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I Blindly Showed Up at the Airport and Went on a Surprise Vacation — and It Changed the Way I Travel

pack up and go road trip reviews

Perched at a table at LaGuardia Airport in New York, I frantically thumbed through papers containing suggestions upon suggestions on what to do in Savannah, Georgia . I was minutes from boarding a flight to the southern city, yet I had absolutely no plans once I got there.

You can’t blame me of course, I only found out where I was going when I arrived at the airport.

I was headed on a surprise vacation with Pack Up + Go, a company that plans a trip for you based on a survey you fill out weeks in advance and mails you a suggested (and detailed) itinerary that you’re supposed to open when you’re about to leave. And for someone as Type A as I am, I knew it was going to be a challenge.

“These attractions and cities have the opportunity to surprise and delight you because you don't know what to expect in the first place,” Lillian Rafson, the company’s CEO and founder, told Travel + Leisure . “The idea is for you to experience a new place that you might not think to visit organically.”

Pack Up + Go has planned more than 10,000 trips since Rafson started the company in 2016. It was inspired by two women who were on a similar concept trip that Rafson met while backpacking up the Baltic coast. Pack Up + Go specializes in three-day weekend trips around the U.S., which she thinks helps with the unease of going on a trip you haven’t planned yourself.

“I think the fact that they are short trips really eases a lot of that stress and worry,” she said. “It's just a long weekend.”

So, after filling out the survey and noting that I was trying to be as spontaneous as possible — emphasis on trying — I was headed to Savannah (a city that, luckily, happened to be one of my top choices for the trip).

Normally I would spend weeks studying my destination, creating lists and itineraries — when I went on a road trip through Iceland, I had a minute-by-minute schedule — but trying to cram all of that into a few minutes at the airport wasn’t going to work. So instead, I gave up and gave in to the idea of not having a schedule and happily joined the throng waiting to board the plane.

Some of the first things that struck me about Savannah were the oaks trees and Spanish moss. The latter hung over the city’s cobblestone streets, creating a sort of swaying canopy that resembled ghosts whispering to each other. That’s the thing about Savannah, ghost stories remain a popular pastime, with hearsays circling and telling tales of the city’s dead on a nightly basis.

Learning about this undead history was one of Pack Up + Go’s recommendations, which I ran with, opting for a slightly different version that leaned heavily on stand-up comedy as I rode around the city in the dark. Old Savannah Tours , which also operates hop-on-hop-off trolley tours in a classic, black-and-white cab, started offering the “BOO Y’ALL” comedy tour in March. It made for a hilariously ghoulish few hours.

While stopped at a playground that, in an ironic twist of urban planning, was placed next to a former dueling ground, our comic tour guide joked that it was convenient “so the kids can watch if mommy or daddy won the argument.”

And diabetes is nothing to laugh at, he said, positing that “Thin mints have a higher body count than Jack the Ripper,” as we drove past the birthplace of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low.

Thin mints aside, Savannah’s food scene was no joke. Rather than researching a million restaurant recommendations and feeling overwhelmed by the number of choices, I decided to go with Pack Up + Go’s list of eateries, starting with a.Lure , where they made me a reservation for my first night. After enjoying deviled eggs and a creamy dijon pasta, I strolled back to my hotel, the walkable Kimpton Brice Hotel , with a plastic cup of prosecco in hand — taking full advantage of the historic district’s open-container policy .

The next night I feasted on gazpacho with a pimento cheese garnish and sweet potato ravioli with pecan cream sauce at The Olde Pink House . The 1771 Georgian mansion turned restaurant includes a collection of small rooms that boast unique features — like sloped ceilings and stately fireplaces.

From the lush squares to the sandy shores of the nearby Tybee Island (another suggested spot on the itinerary), I ran around Savannah with the kind of insight I would have had if I spent weeks researching the trip. The trip was a combination of letting go and speed planning, trying to absorb the pages and pages of recommendations in only a matter of hours.

I realized that when I plan everything in advance, the day’s schedule is in my head and I’m always thinking about the next thing on the list. This time, I played by the rules (though admittedly, my mom tried to look up the flight schedule and guess ahead of time) and only found out where I was going at the absolute last minute. And I found myself enjoying the moment a little more because of it.

As I boarded the plane home three days later, I vowed to try to let go a bit more when it comes to planning.

Then, I found out I was heading to London and off I went to make a list. Like Savannah’s ghosts, I guess bad habits die hard.

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Pack Up + Go Review: Are These Surprise Trips Really Worth It?

Pack Up + Go Review: Are These Surprise Trips Really Worth It?

Surprise Trips may seem daunting to some, but it's definitely a new and adventurous way to travel and explore new places. Learn how Pack Up + Go takes your preferences and sends you off to your next amazing destination, tailored just for you.

pack up and go road trip reviews

Everyone has a different idea of a ‘perfect vacation’, but it’s safe to say that wherever you are as long as you’re relaxing and having fun, you'll feel like you’re in paradise. 

We all hope for a great holiday but the stress of planning, driving, and organizing the trip is sometimes enough to make you drop your plans. With so many places to see and so little holiday time, it can be very hard to pick the perfect location and itinerary. But what if you could hire someone else to do all these things for you?

That's where Pack Up + Go comes in. Here's how they could help plan your entire trip from start to finish.

Going on spontaneous trips with friends.

What Is Pack Up + Go?

Launched in January 2016, Pack Up +  Go is a travel agency that offers you a spontaneous 3-day vacation trip from anywhere around the USA. Pack Up + Go lets you pick the location where you want to leave from, your budget, and how you want to travel. However, your destination is a  surprise . 

The trip they plan for you will be based on your preferences. You can choose what experiences you like such as road trips, spas, food tours, etc. and they will curate an adventure based on the information you provided. 

If you’re in a spontaneous and adventurous mood, you can leave all of the preferences blank and let them do all the planning for you. 

pack up and go logo.

What is Included in Pack Up + Go? 

Pack  Up + Go saves you time by helping you plan your travel and giving you sweet surprises along the way. Pack Up + Go includes several plans and options for all kinds of travelers. Travelers are given a price list option for their overall trip.

You can book a trip for as low as $450 or $5,000 per person. There are also more intricately designed trips if you’re willing to spend more money. You can also choose which transportation to use for the trip (airplane, train, car). 

Seven days before your departure date, the company will send you an email about your destination. It will tell you the weather, the recommended items and clothes to pack (bathing suit vs. hiking gears), luggage size restrictions, and everything you may need to know about your trip —except for the location.

Since the travel app is such a hit with many young travelers, it’s wise to book your trip in advance. The site also requires you to book at least 4 weeks in advance, so that might be something you to take into consideration.

Go on surprise trips with Pack Up + Go

Advantages of Pack Up + Go

The element of surprise .

Because what's more thrilling and adventurous when you have no clue where you're going for your trip? Although not for everyone, we definitely feel like this could be a great way to enjoy new experiences and explore the unknown.

Before your trip, the Pack Up + Go team will give you all the necessary details to prepare for your trip. But they will make you wait to open the envelope which reveals your destination only until you arrive at the airport. The company does an excellent job focusing on creating mysteries throughout your vacation. 

If you like surprises, then booking a trip with Pack Up + Go is perfect for you! 

Your Preferences Still Matter  

Don't worry about being sent to the middle of nowhere. Pack Up + Go won't just throw you a random destination, the services will try their best to match the mystery destination based on the preferences you pick on their travel survey. 

The company will create an itinerary that’s customized for you. The survey is composed of travel style questions that will help the staff at Pack Up + Go find you the best travel destination match for your taste. They will also ask you which places you’ve recently visited and which you intend to. The company will not send you to these places so that your destination will be full of firsts! 

Made For All Travelers

No matter your age,  your gender, or your budget —Pack  Up + Go has a passionate team that curates unforgettable vacations for each traveler. They even sift through their client’s social media accounts to understand their interests. All of the activities are fun but not too crazy. It’s the perfect mix of spontaneity and mystery.

Whether you’re a solo backpacker, a couple on an adventure, or just a group of friends wanting to make good memories, there’s no boring time during your 3-day escapade!

Disadvantages of Pack Up + Go 

Cover-more countries .

Pack  Up + Go currently only lets you travel within the U.S. So if you want to travel to cities abroad, this isn’t the service for you. 

Adventures and new experiences on surprise trips with Pack up and Go.

Is Pack  Up + Go Worth It? 

Sure, perfectly planned trips are amazing. But who doesn’t want a bit of spontaneity sometimes? Does the thought of waking up in a strange city thrill you? If so, Pack Up + Go might just be the service you need. 

If you love mind-blowing surprise trips and thrilling adventures, we highly recommended you try it out. Each vacation is unique and different. It feels like handmade art designed by people who truly love travel. I think it’s truly something anyone will appreciate. 

pack up and go road trip reviews

Our rating: 4.4/5

  • Spontaneous travel (It's a surprise!)
  • Customizable trip details
  • Inclusive to most travelers
  • Limited coverage
  • Slightly pricey

Is Pack Up + Go For Everyone?

As fun as having someone plan entire trips for you, they're not for everyone. Sometimes the fun comes with being able to curate your own itinerary and live out the adventures that you have planned for yourself. After all, who knows you better than you do? 

If you're a traveler that prefers to plan your trips, we've got something for you. We know that trip planning gets messy sometimes, especially when there are other people involved. Why not give Pilot a try?

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Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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Runways and Byways

My Surprise Vacation Experience: Pack Up + Go Review

pack up and go road trip reviews

For the longest time, I did not know surprise travel agencies existed. One day, at work, a coworker mentioned she was going on a vacation with a company called Pack Up + Go : a budget-friendly surprise travel agency. This piqued my interest; who wouldn’t want to be whisked away to a mystery destination ? However, I did not put much thought into it, as I had a busy year of travel ahead of me already.

I eventually chose to embark on a surprise vacation for two main reasons: the thrill of the surprise and the convenience. After a vacation nightmare due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I still wanted to travel, but I did not know where to go, and I did not want to plan it for myself. It was too much work to keep track of the ever-changing rules and regulations. My friend Katie and I went back and forth about our options, which is when I remembered Pack Up + Go. It seemed to suit our needs: exciting, affordable travel expertly tailored to our priorities. The rest is history.

Table of Contents

What is Pack Up + Go?

As I previously mentioned, Pack Up + Go is a surprise travel agency. After completing a pre-trip survey and confirming your budget, they select your destination, book your tickets/reservations, and send you off (more on this later). All you have to do is, well, pack up and go! The type of trip you are sent on is completely customizable; whether you’re looking for a staycation, a quick, inexpensive road trip, or a lengthier, pricier plane trip, Pack Up + Go has you covered.

Currently, Pack Up + Go only plans surprise vacations within the United States. Click here to view a list of their destination cities. If you’d prefer to be sent on an international surprise vacation, you are still in luck, because many other surprise travel agencies are offering such packages; The Vacation Hunt is one of the most popular, although I cannot personally recommend them, as I have not booked with them myself.

My Surprise Vacation Experience with Pack Up + Go

Planning my trip with pack up + go.

Once I decided to surprise vacation through the Pack Up + Go travel agency, I started filling out my pre-trip survey. I had first to select my preferred mode of transportation, whether by plane or car; a staycation was also an option. I was then redirected to the full survey, in which I provided information such as my travel dates, places I do not want to go to/would not feel safe going to/have recently been to/will be going to soon, travel priorities, dietary restrictions, and hobbies/interests.

As I made my way through the survey, I also provided them with the information of each traveler, our preferred rooming arrangements, and our budget; I was notified that they plan a trip that fits within our budget and, if money were left over, they’d book activities for us. Pack Up + Go is a great service for budget travelers, as it does not allow you to spend more on flights and hotels than you allotted!

When filling out my survey, I made an error in my preferences. I called customer service; the representative made a note to my file, and I can now confirm that they took it into consideration.

To start your pre-trip survey, click here .

pack up and go road trip reviews

The Hints: Where Could I Be (Pack Up +) Going?

I booked in September 2021 for travel in June 2022, which means I had a long wait until I found out my destination. However, one week before departure, I received an email with some hints to help with packing and timing (and to hype us up, of course). This email told us the weather at our destination, what we should pack based on activities we’d likely be taking part in, airport and flight time information, and luggage allowances. We didn’t yet know the airline we would be flying or the duration of our flight, so there was still a lot of mystery!

Katie and I frantically looked up the weather and flight times in various U.S. cities to find out where we were headed, but we couldn’t crack the code.

pack up and go road trip reviews

The Reveal: Where I Packed Up + Went

A few days after receiving that email with our hints, the envelope disclosing our destination arrived in the mail. Pack Up + Go advises you to wait until the day of your trip to open the envelope, which, admittedly, I did not do (more on this in a bit). One day prior to departure, we received updated weather information via email.

Now, the moment we had been waiting for had finally arrived: the reveal. The destination was…New Orleans, Louisiana! At first, we were a bit puzzled (we could’ve swore we would be sent to Colorado), but the more we thought about it, the more we realized how perfect this destination was for us. We looked back at our pre-trip survey, and all of our answers aligned perfectly with New Orleans.

The reveal of our destination was not the only thing in the envelope. In fact, they gave us a folder full of information on New Orleans. First, and most importantly, the folder contained a packet with our itinerary; hotel accommodations and pre-planned activity information (two dinner reservations in our case) were included in this packet. It also had pages of restaurant and activity recommendations. Digging deeper into the folder, we found important and informational documents on our flight plan, the different areas of the city, how to get around, and good photo opportunities.

