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7 Travel Companies That Plan Mystery Vacations

Meet the newest trend in full-service trip planning: surprise travel. You won't find out where you're going until it's time to go.

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For most people, the joy of traveling isn’t the researching or booking—it’s that moment you step off the airplane in a place you’ve never been. So why not skip the planning and let someone else chart your next adventure for you, including choosing the destination? Besides, who cares where you go when you’ve got expert travel agents finalizing every last detail for you?

Introducing the latest trend in travel: surprise trips to places that won’t be revealed to you until it’s go time.

Jubel , a tech-enabled travel company founded in 2015 in California, offers customized multi-destination getaways and route planning. It can also save you more than 55 percent in travel costs compared with booking a trip yourself, thanks to insider travel deals. Jubel also offers surprise trips .

Fill out its survey with your preferred dates, budget, and travel style, and it’ll send you a trip proposal. You can be completely surprised by the destination or learn the continent or country ahead of time. Once you’ve booked, you’ll get sealed envelopes to open along your journey, plus details on what to pack and when to show up at the airport. International trips start at around $1,000 per person per week.

Pack Up and Go

Want a weekend getaway in the U.S. without any hassle of planning it? Enter Pack Up and Go , founded in 2016 in Pittsburgh. Give the company your dates and budget, and complete a quick survey (sample question: Do you want action, relaxation, or culture?), and it will do the rest for you. Prior to your trip, you’ll get a packing list, flight information, and a weather forecast. Days before you leave, an envelope with your destination and itinerary will arrive in the mail. Open it at the airport. Trips start at $400 per person.

The Vacation Hunt

Whether you have three days or two weeks, the expert travelers at the Vacation Hunt , started in 2017 by a husband and wife in Washington, D.C., will plan a trip for you. Tell the reps what you’re looking for (spas or zoos? bars or museums?) and they’ll start sending you clues as to where you’re going. Packaged trips in the U.S. start at $750 per person; international trips start at $950. They also offer gift certificates if you want to give someone else a surprise trip.

Magical Mystery Tours

With Magical Mystery Tours , you won’t know where you’re going until you show up at the airport. First, enter your preferences: Do you want a foreign trip? Do you dislike the cold or the beach? Would you prefer heading to the desert or someplace tropical? Then input your dates, budget, and who you’re traveling with. The company will take care of the details. Magical Mystery Tours has been booking destination vacations to locations all over the globe since 2009. Cost depends on the length of the trip, whether it’s international or domestic travel, and the kind of accommodations you want. Weekend trips for two start at $1,500.

Surprise Me Trips

Choose between quick road trips from your hometown or far-flung destinations via airplane. You’ll get details about what to bring and where to be just before your departure. For its weekend road trips, tell the company where you want to start, and it will plan a surprise itinerary around your region, including a few nights in different locales and major landmarks and activities to check out along the way. Despite this travel company’s name, it will also arrange trips that don’t come as a surprise, if that’s more your thing. Surprise Me Trips was launched by three well-traveled friends in Texas in 2016. Weekend regional road trips start at $375.

Black Tomato

In 2017, high-end travel company Black Tomato  debuted its  Get Lost service, which creates adventurous tailor-made expeditions to wilderness destinations like Mongolia or the Arctic that are kept entirely a secret from you. Here’s how it works: select a polar, jungle, coastal, desert, or mountain trip—or have Black Tomato choose that, too—and book at least six months in advance to give you time to train and prepare. When you arrive at your location, you’ll be outfitted with all the gear you need, plus a private transfer from the airport to your starting point and a satellite phone for emergencies. Chart your way through a series of mapped-out checkpoints using navigational technology and your own two feet. The journey ends at a luxury retreat. Average Get Lost trips cost around $15,000 per person—but there are shorter, less expensive options, too.

Rustic Pathways

Designed for high school students looking for an exciting summer group trip, student-travel company Rustic Pathways offers a mystery trip to an unknown international destination. Before departure you’ll get a Patagonia duffel bag sent to you that’s filled with clues and a few essentials. Then arrive at the designated airport and spend the next two weeks exploring foreign cities and remote villages with other intrepid students as a guide leads the way. As of press time, there were still a few spots left on an upcoming trip in late June. It costs $5,995, not including airfare.

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Desperate to travel anywhere? Mystery trips will make it happen

May 12, 2021 • 5 min read

Ready for a surprise? © Hello World/Getty Images

Mystery trips - where you pay an agency to organize your vacation and don’t find out the destination until the last minute - have been a niche section of the travel industry for a number of years. With travel gradually returning to some countries, they’re betting on people wanting to shake up their routine and embrace spontaneity after many months of staying at home.

Lonely Planet reader Markus Wittich from Germany is a very frequent traveler, racking up 18 trips in 2019 alone. After more than a year of staying at home, the idea of holiday where he doesn't know the destination is extra-appealing to him right now.

“That Groundhog Day feeling is real! We've been stuck at home for over a year and it feels like every day has been kind of the same. Since there haven't been many - or any - pleasant surprises throughout the pandemic, a surprise trip could be a fun idea to visit places that haven't been on your radar before.”

For river cruise company Uniworld, that bet is already paying off. A 10-day Mystery River Cruise in June quickly sold out and a September voyage is on the horizon. CEO Ellen Bettridge confirmed to Lonely Planet the original idea actually came from their customers.

“Our guests communicated that they’re willing to travel anywhere to get back out there and explore the world again as vaccines began rolling out and the light at the end of the tunnel finally neared. We created the Mystery Cruise with that sentiment in mind, to spoil our guests and provide them with a surprise trip of a lifetime with all details and decisions taken care of.”

But after so long being careful, are travelers ready to hand over the reins to someone else, especially when safety is still such a top priority? A quick poll of Lonely Planet readers revealed a mixed bag; 21% said they would be more likely to take a mystery trip now but 27% of people said they would be less likely, expressing concerns of safety or the possibility of being exposed to COVID variants despite being vaccinated. But others were tempted by the novelty. Rachel Van Raan-Welch, a reader from New York City is torn.

“I LOVE the idea of a mystery trip, and especially after being more or less on lockdown for the past year, I'm totally up for traveling anywhere right now. But that's in a hypothetical world in which COVID suddenly totally disappeared. In reality, it's hard to know when ‘after the pandemic’ may be. I wouldn't be comfortable taking a trip without knowing where I'm going or what I'm doing, and I think I'll probably feel that way for a long time.”

Safety and reassurance are priorities of any travel company right now and established surprise travel agencies have been quietly changing up their offerings. Netherlands-based Srprs.me expanded their themed vacation packages to include self-guided road trips in 2020. As travel slowly returns to Europe, spokesperson Anneke told Lonely Planet that road trips remain the top choice for their customers.

“We only send our travelers to safe destinations, so there's no need to stay updated on the travel advice to decide where to go; we do that for them. I think that people definitely still have an appetite for the mystery [and] spontaneous element, but under the current circumstances they prefer the more 'safer mysteries', such as our road trips closer to home.”

Of course, there’s another big reason why many seasoned travelers want to try out a mystery trip and it has nothing to do with the pandemic. “I sometimes plan out my trips too much by researching all the restaurants, museums and sights that I absolutely want to visit,” Markus says. “This can sometimes eliminate the opportunity to being spontaneous. Not knowing the destination before you arrive at the airport forces you to keep an open mind and to go with the flow.”

“Please sign me up!” he adds.

5 mystery trips you can book right now

Pack up + go.

A surprise travel agency specializing in domestic US vacation packages. After a personalized survey, they’ll send you to a mid-size US city with a list of curated recommendations. Since COVID, they also have a Staycation option to explore closer to home. 

