What if travel could change you?

It can. It did for me. I continue to travel; collecting amazing moments on every continent and in 72 countries over the past 40ish years.

Maybe that’s why you travel, too? Anthony Bourdain said, “It’s never the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre you remember for the rest of your life.” He was right. It’s those moments. Those memories.

I dreamed up WOW! Travel Club to create global travel experiences that might open your eyes and your heart a little wider. You might return home more fulfilled then when you left.  You might become a little more of the you you always wanted to be. Without having to backpack across Asia for eight months like I did many years ago, chasing a better version of my self.

The WOW! Travel Club in 20 seconds:

The WOW! Travel Club connects us. You join simply by signing up. It’s free. We share what we know about travel; tips, gear, airlines/airports/airfares, food, destinations … all things travel. Information is shared by email, webinar, Facebook Live events, even over the phone if you want to call us. And we’ll also tell you about our trips. All in the spirit of trust and community. No pressure from us, ever, and no grumps need apply. (Not a grump? Apply at the bottom of this page.)

The WOW! Journeys

Sure, we’ll include the iconic monuments … but we’re after the “wow” moments. The experiences. The connections.

• We create opportunities to connect – as authentically as possible – 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.

With WOW!, it’s personal

• Every communication to our members is designed to add value, to educate, and/or to share a story from our experience. Sure, we’ll tell you about upcoming trips, but we’ll never exploit our relationship with you.
• Every journey is loosely, but lovingly, scripted. We’re not a conglomerate promoting a calendar of back-to-back-to-back trips. We plan only a handful of carefully-chosen journeys every year. You could call us boutique – or bespoke.
• You’re a name – never a customer code. WOW! journeys are escorted by one of the company principals: Marilyn Murphy or Gabriel Haigazian. You’re not handed off to a part-time tour leader.

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 call ’em “WOWees.”

We also have plenty of surprises 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 often go to less-trampled destinations that might be 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 our travelers as carefully as we curate the itinerary.    No whiners, prima-donnas, or know-it-alls. We don’t want to travel with them either! WOWees cross all spectrums: couples, singles, solo travelers, siblings, LGBTQ, extroverts/introverts, bungy jumpers/those who prefer to watch from the sidelines. All are culturally curious, respectful, responsible, welcoming, and fun-loving. Many deep, rich friendships are made on a WOW journey.

In a nutshell: Something magical happens when like-minded people explore the world with an open heart and mind. Please, come along and discover for yourself!

Happy travels,

Marilyn Murphy, CQ (“creative queen”)

Join us for “WOW” 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.

---

. . . 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.

---

. . . 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 by completing the form at the bottom of the page. It’s free 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.

Be part of a community of good people who love to explore the unexplored, meet local characters and change-makers, and return home with a broader perspective as an informed global citizen.

You’re about 15 seconds away from being part of an exclusive, yet welcoming community. Unsubscribe at any time.

To summarize:

• Join the WOW! Travel Club by completing the form below.
• It’s free to join. Nothing to buy or do. No secret decoder ring.
• The WOW! Travel Club is a group of like-minded people who love travel. As a member you’ll receive an email every few weeks with travel tips and advice designed to make you a smarter traveler. We also try to do a webinar and/or Facebook Live event each month that features one of our WOW! small group journeys. Our groups average 16 people.

Our hope is that if we can create a relationship with you that someday you’ll want to travel with us.

It’s free to join.