America's Favorite Travel Love Story Winners Revealed
Travelzoo members across the U.S. shared their heartfelt #loveoftravel stories for a chance to win a luxurious Bali villa getaway.
America voted, and we're thrilled to announce the winning travel love stories!
Grand Prize Winner
Grand Prize: Six-night stay at Hidden Hills Villas in Bali plus a $1,500 Honeyfund gift card.Jill and David Lemanowicz from Knoxville, Tennessee, have been together for one year and two months. Their love story began when they were 17 and 20. Here's their inspiring tale:
David and I have known each other since I was 17 and he was 20. It started as teenage puppy love, but after three dates, he decided I wasn't the one. My heart broke, yet I moved on, dating many others while staying single as friends married.
Years later, I seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Remarkably, I ran into David there. The 17-year-old in me was upset, but my 34-year-old self was glad to reconnect over a beer on base. He'd traveled the world with the Army; I traveled for work. Our paths crossed in a war zone—a familiar face amid chaos. Both in relationships, we parted as friends. I returned after visiting 12 bases—a trip of a lifetime.
Four years on, I ended my relationship. Single again, a friend urged me to visit a famous Beverly Hills psychic. Skeptical, I went. He predicted: a work trip, my husband searching worldwide, meeting in April, he'd be divorced with a child, and we'd have twins. Shocked by the details, I remained dubious.
The next week, work sent me to Vancouver—one of my favorite cities—through most of April. Home on April 29 for a girls' dinner, I literally bumped into David, my old crush turned soldier. He'd flown in for his daughter, lived alone in a Washington cabin, ex-wife in Venice. Divorced, with a child—in April! He confessed I was his biggest regret since Afghanistan and begged for another chance. He wasn't the immature 20-year-old anymore. Dazed but hopeful, I agreed to try.
On April 8 this year, we married! None of it possible without that Afghanistan flight. Not glamorous, but real and ours. No honeymoon yet—we bought a farm. A magical Bali trip (the one place Army life skipped) would be a dream surprise. Thanks for reading our crazy story!
First Prize Winner (1)
First Prize: $250 Travelzoo gift card and $250 Honeyfund gift card.Jake and Becky from Des Moines, Iowa: Friends since 2nd grade, dated eight years, married 10. Their story:
In November 2015, five days post-birth of our third child, Nina, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Devastating—Stage 3 initially, then Stage 4 after a rib spot. Amid joy of new life, mama-bear mode kicked in: fight to see my kids grow and become a grandma. Six months chemo, bilateral mastectomy, cyber-knife, 28 days radiation—all while mothering and wifing best I could.
Jake, my rock since 2nd grade, lifted spirits, made me laugh, held my hand. December 2016 PET scan: no evidence of disease! Celebrating with kids Max (8) and Kael (5), we booked a Cancun all-inclusive via Travelzoo. Beach hut relaxation photo enclosed. Beautiful, but no couple time after exhaustion. Our 10-year anniversary? Five days post-final surgery—no dinner. Bali would show eternal gratitude for Jake and our family. Thank you!
First Prize Winner (2)
First Prize: $250 Travelzoo gift card and $250 Honeyfund gift card.Gabe and Mariel from San Francisco, together seven years. Their story:
Proposing to Mariel required total surprise—past ones set a high bar. Six months prior, I faked a Travelzoo email for a Caribbean/Central America raffle win. She signed up; I entered us both.
I updated her on 'progress' while she interned in New York. She advanced; I 'lost.' Selected for Guatemala, she urged my ticket—unaware I'd planned it all, ring included.
At Lake Atitlán, mid-trip proposal needed dawn creativity. Bungalow owners (pre-arranged) asked us to model for their Airbnb ad. We rose at 5 a.m. for 'sunrise shoot.'
On the dock, I brought Champagne, magazine, and custom cards with our travel photos. Reminiscing Portugal, Swaziland, Panama—she fixated on hair/posture. Photographers stepped away; she focused. Final 14 hearts: photos from 14 countries spelling "W.I.L.L. Y.O.U. M.A.R.R.Y. M.E.?" Shock hit. I knelt, promised more adventures, proposed. Chaos joy. Surprise: "Pack—we're going Honduras!"
My favorite person, soon wife. Best decision ever.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest open to U.S./D.C. residents 21+, void PR/outside U.S./prohibited. Entry: 04/26/17 12:00:01 AM ET - 05/26/17 11:59:59 PM ET. Voting: 06/07/17 - 06/14/17. Use #loveoftravel #contest. Click here for rules. Sponsor: Travelzoo, 590 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022. Not affiliated with Facebook/Instagram/Twitter.