Guess Where Trips

Embracing the hyper-local, this Canadian company specializes in creating itineraries around Ontario. They are all self-guided which means it’s a great budget option when you really want someone else to do all the planning for you. They are expanding their offerings to trips starting from Vancouver soon. 

Uniworld Mystery River Cruise

A 10-day river cruising experience, the first voyage in June this year has already sold out and a second date added in September due to popular demand. Everything is included in the price and you’ll be sent a detailed recommended packing list beforehand, One thing you’ll need for definite is your passport. 

With departure airports in Europe, this company specializes in city breaks and has a few different themes that you can choose from or you can specifically request them to send you somewhere new. Self-guided road trip itineraries are also available from the UK, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. 

Departing from the UK, Spain, Germany and more, this is a straightforward surprise platform where they will set you up with a flight and a hotel. There is no option to customise with your interests though you can veto a few places during your booking process. 

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10 Companies That Will Plan a Surprise Vacation for You

Adele Chapin

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What if you got ready for a vacation and showed up at the airport with no idea where your plane was headed? That’s the idea behind a new type of travel agency that will plan surprise vacations for very adventurous travelers. At the airport, you’ll receive a destination and custom itinerary (usually based on a survey or interview to determine your travel style). The idea is that you leave the planning, details, and logistics to someone else, and just pack up and go. Here’s how to take a surprise vacation of a lifetime with the help of these 10 travel companies.

BlackTomato

If you’ve always wanted to test your survival skills, Bear Grylls-style, BlackTomato’s elaborate surprise adventure tours might be the next best thing. Choose between terrains like “Polar, Jungle, Desert, Mountain, and Coastal,” and BlackTomato’s experts will figure out a country to drop you in—with advice on how to train for your expedition beforehand. Then it’s up to you to navigate through a series of checkpoints (with BlackTomato ops teams watching from afar to make sure all is well).

Blind Experiences

Imagine a surprise honeymoon where stressed-out couples didn’t have to plan anything at all. That idea kickstarted the luxury travel agency Blind Experiences , which then expanded into putting together tailored itineraries for families with young kids and multi-generational groups— with more surprises gradually revealed throughout the trip via sealed envelopes 

The surprise trip survey for Jubel begins by narrowing in on a country, continent or destination (beach or mountains?), then asks whether you’re more of a museum or nightlife person (you can pick both, for example). Jubel’s experts go from there to put together a proposal for you that’s just vague enough that your vacation is still a big surprise.

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Magical Mystery Tours

The founders of Magical Mystery Tours started their surprise travel agency back in 2009, and they’ve planned many customized vacations since then. The questionnaire quizzes travelers on everything from whether seasickness is a concern to which places they’ve visited and absolutely loved.

Pack Up & Go

Looking to go on a surprise road trip, a plane or train trip, or even a staycation in your own town? Those are the types of trips that Pack Up & Go specializes in, and travelers have headed off to 125 U.S. cities for a fun and completely unexpected trip with a planned-out itinerary of activities and meals. 

Spontaneous and courageous travelers are the ideal clients for SkipTown , an agency that will plan short surprise trips for you—even if you can only get away for one day. A “daycation” includes one night’s accommodation, one meal reservation, and one activity, all of which will be unexpected.

The 10 Best Group Travel Tour Companies for 2021

With Surprisit , you’ll find out your unique surprise destination a few days before your vacation begins (in case you need a bit of time for some Googling). The agency plans surprise trips in the Caribbean in addition to the U.S. and Canada, as well as a “ Eurotrip ” where you head off to a new European city every three days.

The Vacation Hunt

If you’re a beach person, but you still want a big surprise, The Vacation Hunt will set you up with an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean, Mexico or Latin America. Other surprise destinations for this travel agency include a trip within Europe or the United States, or you can open it up to any destination in the world. Surprise honeymoons are a speciality for The Vacation Hunt as well. 

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Whisked Away

Leave the real-world behind for a while with Whisked Away , which will plan surprise week-long flying or driving trips. The idea is to make this the easiest vacation ever for honeymooners, solo vacationers, families, girls’ groups, or anyone who wants an out-of-the-ordinary experience. 

Splurge trips, surprise vow renewals, solo adventures: Whym will plan a surprise vacation for all sorts of travelers. At the moment, the travel agency is only sending travelers out in the U.S.—and the surprises keep coming throughout the vacation, with blank spaces in your itinerary that are revealed gradually via “whymsies” text messages.

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Mysterious Adventures Tours

Mysterious Adventures Tours offers multi-day tour packages around the world, while embracing its history, culture, legends, myths, and folklore in the most breath-taking destinations around the world. Together, we will guide you to discover, explore, and redefine these magical places, while rekindling their history, folklore, and culture in a most unforgettable and mystical experience.

The Breathtaking

Be stunned by ancient beauties unknown to you, treasured in these far-away lands for thousands of years.

The History

Century-old of paths will be under your feet as you explore the culture and passions of these foreign lands.

The Culture

With each person we meet and every step we take we will be gifted a cultural lesson that fortifies their legends.

The Mystical

Each of our discoveries will bring distinct energies creating intense wonder while stirring your soul.

Embark on a captivating journey with renowned Paranormal Investigator Grant Wilson and internationally acclaimed Greek Psychic Medium Kathrine Sorilos . Join them as they take you to a world ruled by ancient deities and haunted by phantoms. Explore the enchanting cities and legendary islands of Greece and the Mediterranean, delving into the mystical allure of this ancient land. Brace yourself for a mesmerizing adventure on this unforgettable Mystical Odyssey.

Embark on a ghostly tour through haunted Chicago, uncovering tragic tales of the Eastland Disaster site and the spirits of Gangland heritage. Journey to Aurora, Sterling, and Rock Island Arsenal for reported paranormal encounters in historic sites and majestic mansions. Delve deeper into the supernatural at the Old YMCA Paracon in Historic Rock Island , and explore Illinois’ most haunted landmarks, from Bishop Hill to Old Joliet Prison . Join us on this spine-tingling adventure as we uncover the haunted secrets of Illinois’ past.

Here are hand-picked travel experiences that are organized by ambassadors and guides that are passionate about mystical explorations.

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Experience a spine-chilling Halloween in scenic New England on this ten-day tour centered around Salem, Massachusetts. Encounter tales of witchcraft, explore historic sites, and delve into the supernatural. Led by international supernatural leaders Frightfully Good , you’ll embark on paranormal investigations armed with the latest ghost-hunting equipment. Uncover secrets as you communicate with spectral residents in iconic locations where legends meet reality.

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Redefining Road Trips

STEP-BY-STEP

How does it work?

Our itineraries include a 'Before You Go' package and four surprise stops. Each stop is packed with a new destination, specific recommendations, maps, travel tips and fun facts.

Select your trip style.

Select a day trip based on your location, interests, and travel preferences OR take our quiz to help narrow down options.

Get your package.

Choose between receiving a beautifully crafted package in the mail OR a PDF (digital version) of the trip which gets sent right to your inbox.

Pack your car.

Each package includes a ‘Before You Go’ booklet that will give you just enough information without spoiling the surprise destinations on your road trip.

Choose Your Starting Location

Our Trip Map

Our interactive map allows you to search for a trip's ending destination. Simply type in your city or address to see the closest trips to you.

Our carefully crafted itineraries feature four surprise stops, each one packed with unique suggestions, maps, insider tips, and fascinating facts that make exploring your local area a breeze.

Your trip package includes a ‘Before You Go’ guide and a series of envelopes that will lead you to several surprise destinations on your road trip.

Need help choosing a trip?

Why this makes a great gift

Perfect for the avid adventurer or the person who has it all, let them choose their own path with the help of Guess Where Trips. With each envelope comes a new exciting destination and locale to explore with none of the long hours of planning.

CAN'T DECIDE?

Take our road trip quiz!

