For adventurous travelers who are more daring with their vacation plans, some companies offer mystery deals for a set, often discounted, price.
One popular example is Groupon, the e-commerce marketplace known for its deals and discounts, and its Mystery Getaway offer.
Not everyone is brave enough to go for it, but one couple who did decided to film their experience and post it to TikTok.
In a recent video that has garnered over 5,650 views, TikTok creator Mrs. Resendiz (@lissachristina) and her partner film themselves as they arrive at their Las Vegas hotel, which viewers believe was Harrah’s.
The couple says everything had gone smoothly so far.
“Alright, guys, so we just checked into our hotel,” Resendiz says. “We got on our flights today. There was no issues, nothing. So far, everything has been great.”
At that point, she says the only additional expense they’d encountered was the hotel’s resort fee.
“All we had to pay was the resort fees,” she says. “So we’re about to check out this room and see if this Groupon was really worth it or not. The room is the key.”
Then comes the moment of truth.
As soon as they open the door, however, the couple sounds pleasantly surprised. The room looks clean, spacious, and decorated minimally.
“Ooh, this is nice,” Resendiz says as she walks inside.
She then checks out the bathroom, which earns her approval as well.
Finally, the couple heads toward the window to see what kind of Las Vegas view their mystery deal got them.
“Alright, not that great of a view,” she admits, giving it an 8 out of 10 in the video’s text overlay.
The deal Resendiz and her partner appear to have used is listed on Groupon as “Mystery Getaway: Europe, U.S., Caribbean, Asia & More with Hotel & Air Included.”
According to the current offer, both the destination and the length of the trip are revealed after customers finalize their booking. Depending on the tier a traveler randomly receives, the vacation can last two, four, or seven nights.
The package includes, as the product listing suggests, round-trip flights and hotel accommodations. However, the advertised price applies per person, and customers generally need to purchase at least two vouchers, with two travelers sharing one room. Solo travelers can participate, but Groupon currently lists an additional $150 charge for them.
According to Groupon, the destination comes down to a random draw. The marketplace says an algorithm selects from a pool of 2,000 vouchers based on the travelers’ preferred dates and departure airport.
Groupon does guarantee that mystery hotels are “3-star or above, independently rated 7+/10 on Booking.com or 3.5+/5 on Tripadvisor.”
While the flight and hotel are covered, the company warns that travelers may incur a resort fee depending on their destination. Things like carry-on and checked bags, in-flight meals, and airport transfers are also not included.
Experiences with the getaway seem to vary, although Mystery Vacation, the company operating the getaways via Groupon, has overwhelmingly positive reviews on Trustpilot.
As of August, Mystery Vacations has a 4.7 rating out of 5 from 1,073 reviews, with 83% of reviewers awarding it five stars.
One traveler said the package delivered significant savings compared to booking everything separately.
“For about $780, we ended up with round-trip airfare for two, four nights in a 4-star hotel, and a destination we’ve both been wanting to experience,” they wrote, in part. “That’s an outstanding deal in my book.”
However, not everybody felt they got a bargain. Extra charges, in particular, come up among some of the negative reviews.
“THIS IS A SCAM!” one reviewer wrote. “There are so many hidden fees and upcharges that makes this trip extremely overpriced for what you get.”
Travelers have raised similar complaints on Reddit. “We paid $196 each which was to include airfare and hotel,” one r/Groupon user wrote. “When we were checking into our hotel, we were told there would be a $69.95 per day surcharge added to our credit card. Furious. No savings at all. Never again.”
That same traveler also wasn’t thrilled with the airline involved. “Also, you will probably fly Frontier. The seats are uncomfortable and cramped,” they wrote.
Resendiz’s successful mystery trip had some viewers considering taking the gamble themselves.
“Girl I want to try it so bad! I’m scared I will end up on Chilligian’s Island,” one commenter wrote, referring to a skit on Martin about a vacation gone wrong.
Another was more interested in the extra costs. “How much was the resort fees?” they asked, to which Resendiz responded, “$110.”
Meanwhile, viewers who thought they recognized the couple’s hotel thought they had done pretty well with their mystery assignment.
“Harrah’s is in the heart of the strip!!!!” they wrote. “I’d be happy with that hotel!!!”
Neither Resendiz nor Groupon immediately responded to a request for comment.
@lissachristina @Groupon #lasvegas #groupon #groupondeals #vacation #travel ♬ original sound – 𝐌𝐫𝐬. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐳
