(Lebanon, NH – December 22, 2025) – When it comes to fantasy travel companions, most travelers want expertise and conversation over glitz and glamor, according to the latest Global Rescue Fall 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

More than one in six respondents (17%) said they would most like to travel with travel expert Rick Steves, who topped the list for both men and women and was especially popular among US travelers (22%). Women (23%) were even more enthusiastic about Steves than men (15%), reflecting a preference for cultural exploration and authentic experiences over celebrity status.

Among women, Oprah Winfrey (10%) and Taylor Swift (6%) were next most popular, while men were more inclined toward Rory McIlroy (5%), Robert De Niro (7%) and Willie Nelson (6%). Internationally, Robert De Niro was the clear favorite (13%) among non-US respondents, followed by Taylor Swift (8%) and Halle Berry (7%).

“Travel is personal. Whether someone wants deep cultural insight from Rick Steves, creative inspiration from Taylor Swift, or worldly storytelling from Robert De Niro, the choices say a lot about how travelers view the journey itself,” said Bill McIntyre, Global Rescue director of communications.

When asked where they would go with their dream celebrity companion, travelers revealed a mix of wanderlust and worldliness. Istanbul (11%) and Paris (9%) were the most popular destinations overall, followed closely by London (9%) and Dubai (8%).

Women favored Istanbul (15%) and Paris (11%), while men leaned slightly more toward London (9%) and Dubai (8%). Non-US travelers preferred Istanbul and Singapore, while Americans gravitated toward Paris and Istanbul.

“These responses show that travelers remain inspired by destinations rich in culture, history and global connectivity,” McIntyre said. “Even in fantasy travel, people are thinking about real-world experiences — places that combine beauty with meaning.”

###

For more information, contact:

Bill McIntyre | Email: bmcintyre@globalrescue.com | Phone: +1 202.560.1195

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,600 current and former members between October 7-13, 2025. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.

About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has supported Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.