If you could board a long-haul flight tomorrow with anyone in the world, it seems most travellers would skip the red carpet and head straight for the guidebook.
According to the latest Fall 2025 Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey from Global Rescue, globetrotters are far more interested in good conversation, cultural insight and lived experience than celebrity sparkle. At the top of the fantasy packing list sits American travel authority Rick Steves — proof that knowledge, not notoriety, is the ultimate first-class upgrade.
More than one in six respondents (17 per cent) nominated Steves as their ideal travel companion, placing him comfortably ahead of musicians, movie stars and sporting heroes. Among US travellers, his appeal was even stronger, climbing to 22 per cent. Women, in particular, warmed to the cardigan-clad cultural guide, with nearly a quarter (23 per cent) selecting him, compared with 15 per cent of men.
It is a telling result. In an era of curated Instagram feeds and celebrity tourism, many travellers appear to be quietly rebelling, choosing depth over dazzle, museums over megastars.
Among female respondents, media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey ranked second at 10 per cent, while global pop phenomenon Taylor Swift ranked third at six per cent. Men, meanwhile, leaned toward storytelling and swagger, favouring actor Robert De Niro (seven per cent), alongside musician Willie Nelson and golfer Rory McIlroy.
Outside the United States, De Niro emerged as the clear favourite, selected by 13 per cent of non-US travellers, a reminder that a life well-lived, and well-told, still carries currency across borders.
“Travel is personal,” said Bill McIntyre, director of communications at Global Rescue. “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 travellers view the journey itself.”
When it came to dream destinations, respondents showed equally refined taste. The historic crossroads of Istanbul topped the list at 11 per cent, followed by timeless Paris at nine per cent. London and Dubai rounded out the leading quartet.
Women showed a pronounced preference for Istanbul and Paris, while men leaned slightly toward London and Dubai. Non-US travellers favoured Istanbul and Singapore, while Americans split their loyalties between Paris and Istanbul.
“These responses show that travellers 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.”
In other words, if travel is still one of life’s great teachers, most of us would prefer a professor in the next seat rather than a celebrity selfie and perhaps a well-worn guidebook tucked under the arm for good measure.
For further information, visit Global Rescue’s official website.
by Soo James – (c) 2025
Read time: 3 minutes.
About the Writer.
There’s nothing predictable about Soo James, and that’s precisely her charm. Of Malaysian descent, she set down academic roots at the University of New South Wales, majoring in Arts, before veering off into the unlikeliest of places: IT. It mightn’t sound romantic, but somewhere between data strings and deadlines, Soo found a fascination with how people and words connect.
What began as a curiosity soon turned into a craft. Over time, her writing slipped effortlessly into travel blogs and lifestyle features, each piece marked by her dry wit and a mind that notices the small, telling details others might miss. She writes with a traveller’s eye and a local’s heart, grounded, observant, and quietly amused by the world’s contradictions. Today, at Global Travel Media, Soo’s words do what travel should always do: take readers somewhere new, even if only for a few minutes.
