Surprise Trips is a company run by Expedia. The premise being you pick a date, an airport and 3 places you don't want to go as well as the length of time and a maximum price and they book it for you. Sounds scary? It is, but fun all the same.
Your surprise destination is revealed via a message when you get to the airport two hours before. If you are wondering what to pack, they also send you a weather update approximately 72 hours prior to your departure time. All packages include flights and a minimum 3-star hotel, and luggage is just hand luggage. Now that's a scary proposition for me on its own.
As I was going with my husband, we decided to embrace the adventure and go with the flow. Mr W said to me, don't try to work it out, it ruins the fun.
So we promptly put the holiday in the back of our mind until a few days before.
72 hours before the phones pings, and an email saying our destination weather has been updated. Yikes! We look, it says it will be hot and humid but wet. Queue frantic Googling of weather forecasts, flights that leave from Birmingham two hours after our arrival time there and an overall feeling of slight panic. Mr W was worse than me!
We thought we narrowed it down to Athens or Bucharest. Exactly two hours after we arrive at the airport there are two flights leaving, Milan or Lyon. Milan would be amazing but it doesn't correspond to the weather forecast.
So on the morning of the trip, we arrived at the airport, excited but nervous, we sat down and waited for the email. Almost exactly on time, it arrived, we clicked on the message and a little video played out. Here is a video of the experience leading up to the trip
We were going to Milan! The fashion, shopping and food mecca.
Yay! I do a little happy dance and then get Mr W to check the rest of the details. We are flying with FlyBe and we are staying in a converted monastery not far from the train station. The hotel on TripAdvisor has a mixed review but it looks ok, and the stay includes a buffet breakfast, which is a huge plus point so we don't have to pay for that.
We go over to the FlyBe check-in and use our passports to scan in the machines to print our boarding pass, which works perfectly. We only have hand luggage so no need for bag drop. We then go through security, stopping off in Pret-A-Manger for a coffee and a snack. Before long it's time to board the plane. The plane journey goes smoothly and after a short flight we touch down in Milan.
Mr W researched how to get from the airport to the hotel while we were in the Uk and it was straight forward as the train station is attached to Milan airport. That is what is great about Surprise Trips, although no transfers are included they make it easy for you to get to your destination hotel. As we got off the train in Milan north a short 5-10 min walk later we arrive at the hotel.
The hotel is beautiful from the outside, a bit quirky inside. It's an old monastery, now a conference centre. The room is a bit dated but clean. Wi-fi is free but spotty and there is a small flat-screen TV in the room with an English channel and a fridge. Breakfast was included and was actually a very good buffet breakfast with hot and cold options, a definite plus point to the short break.
Milan is an interesting compact place, and the hotel was placed perfectly to walk to the major attractions. The museum housing Leonardo Da Vinci's' The Last Supper was very close to the hotel but we couldn't manage to get tickets in time, although we did some of the other attractions like the Duomo Cathedral which was beautiful
My Thoughts On Milan
All the locals are dressed very smartly.
It appears a wealthy city, certainly in the centre.
Waiters are either very friendly or abrupt.
You can eat fairly reasonably although there are lots of pricey cafes too.
You will get bitten by mosquitos so bring some repellant.
What To Do In Milan
Visit the stunning Duomo cathedral
Window shop At Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for designer goods
See The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece
Take a day trip to Lake Como or Lake Maggiore
My Top Tips For Booking A Holiday with Surprise Trips
Try and let go of that inner control freak. I normally plan a holiday to an inch of its life but I couldn't here. Enjoy being liberated of the planning.
As you can only take hand luggage think of clothing in layers. I took dresses that I could wear with leggings and cardigans and left the many handbags and shoes I normally take at home. Think simplicity.
Pack for most weather conditions. The only slight disappointment was that our weather forecast was simply wrong, however, most of Europe is hot in August so we decided to pack the heat. It was hot in Milan but not humid and clear and with no rain. I wonder if this aspect could be improved.
Most of Europe is in Euros so we decided to chance it and buy some before we go, we were right to buy but if it was a country that doesn't take Euros (like Switzerland or Budapest) you would have to buy currency at the airport or at your destination.
Check your data plan on your phone before you go and use free wi-fi and apps such as Tu-Go from O2 to make texts and phone calls.
