Tourism. “Letting yourself go”: these travelers who decide to go on vacation without knowing where

What if you packed your bags without knowing where you were going? More and more travelers are being tempted by a unique concept: mystery vacations. They book a stay through travel agencies, without knowing their destination, sometimes until the day of departure.

Claire (*), 36, was tempted by the experience for a romantic getaway for her partner's birthday. "We both love surprises, and we wanted to go on a bit of an adventure," confides the Montpellier resident. After filling out a questionnaire specifying their criteria and desires — rest, beach, relaxation — she let the agency orchestrate the entire stay. The destination was revealed the day before for her and at the airport for him. "We discovered Malta, a destination we had never considered... and we loved it." The planned activities—an afternoon on a catamaran and a couples' massage—hit the mark.

“What if we don’t like it?”

Accustomed to organizing everything, Claire admits to having some doubts before leaving. "What if we don't like it?" But once there, she completely let go: "The big advantage is that everything is taken care of. It takes away a real mental load, it was much more relaxing." The experience was a hit: "We already want to do it again, and I'd even like to give it to my parents!"

Claire worked for Cap Mystère, an agency created in 2014 by Nathalie and her partner. "We traveled around Australia and Asia for a year. And while talking, we realized that what we liked most were the destinations we hadn't thought about in advance," explains the co-founder. From this desire for surprise, the agency was born. Eleven years later, the team has grown, and so has the demand. From 800 travelers in 2016, the agency now has 2,000 for the 2024-2025 period alone.

The profiles are mostly couples between 30 and 50 years old, often young professionals. "Many people choose this booking method for their honeymoon because they don't necessarily want to start a new organization after the wedding," Nathalie emphasizes. She notes: "Most people are used to planning their trips carefully, but this time, they don't want to at all. They really need to go with the flow."

A formula that comes at a price

The destinations range from France to Europe, including trips further afield. And all-inclusive (flights, accommodations, surprise activities) also means a substantial budget : Claire paid €2,000 for four days for two. Trips organized by Cap Mystère start at around €375 per person for a weekend in France, and easily climb to several thousand euros for long-distance trips. Since then, other agencies like Waynabox, Horizons Secrets, and Les Aventureurs have also launched into this blind travel niche.

Although she's never tried it before, Chloé, 22, from Besançon (Doubs), says she's very tempted by the idea, as long as it remains personalized. "For example, I'm not attracted to relaxing trips, I prefer independent treks, and I'd like to avoid countries I've already visited." Once these broad outlines are established, she's ready to leave room for surprises: "For everything else, I have complete confidence."

Preparation “is already a journey”

But not everyone is ready to entrust their travel choices to an agency. Like Laurianne, 30, who says, "I'm someone who likes organization. Preparing for a vacation adds excitement: it's a first trip before the actual trip!" The Saint-Etienne native says she really enjoys researching, comparing, and organizing. "I like to do all the research beforehand, even if I obviously leave room for surprises once I'm there."

A sentiment shared by Fiona, 25, who is also driven by the organization of her getaways. However, she says she's intrigued by the concept, but not for just any type of trip: "For a weekend in France, I'd be tempted. It would be an opportunity to discover regions I wouldn't have spontaneously considered. And leaving on a Friday evening without knowing where I'm going is quite exhilarating."

(*) The first name has been changed.