CRAFTED ESCAPES
LAURA DUGAN
Raised on Carmen San Diego, I loved being quizzed on world capitals from an early age.
SENIOR TRAVEL ADVISOR
My father has been to every continent and nearly 90 countries, and he’s a member of The Explorers Club. I grew up being quizzed on world capitals at the dinner table, then traveling with my parents and two younger sisters everywhere from Turkey to Malaysia: hiking in the Alps, whitewater rafting in Idaho, riding the Star Ferry in Hong Kong. My mother’s rule was that no one unpacked until she had approved the room. Her standards became mine.
At Duke, I double-majored in English and French, spent a semester living with a French family in Paris, and studied theater in London. At Duke Law, I spent a summer in Geneva studying international law and working at an international law firm.
I practiced corporate law for several years, daydreaming about trips to India between deals, and still made time for Bora Bora (our honeymoon), Ireland, Spain and Morocco. After my two sons were born, I spent several years at home with them, and we kept traveling. Our first trips as new parents were to Napa and Tuscany, and we visited many wineries in both.
Recent favorites include a safari in Botswana with my parents and my boys, skiing in Utah, a family holiday in Antigua, a multigenerational villa in Jamaica, a girls’ trip to the Cotswolds, and an anniversary celebration in Greece. Today I plan trips full-time from North Carolina, and every itinerary I send is one I’d book for myself.
"We’ve now worked with Laura to plan three family vacations, and every single one has been incredible. She approaches each trip with so much care, consideration, and attention to detail, while also making sure there’s plenty of fun built in for everyone.
Laura is incredibly meticulous, which means by the time we leave for a trip, we can actually enjoy it without getting bogged down in logistics or worrying about the little details. "
—rachel g
Q&A with Laura
Most memorable travel experience?
When I was 18, my parents took our family of 5 on an epic three-week trip through Asia. We started in Tokyo, stayed at a ryokan in Kyoto, stopped in Hong Kong, went on to Bangkok, took the Eastern and Oriental Express to Singapore, and ended in Bali.
Where do you dream of traveling next?
India, which I've daydreamed about for years, and Portugal, which is next on my list.
What are your favorite hotels?
Mauna Lani, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Gleneagles, Sugar Beach, Maliouhana, The Swag, JK Place Paris, The Goring and the Lowell.
Best tip for travelers?
Don't panic when things don't go to plan. When a French rail strike "derailed" (see what I did there?), we pivoted to Burgundy and had a lovely time!
What are your specialties?
Europe, Honeymoons / Romance, Family Travel, History & Culture, City
What are your favorite countries to visit?
France, England, Ireland, Italy, Greece
