ABOUT DESIGNER TRAVEL
The Best Travel Agency in Utah
TRAVEL IS OUR PASSION
About Designer Travel
In 2023 an experienced world traveler and a marketing whiz joined forces to establish a unique travel agency – Designer Travel, drawing on their combined expertise and passion for globe-trotting. They are fortunate enough to be mentored by Angela Hughes from Trips & Ships Luxury Travel, widely regarded as one of the top mentors in the field. Having journeyed extensively and acquired invaluable insights, they are now primed to provide unparalleled travel services to clients worldwide. For these reasons, Designer Travel is truly the best travel agency in Utah.
Meet Mike Bringhurst
My name is Mike Bringhurst, and I’ve spent much of my life in the pursuit of discovery, whether that’s exploring far-flung corners of the world, savoring new culinary delights, or embarking on fun outdoor adventures.
The Early Years: My love affair with travel began at a very young age. Growing up, we lived all over the world and that would shape the course of my life. We were constantly on the move, exploring new countries, cultures, and landscapes.
The Pursuit of Adventure: Skiing, Mountain Biking, Golf, watching sports and exploring outdoors are some of my favorite adventures and if I can combine these these passions with travel, it’s an unbeatable experience.
Skiing the Globe: From Chile to Zermatt One of my most favorite travel passions is traveling to new places to ski. I’ve been fortunate enough to ski in some amazing spots, from the legendary slopes of Alta, Utah, to the picturesque trails of Zermatt, Switzerland, I’m always planning the next place to be able to combine travel with skiing. Some of my favorites: Dolomites, Chile, Austria, Switzerland and France, but I’ve got my eye on Japan, Slovenia, Georgia (the Country), Greece, Norway and others 🙂
The Joy of Discovery: If you ask my kids what my “favorite thing” is, they will tell you driving on a new road or going somewhere I have never been before. Not much makes me smile wider or feel better than going somewhere new! Airplanes: Portals to Adventure To me, airplanes are more than just vehicles; they’re magic portals. I’m always amazed by the way planes can whisk us away to distant lands, opening the door to new cultures, sights, and experiences. There’s something undeniably magical about boarding a plane in one place and disembarking in a world entirely unlike your own.
Airplanes: Portals to Adventure To me, airplanes are more than just vehicles; they’re magic portals. I’m always amazed by the way planes can whisk us away to distant lands, opening the door to new cultures, sights, and experiences. There’s something undeniably magical about boarding a plane in one place and disembarking in a world entirely unlike your own.
Living Abroad: When I was younger, we lived in Israel for three years and not until I started college did I live anywhere longer than 4 years. I lived in Japan and speak fluent Japanese and I lived in Germany as well. Living in a country gives you perspective you can’t get visiting.
A Family Affair: Traveling with Loved Ones Throughout my life, I’ve discovered that adventures are best shared. I am fortunate to have an amazing wife who shares my passion for travel. Together, we’ve ventured to countless destinations, creating memories that will last a lifetime. I’ve also had the privilege of introducing my children to the wonders of the world and now, as a proud grandparent, I look forward to instilling that same sense of wanderlust in my two adorable grandchildren.
Together, let's explore this incredible world, one destination at a time.
A Gastronomic Odyssey: Traveling for Food. Traveling isn’t just about seeing the world; it’s about tasting it too. I’m a “foodie”, and my travels often revolve around exploring the culinary treasures of each destination. Whether it’s savoring fresh sushi in Tokyo, indulging in a hearty schnitzel in Vienna, or sampling exotic street food in Santiago, Chile. I’m always eager to embark on a gastronomic adventure. Anthony Bourdain had it right when it came to traveling for food and I miss him and his takes on life and culture – and food!
From Stadiums to Arenas: Traveling for Sports. Traveling to watch my favorite teams in action or experiencing iconic sporting events around the world is an unparalleled thrill. From the roar of the crowd at a football match in Innsbruck to the excitement of a tennis match in New York, or Paris, we love to travel to see sporting or theatrical events. West End is just as fun as Broadway. We went to Tokyo to see the Band – U2 and it was amazing.
Family and Cats: In addition to my wonderful wife, I am a proud father of three children and a happy grandfather to two adorable grandchildren. Our family bonds are strengthened through our shared love for travel, creating cherished memories that span generations. And, of course, we can’t forget our three crazy cats.
As I embark on this journey of sharing my travel experiences and insights with you, I hope to inspire your own adventures, kindle your wanderlust, and offer valuable tips for making the most of your journeys.
Thank you for joining me on this adventure, and I look forward to sharing many more stories, tips, and travel discoveries with you in the future. Safe travels and may your adventures be as boundless as your imagination!
Warm regards,
Meet Rachel Ward
My name is Rachel and although I haven’t done near as much traveling as I would like to I am determined to make up for lost time! I’m here to not only help make your travels the best they can be but also so you can learn from my first hand experience what to do and what not to do.
My first time: The first time I traveled outside of the US was when I was in college and went to Mexico City and surrounding towns with the University of Utah Swim and Dive Team way back in 1988 for a training trip. That single trip opened my eyes to life outside my little Utah bubble and ignited in me the desire to travel! I learned more about other cultures, food, sports, architecture and people like no other experience I had had up to that point. I had the opportunity to train with Mexico’s former Olympic diver and learn how her dive training differed from my own. I soaked it all in and vowed to make travel a part of life from that day forward.
Are you Really Living? Another travel experience in college took me to Hawaii where I learned and experienced that leaving the familiar and immersing yourself in a different place can really give you perspective about the way you want to live your life and help you see things differently when you get back. I’ll never forget the trip I took to the island of St. Maarten back in 2003. The island had been devastated by a hurricane a year or two prior and the locals were still rebuilding. They described the devastation of not only their homes and businesses but the trees and landscape. Everything was wiped out. It humbled me to see how resilient the people were and seeing their humble homes gave me a new appreciation for my own home when I returned. I’ve never looked at life the same since.
"I regret the time and money I spent on vacation" said no one ever.
Honeymoons and Anniversaries: There’s something special about taking a trip with your loved ones. Traveling for a honeymoon or anniversary has a been a tradition for my husband and I over the years. Our favorites are Mexico and Hawaii! Sometimes the trip is about reconnecting and relaxing in a new location. It’s these kind of trips I honestly don’t care about the site-seeing. It’s all about time away, rejuvenation and of course, FOOD!
"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."
-St. Augustine
The Trip of a Lifetime: Do you have a destination you’ve always wanted to go? Is there a particular place that holds special significant to you? Maybe it’s a place where your ancestors lived hundreds of years ago. Maybe it’s a place that has just always been intriguing to you for some reason. Why haven’t you gone? What’s holding you back?
Life is Short – Take the Trip! My husband and I finally took our trip of a lifetime we had been planning for years to England, Scotland and Ireland. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Scotland and Northern Ireland around 1978 and always wanted to go back there with me. I don’t know what took us so long to just take the trip but the memories we were able to share reminiscing about his mission and the people he served are priceless. Experiencing cool historical locations like Edinburgh Castle, and the unique natural wonder of Giant’s Causeway for example, made every minute and every penny we spent totally worth it!
It’s my promise to you to make every penny and every minute you spend on travel the best it can be. Let us help you plan your once-in-a-lifetime trip or an anniversary celebration getaway!
Warmly,
