how it works

+ what is travelcation co.?

We are a travel agency that plans 3, 5, or 7-day getaways around the United States. The catch? Your destination is a surprise until the day you depart! Our trips range from two (2) nights / three (3) days, four (4) nights / five (5) days and six (6) nights / seven (7) days. Interested in a longer trip? Keep reading! Want to know what our travelers are saying about Travelcation Co.? Read our reviews page with insights from travelers!

+ where are you sending me?

Great question! But if we told you, that would ruin all the fun. What we can tell you is that we send our travelers to a variety of mid-sized urban American cities. On average, transit times are around 4 hours, but might be up to 6 hours depending on your starting location. We will not abandon you in the middle of nowhere - all of our destination cities have public transportation, and more than enough going on to keep you busy.

+ what if i know where i want to go?

Travelcation Co. might not be the best fit for you right now. If you know you want to go to Los Angeles, you should go to Los Angeles! We cannot guarantee that we'll send you there. In fact, we can guarantee we won't send you there, because it would not be a surprise. Travelcation Co. is all about embracing the unknown and being bold. So, if you have a specific trip in mind, we are not a perfect fit for your travel needs.

It is best if you book your trip as early as you can. The more time we have to plan your trip, the better deals we can get for you. That said, if you are interested in a last minute getaway - you can book a trip up to FIVE weeks before departure. Why not sooner? We need enough time to plan your trip, whether it’s a 3-day trip or 7-day trip, we need to make sure there are still good deals available for you!

+ how long are the trips?

We have multiple duration options for you. Our trips range between two (2) nights and three (3) days, four (4) nights / five (5) days or six (6) nights / seven (7) days. We do ask for your time restrictions, but if you don't list any, we'll do our best to have you spend as much time in your destination as possible! We can accommodate longer trips upon request, so just give us a call or send us an email to ask!

booking your trip

+ can i bring my pets?

Unfortunately, no. We’re sure your pets are insanely cute, but you can’t bring them with you on this trip. No pets allowed, sorry.

+ i have kids, can they come too?

Yes! Family trips are wonderful and we love planning them too. If your children have any specific interests (or any strong dislikes!) please be sure to mention them when you are filling out the survey. We'll make sure to include plenty of family-friendly and age-appropriate recommendations so everyone will have a great time.

+ what about babies?

If your baby is under the age of 2 years old, guess what? They travel for FREE! So yes, you most certainly can travel with a baby/babies. There is no need to factor them into the budget but please do provide us with their name and birth date. Regarding your accommodations, please let us know what you would like best. We are very flexible. If you would like a crib, extra bed, or any other special amenity, please let us know and specify that on the pre-trip questionnaire and we will work within your budget to make it happen!

+ i don’t live in america. can i still book with travelcation co.?

Unfortunately, no. Our departures are limited to the continental United States, and are limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Why? Things can get tricky with logistics and liability when crossing borders.

+ can i specify what kind of weather i want to be in on this trip?

Our main priority is that our travelers have the best experience possible! We ask those vacationing in the winter months what climate they prefer. If you want to hit the beach in January, you’re not alone! Since so many people try to fly south during colder seasons, travel and accommodation prices rise. If escaping winter is your main aim, be sure to select a higher budget that will help you get to warmer weather and please specify what kind of climate you are hoping for on your pre-trip survey. Our team will do their best to accommodate any requests you make and can reach out if they have any questions! Also, please keep in mind that even our warmest destination cities still experience cooler temperatures in the winter months and winter weather can be unpredictable, it can snow in Florida and it can be 70° in February in Pittsburgh. We’ll do our best to send you somewhere warmer than your hometown, but know that we cannot (yet) control the weather!

preparing for your trip

+ how do i know what to pack for my trip?

Don't worry! One week before you depart, we'll email you the weather forecast for your mystery destination. We'll email you an updated weather forecast for your trip the day before you depart, as well, in case anything changes. In that "One Week Until Departure" email, we'll let you know if you should bring anything specific on your trip, like a bathing suit or hiking boots. All of our trips include one personal item and one carry on bag for all travelers. What does that mean? All travelers get one smaller bag (purse, laptop bag, backpack) that will fit under the seat in front of you. All travelers also can bring one carry on suitcase that will fit in the overhead compartment. The standard size for a carry on suitcase is (22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches, including handles and wheels).

+ what if i want a checked bag for my trip?

Some airlines do allow checked bags while purchasing a flight, while some do not allow us to pay for a checked bag before you arrive at the airport. To make things simple, if you want to check a bag, please specify and we will do our best to accommodate you. It is possible that you might have to pay for a checked bag when you arrive at the airport on the day of your departure. You will be responsible for checked bag fees. *Please note that most airlines charge between $25-40 per checked bag, each way.

+ how will i receive my boarding pass?

For your outbound flight, we will check you in. The morning of your departure, we'll send you your boarding passes by email. For your return flight, you will be responsible for checking yourself in. In your email, you will find all of the flight information (confirmation number, flight number, departure times, etc.) that you need to get your return boarding passes.

payment and budget

+ how does payment work?

Upon completion of the survey, you will be directed to the payment page where you will enter your payment either by credit card or Paypal. Your credit card will be charged immediately for the full budget amount. Even if your trip is several months away, for credit card security, we cannot store your payment information to charge you later!

+ are there any fees after i select my budget?

There are no taxes applied. If you select a trip for two people at $1,000 per person, you will pay exactly $2,000 - not a cent more, tax wise. Once we receive your order and payment, we then build a trip for you with the goal of utilizing your budget to the fullest. How do we make money, you may ask? We tack on a small service fee on the top of your budget (15%), but rest assured, the full amount of your budget goes towards your trip. If you'd like to see the receipts for your reservations after your trip, we'll be more than happy to send them over!

+ what’s the difference in budget options?

+ does my budget include food & activities?

We only guarantee that your budget will cover your travel + accommodation. For every getaway, we recommend great activities and restaurants, but we do not cover those expenses in your budget. However, if there is extra room in your budget once we book your travel + accommodation and charge our service fee, we use those funds to book trip extras such as restaurant or rideshare gift cards, activities, and more. We cannot guarantee these extras since travel prices fluctuate pretty drastically depending on travel dates, departure locations, etc. If you have any questions or special requests regarding activities for your trip, please send us an email or specify that you would like us to try to accommodate food & activities if there is anything left over from your budget when filling out the pre-trip questionnaire!

+ does my budget include transportation to/from the airport?

No. Airport transfer coordination becomes a headache for us, for you, and for the hotel with flight delays and cancellations. With ridesharing as a primary method of transportation, we encourage you use Uber or Lyft - enter discount codes here?

+ why are the prices different between solo & group travel?

A large chunk of the budget that you select for your Travelcation trip goes toward the accommodations that we purchase for you. In that regard, it is always more cost-efficient to travel in groups. A hotel room will cost the same, whether one or two people are staying in it, so the price for our trips is lower if you've got a travel companion. Solo travelers, we love you, but you're just a little more expensive!