be both. That’s what makes this concept so intriguing don’t you think?! 

Rustic Pathways

Rustic Pathways is another specialty group on the list. For almost 40 years, they have been exposing students to the world in a safe and educational manner. They create an incredible itinerary for your teen, complete with cultural emersion and community service. The company started with 8-week backpacking tours into the Australian Outback but has grown to include partners all over the world. They also have a 501c3 organization that has given back over $500,000 to their partner organizations for continued community projects. Your teen not only gets the surprise adventure of a lifetime, but they will learn about a new culture, give back to the world, and certainly gain a love for travel and exploration! 

Not all their tours are mysteries, so you don’t have to be that brave. However, if you choose the mystery trip, you will be sent a Patagonia duffel bag with all the details you need in advance. It will include packing lists and clues about your destination to help you prepare. Trip costs vary by destination but are reasonable for the amount of preparation, protection, and education they provide. We love the idea of this company, and so do over 10,000 students a year!

Is A Surprise Trip Right For You?

Surprise travel agencies are an ingenious idea, and I think most of us would agree that it is an interesting concept. But is it right for you? Well, you won’t really know until you try it. These guys are certainly experts and have access to great deals and destinations. We would say if you are a control freak or have anxiety issues, then this kind of trip probably isn’t for you. However, if you are a “go with the flow” kind of person and up for an adventure, then we say give it a go! 

Maybe for your first mystery trip, try something within North America. The pandemic is raging its ugly head with yet another strain of this stupid virus, so your next trip is probably unpredictable anyways. Seems like now is the perfect time to take a chance on a surprise trip! 

Closing Thoughts

What do you think about this surprise trip concept? Is it something you would ever try? Let us know in the comments! 

Looking for a getaway with your love? Check out our list of “ The Best Honeymoon Destination For Post-Wedding Adventure .”

If you’ve made it this far, then you are most likely an adventurous traveler, looking for something new. Take a look at our list of “ The Most Underrated Travel Destinations To Add To Your Bucket List .”

Frequently Asked Questions

Surprise travel agencies are companies that offer virtual travel experiences to unknown destinations! You answer a short survey, and they do the rest!

Surprise trips are easy to book!  There are several great surprise travel companies  to choose from, all with easy-to-use platforms and customizable trip plans.

Looking for something adventurous to do with your spouse or family?  Consider booking a trip with a mystery travel agency or surprise your loved one with a scavenger hunt in a new city .

Featured Products & Activities

• Your Guarantee

Mystery Holidays for Everyone, Traveling From Anywhere

What is a mystery holiday.

A Mystery Holiday is a holiday where you don’t know where you’re going or what you’re doing until 24 hours before departure. We plan and book everything for you, so you don’t have to.

HOW IT WORKS

• Your Holiday Rules

The first step to your Mystery Holiday is filling out the travel survey and putting down a 20 dollar Mystery Deposit. In the survey you list your Holiday Rules. You choose your travel length, how much you want to spend, type of activities and desired climate.

• Approve your quote

It takes us about 2 business to find you the perfect Mystery Location and to present this to you in a quote. This quote contains only the most essential information you need to know and is 100% changeable to ensure that before you book anything, you control exactly what you’re getting and for what price.

• Finalizing your holiday

Booking your Mystery Holiday

When you’re completely satisfied with what we’re able to offer for your chosen budget, you’ll fill out your billing information and receive an invoice through PayPal, with the deposit deducted. Upon payment, we’ll book your entire Mystery Holiday for you and assemble it into a travel itinerary containing all the information you need to know about your holiday.

• Destination Reveal

Your destination will be revealed 24 hours before departure in your travel itinerary. This contains all your booking information and instructions on what you’re doing and how to get there. 7 days before departure, you’ll receive a weather report and a packing list.

OUR PACKAGES

Pandora’s Package

Perfect when you want an unforgettable adventure without breaking the bank.

Pandora’s Package – Mystery Travel on a Budget

Are you an adventurous soul believing that life’s best experiences, including travel, don’t have to cost a fortune?

Do you thrive on spontaneity and mystery?

Our Pandora Package has got your back!

