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The best surprise travel companies in the U.S. for every type of traveler

Could you show up at the airport without knowing where you're going? These travel companies make a strong case for why you should.

Imagine this: your bags are packed, getting in a car and headed to the airport for your vacation but the only thing you know is what airport you’re leaving from—not where you’re going, staying and what you’ll do on your vacation. You also have no idea who might be traveling with you.

That’s the ethos behind the growing niche of the travel industry known as surprise travel. The blossoming set of companies behind the sector makes it super easy for those of us who think planning to get away is a job in itself. Ready to embark on this new way of seeing the world? Here are some options for the best surprise travel programs out there.

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Best surprise travel programs in the U.S.

Best for pairs who want to try new experiences: Competitours

Competitours is a surprise travel program described as The Amazing Race for normal people. Operating trips in Europe, Central America and the United States, all you know is your start and end point. You go with a team of two on a public trip and compete against other groups over the course of a nine- or 10-day trip. It’s great for couples, two best friends or maybe even your siblings.

Compete is a loose term, though. The experiences can include what founder Ari Charlestein tells Time Out could consist of the chance to “dive into special effects makeup design in Hollywood” or take part in a workshop on “how to become a fudge maker in Michigan.”

For international trips, they’ve had experiences like building an earthquake-proof tower of Legos in Denmark and herding sheep in the Netherlands. Competitours' upcoming U.S. trip is August 15 to 25, and starts in Philadelphia, PA. and ends in Little Rock, AR. Beyond that, let your imagination run wild or, of course, you can sign up and find out for yourself.

Prices range from $4,000 to $4,500 for the whole trip.

Best for domestic trips: Pack Up + Go

Pack Up + Go focuses solely on domestic trips. Unlike Competitours, it’s not a pre-planned competition. This is a bit more free-form. It’s just for you and your travel companions. When planning a trip, you'll complete a pre-trip survey to let their travel planners know about you, what you want to do and what you’re not up for.

Based on your budget, they’ll take it from there. The Pack Up + Go team will book the flights and lodging. They’ll even add some planned activities for you to enjoy. Pack Up + Go also offers a guide to the destination, so you can always check it out at your leisure if that’s more your speed. The company will send you a packing list a week before you set to depart, but you won’t know the specifics—like where you’re flying to—until you get to the airport.

Best for road trips: Guess Where Trips

For those who just need a nudge in the right direction, Guess Where Trips might be the best option for you. This guide helps you plan a road trip—no airport required. Guess Where Trips are very inexpensive and require no pre-planning, just a suggested itinerary.

It’s perfect for the indecisive who may need a bit of a nudge to come up with a plan. Customers can make themes as the company builds its itinerary, including "Historic Haunts;" "Hops, Hikes & History;" or "Country Farms & Furry Friends". They’ll send you a box with your plan for $65 and you can get a digital version for $39. Unfortunately, gas and food are not included.

Best for customizable itineraries: Whym

“I have always had this major bucket list item where I show up at the airport with nothing but a passport in hand and pick a destination off the board and just go. Well, that's the feeling we're creating—but you have a 4-star hotel booked when you land,” Bridget Scotti, founder of Whym Travel, tells Time Out. 

The company offers opportunities for couples, solo travelers and much more. Like Pack Up and Go, Whym includes a pre-trip consultation to help its team develop the plan. Seven days before your trip, you’ll get a confirmation email, the day before you’ll get basic flight information like the time and where to show up, but you’ll only know where you’re going 2 to 3 hours before you leave. Their itineraries include guides as well as pre-booked dinners and other surprise experiences.

Best for international travel: Journee

Started in 2019, Journee is a surprise travel program that allows people to customize their experience to their respective budget, date and weather preferences, so don’t worry about going somewhere cold if that’s not your thing. Offering solely international trips, it focuses on destinations you may haven’t been to yet. Journee will only take up 10 minutes of your time with a questionnaire.

Your experiences could vary. Founder Ed Tribe says those could range from cooking in Seville, Spain to paragliding in Slovenia.

Although based in the U.K., it expanded its departing airport options to include JFK and Newark Liberty International in the New York metropolitan area, as well as Washington Dulles, Boston, Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth International and Chicago O’Hare. Journee gives you a little advance notice about the details of your trip: You’ll get a full week to study up.

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Questions? You’ve come to the right place.

Featured articles.