One thing I appreciated most upon finding out the flight information was that, although Katie and I were coming from different airports, we were to land in New Orleans at almost the exact same time. Amazing planning by Pack Up + Go!

pack up and go road trip reviews

My Experience During the Trip

The trip went very smoothly from start to finish. I was nervous about the flight times, as I had a short layover, but all of that worry was for nothing.

When we arrived at the hotel, check-in was a breeze. We stayed at the ACE Hotel, which was a great experience. Katie and I discussed how we wouldn’t have booked such a nice hotel if we planned this on our own; we never would’ve thought it was within our budget! It was located within walking distance from nearly every activity we planned.

Pack Up + Go set up two dinner reservations for us. We went to both, although they informed us that we could’ve canceled if we wanted. The first restaurant was not quite my taste, but the second served the best food I ever had in my life – no exaggeration (check out Jack Rose)!

Using the list of recommended sights and activities that Pack Up + Go provided, we built our itinerary; it was very helpful, as many of the activities we would not have found on our own (the bayou airboat tour was our favorite for sure). The list also helped us find some cool bars and live music.

If you’d like to find out more about what we did in New Orleans, Louisiana, stay tuned for an upcoming blog post on this!

pack up and go road trip reviews

Conclusion: To Pack Up + Go or Not to Go?

To conclude, if it were not already obvious, I would absolutely recommend booking your surprise vacation with Pack Up + Go. They meticulously planned a personalized vacation for us and left little room for things to go wrong.

I think everyone should take a surprise trip. Not having a choice in destination allows you to learn a lot about yourself as a traveler. It allowed me to be introspective and think about what I really want in a vacation. They did not choose the destination because it seemed cool, they chose it because it offered exactly what I was looking for. Now, this is something I always consider when planning. To learn more about how I incorporate my priorities into my vacation planning, check out episode 9 of the Runways and Byways Travel Podcast .

The only con I found throughout this experience was that Pack Up + Go does not offer international destinations. I love traveling within the U.S., but it isn’t always necessarily my go-to. This is not a sponsored post, so if there were more negatives, I would tell you! It really was the all-around perfect, convenient, yet insanely fun, trip. I can’t wait to find out where I’ll Pack Up + Go to next time!

If you want to hear Katie and I talk about this experience, check out episode 2 of the Runways and Byways Travel Podcast . Fun fact: the idea of our podcast was born on this trip!

Are you convinced? Click here to book your surprise vacation with Pack Up + Go.

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Do you think you’d plan a surprise vacation with Pack Up + Go? Contact me or let me know in the comments!

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Surprise Trips Are More Popular Than Ever—Here’s What It’s Like When a Stranger Plans Your Vacation

One afar editor let the surprise travel agency pack up and go plan a mystery road trip—one where she didn’t find out her destination until the moment she walked out the door..

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Surprise Trips Are More Popular Than Ever—Here’s What It’s Like When a Stranger Plans Your Vacation

AFAR went on a surprise road trip to Newport and saw historical landmarks like The Breakers.

Photo by Lyndsey Matthews

After I zipped up my weekend bag and put my shoes on, I eagerly ripped open the envelope that read, “Warning: No Peeking Until the Day of Your Departure!” The envelope had arrived on Tuesday, but through sheer force of will, I had managed to keep its contents—the destination of a weekend getaway planned by Pack Up and Go , a surprise travel agency—a secret until the moment I was ready to depart on Saturday.

I pulled out a thick piece of card stock that read, “You’re going to Newport, Rhode Island!” in big teal letters. And with that, I added the envelope—which also contained a pre-planned itinerary—to my bag and headed off on a road trip to the coastal New England city.

At AFAR, we’ve been big fans of surprise trips for a long time. Ever since our first issue in fall 2009, we’ve been sending writers like Alton Brown and Charmaine Craig to destinations such as New Zealand and Lisbon with just 24 hours’ notice in our “ Spin the Globe ” feature. Surprise travel has become a full-blown trend in recent years as more companies start to offer these trip-planning services.

In fact, Pinterest discovered that searches for “Surprise Destination” increased 192 percent in the last six months of 2018, beating out other popular travel terms like “Hot Springs” and “Autumn Scenery.” The desire to be more spontaneous appears to be at the root of this trend. In their 2018 Travel Trends Report , Ford Motor Company found that 52 percent of U.S. travelers said they enjoy getting lost and spontaneously discovering hidden restaurants and shops to create unique memories when they travel.

Exploring Newport in a 2018 Ford Mustang

Exploring Newport in a 2018 Ford Mustang

I’m the kind of traveler who finds great joy in researching destinations and poring over guidebooks months in advance of my trips, but when Pack Up and Go and Ford offered to let me borrow a 2018 Ford Mustang for a three-day surprise road trip, I jumped at the opportunity. As a travel editor, whenever I take off with my friends or family, I tend to handle most of the reservations and research. But sometimes, it’s nice to let someone else do the planning. For group travel it can be hard to pick one destination that checks all the boxes for your group.

But that doesn’t mean Pack Up and Go picks a place at random and sends you there. When I booked the trip, I took a short survey that asked me about the last few places I had been and where I was planning to go next (to make sure they wouldn’t send me on a repeat trip), and details about the kind of traveler I was. Do I prefer museums to shopping? A quiet night in or one out on the town?

Other than that, all I knew before I left were a few vague details. The trip would be in a midsize city within a four-hour drive of my home in New York (Pack Up and Go also plans air and train trips within three to four hours of your home for people without access to cars). I also received a weather report a week before departing. While the details I was given eliminated larger cities farther away like Boston and Washington, D.C., my mind swirled with the possibilities.

Technically, there was nothing stopping me from ripping open that envelope the second it arrived, but the secret was half the fun. The week before I left, my friends all sent me their destination guesses. Some thought Philadelphia, others were convinced it was either Baltimore or Annapolis, while exactly one friend guessed Newport correctly.

Pack Up and Go had also printed out directions to and from Newport’s Mill Street Inn , where they had booked me for two nights. The Mustang I borrowed was kitted out with Wi-Fi and Apple CarPlay, which made it easy to listen to my own music and get directions at the same time—without burning through my entire data plan.

No trip to Newport is complete without sunset drinks at Castle Hill Inn.

No trip to Newport is complete without sunset drinks at Castle Hill Inn.

In addition to providing suggestions for things to do once I arrived in Newport, Pack Up and Go also gave me conveniently timed suggestions for places to stop for lunch along the way (I never would have happened upon the SoNo Baking Co. in South Norwalk, Connecticut, otherwise). It was also nice to get off the highway and into Narragansett—home to one of the best beaches in Rhode Island —for a quick detour. When I arrived in Newport, I found the Mill Street Inn to be a bit understated for my tastes. But after waking up the next morning, I realized it was in the most peacefully quiet location while also being within a short walk or drive of other recommendations like the White Horse Tavern, Cliff Walk , and Castle Hill Inn . I can deal with beige decor for an undisturbed night of sleep and convenience any day. While Pack Up and Go’s suggestions were spot-on, Instagram was another trove of information for the spontaneous trip. I got brunch recommendations from a friend’s wife who had gone to high school in Newport, and also found out that a past colleague’s brother ran the Midtown Oyster Bar on Thames Street. So while I was enjoying a glass of sancerre and a half-dozen local oysters, chef James Mitchell gave me tips for where to find affordable lobster rolls ( Anthony’s Seafood , just a 10-minute drive away in Middletown) and the best place to drink a pint next to locals ( Pour Judgement on Broadway).

How to plan your own surprise trip

Pack Up and Go offers two-night, three-day surprise trips starting at $400. But Magical Mystery Tours , Surprise Me Trips , and the Vacation Hunt also offer these kinds of trip-planning services. If you’re confident in your trip-planning skills, you can also surprise a family member, friend, or significant other with a trip (FYI, Valentine’s Day falls right before the long Presidents’ Day weekend this year).

You can take one of two approaches: To build anticipation—and give your travel partner a little bit of a warning—pick a weekend that you’re both free and drop hints in the weeks leading up to it with details about the weather and any special gear to pack. Then when you get to the airport or load up your car’s GPS, reveal the secret destination. If your travel partner really enjoys being spontaneous, you can also secretly clear his or her schedule ahead of time and pack their bag for an even bigger surprise the day you depart.

>> Next: The Best Weekend Getaways in the United States

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What Savvy Said

April 5, 2022

A Pack Up & Go Review featured by top US travel blogger, What Savvy Said

Pack Up & Go Review – Why The Mystery Vacation Is Worth The Hype

One week and a whole lot of mystery later, I’m home and getting back into my routine after our Pack Up & Go trip . After several months of waiting, I can’t believe it’s over. But I’m already plotting my next adventure. I read quite a few articles when I first discovered the mystery travel agency. So I thought I’d share my experience. Everything from the amazing to the extremely picky is included in today’s Pack Up & Go review. Let’s get started!

A Pack Up & Go Review featured by top US travel blogger, What Savvy Said

Pack Up & Go Review

What is pack up and go.

First things first, what am I even talking about? Pack Up & Go is a travel agency that plans 3 day+ vacations with a twist. You pick your budget, the city want you to leave from, how you’d like to travel (car, train, plane), and when you want to go. But they pick your destination. And it’s only in the USA.

HOW DOES PACK UP AND GO WORK?

There are several budget options available. You can choose from plane/train travel, road trips, outdoor destinations, and staycations. You’re required to book at least 4 weeks in advance. However, if you know when you want to travel, I’d suggest booking as soon as possible. They are growing in popularity and may already be too full to take your trip on.

You pay upfront for the cost of the trip. If you’re traveling with a group, you should know that only one person can pay for the trip. So be prepared to pay your friend(s) back. They also offer travel insurance and will send you quotes.

WHICH TRIP DID WE PICK?

We opted for a 3 day plane trip with a budget of $750 per person. We also opted for travel insurance and that worked out to be about $30 a person. Because our airport is smaller and tends to have flights that range from $300-400, we wanted to make sure we weren’t limited with a $650 budget. Plus, we figured that if nothing else it would go towards a nicer hotel.

What does the budget cover?

The cost per person covers your plane & hotel fares. If there’s any additional leftover, they will use it towards something they think you might like or find useful. But I think we pretty much maxed ours out.

Our Mystery Trip: A Pack Up & Go Review #whatsavvysaid #packupandgo #packupandgoreview #washingtondc #mysterytrip

WHERE DID WE GO?

We went to Washington DC!

HOW DID PACK UP AND GO PICK WASHINGTON DC FOR US?

When you book your trip, they ask you lots of questions. Everything from previous travel to things you prefer to do are on the questionnaire. We’ve both lived in bigger cities ( Birmingham , Atlanta , Tampa) so we made sure to include that info so we didn’t end up there. We also noted the places we’ve recently been or will be going in the next few months ( Orlando ,  Nashville , St. Louis) so they wouldn’t send us there.

WHEN DO YOU FIND OUT WHERE YOU’RE GOING?

You’ll get a packet of info in the mail a few days before you leave as well as an email with all of your documentation. It includes where you’re going, a suggested itinerary, and any other pertinent information. You are free to open it whenever you’d like to know.

Some people wait until they get to the airport. My anxiety could never. We chose to open our packet the night before so we could make sure we had anything special packed we might want to shoot or wear.

HOW DO YOU PACK FOR A TRIP WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE YOU’RE GOING?

Your travel agent will send you the weather for your trip a week before along with any packing notes. We were told that there was a lot of walking and the option for a rooftop pool. Personally, I’d suggest packing a pair of shoes you’d be comfortable with doing a lot of walking in no matter where you go. When I first read the note about walking, I didn’t think it would be at the level we did. So I ended up being happy we looked ahead of time.

Our Mystery Trip: A Pack Up & Go Review #whatsavvysaid #packupandgo #packupandgoreview #washingtondc #mysterytrip

HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU’LL NEED WHEN YOU’RE THERE?

Because I went with one of my best friends on our Pack Up & Go Trip , we know our spending habits pretty well. We’re both foodies and love a good meal. But we will also split food if we want to save funds. We’ve also been fortunate enough to take several 3 day trips before so we decided to plan as though we’d end up in one of the few cities we knew we’d want to splash out more in (LA or NYC). Neither one of us wanted to feel like we couldn’t enjoy ourselves on our trip. I’d suggest keeping in mind the activities you’d like to do and budget around it.

If there are certain events (i.e. broadway shows or dinner theaters), I’d keep those in mind. And because you don’t know the location, I’d advise saving extra for transportation. We used lyft  or walked while in DC and it worked great. But depending on where you go, you may want the extra budget for a rental car.

DO YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT’S ON THE ITINERARY?

Not at all. They give you tons of suggestions for things to do. We honestly had enough options that I could easily plan a 2nd trip from our itinerary. However, it’s up to you how you choose to spend your time.

We took a lot of things from the list and we also winged it when we felt like it. It’s nice not having to search for where to grab dinner or something you might like to do. So we mostly consulted our list and went from there. But it’s your trip so do what makes you happy!

WHAT DID I LIKE ABOUT OUR PACK UP AND GO TRIP?

Honestly I loved not having to plan anything. I never would have picked DC to go to again since I’ve been before. But we had such a blast. Our hotel was lovely and they made sure to leave a bottle of champagne in our room to celebrate my birthday. We told Pack Up & Go that was why we were going. We made friends with the rooftop bartender, Joseph, who told us about another awesome rooftop bar with an amazing view.