Picture this: you’re packing for this exciting trip without knowing your destination. You have no idea what you’ll see, where you’ll go, or where you’ll stay.

It’s like going on a mystery date – as laid-back or adrenaline-packed as you are as a person – and there isn’t one single thing for you to think or worry about.

All you need to do is get ready and catch your flight because we have hand-picked the best flights, transportation, accommodation and activities for you, which remain a secret until 24 hours before departure, based on your budget and preferences.

We do it all for you so you don’t have to. Why stress yourself with endless research and planning when you can replace it with adventure and mystery?

Get Your Quote

Luxury Bundle

Explore the world your way with extra added comfort.

Luxury Bundle – The Winning Blend of Luxury & Mystery

Looking for an adventure-packed vacation without sacrificing comfort and superior service?

Our Luxury Bundle is the way to go!

Classy 5-star hotels, international day trips, helicopter tours, private drivers, relaxing at your resort’s private beach, award-winning wining & dining – you can have it all and then some. With your own dedicated travel agent, your holiday will be just as prestigious as you want it to be.

And best of all, it will remain a mystery to you until 24 hours before departure.

This package is perfect for those seeking the ultimate honeymoon, ideal scenario to ‘pop the question’, families with an adventurous spirit, and groups of friends that are up for something more than crowded locations and group tours.

Let us take the hassle out of your holiday planning and replace it with mystery. Isn’t that what true luxury is all about?

Mystery Business Tour

Teambuilding, outings and company vacations with extra mystery.

Mystery Business Tours – Teambuilding Enhanced by Mystery

Corporate tours that strengthen the team spirit and the sense of belonging in the company make for invaluable business investment. Not only do they give your employees a well-deserved break, they also nurture interpersonal relationships in a way that’s impossible to mimic at the office.

Adding a dash of mystery elevates the value of such an experience and the results it brings; yet it’s no secret that organizing a company tour (let alone a mystery one!) is a highly time-consuming process, especially for large teams.

So if you’ve ever wondered where to go, how to get there and what to do: these are all great questions we have the answers to!

Let us put together your next company tour and, along with reaping the benefits, save uncountable hours. We’ll organize everything, from transport and venue(s) to activities, and we’ll even send our representative as an on-site guide if you so choose.

Improving your employees’ well-being – a major influencer on performance and retention rates – doesn’t have to be daunting. Leave the hard part of your annual trips to us and watch their productivity soar.

OUR TRAVELERS HAVE VISITED

Click the highlighted countries for the most recent review from that country

im a planner and the idea of going somewhere where I havent done any research as to whats cool to see around gave me low grade anxiety; however you picked the perfect location for me and my wife.Thank you!

   - Derek, Stockholm, Sweden, December 2018

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Amazing experience! I wanted a adveture filled holiday and Take Me Anywhere Travels sure provided one!.Thank you!

- Nicholas, Miami, USA, March 2019

Only here for the weekend but loved every second of it! Definetly my most exciting weekend get-away.Thank you!

   - Tom, Paris, France, February 2019

For sure thought I was going to be sent to south America, but the Tenerife was a welcomed surprise.Thank you!

   - Jennifer, Tenerife, Spain, March 2019

Incredible beautiful city! Loved the architecture and perfect activities! Great choice from Take Me Anywhere.Thank you!

   - Yori, Milano, Italy, February 2019

Hands down my favourite place on earth! Got depressed from leaving it was so beautiful here. Thank you Take Me Anywhere for showing me this amazing place.Thank you!

   - Montgomery, Ios, Greece, August 2018

Awesome & prompt communication with Thomas. I like how flexi they are with the customisation of the survey form so they can best accomodate and plan for our surprise trip. Booking with them saved us a lot of hassle. Super convenient as everything was booked and taken care of. They had a bit of miscomm with one of the activity agents at the city at the last min. but Take me Anywhere promptly managed to solve it and refunded us duly and this we appreciated very much. Would definitely recommend and book again!

   - Gerra, Kathmandu, Nepal, January 2020

I’ve always considered myself adventurous, so this was the perfect opportunity for me to push my comfort zone.Thank you!