• What is Journee and how does it work?
• What's included in the cost of my trip?
• What type of accommodation do you book?
• How do I make changes to my Journee Proposal?

Introduction to Journee

• What is a Journee trip like?
• How will I know what to pack?
• Who is Journee for?
• How will I know what currency to bring?
• When can I reveal my destination?
• Where does Journee send people?
• Can we exclude destinations?
• View all articles in “Introduction to Journee”

Surprise Destinations

• How does Journee match people?
• Do I get clues about my surprise destination?
• What if I don't like the destination I'm matched with?
• Will I need a visa?
• How do you make sure a destination is safe for solo (female) travellers?
• Do Journee organise trips inside the UK or USA?
• Is there any way for me to know my destination before my trip?
• How much does Journee cost?
• What should my budget be on the Journee Questionnaire?
• When do you pay for your Journee trip?
• Can I see the price breakdown of all of my trip's components?
• Does Journee charge a fee for their services?

Flights & Accommodation

• How does it work with flights?
• How much luggage is included in the cost of my trip?
• How does Journee address the role of airline travel in the climate crisis?
• What happens if my flight is cancelled or changed before my trip?
• Am I entitled to compensation if my flight is delayed, disrupted, or cancelled?

Changes & Cancellations

• I've already booked my trip but I need to change my dates, what should I do?
• I've booked my trip but I need to cancel, what should I do?
• I've already booked my trip but I want to change my travel companion, what should I do?
• Will my trip be affected by the Ukrainian crisis?
• What happens to my trip if my destination is no longer safe due to Force Majeure/Acts of God?

Once You've Booked

• Do I need to buy travel insurance?
• Are airport transfers included?
• Are the experiences you book private?
• My passport is expired, should I still fill out the Booking Details form?
• I need to update my passport details, how should I do that?
• What time should I get to the airport?
• How can I add my Journee Passport to my home screen? (iOS)
• How can I add my Journee Passport to my home screen? (Android)
• View all articles in “Once You've Booked”

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Amazing concept

Amazing concept, beautiful location. It was my first time travelling alone and I would definitely recommend Journee to solo female travelers. A few little hiccups on the way, which is normal when in a foreign country. I would recommend you keep your mind open when booking as you might end up anywhere ( exactly the point ) so it more suitable for flexible travelers.

Date of experience : May 02, 2024

Best surprise EVER!!!

They sent me to a place I would’ve never even thought to travel to and I’m so glad I trusted them! I loved how I didn’t have to plan a thing as they did it all for us! We were in the heart of the culture with just enough relaxation and excursions to do! I love that we got to experience their traditions and learn the history of their land. The shopping was an adventure I’ll never forget as well as watching the hot air balloons❤️ so much to share and not enough time or space to do so but will be going through Journee for sure again and highly recommend!!

I'm not sure where to begin...WOW

I'm not sure where to begin! This was the most magical trip I have ever been on. Not only was it my first solo international trip, but having dealt with anxiety I was giving all control over. JOURNEE did not disappoint!!! I could not have picked a better place for my personality. I felt so incredibly safe, walking around and eating alone. It was such a confidence boost to do it alone. It was thrilling to not know till I got to the airport!!! All information was easy to access through the passport on my phone. I can not WAIT to do this again!!! It was the BEST experience of my life!!

Date of experience : April 30, 2024

An adventure awaits

An experienced traveler might not think to book a trip with Journee because they can plan it themselves. I’m here to say take the Journee trip! I’ve been 10+ countries alone as a female traveler which I planned myself. I gave Journee a list of over 20 countries that I had already been to and they found me a new one! My Journee trip helped me get out of my comfort zone and do excursions that I wouldn’t normally book for myself. As a type A travel planner with timed excel spreadsheets it was enjoyable to give up control. I met some amazing friends through my Journee excursions so my solo trip even turned into a girls trip with a group chat, dinners, and free day exploring together. I’m already looking towards booking trip number 2!

Date of experience : April 15, 2024

I don't have enough nice things to say…

I don't have enough nice things to say about how excellent this trip was. Journee surpassed my expectations and knocked it out of the park. This was my first international solo trip, and my first time out of the country in almost 15 years and everything went remarkably smooth. The excursions were great, the accommodations were fantastic, and the benefit of not having to stress over planning was priceless. Thank you all so much, and I hope to do it again someday!