Plus, Pack Up & Go suggested lots of places I’d never been before. The Museum of the Bible , Newseum & The International Spy Museum were all new to me. We ate lots of amazing food and saw some great places. It was a lot fun.

Our Mystery Trip: A Pack Up & Go Review #whatsavvysaid #packupandgo #packupandgoreview #washingtondc #mysterytrip

WHAT DIDN’T I LIKE ABOUT OUR PACK UP AND GO TRIP?

There really wasn’t much that I didn’t like about our trip. There were two things I’d note but neither are major. Our hotel had a nightly amenity fee that we didn’t know about and wasn’t covered ahead of time. We made sure to maximize on what they offered (wine hour in the lobby, fresh coffee in the mornings, etc.) so I think we got the most from it. But it wasn’t something I anticipated we would need to cover.

The other note isn’t really a dislike but something we found challenging. Inevitably, we felt like needed more time. With such a big city, we really needed one more full day to do all the things we wanted to do. We spent a full day traveling and a lot of the places we wanted to go closed at 5pm. So it limited what we were really able to see. Ps. we booked this trip when only 3 day, 2 night options were available.

OTHER NOTES?

The morning of our trip, our plane had an issue. There was a brief time where we thought our flight was going to be delayed by an hour which would have caused us to miss our 2nd flight. As soon as we saw it, I called our Pack Up & Go travel agent Jordan to let her know. She was amazing. Super on it and ready to help find us alternatives within 5 minutes. We also reached out looking for later flights home and she was incredibly helpful. I can’t imagine a smoother trip or experience.

I also think it’s worth nothing what could be considered a downside to traveling with  Pack Up & Go . The idea behind not planning or stressing about a trip is amazing. But there is a chance you’ll end up in a city  and not be able to snag tickets ahead of time if there’s something you really want to do. Our itinerary suggested a local comedy club we were really excited to try. But they were sold out. We made sure to book anything we thought we’d want to do as early as possible ( dinner reservations). Nevertheless, there were a few things we would have done if we could have gotten tickets.

WOULD I BOOK WITH PACK UP AND GO AGAIN?

Absolutely, we had an amazing experience. If you are incredibly busy or just want to get away, I think it’s perfect for taking a trip without the stress. I also love that they took the time to find places they thought we would truly enjoy. And I really enjoyed everything we did. It’s something I’d love to do with my mom for a fun and stress free get away. So I definitely see myself using Pack Up & Go again.

DO I RECOMMEND PACK UP AND GO?

Yes! There was not a single person I’ve spoken to about the trip that had heard about it before. So I’m excited to see more people go and have just as much fun as we did. No matter what you like to do, your dietary preferences or where you’ve been before, Pack Up & Go is sure to be a new experience.

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I do a few sponsored posts but they are limited to maintain the authenticity of © What Savvy Said. Some links in my posts may be affiliate links. This means I receive a small compensation for purchases made through those links. The presence of affiliate links and potential commission compensation are marked with an (*).

guest

I’m glad you had a good time- what an amazing trip! I’ve now decided I HAVE to organise a visit to Washington sometime in the future. Great post. Lulu Xx | https://lululostinthought.blogspot.com/

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You must! It was so much fun!!

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Pack Up + Go   Reviews

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Reviews 4.8.

Most relevant

Anniversary Delight Surprise

My wife and I received a Pack Up + Go experience as an anniversary gift. The gift raised a very pleasant level of anticipation after we completed the company's well designed comprehensive survey that it uses to develop a surprise trip. Our surprise, Chicago, exposed (for us) a hidden treasure that far exceeded all our expectations. In 3 days and 2 nights we enjoyed Shedd Aquarium, the River Walk, a luxurious anniversary dinner, the Vietnam Memorial, Chicago Museum, and more - including lodging at a 5 star hotel that celebrated our anniversary with champagne and treats. Pack Up + Go professionally arranged a worry free trip, including to and from travel, with full guidance and instructions. All we had to do was enjoy the experience. We highly recommend using Pack Up + Go for a unique surprise travel experience or as a gift to someone. We think recipients will be forever grateful. Pack Up + Go!

Date of experience : 15 August 2023

Reply from Pack Up + Go

Thank you for your positive review about you and your wife's anniversary Trip. Our Travel Planning Team is always so happy to hear when travelers love their enjoyed accommodations, dinner reservations, and pre-booked activities. We can’t wait to explore with you again for your next vacation!

It was great experience by not planning…

It was great experience by not planning anything yourself. I like all the planning that Pack up and go did for us.

Date of experience : 11 May 2023

Thank you for sharing your positive experience! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the stress-free planning process with Pack Up and Go. We take pride in creating memorable and seamless travel experiences for our customers, and we are delighted to know that we met your expectations. We hope to have the opportunity to surprise and delight you again in the future.

Everything was wonderful!

Everything was wonderful!! All the suggestions that were provided and the actual activities that were booked were phenomenal and matched everything we wanted. We felt everything in our survey was taken into consideration except our flight time preference but we understand they are at the mercy of the availability with the airlines.

Date of experience : 18 August 2023

Thanks for being understanding about flight times - we do our absolute best to accommodate timing preferences! We're so glad the rest of the trip was such a success - we hope you'll travel with us again in the future!

The arrangements made by your company…

The arrangements made by your company (restaurant booking, tours, hotel) were superb. And when our flight home was cancelled, your employee contacted us and had a new flight before the airline had let us know of the cancellation.

Date of experience : 12 January 2024

Our planning team works hard to make sure everything we book is just right, AND we pride ourselves on our customer support - we're so ecstatic that you concur! Hopefully we'll see you on another getaway soon!

Will 100% be booking with Pack Up + Go Again!

Loved my surprise trip with Pack Up + Go! The survey you complete before booking your trip really helped the trip to be tailored to the things I like. The tours and dinner reservations they picked for my trip to St. Louis were so fun. I was also able to visit other places that they suggested in the packet they provided before my trip. Will 100% be booking with Pack Up + Go Again!

Date of experience : 20 October 2023

We're beaming with joy knowing you had a fantastic time and that we hit the mark with your Trip! Here's to more Pack Up + Go surprises and happy travels!

The company did an amazing job of…

The company did an amazing job of creating a trip that was exactly what I wanted! I didn't feel like it was a "canned" trip that was created for other people. I couldn't have planned a better trip myself!

Date of experience : 13 October 2023

Personalization is the goal - so glad we succeeded at making your trip feel extra special! We'd love to plan another for you soon!

Love Pack Up & Go

Love Pack Up & Go. It is a fun way to travel, and I trust their recommendations. We had a great time in Memphis and would recommend the trip to any and all who will listen!

Date of experience : 16 March 2024

Thank you for your kind words! We're so happy to hear you had a great time on your Trip + enjoyed our recommendations for Memphis!

DO NOT HESITATE!!! GO FOR IT!!!

It was such a fun experience to have a surprise birthday trip planned by Pack Up + Go. They had everything perfectly laid out. Even with stops on the way to my location and on the way home. I highly recommend giving them a try. You won't be disappointed!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Date of experience : 08 September 2023

Your enthusiasm is contagious! We're thrilled to have made your birthday extra special. Thank you for trusting us with your celebration, and here's to many more unforgettable adventures ahead!

We've done 3 trips with Pack Up + Go…

We've done 3 trips with Pack Up + Go and each one has been an awesome and unique experience. I highly recommend them to anyone who's going on a trip.

Date of experience : 09 February 2024

Thank you for the high praise - we're so glad we've continued to deliver for your special trips!

I loved being surprised by a trip and…

I loved being surprised by a trip and an adventure that I didn't have to plan. Accommodations and activities were geared towards our family really well and if we needed to make adjustments (because bike riding experience among our group varied from comfortable to complete newbie) it was easy to do.

We're so excited to hear you loved your Surprise Trip! Our Travel Planning Team is always so happy to hear when travelers love their accommodations + activities. Here's to many more incredible Pack Up + Go getaways in the future!

2 trips down, many to go!!

I have done two trips with packup and go and they have both been AMAZING! If you’re nervous to try it, don’t be! We went with a group of 6 the first time, and 4 the most recent trip. Both trips were absolutely perfect for each group (and we had a few nervous planners in tow, even they had to admit in the end, it was amazing). Packup and go absolutely listens to everything you put into your surveys and it’s their mission to give you the trip of your desires! If you’re on the fence, book it today!

Date of experience : 06 August 2023

Wow, this made our day! We love planning trips for groups so we're thrilled BOTH of your group trips were a success!

Pack Up and definitely go

Everything about our experience was fantastic. Pack up and go provides extensive information about the location of the trip with well researched recommendations of restaurants and activities for your surprise location. Our hotel accommodations were perfect. We had a beautiful hotel in a perfect location. I am a big planner and using pack up and go allowed me to have time to relax and truly enjoy our vacation. Highly recommend.

Thank you for letting go of control and allowing us to sprinkle a little magic into your vacation. We're so happy you got to enjoy the perks of our incredible hotel partnerships. Hope to have you on another vacay soon!

Attention to Detail

The attention to detail on the things a traveler is interested in are amazing. Adventures I wouldn't schedule for myself were actually a blast and exactly what I needed on my recent solo road trip!

Date of experience : 12 August 2023

Wow, thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great surprise getaway. Your support means the world to us, and we can't wait to book more Trips for you down the road. Cheers to more fantastic memories together!

Our trip to San Diego was Awesome

Our trip to San Diego was Awesome! From start to finish everything was thought of. We loved our hotel, ALL of the restaurants and activities planned and recommended were great as well. We are signed up next for a "You Pick" trip this year.

Date of experience : 03 August 2023

Yay, so happy to hear that your San Diego Trip was a hit! You Pick Trips are such a good option as well - we can't wait to book another incredible experience for you!

We waited until the day we left to open…

We waited until the day we left to open the envelope. This made for a really fun experience. The stops were good and the time spent in the city was great. When we called for assistance, the staff was attentive and friendly.

Date of experience : 23 September 2023

We're so here for the self-control of waiting to open the envelope! We're glad you enjoyed the element of surprise. Looking forward to surprising you on your next adventure with Pack Up + Go!

Easy to book

Easy to book. Very good reccomendations for activities that I would not have selected on my own. The food reccomendations were spectacular. Hotel was amazing. Great experience overall

Date of experience : 20 May 2023

We're delighted that you found booking a breeze and that our recommendations added that extra sparkle to your adventure. Spectacular food and an amazing hotel? Sounds like the perfect recipe for an unforgettable experience! Thanks for choosing us!

San Diego - Girls Trip

It was nice to have everything scheduled for us. We would have never gone to a couple of the restaurants on our own.

We love it when we can introduce travelers to places and experiences they wouldn't have found on their own! So glad your girl's trip was a success!

Great options

I loved that we had the options presented for things to do. Especially in 3's. That made picking our plans so easy.

Date of experience : 26 May 2023

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us! We try to take the stress + pressure out of planning + we're happy to hear it made choosing activities on your Surprise Trip easier!

2 Successful Pack Up and Go Trips

We have been on 2 Pack Up and Go Trips; one to Denver and one to San Diego. Both trips did a great job of filling the time we were there, but also giving enough free time to do our own thing.

Date of experience : 11 January 2024

Woohoo we love to hear when we've nailed the balance between planned activities and down time...it's our specialty! We're so pleased that you enjoyed both of your Trips!

Pack up + GO Planning and organization…

Pack up + GO Planning and organization made this an amazing experience!

Date of experience : 23 March 2024

Thank you for sharing + we are so glad you had a great time! We love hearing the Trips we plan are a success! Hope to plan for you again soon!

Mama-life stories, struggles and humor

Pack Up and Go Unbiased Review

March 26, 2019 by brittany

Alright y’all, I’ve gotten so many questions and here it is:  my Pack Up and Go unbiased review.  I am in no way comped by the company, so rest assure this is a true review. I talked a little about this concept in my post on creative vacations as well.

16th avenue tiled steps san francisco, pack up and go trip

What is Pack Up and Go?

Pack Up and Go is a company that plans surprise destination vacations.  They are limited to 3 day 2 night trips only.  The company will coordinate travel (there is a plane or road trip option) and your hotel stay, you just pay and show up!  

16th avenue tiled steps, San Francisco, Pack up and Go trip

How does Pack up and Go work?

This was the most frequently asked question I recieved.  The way it works is you pay and they plan your vacation.  They provide you with a comprehensive survey which helps them identify your travel preferences (weather you enjoy, actives you like, ect).  After you fill it out and pay, your part is done.  

concrete slides, seward park san francisco, pack up and go

How will I know what to pack?

A week before you leave, they give you a few clues and a weather forecast.  The intention is to help you pack, but if you’re super smart it may help you identify where you’re going.  This takes a good bit of  detective work and according to my best friend Rebecca, it “ruins the surprise.”  So don’t go Googling the 10 day weather forecast for every major city when you get this email.

San Francisco bridge view, pack up and go trip

Why We Chose Pack Up and Go:

Well, mainly because my best friend is very particular and she couldn’t decide on a place for us to go for a weekend.  But also, we loved the concept.  No planning for a fun surprise weekend.

Originally I was thinking how very novel this idea was.  But then it hit me, God actually coordinated the first Pack up and Go trip when he sent Abraham and his family out on an unknown journey.  So actually, its a concept from Biblical times!  

Trouble coffee cinnamon toast, San Francisco

How much did we pay?

