Groupon's $179 mystery vacation deal offers surprise destinations

Planning a vacation in 2026 means budgeting for flights, a hotel and the inevitable sticker shock that comes with both. Groupon is offering a way around that: mystery vacation packages with round-trip flights and a hotel starting at $179 per person. The catch? You won't find out where you're going until after you pay.

The domestic deal costs $179 per person and draws from a pool of more than 40 U.S. cities. The possible destinations include big cities like Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston and Philadelphia; beach escapes to Miami, Key West, St. Petersburg and Myrtle Beach; Southern cities like New Orleans, Nashville, Charleston and Savannah; outdoor destinations including Denver, Seattle and Lake Tahoe; and entertainment draws like Las Vegas, Orlando and Niagara Falls.

Long Islanders should note Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark and MacArthur airports are not on the included airport list and therefore may carry a surcharge of $75 to $150 per person on top of the base price, which is payable when you finalize the booking with the tour operator. For example, a couple booking the domestic deal flying out of MacArthur could realistically be looking at as much as $650 before any extras.

The international option, priced at $299 per person for up to seven nights for travelers from LaGuardia or Newark, draws from more than 50 destinations across Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and the U.S., but works differently. Long Islanders will need to select Gate C Departure Airports when purchasing the voucher, which includes your choice of LaGuardia or Newark. The destination is then randomly assigned through a tiered lottery out of a pool of 2,000 vouchers. Within 72 hours, six travelers will land Gold, which means seven nights at a premium European or Asian destination. Twelve will get Silver, which includes four nights in places like Hawaii, Mexico or Iceland. The remaining 1,982 will fall into Bronze, which is two nights in a major U.S. city. Everyone pays the same price going in. A valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity and two blank visa pages is required.

HOW IT WORKS

• Buy your voucher; one per person.
• Submit a booking form with your preferred travel dates and departure airport. Your preferred dates go into a draw rather than a guaranteed reservation. You need to book at least 14 days out from the day you submit the form, and no more than 90 days in advance.
• Within 72 hours, you find out your destination.
• The operator works with you to confirm a specific departure date.

The price is per person based on two travelers sharing a room, so you need to buy at least two vouchers. Solo travelers can book but pay an additional $150 fee. Airfare covers only a personal item like a backpack or small bag. Carry-on and checked bags are not included, and baggage fees vary by carrier. City tax is also not included and may apply depending on your destination.

Once you submit your voucher code to the operator, the booking is non-refundable. The voucher itself is refundable up until that point, or within three days of purchase, whichever comes first.

The travel window runs through Dec. 20, with a booking deadline of Nov. 30.