The Short Version: Lillian Rafson ended up being backpacking around Europe when she learned all about a European travel company that in the offing shock vacations. She couldn’t imagine anything similar that existed in the United States, so Lillian founded Pack Up + Go, an organization that programs three-day journeys that includes rooms in hotels and tasks while keeping the location a secret. Couples seeking enhance their own journeys can set preferences and describe their unique passions, and Pack Up + get protects the main points and sends them on surprise trip.

Many couples aren’t getting hitched when you look at the airport prior to they begin a holiday. But one couple prepared to start a clean up + Go shock travel changed their own holiday into a minimoon by eloping right before their particular journey.

“We had two ladies on a lovers excursion get married during the airport in their hometown right before departing the journey,” stated Lillian Rafson, CEO and creator of Pack Up + Go.

Like that marriage, clean up + Go is focused on delivering the unforeseen. The business projects trips for singles, couples, and people with one considerable twist: Travelers do not choose their destination. Each travel is three-days long, thus consumers easier cede power over their travel-planning.

Travel is an established method to hold love lively, and lovers could find these escapades even more exciting because they seldom will be very impressed together. While someone may put a surprise party or buy a spur-of-the-moment gift for a special someone, most events you should not include that same degree of exhilaration both for.

“we have had several tourists say many fun part may be the element of shock,” Lillian mentioned.

But Pack Up + Go is not likely to deliver a few whom largely enjoy galleries and okay food to an outdoorsy town saturated in hiking activities. Lovers supply the organization’s planners numerous info, such as vacation dates, tastes, and interests, so they really’re guaranteed to attempt an enjoyable adventure.

“all of us comes from backgrounds in occasion preparing, vacation, this service membership business, and event coordination and strategies,” Lillian mentioned. “a great deal of the concerns getting together with tourists, and a real person is preparing the travel.”

Emphasizing happen to be Original Cities

In 2015, Lillian quit the girl work to backpack across Baltic Coast of European countries. At a hostel there, she met two ladies who’d already been sent on tour by a shock European vacation company.

“I would never heard about the concept before,” she informed all of us.

The concept had gotten Lillian considering. She’d went to so many towns and cities offshore, but she’d not witnessed most of the United States. “we made it all the way to Europe without checking out Denver or Charleston, all of these towns within my yard,” she mentioned.

From that recognition, finish off + Go was given birth to.

When a client signs up, their coordinators reach work locating American metropolitan areas that fit their passions. For example, if one or two wants art beer as well as the outside, they might be on course to Denver. Should they fancy galleries and record, they could board a flight destined for Boston.

“Some enchanting places are Savannah or Charleston, but we love to deliver travelers to bay area or Philadelphia,” Lillian mentioned. “Philly is actually a hidden jewel, and lovers tend to be taken aback by how much cash they love the town of Brotherly prefer.”

Tourists likewise have a choice of whether or not they want to drive or travel their destination, that helps Pack Up + Go area to their surprise destination.

Lillian provides a very important factor to bear in mind concerning organization’s places.

“We consider metropolitan getaways. If you’re looking for a secluded getaway during the cabin from inside the woods, we aren’t the organization individually,” she stated.

Accommodating all sorts of People, Budgets, and Expectations

When Lillian ended up being picturing finish off + Go’s potential audience, she thought the most likely group was adult kinky free-spirited millennials which includes disposable earnings and getaway times. While that demographic accocunts for a number of the businesses clientele,  90percent of its company is inspired by couples taking a trip together.

“they are finding a fresh element to heighten their vacation knowledge,” Lillian said.

The average age of a Pack Up + Go customer is 35, with many tourists in their very early 30s. Though the businesses clientele may skew towards the younger side, couples of any age happen benefiting from the spontaneity it gives.

“the very first five-time customer is actually a couple of from Kansas within their 70s,” Lillian mentioned. “in addition they love the component of surprise.”

A week prior to the excursion, people obtain a contact with a few general details. Some examples are a-weather prediction when it comes to location, suggested items to pack, luggage restrictions, and guidelines throughout the some time transport center the spot where the tourists is certainly going to start the excursion.

Next, a few days before their unique departure, a package because of the destination and a suggested itinerary will arrive. Couples aren’t meant to open this envelope however, maybe not until they arrive at the assigned begin destination.



“We plan these travels for hours on end, day-after-day, so we have actually ideas that a couple that doesn’t vacation wouldn’t select,” Lillian said.

In addition to indicating the types of tasks they enjoy, lovers choose just how much they can be willing to invest in the journey per person. Dependent on budget, clean up + Go can plan different types of tasks, and include features, including enhanced rooms in hotels or good dinner bookings. The typical client aims to invest $750 to $850 per individual.

“A nice supper reservation or a lovers massage therapy often helps create a-trip a tad bit more unforgettable,” Lillian stated.

Lovers can note if they are celebrating a special affair, a frequent incident for a lot of tourists. Most are empty-nesters seeking to reconnect after their children have moved out of our home. Other people have obtained the journey as an engagement or marriage gift from family members or friends. Still, other people tend to be preparing for wedding anniversaries, babymoon visits, or mother or father getaways.

“It’s half matchmaking and half reasoning problem,” Lillian said with a laugh. “Are there resort hotels readily available? Are there flights there? Which is as soon as the logistics get somewhat complicated.”

Clean up + get aims to Put Some Thrill into Relationships

The major advantage for partners reserving a trip through Pack Up + Go is that they do not need to prepare such a thing. As an alternative, they’re able to look forward to linking together as 3 days of transport, tasks, restaurants, and places tend to be lined up for them.

“partners whom plan getaways frequently stress over choosing the lodge or planning the schedule,” Lillian stated. “We keep carefully the romance lively by assisting all of them focus on enjoying the trip.”

Finish off + Go helps infuse a heart of adventure into a relationship. Most likely, sharing unique encounters is a superb means for partners to keep the love lively. “picking out the joy inside the surprise with each other is interesting, and grownups don’t get most unexpected situations,” Lillian told us.

Finish off + Go is coming up with new approaches to generate packages for tourists. The company is considering strategies to provide expanded trip possibilities, various platforms, and multi-city journeys.

“It feels truly unique to know exactly how travelers review on these journeys, and it’s really amazing to see that individuals’ve influenced their unique lives that way,” Lillian said.