Nine-time Odysseys travelers David and Kathy White believe the best moments are measured in stories, connections, and discovery – not checklists or passport stamps.
This well-traveled couple has joined us on far-flung adventures like Exploring Australia & New Zealand and Egypt & the Eternal Nile, European sojourns to France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria and Switzerland, and tours to both North and Central America. Along the way, they have collected endless unforgettable highlights, from standing inside the Great Pyramid of Giza to gliding along the canals of Venice with a singing gondolier. Add simpler memories like a personal conversation with a local guide or a touching moment with an Italian chef, and the Whites have built a travel story worth telling.
After connecting with the couple via email, we are reminded that travel is so much more than just physically being somewhere. And as the Whites explain, the stories they’ve taken home – whether from unexpected encounters, shared meals with their small group of traveling companions, visits to wish-list destinations, or bearing witness to exciting global moments – serve as all the motivation they need to plan their next adventure.
Kathy and David in the Pyrenees, in front of the Parador de Bielsa on Across Spain & Portugal
Odysseys Unlimited: What excites you most about travel?
David and Kathy White: Seeing new places up close and learning the history; the flora and fauna; the culture; and meeting new people, both travelers and local folks.
OU: You have an array of choices when it comes to choosing a tour company. What are some of the reasons you have chosen to travel with Odysseys?
We prefer traveling with a small group. Odysseys has many options for destinations and tours. We really like that tipping is included. In our experience, the tour directors have been excellent.
OU: Which moments from your travels stand out most in your memory? Which experiences have you found yourself most often retelling to friends and family?
Egypt: The pyramids, including entering inside the Great Pyramid; the amazing temples and tombs; the age and sophistication of the art and structures was mind- boggling.
Jordan: Petra – how the natural light continually changes the rose color of the rocks; the history of the area was fascinating; Jerash was so much bigger and more complete than we were expecting.
Alpine Splendor: Stunning scenery; listening to cow bells off in the distance; enjoying a Mozart concert in the same beautiful hall where Mozart played himself.
Costa Rica: The diversity of flora and fauna; the friendliness of its people.
Paradores & Pousadas: Staying in some very unique hotels; the beautiful Moorish architecture.
Across Spain and Portugal: Basque Country; the beautiful lodge in the Pyrenees.
Australia and New Zealand: Great Barrier Reef snorkeling; Uluru; the Aboriginal tour in the rainforest; sailing trip in gorgeous Milford Sound; hiking the Mt. Cook park trails, and especially Crossing the swing bridges!
Portrait of Italy: We happened to be in Rome the day Pope Leo was elected! We had toured the Vatican earlier that day, and the excitement of all of Italy was palpable. The servers in the restaurant we were at that evening were eagerly awaiting the new Pope’s introduction, watching on their iPads. Knowing we were from the USA, they excitedly called over to us: “He’s an American!” (shortly followed by) “and his Italian is EXCELLENT!”
Beyond that highlight, Italy wowed us. The delicious food, particularly the most phenomenal pasta we’ve ever had in our lives; the art everywhere was incredible; we also did the “touristy” thing in Venice by taking a gondola ride, which was beautiful; we felt very lucky because our gondolier was funny, telling us stories of Venice, and had a beautiful singing voice which he displayed when we entered the smaller canals.
Provincial France: The peacefulness of the countryside and learning the history of the region; we especially enjoyed staying at the manor house and strolling the country lanes of the town around the local farmland; the Loire Region chateaux and gardens were stunning; our stop at Oradour-sur-Glane was very moving, as were the historic beaches and museums in Normandy.
The American West: The history of the native peoples of the area; the Native American hoop dancing demonstration; the vast beauty of Yellowstone and the Tetons.
David and Kathy captured the stunning scenery on display in Switzerland during their Alpine Splendor tour
OU: What exceeded your expectations or surprised you the most when traveling with us?
The knowledge of our tour directors and their passion for the areas we visited has been impressive on our Odysseys tours; our planet is so beautiful, and it is very special to be able to share the love of another person’s homeland with them.
OU: Describe your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Directors – what have you enjoyed about traveling with them? Does anyone specifically come to mind, and what qualities did they have that enhanced the tour?
All Tour Directors have been excellent resources with respect to restaurants, museums, and events during free time.