Enter your departing address, select your interests, and preferred driving duration to find the best trip for you.

TESTIMONIALS

What People are Saying...

Each stop was so well thought out, perfectly timed, and so much fun. Like the rest of the world, my wife and I have been stuck inside during the pandemic, but Guess Where Trips introduced us to some hidden gems, and reminded us of how much fun it is to get out and discover new spots (and took away the stress of planning!). It was the perfect getaway. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

OMG! I did the Funky Florals trip yesterday with my mom and some friend and wow! The spots were absolutely amazing. The first stop was my favourite. If that was the only one it still would have been worth it! The rapids are insane! Doing the surprise trip next weekend and cannot wait! Thank you! Can't wait to see what's coming for the winter.

I cannot thank you enough for this! We went on our adventures trip and it exceeded our expectations! My kids were very excited to open the envelopes after each stop to see where we were going next. I took my mom as well, and she enjoyed every minute of it. The third stop was stunning! We stayed at the patio of the vineyard and enjoyed the beautiful view while we ate and sipped on some wine. Oh and the donkey sanctuary...cutest thing ever. Today has been one of the most memorable days yet!

My mom turns 60 this week and she always says she doesn't 'NEED' anything. So, I decided to get her a Guess Where Trip so that she could spend an entire day with her family doing something fun. She LOVED it!!! She said it was such a great idea and wants to go on another one with me ASAP! Thanks so much for an amazing day!

Ah! I just have to let you guys know, you're amazing at putting together fantastic road trips! We started out on the Hops & History tour, and ended up in the CUTEST beach town (you guys weren't lying).

Went on our third Guess Where Trips today, and like the others, it exceeded our expectations! Never know where we are headed until the day we go on our trip. Very well planned out road trips. They have taken me to many places I've never been to.

Not to be dramatic, but I went on one of your trips last weekend and it was the best day of my life.

My girlfriend and I went on your Weird and Wonderful trip on Saturday and we just wanted to say that it was such an amazing experience! From the moment we opened our first envelope it was clear that your team is dedicated to creating a very memorable experience for each of the stops! My girlfriend and I want to say thank you for helping us create some amazing memories and can't wait to do more trips in the future!

Absolutely LOVED our surprise adventure from @guesswheretrips! We visited so many beautiful and interesting places that we never would have stopped at otherwise. Also, the roadside food stops were 10/10. I highly recommend checking them out if you're looking for an amazing action-packed day!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We're here to help

What is guess where trips.

At Guess Where Trips®, we specialize in self-guided one-day surprise road trips . Leave the stress of planning to us! We design each road trips around a general theme, so you will have an idea of what you might get up to during the day, but you won’t know where we’re sending you! We love finding new small businesses, hidden gems, cute cafes, and picturesque towns. 

Need us to take even more stress off of the planning and help you choose a trip? 

Fill out our quiz here to help you decide on a trip!

What will I receive in the mail?

Our mailed road trips ($65) include a well-curated itinerary for the day with a focus on scenic routes, hidden gems, unique businesses, photo ops and a lot more. We pack the itineraries with travel tips, fun facts and stories about the places you’ll be visiting. Our trips come in five envelopes, which are tied with a bow and placed into a folder to keep everything neat and tidy. The digital version ($39) of the trip comes as a pdf.

Note: If you choose the PDF option, there are no surprise stop envelopes. All of the stops will be sent digitally to your email in one file , so scrolling through the entire document will reveal the surprise stops.

What's not included:  Food, drinks, gas, and admission (if there is a fee!) are not included in the price of our trips.

How long will my order take to ship? How much does shipping cost?

For orders over $50, we will ship your package for  free .

Shipping within Canada

We use Canada Post for all shipping within Canada. Our (free) expedited option takes 5-7 business days.

If you need your order quicker, there is an Xpresspost option at checkout for $12.

Shipping to the USA

We use UPS for shipping to the United States. The free shipping option takes 4-8 business days, while the $15 paid option takes 1-3 business days.

Do you have any overnight trips?

Although we cannot book hotels on your behalf, we do recommend extending the adventure by turning your one day road day trip into an overnight getaway (especially if you choose one more than 4 hours round-trip from home!) Keep an eye out for your confirmation email! In it, we will send you a list of our favourite hotels in the end destination if you would like to extend your trip.

How long are your trips?

Each trip takes roughly 6-8 hours to complete - this includes time spent at the recommendation and driving. Under the FAQ section of each trip page, you will find more detailed information about the round-trip driving distance from nearby cities. This will give you a better idea of how much time you can expect to spend in the car, based on your departure location.

How do I redeem my gift card?

After choosing a trip, please enter your 16-character code on the checkout page in the field under ‘Have a Gift Card?.’ This will then take your order to a zero balance.

Are your trips kid-friendly and dog-friendly?

Kid-friendly: Yes! Almost all of our trips are kid-friendly. Click here for our kid-friendly trips. (This will show you all of our kid-friendly trips both in Canada and the US). We recommend choosing trips shorter in driving distance to ensure it’s a pleasant drive for everyone.

Dog-friendly: Many of our trips are dog-friendly or some what dog-friendly! Click here for our dog-friendly trips (This will show you all of our dog-friendly trips both in Canada and the US). The trip page itself will also let you know if it is okay to bring your pup or not. Note: most restaurants and stores do not allow dogs inside, so most of your day will be spent outdoors if you bring a furry friend along.

Are your trips wheelchair accessible or good for people with low mobility?

Yes! Many of our trips are wheelchair accessible and good for low mobility. On the trip page, we list if the trip is wheelchair accessible. Click here for a list of all our most wheelchair accessible trips. (This will show you all of our wheelchair accessible trips both in Canada and the US).

Does the cost of the package include the entrance to any activities?

Most of the activities and attractions we recommend are free or have a minimal entrance cost (under $10/per person). We note the approximate costs per person in each trip package. If there is a higher entrance fee, we will recommend a free nearby alternative.

What's Included:

A ‘Before You Go’ guide with a packing list, approximate driving distances and more tips to plan for your day ahead.

A series of four stops that will make up your day’s itinerary with recommended roadside stops along the way.

Restaurant, attractions and activity recommendations based on your trip style.

Mailed version: includes 5 printed booklets (a Before You Go and 4 surprise stops) and shipping.

What's Not Included:

Transportation and gas.

Entrances and parking fees for some of recommended attractions (the majority of stops are free).

Food, beverages and gratuities.

PDF version: does not include printed booklets, itinerary is emailed

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

What Is Mystery Travel And How Does It Work

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When it comes to travel, I’m a planner. Half the fun of a trip is figuring out all of the details ahead of time. And yet, there’s undoubtedly something to be said about a surprise vacation where the adventure that awaits isn’t entirely in my control. Mystery travel is among the growing trends for travelers seeking new experiences and willing to put their trip in the hands of someone else, in most cases, without even knowing where they’re headed until they’re at the airport. And I have to admit, the more I look into this novelty, the more intrigued I am by the idea of heading off to parts literally unknown.

What is Mystery Travel?

Just as the name implies, mystery travel means taking a trip you didn’t plan out yourself, and possibly not knowing the destination until it’s time to go. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you from asking a loved one to take your travel budget and plan out a fun getaway without telling you where you’re going or what you’ll be doing when you get there, however those looking for professional assistance with their mystery travel arrangements have the option of booking a mystery travel package where the ins and outs are handled by the experts. There are actually entire travel sites dedicated to creating a mystery travel experience.

How does a Mystery Travel Package work?