This  is probably the second most frequently asked question I got.  I’ll start by saying we disagreed on what we should pay.  Pack Up and Go allows you a range of $650.00-$5,000 per person if you are taking a trip where a plane is involved (the road trips are cheaper). 

I talked Rebecca into paying $1,000 each, with the thinking that if we paid more they would have more capability to send us wherever they thought would be best.  Also, I didn’t want to get stuck in a shady hotel.  My thought was if we’re gonna do it, go big. 

Overall, I do feel that the money was spent fairly, but Rebecca may give you a different answer on this.  We also were given a $100 Uber voucher which was perfect and we used it all, ending with our final trip to the airport.  

In retrospect, I think you can go cheaper and still have a great trip.  If I were to do it again, I’d probably do $750 each.  So, yes, Rebecca, you’re right (I hope this makes up for the extra $250 I talked you into spending).

Pack up and Go review San Francisco

Our Experience (Pack up and Go unbiased Review):

Pack up and Go sent us to San Francisco for the weekend.  Although, I may have figured it out a few days before hand, overall this was still a surprise to me.  Because I was flying out of New Orleans, I figured the West coast was just too far for a weekend and that we would go somewhere closer.  However, it turned out San Francisco is actually a great weekend get away spot.

Yes, we left with some unchecked boxes on our ambitious to-do list, but we also got to do a lot in our just over 48 hours there.  I will be writing a whole separate post on all our off-the-beaten-path San Francisco adventures next week.  

What I loved (Pack up and Go Review):

Well, for starters the location, which as I mentioned earlier, I would have never picked for just a weekend getaway.  But you just cant not love San Fran.  Its got it all, the views, the food, the bubble tea.  How I miss the bubble tea!  

The second thing I loved was how well coordinated our flights were.  We landed in San Fran about 10 minutes apart from each other!   We left 30 minutes apart from each other, so this was really well done.

Kimpton Buchanan San Francisco, pack up and go review

What I didn’t love (Pack up and Go Review):

The one disappointment I had was that we had put on our survey that we preferred to stay in a bed and breakfast.  I thought with our higher budget we would definitely be able to do this.  Instead they put us in a boutique hotel called Kimpton Buchanan .  I liked the hotel quite a bit and the location was amazing, however, I was still a little bummed to not be in a bed and breakfast where you’re pretty much guaranteed a little quirkiness. I stay in hotels for work often, so I was looking forward to a little different type of experience.

Would I recommend Pack Up and Go?

Yes, in a heart beat. 

Especially for trips where people are coming from multiple locations.  It just makes the planning portion so easy and adds a fun anticipation to the trip.

The pictures posted here are all from our amazing Pack Up and Go weekend.  Next week I’m posting all about our off the beaten path adventures in San Francisco so make sure to sign up for the blog via your email so you don’t miss it!

You can go check out Pack up and Go for yourself here!

If you sign up for a trip, please mention me (Brittany Rose) so I can get a discount on any future trips 🙂

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pack up and go road trip reviews

Pack Up + Go   Reviews

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Reviews 4.8.

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The whole trip was so well organized

The whole trip was so well organized. This made it easy especially for first time travelers. There was NO skimping on quality, our hotel was great, activities way above expectations. More than got our money's worth.

Date of experience : 16 May 2023

Reply from Pack Up + Go

Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your trip and that everything was well-organized. We strive to provide top-notch experiences for all of our travelers, and we are so pleased to hear that you felt the quality was not skimped on. We are so glad that the hotel and activities exceeded your expectations and that you felt you got your money's worth. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another trip in the future!

Our Favorite Vacation Planners!

We have loved all 3 of our Pack Up + Go vacations! The itinerary was full of details and great suggestions that were interesting to each member of the group. The company purchased us tickets to do activities that we would never have booked on our own, and they were our favorite things! I can’t recommend this company enough!

Date of experience : 15 June 2023

Thank you so much for your glowing review! We are thrilled to hear that you have enjoyed all three of your Pack Up + Go vacations. We take pride in creating detailed and personalized itineraries that cater to the interests of each member of the group. We are delighted to hear that you loved the activities that we arranged for you and that they turned out to be your favorites! Your recommendation means the world to us, and we can't wait to plan another unforgettable trip for you in the future. Thank you for choosing Pack Up + Go!

I've done two P&G trips

I've done two P&G trips - one Road (Savannah) and one Plane (Washington DC). I loved them both! I am often the one that plans all the travel details, so it was wonderful to let someone else do the heavy lifting. My hotel accommodations are always spot on: fantastic amenities and perfectly located to walk to other things. My favorite part of the trips though, are the list of recommended places to visit! I still think about the restaurants and bookstores they helped me find. If you're new to P&G, my advice is to spend time on your survey and really think about how you like to travel - it really helps the trip take shape. My only complaint is I wish I could go more often!

Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience with us! We love to hear that you enjoyed both your Road Trip + Plane Trip. Taking a break from being the planner isn't always easy + we feel lucky to have taken that off your plate for these Trips. We love to share our recommendations + we're happy that you found so many activities to enjoy! We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on more Pack Up + Go Trips in the future!

Best Gift ever

When your grown kids ask you what you want for Christmas, tell them you want a gift card for Pack Up and Go. This was our second surprise trip from them and it was just as exciting as the first. Two destinations that were not on my bucket list, but are now on my recommendation list. Pack Up and Go makes it so easy to hit the ground running with arrangements made and recommendations galore. I have already put it on our Christmas list for this year!!

Date of experience : 14 March 2024

We are thrilled that you have enjoyed multiple trips with us and are planning on adding us to your Christmas list this year! We aim to make the process easy from start to finish, so we appreciate the kind words! Thank you for your continued support, we hope we get to plan another adventure for you soon!

Awesome way to Travel

I have taken two trips with Pack Up & Go so far and both have been amazing! First was a roadtrip to San Luis Obispo, CA. The activities recommended felt personalized based on the survey, and the accommodations were very comfortable. The second trip I took was an outdoor road trip to Ashland, OR this past June. Again the activities that were booked for me felt extremely personalized and the bed & breakfast they had me staying in were very comfortable. For all the nights on both stays I had reservations at various restaurants that were great and unique to the area. The second trip was to celebrate my birthday and they went so far as to notify the bed and breakfast and restaurants to make the trip more special. Such a great company and I already have two more roadtrips booked for later this year.

Date of experience : 16 June 2023

Thank you for the amazing review! We love hearing that we nailed the personalization of your Trips! We're glad you had a great birthday with us and are looking forward to planning your next adventure(s)!

Kansas City …

Amazing activity selectionn great food recommendations and very nice hotel with top notch staff and cleaning protacalls. It was nice to go somewhere I probably would not have picked on my own.

Date of experience : 18 May 2023

We are so happy to hear you enjoyed your Trip! We love when people get to experience new places + have new adventures. We can't wait to book with you again!

Great surprise trip had to do no thinking and enjoyed stuff all the time

Had the best time on our surprise trip. We ended up in Chicago with day-to-day things planned and paid for already for us everything we did, and so was awesome never in 1 million years what I have ever picked to travel to Chicago but after the experience they gave us I’ll go again.

Date of experience : 08 September 2023

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time on your Surprise Trip to Chicago. It's always fantastic to hear when a Destination surprises and delights travelers! Cheers to more fantastic memories together!

Everything is taken care of from booking a flight to booking the hotel, restaurant bookings, most excursions. The surprise of finding out where you are going is the best!

Everything! the surprise of where our destination was booked was so much fun to learn. Restaurants, excursions, hotel star rated a 5

Date of experience : 12 April 2023

Thank you for sharing your positive experience! The element of the Surprise definitely adds an extra level of excitement to Trips + we're happy to hear you enjoyed the Destination!

The pre-planned activities they gave us were truly amazing!!! Everything they planned from the activities to the dinner reservations were phenomenal! We will be using pack up and go again in the future!!

Date of experience : 21 March 2024

Thank you so much for the glowing review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the pre-planned activities and dinner reservations we arranged for you. It makes us so happy to know that we contributed to making your trip phenomenal. We would be honored to have the opportunity to plan another unforgettable adventure for you in the future. Thank you for choosing Pack Up and Go!

They do the work for you!

Pack Up + Go pretty much plans the trip you would plan for yourself! So they pretty much take on the heavy lifting for you as they cater to your vacation style and interests. They can’t miss the mark on your trip bc they are planning it according to your input. And they throw in any ideas that they think you might like or big attractions in the city. Looking forward to my 2nd surprise trip next month with Pack Up + Go!

Date of experience : 02 June 2023

We're thrilled to hear that you had a great Surprise Trip! Our goal is to take the stress out of travel planning and create unforgettable Trips that match your interests! We're looking forward to planning another Surprise Getaway for you!

We keep coming back again and again!

We have been on 3 Pack Up + Go vacations and each one was unique and wonderful. Every time they have sent us places that nailed our preferences and offered so much for us to explore. Customer service has always been above and beyond as well. When we had an airline delay on one trip the reached out to make sure we were all taken care of by the airline with a rebook and a hotel room even though it the issue was well outside their control. I’ve recommended them to many friends and have had so many people go on one and return with rave reviews as well. What are you waiting for?

Date of experience : 30 April 2023

Thank you for your glowing review of Pack Up + Go... 3 surprise Trips is pretty impressive! We're so glad to hear you were taken care of by our Traveler Support Team and we're thankful that you've been sharing your support + love for Pack Up + Go with your friends! We look forward to planning more Surprise Trips for you in the future!

Take the leap!

I've loved watching Pack Up + Go grow from the very beginning, loved travelling with Pack Up + Go, and love talking about Pack Up + Go. You could not find a more compassionate, enthusiastic and supportive travel team. Whether you're game for a surprise trip or just want to try something different with a destination of your choosing, Pack Up + Go is sure to enhance your experience.

Date of experience : 09 March 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words and continuous support of Pack Up + Go! We are thrilled to hear that you have enjoyed watching us grow and traveling with us. It means the world to us to hear that you find our team compassionate, enthusiastic, and supportive. We strive to create unforgettable experiences for our travelers. Your feedback motivates us to continue providing exceptional service. We can't wait to help you plan your next adventure!

8 Trips In and We're Addicted!

Pack Up + Go has planned many amazing trips for us! They offer plane trips and road trips and we've done both. We have loved every one we have done! They make sure everything is fully wheelchair accessible for us, which is a huge relief and time saver for us. We've loved all the hotels and restaurants! The plans they've booked for us have been perfect for our interests. We have another surprise trip coming up soon and we're also using their You Pick trips to try to visit every state! We love this company and highly recommend it for everyone. They are so great about placing accessible trips, which can be very challenging!

Date of experience : 20 March 2024

Wow! Thank you for your incredible review + your repeat support of Pack Up + Go! We're thrilled to hear that we've been able to meet your accessibility needs seamlessly. We're looking forward to planning your upcoming Surprise Trip + your goal to visit every state with our You Pick Trips sounds so exciting! Thank you for letting us be apart of your journeys! Here's to many more Trips in the future!

Charleston Fun

We (group of 4 couples) had a fantastic experience with Pack up + go! We are big travelers and had a lot to say in our pre-trip forms. We were not sure if all of our desired information would be used….but Pack Up + Go listened to everything. They planned a wonderful trip that we all enjoyed immensely. They planned tours, adventures, meals, darling hotel and even had a bit left to include gift cards for Uber and restaurants. We will definitely use them again for another surprise trip!

Date of experience : 06 November 2023

Hearing about your fantastic experience makes us smile from ear to ear...we're thrilled that we could tailor your trip to fit all your preferences. Can't wait to surprise you all again on your next adventure!

Pack Up + Go Adventure Awaits

We have been on four adventures with Pack Up + Go and thoroughly enjoyed each one. They provide plenty of ideas of things for you to do based on your personal preferences. They provide great information for getting around in your destination. We love to use Pack Up + Go, they take all the stress (and bickering) out of planning a trip and the surprise element adds an extra layer of fun. Highly recommend.

Date of experience : 06 September 2023

Four adventures and counting with Pack Up + Go? What a ride! We love to hear that we can remove the bickering and stress from planning - travel should always be fun. Hope to see you on your 5th trip with us soon!

Phenomenal Experience

I absolutely love using PU+G. I've done two surprise trips and one staycation. I'm big into planning and budgeting so it's nice to let loose on trips and let someone else do all the work. Whoever is planning my trips does a great job picking activities plus there is plenty of downtime for me to explore. Sometimes I just enjoy trying to figure out where I'm going based on the clues the most. The customer service is impeccable and was responsive when I was missing tickets or an activity had been cancelled. Honestly, I trust PU+G to plan all my trips even when I know where I'm headed.

Date of experience : 17 August 2023

Your rave review is music to our ears! Thank you for entrusting us with all of your recent trips. Letting loose and relinquishing the planning control is what we're all about. We're here for all your future adventures!

Pack Up + Go is the Best Way to Travel

Our experience with Pack Up + Go was fantastic. From beginning to end, they took care of every detail. Our hotel was beautiful, our travel details were perfectly planned, and the planned excursions were perfect for us! This was our third Pack Up +Go experience and each one has been an equally great experience. We are very happy with our experiences with this company.

Date of experience : 02 January 2024

We're so excited to hear you loved your Trip! Your support is what keeps us going. If there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to reach out. Here's to many more incredible Pack Up + Go getaways in the future!