Alpine Splendor (Chris Winter): Very knowledgeable about the region, the foods, the arts, and the navigation of various funicular trams and cable cars.
Across Spain and Portugal (Emma Bonthorne): Helpful handouts; extremely knowledgeable of the region and its history, food and culture.
Australia and New Zealand (Allan McKay): Shared his knowledge about the native peoples and their culture; he made excellent use of WhatsApp; extremely well organized and kept us on course on a tour with a lot of moving parts; he is witty and a great storyteller.
Portrait of Italy (Maddy Conte): Very fun-loving and had good insight on the history of churches and abbeys we visited.
Provincial French Countryside (Susana Sassi): Was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the region; she is very easygoing and extremely helpful with spot-on suggestions for free time activities.
Jordan (Ossama Al Zyoud): Highly educated in archeology; very passionate about the history, as well as current culture in the region; excellent teacher and a pleasure to be with also.
OU: Have you had any particularly meaningful interactions/exchanges with a local person on tour?
Most of our interactions with local people have been when we have started up conversations with restaurant staff or hotel staff; we have enjoyed going out to a small local restaurant and sharing our enjoyment of the town with the people who live there.
As one example, the dining room staff at the hotel where we stayed at on the Amalfi Coast treated us like family. I (David) have an appreciation and great appetite for the local cuisine, so we were touched when the head chef and pastry chef both came out of the kitchen to join our terrific server, Vincenzo, to greet and exchange hugs with us at dinner on the final evening we stayed there.
OU: Of all the unique small group experiences during your travels (cooking classes, cultural demonstrations, wine tastings, etc.), which have been the most memorable, and why?
The lunch in Egypt at a private home was probably the most memorable, not only because we had a meal with them, but because they also shared so much of their personal lives with us as well. The family’s eldest son had started medical school and he happened to be home on a break, so they shared how the education system worked as well.
We had a similar experience at a lunch in a family’s home in Costa Rica, where the entire family welcomed us. Not only was the local meal very good, but they showed us their beautifully landscaped property, where they also proudly raised a variety of orchids.
The homemade pasta-making demonstration and dinner at the residence of a farm/chef (Casa Segreta Farm) in the town of Baschi, Italy in the Umbria region was also very good, and was situated within another beautiful setting.
We also enjoyed the hoop dancing demonstration on the first evening of our American West tour; it was something we had never seen before and the presenters/dancers were highly skilled.
The Whites have enjoyed many meals with local families on their travels with Odysseys
OU: If someone never traveled with a small group before, what would you tell them the benefits are of traveling with Odysseys Unlimited?
We have traveled both with much larger groups and with Odysseys. In our experience, Odysseys groups can get up much closer to the sites; smaller groups are just easier to manage for everyone; group meals can still be held in many smaller restaurants vs. eating in larger dining halls or hotels with a large group; and the places we stay at are often smaller, more unique, and of a higher quality.
OU: I’m sure you’ve gained a wealth of knowledge and tips during your travels – do you have any helpful hints for travelers on an Odysseys tour?
Absolutely. A quick list of three “musts”:
OU: Is there anything else about your experience with Odysseys that you would like to share?
We had need of the 24-hour Odysseys’ emergency services while on our own on the Paradores & Pousadas extension in Barcelona during Covid. At the time, it was still required to test before returning to the United States, and we (along with other fellow travelers) unfortunately tested positive, although we were asymptomatic.
The staff at Odysseys kept track of us daily and rearranged our flights back home once we were medically cleared to return. It was comforting to know that Odysseys was watching out for us during this unforeseen weeklong extension of our stay in Barcelona.
OU: What destinations are on your wish list for future travel?
We’ve already booked the Southeast Asia Odyssey tour leaving in a few weeks in October, and the Moroccan Discovery and Norwegian Splendor tours in early 2027; we’re also interested in visiting Japan; Northern Italy; Sicily; England; Ireland; Iceland; Machu Picchu and Galapagos; Patagonia; Canadian Rockies; Canadian Maritimes; Central Europe; India; and the new Majestic Switzerland tour.
David and Kathleen White
Laconia, NH
September 27, 2026
Please note: We update our itineraries from year to year, so some of the highlights that David and Kathy mention above may have been replaced with alternate excursions on our current itineraries. Please check our catalog and/or website for the full itinerary with an up-to-date list of small group highlights.
Sunset in Venice, as captured by the Whites
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