Why the WOW! Travel Club is Different:

Wonderful destinations? Great food? Thoughtful itinerary? First-class accommodations? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. But this is basic stuff – you should get these things from any reputable travel provider.

What makes WOW different? Why should you choose a WOW! Travel Club journey above all the other choices? Anthony Bourdain said, “It’s never the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre you remember for the rest of your life.”

Sure, we’ll include the iconic monuments … but more important are the “wow” moments you’ll remember for the rest of your life. The experiences. The connections.

• We create opportunities for authentic connections with the people of the place . . . to cheer for the Galway hurling team on a sunny Sunday afternoon in western Ireland.
• We give you “space” to create your own memorable moments . . . to sit down on a Hanoi park bench next to a kind-hearted Vietnamese lady who will cool you off with her fan; . . . these are the spontaneous, synchronistic moments you can expect from the WOW! Travel Club.

Something magical happens when like-minded people explore the world with an open heart and mind. Watch the video below and discover it for yourself!

With WOW!, it’s personal.

• Every journey is loosely scripted. We’re not a big travel conglomerate with a catalog of back-to-back-to-back trips. We offer only about a half-dozen carefully-chosen journeys every year. You could call us boutique – or bespoke.
• You’re a name – never a reservation code. WOW! journeys are escorted by one of the company principals: Marilyn Murphy or Gabriel Haigazian. You’re not handed off to an Independent Contractor.

With WOW!, relationships are paramount.

• The CTP Group (our corporate division) has deep roots – it was founded back in 1977. Our employees have lengthy tenure (everyone loves working here!). We enjoy trusted vendor relationships that go back decades. And our customers – once they’ve traveled with WOW! – come back over and over and over again.

We also have plenty of surprises of our own slipped into every trip. Who doesn’t love a thoughtful pillow gift. Or stopping for ice cream on a hot afternoon. It’s often the little things that produce a “WOW!” moment.

A bit more about why we’re different…

Small Group.   Unless we’ve chartered a small ship in Croatia, our average group size is about 16 guests.

Group travel for people who don’t like travel groups.    Our guests tend to be well traveled. They choose WOW! because we go to destinations that might be a bit intimidating (Africa, India, Patagonia, Morocco, etc). They know we’ll avoid the tourist traps and do it a bit different. They trust that we’ll go beneath the surface to uncover a destination’s true treasures.

We curate the travelers as carefully as we curate the itinerary.    No grumps, prima-donnas, or those intent on convincing others of their superior intelligence or political opinions. (We don’t want to travel with them either!) WOW! travelers cross all spectrums: couples, singles, solo travelers, siblings, LGBTQ,  extroverts/introverts, bungy jumpers, and those who prefer to watch from the sidelines. All are culturally curious, respectful, responsible, welcoming, and fun-loving.

Join us for experiences like these…

. . . Hordes of tourists flow through the exit gates of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – just as we’re entering the ancient city of Ephesus. It’s right before closing time, and the UNESCO World Heritage site is practically empty! Without the crowds, our small group can almost hear the footsteps of Marc Antony walking hand-in-hand with Cleopatra. We follow two handsome Roman “centurions” along Curates Street, through Hercules Gate and into the ancient Odeon theater. We’re startled to see ten tuxedoed musicians seated in the orchestra pit. We sit on the marble seats where aristocratic Ephesians sat almost 2,000 years ago to discuss governmental issues and listen to concerts. And, as the shadows lengthen on this balmy summer evening, the chamber orchestra begins to play “A Little Night Music” from Mozart’s famous composition … just for us.

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. . . Leaning against a building on the shady side of the street in Havana, I watch four young boys playing baseball. Wielding a stick, each batter takes a mighty swing at a crude cloth ball lobbed by the pitcher. I soak in the surroundings and delight in their unadulterated joy.

Finally, a hit! The ball plops on the street just a few yards in front of me and a skinny, shirtless boy races to retrieve it. Seeing me standing there, he hesitates, pushing his wire-rimmed glasses to the bridge of his nose. They sit crooked on his face.

I smile and practice my limited Spanish, “Hola! Como se llama?”

Shyly, he replies, “Rodolfo.”

I reach into my bag and pull out a brand new tennis ball. He hesitates, but only slightly, grabbing the ball just before his friends rush on the scene. Predictably, there is a scuffle. They freeze at the sound of a stern male voice. From a doorway, a man admonishes the boys in that universal, “mind your manners” tone.

I hold up my camera and the foursome lines up for a photo; the bespectacled boy proudly holding his “trophy,” flashing a toothy grin I have never forgotten.

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. . . We’re super stoked to have landed at the “adventure capital of the world”: Queenstown, New Zealand. We’re looking forward to getting settled in at the luxurious Millbrook Resort but our bus has pulled over to the side of the road while our driver and tour guide confer in hushed tones. “Ladies and gentlemen, please get off the bus. You can leave all your things here.” Dutifully, we climb down and wait expectantly for an explanation. “I have a surprise for you!” he announces, pointing toward the river. “It’s just over there.”

We scramble down the riverbank and are excited to see a candy-apple red Shotover Jetboat waiting at the sandy beach.

WOW! This is gonna be fun!

We don our matching red safety vests and meet our charming Kiwi driver, Dylan. And then we’re off – racing through the narrow canyons and holding on tight when Dylan does the occasional 360-degree spin. He finally stops at a wide section of river – giving us an opportunity to catch our breath and take in the jaw-dropping scenery all around us.

There’s a gasp from the back of the boat, and we turn around to see Dylan pointing at a dark creature emerging from the depths. A moment later it becomes clear: the “creature” is a scuba diver – holding up a bottle of Cloudy Bay Brut from one of New Zealand’s finest wineries.

We pop the cork and share a toast to this extraordinary moment. We were right – this is gonna be fun! 

Is WOW! right for you?

The best way to find out is to join.

You’ll receive infrequent emails with stories, compelling photos, practical advice, and advance invitations for upcoming WOW! Travel Club experiences. We’ll never bombard you with junk.

Got a travel-related question? Contact us! We’ve probably got the answer and/or can steer you in the right direction. We’re small enough that you’ll have a friend in the travel business.

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