   - Jack, Bangkok, Thailand, January 2019

The Acommunication, business, and overall structure of this company is pretty awesome! I really love their work. If you want to do an awesome trip, do it through these guys. Thank you!

   -Andry, Penang, Malaysia, November 2018

incredible volcanoes, truly a terrifying yet incredible experience! definetly on my top 5 places to travel, but I have to give TMAT a bit of the credit as they chose Leon for me! They planned everything seemlessly and I arrived to my hotel and activities just like they described in the itinerary.Thank you!

   - Oscar, Leon, Nicaragua, March 2019

Really nice travel company. Thomas is really good at answering your emails quickly. We went on a 10 day trip were everything was sorted and the booking papers was very manageable. (Even though we didn't have to show them).

   - Malte, Antalya, Turkey, August 2019

New Zealand and Vanuatu

My fiancé and I booked our mystery holiday through Take Me Anywhere Travels months ago! Thomas did an amazing job of providing us with subtle clues of our holiday location while keeping it a complete mystery right up until 24 hours before our departure date which made the whole experience all the more exciting! We were absolutely stoked to find out that we were travelling to TWO different countries during our mystery holiday! The whole experience was incredible and Thomas was always easy to get in touch with if we had any questions or queries. We would recommend Take Me Anywhere Travels to anyone and everyone who wants to add even more excitement to their overseas adventures.

   - Jordyn, Queenstown and Port Vila, January 2020

It was great! you truly gave me a holiday worthy of remembering. Ill definetly get back to you for my next mystery holiday

   - Sasha, Bogota, Colombia, December 2019

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Travel planning can be a real chore. Booking flights, deciding on the right hotel and building an itinerary might be fun for some, but others dread it. That’s why some travelers are opting for an unorthodox travel strategy that eliminates the planning stage altogether. It’s called “mystery” or “suprise” travel, and the destination isn't revealed until the day of departure.

This idea isn’t new. Some friend groups plan regular mystery travel vacations, with one person or family planning and booking the itinerary for everyone else.

Lanie van der Horst, a travel blogger, asked her husband to plan a trip. He decided to keep the destination — Byron Bay, Australia — a secret.

“I literally cried when he told me that he had a trip planned that I didn’t have to think about,” van der Horst says.

Let a travel company plan your trip

As these surprise trips have become more popular, travel booking companies have begun offering them. Customers pay a flat fee for the trip and set certain guidelines such as dates and preferences, but the destination remains a surprise until the last minute. For group travel, this means that everybody will be surprised when the destination is revealed.

Mystery travel is not only exciting and simple to plan, but it can also nudge travelers to explore destinations they may never have considered otherwise.

“If you like white-water rafting, you may have already been to the well-known spots in Arizona and Colorado,” Roshni Agarwal, co-founder of The Vacation Hunt, a mystery travel service, said in an email. “But did you know that the U.S. National Whitewater Center is in Charlotte, North Carolina?”

How it works

Although it differs from travel agency to travel agency (and from friend group to friend group), the basic process of mystery travel involves:

Choosing a date or range of dates.

Deciding on a budget.

Setting certain parameters or preferences.

Preferences could include the types of activities you enjoy, such as outdoor adventures, or exclusions for destinations you've recently visited or plan to visit.

Then you wait and let the anticipation build. Some mystery travel agencies (and friend groups) will even send a physical envelope with the trip details inside — not to be opened until the day of departure.

Airfare and lodging costs are included in the trip budget, which can vary from $1,499 per traveler for a short weekend trip (3-4 days) to several thousand for longer international excursions. Recommendations for food and activities are generally offered, but the costs are not included for package trips.

“We often tell our travelers to expect to spend around $100 per person per day on dining, shopping and activities,” Agarwal said.

For mystery trips planned for a group of friends or family, it’s imperative to get aligned on the budget ahead of time. The cost of the trip shouldn’t be one of the surprises.

Decisions, decisions

Beyond the sense of adventure and the fun story to share with friends, the appeal of mystery travel lies in its simplicity. Rather than spending time and energy on decision-making, travelers can focus on the trip’s experience.

“There are a lot of decisions that have to be made at every stage of a trip, and having someone else decide for you is honestly one of the biggest advantages of surprise trips," Agarwal said.