The process of booking and experiencing a mystery travel package seems to vary from one site to the other. Some offer U.S. domestic trips only, while most of the others we looked at offer both domestic and international packages. Some will tell you where you’re going after it’s booked if you really want to know, but most prefer to keep that secret from you until much closer to your trip. As for pricing, at least one of the sites we researched has fixed options for regular and luxury packages, while others let you set the budget and they’ll build a trip around that. And from what we’ve seen, all of them emphasize taking your personal travel preferences into account, which is nice for those with specific preferences as it relates to climate, activities and other factors. Your date preferences are obviously also taken into account, so you shouldn’t need to worry about being sent off on vacation at an inconvenient time.

We’ll get into more details about some of the services offered and how they work below.

Where can I book a mystery travel package?

One quick google search for “mystery travel” yields a number of options, so we suggest you do your research and go with the company that seems like the best fit for what you’re looking for. They tend to vary based on the options available, pricing and the level of mystery involved. Here are some of the services we found in our search…

packupgo.com

Pack Up + Go

Pack Up + Go ‘s packages are very specifically set as 3-day weekend trips in the United States. You set the budget, the dates and some travel preferences and they use all of that to book your trip. Then, a week before it’s time to go, they send you information on where you need to go and when in order to get to your destination, as well as the weather forecast for your mystery destination, so you know what to pack and whether or not to bring sunblock and all that. They will also mail you an envelope before your trip, which you’re not supposed to open until it’s time (unless you want to spoil the surprise), which includes how to get to your accommodations, a city guide and a list of recommendations for what to do in your destination.

cluventuretravel.com

Cluventure takes the mystery to the next level by incorporating clues into your trip. They book short and longer trips both domestically and internationally, all depending on what package you get. They book the transportation, lodging and activities, and then provide clues for you to unlock both before and during your trip. Their prices are fixed, depending on which package you want and whether you’re up for spending a bit more for the luxury option. For example, a 3-Day trip to somewhere in the U.S. is $900 per person or $1,200 per person for the luxury option. As for the clues, you have the option to set the level of difficulty on them. This sounds like it would be a good fit for people looking to have the whole trip mapped out for them. It also sounds like a sense of fun would be a plus when it comes to the clues, but if you’re booking a mystery trip, it’s probably safe to assume you have that.

www.jubel.co

Jubel offers trips for both international and domestic destinations based on your budget and preferences. You take their survey, they send you a proposal and then in the days leading up to your trip, they’ll send you a bunch of envelopes, each labeled with the date you should open it, so that each destination within your trip can be a surprise. According to Thrillist , at some point between the survey and actual booking process, you’ll speak with someone at Jubel to work out the specifics on budget, travel dates and specific preferences, after which they’ll send you two proposals to choose from.

magical-mystery-tours.com

Magical Mystery Tour

Magical Mystery Tour has you set the budget, give them some preferences and then they work out all of the details from there. According to their site, the cost of a Mystery trip starts at around $1,500 for two people for a weekend trip (the cost for a solo weekend trip is a minimum of $1,100). And of course, that minimum price goes up the more days you add. A few days before your trip, they’ll send you a packet that contains your itinerary and other details about where you’re headed. They suggest you wait until you get to the airport (or wherever you’re departing from) before opening the envelope. And if you’re concerned about not knowing what to pack, don’t worry. They’ll send you a weather report ahead of your trip, along with any other information about what you might need to bring. So if you really want to be surprised up until you’re headed to the airport, you have that option.

thevacationhunt.com

The Vacation Hunt

The Vacation Hunt offers a selection of fixed prices for both domestic and international destinations. They also have pricing for all-inclusive vacation packages, which include the cost of food and drinks, airport transfers and on-site resort activities and entertainment. It starts when you take their survey, after which you can choose a surprise vacation package. They’ll give you three options to choose from ranging from 3-10 days. Those who want their activities planned out for them can pay an extra fee for a custom surprise itinerary. About 10 days before your trip, they’ll send you packing tips and weather report, along with the tracking number for the surprise vacation envelope they’ll be sending you a week before your flight. That envelope will include the details of your destination, flight and hotel information and whatever activity bookings and dining reservations might be included.

These are just some of the options we found online for mystery vacations. If this is something you’re considering, we advise you to do your research and read the reviews to ensure you find the best option for you.

In addition to mystery travel, Glamping is another rising travel trend. It’s an option for those who want to experience the outdoors while also enjoying some of the luxuries of the modern world. Here’s a list of great glamping locations across the U.S. for a variety of budgets .

GoNOMAD Travel

Inspiration and links to plan your trip.

Mystery Trips: Going No One Knows Where

Mystery Trips: All the Fun, None of the Hard Work, No Idea Where You’re Going

By Samantha Butts

Oftentimes planning a trip is the most grueling part. You have to research places to stay, eat, and visit.

This part isn’t always bad, but sometimes it would be nice to not have to worry about all the details of your trip. Planning a vacation has become a long and often difficult process to do alone.

Travel agencies and tour companies are great for organizing trips with ease. However, there is a more exciting option that requires almost no planning on your part: mystery trips.

Mystery trips are not only planned for you, but they also create a sort of suspense for the traveler. For the journey to their location, the traveler never knows where they are going.

New England Coach Mystery Trips

New England Coach offers a variety of tours that suit your needs. They offer retail tours which are open to the public and private pre-formed tours for groups. The tours can be one-day trips or multi-day trips .

One tour, in particular, stands out against the rest. New England Coach’s mystery trips are its fastest and most popular tours according to Belinda Grace-Leonard, Vice President and co-owner of the company.

“Honestly, it’s something that would never sell on a piece of paper,” said Grace-Leonard. “It’s something that people have never heard about or have never done.”

The mystery trips give New England Coach the opportunity to give people an experience that they wouldn’t normally know about. The company wants to give people unique experiences that they may not sign up for on their own.

Keeping it a Secret

“It’s all about the surprise,” said Grace-Leonard. “We don’t tell them anything about the tour until we’re on tour.”

If you’re concerned about what to pack, don’t be. For the mystery trips, New England Coach makes sure to send you a packet of information that does not reveal too much about the tour. The packet informs you of what the temperatures are going to be and gives slight clothing suggestions.

The tour company may give some clues and hints, but only once on the road, and you are never going to know more than one stop ahead. Some people attempt to trick information out of the tour leaders, but they never give in.

What is included?

What you pay, which varies for each trip, includes a few amenities.

Your transportation is always included. Along with breakfast and oftentimes lunch and dinner. All attractions and hotels are included. Tour managers and sometimes guides are also included in the upfront cost.

What to expect on a Mystery Trip?

Everything with New England Coach revolves around group travel, so you can always expect to be with other travelers excited to discover something new. The tour managers work to get everyone involved and make sure everyone is enjoying their trip.

Grace-Leonard, who both plans and creates the itineraries for the mystery trips, tries to stay away from heights or anything that might cause motion sickness.

This means that she usually steers clear from boats. She doesn’t want to have to give anything away to travelers, so tries not to book tours that would require special warnings.

With its trips, New England Coach’s goal “is putting together a great product and seeing the enjoyment that it brings to other people’s lives,” said Grace-Leonard.

Learning en Route

When going on mystery trips with New England Coach, you are sure to learn something new from your travels, whether it’s a fact from a museum you stopped at or something you learned from a local.

In the past, the mystery trips have taken travelers to a wolf sanctuary in Eastern Massachusetts, the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma, alpaca farms in Amish country, and so many more fun and exciting places that take you off the beaten road.

For Grace-Leonard, one of her favorite places she has ever taken a group was Custer State Park in South Dakota .

During the day, the tour group rented jeeps which they rode through the range allowing them to see the regrowing Bison population up-close.

Afterward, they retreated to a ranch in the park and got on a hay wagon along with a singing cowboy who serenaded them through the park. It was an experience you would not find anywhere else.

“The next tour is always my favorite tour,” said Grace-Leonard. “I truly never get tired of taking people to new places, even if I’ve been there multiple times.”

