Surprise Journee 2025

A Mystery Ticket to...

On April 1, 2025, I arrived at Las Vegas International Airport (LAS) buzzing with anticipation. This wasn’t just any trip — I was finally going to discover my destination for a week-long adventure. I had booked it through Journee, a travel service that keeps your location a secret until shortly before you depart. I’d said yes to their surprise proposal without hesitation, knowing I wouldn’t know where I was going until just a week before my flight.

Some people thought it was a ridiculous gamble. Others thought it was the most exciting idea ever. My friends and family tried to help me crack the clues Journee sent in the days leading up to my departure, but no one guessed correctly.

Since Journee is based in London and only flies from a handful of U.S. airports, my journey started with a twist: the closest departure point was LAX. It’s a short flight from Las Vegas, but the extra leg made the whole thing a bit more complicated. And given that it was April Fools’ Day, I half expected the universe to have some kind of prank in store for me.

Still, standing in the terminal with my sealed envelope in hand, I could barely contain my excitement. I counted down — 3… 2… 1… — and tore it open.

“Bucharest and Brașov.”

At first, my brain stalled. Huh? Then I saw the word “Romania,” and a spark of excitement kicked in. I’d never considered Romania before, which made it feel like the perfect kind of adventure. The plan: a quick hop to LAX, a long flight to Bucharest, and then… let the week unfold.

Day 1–2: Bucharest’s Flavors & First Impressions

After landing in Bucharest, I quickly learned that rush-hour traffic is no joke. My Uber app refused to work (weak Wi-Fi, I suspect), and after waiting far too long for a reasonably priced taxi, I gave in and took a ride from a driver who didn’t look entirely official. It was a flat fare, no meter, but by that point, I just wanted to get to my hotel.

The next morning, my first real taste of Romania came — literally — with a food and farmer’s market tour booked through Romanian Friend. We wandered from the National Theater into old streets and even some communist-era neighborhoods, sampling hearty peasant platters, street snacks, and sweet treats along the way. The farmers’ market was a riot of colors, smells, and flavors — I walked away full and slightly obsessed with Romanian cheese.





Day 3: Castles & the Road to Brașov

Friday was my first big travel day inside Romania. We set out for a Transylvania castles tour, starting with Peles Castle in Sinaia — a royal retreat straight out of a fairy tale. Then it was on to Bran Castle, with its imposing hilltop silhouette and endless Dracula lore. Whether or not you buy into the vampire myths, the history alone is worth the visit.

By evening, we rolled into Brașov and I checked into Safrano Palace right on Council Square. My room looked out over pastel façades, cobblestones, and the Black Church — a view I could’ve stared at for hours.


 












Day 4: Medieval Villages & Sighisoara

On Saturday, we left Brașov for a tour of Sighisoara and several fortified villages. Sighisoara’s colorful streets and clock tower looked straight out of a storybook — fitting, since it’s also the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Villages like Viscri offered a quieter beauty: narrow lanes, whitewashed houses, and centuries-old churches still standing strong.


Day 5: Return to Bucharest

Sunday's train ride back to Bucharest was a scenic and relaxing way to close out the countryside portion of the trip. With the afternoon free, I revisited Old Town for a final wander and some last-minute souvenir hunting before checking in at the Lido by Phoenicia. 




Day 6: Rest

Monday, I rested. I didn't do much but walk around the city a little, eat, and met up with a fellow traveler for some wine tasting.


Day 7: Goodbye, Romania

Tuesday morning, I grabbed one last coffee, took a final walk through the city, and called an Uber to the airport. As the plane lifted off, I thought about how this trip — one I hadn’t planned to a country I’d never considered — had turned into one of my most memorable adventures yet.






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