I booked a surprise luxury vacation through Air New Zealand. It felt like a great value — until I crunched the numbers.

Business Insider

6 hours ago

I received my Mystery Break itinerary a few days before my travel date.
I booked my trip less than a week before the departure date, but a Mystery Break representative told me guests are encouraged to reserve these packages three to six months in advance. In some cases, this can help keep the package's cost low.
Prices for Luxury Mystery Breaks vary and start at NZ$1,699 (about $1,025) a person for a two-night midweek package. I paid NZ$3,162, but was given a media rate for a 50% discount, bringing my total to NZ$1,581.
Either way, I got my itinerary four days before my travel date instead of the usual two. This may have been due to the media arrangement, but I was grateful to receive my flight times, rental car type, and resort information earlier.
I'd be flying into Christchurch, and my final destination was the Fable Terrace Downs Resort in Canterbury high country, about an hour's drive from the city center.
My journey had a frustrating start.
I got to Wellington International Airport at 8:30 a.m., ready to board my 9:30 a.m. flight to Christchurch.
At 9:10 a.m., an announcement informed us the flight had been canceled due to engineering issues. I was automatically rebooked for a 6 p.m. departure, but I didn't want to spend the first day of my Mystery Break stuck in an airport.
After several failed attempts to get on an earlier flight and a lot of back-and-forth with airline staff, I was moved to a 1:45 p.m. flight, which still didn't take off until 3:30 p.m. due to weather concerns.
Airport staff weren't much help — but I could've done more, too.
Despite booking my trip through Air New Zealand, the airline representatives I spoke to in person seemed unfamiliar with the Mystery Break program. I also wasn't given priority rebooking or guidance that might have helped streamline the process.
Delays can happen with any flight, but this was a disheartening start to what was supposed to be a luxury experience.
After my trip, I realized my 11-page Mystery Break itinerary had a number for a 24-hour help desk for "serious" problems.
Although I wish I'd tried calling, instructions advise speaking directly with the "supplier" first, which I did. I don't know if reaching out to the desk would've made a difference, but I'm glad I know now that this resource exists.
When reached for comment, representative for Air New Zealand chief commercial officer Jeremy O'Brien told BI, in part, "From family fun to luxurious retreats, our Mystery Break is a curated, surprise experience with logistical planning and travel support all included in the package. There's also a 24/7 Mystery Break helpdesk designed specifically to support travellers if their flights are disrupted, or they have questions during their trip."
Picking up my rental car was a much smoother experience.
My flight took about an hour, and after we landed, I went to pick up my rental car. The check-in process was quick and easy.
The Mystery Break package included basic insurance, but I upgraded my coverage and paid an additional NZ$100.
I was especially grateful for the freedom a rental car gave me, given that my resort was over an hour's drive from any major cities.
I was blown away by my resort's grounds and surrounding scenery.
Fable Terrace Downs Resort looked stunning as I pulled up.
A staff member at the front desk walked me through everything included in my package: a two-night stay, daily three-course dinners and continental breakfasts, a welcome drink, NZ$200 resort credit, a dedicated parking spot, and late checkout.
Staff had also arranged a dinner reservation for me at the on-site restaurant for that evening.
My accommodations seemed fit for a queen.
The villa felt huge for just one person.
My villa featured a spacious living room with a flatscreen TV and sound system, a full kitchen stocked with snacks and refreshments for purchase, a dining area, in-room laundry, and two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.
A highlight was definitely the balcony, which overlooked the golf course and mountain range.
The two bathrooms also felt luxurious.
The bathrooms had luxurious touches, like heated towel racks, comfy slippers, and plush robes.
One of them also had a large spa bathtub complete with jets.
I headed to a restaurant on the property for dinner.
After a long travel day, I headed to The Clubhouse, the property's restaurant and golf hub, for the first of my two included three-course dinners.
I started with mushroom soup, which was rich in umami flavor and served with crisp yet fluffy garlic bread. This dish alone made up for the day's struggles, and I used the bread to mop up every last drop of soup.
My main course was slow-braised beef cheek pasta, a hearty portion that filled me up before I could finish it.
My meal ended with a sweet treat.
For dessert, I gave in to the temptation of a vanilla crème brûlée topped with cocoa dust, cherry compote, and a fresh strawberry.
It was the perfect end to an incredible meal.
