Why is the ‘mystery holiday’ the next big thing?

Since the introduction of the internet, sorting out summer holidays has become an increasingly simpler procedure. Rather than scrolling through newspapers and travel catalogues, we can simply search for our dream location with the click of a button. Websites like Loveholidays and Lastminute.com allow us to sort flights and accommodation in a single booking. And now, with the rise of mystery holidays, the process is as easy as picking a package and letting a company like Wowcher or Journee decide your destination for you.

Giving someone else the responsibility of booking your holiday and sorting activities can be a nice thought for many. Organising any kind of trip – whether it be a week-long getaway or a couple days away – can be very time-consuming, and having this job taken out of your hands can be a real relief.

Mystery holidays also provide the unique excitement of heading to a location you don’t know much about. It can be very easy to spend hours staring at Google Images and YouTube vlogs on the months leading up to your vacation, and already knowing what to expect by the time you get there. But these bundles help throw some surprise into the mix, so you’re not sat there staring at the same sight you saw on a website back in September.

Unfortunately, there’s always a chance that you’re not a fan of the holiday you get given, despite the questionnaires offered which intend to ensure you’re sent to a place that’s right for you. But Journee and Wowcher don’t offer refunds in these circumstances due to the nature of these deals. So once your vacation has been booked, there’s no way of opting out of your holiday or changing your destination.

But it’s hard not to feel that this wouldn’t be so much of a problem if people weren’t so afraid of getting out of their comfort zones every once in a while. So many UK holiday goers opt for the same sort of retreats every summer: the Mallorcas, the Benidorms, the Ibizas. We spend so much time in these select few places that they start to feel like second homes rather than holidays. Some of us just require that little push to get adventurous and try out something new, which is why mystery holidays might be what so many of us need.