Best surprise

Pack Up + Go provided an excellent experience. Everything was planned with such care and consideration that we were never anxious or worried about the weekend. Even when winter weather changed our flight, Pack Up + Go was on top of the situation and rerouted us to get home. The experience was tailored to us perfectly. It was almost like we had made the plans ourselves. And the accommodations were spectacular and convenient to our weekend. I highly recommend Pack Up + Go. Plus, I recommend waiting to the last minute to open your envelope with your destination. No need to worry. They’ve got you covered.

Date of experience : 12 January 2024

These are the kind of reviews that keep us going!! Thanks for trusting us to whisk you away on a surprise adventure, we're thrilled you had a blast!

Surprise Vacations Rock!

I’ve taken two surprise vacations planned by Pack Up + Go now, and they both have been amazing! One destination was somewhere that I’ve thought about going. The other was nowhere on my radar, but they knocked it outta the park with their recommendations and experiences that were booked before hand! I can’t wait for my next surprise trip to somewhere!

We absolutely agree...surprise vacations ARE the best! It's fantastic to hear that both of your experiences with Pack Up + Go were amazing, whether it was a familiar destination or a new discovery. We can't wait to send you somewhere new soon!

Amazing experience!

Our trip was fantastic. We loved not having to plan anything and the surprise factor was a lot of fun. All the activities that were pre-scheduled were a great fit and we appreciated having the ideas of other restaurants/activites/entertainment if we wanted to help fill our time. Can't wait to do it again!

Date of experience : 18 January 2024

Absolutely wonderful to hear you had a fantastic trip! Embracing the surprise and enjoying every moment is what it's all about. We'll see you on another surprise getaway soon!

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Anniversary Delight Surprise

My wife and I received a Pack Up + Go experience as an anniversary gift. The gift raised a very pleasant level of anticipation after we completed the company's well designed comprehensive survey that it uses to develop a surprise trip. Our surprise, Chicago, exposed (for us) a hidden treasure that far exceeded all our expectations. In 3 days and 2 nights we enjoyed Shedd Aquarium, the River Walk, a luxurious anniversary dinner, the Vietnam Memorial, Chicago Museum, and more - including lodging at a 5 star hotel that celebrated our anniversary with champagne and treats. Pack Up + Go professionally arranged a worry free trip, including to and from travel, with full guidance and instructions. All we had to do was enjoy the experience. We highly recommend using Pack Up + Go for a unique surprise travel experience or as a gift to someone. We think recipients will be forever grateful. Pack Up + Go!

Date of experience : August 15, 2023

Reply from Pack Up + Go

Thank you for your positive review about you and your wife's anniversary Trip. Our Travel Planning Team is always so happy to hear when travelers love their enjoyed accommodations, dinner reservations, and pre-booked activities. We can’t wait to explore with you again for your next vacation!

It was great experience by not planning…

It was great experience by not planning anything yourself. I like all the planning that Pack up and go did for us.

Date of experience : May 11, 2023

Thank you for sharing your positive experience! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the stress-free planning process with Pack Up and Go. We take pride in creating memorable and seamless travel experiences for our customers, and we are delighted to know that we met your expectations. We hope to have the opportunity to surprise and delight you again in the future.

Everything was wonderful!

Everything was wonderful!! All the suggestions that were provided and the actual activities that were booked were phenomenal and matched everything we wanted. We felt everything in our survey was taken into consideration except our flight time preference but we understand they are at the mercy of the availability with the airlines.

Date of experience : August 18, 2023

Thanks for being understanding about flight times - we do our absolute best to accommodate timing preferences! We're so glad the rest of the trip was such a success - we hope you'll travel with us again in the future!

The arrangements made by your company…

The arrangements made by your company (restaurant booking, tours, hotel) were superb. And when our flight home was cancelled, your employee contacted us and had a new flight before the airline had let us know of the cancellation.

Date of experience : January 12, 2024

Our planning team works hard to make sure everything we book is just right, AND we pride ourselves on our customer support - we're so ecstatic that you concur! Hopefully we'll see you on another getaway soon!

Will 100% be booking with Pack Up + Go Again!

Loved my surprise trip with Pack Up + Go! The survey you complete before booking your trip really helped the trip to be tailored to the things I like. The tours and dinner reservations they picked for my trip to St. Louis were so fun. I was also able to visit other places that they suggested in the packet they provided before my trip. Will 100% be booking with Pack Up + Go Again!

Date of experience : October 20, 2023

We're beaming with joy knowing you had a fantastic time and that we hit the mark with your Trip! Here's to more Pack Up + Go surprises and happy travels!

The company did an amazing job of…

The company did an amazing job of creating a trip that was exactly what I wanted! I didn't feel like it was a "canned" trip that was created for other people. I couldn't have planned a better trip myself!

Date of experience : October 13, 2023

Personalization is the goal - so glad we succeeded at making your trip feel extra special! We'd love to plan another for you soon!

Love Pack Up & Go

Love Pack Up & Go. It is a fun way to travel, and I trust their recommendations. We had a great time in Memphis and would recommend the trip to any and all who will listen!

Date of experience : March 16, 2024

Thank you for your kind words! We're so happy to hear you had a great time on your Trip + enjoyed our recommendations for Memphis!

DO NOT HESITATE!!! GO FOR IT!!!

It was such a fun experience to have a surprise birthday trip planned by Pack Up + Go. They had everything perfectly laid out. Even with stops on the way to my location and on the way home. I highly recommend giving them a try. You won't be disappointed!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Date of experience : September 08, 2023

Your enthusiasm is contagious! We're thrilled to have made your birthday extra special. Thank you for trusting us with your celebration, and here's to many more unforgettable adventures ahead!

We've done 3 trips with Pack Up + Go…

We've done 3 trips with Pack Up + Go and each one has been an awesome and unique experience. I highly recommend them to anyone who's going on a trip.

Date of experience : February 09, 2024

Thank you for the high praise - we're so glad we've continued to deliver for your special trips!

I loved being surprised by a trip and…

I loved being surprised by a trip and an adventure that I didn't have to plan. Accommodations and activities were geared towards our family really well and if we needed to make adjustments (because bike riding experience among our group varied from comfortable to complete newbie) it was easy to do.

We're so excited to hear you loved your Surprise Trip! Our Travel Planning Team is always so happy to hear when travelers love their accommodations + activities. Here's to many more incredible Pack Up + Go getaways in the future!

2 trips down, many to go!!

I have done two trips with packup and go and they have both been AMAZING! If you’re nervous to try it, don’t be! We went with a group of 6 the first time, and 4 the most recent trip. Both trips were absolutely perfect for each group (and we had a few nervous planners in tow, even they had to admit in the end, it was amazing). Packup and go absolutely listens to everything you put into your surveys and it’s their mission to give you the trip of your desires! If you’re on the fence, book it today!

Date of experience : August 06, 2023

Wow, this made our day! We love planning trips for groups so we're thrilled BOTH of your group trips were a success!

Pack Up and definitely go

Everything about our experience was fantastic. Pack up and go provides extensive information about the location of the trip with well researched recommendations of restaurants and activities for your surprise location. Our hotel accommodations were perfect. We had a beautiful hotel in a perfect location. I am a big planner and using pack up and go allowed me to have time to relax and truly enjoy our vacation. Highly recommend.

Thank you for letting go of control and allowing us to sprinkle a little magic into your vacation. We're so happy you got to enjoy the perks of our incredible hotel partnerships. Hope to have you on another vacay soon!

Attention to Detail

The attention to detail on the things a traveler is interested in are amazing. Adventures I wouldn't schedule for myself were actually a blast and exactly what I needed on my recent solo road trip!

Date of experience : August 12, 2023

Wow, thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great surprise getaway. Your support means the world to us, and we can't wait to book more Trips for you down the road. Cheers to more fantastic memories together!

Our trip to San Diego was Awesome

Our trip to San Diego was Awesome! From start to finish everything was thought of. We loved our hotel, ALL of the restaurants and activities planned and recommended were great as well. We are signed up next for a "You Pick" trip this year.

Date of experience : August 03, 2023

Yay, so happy to hear that your San Diego Trip was a hit! You Pick Trips are such a good option as well - we can't wait to book another incredible experience for you!

We waited until the day we left to open…

We waited until the day we left to open the envelope. This made for a really fun experience. The stops were good and the time spent in the city was great. When we called for assistance, the staff was attentive and friendly.

Date of experience : September 23, 2023

We're so here for the self-control of waiting to open the envelope! We're glad you enjoyed the element of surprise. Looking forward to surprising you on your next adventure with Pack Up + Go!

Easy to book

Easy to book. Very good reccomendations for activities that I would not have selected on my own. The food reccomendations were spectacular. Hotel was amazing. Great experience overall

Date of experience : May 20, 2023

We're delighted that you found booking a breeze and that our recommendations added that extra sparkle to your adventure. Spectacular food and an amazing hotel? Sounds like the perfect recipe for an unforgettable experience! Thanks for choosing us!

San Diego - Girls Trip

It was nice to have everything scheduled for us. We would have never gone to a couple of the restaurants on our own.

We love it when we can introduce travelers to places and experiences they wouldn't have found on their own! So glad your girl's trip was a success!

Great options

I loved that we had the options presented for things to do. Especially in 3's. That made picking our plans so easy.

Date of experience : May 26, 2023

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us! We try to take the stress + pressure out of planning + we're happy to hear it made choosing activities on your Surprise Trip easier!

2 Successful Pack Up and Go Trips

We have been on 2 Pack Up and Go Trips; one to Denver and one to San Diego. Both trips did a great job of filling the time we were there, but also giving enough free time to do our own thing.

Date of experience : January 11, 2024

Woohoo we love to hear when we've nailed the balance between planned activities and down time...it's our specialty! We're so pleased that you enjoyed both of your Trips!

Pack up + GO Planning and organization…

Pack up + GO Planning and organization made this an amazing experience!

Date of experience : March 23, 2024

Thank you for sharing + we are so glad you had a great time! We love hearing the Trips we plan are a success! Hope to plan for you again soon!

Pack Up + Go Reviews: Road Trips

Pack Up + Go Reviews: Road Trips

July 17, 2022 by Pack Up Go

It’s time to hit the road with Pack Up + Go.

If you’re asking yourself, “ what road trip should i take ” or “ where to road trip near me ” look no further., pack up + go plans road trips across the us. whether you’re seeking a family road trip or have always wanted to take one of the country’s most popular road trips, like route 66 or the pacific coast highway, we have you covered as the best road trip planner out there., don’t believe us take if from these past travelers who shared their pack up + go road trip experiences.

Written by the Pack Up + Go Team

traveler reviews

A family poses in hotel robes for a picture.

“My family and I had a great time in Charlottesville, Virginia! This was our first trip with our toddler, and that was kept in mind. We stayed in a suite and got tons of kid-friendly suggestions for activities and restaurants. I will 120% be booking another trip with Pack Up + Go!”

Travelers: the johnson family, destination: charlottesville, va.

A couple poses for a picture in a marina holding a destination sign saying, "Cleveland, OH"

“We absolutely loved our trip. The hotel was beautiful and all decorated in holiday decor. The location was great with lots of stunning architecture and history and walking distance to many tourist sites. All of the food we had was super yummy. We had an incredible time. Pack Up + Go nailed it when it comes to our preferences and the accommodations were spot on as well.”

Travelers: jake + robin, destination: cleveland, oh, “we absolutely loved our trip through pack up + go for being a couple that likes to have control and plan, it was so much fun to just let go and be surprised it was so nice to not have to worry about where to stay- they are the experts- so i trusted pack up + go would pick a great spot- and they did this was the perfect gift for my fiancé's 30th birthday. the envelope came with so much more great details and recommendations we weren't expecting. we followed almost everything laid out for us, and truly loved everything we will definitely book a trip through pack up + go again :)”, travelers: kelly + andrew, destination: boston, ma.

A couple poses for a selfie in the car, holding a destination reveal sign saying, "Boston, MA!"

“My husband and I loved our second Pack Up + Go trip that we booked to celebrate our anniversary! We enjoyed all of the unique dining options that Louisville offered, especially our meal to celebrate our anniversary. Our favorite activity was the Mega Zip Lining in the Caverns! It was a wonderful experience!”

Traveler: brittany + alexander, destination: louisville, ky.

pack up and go road trip reviews

“We wanted to do something different and special for our 20 year anniversary. This was the perfect vacation for us. It was fun to have our vacation planned and the anticipation of finding where we were going was exciting. We went to Ithaca, NY and we enjoyed every minute. Not only was the designation perfect for us, but the activities planned for us and the restaurants were awesome. We definitely will be doing this again!”

Travelers: patricia + lawrence, destination: ithaca, ny.

A family poses for a car selfie, and the child in the back holds a destination reveal sign saying, "Chicago, IL!"

“This was the perfect family weekend getaway! Pack Up + Go really took the kids' interests into account. It was so easy and there was no fighting over where we should go on vacation but we didn't find out where we were going till the morning we loaded up the car and hit the road. The kids loved visiting Chicago (especially the food). They both wish we could have stayed an additional day or two. The whole family can't wait to book another trip. The youngest has already decided the next Pack Up + Go should be a flight somewhere.”

Travelers: the roggenbuck family, destination: chicago, il.

pack up and go road trip reviews

“I had such an amazing time on my road trip! The anticipation had me so jazzed! I am beyond pleased with everything Pack Up + Go provided and think all my vacations should be surprise trips from now on.”

Traveler: nancy, destination: savannah, ga.

A couple poses in the car with a destination reveal sign saying, "Providence, RI!"

