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How it Works

Magical Mystery Tours specializes in customized mystery trips. Travelers set the parameters, we put together a trip based on those specifications, and then travelers discover their destination upon arriving at the airport!

First, you complete our mystery travel survey and provide your trip specifications. Then we get to work putting together a getaway that’s individually designed and customized for you. A week before your trip, we email you a weather forecast, packing list, and flight departure time.

Shortly afterward, we mail your reveal packet containing a destination overview, why we chose it for you, all your trip booking information, and guidance on dining and activity options. You’ll take this sealed red envelope to the airport to open and discover where you’re headed!

Resist the temptation to rip it open early…this is all part of the mystery trip experience!

This vacation style means you don’t have to—can’t, even—spend hours poring over destination options, flight schedules, hotel reviews, lists of things to do, restaurant reviews, and so on. We handle all of the details, drawing upon our considerable travel knowledge and experience.

You simply get to revel in the anticipation and excitement and then show up and enjoy this unique travel experience, with the peace of mind that we have planned your trip just for you, based on the parameters you’ve provided. It’s stress-free and fun!

Are you intrigued? Let’s get started…

What They’re Saying

From Oprah Winfrey and The New York Times to Vogue magazine and hundreds of satisfied clients, folks are raving about Magical Mystery Tours!

Get Inspired

Ever wondered if mystery travel is for you? Read these client testimonials in our Mystery Traveler Q&A series.

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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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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

How can we help you today?

Select How it works FAQ Contact Us Our packages

How can we help you today? How it works FAQ Contact Us Our packages

GET IN TOUCH!

[email protected], opening hours monday to saturday 08:00-16:00 (gmt +1).

Where would you go if you didn’t get in your OWN way?

Travel is exciting. not knowing where is extra exciting..

Fill out our questionnaire and get secretly matched to a destination based on your travel taste. We take care of everything. You find out where you’re going at the airport!

8,000+ people have already been on their Journee adventure. Be the next!

How it works, unplan your next trip..

When was the last time you surprised yourself? Get ready to Journee in 4 easy steps!

1. Match with

Somewhere unexpected..

Fill in our 10 minute questionnaire to tell us dates, budget, what you love, and where you don’t want to go. Then check your inbox and review your Trip Proposal. No spoilers yet!

2. Keep guessing.

Think you know where you’re going? Think again! We’ll send you fun clues about your surprise destination. But... we’ve not made them easy.

3. Get ready to explore.

We'll book flights, accommodation and authentic local experiences in an unconventional destination. You just have to pack and get ready to embrace the unknown.

4. Show up at the airport.

Turn up when we agreed, open your Reveal Postcard, hop on your flight and head off on your adventure.

Don’t worry.

We’ll tell you what to pack..

INCLUDED WITH EVERY JOURNEE

Travel. without the hassle., get your personalised journee pack..

You'll get a physical pack in the post with everything you need for your trip: your Reveal Postcard, your day-by-day itinerary and your Destination Guide.

TAKE A PEEK AT A JOURNEE PACK

Stay curious, stay connected..

Need help before your trip? Got stuck on your Journee? We’ve got you! Reach our friendly London team anytime on WhatsApp for 5* support.

WHATSAPP US

Answers to your questions, fall in love with somewhere new..

We only select non-touristy, unconventional destinations you might not know much about, but you'll end up falling in love with. We understand if you have questions! We would too.

Where will I end up?

You may Journee in all kinds of places, as long as they’re safe and not touristy. It all comes down to your travel personality!

Can I exclude destinations?

Of course! We want you to experience somewhere new. You can let us know as many places you DON'T want to go to as possible.

How much does it cost?

The minimum is £545 per person for a 4-day trip from the UK or $2,950 per person for a 7-day trip from the US.

Want to know more? Take a look at our FAQs .

Why People Like you love Journee.

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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.

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

What Is Mystery Travel And How Does It Work

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When it comes to travel, I’m a planner. Half the fun of a trip is figuring out all of the details ahead of time. And yet, there’s undoubtedly something to be said about a surprise vacation where the adventure that awaits isn’t entirely in my control. Mystery travel is among the growing trends for travelers seeking new experiences and willing to put their trip in the hands of someone else, in most cases, without even knowing where they’re headed until they’re at the airport. And I have to admit, the more I look into this novelty, the more intrigued I am by the idea of heading off to parts literally unknown.

What is Mystery Travel?

Just as the name implies, mystery travel means taking a trip you didn’t plan out yourself, and possibly not knowing the destination until it’s time to go. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you from asking a loved one to take your travel budget and plan out a fun getaway without telling you where you’re going or what you’ll be doing when you get there, however those looking for professional assistance with their mystery travel arrangements have the option of booking a mystery travel package where the ins and outs are handled by the experts. There are actually entire travel sites dedicated to creating a mystery travel experience.

How does a Mystery Travel Package work?

The process of booking and experiencing a mystery travel package seems to vary from one site to the other. Some offer U.S. domestic trips only, while most of the others we looked at offer both domestic and international packages. Some will tell you where you’re going after it’s booked if you really want to know, but most prefer to keep that secret from you until much closer to your trip. As for pricing, at least one of the sites we researched has fixed options for regular and luxury packages, while others let you set the budget and they’ll build a trip around that. And from what we’ve seen, all of them emphasize taking your personal travel preferences into account, which is nice for those with specific preferences as it relates to climate, activities and other factors. Your date preferences are obviously also taken into account, so you shouldn’t need to worry about being sent off on vacation at an inconvenient time.

We’ll get into more details about some of the services offered and how they work below.

Where can I book a mystery travel package?

