You heard right – a £99 holiday. But is it possible? We decided to put the viral Wowcher £99 Mystery Holiday deal to the test to see if it’s a solid option for budget-conscious travellers. The concept is simple: choose the ‘Mystery Holiday’ option on the website (for two people, so £99 each), select a date, and boom – your holiday destination is revealed! The price covers both flights and accommodation, with destinations ranging from 2 nights in Dublin to 7 nights in the Maldives (lucky for some!).

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So, how did it go?

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The Details:

• Destination: Riga, Latvia
• Duration: 2 nights
• Flights (London Stansted to Riga):
  • Outbound: Wednesday 3:15 pm (arrive 7:45 pm Latvian time)
  • Inbound: Friday 1:25 pm (arrive back in London 2:45 pm)

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What We Spent:

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Riga, being a budget-friendly city, worked out great for us. For example, the average price of a beer is £3.50 compared to £6.75 in London (according to Finder.com). Our initial budget was £75 each, but we ended up upping it to £100. This covered 4 meals (two dinners and two breakfasts), snacks, coffees, alcoholic drinks, a couple of taxis, and admission to a museum and a spa. Not too shabby!

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The Experience:

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One of the best things about this holiday is the lack of organisation required. Flights and hotels are sorted for you, removing the stress of research. Plus, the mystery element made it exciting, encouraging us to visit a destination we might not have considered.

The downside? It’s all luck. You have no control over the time you spend at your destination, the hotel, or whether you end up somewhere you’ve already visited. We felt we had enough time, but the hotel left much to be desired.

There’s the option to upgrade your flights, destination, or airport, but of course, that comes with additional fees. For example, to change our flight times to something more convenient would have cost £58 per person. However, we stuck to our guns and decided to embrace the low-budget adventure. Luckily, our flights left from our closest airport, and the hotel was only a 15-minute taxi ride from the city centre. But keep in mind, that might not always be the case.

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Price Comparison:

• Flights: Similar flights would have cost around £65 per person.
• Accommodation: For the same dates, a hotel would have been about £35 for two nights.

Had we booked this trip ourselves, it would have only cost £1 extra per person. So, is it worth it? It really depends on how much risk you’re willing to take.

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Top Takeaway Tips for a Budget-Friendly Trip:

• Make the most of public transport
• Travel out of season
• Eat like a local
• Enjoy free attractions

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While a £99 holiday isn’t without its uncertainties, it’s an affordable and exciting way to explore new places. Would you take the plunge for a mystery trip?