Christian Tours

Christian Tours is a tour company that offers trips from one day to twenty-four days. The company offers international tours, cruises, and motorcoach tours.

All of the motorcoach tours depart from North or South Carolina, where the touring company is based.

Like New England Coach, Christian Tours offers mystery trips.

Grand Reunion Mystery Tour

Christian Tours has been offering the Grand Reunion Mystery Tour since the late 80s. The trips occur in November and usually last six to eight days.

“We try to keep it different and unique and not the same as our normal catalog tours or normal offerings,” said Heather Paul the customer service and personnel director for Christian Tours.

Paul said they try to have fun with their travelers on these trips, even the coach drivers get in on the fun. They might take a wrong turn somewhere or wait till the last moment to switch lanes to make the journey more exciting for the travelers.

In advance of the trip, Christian Tours gives their customers clothing suggestions and tells them the average temperature but that is all.

What is included and what to expect

“We normally feed them really well,” said Paul. Travel is often known for feeding people, Christian Tours’ mystery trip includes two meals a day that you would not want to miss.

The tour company’s annual trip also includes attractions, luggage handling, and the services of the driver and tour director.

During the mystery trip, you can expect to be up and out by 8 a.m. and usually done for the day around 6 p.m. with dinner following shortly after. Some nights there may be evening entertainment.

Christian Tours is family-friendly and aims to make people feel safe, but the company also wants people to experience something new that they cannot get from the usual catalog.

During last year’s reunion tour, Paul recounts that they did the Grafton Skytour , which took them on a gondola ride up to the top of a small mountain. They were able to have a unique dinner on top of the mountain at Aerie’s Resort in Grafton, Illinois .

Mystery trips are a new and exciting way to travel. They offer the best of traveling and exploring without the hassle of having to plan the trip yourself.

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Have you ever thought of going to Moscow? It’s home to the most billionaires, the busiest subway system in europe, and a culture all it’s own. Here is my account of our trip to Moscow over President’s Day weekend. Feel free to contact any of us here at Magical Mystery Tours for more information on how you can experience a similar adventure!

While we had a slight change to our original itinerary, Delta was quite accommodating and got us into Moscow just two hours late. After arriving at 1:30pm, we navigated our way onto the Aeroexpress train (35 minute trip to Belorussky Metro Station) and eventually to our hotel, just 3 more stops on the metro.

The stations were packed, and though it took us one accidental trip to figure it out, they were quite easy to follow. Upon arriving to the Hotel National we quickly realized we had made an excellent choice. With courteous bellmen and a superb concierge, the oldest hotel in Moscow certainly delivered what it had promised. The old world decor, architectural charm and location right across from the Kremlin was rivalled.

After checking in and freshening up, we were off to find a late lunch.

Winding down streets to the northeast of Red Square we found Kolchuga, a cozy basement restaurant decorated for the hunting lovers. Here we energize with fresh salads, veal dumplings and an extraordinarily overprice bottle of french wine. Lesson learned — always inquire about the price before agreeing with the waiter.

With our stomachs full, we wandered around the Kremlin taking in St. Basil’s, the illuminated high end shops lining the square, and an ice rink full of adults and children alike enjoying a Saturday night out. After hearing that we would have to wait to skate, we thought better to head back and get ready for an evening out.

Carrying our restaurant book with us at all times turned out to be genius. Thanks to prior research, we had quite a variety of great places listed and mapped out. The first night was for vodka though, something local and authentic. Walking just 15 minutes from the hotel we found Kvartira 44, a somewhat hidden, family-owned restaurant with cheap drinks and friendly service. It had eclectic decor, a cozy feel, and its 12 tables were full with 20s an 30s catching up over a cigarette and vodka. After trying to look like we could actually read the menu in russian at the door, we quickly ordered our first two shots of vodka, chasing it with herring just as the locals do. While the herring didn’t really do it for us, the vodka did. We enjoyed our second round with a delicious order of potato pancakes. At 90 roubles a shot, we left the restaurant with a bill of about $10.

Heading back down we commented on the European feel to the street we were walking on. A wide street lined with commercial buildings, all seemed to have a mobile phone store or bank with neon signs on the ground floor. The sidewalks were clean and the statues were frequent.

After taking a few pictures of St. Basil’s cathedral, we headed back to get ready for the ballet. Arriving an hour before the performance, we were escorted into the Kremlin state theater to see Swan Lake. The show was absolutely superb — something we will remember forever. The costumes were beautiful and the audience was captivated. From young children to those in their 70s, one could not help but notice how much pride the Russians take in their ballets. By the visible enthusiasm and appreciation it was as if everyone in the audience was a relative of one of the dancers. With overwhelming applause and a rush to the stage following the show, their love of ballet was obvious.

At that point my body was running on empty. After a 9 hour flight with a 9 hour time change, a power nap was greatly needed. Just one hour and 45 minutes later, we were ready for ice skating. After layering up we headed 50 yards from our hotel to one of the top 5 outdoor ice skating rinks in the world (Conde Nast). 750 roubles (admission and skate rental) was a steal for view like this. To the north you had the high end shops all lit up, to the east you had St. Basil’s, to the south you had the Kremlin. Can it get any better? This was the energy boost we needed, and it was definitely one of the top highlights of the trip. After 30 minutes or so, we got off the rink, bought a Russian doll and headed back to get ready for dinner.

Cafe Pushkin is a famous restaurant in Moscow and another pre-planned destination. With 8pm reservations made for us by the hotel, we took the 20 minute walk to Tverskoy Blvd. With a pre-revolution feel, the restaurant did not disappoint. Formal service and tables filled with well-dressed Russians, we knew this was a special occasion. Starting off the night with a Russian mule was the first of many great orders to come.

Course 1: Olivier Salad

Course 2: Classic Russian pie (one filled with mushroom, one with cabbage)

Course 3: “Brosche” soup (roasted beet soup with XX and sour cream)

Course 4: Duck breast with apple confit and foie gras ravioli

Feeling beyond satisfied, we left Cafe Pushkin knowing it was worth every rouble. The night was not over yet though. The only way to spend your last night in Moscow is with a view overlooking the Kremlin. This is exactly what we did at the super trendy, but still classic, O2 Lounge at the top of the Ritz-Carlton. Relaxing in egg chairs and looking out at the Moscow skyline while sipping on a white russian was the perfect end to an unbelievable 48 hours.

Moscow, check.

The Pink Bus

Mystery trips, the pink bus mystery trips.

We are excited to announce our " 2023 Trip Schedule ". We have some great trips planned and cannot wait for the adventures to begin. Check them out under future trips.  We finally joined the technology age.  New this year is Online Registration and Payments.  All you have to do is click the button “Book Now” and it will bring you to the online registration.  When making your deposit, if you use the ACH method of payment there is no charge.  There is a charge for using credit cards.  If you have any questions while registering, please let us know either by Contacting Us or calling 701-866-7319.   

The Pink Bus Mystery Trips provides getaway trips for women . The Pink Bus Mystery Trips are for women of all ages and of all walks of life. Women tend to be the caregivers, household organizers and hard workers both in and outside the home. It is important for women to take time out for themselves to reconnect with friends and family and at the same time have fun and relax! The bus departs from Fargo, ND (*unless noted differently). If you fill the bus up with your own group, we can pick you up at your location (minimum of 45 passengers).