Even the relatively simple act of booking a flight involves dozens of decisions, such as choosing the airline, where to sit and when to depart. Handing these decisions to a travel booker or trusted friend can mitigate decision fatigue.

This simplicity comes with trade-offs: You may prefer an afternoon departure but get stuck with a morning flight. Or you could end up in a destination you would never choose for yourself (for good reason).

Meticulous planners, who prefer to set every detail of their trips months before departure, could also feel discombobulated by the uncertainty of mystery travel.

What to pack? How to know what activities or restaurants to visit? These uncertainties could generate a sense of anxiety rather than adventure for planners.

Van der Horst, whose husband planned a last-minute trip to the beach, suggests that planners share some details about what travelers need — like a bathing suit.

“If you want to trick them ... tell them to pack extra stuff. Just let people know what they actually need.”

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.

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April 5, 2022

Pack Up & Go Review – Why The Mystery Vacation Is Worth The Hype

One week and a whole lot of mystery later, I’m home and getting back into my routine after our Pack Up & Go trip . After several months of waiting, I can’t believe it’s over. But I’m already plotting my next adventure. I read quite a few articles when I first discovered the mystery travel agency. So I thought I’d share my experience. Everything from the amazing to the extremely picky is included in today’s Pack Up & Go review. Let’s get started!

Pack Up & Go Review

What is pack up and go.

First things first, what am I even talking about? Pack Up & Go is a travel agency that plans 3 day+ vacations with a twist. You pick your budget, the city want you to leave from, how you’d like to travel (car, train, plane), and when you want to go. But they pick your destination. And it’s only in the USA.

HOW DOES PACK UP AND GO WORK?

There are several budget options available. You can choose from plane/train travel, road trips, outdoor destinations, and staycations. You’re required to book at least 4 weeks in advance. However, if you know when you want to travel, I’d suggest booking as soon as possible. They are growing in popularity and may already be too full to take your trip on.

You pay upfront for the cost of the trip. If you’re traveling with a group, you should know that only one person can pay for the trip. So be prepared to pay your friend(s) back. They also offer travel insurance and will send you quotes.

WHICH TRIP DID WE PICK?

We opted for a 3 day plane trip with a budget of $750 per person. We also opted for travel insurance and that worked out to be about $30 a person. Because our airport is smaller and tends to have flights that range from $300-400, we wanted to make sure we weren’t limited with a $650 budget. Plus, we figured that if nothing else it would go towards a nicer hotel.

What does the budget cover?

The cost per person covers your plane & hotel fares. If there’s any additional leftover, they will use it towards something they think you might like or find useful. But I think we pretty much maxed ours out.

WHERE DID WE GO?

We went to Washington DC!

HOW DID PACK UP AND GO PICK WASHINGTON DC FOR US?

When you book your trip, they ask you lots of questions. Everything from previous travel to things you prefer to do are on the questionnaire. We’ve both lived in bigger cities ( Birmingham , Atlanta , Tampa) so we made sure to include that info so we didn’t end up there. We also noted the places we’ve recently been or will be going in the next few months ( Orlando ,  Nashville , St. Louis) so they wouldn’t send us there.

WHEN DO YOU FIND OUT WHERE YOU’RE GOING?

You’ll get a packet of info in the mail a few days before you leave as well as an email with all of your documentation. It includes where you’re going, a suggested itinerary, and any other pertinent information. You are free to open it whenever you’d like to know.

Some people wait until they get to the airport. My anxiety could never. We chose to open our packet the night before so we could make sure we had anything special packed we might want to shoot or wear.

HOW DO YOU PACK FOR A TRIP WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE YOU’RE GOING?

Your travel agent will send you the weather for your trip a week before along with any packing notes. We were told that there was a lot of walking and the option for a rooftop pool. Personally, I’d suggest packing a pair of shoes you’d be comfortable with doing a lot of walking in no matter where you go. When I first read the note about walking, I didn’t think it would be at the level we did. So I ended up being happy we looked ahead of time.

HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU’LL NEED WHEN YOU’RE THERE?

