The internet has essentially killed any element of surprise when it comes to holidays. Now we're all beavering away, looking for the best restaurants and asking our Twitter followers for the must-visit secret bars the second we've clicked "book." There's absolutely nothing wrong with being prepared, but there is something to be said for surprising yourself and discovering something on the fly rather than planning every last detail [1]. It is still possible to go on holiday somewhere and keep a little bit of mystery, whether it's a luxury trip [2] or a boutique bargain [3]. Check out our tips for a surprise holiday you'll never forget.

Book a "Secret" Hotel

The best thing about "secret" hotels is that you save huge amounts of cash on a luxury break. Rather than be left with empty rooms in quiet times, these hotels offer reduced rates through online travel agents, but they keep the exact location secret until you've booked. You can get a seriously great deal, and the surprise just adds to the fun. Check out Lastminute.com's Top Secret Hotels [4], Secret Escapes [5], and Late Rooms [6] for the best deals.

Top tip: Pay close attention to the images of the rooms; if you've been looking through a lot of hotel websites, you'll be able to recognise some of them and nab the one you really want. You can also get lucky by googling the hotel description.

Pull a Destination Out of a Hat

If you want to have some control over your final destination, get everyone who's travelling with you to put a number of options into a hat and pick one. Ding! Instant surprise. It'll stop you looking for hotels in eight different countries, too. You can narrow it down to cities or locations in the same way.

Top tip: It might be a good idea to discuss some basics before you choose the destinations. Don't force your holiday pal to do something they don't want to. They will not suddenly enjoy a camping trip.

Give Each Other Surprise Days

If the idea of a whole surprise holiday doesn't appeal, what about a day trip? Every so often, my partner and I surprise each other with a day of secret adventures. You can also extend this plan to your holiday, so even if you've planned six of your seven days, one day will be a total surprise.

Top tip: This is best researched in advance by the person organising the surprise, especially if you need to arrange transport or tickets.

Just Turn Up and Go!

This takes a lot of courage (and money), but have you considered not booking anywhere at all? Head to your nearest train station, and go to a part of the country you've always wanted to visit. You can book your hotels using your phone while you're on the train.

Top tip: Despite what rom-coms would have you believe, it's tricky to just hop on a flight. You'll have to deal with visas and medicine if you find yourself booked somewhere exotic. Stick a little closer to home for this one.

Use a Secret Travel Agent

Would you hand over the booking of your holiday to a company that kept your travel details a secret until the very last minute? That's what srprs.me [7] does. You assign a budget and have the option to exclude up to three cities (so you won't end up in Paris if you went there last year), and it does the rest, setting you up with a surprise European city break. You won't find out your location until you're at the airport.

Top tip: Make sure you use an agent that's reputable and ATOL protected. You should feel 100 percent confident about booking.

Get to Know Your Hotel Concierge

The hotel concierge isn't just there to look smart. The best ones know everything. They know how to get a table at an amazing restaurant that you can't get into. They know about a bar you haven't heard of. They know how to surprise even the most well-trodden of travellers. Give them a try; you might just surprise yourself.

Top tip: Be open to ideas; the best concierge experiences are when you let them take care of all the little details. But give them a little bit of notice, too; they aren't magicians.

Split the Planning

If you're all about the culture and day trips, leave the rest of the booking to your holiday buddy. You'll have all of the quirky museums sorted, and they'll have the restaurant and hotel booked. You both get a bit of a surprise, but nothing gets forgotten.

Top tip: Only do this with someone you really, really trust who has the same budget as you. Otherwise, your getaway might be somewhere five-star when you were hoping for cheap and cheerful.

Only Plan 50% of Your Trip

I care more about food than anything else on holiday, so it would be impossible for me not to do a little bit of planning and research. However, I don't do all of it. Sometimes, I just research an area of a city I'd like to visit and eat wherever takes my fancy. Other days, I might have a list of places I'd like to try, and if our exploring takes us in that direction, we're sorted for lunch. This keeps you in control without making your holiday feel a bit like you're just ticking things off a list.

Top tip: Have three must-visits. That way you ensure your top-tier choices are ticked off the list, and you won't be too sad about missing that amazing lunch spot if something else fun comes along.