# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/41 "2009-09-10T08:56:34Z")
As long as “planning” consists of selecting the destination, arranging plane tickets, and _maybe_ booking a hotel, I’d be all over that. If it means buying admission to local attractions, setting a schedule, and so forth, then no; I despise traveling with an itinerary. If I wanted to have to be somewhere at a certain time, I’d stay here and go to work. Friends and family members are on standing orders to shoot me should I ever voluntarily go anywhere with a tour group, as I’d clearly be a doppelganger or pod person. I actually spent a while searching for this type of service a couple years back, but it quickly became evident why it’s next to impossible under current conditions. Still sounds like fun, though. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/42 "2009-09-10T08:58:43Z")
Sure, I’d do it. . .and it would turn into a Stephen King, Dean Koontz kinda thing regardless of what I entered on the questionnaire about pretty clouds and kittens. I’m in the basement in a large metal cooler and upstairs they are laughing trying to decide on the recipe. What? OK I guess I am the only one who sees how very very bad this could turn. :eek::dubious:☹ ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/43 "2009-09-10T10:23:29Z")
Hell yes! In fact, such a thing does exist, if not anymore then at least during the late 90s, since that’s when my friend went on one. Her family ended up in Sydney; the concept sounded awesome to my 9-year-old self and it still sounds awesome now. I imagine the flights were limited to domestic though. But anyway, yes, a trip like that sounds great to me! As long as the countries were all relatively secure, of course (Zimbabwe is out). I don’t travel to relax, though it does put part of my mind at ease, I travel to get out of my city and see something different. Every part of the world is “something different”. I’d have to know which hemisphere it is though, so I’d know what to pack. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/44 "2009-09-10T15:15:58Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’m cute! I’m CUTE! SHE SAYS I’M CUTE! > > First time Rudolph ever got off. He went down? in history ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/45 "2009-09-10T15:22:20Z")
Club Med had a deal like that in the '80s. I don’t think it was very popular. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/46 "2009-09-10T16:18:26Z")
I would want the survey to be very detailed, maybe with rankings (Must Have, Would Be Nice, Prefer Not, and Never in a Thousand Years). If done right, it could be fun. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/47 "2009-09-10T17:07:53Z")
I think one deciding factor would be the itinerary. Would I go to one place and stay, or would I have to move around against my will? Every year I go to Martha’s Vineyard, my favorite spot on the planet. A couple of years ago when I was on the ferry there, I met a couple that was part of a larger tour group. They were doing all of New England in ten days or so. That day for them was the ferry to MV, lunch at a pre-approved restaurant, 2 hours on a tour bus, then back on the mainland by 4:00. To me that’s like being in hell. (Or getting a tiny taste of heaven.) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/48 "2009-09-10T17:22:28Z")
Actually, itenerary would matter - if I was expected to be part of a tour bus group once I arrived, then no thanks. But if it was “Welcome to Bangkok - here’s your hotel key, see you again in 7 days!” or “Welcome to Reykjavik…” or “Welcome to Iguazu Falls…” or …hell, wherever. At worst, it’s only 7 days. And it would be incredible otherwise. I don’t really understand going to the same place every year for vacation. Even if I love it, there are so many other places to see. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/49 "2009-09-10T17:26:30Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I don’t really understand going to the same place every year for vacation. Even if I love it, there are so many other places to see. I can’t explain it. It’s magic every single time. I know some people in their 40s and 50s who have gone there every single year since they were infants. I’ve been there 14 times and I’m considered a noob. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/50 "2009-09-10T17:30:15Z")
With some previously mentioned qualifications, I’d be there. Established company with a history of sucesses. A section on the questionaire of places I really don’t want to go. What was the name of that movie where the guy went in and did an evaluation and then they pretty much built an adventure around him. One scene I remember was when he had been given a handle with no explanation and lateron the car he was in wound up in the river and he had to figure out to use the handle to roll down the window. And then at the end of the moviesomeone (his brother?) tackles him through a skylight for the great unveiling. I’d do that too. ---