One thing I learnt from the experience is that life is liberating with only hand luggage, no waiting for your suitcase on the carousel, no having packed too much that you don't wear and much easier to carry your small case to the destination. Check out this post on what to pack in a carry-on bag.
Milan probably isn't a place I would have visited but I am glad I did.
Here is Mr W's video of Milan, from the travel blog we write together, FlyDriveExplore.
So if you decide to book a trip with Surprise Trips I would say embrace your new adventure. So what if it's somewhere you wouldn't have gone normally, you are there now so enjoy!
Oh my goodness, how fun is that! I would love to go on a mystery holiday too. How lovely that you ended up in Milan. Photos look lovely :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was a great experience but a little nerve wracking.
Deleteoh my, i would love a surprise holiday haha i was in milan for the easter weekend and loved it. its so beautiful
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely city. Everyone dresses so smartly too!
Deleteoh wow! I went to Italy but didn't visit Milan! :( I think it's a place a need to visit, it looks wonderful x
ReplyDeleteI am glad I went, somewhere I probably wouldn't have gone otherwise.
DeleteWhat a really great idea - is it any cheaper to travel that way? I always wanted to go to Italy - glad you had a lovely time.
ReplyDeleteYou set the budget. It would have cost just over £400 which I think is a bargain considering this includes flights from the UK and 3 night accommodation with breakfast.
DeleteMilan looks so beautiful - and how exciting! I can't think of anything better than a surprise trip!
ReplyDeleteOh wow what an exciting idea for a hotel - I am Mrs Organised and plan everything but you know what, I think I'd love a surprise like this. What a cool idea x
ReplyDeleteI am too Samantha, but it was good to go with the flow for once and I would certainly pay for an experience like this next time.
DeleteWhat a cool idea for a hotel. I would love to visit here.
ReplyDeletewww.annanuttall.com
Oh my goodness, how exciting! I'd love to do something like this.
ReplyDeleteHope you get the chance to do it Claire!
DeleteWow this idea sounds amazing me and my partner live to travel and this would give it such a quirky edge. Off i go to take a look.
ReplyDeleteYou set your budget, exclude places you don't want to go, let them know your dates and the airports you prefer and voila!
DeleteI loved seeing this on your instagram - so exciting! H x
ReplyDeleteAw thanks Harriet!
DeleteI would love to do something like this as it would make me visit somewhere different. Milan looks like a beautiful city
ReplyDeleteWhat a dope - I saw your post about your mystery trip weeks ago. Then last week saw all these amazing pictures and did NOT put two and two together. Haha! Looks like you had a brilliant time, those photos are incredible! I have so many destinations I want to visit!
ReplyDeleteHa! No worries Amy-May. Yes I won it at a blogging conference in April but only went in August.
DeleteWow how amazing, never been to milan, looks a beautiful city!
ReplyDeleteAmazing architecture in Milan.
DeleteWow lucky you. I plan to visit Milan next year.
ReplyDeleteWith cheap flights from the UK and a short flight time, it's a great place to visit.
DeleteThe way you found out where it would be that you ended up going was just fabulous x
ReplyDeleteMilan sounds so amazing! I want to go! I don't know if I could do a trip like this, I like to plan everything so I know exactly where I'm going and when, but if someone was to plan all of this for me, including trips then I'd love a surprise trip!
ReplyDeleteKira, I am exactly the same, I plan everything meticulously, but I can honestly say I would pay for this, especially if I was on a tight budget. It would have cost just over £400 which I think is a bargain.
DeleteOh wow, this must have been so exciting :) What a great prize!!I have always wanted to visit Milan :)
ReplyDeleteI watched everything you put on social media about this, I think I was just as excited as you, just because I wanted to know where. I am so glad you went to such a beautiful place
ReplyDeleteAw thanks Sam!
DeleteWhat a wonderful trip! I've never been to Milan but certainly enjoyed hearing about it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful location to take a trip to! I really want to visit Milan soon!
ReplyDeletexoxo, Candice
http://www.candicenikeia.com
It is a lovely place and so close to the Italian lakes too.
DeleteDoesn't it look gorgeous there, I would love to visit with my husband.
ReplyDeleteOh wow what an absolutely fabulous idea. Surprise Trips sounds fantastic, I'd love to do something like this xxx
ReplyDeleteYou should Laura if you get a chance.
DeleteI love Milan so much! Glad you had a great time!
ReplyDelete