Date of experience : April 19, 2024

It was a great experience

It was a great experience. Everything is planned out for you at a leisurely pace so you still have time to venture out on your own. The suggestions are really helpful and they also recommend places to eat. Highly recommend it to see hidden gems, you wouldn’t think to book for yourself.

Date of experience : April 24, 2024

The brilliant team at Journee

Arrangements all sorted, except where to go in your free time or where to eat. But they have all that nailed down as they prepare a very up to date manual for you and your destination. Everything went smoothly and I really enjoyed my time there, all thanks to the very dedicated and passionate team at Journee.

Date of experience : April 20, 2024

Do it, do it. You won’t regret it

I saw journee on instagram and I was intrigued. I filled out the questionnaire and 24hrs later got my proposal. I was hooked. I thought it through, checked all the amazing reviews and on the 5th day I booked it. ( you have 5 days to accept it). Now I’m definitely not a frequent overseas traveller due to the process being so complicated. But I did have a longing to travel and it was also my first solo trip. I was desperate for an adventure. And what an amazing time I had. The excitement of not knowing where I was going was incredible. The support I got was second to non from the journee team. I thought the cost was very reasonable considering it was for flights, hotels, transfers and excursions. I would never have booked all that on my own. My suprise destination was Spain and it was beautiful. Thank you journee. Youve made my dreams come true and I will definitely be travelling with you again.

Date of experience : April 21, 2024

Excellent trip by Journee

I used Journee to book a mystery vacation. They did a fantastic job. I completed their survey and they customized an 8-day trip to Portugal. The destination was unknown until I got to the airport. They sent me 8 clues beforehand to tease me, along with a packing list. The price was affordable and include the hotel/apartment, flights, and an activity each day. They included just the right amount of activities for me and got me out of Lisbon so I could see some of the countryside as well. They were also very responsive to any questions/issues/texts that I sent. I highly recommend them if you are brave enough to try a mystery trip.

Date of experience : April 16, 2024

A beautiful experience in a surprising location

As a first time traveller with Journee, and having not travelled for eight years, I really didn't know what to expect, but I went into the experience with an open mind! Greece wasn't a country that was on my list of places I'd like to travel to, but I'm so glad I was sent there! I had a fantastic time on both excursions, and found the balance of planned activities and free time to be pretty much perfect. I found the hotel much better than I was expecting (a central, 7th floor studio apartment with a balcony). My personal trip highlight was unexpectedly meeting four other Journee travellers on my third day, and sharing some really cool moments with them :D Already planning to book a 2nd trip!

Date of experience : April 22, 2024

Looking forward to when we can book another Journee get away

Last Month we went on a secret holiday with Journee for 5 days and had an amazing time. We filled out a detailed questionare where they asked what type of holiday we were looking for and what kind of things we wanted to do. They sent us 8 clues that kept us guessing and we opened our envelope at the airport to reveal our destination, Malta. It was just the place and holiday we were looking for. The Journee team also did an amazing job at choosing our hotel and excursions. They also provided us with a booklet guide of recommendations from other places we could go and visit to restaurants and bars in nearby towns and cities. We would not hesitate to book another Journee holiday again. Thank you Journee for organising an incredible experience

Date of experience : March 17, 2024

I felt like royalty having my whole…

I felt like royalty having my whole trip planned! I’m a global, regular and experienced traveller (5+ trips annually) but it was very special to have a surprise and also to have all the research, thinking and planning done for me! I could not have picked a better destination - it’s been on my list for ages. Accommodation was central in both places and spotlessly clean. All transport bookings were at good and convenient times with clear instructions. Activities caught the essence of the places I was in and other recommendations were excellent. I got exactly what I asked for and the experience was more than I could have expected! All my friends were really interested in the premise of a surprise trip and now I can tell them the reality lives up to the excitement of the imagination!

Trust us, do it!

Just back from our 5 day trip to….. that would be telling! Journey of a life time, life long memories made in a destination we would never had thought of going to. The whole process from the questionnaire to coming home has been amazing. Will definitely book again !