One quick google search for “mystery travel” yields a number of options, so we suggest you do your research and go with the company that seems like the best fit for what you’re looking for. They tend to vary based on the options available, pricing and the level of mystery involved. Here are some of the services we found in our search…

packupgo.com

Pack Up + Go

Pack Up + Go ‘s packages are very specifically set as 3-day weekend trips in the United States. You set the budget, the dates and some travel preferences and they use all of that to book your trip. Then, a week before it’s time to go, they send you information on where you need to go and when in order to get to your destination, as well as the weather forecast for your mystery destination, so you know what to pack and whether or not to bring sunblock and all that. They will also mail you an envelope before your trip, which you’re not supposed to open until it’s time (unless you want to spoil the surprise), which includes how to get to your accommodations, a city guide and a list of recommendations for what to do in your destination.

cluventuretravel.com

Cluventure takes the mystery to the next level by incorporating clues into your trip. They book short and longer trips both domestically and internationally, all depending on what package you get. They book the transportation, lodging and activities, and then provide clues for you to unlock both before and during your trip. Their prices are fixed, depending on which package you want and whether you’re up for spending a bit more for the luxury option. For example, a 3-Day trip to somewhere in the U.S. is $900 per person or $1,200 per person for the luxury option. As for the clues, you have the option to set the level of difficulty on them. This sounds like it would be a good fit for people looking to have the whole trip mapped out for them. It also sounds like a sense of fun would be a plus when it comes to the clues, but if you’re booking a mystery trip, it’s probably safe to assume you have that.

www.jubel.co

Jubel offers trips for both international and domestic destinations based on your budget and preferences. You take their survey, they send you a proposal and then in the days leading up to your trip, they’ll send you a bunch of envelopes, each labeled with the date you should open it, so that each destination within your trip can be a surprise. According to Thrillist , at some point between the survey and actual booking process, you’ll speak with someone at Jubel to work out the specifics on budget, travel dates and specific preferences, after which they’ll send you two proposals to choose from.

magical-mystery-tours.com

Magical Mystery Tour

Magical Mystery Tour has you set the budget, give them some preferences and then they work out all of the details from there. According to their site, the cost of a Mystery trip starts at around $1,500 for two people for a weekend trip (the cost for a solo weekend trip is a minimum of $1,100). And of course, that minimum price goes up the more days you add. A few days before your trip, they’ll send you a packet that contains your itinerary and other details about where you’re headed. They suggest you wait until you get to the airport (or wherever you’re departing from) before opening the envelope. And if you’re concerned about not knowing what to pack, don’t worry. They’ll send you a weather report ahead of your trip, along with any other information about what you might need to bring. So if you really want to be surprised up until you’re headed to the airport, you have that option.

thevacationhunt.com

The Vacation Hunt

The Vacation Hunt offers a selection of fixed prices for both domestic and international destinations. They also have pricing for all-inclusive vacation packages, which include the cost of food and drinks, airport transfers and on-site resort activities and entertainment. It starts when you take their survey, after which you can choose a surprise vacation package. They’ll give you three options to choose from ranging from 3-10 days. Those who want their activities planned out for them can pay an extra fee for a custom surprise itinerary. About 10 days before your trip, they’ll send you packing tips and weather report, along with the tracking number for the surprise vacation envelope they’ll be sending you a week before your flight. That envelope will include the details of your destination, flight and hotel information and whatever activity bookings and dining reservations might be included.

These are just some of the options we found online for mystery vacations. If this is something you’re considering, we advise you to do your research and read the reviews to ensure you find the best option for you.

In addition to mystery travel, Glamping is another rising travel trend. It’s an option for those who want to experience the outdoors while also enjoying some of the luxuries of the modern world. Here’s a list of great glamping locations across the U.S. for a variety of budgets .

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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Mystery Trips: Going No One Knows Where

Mystery Trips: All the Fun, None of the Hard Work, No Idea Where You’re Going

By Samantha Butts

Oftentimes planning a trip is the most grueling part. You have to research places to stay, eat, and visit.

This part isn’t always bad, but sometimes it would be nice to not have to worry about all the details of your trip. Planning a vacation has become a long and often difficult process to do alone.

Travel agencies and tour companies are great for organizing trips with ease. However, there is a more exciting option that requires almost no planning on your part: mystery trips.

Mystery trips are not only planned for you, but they also create a sort of suspense for the traveler. For the journey to their location, the traveler never knows where they are going.

New England Coach Mystery Trips

New England Coach offers a variety of tours that suit your needs. They offer retail tours which are open to the public and private pre-formed tours for groups. The tours can be one-day trips or multi-day trips .

One tour, in particular, stands out against the rest. New England Coach’s mystery trips are its fastest and most popular tours according to Belinda Grace-Leonard, Vice President and co-owner of the company.

“Honestly, it’s something that would never sell on a piece of paper,” said Grace-Leonard. “It’s something that people have never heard about or have never done.”

The mystery trips give New England Coach the opportunity to give people an experience that they wouldn’t normally know about. The company wants to give people unique experiences that they may not sign up for on their own.

Keeping it a Secret

“It’s all about the surprise,” said Grace-Leonard. “We don’t tell them anything about the tour until we’re on tour.”

If you’re concerned about what to pack, don’t be. For the mystery trips, New England Coach makes sure to send you a packet of information that does not reveal too much about the tour. The packet informs you of what the temperatures are going to be and gives slight clothing suggestions.

The tour company may give some clues and hints, but only once on the road, and you are never going to know more than one stop ahead. Some people attempt to trick information out of the tour leaders, but they never give in.

What is included?

What you pay, which varies for each trip, includes a few amenities.

