Jerri Pringle and her husband decided their next vacation spot by drawing lots from a cup.

The couple, residing near Bentonville, Arkansas, usually takes one major trip each year. However, for 2025, they opted for a more spontaneous planning method.

On New Year’s Day, they wrote down ten possible destinations on slips of paper, with options ranging from New York City to Key West, and from Dry Tortugas National Park to a Virgin Voyages cruise. Taking turns, they drew the names from a plastic cup, agreeing that the last one picked would be their destination.

“I felt a bit anxious pulling them out because I truly believe in fate and thought, ‘This is where I’m meant to go,’” Pringle, 31, shared with YSL News. Initially, she had preferences toward a cruise, but eventually, Mackinac Island in Michigan emerged as their final choice.

Pringle, who works as an engineer, recorded a nearly two-minute video of the selection process and shared it on TikTok, where it has since gathered over 235,000 views as of Tuesday. “We decided to let fate guide us and let the universe make the choice for us,” she noted.

They’re not alone in this trend. More travelers are sharing their experiences with “vacation roulette” on social media, transforming the way they plan trips into a fun guessing game. Here’s why it’s gaining popularity.

‘It Definitely Reduced the Stress’

After Ella Fernandez and three friends enjoyed a trip to Hawaii last summer, they made a pact to make it an annual event. Inspired by TikTok’s “vacation roulette,” they tried it out in November, tossing in different suggestions like Barcelona, Spain; Costa Rica; and Camden, New Jersey.

“That felt like a fair way to decide, and it really relieved the pressure of needing to pick a place that everyone would enjoy,” said 23-year-old Fernandez from Northern Virginia.

Having just graduated college, some friends had moved to different cities, and they wanted to maintain their bond. “The destination was less critical for us,” she explained. “We simply desired to travel anywhere.” They ultimately settled on Croatia and are planning to visit in the summer.

Like Pringle, Fernandez found the process equitable since all options had been discussed beforehand. This approach allowed them to focus on places they genuinely wished to explore without outside influences.

“In the past, we often let things like budget considerations or family preferences dictate our vacations,” she reflected.

‘It Made the Process More Enjoyable’

Bobby Peterson and his wife delighted their three daughters with a surprise vacation shortly after Christmas 2023. They all contributed to the destination selection as a family.

With their eldest daughter, now 17, they recognized this could be one of their last full-family vacations before she pursues her own independence. “So we thought it was a good time to plan something special,” Peterson, 43, explained.

His wife had come across “vacation roulette” videos on TikTok, and they set some conditions—like choosing locations within the contiguous U.S. and letting everyone pitch in ideas around the dining room table.

Peterson suggested Torch Lake, Michigan, a long-desired destination for his wife, while she proposed Yellowstone. Their kids’ suggestions quickly became the focus of the choice, which turned out to be Jackson, Wyoming, recommended by his middle daughter after some quick Google research.

“It wasn’t a location she was particularly eager to visit,” Peterson shared, who works in banking and lives near Dayton, Ohio. “She just picked something as time was running out.”

Nonetheless, their summer vacation turned out to be beyond expectations. During their five-day trip, they went horseback riding, enjoyed a boat ride on Jenny Lake, and explored the mountains. Additionally, they drove through Yellowstone National Park, adding an unexpected segment to their adventure.

“I think the spontaneity of choosing that destination made it even more enjoyable,” he noted.

How to Participate in ‘Vacation Roulette’

The rules of the game can differ, but some elements remain consistent: Participants generally write down potential locations on slips of paper and take turns drawing them from a container until they reach the final, victorious option.

Pringle opted for a plastic cup; Fernandez and Peterson used bowls for their selections.

Some groups tailor their own rules. For instance, Fernandez and her friends each chose four destinations but allowed for the same option to be drawn multiple times, boosting its chances of being selected. They also made sure that no one else could see their choices.

In contrast, Peterson’s family had only ten minutes to gather ideas while ensuring they chose destinations they had not visited before. “We decided to skip Disney because I simply had no interest in it,” he added.

Pringle and her husband intentionally chose not to do extensive research ahead of time and were unaware of their accommodation options on Mackinac Island.

After posting their video, many people familiar with the area reached out with helpful suggestions—an “insider’s view” that thrilled Pringle, who plans to visit in July.

“It left many things uncertain, which I think will lead to more adventurous experiences for us this year.”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter based in Nashville.