Laura Thomas
Senior Advisor | Luxury Travel Advisor
Laura grew up in a family that loved to travel and was fortunate enough to visit many amazing destinations during her youth. During college, she participated in a study abroad program in which she sailed around the world in 100 days, visiting 10 countries. This is where her passion for travel and her desire to see and experience as much of our beautiful earth as possible truly began. She wholeheartedly believes that travel opens your eyes, your mind and your world. Laura and her husband, Brian, have instilled this same belief in their two children and have made travel an integral part of their family over the years.
Favorite Trip
Alaskan cruise on the Regent Seven Seas Mariner with my whole family (13 of us) for my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. We ranged in age from 10 to 75 and everyone had an amazing time! Alaska is simply breathtaking! There were so many different things for everyone to do during the day, from whale watching to dog sledding to glacier climbing, and then we all came together in the evenings for dinner and fun. Everyone is still talking about it!
Travel Tip
Packing cubes! Whether you’re going away for the weekend or for two weeks, these miraculous little space savers will keep you organized and neat. They aren’t expensive and come in so many shapes, sizes and colors. Well worth the purchase! Oh, and always bring an extra one for your dirty clothes.
Where To Next?
South Africa! Our family trip was originally planned for June of 2020 (sadly, it didn’t happen) but we have rescheduled for May of 2021 and we can’t wait! With both kids in college and one about to graduate, this may be our last big “family-foursome trip” for a while. Ready to see the Big 5!
Sharon Gruber
Senior Advisor | Luxury Travel Advisor
Sharon has a lifelong love of travel, and she loves crafting the details almost as much. She believes travel shapes the perspectives we hold of the world and the people in it. With this in mind, Sharon is constantly creating the next adventure. Some of her favorite trips have been a train journey through Scotland, fishing in Alaska, and seeing Machu Picchu in Peru. Sharon and her husband, Mike, and their grown children love to travel and are always looking for the next wonderful adventure.
Favorite Trip
A festive Thanksgiving with my family in Florence. When my daughter was studying abroad in Italy, my husband, other two children and I went to visit for 12 days around Thanksgiving. We rode Vespas through the Tuscan countryside, visited a local family-owned winery, and then had a fantastic Thanksgiving meal at a lovely neighborhood restaurant in Florence. What a wonderful family memory we’ll always cherish!
Travel Tip
Always, always, always purchase travel insurance! You’ll believe it’s the best investment you’ve ever made if something happens and you need to significantly change, cancel, or postpone a trip. Life happens, and even the best plans sometimes need to be changed!
Where to next?
Hmm… that’s difficult to say because I always have a long list! But I think my next trip will be to Ireland… or Portugal. They all sound great to me!
Our Partners
Virtuoso is the leading global network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel. As an affiliate of Travel Experts, a Virtuoso member, we have access to the best hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators in the world. When your reservation is made through Custom Compass Travel, you’ll often receive exclusive perks and amenities, such as room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, spending credits and more!