“Pack Up + Go nailed it! They paid attention to the answers in the questionnaire. We are well-traveled and you found a place we haven’t explored and included activities of interest! Very enjoyable weekend in Providence, RI!!”

Travelers: donna + robert, destination: providence, ri.

A couple poses for a selfie in front of the Pittsburgh skyline.

“After this crazy year, it was so nice to just get away for a few days with just my husband and me! All of the suggestions were wonderful! The hotel was amazing, the food tour was delicious, the brewery was fun, and the walks around the city were beautiful! I would give the trip a 10 out of 10! This was our second Pack Up + Go trip and it exceeded our expectations again!

We can't wait to book another trip”, travelers: courtney + scott, destination: pittsburgh, pa.

A woman kisses the cheek of a man in a marina.

“My husband and I loved our minimoon! We were blown away by how personalized our itinerary was. As wheelchair users, we were really impressed by the accessibility of each place recommended in our itinerary. It can be really hard to travel to new places because it's hard to find accessible restaurants and activities, so it was incredible to have someone do all of that work for us and plan a fun, romantic, and accessible minimoon for us.”

Travelers: stephanie + ryan, destination: newport, ri.

Two people pose in an art installation the spells out OKC.

“We love having suggestions of which restaurants to go to because we often get bogged down in the reviews trying to make sure we find one worth our time. Because our Pack Up + Go packet restaurants recommendations are usually mentioned around other activities (just down the street from the museum) means that our day is well-spent and not wasted on decision making or travel time between different sides of town!”

Travelers: myra + mark, destination: oklahoma city, ok.

A family poses for a selfie in front of a car. One traveler is holding a destination reveal sign that says, "Charlottesville, VA" and the other is holding a tote bag with the words "Road Trip" printed on the front.

“Charlottesville was amazing! Who knew that this mountain town was filled with so much local charm and history. My family really enjoyed learning about the African American experience and their contributions that were made to this quaint enclave.”

Travelers: shenise, arlene, and weldon, thinking about hitting the road tune into this episode of envelope to exploration to learn more about the magic of road tripping.

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With more than 300 destinations across the US and 4 different Trip Types , you never know exactly where you may end up!

Learn why road trips are the best here .

The Spring Break Family

Pack Up and Go Reviews [5 of the Best Things to do in Washington, DC with Kids]

Note: This post may contain affiliate links! Check our disclaimer if you need more info!

pack up and go road trip reviews

This is a list of things to do in Washington DC with kids and also add to the Pack Up and Go reviews online.

Please note I am teaming up with The United Quest SM Card to promote the spontaneity of travel, but all opinions are my own.

It’s been a long year of changes and challenges but as my family [and the rest of the world] makes its triumphant return to the world of travel, we’re stepping out into familiar, yet new, territory. That means trying new things too! For us, that means embracing the spontaneity of travel and pursuing a quest all our own. Earlier this year, the United Quest Card launched with tons of travel benefits .

It’s been the perfect accompaniment to our lives and builds excitement for future trips while infusing an element of surprise!

Pack Up and Go Reviews - Packet Airport

It’s through the United Quest Card and their collaboration with Pack Up + Go , that I had the pleasure of taking one of the coolest, most memorable trips ever with my family. You guys know I love to share so I’ll try to make this one of the more detailed Pack Up + Go reviews out there.

So let’s dive into it!

Table of Contents

What is pack up + go and how does it work, a week before your pack up + go trip, a few days before your pack up + go trip, the day of your pack up + go trip, during your pack up + go trip, our trip with pack up + go, the white house, the capitol building, visit the monuments, visit the smithsonian museums, take a specialized guided tour, take a trip to mount vernon, so here are our recommendations of places to eat in washington, dc with kids:, pack up + go costs, pack up + go reviews.

Pack Up + Go at its core is a travel agency but what makes it special is that it fully embraces the element of surprise. Imagine the only planning you do for an entire vacation is filling out a form, packing up your items, and then simply going. That’s how Pack Up + Go works! They provide a customized domestic trip with an added element of surprise by selecting the destination of their choice, based on your preferences.

Please note that health and safety is Pack Up + Go’s primary concern.  They follow all the necessary health and safety precautions for safe travel. They are focused on staying informed of new travel restrictions and updates about current travel conditions. Check out their Travel Advisory page for any travel alerts that may arise.

You submit a form with your desired travel dates, your interests, past and upcoming trips, and any other notes you want them to know. The rest is taken care of by their trip booking specialists that piece together every detail of your domestic trip from where to go, how to get there, where to eat, and more. And if you aren’t sure what your interests are, that’s perfect too! Just provide a few details and they will take care of the rest.

I can practically hear all the type A personalities like myself freaking out through the screen. I know it’s a lot to put responsibility for a family trip in the hands of someone else but trust me – it’s worth it! You end up with a unique journey with some things you’ve always wanted to do and some things that you love but just don’t know yet. Not only are they thorough but they’re incredibly communicative and think of everything. They’re also available 24/7 should an issue arise. almost around the clock should an issue arise. It’s an unforgettable experience that allows you to relax and simply celebrate the return to travel.

Pack Up + Go is a great option for everyone but especially for busy parents who want the fun of the vacation without the minutiae of planning.

A week before your Pack Up + Go trip, you’ll receive an email the day of your trip with some basic information on your trip. Don’t worry – they give you enough information to plan around your trip but not enough to spoil the surprise. [Trust me, Phil tried VERY hard to figure it out and was completely wrong haha].

You’ll receive:

  • The weather forecast
  • Recommended items to take with you [you know – for the “pack up” part of Pack Up + Go]
  • What time you need to get to the airport to catch your flight if you are flying

A few days before your Pack Up + Go trip, they’ll send you an envelope in the mail.  You aren’t to open it until the day of your trip, but it is nice they send it ahead of time to avoid issues due to postage delays. 

We found out the day it arrived that the very first sheet inside the package says, “No Peeking!” How did we find that out you ask?  Because Phil put it up to the light to see if he could peel any hints! [I told you he tried VERY hard to figure it out haha]. I thought this was a very nice touch and showed the extra level of detail they put into maintaining the surprise.

This is the fun part!  On the day of your Pack Up + Go trip, you can open your envelope to get all the details of where you’re going.  We opted to open ours at the airport to maximize the surprise, but you can choose to open it at home too. You’ll also receive an email with digital copies of what’s in the envelope, so you don’t have to worry about losing or forgetting it.

Our pre-trip envelope covered so much, including:

  • Our flight information
  • Transportation information to get to/from our hotel
  • Our hotel information
  • Our recommended itinerary
  • Dinner suggestions [including reservations they made on our behalf]
  • Uber credit
  • Local events calendar
  • An interactive map of the neighborhood/city we were in
  • Contact information for their Traveler Support Team

During your Pack Up + Go trip, the lovely trip booking specialists will be pretty hands off.  They are always responsive and quick to help should an issue arise but otherwise you are left to your own devices to enjoy your trip. I personally loved this! It gives you the structure for a fun weekend out of town but the flexibility to put a spin on it that only you can provide.

Our pre-trip survey to Pack Up + Go specified that we love heritage trips and they really came through with recommendations! Our surprise domestic destination was Washington, DC. This wasn’t our first visit to the city [in fact, it is one of our top recommended mother daughter trips on a budget ] but this was our first one with specially curated recommendations to match our interests.  And let me tell you – it was phenomenal! We had an absolute blast. As a special treat, I’m sharing just a little of what we did during our trip.

Pack Up and Go Reviews - United Desk

Want to know what to do in Washington DC with kids? Read on to find out!

TOP FIVE THINGS TO DO IN WASHINGTON DC

View government buildings.

Washington DC is of course the capital city of the United States of America. That means it has an abundance of government buildings – some that families will find more interesting than others. 

It’s not a visit to Washington DC without a stop at the infamous White House.  Let the building serve as an iconic backdrop to a family picture. Or arrange for a visit to tour the interior.

Tours of the White House are notoriously difficult to get. If you aren’t able to snag a ticket, no worries! Visit the White House Visitor’s Center across the street. It is practically a miniature museum with exhibits explaining the history of the building, detailing all the presidents of the US, and more. There’s also a gift store as part of the visitor’s center where you can get one-of-a-kind memorabilia.

This large landmark is where a lot of important decisions for the country take place. So it’s only fitting that the US Capitol be included as a thing to do in Washington DC with kids. Try to catch it when the flag is raised; that means that a legislative session is in progress. Cool, right? At the time of writing this post, the US Capitol building is closed to tours but it’s still an impressive sight to see from the exterior. There’s also a pretty expansive green space right outside where the kids [and the adults] can run off some steam.

Washington DC is the mecca of United States history and nothing pays more tribute to that than the different monuments in the city. So when looking for things to do in Washington DC with kids, visiting the city’s monuments tops the list.

Most of the monuments are located on the National Mall and in relatively close proximity to each other. If you’re down to get your steps in, then you can walk to and from each one. It’d just be a lot of steps. Our family found walking the entire area difficult so if that’s not for you, there are other options like the DC Circulator or the Capital Bikeshare .

pack up and go road trip reviews

I mentioned that we aren’t super heavy walkers in our Pre-Trip survey so Pack Up + Go handled this limitation by booking a Monuments and Memorials Tour with Fat Tire Tours. We ended up not doing this tour [more on that later] but it was a great pick because they offered options for the kids too!

Washington DC is home to some of the world’s finest museums. And the best part is that they’re free! All of the Smithsonian Museums are designed to be interactive, family-friendly, and educational. I haven’t made my way through all of them [yet!] but you can find a complete listing of all the Smithsonian Museums here .

Our favorites are:

  • National Museum of African American History and Culture [this is seriously the best museum I’ve ever been to.  I don’t say that lightly and I’ve been to quite a few. The best ever.]
  • National Museum of Natural History [this is a large museum so wear comfortable shoes but there is so much to see that it can take up a full day on its own]
  • National Portrait Gallery [be sure to get their scavenger hunt before you explore the museum]

Be sure to check out some of the food trucks outside the museums and scattered around the National Mall! Some of them are insta-famous.

As previously mentioned, we’ve been to Washington DC quite a few times and never thought about taking a guided tour. Turns out, when visiting Washington DC with kids, it is the easiest and most time effective way to explore the city.  We never would have considered it without the expertise of Pack Up + Go !

Pack Up and Go Reviews - Guided Tour

They booked us on an African-American History Tour with USA Guided Tours that took us around the city showing some of the cultural hubs for Black people in DC. We saw everything from the Lincoln Memorial to Howard University to the US Capitol to Ben’s Chili Bowl. It also included admission to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It was a great and informative way to learn about the history of African Americans in Washington DC.

When a last-minute weather concern required us to modify one of our trip activities, Pack Up + Go booked us on a tour of Mount Vernon . I’d heard of the place but had not been. Can I just say that it was my absolute favorite thing to do in Washington DC with kids?

pack up and go road trip reviews

For those not familiar, Mount Vernon is the preserved estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States [and the city’s namesake]. Visitors are allowed to tour the estate, learn more about life there, and even view his actual burial site. When you’re there, you’re literally walking through history. In addition to the grounds themselves, there is a small museum included with admission. It walks you through some of the things you learn while exploring the estate with more interactive exhibits, short films, and more. 

pack up and go road trip reviews

The family and I found the entire place to be utterly fascinating and learned so much! For example, did you know George Washington’s favorite food was hoecakes slathered in butter?  You can even try those at their on-site restaurant along with other traditional Southern cuisine classics.

I simply cannot recommend this trip enough and we never would have visited it without the specialized help from Pack Up + Go.

WHERE TO EAT IN WASHINGTON DC

Thanks to The United Quest SM Card , I earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining.  That really came in handy because there are so many yummy food options in DC!  Pack Up + Go provided a pretty comprehensive dining guide for us to use but also left room for us to find options on our own.  We did a mix of both and took full advantage of delivery services too [yes, you even earn miles for delivered food too!].

pack up and go road trip reviews

  • Food trucks on the National Mall – During museum business hours, tons of food trucks line the streets around the National Mall.  There are plenty to choose from and they serve everything from hot dogs to ice cream to gyros.  [Tip: Look for the ones with the long lines – they are usually Instagram famous]

pack up and go road trip reviews

  • The Capital Burger – Yummy burgers in the heart of downtown DC? Yes, please! Bug said her kids’ burger was one of the best she’s eaten.  With their short wait times and extensive kids’ menu, they’re a great option for dining with kids.
  • Le Pain Quotidien – This place is handy for a quick pastry and coffee while you’re on the way to see the sights.

pack up and go road trip reviews

Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant – This is the restaurant that’s on-site at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate so it technically isn’t in DC but it is well worth the trip!  They serve all kinds of Southern classics and even include dishes that were reported to be George Washington’s favorites.  It’s a little on the pricey side but you can totally offset that cost by earning 2 miles per $1 spent!

Bonus: With our United Quest card , we earned 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases so we let Bug pick up a few treats on the plane too!

Pack Up and Go Reviews - Chase Quest United Card Door Dash

Also, if your feet are tired from exploring all day, just remember plenty of eateries in the city that deliver via DoorDash. With your Chase Quest United Card , you can get a free year of DashPass that waives your delivery fees on eligible orders!