Your transportation is always included. Along with breakfast and oftentimes lunch and dinner. All attractions and hotels are included. Tour managers and sometimes guides are also included in the upfront cost.

What to expect on a Mystery Trip?

Everything with New England Coach revolves around group travel, so you can always expect to be with other travelers excited to discover something new. The tour managers work to get everyone involved and make sure everyone is enjoying their trip.

Grace-Leonard, who both plans and creates the itineraries for the mystery trips, tries to stay away from heights or anything that might cause motion sickness.

This means that she usually steers clear from boats. She doesn’t want to have to give anything away to travelers, so tries not to book tours that would require special warnings.

With its trips, New England Coach’s goal “is putting together a great product and seeing the enjoyment that it brings to other people’s lives,” said Grace-Leonard.

Learning en Route

When going on mystery trips with New England Coach, you are sure to learn something new from your travels, whether it’s a fact from a museum you stopped at or something you learned from a local.

In the past, the mystery trips have taken travelers to a wolf sanctuary in Eastern Massachusetts, the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma, alpaca farms in Amish country, and so many more fun and exciting places that take you off the beaten road.

For Grace-Leonard, one of her favorite places she has ever taken a group was Custer State Park in South Dakota .

During the day, the tour group rented jeeps which they rode through the range allowing them to see the regrowing Bison population up-close.

Afterward, they retreated to a ranch in the park and got on a hay wagon along with a singing cowboy who serenaded them through the park. It was an experience you would not find anywhere else.

“The next tour is always my favorite tour,” said Grace-Leonard. “I truly never get tired of taking people to new places, even if I’ve been there multiple times.”

Christian Tours

Christian Tours is a tour company that offers trips from one day to twenty-four days. The company offers international tours, cruises, and motorcoach tours.

All of the motorcoach tours depart from North or South Carolina, where the touring company is based.

Like New England Coach, Christian Tours offers mystery trips.

Grand Reunion Mystery Tour

Christian Tours has been offering the Grand Reunion Mystery Tour since the late 80s. The trips occur in November and usually last six to eight days.

“We try to keep it different and unique and not the same as our normal catalog tours or normal offerings,” said Heather Paul the customer service and personnel director for Christian Tours.

Paul said they try to have fun with their travelers on these trips, even the coach drivers get in on the fun. They might take a wrong turn somewhere or wait till the last moment to switch lanes to make the journey more exciting for the travelers.

In advance of the trip, Christian Tours gives their customers clothing suggestions and tells them the average temperature but that is all.

What is included and what to expect

“We normally feed them really well,” said Paul. Travel is often known for feeding people, Christian Tours’ mystery trip includes two meals a day that you would not want to miss.

The tour company’s annual trip also includes attractions, luggage handling, and the services of the driver and tour director.

During the mystery trip, you can expect to be up and out by 8 a.m. and usually done for the day around 6 p.m. with dinner following shortly after. Some nights there may be evening entertainment.

Christian Tours is family-friendly and aims to make people feel safe, but the company also wants people to experience something new that they cannot get from the usual catalog.

During last year’s reunion tour, Paul recounts that they did the Grafton Skytour , which took them on a gondola ride up to the top of a small mountain. They were able to have a unique dinner on top of the mountain at Aerie’s Resort in Grafton, Illinois .

Mystery trips are a new and exciting way to travel. They offer the best of traveling and exploring without the hassle of having to plan the trip yourself.

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What it's really like onboard a Qantas mystery flight

By Katherine Scott | 3 years ago

We've already whooshed through security, sipped mocktails in the Qantas Business Lounge, and boarded a plane — but where we're heading next is anyone's guess.

We're on a Qantas Mystery Flight , a nostalgic experience last offered by the airline in the 1990s and revived again recently amid international border closures.

However, this time around it's a very different affair.

What was once a marketing sales ploy to sell off last-minute vacant seats, is now a fully-curated day trip loaded with freebies, surprises, lavish meals and activities.

RELATED: Air NZ reignites pavlova turf war with cheeky gift to Qantas boss

Only staff is privy to the plane's next stop as we take off, sparking a chorus of hoots from some excited passengers.

We're not going into the experience completely blind though.

We know it's somewhere tropical because Qantas said as much prior to booking.

"This is the perfect getaway if you love: the tropics, salt water on your skin, and long lunching on the beach," the Mystery Flight description read.

Tick, tick, and tick. I mean, who cares where we're going if that's what's waiting, right?

A pre-departure email closer to the day details important trip notes including border entry requirements, weather information and clothing recommendations.

We're instructed to bring a small carry bag, sun protection and swimwear if we're so inclined (we are), however towels are provided on the day.

Now on the flight, our next clue arrives in the form of a quick wardrobe change, with cabin crew re-emerging with tropical-themed leis and flamboyant sunglasses.

RELATED: What it's really like to fly internationally in a travel bubble

Passengers who've been live tracking the flight's path on the seatback screens now brace themselves for the big reveal.

As the flight begins an early descent at around 10.22am we finally learn where we'll be spending the day.

It's Hamilton Island, baby!

The plane cheers as crew hand out itineraries and we get our first glimpse at what's in store.

Though admittedly, our captain is making it rather difficult to focus on the itinerary, entreating guests to low-level scenic flybys as we approach — just one of the perks on such a flight. Window-adjacent guests get a front-row seat to the famous Whitehaven Beach among other sparkly sights.

The first item on our itinerary is a buggy tour of the island.

Once on the ground, we file into four-seater golf carts and follow the train of buggies (there are 120 of us, plus staff) up to the island summit. I'm at the wheel and it's an absolute hoot to drive.