**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 10, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/51 "2009-09-10T17:31:42Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I would want the survey to be very detailed, maybe with rankings (Must Have, Would Be Nice, Prefer Not, and Never in a Thousand Years). > > If done right, it could be fun. Too much detail and it’s barely a “surprise” vacation, and turns into “I pretty much told the company what I wanted, and then they arranged it for me.” I can do that myself, or call a travel agent for that. I would let a company surprise me with the destination and time of departure, and nothing else. I don’t want them involved in the itinerary in any way unless I have _a lot_ of input, in which case, well I went over that already. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/52 "2009-09-10T17:41:33Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > What was the name of that movie The Game. Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, and James Rebhorn. I wouldn’t want an itinerary, but it would be nice if in the hotel room there was a list of fun things to see and do. Most hotels have those anyway. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/53 "2009-09-10T17:44:47Z")
Given that it was free or really cheap ($250 per week for room, meals, and transportation) I wouldn’t even bother with packing - just show up. I would possibly ask for provision to bail out at my own expense if needed – for example if it turned out to be a week long timeshare sales pitch on a small island somewhere. But other than that I could manage. I show up at work sometimes to find “surprise” plane tickets on my desk, so in a way I’m almost used to it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/54 "2009-09-10T20:49:43Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I would do it but I would want a huge discount just to let them fill up remaining slots. If someone else paid for it, it is no holds barred. I would be a “mystery plane” 6 hours from now to Somalia if someone wanted to pay for me to vacation there. I can’t really think of any place in the world I wouldn’t to be willing to go to for at least a week or so. But the thing is, you do need some basic info so you know what to bring. In Somalia maybe you need a flack jacket and helmet for the snipers, and your own counter-sniper gear. But in Bosnia, you might need a metal detector for mine sweeping. Or vehicle rental – some places you can get away with an armored Humvee, and others you want an M-1 tank (my vehicle of choice in Gary, Indiana). I’m simply not willing to leave these kinds of choices on the hands of my travel agent. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/55 "2009-09-10T21:05:07Z")
**Boyo Jim** , what does your NORMAL packing list look like? I suppose you have to know where you’re going to decide if you have to pack a toothbrush too? Sheesh. Bathing suit? Check. Sunblock? Check. Flak jacket and helmet? Check. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/56 "2009-09-10T21:08:12Z")
Claymore or stun grenades (for the children)? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/57 "2009-09-10T21:17:12Z")
Well, I’m childless, so I tend to bring the battle sword. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/58 "2009-09-10T23:28:06Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > But the thing is, you do need some basic info so you know what to bring. In Somalia maybe you need a flack jacket and helmet for the snipers, and your own counter-sniper gear. But in Bosnia, you might need a metal detector for mine sweeping. Or vehicle rental – some places you can get away with an armored Humvee, and others you want an M-1 tank (my vehicle of choice in Gary, Indiana). > > I’m simply not willing to leave these kinds of choices on the hands of my travel agent. I actually own both a flak jacket and a somewhat compact metal detector so I could just throw those in the bag so that isn’t a concern (although the flak jacket is pretty heavy). A water filter, quinine pills, and some matches could also fit in the duffel bag. Most people way overpack. All you need is one bathing suit, two pairs of jeans, three pairs of underwear, two pairs of socks and two shirts. Remember, you always have the clothes on your back already once you get on the plane. Just pick some sensible shoes. I grew up in an impoverished area that is half black and half redneck. I always enjoy going back home. I would love to visit East St. Louis for a day or two. Parts of New Orleans were at least as bad when I lived there and nothing bad ever happened to me. Somalia can’t be as bad as the lower 9th Ward pre-Katrina. Have some confidence and most people won’t mess with you. If I did get kidnapped or held hostage, it will be just another bizarre chapter in the book of my life that I will never get around to writing. Sleeping on the floor of a Turkish prison for a week couldn’t be that bad. Human needs are pretty simple when it comes down to it. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/59 "2009-09-11T01:56:07Z")
I’d try it, just to see what they’d come up with. It might be amusing, and if I didn’t like wherever I ended up, I guess I could always buy a bus ticket to someplace I’d like better. **ETA:** Assuming it was a “we buy you a plane ticket and maybe reserve a hotel” type of deal, of course – I don’t think I’d like a full-on tour with all the activities planned out, but I’d tell them I wouldn’t like that when I filled out my preferences. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454/60 "2009-09-11T04:40:46Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Somalia can’t be as bad as the lower 9th Ward pre-Katrina. Is this a joke? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-interested-in-a-surprise-vacation/509454.md?page=4)