Let’s talk about the budget [after all, it is a crucial part of vacation planning for families].  Our travel budget for Pack Up + Go was $5,000 for our group of three [Princess couldn’t make this particular trip].

pack up and go road trip reviews

Our $5,000 budget covered:

  • Three round trip airfare tickets from IAH
  • Private transfer to and from the airport with Execucar
  • 3 nights at a five-star hotel
  • A specialized Black history tour with US Tours
  • A bike tour of the monuments with Fat Tire
  • $100 Uber credit [we used most of ours to go to Mount Vernon]
  • $500 Peace of Mind Assurance [which covered our last minute change to Mount Vernon]

They provided several postponement and cancellation options including trip insurance coverage called Peace of Mind Assurance . The Peace of Mind Assurance is completely optional but came in handy for us! We had a last-minute emergency that we thought would require us to reschedule our trip.  Pack Up + Go assured us that it wouldn’t be a problem.

We ended up not rescheduling but did use the insurance during the trip to change our bike tour [due to weather] to a day trip to Mount Vernon. It was too late to get a refund from the bike tour but our trip booking specialist from Pack Up + Go was able to use the insurance to book an alternate activity for us without any out-of-pocket cost for us.

They cover budgeting pretty extensively on their website and even have a Pack Up + Go budget guide that I found very helpful.

Embracing spontaneity and allowing Pack Up + Go to plan our trip definitely paid off for us and we’d do it again in a heartbeat! Especially with the help of our United Quest Card.

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Montoya (Monty) Hudson is the founder and primary voice behind The Spring Break Family. She has created informative travel content for families since 2018 by providing practical advice, easy to follow itineraries, and addressing the real challenges of family travel. Since the creation of her family travel blog, she's inspired thousands of families to travel the world with their kids.

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Wonderful trip

Wonderful trip! Having a planned and still flexible itinerary was the best, it took all the decision-making out of the vacation and allowed us to enjoy each activity to the fullest because an appropriate amount of time was allocated for it. We enjoyed all the restaurant recommendations and activities that were scheduled. It was also good to have PAGES of other points of interest in the city in case we wanted to skip a planned activity. I'm ready to book another trip like this!

Date of experience : 02 March 2024

Reply from Pack Up + Go

Hi!! Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your trip and that our planned itinerary helped you make the most of your vacation. We strive to provide a balance of structure and flexibility so that our guests can have a stress-free and enjoyable experience. We are glad that you appreciated the restaurant recommendations and scheduled activities, as well as the additional points of interest in case you wanted to explore more. We would be honored to help you plan another trip in the future and look forward to creating more wonderful memories for you. Thank you for choosing us for your travel needs!

Spring Break Perfection in Santa Barbara

What an amazing week in Santa Barbara! I appreciated how my responses to the survey were followed. All the planned activities and restaurants were perfect! My hotel was perfectly located within walking distance of most everything. I can’t wait to do another pack up and go trip!

Date of experience : 24 March 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that you had an amazing week in Santa Barbara and that you enjoyed all of the planned activities and restaurants. We strive to make each Pack Up and Go trip a memorable and enjoyable experience, so we are delighted to hear that we met your expectations. We are pleased to hear that your hotel was conveniently located and that you were able to explore the city easily on foot. We can't wait to help you plan your next adventure! Thank you for choosing Pack Up and Go!

We loved our Pack Up + Go experience!

As soon as I heard about a company that planned a trip for you and kept your destination a secret, I booked immediately!! I gifted the trip to my husband for his birthday, and we loved the entire experience! Filling out the survey was so much fun, the anticipation was thrilling (we talked about little else in the weeks leading up to our trip!), and the getaway itself was incredible! We opened our envelope at the airport and were so surprised to learn we were headed to Chicago! We loved reading through all of the materials and recommendations provided on our flight, and we were able to hit the ground running as soon as we arrived! We adored our hotel and the activities that were pre-booked for us, and had the BEST weekend exploring the city! We recommend Pack Up + Go to all our friends and family and we can’t wait to take another one!

Date of experience : 15 June 2023

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We are thrilled to hear that you and your husband had such a fantastic time on your mystery trip to Chicago. It sounds like the element of surprise really added to the excitement and anticipation leading up to your getaway. We take great pride in curating unique and memorable travel experiences for our customers, and we are delighted to hear that you enjoyed everything from the survey process to the accommodations and activities provided. We appreciate your recommendation and are honored to be able to create more unforgettable trips for you in the future. Thank you for choosing Pack Up + Go for such a special occasion, and we look forward to helping you plan your next mystery adventure!

Love Pack Up & Go!

This was my third Pack Up & Go trip, and I can’t wait to schedule my next one! Every experience has been unique and lots of fun. There is a good balance of planned activities and time to explore. The customer service team is really responsive and quick. The hotel I stayed in last time accidentally charged my card instead of Pack Up & Go for the room, and the issue was resolved in under 12 hours after I contacted customer service.

We're thrilled to hear about your positive experiences with Pack Up + Go! We're glad that our Customer Experience Team was able to help you so quickly! Here's to many more exciting Surprise Trips in the future!

Such a great experience

Pack up and Go did such a wonderful job on our trip. They sent us to Chicago, put us up in the corner room of a great hotel in the loop (we selected lodging as a priority on our survey). They made our dinner reservations each night, including quintessential Chicago spots and one reservation at the chefs counter of a highly sought after restaurant. Each was different and amazing. They set us up with a good tour which was also awesome. We loved not having to plan anything. They booked enough but still gave us enough recommendations to put our own twist on the trip based on how we were feeling on the day. Start to finish this was 100% what we needed. We will be doing this again!

Date of experience : 13 March 2024

Thank you so much for all your positive feedback! We're so happy we were able to take the planning off your hands + bring you an exciting Surprise Trip! We love to still give you some free time to explore your Surprise Destination, so we're happy to hear that you were use our Recommendations! We look forward to planning another Trip for you in the future!

This was my Christmas present from my…

This was my Christmas present from my husband. We loved the entire concept of being surprised. The communication prior to the trip with temperatures and what to pack were great. The trip packet arrived and we waited until we were leaving for the airport to open it to find out where we were going. The hotel was amazing, the location was perfect for exploring San Diego and the activities arranged for each day were perfect. If there was something we did not want to do, it was not a problem. It was one of the most fun trips ever because I did not have to do anything but show up!

Date of experience : 17 April 2023

We're so glad to hear that you had such a fantastic experience on your Surprise Trip! Thank you for sharing your positive feedback about your Trip to San Diego. We love the idea of Pack Up + Go as a Christmas present! Here's to many more fun adventures in the future!

Pack +Go used the information given to design an ideal trip for us. The activities were targeted for my granddaughters interest. The hotel accommodations and our room was perfect. The $200 Uber gift certificate was very nice to have and use

Date of experience : 18 March 2024

Thank you for sharing your positive feedback! We hope this Trip created wonderful memories for you and your granddaughter, + we look forward to crafting more amazing Surprise Trips for you in the future!

I've taken numerous trips through…

I've taken numerous trips through Packup + Go and have never been disappointed. Great experience every time!

Date of experience : 19 April 2024

Hi Jessica, Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that you have had great experiences with Pack Up + Go on multiple trips. It is always our goal to provide unforgettable and seamless travel experiences for our clients, and we are delighted that we have been able to consistently meet your expectations. We appreciate your loyalty and look forward to planning many more exciting adventures for you in the future :)

Our trip was fantastic and very well…

Our trip was fantastic and very well tailored to us--even better than we expected! They listened to everything we included in the survey, answered all of our questions, and although we had very few issues, they were solved quickly. 10/10

Date of experience : 29 February 2024

We are glad to hear that our 24/7 Traveler Support Team was able to solve the issues you had on your trip! We are happy you had a fantastic time + hope to plan another trip for you soon!

Denver: Pack up & Go #5

The planned reservations were great. Dinner was wonderful both nights, the tour was phenomenal!

Date of experience : 25 April 2024

Hi Kelly! Thanks for your kind words! Denver has excellent restaurants and I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the ones we picked for you. I'm so glad the tour was worth the early morning wake up call, its such a beautiful part of Denver! Can't wait to send you on another Trip soon!

SO much fun!

They planned a great trip! And when there was a minor hiccup, we had someone ready to help! They got back to us SO quickly! I would trust them to plan future vacations!

Thank you for the kind words Ashley! Cancelled tours are never fun but we're glad it didn't damper your time in San Diego and we appreciate your trust in us to help pivot. We're looking forward to planning another great Trip for you in the future!

Flights were booked, put us in a 4* hotel, dinner reservations were made, meet all expectations and then some. We've done this 7 times and all have been great.

Date of experience : 14 March 2024

Wow, thank you so much for your continued support of Pack Up + Go! We're thrilled to hear that you have had 7 Trips with us so far! Your support means the world to us, and we can't wait to book more Trips for you down the road. Cheers to more fantastic memories together!

This was our 2nd trip with Pack Up and…

This was our 2nd trip with Pack Up and Go. Just as last time, I can't say enough great things! Their attention to detail is impressive. The activities they booked for us were perfect. On both trips I was amazed....it was like they actually knew us! I could literally not have done better myself. And I love that booking these trips takes the pressure off of me to plan things to do and find places to eat.

Date of experience : 26 January 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words and for choosing Pack Up + Go for your Trips! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic experience with us, both times around + we were able to take the decision pressure off your shoulders. We can't wait to welcome you back for your next adventure with us!

Pack Up and Go

I recently did a Pack Up and Go trip and had a great time! When I was planning, I couldn't find many posts about it, so I'm back to share my experience! I first learned about Pack Up and Go from a couple who was on a trip of their own! I live in Chicago, and my partner and I decided to do a fancy date night, and stayed at a hotel downtown to see a show. The hotel had a happy hour, so we were in the lobby for our free drinks, and started chatting with this couple who was SO EXCITED because they just landed. We chatted for awhile about what to do around town and they told us about the service- awesome! (I don't remember if it was pack up and go, but when i googled "surprise vacation" this was the only one I could find) 3 years later, we wanted to plan a weekend get-away at the end of February to break up the depressing Chicago winter, and we didn't know where to go! We remembered Pack Up and Go from that couple, and decided to give it a shot! We set our budget for $2,500 for 3 nights/4 days and hoped for the best! The forecast we got a few days before said it was rainy, and we had plenty of time to order ponchos and umbrellas- which we definitely needed lol. I emailed them asking if we would be doing outside stuff in the rain, and don't give anything away, but should we bring an extra pair of gym shoes. They said "yes". We had an amazing time. We requested warmer weather and noted that we were outdoors people, and we were sent to San Diego!! The weather wasn't really that warm, but I guess limited to the US in February what can you do. Our $2500 went to roundtrip airfare on United, 3 nights at the fanciest hotel I've ever stayed at (Pendry San Diego), tickets to the zoo, and a kayaking tour. The kayaking tour got cancelled because of the rain, but they rebooked us for a shoreline tour, so we could still get a day on the water!! We added up how much the airfare, hotel, activities would have been, and it was a little over $2500. I normally travel on a budget, so I wouldn't have chosen that specific flight and hotel for myself, but it was cool to feel "spoiled" and at least know we got our moneys worth. They also had dinner reservations set for each day- which I really appreciate because when I'm traveling I waste way too much time googling restaurants and reading review. I also liked that they included a "snapshot" of the city with facts and info about the neighborhoods- that helped us a lot in planning our days without an activity and other stuff. Overall, 10/10 reccomend!! I'll probably do this again every few years :) lmk if you have any questions!!

Date of experience : 24 April 2024

Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience with Pack Up and Go! It's always great to hear about how our surprise vacation trips are able to exceed expectations and provide a memorable and enjoyable getaway. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your trip to San Diego, despite the rainy weather, and that the activities and accommodations provided were top-notch. We strive to create unique and exciting travel experiences for our customers, and we are glad that we were able to deliver on that for you. Thank you for giving us a 10/10 recommendation, and we look forward to helping you plan your next surprise vacation in the future! If you have any questions or need assistance with anything, please don't hesitate to reach out. Thanks again for choosing Pack Up and Go!

Stress-Free Holiday Planning

It was great to leave the planning to someone else. All of the recommendations were aligned with our interests. We had a great time and all the planning done by Pack Up + Go made it stress-free.

Date of experience : 04 March 2024

Thank you for your positive review on your Pack Up + Go Surprise Trip! We aim to take away the stress + leave you with a perfectly tailored to you Trip! Hopefully many more adventures together in the future!

We had a wonderful time on our Pack Up…

We had a wonderful time on our Pack Up & Go Trip! The travel logistics were clear and issue-free, and the list of things to do in our city was packed with great ideas! We did have some trouble with our dinner reservations (one was made for the wrong date, and one wasn't made at all), but when we reached out to the company they made it right by helping us find a new restaurant and providing a gift card to cover our bill. I'd whole-heartedly recommend using Pack Up & Go!

Date of experience : 14 April 2023

Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience with Pack Up + Go! We're happy to hear that our team was able to fix the dinner reservation bumps + everything else was smooth sailing! We hope we're lucky enough to plan another Surprise Trip for you in the future!

Great concept

Great concept. But we've booked 3 times. 2 out of 3 times it seems that no one really took the time to read what we wanted for our vacation. It was completely off.

Date of experience : 01 January 2024

We're sorry to hear that this is how a few of your Trips have left you feeling. We understand your frustration and want to assure you that we take your feedback seriously. We know our Customer Experience Team tried to rectify these pain points while you were on these Trips but if there's anything else you'd like to discuss or if you have further concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to a member of our team. We're here to help!