A great solo holiday

This is my 2nd solo jouree trip, and I don't often write reviews! But I really wanted to this time, I had a fantastic 5 day break, my first ever solo trip last year was to Portugal and I loved it, so i really.had to do it again this year. With the information I gave journee the team.created a great break to Croatia somewhere I had never thought of going.. sadly one of my excusions was cancelled and although at the time I was very disappointed, looking back I think it was a blessing as it gave me a day of rest and exploring at my own pace, coffee and people watching!!! I've already recommended this style of holiday to others, especially solo ladies. Both of my trips with journee I've felt safe travelling alone, any problems the response from any messages was swift, kind and helpful. I do think it's a bit pricey but I guess it does have to cater for single supplement, and what price can you put on others doing the planning and arranging of fights, accommodation and experiences! Priceless I guess. I highly recommend you give this a go, you won't be disappointed

An exceptionally well executed adventure

From the easy 15 minute questionnaire to the joyous and beautifully planned trip this has been a fantastic experience. Communication with Journee has been faultless. We hummed and hawed, changed dates and asked tons of questions. Nothing was too much. The clues kept up the excitement and anticipation (our entire family and workplace got involved in the guesswork!) and we were delighted with our destination of Malta. The accommodation was perfectly located, trips that were booked for us exhilarating and fascinating. And it was no trouble when we elected to cancel one so we could explore alone at our own pace. Every question asked before and during the trip was answered quickly, with a lovely personal touch, which just added to the whole thing. Every aspect of the trip ticked our personal boxes perfectly, was efficiently executed and we are already looking forward to booking again. 🤗

An absolutely wonderful experience! 10/10 reccomend.

An absolutely wonderful experience. Everything ran smoothly, and when we had to change some of our excursions due to weather, everything was sorted promptly and efficiently so that we didn’t miss out on a thing. It was so easy to communicate via WhatsApp for any big or small problem. There was so much help, additional information and tailored recommendations too. I was pregnant and felt zero stress or anxiety on this trip, it turned into a wonderful babymoon. Couldn’t recommend Journee more.

Amazing journey with Journee!

An amazing trip organised by Journee. The clues sent by a Whatsapp message every now and then builds the mystery. Everything was well organised and any queries were answered promptly. I would highly recommend anyone to try a holiday like this, it was great fun and all organised for you. Will definitely use Journee again for another adventure.

Date of experience : April 18, 2024

Would definitely do again

I had a really great experience with Journee, the whole thing was planned out without me needing to do anything. I had a fantastic time in Porto doing a host of different things but catered to my tastes and preferences. I would definitely consider doing this again.

What an amazing experience!

I've just come home from my first Journee experience and spent 4 days in Lisbon - somewhere I'd never have thought of visiting. I loved it! The serviced apartment was about 100 yards from the main street full of designer shops and metro stops, leading down to the bars, restaurants and the harbour. I would definitely stay there again. I've never seen so many castles, palaces and churches and such beautiful buildings & cobbled streets. Don't pack heels - it's a trainers-only kinda break! I had a slight issue with luggage storage being at another venue and my having a huge & ridiculously over-packed suitcase (I'll pay more attention to packing guidelines next time but Lisbon had an unusually warm spell while I was there and I used about a tenth of the clothing I took!) My only moan ... I was booked to come home on Thursday 25th April which happened to be Portugal's 50th Anniversary of Freedom Day - a national holiday. I couldn't visit the paid-for Monastery that morning as I had to dash out of the city quickly before the roads shut. I found a work-around and stashed my luggage in an airport locker, using the metro to come back into town (my flight home didn't depart until 7pm). I would have tried out a tuktuk but the ain roads were closed. I clocked up 22k steps that day, enjoying the holiday festivities, but it would have been better to have avoided bank holiday travel home altogether. The other two trips Journee booked were amazing and I supplemented the sightseeing in my free time with the city tour hop-on/hop-off bus and using the metro to visit the aquarium. I didn't really use the restaurant recommendations - I preferred to wander around and stop somewhere that looked my kind of place. Overall, I loved the experience and am pretty sure I'll do it again.

60th Birthday booking

I booked as I just couldn’t decide where to take my husband for his 60th Birthday surprise. Everywhere I thought of was something I wanted to do rather than his choice. So I booked a holiday with Journee! We loved the clues, the excitement of not knowing where we were going and the final reveal at the airport!! The process was seamless, the holiday itself was amazing…we went to Bologna in Italy, which we wouldn’t have ever chosen ourselves. The hotel was great, location was magical and the trips and excursions were fabulous too! We didn’t have to think about anything, we just turned up, trusted the process, and had an amazing time!! Would definitely book again!!

Date of experience : April 12, 2024

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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.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

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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Going On A Surprise Holiday: My Experience

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I went on a surprise holiday and this is what it’s like!