Marilyn ~ West Fargo, ND

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Moscow: Magical Mystery Tour

Posted by Becca Hensley | Mar 11, 2009 | Food and Wine , Russia , Spotlight | 0 |

For a moment I am lost in a dream. Sitting at a hand painted eighteenth century table, in a gilded Damask chair that might as well be a throne, I accept a glass of champagne from a man wearing a brocaded, gold buttoned vest, buckled shoes, and velvet knickers. Venetian mirrors reflect two white wigged chamber musicians in elaborate party dresses. Their efforts at their instruments, a harpsichord and golden harp, turn the air dense with Baroque texture. Sipping, I channel my inner oligarch and wage war with whether I'd rather be Catherine the Great or Marie Antoinette, and it's only when I look up at the two-ton, dripping chandelier and the frescoed, cupola ceiling that I remember how Marie Antoinette died and elect instead to be the great Empress of Russia . Which makes sense"”after all, that's where I am. Russia .

I reign as queen of Turandot, the Moscow hot spot that took six years to build and cost a pretty fifty million to decorate in the de trop manner of Versailles where even the bathroom is a veritable chamber of ubiquitous Delft. I look down at the Bauscher custom made plates that sit on the table, take a gander at the Chinoise style décor that surrounds me and finger the Aubusson tapestries, before opening the extra large, gold-embossed leather menu before me. Maybe its my stomach growling or maybe I catch sight of my contemporary Ferragamo pumps tapping beneath the table, but I awaken suddenly from so much Baroque surrealism and enter the modern age. All those other diners aren't my courtiers, but Russian billionaires, expensively dressed supermodels and well paid government bureaucrats. And I'm merely a hungry tourist ready to gobble up some of the Asian fusion cuisine created by London celebrity chef Alan Yau (of Wagamama fame) in an over-the-top, faux Versailles, in reinvented Moscow. Whew.

Indeed, I'm not in Kansas anymore "“ not here in this city of ten million"”and that's the exotic allure. Moscow, for all of its European heritage and new found wealth, has not become heir to the homogenous world. It draws from its past while racing whole hog into the future. Delighting in its very differences and its contrariness, Moscow draws sustenance from deep rooted Slavic melancholy and creates, whether in excess or privation, an altered state of unreality that's mesmerizing to visitors.

Celebrating old world opulence and extremes, the Ritz Carlton Moscow is as intricate and elegant a gift to the modern day traveler as those Faberge' eggs were to the Romanov daughters. Hedonists will thrive comfortably here, but even those less inclined to enjoy lavish pampering will become converts. Who can resist doormen in tall hats with faces like Dr. Zhivago? Or, Frette sheets on feather beds in fulsome suites overlooking Red Square. Or, the meal of a lifetime, a Czar's breakfast that will set you back $700 per person. What's on the menu? A bottle of Crystal champagne, Kobe beef steak with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and truffle omelette; foie gras “Au Torchon” with caramelized apple and pain brioche, not to mention a selection of imported Italian prosciutto and cheese, Beluga caviar with blinis, sour cream and quail eggs, seasonal fruits, pastries, freshly squeezed juices and hot beverages.

Reigning essentially as destination in itself, this hotel's very opulence hinders guests desire to step outside its doors and experience Moscow. In fact, most visitors want to hunker down and enjoy every aspect of the palace hotel. Why leave when you can be treated like a Czarina within? And indeed, the hotel sparkles like a mini Moscow itself. Consider the convenience of a butler for every experience you seek. Most popular is the night life butler who personally escorts guests through the maze of Moscow's dynamic night life scene, ensuring entrance with ease to all the hottest clubs. Vodka drinkers appreciate the vodka "sommelier" who tutors novices and experts alike on the subtleties of over 400 types of vodka in the Ritz Carlton liquor cabinet. Gourmands revel in culinary ecstasy at Jeroboam, helmed by Heinz Winkler; a Michelin starred, German chef (though some high rollers swear by room service in their Presidential Suite's bullet proof dining room). Personally, I could spend all day in the Ritz Carlton's ESPA spa, marveling at its gold and black mosaic of crystals and luxuriating in a jet lag treatment that equals a full night's sleep.

My best tips for warming up? Swim with the millionaires at Chaika, a heated outdoor pool in the prestigious Prechistenka district. Though the thermometer commonly reads minus 15 (and I am talking Fahrenheit, folks), swimmers stay surprisingly toasty as they stroke. Afterwards, indulge in a hot chocolate at Café Pushkin, yet another fabulous restaurant by the creators of Turandot. This one, also just steps from the Kremlin, suggests life in a posh 19th century mansion. Popular with ex-pats living in Russia as well as Moscovites, the café compels with three distinctly designed floors, each a thematic treat: a library, a pharmacy, and an entresol.

Best Bets: Fly: Take the American Airline's new direct flight from Dallas to Moscow.

Stay: The Ritz Carlton Moscow www.ritzcarlton.com offers an Imperial Russian façade and a chic, contemporary interior. (Rooms begin at $1000 a night)

Eat: Try the famous beluga caviar and blue fin tuna sushi in the Ritz Carlton's O2 Lounge, created by celebrity Japanese chef Seiji Kusano. Try the blini at Café Pushkin (www.cafe-pushkin.ru) and the grilled Chilean Seabass in honey at Turando (no website available)

Do: Visit some of the metro stations, known as the people's palaces for their chandeliers and compelling artwork. Take in the Kremlin, the Grand Palace and Red Square. Walk down the Old Arbat, a picturesque pedestrian street. See the Faberge eggs in The Armoury, the principle museum of the Kremlin

Shop: Go to GUM, a world famous collection of shops within a 19th century arcade.

Souvenir: Amber jewelry, religious icons, modern art.

Galleries: For very contemporary Russian art, go to ART4.RU. To see more traditional work, try the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.

What you need to know: A visa is required to visit Russia.

Travel Tips: Jet Setters Show Off: Style conscious travelers will want to take along a tote that triggers a tete a tete. Try any on of the Trina Luxury cosmetic and travel bags, sold at Bergdorg Goodman and other luxury boutiques around the country. We love the Kelly Weekender Stripe for chi chi trips and the Bohemian Chic Purse Set for artistic outings. $25 and up.

About The Author

Becca Hensley

Globe trotting Becca Hensley can't resist a good sale, a mysterious side street or a full glass of champagne in a local bar. Austin-based, widely published, she is Senior Travel Writer for Austin Monthly and writes for myriad magazines, such as National Geographic Traveler,Forbes, and Self. An expert in all things luxe, she knows how to ask "how much" in ten languages, revels in the inspired hotel room, and doesn't bat an eyelash when she sits by a baby on a plane.

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Xi’s European tour: where is Chinese leader going and what are visit’s aims?

Emmanuel Macron and Viktor Orbán among leaders Xi is meeting, with several key issues on the table

China’s president, Xi Jinping , has begun a three-country tour of Europe – his first state visit to the continent in five years – at a time when China-EU ties are under strain from trade disputes and Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Where is Xi visiting and who will he meet?

The Chinese leader’s visit begins on Monday in Paris, where he is meeting the French president, Emmanuel Macron, for a day of talks that will include a trilateral meeting with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen , and a state banquet at the Élysée Palace in the evening.

On Tuesday, Macron will accompany Xi to the Tourmalet pass 2,000 metres up in the Hautes-Pyrénées mountains, an area where the French president spent childhood holidays visiting his grandmother, for a day of less formal discussions. The two last met in April 2023 during a three-day state visit to China by Macron .

On Wednesday, Xi will travel to Belgrade for talks with Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, and on Thursday he will go to Budapest where he will meet Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán . Both countries are pro-Russia and big recipients of Chinese investment.

What is the purpose of his visit?

Officially, Xi’s visit to Paris is to mark 60 years since diplomatic relations were established between France and China: France was the first western country to formally recognise the People’s Republic of China, on 27 January 1964.

His visit to Belgrade coincides with the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Serbia , when three people died after a US strike accidentally hit the compound during Nato’s air campaign against Serb forces occupying Kosovo.

Analysts have said that in his meetings with Macron and von der Leyen, away from the ceremonies, Xi will mainly be aiming to lobby against the EU’s anti-subsidy investigations, particularly on electric vehicles, and on stabilising diplomatic relationships.