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We arrive at the island's beautiful One Tree Hill lookout, where I'm handed a passion fruit mojito mocktail and confronted with breathtaking 360-degree views of the surrounding islands. On the right, is the lush Dent Island featuring a sprawling golf course, and to my west the rolling hills of mainland Australia.

Despite being balmy and hot it's slightly overcast, and flickers of sunshine highlight the turquoise hugging the coastline from this pretty vantage point.

Our host Darren explains the island is privately owned by the Oatley family — the same behind the famous Wild Oats XI yacht (eight-time winner of the Sydney to Hobart race) and Robert Oatley Wines.

He also says they have a whole heap of fun planned for us today, and I don't doubt him.

We're treated to a traditional Indigenous smoking ceremony by the local Ngato people of the Whitsundays , before being filed back into our buggies and legging it down the hill to our serene lunch spot at the newly-built Beach Pavilion.

From afar, this stretch of highrise apartments, soft silica sand and palm trees look like a miniature Waikiki Beach.

The stylish event space is perfect, facing glittering Catseye Beach and with a lovely manicured lawn out front, strewn with deck chairs and umbrellas.

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A chilled seafood bar and yakitori station serve plates stacked with oysters, prawns, juicy grilled Morton Bay bugs and smoky chicken skewers. Inside, decorated long tables await with goodie bags from Hamilton Island.

Attentive servers keep guests' glasses topped up with Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut, oenophiles queue for wine tastings at a pop-up cellar door, while others relax on the lawn or splash around at the beach.

Over lunch, we sip a chilled Robert Oatley grenache while tucking into a grain-fed chicken breast with hazelnut oil, potato fondant and garlic mushrooms topped with a demi-glace.

Dessert is a visual feast — a colourful gelato station at the back of the room, featuring an astonishing array of fruit and nostalgic, sweet toppings — everything from red frogs to Smarties and fairyfloss.

RELATED: Seven-hour Qantas joy flight sells out in 10 minutes

Then comes perhaps the best surprise of the day — a live set by Sydney-based cover band Furnace and the Fundamentals, whose enthusiastic renditions of 'It's Raining Men' and 'Mamma Mia' quickly get the crowd up and dancing.

We're able to squeeze in a quick stand-up-paddleboarding session and wine tasting before the day's out, then it's back to the airport for our flight home, though it's clear no one wants to leave Hamilton's balmy shores for a chilly Sydney.

We're returning two goodies bags heavier, thanks to gifts from the island and airline, loaded with everything from wine and a waterproof swimsuit bag (handy!) to some Qantas PJs and plane snacks.

It's a long day — beginning with 7am breakfast in the Qantas lounge and ending at the Sydney domestic airport well after 7pm — but we're impressed by the overall decadence and fun of the all-inclusive experience, with multiple mini surprises unveiled throughout the day.

Qantas has now wrapped all three of their sold-out Mystery Flights, but has hinted at more novelty flights to come before 2021 is out.

After seeing guests' reactions today, it's clear that border closures and the other travel challenges of the past year haven't dampened Aussies' appetite for a bit of adventure.

Prices for Qantas Mystery Flights start from $737 in economy, and include all meals, activities, flights and goodie bags. The writer travelled as a guest of Qantas.

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EXPLORE THE GREATEST CITIES AND FOOTBALL CLUBS IN EUROPE

Mystery Away Days provides the ultimate footballing experience, our packages include return flights, accommodation if requested, and match tickets to a mystery game in Europe!

Our trips mostly consist of games in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Portugal and many more leagues. We are also happy to send you to more obscure places, to watch more obscure teams, just let us know in your passport form after you order!

Featured Packages

Friday 30th August – Sunday 1st September

From £155.00

Friday 13th September – Sunday 15th September

Friday 20th September – Sunday 22nd September

What our customers are saying....

"Brilliant trip, couldn't fault the team at Mystery Away Days! The order process was brilliant, customer service were quick in responding to my emails prior to our trip and we received our flights / match tickets two weeks before we were due to depart which was great, We got sent to Madrid to watch Atletico Madrid in a La Liga fixture, surreal experience. Thanks guys, will definitely be booking again."

"Really good trip away so would definitely recommend it to anyone considering! An excellent and affordable way to spend a weekend away and to experience a different footballing atmosphere!"

"We booked with Mystery Away Days and we're so glad we did! We received our match and flight tickets two weeks before the fixture so we could book hotels. Off we went to Cologne airport in Germany, to watch Leverkusen v Dortmund, what a fixture!! We had the bests time at the game and could not recommend Mystery Away Days enough, the whole process from booking our trip to receiving our flights was perfect!"

"Had an amazing experience with Mystery Away Days, the customer service was brilliant booking was easy. Had the best weekend away in years with my footy crazy partner I highly recommend!"

The ultimate football travel company for the true fan...

With Mystery Away Days, you’ll get a flight ticket to a random country, accommodation (if requested), and a ticket to a football game in that country. It’s the ultimate football pilgrimage for the true fan. We guarantee you’ll experience the thrill of the unknown, discover new destinations, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Our mission is to provide fans with the opportunity to experience live football in a whole new way by offering a unique service that combines the thrill of adventure and the excitement of the unknown.

Common Questions

Timings differ, but they are usually Friday to Sunday, giving you plenty of time to explore the mystery city. Although we sometimes off shorter and longer stays.

Most are, but not all. We try to tailor the weekend to your needs. We have one aim – to send you on a truly unforgettable weekend and make you fall in love with a football club you’d have never otherwise got the chance to see. In your passport form, you can let us know which countries/clubs you’d like to visit or avoid – and that really helps us put together the perfect weekend.

At present, we have trips available from all of the major airports in the UK.

