TRAVEL DEEPER. LIVE DIFFERENTLY™
Nearly three decades of experience.
One belief: Travel should feel personal.
Meet the Team
about great escape travel
About Us
Since 1997, Great Escape Travel has helped travelers turn ideas, celebrations, milestones and long-held dreams into journeys worth remembering.
We believe the best travel isn't simply about where you go. It's about how the experience makes you feel, who you share it with, and the stories you bring home.
That's why we take the time to understand how you want to travel before we ever begin recommending where you should go.
Travel Planning has changed
our commitment hasn't
Great Escape Travel began in 1997 with a simple idea: planning a remarkable trip should feel exciting, not overwhelming.
Nearly three decades later, destinations, technology and the way we travel may have changed, but our approach remains personal. We listen first, use our experience and trusted travel relationships to guide the possibilities, and thoughtfully bring the pieces together.
From luxury escapes and milestone celebrations to group journeys and transformational retreats, every trip begins the same way:
with the traveler.
Diann Bengtson
Since founding Great Escape Travel in 1997, I've believed that travel can open hearts, shift perspective and create memories that live far beyond the journey itself.
Nearly three decades of planning travel have taught me that the most extraordinary experiences aren't necessarily about doing morE, they're about finding the places, moments and experiences that are right for you.
Today, I bring together decades of travel expertise with my passion for meaningful experiences, transformational retreats and sacred destinations to help travelers experience the world, and sometimes themselves, a little differently.
"Let your best travel experience begin with our experience". - Diann
My Travel Style: Beautiful surroundings, meaningful experiences, a little adventure, and enough unscheduled time to actually enjoy where I am.
Founder | Luxury Travel & Retreat Specialist
Kari Pierce
For me, great travel is in the details—the thoughtful touches, beautiful places and experiences that make a trip feel completely your own.
I love helping travelers bring those pieces together, whether they're planning a luxury getaway, traveling with family and friends, or looking for a journey with a wellness or health-focused element.
My goal is simple: make the planning easier, the experience more personal, and give you more time to enjoy why you're traveling in the first place.
My Travel Style:
Luxury Travel & Group Travel Advisor
Jim Bengtson
Travel is freedom.
Freedom to step away from everyday life, relax, explore, have fun and experience something completely different.
With nearly 30 years of travel experience, I enjoy helping people find those experiences, whether it's a long-awaited vacation, a milestone celebration or simply the chance to go somewhere they've always wanted to see.
The destination may change, but the goal stays the same: Help you come home saying, “That was an incredible trip.”
My Travel Style:
Luxury Travel & Milestone Trip Specialist
Why travel with great escape?
Our travel-industry relationships and destination knowledge help us navigate the details and advocate for our travelers along the way.
EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE SCENES
Trusted Relationships
We listen first, then recommend destinations, accommodations and experiences that fit the way you want to travel..
YOUR TRIP SHOULD FEEL LIKE YOURS
Personal Guidance
Nearly three decades of travel planning gives us perspective that can't be downloaded from a search engine.
SERVING TRAVLERS SINCE 1997
Experience