Knocked it out of the park

I booked a surprise trip for my boyfriend’s 30th birthday and Pack Up & Go completely knocked it out of the park! We were sent to Eureka Springs, AR and stayed in the COOLEST tree house cabin. (Yes it did have indoor plumbing and electricity) We were booked for a zip line tour and an off road ATV rental. The rest of our time was filled exploring the numerous suggested destinations including caves, coffee shops, breweries, restaurants, and a ghost tour. I really appreciated the attention to detail put into our trip. They gave us suggestions for nearly every interest I marked on the pre-trip survey. Highly recommend giving them a try, you won’t regret it! We were given a Pack Up & Go gift card for Christmas and can’t wait to book another surprise trip!

Date of experience : 26 March 2024

Thank you for your amazing review of Pack Up + Go! We're thrilled to have made your boyfriend's 30th birthday Surprise Trip so memorable. We take pride in our personalized recommendations + am happy to hear you found a variety of activities to enjoy. We can't wait to help you plan another Trip soon!

It was so well planned and executed

It was so well planned and executed. All details were handled and small changes due to weather were navigated smoothly.

Date of experience : 12 March 2024

Thank you for sharing your positive feedback with Pack Up + Go! We're happy we were able to assist smoothly with those weather bumps!

I loved Boston Massachusetts but not to…

I loved Boston Massachusetts but not to go with my childhood girlfriends for a girls trip. We should’ve went somewhere to relax and have a more spa day atmosphere. We ran around non stop and had 4 women in one room with one bathroom and 2 beds.

Date of experience : 09 September 2023

Hi Melissa, We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Your satisfaction means the world to us so we will be reaching out via email to better understand your concerns and work towards a resolution that leaves you with a smile.

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Whether you’re caught in an emergency or are going on a road trip, a power bank can be useful, and now you can grab this one from Anker for 31% off.

pack up and go road trip reviews

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I took the new Hyundai Kona on a family road trip: It's a practical car with pizzazz that I'd be comfortable letting my teenager drive.

  • A friend sought advice on a safe but not too-large car for his teenage sons.
  • I've also been thinking about what car would be suitable for my college-bound daughter.
  • I drove a Hyundai Kona from Silicon Valley to Santa Barbara to find out if this car fits the bill.

Insider Today

A close friend of mine recently called me for advice. He wanted to know what vehicle he should get for his teenage sons to drive.

The main criteria: It's got to be safe for these young drivers. But it also can't be too heavy and big, so if an accident happens, god forbid, they don't do too much damage to those around them.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, too. My youngest daughter is about to leave for college. She occasionally drives our ancient Toyota. What would I want her driving as an adult heading out into the world?

On a recent trip from Silicon Valley to visit UC Santa Barbara with my wife and daughter, I got to try out a vehicle that fits the bill: The 2024 Hyundai Kona .

Here are the highlights of the trip and a rundown of what we loved, liked, and disliked about this vehicle.

We had a lot to pack for the trip. Would everything fit?

pack up and go road trip reviews

Yes, all our bags fit fine. The Kona's trunk is pretty roomy for a relatively small vehicle.

Legroom in the back was good, even when I pushed the driver seat back.

pack up and go road trip reviews

The interior of the Hyundai Kona was bright and spacious

pack up and go road trip reviews

The 2024 Kona stands out on the street. A slight spaceship vibe that I grew to like.

pack up and go road trip reviews

We were most impressed by all the safety features

pack up and go road trip reviews

The Hyundai Kona Limited AWD that I test drove came with a wide array of safety features that helped me keep an eye on my surroundings while driving. The best examples were the "No Blind Spot View Monitor" and a navigation system that has adaptive cruise control and "curve" control to help you steer around corners.

Some of the top safety features aren't available on the base model Kona

pack up and go road trip reviews

Our test vehicle cost $34,695, including freight and handling. This is for the Limited AWD version, which comes with a huge number of impressive features, including ventilated seats, a Bose speaker system, and cool wheels. You can get a much more affordable SE model for about $25,000. This lacks some of the most impressive safety features, though, such as the "No Blind Spot View Monitor."

The Kona has a cool selector that you twist to put the automatic transmission into drive, reverse, and park.

pack up and go road trip reviews

My daughter liked the Kona's styling, but said she wouldn't call it out to her friends. That's still a win.

pack up and go road trip reviews

The Kona weighs 3000-3500 pounds, depending on the version. That's notably lighter than the average US vehicle.

pack up and go road trip reviews

Safety ratings for the Hyundai Kona are solid

pack up and go road trip reviews

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2024 Hyundai Kona a " Top Safety Pick+ " award.

On the road, the Kona handles well, with the occasional floaty feel in turns

pack up and go road trip reviews

The Kona doesn't have the tightest steering. However, this is not supposed to be a sports car. The steering was accurate and the ride was certainly comfortable during our long drive to and from UC Santa Barbara.

The Bose speaker system sounded deep and crisp, and our phones hooked up to the bluetooth easily.

pack up and go road trip reviews

Outlets for charging devices were plentiful and placed in the right spots throughout the vehicle.

On our long drive, these 2 safety features really helped

pack up and go road trip reviews

The "No Blind Spot View Monitor" appeared as a circular video on the dashboard display whenever I indicated to turn or change lanes. It provided an instant video view of the area to the side and behind me. So useful to see what's going on back there. The curve control system helped me keep the car in the right spots on the highway during the long drive.

Our dog enjoyed the ride

pack up and go road trip reviews

The base model Kona still has many safety features

pack up and go road trip reviews

Standard safety features on the base SE model include: Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Warning; Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Cyclist Detection, Lane Keeping Assist, and a Driver Attention Warning system. This is the type of technology that makes parents more comfortable when imagining their teenage kids driving around!

The engine on the Hyundai Kona Limited was peppy

pack up and go road trip reviews

It has a 190-horsepower 1.6 liter turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder engine. I could press the accelerator on the highway and it would respond with more than enough power to maneuver easily and safely. However, some of the cheaper versions of the Kona come with a less-powerful engine.

Summing up my thoughts on the Hyundai Kona

pack up and go road trip reviews

It's lighter than your average US vehicle. It's not too big, or too small. Many safety features come standard, and there are some really impressive ones that come with the high-end Limited model I drove.

I'd be comfortable having my teenage daughter driving the Kona.

pack up and go road trip reviews

I'd recommend this vehicle for my friend's teenage sons, too.

It would also work well as a practical family vehicle that has a little pizzazz.

pack up and go road trip reviews

A cheaper version of the Hyundai Kona may be a better deal

pack up and go road trip reviews

The SE model of the 2024 Hyundai Kona may be a better deal, at roughly $25,000. The car I test drove was about $10,000 more than that. That's a lot of money. You'd miss out on the more-powerful engine, though. A few of the most impressive safety features aren't available with the SE version, either. And the wheels are less cool. But many of the things I loved about this vehicle are still there with the SE. You can also get pretty good lease deals on Kona vehicles, too.

Overall, I was impressed — and my family agreed after spending many hours on the road in California with the Kona.

pack up and go road trip reviews

  • Main content

IMAGES

  1. Arrivals + Departures: March 2021 in Review

    pack up and go road trip reviews

  2. Road Trip Packing List for Families: What to Pack for a Long Car Ride

    pack up and go road trip reviews

  3. 15 Stunning And Unique Road Trip Ideas: Where Will You Go Next?

    pack up and go road trip reviews

  4. Pack Up and Go Review

    pack up and go road trip reviews

  5. Pack Up and Go Surprise Vacation Review

    pack up and go road trip reviews

  6. Pin on Travel

    pack up and go road trip reviews

COMMENTS

  1. Surprise Vacation Reviews

    This was our 2nd trip with Pack Up and Go. Just as last time, I can't say enough grea... Pack +Go used the information given to design an ideal trip for us. The activities w... Flights were booked, put us in a 4* hotel, dinner reservations were made, meet all ex... Pack up and Go did such a wonderful job on our trip.

  2. Pack Up + Go Reviews

    The customer service team is really responsive and quick. The hotel I stayed in last time accidentally charged my card instead of Pack Up & Go for the room, and the issue was resolved in under 12 hours after I contacted customer service. Date of experience: March 02, 2024. Useful.

  3. I Went on a Surprise Vacation With Pack Up + Go

    Pack Up + Go has planned more than 10,000 trips since Rafson started the company in 2016. It was inspired by two women who were on a similar concept trip that Rafson met while backpacking up the ...

  4. Pack Up + Go Review: Are These Surprise Trips Really Worth It?

    Pack Up + Go saves you time by helping you plan your travel and giving you sweet surprises along the way. Pack Up + Go includes several plans and options for all kinds of travelers. Travelers are given a price list option for their overall trip. You can book a trip for as low as $450 or $5,000 per person.

  5. My Surprise Vacation Experience: Pack Up + Go Review

    As I previously mentioned, Pack Up + Go is a surprise travel agency. After completing a pre-trip survey and confirming your budget, they select your destination, book your tickets/reservations, and send you off (more on this later). All you have to do is, well, pack up and go! The type of trip you are sent on is completely customizable; whether ...

  6. Pack Up and Go Review: What It's Like to Take a Surprise Vacation

    One AFAR editor let the surprise travel agency Pack Up and Go plan a mystery road trip—one where she didn't find out her destination until the moment she walked out the door. AFAR went on a surprise road trip to Newport and saw historical landmarks like The Breakers. Photo by Lyndsey Matthews. After I zipped up my weekend bag and put my ...

  7. Pack Up + Go Reviews

    Embrace spontaneity + the unknown on a mystery trip! See why over 43,000 travelers have trusted Pack Up + Go to plan their surprise getaways since 2016. Pack Up + Go has 5 stars! Check out what 83 people have written so far, and share your own experience. | Read 21-40 Reviews out of 83.

  8. Pack Up & Go Review

    Pack Up & Go Review - Why The Mystery Vacation Is Worth The Hype. One week and a whole lot of mystery later, I'm home and getting back into my routine after our Pack Up & Go trip. After several months of waiting, I can't believe it's over. But I'm already plotting my next adventure. I read quite a few articles when I first discovered ...

  9. Would you go on a surprise trip? Pack Up and Go Review

    The first thing to do is decide on your budget and dates. Pack Up + Go needs 4 weeks to plan the trip so think ahead. In terms of the budget, you can road trip to a destination 3-4 hours away (packages start at $400) or spend a little more for an adventure by air (starting at $650). Next comes the survey.

  10. Pack Up + Go Reviews

    Pack Up + Go Reviews 72 ... We have been on 2 Pack Up and Go Trips; one to Denver and one to San Diego. ... Road Trips, Outdoors Road Trips, and You Pick Trips. Select your travel dates, take our Pre-Trip Survey to share your travel history + interests, and decide your budget. Once you hit checkout - just sit back + relax.

  11. Pack Up and Go Unbiased Review

    This is probably the second most frequently asked question I got. I'll start by saying we disagreed on what we should pay. Pack Up and Go allows you a range of $650.00-$5,000 per person if you are taking a trip where a plane is involved (the road trips are cheaper). I talked Rebecca into paying $1,000 each, with the thinking that if we paid ...

  12. Pack Up + Go Reviews

    Embrace spontaneity + the unknown on a mystery trip! See why over 43,000 travelers have trusted Pack Up + Go to plan their surprise getaways since 2016. Pack Up + Go has 5 stars! Check out what 83 people have written so far, and share your own experience. | Read 41-60 Reviews out of 83.

  13. Pack Up + Go Reviews

    Pack Up + Go has 5 stars! Check out what 72 people have written so far, and share your own experience. | Read 21-40 Reviews out of 72. ... Activities & Tours; Travel Agency; Pack Up + Go; Overview Reviews About. Pack Up + Go Reviews 72 ...

  14. Pack Up + Go Reviews

    2 Successful Pack Up and Go Trips. We have been on 2 Pack Up and Go Trips; one to Denver and one to San Diego. Both trips did a great job of filling the time we were there, but also giving enough free time to do our own thing. Date of experience: January 11, 2024

  15. Pack Up + Go Reviews: Road Trips

    The best way to road trip across America is by having Pack Up + Go plan your getaway. Keeping your destination a total surprise, a Pack Up + Go Road Trip allows you to explore more and enjoy the ride. Read Road Trip reviews from past travelers with this blog post! Written by the Pack Up + Go Team

  16. Family Travel with Pack Up + Go [and Washington DC With Kids]

    PACK UP + GO REVIEWS WHAT IS PACK UP + GO AND HOW DOES IT WORK. Pack Up + Go at its core is a travel agency but what makes it special is that it fully embraces the element of surprise. Imagine the only planning you do for an entire vacation is filling out a form, packing up your items, and then simply going.

  17. Pack Up + Go Reviews

    There is a good balance of planned activities and time to explore. The customer service team is really responsive and quick. The hotel I stayed in last time accidentally charged my card instead of Pack Up & Go for the room, and the issue was resolved in under 12 hours after I contacted customer service. Date of experience: 02 March 2024.

  18. Grab This Anker Battery Pack and Power Up Your Devices on the Go ...

    Whether you're caught in an emergency or are going on a road trip, a power bank can be useful, and now you can grab this one from Anker for 31% off. Oliver Haslam Writer Oliver Haslam has been ...

  19. Hyundai Kona Road Trip Review: Likes and Dislikes.

    I took the new Hyundai Kona on a family road trip: It's a practical car with pizzazz that I'd be comfortable letting my teenager drive. Alistair Barr 2024-04-29T13:00:01Z