When ordering, you are asked to select which airport is closest to you. This will be the airport you fly from, and return to.

We usually send all flight and match tickets as well as accommodation details a few weeks before your departure date. We usually send all flight and match tickets as well as accommodation details a few weeks before your departure date.

We always make sure you’re sat together at the game! We also always try to have you sat together on the plane, but if it’s a busy flight to a popular destination you could be sat apart for the flight.

Of course! Mystery Away Days are a perfect birthday or Christmas gift for a young football fan.

If you’re travelling with a child, please let us know on your Passport Form so we can book family friendly accommodation and make sure you’re sat together on the flight and at the game.

Not booked yet?

Mystery Away Days sends you return flights, match tickets and accommodation to a mystery game anywhere across Europe for the ultimate footballing weekend experience! What are you waiting for?

• Packages & Prices

Destinations

• Gift Vouchers

***** We are reintroducing Mystery Flights OVERSEAS PACKAGES to Asia and Pacific Regions from 4 - 9 nights subject to availability for the dates requested departing from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Please note that Passports and Comprehensive Insurance is MANDATORY Please call the office on (02) 94401455 to discuss *****

Gift Vouchers for Domestic Travel only are also available - Valid for Three Years from date of purchase.

What are the possible destinations?

Not knowing where you are going until the last minute is what Mystery Flights are all about. Each destination offers its own attractions and activities. While we do provide some tourist information regarding your destination, travellers are under no obligation to do or visit anything particular. What you choose to do is entirely up to you. You could be staying within easy access to the CBD or in a fabulous beachside location. Whatever your destination, there will always be plenty to do within close proximity to your hotel, accessible either on foot or with public transport. For one, two and three night departures from BNE, MEL and SYD there are 21 possible destinations –

* and surrounding areas For Mystery Flight Day Trips there are 11 possible destinations :-

**Above day trip destinations are not possible from all departure cities. Mystery Flights departing from Sydney do not go to Canberra or Newcastle. Mystery Flights departing from Brisbane do not go to Ballina/Byron Bay, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast. * Cairns and Townsville are only possible day trip destinations for departures from Brisbane. City pairing is dependant of current flight schedules and length of time at destination. Don’t forget that you are able to nominate one destination you do not wish to be flown to, and for repeat travellers we make every effort not to send you to the same place twice.

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Our packages.

• THREE NIGHT MYSTERY FLIGHT $75.00

• TWO NIGHT MYSTERY FLIGHT $50.00

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Air New Zealand Mystery Breaks™

Take an Air New Zealand Mystery Break and who knows where you'll end up. It could be any one of the popular destinations on the Air New Zealand domestic network. The mystery won't be revealed until two days prior to travel.

You'll fly Air New Zealand to your mystery destination, pick up your Avis rental car or transfer, then check in to your accommodation. Then it's up to you. Go exploring, or just kick back and relax.

Gift an adventure that'll be impossible to forget

Mystery Breaks make great gifts for someone or as a reward or promotional prize for staff. Send someone on an adventure that'll be impossible to forget.

From family fun to luxurious retreats, there are four different packages to choose from, which can all be purchased in the form of a gift voucher.

They'll receive their gift voucher right away, allowing them to book dates in when they're ready. 48 hours before they travel, we'll reveal their upcoming adventure.

Can't decide when to go or want to purchase a Mystery Break as a gift?

You can purchase a Mystery Break voucher without supplying names or dates. Or purchase a Mystery Break voucher for yourself and decide later when you'd like to go.

Select a Mystery Break that's right for you

Choose your Mystery Break

• Return seat +bag flights with Air New Zealand
• 3-4-star accommodation
• Breakfast included
• Return airport transfers

Book a Great Mystery Break today or purchase a gift voucher. Book now

• 4-4.5-star accommodation
• Avis rental car for the full duration of your stay

Book a Deluxe Mystery Break today or purchase a gift voucher. Book now

• Luxury 5 star accommodation
• Daily breakfast and dinner
• Car park at accommodation provided

Book a Luxury Mystery Break today or purchase a gift voucher. Book now

• 3.5-5 star accommodation (a family room or apartment)
• Avis rental car for the full duration of your stay, including car seat if required

**Per family based on 2 adults, 2 children.

Book a Family Mystery Break today or purchase a gift voucher. Book now

Thanks to our partner

Questions about mystery breaks, what are air new zealand mystery breaks.

Air New Zealand has recently refreshed its popular Domestic holiday packages where all of the travel arrangements – including deciding on the destination – are taken care of for the traveller. Customers can choose to purchase between a Great, Deluxe, Luxury or Family break package for a set price, either for yourself or as a gift for someone special. Pick a preferred date of travel then Air New Zealand Mystery Breaks does the rest. All packages include flights to one of the airline's 20 domestic destinations, accommodation with breakfast included, and airport transfers or a rental car.

Are Mystery Breaks available for solo travellers, Families or Groups?

Yes. Please contact our team if you're travelling on your own and also note that a single surcharge will apply. Family mystery breaks are now available - advertised pricing is based on 2 adults and 2 children but we can customise packages for 2 adults / 1 child and 2 adults / 3 children. Please contact our team on [email protected] for more details. Mystery breaks packages are unavailable for group bookings.

Can I buy a Mystery Break as a gift for someone else?

Yes, of course! Just select yes on our 'Is this Mystery Break booking a gift?' option online when you book. After payment, we'll send you a voucher that you can email to the recipient (or print out if you want to add a bow and give them something to unwrap!). When the recipient has decided when they'd like to travel, they need to get back in touch with us and our team will do the rest.

What if there's just ONE destination I want to request I don't get sent to?