Holiday planning can sometimes be a little overwhelming. There are so many great destinations on my bucket list… Which one will I tackle next? And what if I am missing out on some fantastic destinations just because I never considered them?

Taking the leap and going on a surprise holiday may be just the right option for you! Even though I’m an absolute control freak when it comes to travel planning (Uhm… hello, have you seen my itineraries?), stepping out of my comfort zone isn’t something I’m very unfamiliar with – plus, it seemed like a cool experience to have! That’s why I went on a surprise holiday with ATO Tours , who specialize in these types of trips.

Disclaimer: This surprise holiday was sponsored by ATO tours , all views are my own

How Do Surprise Holidays Work?

Whether you’re feeling spontaneous or you really can’t be bothered with hours of travel planning: the surprise holiday is one to consider. You don’t have to worry about picking the destination, picking the hotel, or even the budget. ATO Tours take care of that for you.

When booking a surprise trip with ATO Tours , you start by filling out a simple questionnaire. In here, you set the dates you want to travel, the place of departure, your budget (which is the price you’ll pay, no extras!), if you wish to travel by plane or train, any holiday features you want, and anything you’d like to avoid.

Usually, ATO Tours will send you the final itinerary, tickets, and hotel confirmations seven days before your departure. This way, it’s still a surprise, but it gives you enough time to read up on the destination and make sure you don’t miss out on anything due to lack of time. If you want the “full-surprise” experience, you can let them know, and your destination will remain a secret until right before your departure!

My Surprise Holiday Experience

As mentioned before, I’m quite particular when it comes to planning my trips. Especially as travel blogging is my job, I want to make sure I make the most of my trips. So giving full control to someone else when it came to where I was going to spend two nights was… something entirely out of my comfort zone!

I filled out the questionnaire and decided I was going for two nights in early March, somewhere with culture and sightseeing, around 20 degrees. Preferably somewhere I hadn’t written about yet. I quickly received an email back saying that everything had been set in motion!

As I booked my surprise trip in December, it left me with three months of daydreaming and wondering where they were going to send me. It got me even more excited to find out! I was telling people about my surprise trip, and they started guessing with me. “ What if they send you to Vienna? That’d be fab! ” “ Or maybe Oslo? ” “ Somewhere in Germany? ”

Then the day came where I found out where I was going. As I did want to plan what I was going to see, I opted to find out seven days before my departure. As mentioned before, you can also wait until the very last minute to find out if you prefer.

My surprise trip was going to take me to… LISBON !

I received an email with my surprise destination, flight tickets, hotel confirmation, a culture pass for my city trip, and tons of extra handy information (things to do and how to get to the hotel). I actually got a little nervous before opening the email, cause I honestly had no idea where I would be going!

And Lisbon was such a fantastic surprise! I had never been to Portugal before, and Lisbon had never even crossed my mind. Even though I had heard great things about the city but never had I considered going there myself. I also really liked that I found out a week before leaving because it felt like the perfect balance between a surprise and still giving me enough control to plan my trip.

A week later, I left early in the morning for my first ever trip to Lisbon. The extra information sent to me by ATO Tours about how to get to the hotel from the airport was incredibly handy and saved me a lot of time. I also picked up the Lisboa Card from the airport after arriving, which was included in my surprise holiday package (and saved me a lot of money visiting the sights!).

The hotel itself was fantastic, too. I don’t think I could have picked a better hotel myself. Located on Rossio Square, close to the metro, and with a room looking out over the square – it was perfect.

ATO Tours also sent me recommendations on what to do in the city, which helped me plan my two days in Lisbon correctly. Lisbon, along with its 20 degrees sunrays (compared to rainy, gloomy Manchester in March), absolutely blew my mind too. It is such a stunning city with so many beautiful sights to see. I was almost embarrassed that I had never considered visiting before!

What Did I Think Of My Surprise Holiday?

This whole experience has been absolutely incredible! It felt really liberating to completely let go of the destination and hotel picking process and just go-with-the-flow. Especially looking back at how much fun I had exploring a city that I had never even considered visiting (shame on me, I know!).

The fact that I experienced three months of growing excitement about finding out where I would be going, topped off by one week of even more excitement after finding out the destination was fantastic. It’s been unlike any booking and planning experience I’ve ever had, and it’s something I would absolutely love to do again in the future.

Even if you’re a bit of a control-travel-freak (like *moi*), a surprise trip can be such a fun and liberating experience. After the fantastic experience I had, I would highly recommend it to anyone.