The resort offered various activities for an additional fee.
Mystery Break packages are designed to provide the foundation for a trip — flights, accommodations, and transportation — which gives each traveler freedom to plan how they spend their time.
So, before I arrived, I looked into activities in the surrounding Canterbury high country and ones available on Fable Terrace Downs property.
The resort has an 18-hole championship golf course, tennis courts, walking tracks, and facilities for clay shooting, knife throwing, and archery.
I'd hoped to reserve an archery session, but there was no availability during my stay. Instead, I booked a hot air balloon ride (NZ$355.50) and a treatment at a nearby spa (NZ$95) on my own dime to round out my trip.
I woke up at 5 a.m. for my hot air balloon ride.
The next morning, I drove 30 minutes to the Ballooning Canterbury base yard, where I met our pilot, driver, and six other participants.
The views of the mountains and patchworked countryside from the balloon were spectacular, especially in the early morning light.
I had just enough time to get back to the resort for breakfast.
My ballooning experience wrapped up earlier than expected, so I had time to return to the resort for the complimentary breakfast service before it ended at 10:30 a.m.
The meals were served in a beautiful dining area with mountain views.
I enjoyed my food with a gorgeous view.
I selected items from a gorgeous continental breakfast buffet, including a chocolate croissant, chia-seed pudding with passion fruit, and peaches and pears with whipped cream and mixed-berry compote.
For an additional fee (covered by my resort credit), I also ordered bacon and poached eggs on toast.
The rest of my day was set aside for a road trip to the nearby Arthur's Pass.
Canterbury is known for its stunning alpine setting and hiking trails, which are a dream come true for outdoor enthusiasts.
Since I already had a rental car, I drove nearby to explore scenic spots like Lake Lyndon, Castle Hill, and the Otira Viaduct Lookout.
I'm grateful I got to see so many incredible places at my own pace.
I wound down from a long day with a bath and a glass of bubbly.
My second three-course dinner on the property wasn't quite as good as the first.
I loved the mushroom soup so much that I ordered it again, but the rest of the meal didn't quite live up to my first.
For my main course, I chose the special ribeye steak with bone marrow served with potato gratin, finely chopped vegetables, and a roast-garlic jus.
The steak seemed slightly overcooked and dry, and the flavors weren't as impactful as the pasta from the night before.
I ended my meal with dessert and wine.
I rounded out my meal with the dark-chocolate fondant my server recommended.
It arrived in a hot ramekin topped with berry coulis and a side of rum-raisin ice cream. The cake was fully cooked through, but I would've preferred it as a molten lava-style dessert.
Aside from the soup, my favorite part of the meal was a glass of buttery chardonnay from Gisborne. Restaurant staff also brought me a delicious glass of dessert wine — a thoughtful touch.
I checked out early to squeeze in the spa treatment I'd booked.
The treatment I booked was at Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa, about a 25-minute drive from the resort. I had the first appointment of the day at 10 a.m.
The spa area was beautiful, and my dry-floatation treatment involved being swaddled in a waterproof blanket and being rocked in a warm tub. I felt like I was floating for a relaxing 45 minutes.
I wish I could've done more on my last day.
My return flight was at 2:30 p.m..
This isn't necessarily early, but it didn't leave me much time to explore on the tail end of my trip.
If I'd had more flexibility, I would've left later and made time for another spa treatment or visited the award-winning Rangiora Bakery, which isn't too far from Christchurch Airport.
Ultimately, I was ready to say the Luxury Mystery Break was worth the splurge — until I crunched the numbers.
All in all, my trip included a round-trip flight, two nights in a villa at Fable Terrace Downs Resort, an Avis rental car, plus food and drinks.
If I'd booked all of these things independently, I estimated I would've paid about NZ$1,891. My trip package cost NZ$3,162, which feels like a pretty substantial markup.
Receiving the 50% media rate of NZ$1,581 made this a decent deal, but I wouldn't say the same if I'd paid full price.
To be fair, my two-night midweek package was likely a bit marked up because it was more last-minute. It's also hard to speak on the value of other packages since I've only experienced my own.
But even if I were to book this further in advance, I can't see myself doing this again. Although the surprise element of this package was intriguing, I could've hired a travel agen t to craft a similar itinerary for a fraction of the cost.
Plus, if I'd made the reservations myself, I could've had more flexibility and chosen the later flight I had wanted.
Despite a few hiccups, this experience was magical — but the price didn't reflect its true value. Next time, I'll plan my own luxury escape.