If there's just one destination you don't want to travel to, you can advise us of this when filling out your online booking form. We'll then ensure that we avoid it.

When will I find out where I'm going?

The surprise will be revealed, and we'll tell you your mystery destination (and send through your travel documents) at least 2 days before you leave. You'll have time to figure out whether to pack your togs or a jumper and tie up any loose ends before you go.

What dates can I travel for my Mystery Breaks?

Whenever you like! There is limited availability during school holidays, public holidays and special event periods. However, if this is the only period you can travel, our team can look at some options for you. If you haven't decided yet, or you're waiting on your annual leave to be approved, or your Mystery Break is a gift for someone special, you can book your package now and let us know later. Just select yes on our 'Is this Mystery Break booking a gift?' option online when you book and you'll then have 12 months to get back to us with your confirmed dates. Please note that once you've confirmed your travel dates, there will be additional costs to change them again.

I've booked / been gifted a Mystery Break package. How do I confirm dates with an open-dated voucher?

Send your voucher details via email to our team at   [email protected] , or enter your voucher details online when you make a booking with the dates that you'd like to confirm . Make sure you let us know at least 45 days before you plan to go for the best availability on flights and accommodation.

It says these packages are a "from" price. Are prices likely to increase once I select my dates?

No. These packages are set prices and will be honoured for the purchase rate as long as your requested dates are within the rest of the terms and conditions. The only exception to this is if you change your departure city or duration for stay when advising your travel dates and locking in your holiday, in which case you will have to pay the difference. Or, where a single traveller or peak travel surcharge may apply for travel during school holidays, public holidays and special event periods . "From" price is specified online as package prices vary depending on package type and duration.

Can I use my Airpoints Dollars on a Mystery Break?

You cannot use Airpoints Dollars to purchase your Mystery Break. However you can send our team your Airpoints number to add to your booking, which will allow you to accrue Airpoints and check in online through the Air NZ app. Please note that Mystery Breaks will not accrue any loyalty points for any Accommodation provider programme.

I have an Air New Zealand credit already on file, can I use this towards a Mystery Break?

Unfortunately, as the Mystery Break package includes accommodation and for some, a rental car, you cannot use your Air New Zealand credit as the form of payment for a Mystery Break.

Does my Mystery Break booking include checked luggage?

Yes. Mystery breaks are based on Air New Zealand seat +bag airfares so this includes 1x carry-on bag at 7 kgs and 1x checked-in bag at 23 kgs per person in each direction.  Any extra bags will incur costs and will be charged additionally.

Can I change or cancel my Mystery Break after I have booked?

Yes, however once the booking dates are confirmed - all bookings are non-refundable. Any changes will be subject to the supplier's change policies so will incur additional costs.

Have a question that we didn't answer in the above?

Email us on [email protected] and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Terms & Conditions

Mystery Breaks™ Terms and Conditions

References to "us", "we", "our" are to GO Holidays, a division of Helloworld NZ and references to "you" are to you as the customer.

"Conditions" means the booking conditions set out in clause 1, the pricing conditions set out in clause 2 and the general conditions set out in clause 3: "Mystery Break" means an Air New Zealand "Great Mystery Break", "Deluxe Mystery Break" or "Luxury Mystery Break" booked with us under these conditions; and "suppliers" means any person who provides all or part of your Mystery Break, such as accommodation, rental car or other ground products.

Please read the following conditions carefully as they incorporate the basis upon which bookings are accepted by us. These Conditions may be changed by us at any time with or without notice and at our sole discretion.

• BOOKING CONDITIONS

1.1 Reservations:

All dates are subject to availability. The total number of Mystery Breaks may be limited each day. Best travel availability would be 6 weeks or more from booking date and that for travel within the month of booking is very limited. Subject to clause 1.3 below, please advise us of any special travel or accommodation requirements at the time of booking and subject to availability we will do our best to accommodate such requests. 

1.2 Payment:

Payment is required   within 24 hours of receiving confirmation   immediately on confirmation of booking. Mystery Break packages are non- refundable / non transferable. Airpoints™ are unable to be used as a form of payment.

1.3 Destinations:

Mystery Breaks involve domestic travel within New Zealand only. As your destination is a mystery, you cannot specify where you want to go. However, you can advise one destination you do not want to travel to and, subject to availability, we will endeavour to accommodate your request. We cannot guarantee inter-island travel for Mystery Breaks. Accommodation and flight availability will be limited during special events and school and Public holiday periods, during which time Mystery Breaks will be restricted. Availability will vary based on the destinations.

1.4 Documentation:

You will receive final documentation 48-72 hours prior to travel which will be sent as e-documents to an email address as nominated by you. Please ensure you have access to a printer as you will need to print these e-documents and carry them with you for the duration of your Mystery Break.

1.5 Open Dated Vouchers & Mystery Breaks Gift Vouchers:

Mystery Breaks are available open-dated for use as a gift, incentive or prize. Open dated documents are valid for travel within twelve months from date of issue and include options for Great Mystery Breaks, Deluxe Mystery Breaks and Luxury Mystery Breaks. Extensions beyond twelve months are not permitted.

Mystery Break Gift Vouchers are available and are sold in multiples of $100 and are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.  Gift vouchers can we used towards part or full payment of a Mystery Break holiday.

1.6 Accommodation Check-In and Check-Out

Generally, check in is early afternoon at approximately 2.00pm and check out is mid-morning at approximately 10.00am. In most cases properties will store your luggage outside of these times. Early and late check in/out requests are not permitted. A credit card bond may be required at the accommodation upon check in.