FAQ Surprise Holidays

How do i pack for a surprise holiday.

If you’re worried about packing for a surprise trip, ATO Tours give you the perfect balance between surprise and preparation as they will tell you the destination seven days before your departure. This way, you can pack accordingly.

You can also set the preferred temperature when filling out the questionnaire when booking your surprise trip, which will help too.

What do I do when there is a specific destination I don’t want to go to?

In the last section of the questionnaire, you can add some “no-gos”. Here, you can add up to three destinations you really want to avoid.

How much does a surprise holiday cost?

When booking with ATO Tours, you can set your own budget for your surprise trip. This way, you only pay what you want and they will plan your trip according to your budget.

Can I book a surprise trip as a present for someone?

Of course! You can book a surprise trip as a present for someone – just make sure they are available and have the information needed for buying tickets.

When will my surprise destination be revealed?

ATO Tours will reveal your surprise destination seven days before the departure day. This way, you have the perfect balance between the surprise and having enough information to plan your trip accordingly.

If you want it to be a surprise until the last minute, that’s also possible – just let them know!

Book Your Own Surprise Trip

To book your own surprise, head over to ATO Tours website, and fill out the questionnaire. They will get in touch and will plan the perfect mystery trip for you.

I also went on a surprise trip with Journee – read my Journee review to see where they send me!

Nele (Nay-la) graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with an English and Creative Writing Degree and has lived in the UK for nearly 10 years. She has had an interest in Japan and its culture for as long as she can remember. Since her first trip in 2018 surpassed all expectations, she has continued to return to Japan to explore more of all it has got to offer. You can read her full story here .

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Spontaneity served us well this trip! A few days ago we had no idea where on the map we would land 📍Philly, you were a total surprise and we love you!

Shelby Gill grade grade grade grade grade

This year I wanted to do something a little different for my birthday, so we booked a 3 day trip to an unknown destination. We found out our destination 48 hours before our trip. Austin, Texas chose us ! Thank you

Jayme Ramirez grade grade grade grade grade

Chicago, where have you BEAN all my life? Thank you @surprisit for taking care of our vacation & surprising us with the beautiful city of Chicago

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Exclusive-Tesla CEO Elon Musk kicks off surprise trip to Beijing, sources say

S HANGHAI (Reuters) -A private jet linked to Tesla CEO Elon Musk landed in Beijing on Sunday, a flight tracking app showed, as two people with knowledge of the matter said the billionaire was kicking off a surprise visit to the automaker's second-biggest market. Musk is seeking to meet senior Chinese officials in Beijing to discuss the rollout of Full-Self Driving (FSD) software in China and to obtain approval to transfer data collected in the country abroad to train algorithms for its autonomous driving technologies, one of the people said.

Tesla has since 2021 stored all data collected by its Chinese fleet in Shanghai as required by Chinese regulators and has not transferred any back to the United States.

The U.S. electric vehicle maker rolled out FSD, the most autonomous version of its Autopilot software, four years ago but has yet to make it available in China despite customers urging it to do so.

Musk said this month Tesla may make FSD available to customers in China "very soon", in response to a query on social media platform X.

Rival Chinese automakers such as Xpeng have been seeking to gain an advantage over Tesla by rolling out similar software.

Musk's visit to China was not flagged publicly and the people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak with media. Tesla did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The trip came just over a week after he scrapped a planned visit to India to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing "very heavy Tesla obligations."

The company said this month it would lay off 10% of its global workforce as it grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war for EVs led by Chinese brands.

LANDED IN BEIJING

A Gulfstream private jet with tail number N272BG, which is registered to Falcon Landing, a company connected to SpaceX and Tesla, landed at Beijing Capital Airport on Sunday at 0603 GMT, according to Chinese flight tracking app Flight Manager.

The other jet registered under Falcon Landing is N628TS, which is Musk's main jet that he used to travel to China on his last trip nearly a year ago, when he met with Chinese government officials in Beijing and visited Tesla's Shanghai factory.

Tesla has sold more than 1.7 million cars in China since it entered the market a decade ago and the Shanghai factory is its largest globally.

Musk's visit coincides with the Beijing autoshow, which opened last week and ends on May 4. Tesla does not have a booth at China's largest autoshow and last attended in 2021.