In Serbia , where China is the biggest single source of inward investment, he will hope to play up Beijing’s anti-US, anti-Nato agenda – one reason why China has maintained its support for Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.

In Hungary, Xi will underline the close economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries, including in security cooperation, and discuss progress on China’s belt and road initiative , which includes a high-speed Budapest-Belgrade rail link.

Hungary, a vocal supporter of China that has blocked some EU motions criticising Beijing on human rights, has Huawei’s largest base outside China and will soon host the carmaker BYD’s first European factory.

What big issues will be on the table?

Overshadowing the visit are EU concerns over China’s support for Russia two years into war against Ukraine, and Beijing’s concerns over the bloc’s economic security agenda, including the threat of heavy tariffs on Chinese imports.

Macron and von der Leyen will call on China to stop exports to Russia of “dual-use” and other technologies aiding Moscow war effort. Beijing claims to be neutral in the conflict but China-Russia trade has helped offset western sanctions on Moscow.

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Beijing, for its part, aims to head off the threat of European tariffs on Chinese EVs after an EU investigation into state support for the industry in China. Studies put China’s subsidies at between three and nine times those of other major economies.

Human rights groups have said the issues of Tibet and Xinjiang , where the UN has said China may have committed crimes against humanity by placing up to a million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in re-education camps, must be raised.

What is the outcome likely to be?

Most analysts doubt that the EU and its messages on the looming trade dispute and Chinese support for Russia over Ukraine will make much headway with Xi, whose visit seems designed to exploit the bloc’s internal differences.

China’s economy is facing some difficulties and the US is increasingly reticent about opening up to Chinese companies, meaning the EU could have some leverage, but its 27 members are not fully aligned on China policy, undermining their influence.

Macron wants a more aggressive EU stance on subsidies and has warned that the bloc risks falling behind without one, but other leaders, such as Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, stress the importance of the Chinese market for their own exporters.

Overall, said Janka Oertel, of the European Council on Foreign Relations, Xi’s Paris visit is “unlikely to have a significant impact on Chinese behaviour”. And Shen Dingli, a Shanghai-based analyst, said the Belgrade and Budapest stops were part of China’s efforts to deepen divisions within the west.

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A Gentleman in Moscow Star Mary Elizabeth Winstead on the Eroding Mystery of Anna Urbanova

In the Showtime series' sixth episode, out this week, the glamorous character lets her guard down—just a bit.

In the series’ sixth episode, which airs this week (today on Paramount+, Sunday on Showtime), Urbanova not only finds a way to save Rostov when he faces certain tragedy, but she also drops her cool façade just enough to hint to viewers that the years Rostov has spent admiring her haven’t been in vain. For Winstead, it was an opportunity to delve into a different side of the character and to use some of the show’s incredible design elements to help bring a softer—albeit not yet entirely soft—Anna into the spotlight.

Here, she tells T&C about creating the character, the importance of flat shoes, and the hotel in which she’d most like to be trapped for a lifetime.

What made playing Anna something you wanted to do?

It was such an amazing opportunity. Every aspect of it just sang with potential to be the best thing possible, beginning with the novel , which I had read already, and knowing that Ewan was attached to play the Count. I knew that that was going to be something magical. It felt like a real no brainer to want to be involved on top of the opportunity to play an incredibly fabulous character. Also, I got to be with my husband for six months and work on something that excited us both. There’s nothing better than that.

In the sixth episode, which airs this week, we finally see Anna—who’s been so mysterious—let down her guard just a bit.

In the novel , she remains mysterious throughout. You get to hear about what she's going through a little bit from the Count’s perspective, and you get to feel the blossoming love between them from his perspective, but you don't really get to peek behind the curtain, and to see who Anna is. It was unexpected for me, as the episodes were coming in, to see how much time we were giving her character. It made me feel even more for her and made me that much more excited to play her in these scenes. Even though she’s a bit of a hustler and she toys with people, particularly the Count, she has this unexpected emotional evolution. She becomes somebody very different than she expected.

Is it a relief to get to crack her open a bit, or did you miss those episodes where she’s all frosty glamour?

I love playing someone who is very guarded. At the start, she’s kind of wearing a mask, and then over the course of the season that mask slowly falls away, and her vulnerability slowly becomes exposed. It was beautiful for me to get to play that woman and find her cracks; she’s had a very hard life, so it’s difficult for her to let anybody in, but it was wonderful to feel her kind of cracking open.

To create the character, did you use materials beyond the script or the book that inspired it?

The book, of course, was an amazing starting place; Amor Toles wrote such incredibly wonderful characters. In addition to that, I wanted to have something that I could hang my hat on in terms of the history of real actresses at that time, and the real

Russian women of that day who were in her position. It’s a bit difficult to find a lot of information, but I did find a few. One was named Alla Nazimova, and I felt she resembled Anna the most—she was also the most fascinating to learn about. She had an incredible backstory that was quite heartbreaking, and I held onto that for Anna.

Is there anything about the production—which has these incredible sets and costumes—that you hope audiences notice? Any kind of Easter eggs we should be looking for?

There are subtleties, especially in the wardrobe, hair, and makeup. Obviously, we go through different eras, which is fun to see, but for Anna, I thought it was so lovely to have not only the evolution in terms of time but also of her as a person. She becomes so much softer, and we see her wearing knits and flat shoes; she’s letting herself get softer, and the clothes reflect that in a beautiful way.

Finally, if you were to be trapped for a lifetime in a hotel, which one would you want it to be?

I really love the Soho Hotel in London. I love being close to Covent Garden and Soho, and I have great memories of being there. That’s a place I’d love to be.

Adam Rathe is Town & Country 's Deputy Features Director, covering arts and culture and a range of other subjects. 

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Ukraine war latest: Ukraine sacks commander amid fierce battles with Russian forces; Putin reshuffle 'may hint he is preparing for future confrontation with NATO'

Fierce fighting is taking place in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, with Moscow claiming to have seized nine border villages in the area. And in Moscow, Vladimir Putin has replaced a long-time ally. Submit your question on the war for our experts below.

Monday 13 May 2024 16:03, UK

• Big picture: Everything you need to know as war enters a new week
• Russia claims control of nine villages after shock advance
• Threat of fighting spreading, says Kharkiv governor | Commander sacked
• Moscow forces walked 'freely' across border, Ukrainian soldier claims
• Putin reshuffle indicates he may be preparing for future confrontation with NATO - analysts
• Eyewitness: Deborah Haynes reports from town 'flattened' in offensive
• Analysis:  Putin's 'baffling' reshuffle explained
• Who is Andrei Belousov, Putin's new pick for defence minister?

Ask a question or make a comment

That's all our coverage for what has been an important day on the battlefield and beyond.

If you're just checking in, here is a recap of the key developments that took place since this morning.

You can scan the key points above or scroll back through our posts to find out more details.

We'll be back tomorrow with more updates and analysis on the war in Ukraine.

• Russian forces claimed to have captured nine villages northeastern Ukraine, having opened a second front in the Kharkiv region on Friday;
• The governor of Kharkiv said there was a threat of fighting spreading to other settlements;
• The military commander for the Kharkiv region was sacked;
• Hundreds of people were evacuated from towns near the border;
• Ukraine said it thwarted Russian agents plotting to set off a series of bomb attacks in Kyiv and the Western city of Lviv;
• Russia's acting foreign minister said the country was prepared if the West wanted to fight for Ukraine on the battlefield;
• Analysts said Vladimir Putin's choice of defence minister indicated he was preparing Russia for a protracted war.

As fighting continues in northeastern Kharkiv, its governor has issued some updates.

Russian forces struck a farm in the town of Korotychy, killing a civilian and wounding three others, said Oleh Syniehubov.