Because I went with one of my best friends on our Pack Up & Go Trip , we know our spending habits pretty well. We’re both foodies and love a good meal. But we will also split food if we want to save funds. We’ve also been fortunate enough to take several 3 day trips before so we decided to plan as though we’d end up in one of the few cities we knew we’d want to splash out more in (LA or NYC). Neither one of us wanted to feel like we couldn’t enjoy ourselves on our trip. I’d suggest keeping in mind the activities you’d like to do and budget around it.

If there are certain events (i.e. broadway shows or dinner theaters), I’d keep those in mind. And because you don’t know the location, I’d advise saving extra for transportation. We used lyft  or walked while in DC and it worked great. But depending on where you go, you may want the extra budget for a rental car.

DO YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT’S ON THE ITINERARY?

Not at all. They give you tons of suggestions for things to do. We honestly had enough options that I could easily plan a 2nd trip from our itinerary. However, it’s up to you how you choose to spend your time.

We took a lot of things from the list and we also winged it when we felt like it. It’s nice not having to search for where to grab dinner or something you might like to do. So we mostly consulted our list and went from there. But it’s your trip so do what makes you happy!

WHAT DID I LIKE ABOUT OUR PACK UP AND GO TRIP?

Honestly I loved not having to plan anything. I never would have picked DC to go to again since I’ve been before. But we had such a blast. Our hotel was lovely and they made sure to leave a bottle of champagne in our room to celebrate my birthday. We told Pack Up & Go that was why we were going. We made friends with the rooftop bartender, Joseph, who told us about another awesome rooftop bar with an amazing view.

Plus, Pack Up & Go suggested lots of places I’d never been before. The Museum of the Bible , Newseum & The International Spy Museum were all new to me. We ate lots of amazing food and saw some great places. It was a lot fun.

WHAT DIDN’T I LIKE ABOUT OUR PACK UP AND GO TRIP?

There really wasn’t much that I didn’t like about our trip. There were two things I’d note but neither are major. Our hotel had a nightly amenity fee that we didn’t know about and wasn’t covered ahead of time. We made sure to maximize on what they offered (wine hour in the lobby, fresh coffee in the mornings, etc.) so I think we got the most from it. But it wasn’t something I anticipated we would need to cover.

The other note isn’t really a dislike but something we found challenging. Inevitably, we felt like needed more time. With such a big city, we really needed one more full day to do all the things we wanted to do. We spent a full day traveling and a lot of the places we wanted to go closed at 5pm. So it limited what we were really able to see. Ps. we booked this trip when only 3 day, 2 night options were available.

OTHER NOTES?

The morning of our trip, our plane had an issue. There was a brief time where we thought our flight was going to be delayed by an hour which would have caused us to miss our 2nd flight. As soon as we saw it, I called our Pack Up & Go travel agent Jordan to let her know. She was amazing. Super on it and ready to help find us alternatives within 5 minutes. We also reached out looking for later flights home and she was incredibly helpful. I can’t imagine a smoother trip or experience.

I also think it’s worth nothing what could be considered a downside to traveling with  Pack Up & Go . The idea behind not planning or stressing about a trip is amazing. But there is a chance you’ll end up in a city  and not be able to snag tickets ahead of time if there’s something you really want to do. Our itinerary suggested a local comedy club we were really excited to try. But they were sold out. We made sure to book anything we thought we’d want to do as early as possible ( dinner reservations). Nevertheless, there were a few things we would have done if we could have gotten tickets.

WOULD I BOOK WITH PACK UP AND GO AGAIN?

Absolutely, we had an amazing experience. If you are incredibly busy or just want to get away, I think it’s perfect for taking a trip without the stress. I also love that they took the time to find places they thought we would truly enjoy. And I really enjoyed everything we did. It’s something I’d love to do with my mom for a fun and stress free get away. So I definitely see myself using Pack Up & Go again.

DO I RECOMMEND PACK UP AND GO?

Yes! There was not a single person I’ve spoken to about the trip that had heard about it before. So I’m excited to see more people go and have just as much fun as we did. No matter what you like to do, your dietary preferences or where you’ve been before, Pack Up & Go is sure to be a new experience.