• PRICING CONDITIONS

2.1 Pricing:

Prices for Mystery Breaks are per person based on twin/double share, include GST and all levies and Mystery Breaks accommodation rates at time of publishing.  Some dates will incur additional surcharges and blackouts. Flights based on seat +bag fares are included. Midweek pricing applies for travel Monday to Thursday and weekend pricing applies for travel Friday to Sunday. Where flights overlap, midweek and weekend a surcharge will apply.  All offers are strictly subject to availability based on Mystery Break special rates and may not be available on all travel dates.

2.2 Cancellations, Amendments & Refunds:

Amendments within seven days of departure are not permitted.

Amendments eight days or more prior to departure are subject to availability and approval of the relevant suppliers. Any approved change to the booking will incur an amendment fee of NZD50.00 per person, plus any fare or room rate difference, in addition to any service fees imposed by the supplier.

Mystery Breaks are non-transferable. If passenger names have been provided to us incorrectly spelt, a name correction fee of NZD50.00 per ticket applies once tickets are issued. Supporting documentation may be required for passenger verification.

Mystery Breaks are non-refundable.

In the event of travel disruption due to weather disrupts, schedule changes or COVID-19 related government restrictions, all practical steps will be taken to provide an alternative travel date for such time as you are able to travel. Supplier policies will apply. 

2.3 Children:

No child discounts apply.

2.4 Rental Car Terms & Conditions:

You will need a current full driver licence for presentation when you collect your vehicle. Minimum age for driving rental vehicles is 21 years.

Fuel costs, excess reduction and miscellaneous charges are payable by the renter. The vehicle will have a full tank on collection, and you will be liable for the cost of a refill unless you return the vehicle with a full tank.

A damage excess of $3000 + GST applies and is payable directly by the renter if the vehicle is involved in an accident. The excess may be reduced to $350 + GST by the purchase of Excess Reduction Insurance at time of collection ($25 + GST per day). Avis require a credit card imprint at the time of collection. Further conditions will apply which are available from the rental company upon collection of the vehicle.

All rentals are subject to a deposit at the time of vehicle collection to cover miscellaneous/optional charges, the applicable insurance excess and fuel bond. Deposits can be made by credit card or cash. Car parking is on a request basis only, any charges are payable direct to accommodation upon check in. 

2.5 Changes:

This information is correct as at 15 February 2024 but is subject to change without notice. Accommodation and flight availability will be limited during special events and school and Public holiday periods, during which time Mystery Breaks will be restricted.

• GENERAL CONDITIONS

3.1 Travel and Accommodation:

The accommodation, car hire, and any other components included in your Mystery Break are provided by reputable suppliers on their own conditions. In contracting with you, we do so only as an agent for these suppliers. Please note that your contract with these suppliers is subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by the suppliers. Our suppliers (including accommodation providers) may have vaccination policies which require proof of vaccination.

3.2 What is not Included:

The price of any component not included in your itinerary, collected at time of check-in, where applicable, are not included in the price, nor are items of a personal nature such as laundry, transport outside of any transfers provided or car rental hireage, telephone calls, excess baggage charges, personal and/or travel insurance, postage, car parking, drinks, room service or meals (unless specified). Additional fees or charges levied directly by the suppliers may also apply and are not included in the price.

3.3 Air Travel

Air travel will be on Air New Zealand (including Air New Zealand Link) services only and is subject to Air New Zealand's Conditions of Carriage.

Please note third party suppliers such as Avis may have their own vaccination policies.

3.4 Booking Arrangements

The person effecting a booking shall be deemed to have accepted these conditions on behalf of all persons named in the booking. The contract will be governed by and subject to these conditions. All communications from us will be sent to the email address you provide to us at the time you make your booking. It is a condition of our confirmation of your booking and acceptance of your payment in respect of your Mystery Break that payments are made on your behalf to suppliers by us.

3.5 Our Responsibility

The service that we supply consists solely of arranging and coordinating travel, entertainment and accommodation facilities and services and making reservations, issuing tickets and vouchers to customers for the provision of services and facilities by suppliers. We undertake to perform these services with reasonable care and skill. The standard of accommodation and other services are based on various factors, which are generally accepted as indicative of a certain class, however, we make no representation or warranty whatsoever as to the provision of any service of which we are not the supplier.

GO Holidays does not accept any liability of whatever nature for the acts, omissions or default, whether negligent or otherwise, of any supplier in connection with your holiday pursuant to a contract between them and you (which may be evidenced in writing by the issue of a ticket, voucher, coupon or the like) and over whom we have no direct or exclusive control. Where for any reason, a supplier is unable to provide particular facilities or services, then that supplier may be entitled, under its contract with us, to substitute comparable or equivalent facilities or services available without incurring any liability to you.

3.6 Force Majeure

We will not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, delay, additional expenses or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by any events which are beyond our control including, but not limited to war, pandemic, civil disturbance, fire , floods, acts of God, acts of government or any other authorities, accident to or failure of machinery or equipment or industrial action.

3.7 Indemnification

You agree to defend and indemnify us, our representatives, agents, employees, directors and offices from any claim, cause of action, or demand, in any action filed or commenced by a third party against us as a result of your breach of the terms or the documents made part of these conditions, or your violation of any law or right of a third party.

3.8 Law of Contract

Any claims arising out of our provision of services to you under these conditions will be governed by the law of New Zealand and any legal action arising under the contract shall be litigated only in the appropriate court having jurisdiction in New Zealand.

Air New Zealand Limited does not by virtue of its participation in any Mystery Break or by virtue of supplying any component of any Mystery Break represent itself as either contracting with any purchaser of a Mystery Break from GO Holidays, or as having any other legal relationship with any such purchaser, save to the extent Air New Zealand Limited participates as a carrier in a Mystery Break and in such case, the contractual or other legal relationship (if any) with the purchaser shall solely relate to the supply of the air travel component of the Mystery Break. When GO Holidays makes your bookings with the suppliers we are acting only as a booking agent for the suppliers.

