“On first thought, my answer revolved around an African Safari with my family. But, I'm already working on making that happen. So, I'm redirecting to the Orient Express! The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express looks absolutely incredible! I'd do both the routes, Istanbul to Paris and Paris to Venice, and see it all. I'd travel first class, experiencing modern luxury. Then board the train to experience the opulence and nostalgia of days gone by. Of course, I'd want to bring my family and/or friends along, because what is travel if you don't have someone to share it with.”
Dana Lewis, owner + founder of DWD Travel & Destination Weddings
“Expedition to the South Pole, and I would love to travel with Hurtigruten Expeditions. The unexplored area of our beautiful planet and the expedition to witness one of the most beautiful creations of the North and South Pole is a huge attraction to me. The penguins, the seals, the blue whales, etc. are rare to see and will give me an opportunity to live life to the fullest, to experience a non-conventional way to travel. This will be a true appreciation of our lovely nature.”
Vikas Malhotra, travel expert at Itravel2000, a division of Red Label Vacations Inc.
“My no-limits journey would encapsulate my love for faith, nature and adventure. With my family, I would begin journeying through the Holy Land with a biblical historian and archaeologist, visiting meaningful sites and running the epic Dead Sea Half Marathon. Then, we would set sail on a superyacht cruise throughout the Mediterranean exploring hidden coastal gems, focusing on rich flavors, jumping in the ocean every chance we could, and enjoying each opportunity to interact with locals.”
Abigail M. Schimke, luxury travel advisor at Grand Traverse Travel, an Affluent Traveler Collection affiliate
“My ultimate no-limits vacation would be a privately escorted journey across Europe, with history, food, and culture front and center. I’d travel by private yacht along coasts, hop by helicopter between cities, and have a luxury driver on standby. I want doors opened that aren’t open to the public: hidden courtyards, closed galleries, even the Vatican’s secret passageway, with a chance to meet the Pope. At night, I’d stay as a guest in private castles or villas; if that’s not possible, I’d choose the very best each destination offers.”
Tammy Levent, president of Elite Travel Management Group
“Unique experiences with nature are my favorite vacation activity. If money were no object, I would take a family vacation to Rwanda so I could see my favorite animal, gorillas, in their natural habitat. I would love to stay in a luxury treehouse at One&Only Gorilla's Nest and trek into the forest with expert guides to visit gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. Of course, since the sky's the limit, we would then hop over to Kenya, Tanzania or South Africa to see the Big Five on safari. Before heading home, we'll enjoy a luxury beach resort in the Seychelles. Hey, a girl can dream, right?!”
Carey Driscoll, business development manager at VAX VacationAccess
“As an adventure traveler, I’m always seeking out of the box experiences, so if money were no object, I’d choose the Ultimate Antarctica journey with luxury tour company White Desert Antarctica. They are the only company to fly private charters from Cape Town, South Africa, to the most remote continent on Earth, which allows travelers to skip the nauseating waves of the Drake Passage that cruise ships are required to traverse. This grand adventure, starting at $2 million per-person, includes exploring ice caves, submarine dives, helicopter tours, emperor penguin encounters and a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to the Geographic South Pole.”
Meagan Norton, founder and owner of Moments by Meagan Adventure Travel
Originally appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of The Compass magazine
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