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I’m glad you had a good time- what an amazing trip! I’ve now decided I HAVE to organise a visit to Washington sometime in the future. Great post. Lulu Xx | https://lululostinthought.blogspot.com/

You must! It was so much fun!!

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: What's happening with conflict right now?

At least 16 people were killed in a Russian missile strike on a DIY store in Kharkiv city this weekend - read about this in our overview of what's happening in Ukraine below, and we'll be back with live updates on Tuesday.

Monday 27 May 2024 08:11, UK

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• The big picture: What you need to know about the war right now
• Number killed rising after Russian attack on DIY store kills more than 40 people | 16 confirmed dead
• Eyewitness: Russia producing shells three times faster than Ukraine's allies
• We'll be back with live updates on Tuesday

 We'll be back with live updates on the war tomorrow - but for now, as always, we start the week by taking a few steps back and giving an overview of where the conflict is at right now.

Conflicting claims on the second front

Kharkiv remains a major focus after Russia opened a new front on the northeastern border. 

It has been the subject of conflicting reports, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying Ukraine had secured "combat control", while the Russian ministry of defence claimed its forces were advancing.

The British defence ministry said Russian gains in the northeast had not been joined up, allowing Ukraine to contain Moscow's momentum.

It assessed Vladimir Putin's attempt to create a buffer zone between Ukraine and Russia had been unsuccessful thus far and further gains were unlikely in the coming week.

But this will be little comfort to those living under the constant threat of Russian shells in the region.

An attack on a DIY store in Kharkiv city this weekend killed at least 16 people, injured more than 40, and the search is still on for others.

A 12-year-old girl was among the dead.

The US announced a new $275m package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine to help it repel Russia's assault in the Kharkiv region.

Ukrainian troops have been forced to train without firing ammunition due to shortages. 

Analysis shared with Sky News revealed the scale of the challenge facing Kyiv, with Russia producing artillery shells around three times faster than Ukraine's Western allies and for about a quarter of the cost. 

Across the year, that means Russian factories are forecast to manufacture 3.2 million more shells than European nations and the US combined.

Peace summit

Mr Zelenskyy directly called on his US and Chinese counterparts to join his latest summit for peace in Ukraine. 

Speaking from Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine on Friday, he announced a "global peace summit", co-hosted by Switzerland, starting on 15 June. He claimed 80 countries had already confirmed their attendance.

Putin's 'freeze'

Vladimir Putin is ready to halt the war in Ukraine with a ceasefire that recognises current battlefield lines, four Russian sources told the Reuters news agency. 

The narrative is widely viewed as a strategy to consolidate Ukrainian land under Russian control, with little or no guarantees Mr Putin wouldn't use it to launch another attack on what remains of Ukraine. Russian propogandists have previously advocated reducing Ukraine to the size of the Lviv region in the west.

Nuclear drills

Russia's defence ministry said it had begun a round of drills involving tactical nuclear weapons in response to remarks by senior Western officials about the possibility of deeper involvement in the war. 

According to the ministry's statement, the first stage of the new drills included nuclear-capable Kinzhal and Iskander missiles in southern Russian regions.

Ukraine claimed to have destroyed the last Russian warship armed with cruise missiles that was stationed on the occupied peninsula. It said a long-range attack destroyed the Russian minesweeping navy vessel Tsiklon in Sevastopol.

Vladimir Putin has arrived in Uzbekistan ahead of formal talks on Monday.

The Russian president laid a wreath at a monument to Uzbekistan's independence in the capital, Tashkent.

He is expected to hold formal talks with President Shavkay Mirziyoyev that are expected to focus on deepening the countries' relations.

The pair spoke in what were described by the Kremlin as informal talks on Sunday.

The visit is President Putin's third foreign trip since being inaugurated for a fifth term in May. 

He first went to China , where he expressed appreciation for China's proposals for talks to end the Ukraine conflict, and later to Belarus. 

For context: Now separated from Russia by Kazakhstan in central Asia, Uzbekistan was once part of the Soviet Union.

However, the invasion of Ukraine is believed to have accelerated a process of reducing Russian influence in the country.

In the two-plus years since February 2022, Uzbekistan has also boosted its relations with the EU. 

