Suggested Searches
Featured Experiences
US Destinations
International Destinations
Some bidders want a quiet beach. Others want a candlelit walk through a centuries-old city while a guide tells them which buildings are said to be haunted. Halloween-inspired travel packages speak to that second group: guests who love history, a good story and a little bit of a chill.
For nonprofits planning fall galas, themed fundraisers or spring events with an eye on next October, spirited getaways add something different to the bidding. Appealing travel packages give guests a reason to bid generously, which helps your organization raise funds for the causes it supports. Below are destinations from the Mitch-Stuart catalog that fit the season, plus practical ways to offer them across your fundraising formats.
Travel already performs well at charity auctions because it sells experiences rather than objects. As we explain in why travel experiences remain powerful auction items, bidders picture themselves traveling before they raise a paddle.
A seasonal theme sharpens that picture. Ghost tours through New Orleans' French Quarter or evenings in Edinburgh's Old Town are easy to describe and hard to forget. Themed trips also give you natural hooks for invitations, décor, social posts and auctioneer scripts, which helps your travel packages stand out from the other items in your catalog.
Spooky travel also reaches guests who might skip a standard resort package. History buffs, mystery readers, foodies and travelers who collect unusual stories often respond to destinations with a darker past. Adding a few of these trips to your lineup brings new bidders into the room.
Winners of unusual trips also tend to talk about them long after the event. Their photos and stories remind other supporters of your auction and build interest for next year. Read more about this effect in turning donors into advocates through travel experiences.
There is a practical benefit too. Mitch-Stuart packages are offered on consignment, so your organization pays only when there is a winning bidder. That lets you select several themed travel packages for your auction without upfront cost.
Few American cities lean into their spooky side like New Orleans. Its above-ground cemeteries, historic mansions and long list of local legends make it a natural fit for Halloween-themed auctions. Add jazz clubs, beignets and Creole cooking, and you have trips that appeal to groups of friends and couples alike.
Mitch-Stuart offers several New Orleans packages with different angles, including Beignets, Ghosts and Spirits, Spirits, Succulent Cuisine and the Soul of N'awlins and Get Jazzy in the Big Easy. Offering these side by side, some centered on ghosts and others on music or food, lets different bidders find their fit.
Savannah's oak-lined squares, Spanish moss and historic homes make it one of the most atmospheric cities in the South. It is also widely known for its ghost stories, which many visitors explore on evening walking tours. Southern Charm, Savannah Style suits couples looking for a slower-paced getaway with plenty of character, good food and long walks through the historic district.
For bidders who want something unusual, Romania delivers. Transylvania's fortified churches, hilltop citadels and castles have fueled storytellers for generations, including the legends that inspired Dracula. Romania's Medieval Tour fits well in a live auction lineup for history lovers and well-traveled guests who have already seen Paris and Rome and want a destination their friends have not visited.
Edinburgh's Old Town is a maze of narrow closes, stone staircases and hidden vaults beneath the streets. Ghost tours are a popular evening activity, and the city's castle, festivals and pubs round out the visit. Captivating Edinburgh gives culture-minded couples and friends an international option with an eerie edge. Autumn is a lovely time to visit, with crisp air, cozy pubs and long evenings that suit a lantern-lit walk through the old streets.
A themed lineup works best when you spread it across several fundraising formats:
Live auction: Present several of your most distinctive trips, such as Romania and Edinburgh, with short stories from the stage.
Silent auction: Create a "Haunted Getaways" table that groups domestic packages at different price points.
Raffle: Use New Orleans and Savannah trips as raffle prizes so guests who are not bidding can still take part.
Online bidding: Open themed packages for mobile bidding a week before the event to build early interest. Our step-by-step guide to online travel auctions covers the setup.
Costume contests and themed games: Offer getaways as prizes to tie your entertainment to your fundraising.
Presentation matters as much as the packages themselves. Display each themed trip with a large photo, a short headline and two or three lines about what makes the destination memorable. Candlelit tables, vintage maps and a few carefully chosen props can turn a silent auction display into a small scene that draws guests over.
Give your auctioneer a short story for each live lot, such as a local legend or a favorite late-night food stop. A few vivid details help bidders imagine the trip and keep energy high between lots.
Start selecting packages eight to twelve weeks before your event so you have time to build descriptions, photos and promotion. Winners usually travel months after the event, so check each package's travel windows and terms on its page. Many winners of Halloween-themed trips will plan their travel for the following October.
Finally, keep balance in mind. Not every guest wants a ghost tour. Offer a variety of experiences to appeal to different bidders by pairing your spooky lineup with beach escapes, family vacations and wine country getaways.
Browse the full Mitch-Stuart travel catalog or explore our latest New Trips. Ready to start? Contact our team to select travel packages for your next auction.
No. Travel dates depend on each package's terms and availability, not the theme. Many winners choose October for the atmosphere, but these destinations are enjoyable year-round.
Not at all. Spring galas can offer these trips so winners have time to plan for the following autumn. Themed trips also work at any event built around history, mystery or storytelling.
Most events do well with two to four themed trips mixed into a broader lineup. That gives the theme presence without crowding out bidders who prefer other experiences.
No. Mitch-Stuart packages are offered on consignment, so you pay only when there is a winning bidder.
Include a strong photo, the destination, the number of nights and travelers, travel windows and two or three highlights. A short line about the local legends or food scene helps bidders picture the trip.
Yes. Many organizations use travel as raffle prizes alongside live and silent auction lots. Check your state's raffle rules before you sell tickets.
