I was on the verge of giving up on the idea of a summer holiday abroad this year due to the exorbitant costs. Flights alone were priced a quarter higher than last year. But then I came across an advert by Wowcher that sparked my interest. They were offering a holiday package for two people, including flights and two nights’ accommodation, for just £99 per person. The catch? The destination was unknown until after paying. The advertisement featured tempting images of popular destinations like New York, Las Vegas, and Mexico, as well as beautiful beach scenes that could have been Barbados or the Maldives. Intrigued, I decided to take a chance.
I had heard of “Ultimate Mystery” holidays before, but had never experienced one myself. So, I emailed Wowcher to share my experience. Little did I know that this decision would lead to a roller coaster of surprises and negotiations.
Initially, the deal seemed too good to resist. The promise of a romantic weekend getaway for under £200 was enticing. The offer boasted four-star accommodation, and hundreds of people had already taken advantage of similar deals in June and July. Determined not to miss out, I eagerly reached for my wallet to make the payment. However, I soon discovered that the £99 price tag was only valid for autumn bookings. Since we wanted to go before summer ended, the price was actually £129. On top of that, there was a sneaky £9.99 “administration” charge, bringing the total to £267.99.
Despite the price increase, I remained hopeful. Within hours of making the payment, I received an email requesting our preferred dates for travel. Excitedly, I shared the news with my wife and we eagerly awaited further instructions. Passports in hand, we anxiously anticipated the first weekend we had requested. Days turned into a week, and eventually, a phone call arrived.
The caller, Ashish, was polite and friendly, speaking from a call centre in India. His tone had an air of theatrics, as if he were unveiling something magnificent. “Congratulations,” he announced, “you have two tickets to Sofia in Germany.” I paused, having previously been to Sofia and knowing it was in Bulgaria. I questioned Ashish about this discrepancy, and he admitted his mistake. However, the alternative he offered was Gdansk in Poland, which did not appeal to me either. Stubbornly, I insisted on another option.
After a ten-minute wait, Ashish returned with a proposal for Milan in Italy. Although the trip was for three nights instead of the requested two, I still agreed since I believed I could arrange the extra time off work. At this point, Ashish casually mentioned a supplementary charge of £129 per person due to the extended duration. I argued that this additional fee should not be my responsibility, as the decision to extend the trip was made by the tour operator. Unfortunately, my argument fell on deaf ears, and the cost of the holiday suddenly doubled. What was once expected to be a £198 trip had now risen to a total of £525.99. Far from the budget-friendly vacation I had envisioned.
Ashish explained that the limited availability during June and July contributed to the increased cost. Frustrated yet determined, I offered to be flexible with the travel dates. Other European destinations, like Dubrovnik, Genoa, and Santander, were suggested as alternatives. After Ashish disappeared for another 20 minutes to explore further possibilities, he returned with the option of Venice in November. I agreed, relieved that the price remained consistent with my initial payment of £267.99. Nevertheless, the inconvenience of departing from Gatwick airport instead of Stansted dampened my enthusiasm.
Not long after, I received the itinerary from a company called “Weekender Breaks.” The email revealed that we would be traveling with Wizz Air, a short-haul airline that earned the unsavory title of “the worst” according to consumer group Which?. A quick search revealed that purchasing two return flight tickets individually would have only cost £88. However, these tickets only included a hand baggage allowance. If we had brought suitcases, the additional charges would have exceeded the cost of the flights themselves.
Furthermore, the hotel was a basic three-star located five miles outside Venice, far from the romantic canal-filled setting we had anticipated. A direct booking for the same hotel would have cost £170 for two nights, meaning that if I had organized the trip myself, I would have paid £10 less than the mystery offer.
Feeling disappointed, I called the next day to express my concerns. Armed with the knowledge that I was protected under package travel regulations, I calmly explained that it was reasonable to assume that a break advertised as being in Venice should indeed offer accommodation in the city. Surprisingly, my argument was successful, and I was upgraded to a four-star hotel within Venice, as initially promised in the promotion. Booking this accommodation directly would have cost £300, so I ultimately saved £120 by taking advantage of the Mystery Holiday deal.
Reflecting on my experience, I realized that the odds of receiving the “perfect” destination were slim. A closer look at the terms and conditions revealed that holidays were sold in batches of 1,000, with only one in 1,000 offering popular destinations like Barbados, New York, or Dubai. The majority of destinations were in Europe, and it became clear that having a comprehensive list of available options would have been useful during the negotiation process.
In conclusion, the Mystery Holiday proved to be a mixed bag. Several haggling sessions and phone calls were required to arrive at a satisfactory outcome. While I did manage to secure an upgrade and save some money, the overall experience was not as seamless or perfect as I had hoped. As a tip for future buyers, I suggest printing off the full list of available destinations to better advocate for your desired location when it is revealed to you. Ultimately, it is important to read the small print and manage expectations accordingly when considering a Mystery Holiday.
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