Fighting continues along the Kharkiv frontline as Russian forces try to overwhelm defenders.

In an update on Sunday evening, Ukraine's armed forces said its troops were seeking to repel attacks and in places have mounted offensives.

The General Staff said on social media: "The Russian aggressor is trying to use superiority in manpower and equipment and air support. 

"Ukrainian soldiers are giving battle to the enemy, and in some directions they themselves are carrying out effective assault actions to improve the stability of the defence and restore positions."

Twelve clashes were reported in the direction of Kharkiv, the update said, as well as near the villages of Lyptsi and Ternova.

"The situation is under control," the statement said.

Ukrainians gathered outside the US embassy in Kyiv as part of mounting demands to remove restrictions on where Ukraine can use Western weapons.

Many NATO countries who provide military aid to Ukraine currently do so on the condition that it is not used to strike targets inside Russia. 

The US and Germany in particular have been strict on this issue, likely out of concern about escalation with Moscow.

Other countries - the UK and Sweden, for example - have confirmed or suggested that Ukraine can use their weapons to hit targets across the border.

In Kyiv today, activists held up placards saying "let Ukraine strike back" and "remove the restriction". 

The US will participate in Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace summit next month, an official has said.

It comes after the Ukrainian president called on America's President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping to attend the event.

However the US official did not say who would attend or at what level.

The summit, co-hosted by Switzerland, starts on 15 June and, according to President Zelenskyy, 80 countries have already confirmed their attendance.

Battling against the odds, the Ukrainians say they have become skilled at trying to make every round count.

"Often, with just one, two or three shells, we can completely destroy a target," said Senior Lieutenant Kostiantin, an artillery battery commander with the 57th Brigade.

His troops are fighting against a new Russian invasion into the Kharkiv region, in the northeast of Ukraine.

"We have to keep holding the Russians back… and make every metre of land they try to take cost them hundreds of lives."

Watch this report from our defence and security editor, Deborah Haynes :

Crowds of people marched through the Georgian capital, Tblisi, today to mark the country's Independence Day - and also to protest against the government's divisive "foreign agents" law.

The legislation is seen by some as threatening press and civic freedoms and there are concerns it's modelled on laws used by Vladimir Putin in neighbouring Russia.

Hundreds of people walked through the city on Sunday, as the EU anthem played. 

Many held white and red Georgian flags, others the blue and yellow of the EU or the stars and stripes of the US.

There was also a military parade in the city centre as part of the celebrations, attended by Georgia's president and prime minister.

The pair are at odds over the "foreign agents" bill after President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the bill.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media congratulating the Georgian people on their Independence Day.

"Both our nations know all too well that freedom and independence are won rather than granted," he said on X.

"I wish the Georgian people to prosper and strengthen their statehood and ties will all other free nations. I also wish magnificent Georgian culture, identity, and hospitality to multiply over the years." 

The parents of a Ukrainian girl who died after a Russian missile strike have bid goodbye to their daughter in emotional scenes at her funeral.

Just five years old, Zlata Rostochil was seriously wounded in an attack at the end of April and later died.

Today, her mother Nadiia and father Vyacheslav knelt beside her body during the memorial service in Odesa. 

Other mourners stood solemnly behind them holding candles.

Russian forces are making "maximum efforts" to break through Ukraine's defences, amid fighting on the frontline near Kharkiv.

Kyiv's armed forces said there have been 83 clashes with the enemy on Sunday.

"Ukrainian troops are taking measures to maintain positions and destroy the offensive potential of the enemy," the General Staff said in an update on social media.

It said there were "no major changes" in the direction of Kharkiv but Russian troops continue to mount offensives around Vovchansk city and the village of Lyptsi.

Is National Service a good idea?

Rishi Sunak has talked a lot this week about security in Europe and the need to invest in defence - and then he announced that he would bring back National Service.

Our military analyst Sean Bell broke down the announcement on Sky News earlier...

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Murders solved by senior citizens? How 'cozy mystery' books combine crime with comfort

A murder at a retirement village solved by the residents? Sounds like a great plot for a mystery book. Several murders at a retirement village solved by the residents? Even better. 