GM CEO Mary Barra made an unannounced visit to the show in the world's biggest auto market on Friday, according to two people with knowledge of her schedule. GM did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Also on Friday, Grace Tao, Tesla's vice president in charge of external relations in China, published a commentary on the social media account of state media outlet People's Daily, arguing that autonomous driving technologies would be the new growth engine for EV industry.

Tao said in the article that Tesla was leading autonomous driving research and development with its "end-to-end neural network" technology and data collected from millions of cars on the road.

China's complicated traffic conditions with more pedestrians and cyclists than in many other markets provide more scenarios that are key for training autonomous driving algorithms at a faster pace, according to industry experts.

Musk said last week Tesla would introduce new, cheaper models using its current EV platforms and production lines and would offer a new "robotaxi" with self-driving technology. He said in a post on X this month that he would unveil the robotaxi on Aug. 8.

Tesla shares are down almost a third since the start of the year as concerns have grown about the EV maker's growth trajectory. Last week, Tesla reported its first decline in quarterly revenue since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic slowed production and deliveries.

(Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Jamie Freed)

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Watch CBS News

Tesla stock rises after CEO Musk scores key deals with China on weekend trip to Beijing

April 29, 2024 / 1:10 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Tesla shares jumped as much as 18% on Monday after CEO Elon Musk met with a top Chinese government leader on Sunday in Beijing and reportedly received backing to roll out its advanced driver-assistance in the country. 

Shares of Tesla jumped $25.66, or 15%, to $193.95 in afternoon trading after touching an intraday high of $198.87. Musk's visit to China comes just as the nation's carmakers are showing off their latest electric vehicle models at the Beijing auto show. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang told Musk that he hopes the U.S. will work more with China on "win-win" cooperation, citing Tesla's operations in China as a successful example of economic cooperation, China's state broadcaster CCTV said on its main evening news program. Officials told Tesla that Beijing is giving a tentative greenlight for the automaker to roll out its "full self-driving" software in China, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The much-needed stock boost comes as the automaker struggles with  decelerating domestic EV sales  and mounting competition. 

For China, Musk is a welcome antidote to the tough talk from U.S. officials, which played out most recently during a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Li's remarks also reflect China's efforts to attract foreign investment to boost its flagging economy.

It wasn't clear whether Musk would visit the auto show, which runs through this week. Chinese automakers and startups have launched a bevy of electric cars in recent years, some going head-to-head with Tesla and undercutting the American maker on price.

But Musk's visit was more than just a show of support for China's fast-growing EV market , but an attempt to obtain approval to bring Tesla's full self driving software (FSD) to the country, reported Bloomberg.

Tesla has a major manufacturing base in Shanghai for both domestic sales in China and exports to Europe and other regions. It cut prices in China a week ago, dropping the Model 3 to 231,900 yuan ($32,700) and the Model Y to 249,900 yuan ($35,200), following similar reductions in the U.S.

Tesla's most productive plant

During their meeting, Musk told Li the Shanghai factory is Tesla's "most productive plant globally," reported Bloomberg, which also reported that Musk scored a mapping  deal  with Chinese tech giant  Baidu , as well as data-collection clearance — two huge victories for the billionaire.

The surprise visit by Musk was a "watershed moment" for Tesla, Wedbush analysts Dan Ives, John Katsingris, Steven Wahrhaftig and Sam Brandeis, said in a research note. 

"In a major moment for Tesla, Elon Musk made a surprise weekend trip to Beijing ... with a laser focus on cutting the ribbon on the long awaited rollout of FSD software and permission/approval to transfer data overseas," the analysts said.

"If Musk is able to obtain approval from Beijing to transfer data collected in China abroad this would be pivotal around the acceleration of training its algorithms for its autonomous technology globally. We also believe this trip will be significant for Tesla and Musk further strengthening its EV footprint within the Chinese market at a pivotal time," they added.

An earlier CCTV online report said that Musk had come at the invitation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and met with its president, Ren Hongbin, to exchange views on further cooperation and other topics.

The European Union has launched an investigation into Chinese subsidies for the EV industry that could lead to tariffs on electric vehicles made in China, potentially including Tesla cars.

The green energy subsidies have helped transform the Chinese auto market, with EVs reaching about a quarter of new car sales last year, eating into demand for gasoline-powered vehicles.

Foreign automakers such as Volkswagen and Nissan are scrambling to develop new EV models to hold onto or claw back market share in China, the world's largest automobile market.