3.10 Consumer Guarantees Act

Where you purchase or hold yourself out as purchasing our services for the purposes of a business the provisions of the Consumer Guarantees Act will not apply to the supply of such services.

3.11 No Amendment

No employee or agent of GO Holidays or Air New Zealand Limited has any authority to amend, cancel or otherwise alter these conditions.

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I took a family of four on a Copenhagen city break for under £1.000 – here’s how we managed it

D enmark’s pretty, pristine capital has lots to entertain younger visitors, but a break in Copenhagen usually comes at a hefty price. One report from 2023 pegged the home of hygge among the 10 most expensive cities in the world; another found that the average spent on a city break anywhere in Europe is almost £1,000 per person.

Sensing a challenge, I set out with my wife, Anna, and children, Heidi (nine) and Barnaby (five), to see if we could enjoy a 48-hour stomp around Copenhagen for under £1,000 between us.

Read more on Denmark travel :

• How to spend a day in Copenhagen’s Carlsberg City District
• Denmark travel guide: Everything you need to know before you go
• Aalborg travel guide: Best things to do and where to stay in Denmark’s rejuvenated northern city

Flights were the first expense, and with forward planning we secured affordable returns with Ryanair for £180. We played the ‘local grandparents’ card for free rides to and from Stansted , and packed sandwiches to tuck into as we waited to board. So far, so cheap.

We also front-loaded our adventure by buying a set of Copenhagen Cards . An adult’s 48-hour card (£86 each) gives unlimited public transport across the city plus free entry to over 80 attractions around the capital. Children under 11 get a free card with an adult’s purchase.

For accommodation, we settled on the Generator hostel (£256 for two nights, family room). On arrival, we headed straight for its game-heavy bar area. Alongside table football, air hockey and pool, there was shuffleboard (£13), with which the kids instantly became obsessed.

The fierce competition fired appetites. We shared a late plate of nachos (£11) from a menu full of bar favourites, before heading to our room. Generator’s spacious family rooms are more hotel than hostel, with an en-suite bathroom plus television and comfortable beds.

Daily spend = £632

Despite the kids’ pleas to spend the day at the shuffleboard tables, we set out to explore, starting at St Peter’s Bakery for breakfast (£37). The oldest bakery in Copenhagen, St Peter’s has been spoiling visitors with sweet and savoury treats since 1652.

Fizzing with sugar-boosted energy, we decided to Solve A Mystery (Copenhagen Card), a follow-the-geographical-clues whodunnit game based around a true-crime case from 1899. This child-friendly piece of Scandi noir served as a fascinating DIY tour of one of the oldest parts of the city.

Having cracked the case, we walked to Nyhavn to see the charming dockside houses, then caught the Harbour Bus ferry to Reffen . Once the heart of Copenhagen’s shipyards, Reffen is now a trendy waterfront hotspot with play areas, artisan stores, live music and even a nightclub.

More than 30 independent food stalls operate out of colourful converted shipping containers at Reffen, covering many of the world’s cuisines. We sank into deckchairs to eat the best of what Japan , India , Afghanistan and the USA had to offer (total £49).

A short stroll took us to CopenHill and exceptional city-wide views from atop the building’s sloping roof (free). The adventurous can ski down the artificial run that descends the length of the roof. We hit the gentler toboggan course at the slope’s lower end (£24).

Our next stop was Tivoli Gardens amusement park (Copenhagen Card; rides cost extra). Live open-air performances and fabulous playgrounds can make this a brilliant freebie spot. Heidi and Barnaby shared candy floss (£5) and thrilled at riding the rickety Rutschebanen rollercoaster, one of the world’s oldest (£28 for four).

Stepping out of the park we each grabbed a deliciously messy Danish hotdog from a street vendor (£16 for four) for the evening walk back to the hostel.

Daily spend = £159

After a substantial breakfast buffet at Generator (£44 for four), we boarded a Stromma boat tour (Copenhagen Card) for a peaceful hour on the city’s waterways. This brought us up-close to Copenhagen’s most famous daughter, the statue of the Little Mermaid , sitting serenely on the rocks by Langelinie promenade.

Fresh off the boat, the kids burnt off some energy at the playground at the Danish Architecture Centre (Copenhagen Card). Climbing nets, drops slides and trampolines are built into the floor of the smartly designed series of plateaus and slopes.

We lunched in the buzzing community hall at Folkehuset Absalon , where locals and visitors come together to chat, play, dance, create and eat. Menus change daily but there’s always a focus on healthy eating (£28 for four).

Seeking a dose of education and entertainment, we headed north to the Experimentarium (Copenhagen Card). Inventive interactive displays spread over three levels come with the strict instruction that children – and parents – do touch everything.

With an eye on our flight time, we made our way to Diamond Slice where speedy, delicious pizzas with crispy crusts are sold by the (extremely large) slice in a cosy setting (£29 for four).

One final itch to scratch, we popped back into the Generator to treat ourselves to a couple of beers and a couple of lemonades (£24), and I totted up our expenses to the sound of metallic clinks and childish giggles from the shuffleboard table (£13).

Daily spend = £138

Copenhagen is an expensive city, particularly when it comes to eating out; however, with forward planning, a set of Copenhagen Cards and by making the most of diverse dining options, it’s easy to enjoy a fun-filled family break on a budget.

Total spend = £929

Read more: The ultimate foodie guide to Copenhagen

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