These plots are examples of “cozy mysteries,” a genre that's seen a boom in recent years. Nicole Lintemuth, the owner of bookstore Bettie’s Pages in Lowell, Michigan, first noticed an uptick during the pandemic when readers gravitated toward more lighthearted books. She's hosted readers every month at her virtual "Cozy Mystery Book Club" since 2021.

“They’re always kind of slightly ridiculous and I love that the genre leans into it,” Lintemuth says. “It doesn’t take itself super seriously.”

What is cozy mystery?

"Cozy mystery" is a subgenre of mystery books. In a cozy mystery, you’ve got the classic elements of the sleuth and the caper, but the blood and violence happen off the page. The person solving the crime is also not a seasoned detective – they're more likely to be a bookseller, baker or even a senior citizen. They also often have animal sidekicks and the stories take place in small towns, which adds to the oddity of the murders.

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Many cozy mysteries are series, letting the reader fall in love with these eccentric detectives through several escapades. And as the “cozy” suffix suggests, the books are meant to leave the reader feeling warm and fuzzy even if the plot involves murder.

“Murder doesn’t sound cozy,” says Michelle Vega , an executive editor at Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House. “You can know that something horrible happens but then things will be put right again by the end and that you’re going to laugh along the way, you’re going to be charmed, you’re going to enjoy that journey.”

What makes cozy mysteries so loveable 

Cozy mysteries make a great read for anyone who loves a traditional mystery but also wants to be able to sleep at night.

“I love mysteries, but I’m a giant baby,” Lintemuth says. 

The genre is particularly character-driven. Because they aren’t in law enforcement, the protagonists' amateur detective skills make them loveable and endearing. You’re along for the ride with a character who knows probably as much about solving a murder as you do (in the first book, at least). And in recent years, casts of characters have become more popular than a singular lead.

“When I first started (editing), it was a lot of this singular amateur sleuth going about and solving crimes, but now you’re seeing more of this ‘found family’ of sleuths, these people from different backgrounds or nosy neighbors that all come together and solve a crime together,” Vega says. 

Popular examples include Richard Osman’s band of retirement village investigators in “The Thursday Murder Club” or even television's “Only Murders in the Building.” Notice a through line? Octogenarian operatives.

“You’re getting the wisdom and the experience that is comforting and is wonderful, but you’re also turning it on its head,” Vega says of the old-people-solving-murder trend. “The quiet grandma – she can come out and piece together why this person was killed.”

Cozy mysteries are also becoming more diverse. Lintemuth and her book club are prioritizing books by young, queer and BIPOC authors in a genre that older white women have long dominated. The audience for cozy mysteries is growing, as are the genre’s offerings.

“We’re getting younger authors who are more diverse … and we’re also starting to see them in more traditional trade paperback versus mass market,” Lintemuth says. “It’s really nice to see it being taken a little bit more seriously as a genre.”

Best cozy mystery books

Ready to dive into the cozy mystery genre? Here are some titles that Vega, Lintemuth and BookTok recommend:

• “Arsenic and Adobo” by Mia P. Manansala, part of the “Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries” series 
• “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” by Jesse Q. Sutanto
• “The Thursday Murder Club” series by Richard Osman
• “Nosy Neighbors” by Freya Sampson
• “Royal Spyness ” series by Rhys Bowen
• “A Brushstroke with Death” by Bethany Blake
• “Geared for the Grave,” by Duffy Brown, part of the “The Cycle Path Mysteries” series
• “The Plot is Murder” by V.M. Burns, part of the “Mystery Bookshop Series”
• “A Half-Baked Murder” by Emily George, part of the “Cannabis Cafe Mysteries” series
• “Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies” by Misha Popp, part of the “Pies Before Guys” series
• “A Bakeshop Mystery” series by Ellie Alexander
• “Molly the Maid” series by Nita Prose
• “The Marlow Murder Club” series by Robert Thorogood
• “Noodle Shop Mystery” series by Vivien Chien
• “Cheese Shop Mystery” series by Korina Moss
• “Flower House Mystery” series by Jess Dylan
• “Bookmobile Cat Mystery” series by Laurie Cass

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