What is a family mystery holiday?
Fed up with all the arguments on where to go and what to see? Take the stress out of your next escape with relatives by swapping the free-for-all of sibling rivalry for the excitement of a mystery family holiday!
The basics are as simple as ABC – perhaps simpler. You choose your travel dates, departure airport and number of people travelling, then we do the rest. You could be allocated a Bronze, Silver or Gold tier mystery holiday, with your tier revealed instantly after payment. Bronze trips are 2 nights, Silver trips are 4 nights, and Gold trips are 7 nights.
If more than two people are travelling together, you will be allocated a Bronze tier mystery holiday.
Every family mystery holiday includes flights and accommodation, with your destination kept secret until it is confirmed by our team.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a ‘typical’ family of four, one adult and five kids, or the other way round. Whatever you define as your family, we can sort a family mystery holiday for you.
Depending on the tier you are allocated, you could be heading anywhere from Dublin or Dubrovnik to downtown New York!
What are the benefits of a family mystery holiday?
There are a huge variety of benefits that come with booking a family mystery holiday. We would say that of course, so join us on a journey of discovery and you’re sure to find yourself converts too!
1. Minimal planning time
We know parents are busy folk. Trying to juggle everything in everyday life and arrange a holiday piece by piece can end up leaving you needing a vacay just to recover! With a family mystery holiday you hand all the boring legwork to us, leaving you get on with the important things – like deciding what exactly to pack!
2. Great value for money
We’re all looking to save a few pounds right now, and a family mystery holiday is an excellent way to do it. Because of how we work, mystery holidays are often cheaper than traditional family escapes. That means more money for ice cream!
3. Turning those frowns upside down
On a mystery family holiday you’re all in the same boat. Parents and other adults can’t be accused of being the big bad wolf for having the final say on where to go. Instead, you get to explore a destination together, whether that’s a beachside escape or city break.
4. Adding some spice to your lives
You could end up in a destination you would never have considered. Or you might end up in a family favourite. Either way, a family mystery holiday offers plenty of chance for adventure in just a few clicks, perhaps in an unexpected new-to-you destination.
5. Fun-filled escapes
Taking a family mystery holiday is a lot like taking a mega-sized lucky dip. The sense of suspense and surprise is sure to grab your kids’ attention, making them even more excited for your time away together.
Our top family mystery holidays inspiration
We can’t tell you exactly where you’ll be jetting off on your mystery family holiday until your booking is confirmed, but we can certainly give you a sense of where you might end up.
There are no second cities here! Whether you’re looking at bronze, silver or gold tier destinations, we can get you on a family mystery holiday to some of the hottest locations of the moment.
1. Summer sun in Santorini
Often overlooked when it comes to family holidays, the Greek island of Santorini is an incredible pick should you be lucky enough to draw it out the hat.
Sure, there are no rollercoasters or big theme parks to hand. But who needs those when you’ve got not only yellow but also white, black and red sand? The beaches of Santorini were formed by a long-gone volcano, providing plenty of choice for even the pickiest child.
The island’s volcanic origins also give loads of opportunities for getting out and about on foot. Parents might even be able to squeeze in a romantic sunset.
Meanwhile, Santorini’s villages, such as Oia, Fira and Pyrgos are small, safe and a lot of fun to run around before settling down to some much-needed refreshment.
2. Brilliant Berlin
The German capital is becoming know for what Berliners have known for decades – Berlin is great for kids.
Yes, it’s a big bustling city with plenty of businesspeople in suits. But there is also a long list of family-friendly activities – with English routinely displayed.
For us, the place to start when the kids are in tow in Zoo Berlin. The oldest zoo in the country, it has giant pandas, hippos, and a petting zoo for getting up close and personal with some less dangerous creatures.
Then head to one of the city’s many interactive museums. History lovers might opt for the DDR Museum showing everyday life in former East Germany.
Need to burn off some excess energy? Try one of Berlin’s vast parks, such as Tempelhofer Feld – a park created out of the city’s old airport!
3. K-pop your hearts out in South Korea
Looking to blow your kids’ minds? How about a family mystery holiday to South Korea, a fascinating country where everything seems to work differently to how it does at home!
South Korea is one of the safest countries in the world, and has excellent practicalities for families. But these aren’t the only reason to have your fingers crossed to win a family mystery holiday here.
In capital Seoul you can get your lips around all sorts of traditional foods, before exploring the temples and shrines that remain vital to many people’s everyday lives.
Away from the tower blocks and pagodas, Busan is the place to head for some time by the sea, and Jeju Island for those wanting to spot the hugely diverse animal and plant life of the region with their kids.
4. Marvel at the markets of Marrakech
If a little culture shock sounds like a fun experience, but heading across to South Korea doesn’t suit, Marrakech would be an excellent alternative.
One of Morocco’s four ‘Imperial Cities,’ Marrakech is packed to bursting with historic sights worth corralling everyone into a photo for.
Add to that the tasty food and genuine love of children shown by Moroccans of all ages, and you have a destination that makes a perfect family mystery holiday.
A few minutes’ drive outside of the city there’s the chance to soar skyward on the back of a camel. Closer to the centre there’s nothing better than getting lost among the long rows of market stalls in the city souks.
Come nightfall, head to Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, where musicians and entertainers will keep you amused as you seek out the local cuisine.
5. Have your prayers answered in Antigua
If you thought the Caribbean was out of your reach for a family holiday, you need to think again. Antigua is just one of several Caribbean island destinations where you could find yourself!
Claiming to have a beach for every day of the year (we should be so lucky!) Antigua is a fine family mystery holidays pick because so many of the island’s coastal resorts are geared to the family market.
Then it’s just a short wander to beaches with sand so fine sand castles turn out second to none. They are lapped by shallow waters and gentle waves.
Older kids will love the inflatable water park at Darkwood Beach, while even the pickiest member of the family will find something they like on restaurant menus.ss your friends and fam by joining a Mystery Holidays trip before everyone else does!
How does Mystery Holidays cater to families?
Families don’t just come to us because of our range of destinations – topping 100 at our last count across our three tiers.
Families also come to us because we get what travelling as a family is all about! Check out the bullet points below for just some of the reasons you should book your family mystery holiday with us!
· We offer flexibility
Unlike some of our competitors, we don’t limit you on the number of people who are allowed to make up your family. If there’s more than four of you, that’s not a problem for us!
Likewise, we don’t limit you to our favourite airport. Who does that?! Instead, we give you the best range of departure airports that we’re able to, meaning there’s a good chance you’ll find one close to home.
· Speedy reveals
We let you know the location of your family mystery holiday as soon as we can. That means you’ve got longer to make any last-minute purchases, pack your bags, prep for the airport, and fill your wallet full of holiday cash.
Quicker destination reveals are also sure to help with coordinating time off work and time off from child care.
· We’re the faff free option!
All our mystery holidays include your flight and hotel. In other words, we do the hard work of matching availability so you can concentrate on other things.
· We’re ATOL protected
We won’t bore you with the small print. Just know that ATOL protection means you’re fully covered financially in the unlikely event something should go wrong either before or during your holiday.
That’s the lowdown on family mystery holidays! So why not take this opportunity to check out some of our 100+ different destinations?