• Antony Blinken
• Electric Vehicles

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1. It’s not about you

The best surprise holidays are built around whoever you’re whisking away. They should come first.

What makes her father’s surprise trips so special is how thoughtful they are, says Natasha Yadav. “My dad’s trips are tailored to the person. We’ve done budget and luxe trips; it helps that he has a flair for the dramatic. He’s always thinking, ‘How do I stage this? How do I up the ante?’”

Think of places they’ve always wanted to go, or spots to take their hobby to the next level. Other ideas include favourite movie locations or bucket list experiences.

Credit: Kitzcorner/Getty Images

2. Prepare well

Travel admin is an annoying speed bump, so it’s best to triple-check before you start planning the showstoppers.

“One of the main things to keep in mind when planning a trip is travel restrictions, like visas,” Simran Savlani says. Other considerations include booking airport transfers, hotels, restaurants and tours – and making sure your surprisee is packed for the right kind of weather.

She adds another crucial element, which may sound obvious but might be easily overlooked: “Make sure they are actually free.”

Credit: Rawpixel/Getty Images

3. Keep it secret

“Don’t let too many people in on the plan, so there’s less chance of someone spilling the beans,” Savlani advises.

Be mindful of communication from your airline, hotels and travel operators, especially if you have joint email or bank accounts.

Credit: MediaNews Group Reading Eagle via Getty Images

4. Go with the flow

Things don’t always go according to plan – embrace it, be flexible and don’t stress. In Prem and Kiran Yadav’s case, a surprise skydiving trip to Dubai was derailed by inclement weather. Savlani similarly had to adjust her sister’s trip itinerary after a hungover morning presented obstacles. 

“If something goes wrong, have a plan B,” she notes. “We had a full day of adventures planned for our last day, so we had to pivot.”

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Elon Musk makes surprise China visit after delaying India trip as Tesla seeks Beijing’s OK for Full Self-Driving software

Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk made an unannounced trip to China on Sunday and met Premier Li Qiang, a week after  postponing  a visit to India to handle pressing issues at the automaker.

China’s No. 2 official met Musk in Beijing just hours after he touched down in the city. Li said the nation is always open to foreign companies, adding that Tesla is a successful example of China-US trade cooperation, according to China Central Television.

Musk’s latest China visit comes during a volatile time for Tesla, with slowing EV sales prompting a cost-cutting drive and the reduction of more than 10% of its global workforce. He was scheduled to be in India on April 21 and 22 for a much-anticipated visit that was going to include a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but called it off because of “ very heavy  Tesla obligations.”

CCTV said Musk told Li that Tesla is willing to deepen cooperation with China. The CEO earlier met the head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Ren Hongbin, according to CCTV. He’s expected to meet officials to discuss the rollout of Tesla’s driver-assistance system, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

A Gulfstream registered to SpaceX landed in Beijing at about 2 p.m. local time. Reuters earlier reported Musk’s plans to discuss Tesla’s software during the visit.

Tesla is working on getting the system it calls Full Self-Driving, or FSD, approved for new markets. Its vehicles have been  banned  from China’s military compounds and some other government venues in the past over cameras used for its  driver-assistance systems , which aren’t capable of autonomous driving.

“We plan on, with the approval of the regulators, releasing it as a supervised autonomy system in any market that — where we can get regulatory approval for that, which we think includes China,” Musk said of FSD during Tesla’s April 23 earnings call. 

Advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, are becoming increasingly common in China’s EV market, where Tesla is losing share. Many local players including Xpeng Inc., Xiaomi Corp. and Huawei Technologies Co. use sophisticated technology as a selling point for their vehicles, while industrywide price cuts by rivals add pressure for the US company to do the same.

Li visited the Beijing Auto Show on Sunday and said China has a leading position in the new energy vehicles industry, China National Radio reported. He urged industry players to maintain their competitive advantages and vowed to ensure a level playing field for foreign companies in the market.

Tesla, the world’s biggest seller of fully electric cars, has repeatedly reduced prices in key markets including the US and China. Investors overlooked dismal earnings last week as the company pledged to launch lower-cost EVs as soon as late this year.

Tesla’s Shanghai factory, established in 2019, is the company’s most productive plant globally, a point Musk made to Li on Sunday as he praised “the hard work and wisdom of the Chinese team,” CCTV said.

China media reported that Tesla axed all Chinese graduate offers in its latest round of job cuts.

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