There Are Travelers Who Love Ultimate Break. Then There’s Megan.

When Megan’s college travel plans fell through almost a decade ago, she wasn't about to give up her dream of going to Europe. So she booked her first Ultimate Break trip solo—and the rest is history. Megan and I met on Highlights of Switzerland earlier this summer, and when she told me she’d been on so many Ultimate Break trips, I needed to know more, because hello ELEVEN trips?! Nearly ten years later, (and with Grand Tour of Turkey booked for later this year), I asked Megan about her first Ultimate Break trip, the highlights, experiences, and connections she’s made, and what really keeps her coming back for more.

You’ve been traveling with Ultimate Break since 2016! What made you take the leap and commit to that first trip?

During my sophomore year of college, I was planning a trip to Europe with a friend from high school, but she bailed right when we were about to start booking flights/hotels. I had never been to Europe, and I wanted to go so badly, so I knew I had to find another way to get there. I got an ad for Ultimate Break (at the time it was College Break) and I Googled so many reviews to see if this was a legitimate company or not. I finally committed because I loved the idea that I would be able to meet a bunch of new friends and have a Tour Director who could make the experience better than me just Googling "things to do in X city" on my own.

Take me back—how did you feel on your first Ultimate Break trip? What experience stands out the most?

Going into the trip (Grand Tour of Ireland) I had a weirdly large amount of confidence that this was going to be a great trip. Even though I had never done anything like this, I trusted Ultimate Break so much. Looking back, I was definitely a little timid and shy and could have thrown myself into the experience more, but I think the first trip really helped build my travel confidence. One of my favorite experiences was visiting Newgrange, a prehistoric monument just outside Dublin. I went to Catholic school and learning that the inside of the monument was crucifix-shaped despite it predating the arrival of Christianity in the area really excited my inner Catholic school girl. My other favorite experience was a ghost tour in Muckross Abbey in Killarney. I love getting to see and visit places in a nontypical way and learn about a place from a different viewpoint.

You’ve been on ELEVEN TRIPS—what keeps you coming back?

The community! It is so incredible to meet people from all over and create memories that will last a lifetime. I think travel bonds are some of the strongest connections you can form, and I am forever grateful to the people that have been on my trips. I have made friends that I have booked other trips with and have met up with friends back in the US when we visit each other's cities.

Has there been a friendship you made that surprised you?

I'm not sure if the friendship itself was surprising since we had a lot in common, but I have been surprised by how quickly I felt like I became very good friends with someone. On one of my trips, one of the other girls said that her celebrity crush was Adam Sandler and I knew immediately she was the same type of weird as me. I felt like we connected very quickly and had inside jokes immediately. Creating that connection felt very special and we've been on 3 trips together now!

Out of all your trips, which one has been the most unforgettable and why?

Ultimate Italy was my absolute favorite trip of all time! Italy is a beautiful country and every new place we visited was like a postcard. I loved getting to spend two weeks traveling throughout the whole country and I felt like I was really able to experience the full Italian culture. I could live off pizza, pasta, and gelato and I still to this day think about some of the meals I had on this trip. Outside of Italy being an amazing country, the main reason this tour was so unforgettable was our Tour Director, Dario. He was so full of energy and enthusiasm and was always going out of his way to make the trip incredible for everyone. He helped make even slower moments, like bus rides, an experience we would never forget.

Is there a single moment when you realized you weren’t the same person who started the trip?

I'm not sure if there was one specific trip that made me feel like I had changed, but I think on a trip I was on last year I realized that all of the trips I had taken over the course of several years had changed me. I think for a while I felt that I needed Ultimate Break to be able to travel internationally and I wasn't capable of being out of the country without that safety net. While I was on the Highlights of Australia trip last year, there were several times where the group wanted to just go back to the hotel and I think on previous trips I would've joined, even if I didn't want to, but on this trip I went out and explored on my own. I think Ultimate Break gave me the tools and confidence to travel and I realized I was joining Ultimate Break groups not because it was my only option but because it made the experience even better.

How has traveling with us changed the way you see the world? How has it changed you as a person?

I think traveling with Ultimate Break has made me more confident. I'm generally pretty shy and cautious, but Ultimate Break has helped push me out of and given me opportunities to go beyond my comfort zone. I'm more willing to form new relationships and try new things because Ultimate Break makes it a safe place to do so. It has made me see the world as a place worth exploring.

Describe a moment when something went wrong and you thought “this is not good" but it turned out to be a great story.

When I was at the Pyramids of Giza I almost got trapped in a very obvious scam (and it was on my 10th trip, so I should've known better!). When we got to the pyramids our Tour Director warned us that there would be people who would offer to take our picture on a camel but then take you off on a camel ride into the distance and refuse to bring you back until you gave them all your money. I considered myself a savvy traveler so I just brushed it away because why would I ever fall for that scam? While I was waiting for my friend outside the restrooms, a man came up to me and offered to take my photo and took the phone out of my hand before I could say no (shoutout to him though—he was a scammer but he did take good pics!). After a couple pictures, he started leading me over to the camels and telling me to get on. I realized what he was trying to do and kept saying no but multiple other men kept saying, "Get on, we promise we won't go anywhere!" I started to panic but thankfully my friend came running over from the restrooms, grabbed my arm, screamed "We have to go!" and dragged me away. It's one of the reasons I love Ultimate Break because you make friends and you look out for one another, but I definitely have not told my mom the story.

If you had to pick ONE more trip and then never travel again, what would it be and why would it be worth it?

It's honestly so rude of you to ask me this question. This is like having to pick a favorite child. I've typed out and deleted so many answers as I mentally debate this question with myself but, at least for this moment, I think my answer is Kenya: African Safari. Going on a safari and getting up close and personal with so much wildlife seems like such an incredible and once in a lifetime experience that I think I could be satisfied with all the different parts of the world I've seen if that was my last trip.

You're creating the ultimate group trip—what's one element that would make people promise their firstborn to go on it?

The trips that always excite me the most are ones where I get to visit or see something that's a little off the beaten path. I love going to places that are either harder to get to or not the typical place most people would go. It makes me feel more a part of the place I'm visiting. I also love trips where I can see some type of show. I saw an Irish step dance show in Ireland, a play at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, and a symphony concert in Vienna, and seeing the more artistic side of a culture gives me a greater understanding of the place.

What would you tell someone who’s on the fence about going solo on a group trip?

It's a little cliche, but I would tell them to just book the trip. I really think that travel (even when it goes wrong!) shapes you into a better and more well-rounded person. All of the experiences of meeting new people, immersing yourself in another culture, and seeing new places will all be memories that will last a lifetime.

What’s next on your Ultimate Break bucket list?

I was going to say Grand Tour of Turkey but as I was typing out this answer I wondered why I'm not booked on it so now I'm leaving on the October 2025 departure! My new answer is Croatia—everyone I know who's been on that trip ranks it as their favorite, so I think I have to go too!

Three desert island travel essentials, GO.

1. Sunscreen—my friends used to joke that I make paper look tan. I am so pale and will burn immediately, so I can never leave my house without it!
2. Chocolate! I have such a sweet tooth and can get a little hangry if I'm not fed at regular intervals so I always keep snacking chocolate on me for emergencies.
3. Kindle. If I'm going to be stranded on an island, at least I can be stranded with some romantasy books!

What started with an inconvenience followed by a total leap of faith turned into years of experiences and connections that continue to shape how Megan sees the world. Whether you’re about to book your first Ultimate Break trip or your twelfth, Megan's story is a reminder that every adventure can challenge you, surprise you, and leave you with friendships and memories that last long after everyone says “see you later.”