# Who would be interested in a "surprise" vacation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 9, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454 "2009-09-09T18:47:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/1 "2009-09-09T18:47:13Z")
I was passing this along to friends as an idea and there seems to be debate on whether or not people would do it: You pay a company X amount of dollars to go on vacation. You fill out a profile with your interests, likes, dislikes, etc. For your vacation, you are only told what time and what airport to arrive and what time you will be landing (1, 2, 4?) weeks later. A “surprise” vacation, let’s call it. Would that be something that you personally would like? Or not at all? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/2 "2009-09-09T18:52:48Z")
I don’t want to spend even one week on a plane, much less four. 🙂 No, I don’t think this would be my thing - I don’t think I have enough trust in someone else planning my vacation for me. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/3 "2009-09-09T18:55:06Z")
I can’t remember which company it was, but there was definitely an airline in New Zealand that offered ‘mystery destination’ packages where you’d end up somewhere in the country. I can’t remember how many destinations they had in total. It seemed like a pretty neat idea and I’d be happy to go on one as a domestic trip, but probably not an international one. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/4 "2009-09-09T18:58:03Z")
Since I tend to take all of my vacations in the same three places year after year, I think that this would rub me the wrong way. Now if I could specify “Only beach vacations”, “Only where the locals speak English”, and “With travel time of no more than 4 hours”, I’d be better with it. I’d also want a clue as to what to pack. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/5 "2009-09-09T19:01:58Z")
Oh, hell no. When I read the thread title, I thought the surprise would be planned by someone I know. Unless the only surprise involved would be where and when I was going, and the company removed itself from the plans altogether after that, the answer is a resounding no. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/6 "2009-09-09T19:08:55Z")
Not unless I had a crapload of money and could afford a second vacation, and the time to take it, if the first one sucked. How much of a surprise could it be, anyway? You can’t just charge a blanket amount of money, that’s going to be specific to where people are travelling and what kind of accomodations they want (modest vs. luxury), plus they’d need to know what to bring, and if they need a passport, etc. Even if you plan out the vacation, you basically have to tell people, “OK, now give me $8,000, but I can’t tell you what for”. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/7 "2009-09-09T19:11:47Z")
Not me-- part of the fun of a vacation is the anticipation. How can you anticipate a surprise? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/8 "2009-09-09T19:21:03Z")
> [@Eureka](#): > > How can you anticipate a surprise? Ever heard of Christmas? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/9 "2009-09-09T19:30:30Z")
Yes, but, I can’t say I usually get much in the way of Fabulous presents at Christmas, so there’s not so much anticipation involved. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/10 "2009-09-09T19:38:27Z")
If my boyfriend planned a surprise trip for me, yes I think I’d like that. He knows me well enough to plan something that would most likely make me really happy. If some airline just took a guess at where I might like to go that would probably end in suckage. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/11 "2009-09-09T19:45:21Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Ever heard of Christmas? 😉 No, what is that? I don’t even like the idea of my friend or partner packing a bag for me and taking me somewhere on surprise. I tend to be controlling and would need to know something about where we were going. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/12 "2009-09-09T19:45:46Z")
Sounds like fun to me, but I doubt most people would be interested in it. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/13 "2009-09-09T19:52:37Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > No, what is that? It’s a special time of year when we feel incredible stress and call it “joy.” ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/14 "2009-09-09T19:53:14Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > No, what is that? It’s a pagan thing. Something about Saturn. I dunno, Google it. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/15 "2009-09-09T19:55:46Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > It’s a special time of year when we feel incredible stress and call it “joy.” That’s a someecard in the making. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/16 "2009-09-09T19:59:58Z")
I’d do it in a heartbeat! I think some of the fears you guys have could be handled without ruining the surprise. For example, I might choose a package that revolves around touring vineyards and nice dinners. If I could choose the type of hotel (including pictures), approve the type of food, and have some freedom to slightly alter things as we go - then this could be ideal! Imagine, somebody else does all the planning, research into accomdations, and makes the reservations. All I need to do is show up and go. A no stress vacation! Half the fun would be finding out as we go if we’re going to Oregon, Napa Valley, or someplace else. For me, discovering someplace new is always fun. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/17 "2009-09-09T20:01:10Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > It’s a pagan thing. Something about Saturn. I dunno, Google it. Oh yeah, that’s right. It’s when we get in our Saturns, drive to the mall, and spend time and money that we don’t have on people that we don’t like for gifts that they don’t want. It’s very special. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/18 "2009-09-09T20:10:28Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > IFor example, I might choose a package that revolves around touring vineyards and nice dinners. If I could choose the type of hotel (including pictures), approve the type of food, and have some freedom to slightly alter things as we go - then this could be ideal! Imagine, somebody else does all the planning, research into accomdations, and makes the reservations. Um, that’s what a travel agent is for already. There’s no surprise if you’re approving everything. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/19 "2009-09-09T20:20:11Z")
I’d do it if the vacation stayed in the continental US and I could specify no deserts. I don’t really have any reason to travel beyond doing it for it’s own sake so almost anywhere would be fine for me. I’d find something interesting to do. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/20 "2009-09-09T20:27:38Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Ever heard of Christmas? 😉 Stolen from somewhere on the internet: Christmas is just the economy masturbating. In response to the OP, nope, not my kinda deal. I could pay tons of money and wind up in Western Yakistan or some shit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454.md?page=2)