People travel for all kinds of reasons: to explore a new destination, to reconnect with loved ones, for the thrill of adventure, or to enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation. While it’s Covington’s chosen mission to help people fulfill their travel dreams – whatever they may be – we also follow the flight safety instructions heard on every airplane, “Secure your own oxygen mask before helping others.” In other words, we’re reveling in our own travel moments so that we can recommend the very best ones to our clients. To that end, here are 10 favorite travel experiences that took our breath away.
A Sample of Our Favorite Travel Experiences
In Botswana, in between safari excursions of viewing exotic wildlife I was a passenger in a 4-person dugout canoe. As I was paddled around the Okavango Delta, I felt as though I was sitting in a Monet painting surrounded by the most beautiful water lilies on earth. – Josée Covington, President & CEO
When I was on a Canadian Mountain Holidays Heli-Hiking trip, I had the opportunity to learn how to rappel from a high rock formation. Having been afraid of heights as a child and adult, I knew that this was a possible opportunity to conquer a longstanding fear. With determination and stamina, as well as a very encouraging guide, I was able to reach the top of the formation and my fear was quelled. – Barbi Partlow, Vacation Advisor and Tahiti Specialist
Some of my favorite adventurous travel experiences include galloping horseback across the Atacama Desert in the shadow of the Andes, “trying” scuba diving for the first time on the Great Barrier Reef on Lizard Island, Bungee jumping in Queenstown, New Zealand, and coming face to face with a leopard in the dark in South Africa. – Karen Kilyk, Luxury Vacation Planner
In celebration of our Halloween wedding anniversary, my husband and I took a Dracula tour where we attended a private Halloween costume ball held in a castle in Romania. A German TV crew filmed the event, making it even more surreal! – Judy Faust, Charlottesville Vacation Advisor
One of my best travel experiences wasn’t on an exotic island or an international cruise; it was at an amusement park in 98° heat – not everyone’s idea of “best!” The Harry Potter World at Universal Studios in Orlando truly transports you to Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express, but sharing the magic with my daughters was the real treat. – Madhavi Del Favero, Covington Meetings & Events
The first time I ever went whitewater rafting was on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica where class III and IV rapids plunge into the heart of the Rio Pacuare Gorge through the dense tropical rain forest. Between the exciting runs, we stopped to hike to a pristine waterfall. The primordial beauty was breathtaking. – Doug Floyd, Luxury Vacation Advisor
One of my most exciting nature travel experiences happened on an early morning wildlife tour in the Grand Teton National Park. Our guide said we would be lucky to see any moose on the tour, but we saw five – two females together with their three calves … one had a set of twins! – Staci Hunt, Business Travel Consultant
A travel moment that took my breath away was standing on Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. All I could think was “I am at the bottom of the Earth, on top of the world!” – Liz Prom, Kalamazoo Vacation Advisor
On a dirt road in the mountains of Costa Rica, our guide suddenly had the bus driver stop and the passengers disembark quietly. All was silent as he pointed out an extremely large howler monkey in the trees. Our guide began to howl loudly and the trees suddenly filled with other monkeys, all chattering to protect their king. Our guide got quiet and so did the monkeys. Our guide howled again and the monkeys protested again. It was an amazing display of the animal kingdom. – Lydia Moneymaker, Vacation Advisor
Relaxation and sheer tranquility can take my breath away, just like adventure and excitement. This year my husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary at Secrets Akumal Resort on the Riviera Maya. It was pure romantic bliss! – Kelly Overstreet, Manager, Accounting Department
Contact the well-traveled Covington Travel Advisors to help plan your own travel experiences that will take your breath away.
What a wonderful way to whet an appetite for an adventurous trip. These stories are all about places most of us would never think of the adventures that could happen because WE have never been there. Very tempting, well, all but Dracula…however, my grandchildren would love that!
Thanks for your kind comments, Nancy. We love to share our travels and hear about our clients’ experiences, too! So we won’t be hearing about your Dracula-hunting trip anytime soon? 🙂