Another attack on Liptsiy injured a 71-year-old woman, who was rushed to hospital, he said.

The regional defence council has ordered the mandatory evacuation of 113 orphans from three settlements, said Oleh Syniehubov.

Plans have been laid out to evacuate a total of 1,600 residents today.

Just 200 to 300 people remain in the embattled town of Vovchansk, he said, which had a population of 2,500 before the assault and 17,000 before the war.

Russian agents plotted to set off a series of bomb attacks in Kyiv and the Western city of Lviv, Ukraine says.

The prosecutor general's office said authorities arrested two military agents over plans to blow up markets and a site near a cafe in the capital, as well as a defence enterprise in Lviv, seizing 19 explosive devices.

Four of the bombs were intended for Kyiv on Thursday, the day when Russia celebrates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

"According to the plan of the Russian special service, the explosives were supposed to detonate during the supermarkets' peak hours to cause maximum damage to the civilian population," the agency said.

'Disguised as tea boxes'

The explosives intended for the Kyiv builders' markets were disguised as packages of tea, while a bomb was placed in a car for the cafe, according to the SBU.

The Lviv attack was meant to happen last February, the SBU said.

An unidentified defence enterprise was the target, according to prosecutors.

There was no immediate comment from Russia.

Last week, the SBU said it had caught two agents within the state protection department plotting the assassination of Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov.

The Ukrainian military says Russia has had a "partial success" near a village in northern Kharkiv.

But Ukrainian soldiers stopped Russian forces from moving further near Lukyantsi, the general staff said.

It said Russian troops have continued offensive actions, and Ukraine will build up its forces in the area depending on the situation.

Russia launched an incursion from the Belgorod region in Russia across the border into northern Kharkiv on Friday.

Analysts have warned it could stretch Ukrainian forces between two fronts, creating opportunities on the main frontline that Russia may exploit.

Echoing the analysis we featured earlier from the Insitute for the Study of War (see our 11.18am post), a senior Ukrainian official has said Vladimir Putin's reshuffle shows he wants to scale up the war effort.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said: "Russia is finally isolating itself and will try to scale up the war, expand its formats while reconfiguring the economy."

In a surprise move, Vladimir Putin sacked his defence minister of 12 years Sergei Shoigu and named economist Adrei Belousov as Mr Shoigu's successor.

The Institute for the Study of War said Mr Belousov, who has no military experience, will be charged with integrating the defence industrial base into wider domestic policy, further placing Russia on a war footing.

It suggests the Kremlin is preparing for a protracted conflict with Ukraine - or even possibly a future confrontation with NATO, the ISW said.

Approximately 40 miles from the fighting in northeastern Kharkiv, children in the region's namesake city are undertaking their first lessons at an underground school.

The classrooms - the first of their kind - are heavily fortified in an effort to allow some pupils to return to in-person teaching out of reach of Russia's bombs.

Kharkiv's schools have been forced to teach online throughout the war as some Russian missiles can reach the city in under a minute.

Metro stations are playing host to dozens of classrooms, while others have been welded together from layers of steel reinforcing wire and poured cement.

Russia has been increasingly carrying out off-road motorbike attacks under the cover of darkness, according to British intelligence.

Lighter, faster, all-terrain vehicles have highly likely been used since the start of this year to hit Ukrainian positions, transport personnel to the frontlines and conduct reconnaissance, the UK defence ministry has said.

It said Russia reportedly purchased 2,100 Chinese off-road vehicles named Desertcross 1000-3, some of which were personally inspected by Vladimir Putin in November.

"Since the start of 2024, Russia has highly likely increased its use of light vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles and off-road motorbikes, to transport personnel to the frontlines and conduct attacks on Ukrainian positions, particularly at night."

But the army has sacrificed armour and firepower for mobility, with light vehicles "far more vulnerable than their armoured counterparts", the UK MoD said.

Ukrainian drones have "already demonstrated their ability to effectively target" the vehicles, it added.

As we covered in some detail here earlier this year, Sweden dropped more than two centuries of historic neutrality by joining NATO.

The Baltic Sea, which includes maritime access to the Russian city of St Petersburg and the Kaliningrad enclave, is now almost surrounded by members of the alliance.

Today, Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson said Nordic and Baltic cooperation was "deeper than at any time in modern times", underpinned by increasing security threats from Russia.

He is hosting German chancellor Olaf Scholtz and the prime ministers of Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland in Stockholm, with security policy and NATO's July summit in Washington topping the agenda.

"We have long appreciated our neighbours, but at the same time underestimated the importance of concrete, operational cooperation," Mr Kristersson wrote in an op-ed in Swedish business paper Dagens Industri.

Meanwhile, the three Baltic prime ministers have been meeting in Lithuania to reaffirm that Moscow's intimidation is not going to dissuade them from supporting Ukraine.

Estonia's prime minister Kaja Kallas said that "Russia has also intensified the shadow war against all of European countries. It wants to really scare and intimidate the free world to scare us away from helping Ukraine".

"We shouldn't be scared," she added.

With a second front opening in the war and a surprise reshuffle in Vladimir Putin's cabinet, it's been an important week for the war in Ukraine.

Readers have been sending in their questions to our senior correspondents and military experts for their take on the changing battlefield environment.

Today, Jeanie asked:

Is Russia taking advantage and conducting an offensive in the border region due to the fact that several Western countries don't allow their weapons to be used on Russian soil?

Military analyst Sean Bell had this to say...

Thanks, Jeanie, for this very topical question.

Russia claims to have seized nine border settlements as part of a major offensive in the Kharkiv region. Although Ukraine has known for months that Russia was amassing military forces in the region - between 30,000 to 50 000 troops - the scale and ferocity of the attack appears to have caught Ukraine by surprise.

Although only Vladimir Putin and his senior military leadership will know the details of Russia's military strategy, most military analysts believe that Russia does not have the military resources to mount a significant and enduring second front without compromising the offensive in the Donbas - widely believed to be Russia's main effort.

However, Putin is well aware that Russia has a window of opportunity to capitalise on Ukraine's shortage of weapons, and by opening a second front, it forces Ukraine to spread its resources even more thinly, leaving Ukraine more vulnerable on the frontline in the Donbas.

Russia's military objectives for this new offensive appear to be to create a "buffer zone" to protect the Russian border town of Belgorod. This logistics hub for the Russian military effort is just within artillery range of Ukraine, and Putin has long promised to push the Ukrainian forces outside artillery range - around 30km. 

In addition, Russia wants to threaten Kharkiv, so it's pushing forward to enable its own artillery to be within range of this major Ukrainian city.

Moving large quantities of military personnel and equipment from the frontline cannot easily be done discreetly - which under normal circumstances would leave Russian forces vulnerable to Ukrainian attack. 

However, in an effort to limit the potential for escalation, the West has precluded the use of Western-provided weapons to target Russian forces on Russian territory. This significantly limits Ukraine's ability to target Russia's forces as they prepare for a fresh offensive.

However, although we can speculate on Putin's objectives, a battlefield is a dynamic environment, and Russia has considerable forces in reserve to capitalise on any momentum achieved during its current offensive.

Vladimir Putin's surprise choice of new defence minister Andrei Belousov has been speaking to a parliamentary committee as part of his confirmation process.

In his first public comments since being appointed to the post, he called for greater care for soldiers, including better access to housing, hospitals and welfare benefits. 

State media quoted him as saying there was too much bureaucracy surrounding the payment of benefits to military personnel. 

"I think it's a mess when participants in the special military operation who come back on holiday are driven from civilian medical institutions to hospitals which are often simply overcrowded. This issue needs to be resolved," Mr Belousov said.

The comments appeared to be aimed at demonstrating to members of the armed forces that he understands their concerns and will work to improve their conditions. 

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