Talking Travel With Hollywood Couple Terry And Rebecca Crews

Terry Crews is an author, action-movie hero, sitcom star, children’s book illustrator, advertising pitchman, playable video game character, talent show host, high-end furniture designer, and human rights activist. Crews is currently hosting NBC’s top rated alternative series “America’s Got Talent,” which recently completed its 19th season. He has three times been named People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” In 2022 Crews released his memoir, Tough: My Journey to True Power via Penguin Random House. In it, Crews chronicles the story of how he went from being a six-year-old boy with a goofy, toothless smile to being utterly selfish and angry, to a man who can finally acknowledge his own weaknesses and vulnerabilities and use his experiences to help motivate those around him. In 2021, Terry and his wife, Rebecca King Crews, released an exclusive Audible called “Stronger Together,” sharing the staggering ups and downs of their relationship and how they weathered the myriad crises that have rocked their marriage.

Rebecca and Terry Crews have emerged as one of America’s most beloved and inspiring love stories. Rebecca initially deferred her dreams of pursuing a music career to help make Terry’s dreams come true. While Terry skyrocketed to stardom in the NFL and Hollywood, Rebecca embraced her role as the family’s rock. In lifting each other up, Terry and Rebecca have become the ultimate Hollywood symbol of successful relationship goals as they celebrate more than 30 years of marriage.

Rebecca opens her very first storefront in Pasadena, California in early October 2024 for her Rebecca Crews Collection, which was born from Rebecca’s frustration at not finding the perfect outfit for her 30th anniversary. Since then, her designs have graced the red carpets of the Golden Globes, Emmys, and People’s Choice Awards, worn by stars like Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Rowland, and Geena Davis.

What is your favorite travel destination? And why?

Terry: Oh wow – you know I love traveling, period. The journey is the destination. I love going new places. My favorite destination is a place I haven’t gone yet. The first time is always the best time. Being with Rebecca in the South of France…was our first yacht trip and it was incredible.

Rebecca: Hands down, the South of France. Terry and I did a small yacht…Nice, Cannes, Monaco and St. Tropez and it’s the best vacation we have ever, ever taken. I love the people – friendly and joyful, the weather was perfect, I love the fashion – Oh my God — the food, it was just tremendous. My favorite thing I bought were my Christian Dior sunglasses – like Jackie O. I adore those sunglasses and they are my favorite memory. I can’t wait until we do that again. We have also been to Hawaii six times and look forward to going back.

Where did you honeymoon?

Rebecca: Disney World. It was with Terry’s family. We were broke college kids. We did also one night in a B&B in Kalamazoo, Mich. It was all we could afford. (They both attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo).

After you both “made it” successfully and financially – what is the first trip you took after that, when you could afford it?

Terry: New York City. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt and we had all these plans, dinners, saw the Rockettes, plays, Christmas dinner at Rockefeller Center, ice skating.

Rebecca: I went to see the Alvin Ailey dancers too.

What is the best thing you ever ate?

Terry: I have to say — when we really really made it and were very successful, we went to Nobu in New York and got escorted in when there was a long line. Now when we go there we have our own little menu – tuna on crispy rice, creamy rock shrimp, miso black cod, spicy edamame, and usually Wagyu steak. We love it. And non-alcoholic cocktails. They make great mocktails over there. I’ve been to Nobu in Vegas, South Africa, London Paris, everywhere, and Japan.

What is your favorite hotel in the world, and why.

Terry: The Aman in Tokyo and in New York. Fantastic. Service, décor, privacy, unmatched. The Aman hotel chain is the best of the best. In Tokyo and Kyoto, and in New York. I’m a big guy and I love my space…..and Rebecca and I have the most giant bed at the New York Aman. It was like two king beds put together.

Rebecca: We sleep on a Cal King at home and normally, hotel beds are too small for us. We both like to stretch out.

Do you typically fly first-class or private jet? Tell me about that.

Terry: We go first-class. We fly private jet when someone else is paying. (They both laugh). First-class on Delta. We are big Delta people. It’s our go-to.

What airline loyalty plans do you belong to?

Terry: Delta, America, and United, in that order.

What hotel has the best minibar?

Rebecca: We stayed at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. Best juices, and a refrigerator filled with water and nuts, very thorough. We didn’t run out of anything.

Terry: I’m usually fasting, and that was a very satisfying minibar. I do intermittent fasting every day, a 16-hour fast and I usually eat from 2PM and my last meal is at 10PM. I’ve done that for 14 years. It’s helped my body and it’s very spiritual. It’s a very disciplined lifestyle that has helped me in so many areas.

Rebecca: I started 4-5 years ago, before I had breast cancer, and I eat from 12 to 8. Only liquids in the morning. First meal at Noon. The first week I thought I was going to kill someone, but it’s a spiritual discipline. It has brought my weight down and affected other areas of my health. When I get grumpy I have a little bit of fruit juice, or just some honey under my tongue. Terry drinks an amino acid drink. (She has been cancer-free almost five years.)

Who do you think is the world’s best concierge? Tell me about that.

Rebecca: At a hotel in St. Tropez. I needed a curling iron. This precious man went down to the beauty supply store, twice, and brought me three – it was the sweetest thing. I had never had a concierge do that for me. It was a small boutique hotel in St. Tropez. And the Mandarin Oriental. Anything I need – bam! – it’s at the door.

Terry; Mandarin Oriental has amazing concierges. In Paris – they did everything. They told me the best places to eat, where to get some protein for my diet, and if you couldn’t’ find it they would grab it for you. And when we came back to the hotel, they would greet us. It was really special. It made me feel at home.

What brand of luggage is your favorite? Why?

Terry: Rimowa. Hard-shell casing. Nothing gets broken and it looks so clean and cool. It’s beautiful and it really holds up. My favorite carryon is from Rebecca’s brand (Rebecca Crews, started in 2020), it’s the Terry Carry-on travel bag in alligator. (It costs $22,000). I’m the only one in the world walking around with it.

Rebecca: I love Tumi. Basic and black. I love a good old-fashioned suitcase. I have a Rimowa small crossbody mini suitcase, bullet-shaped, and it’s my favorite handbag.

Best packing tip?

Terry: I use travel cubes that you can zip, in different sizes. All workout clothes in one cube, socks in another, and they go from your suitcase into your drawer all at once. It saves a lot of energy. They’re indispensable.

Rebecca: A stylist taught me to take my clothes on hangers, in garment bags, and I tri-fold them into my Rimowa or Tumi suitcase. I can also fit more clothing into each suitcase. Then I put the clothes out, and they are wrinkle-free, and I put them in the closet.

What’s the best souvenir from your travels?

Terry: When I went to Dubai, invited by the biggest real estate family in Dubai, to host an event, and I got a signed construction helmet from the CEO of the Binghatti family that was building the Mercedes Benz Residences. I hosted the launch event. It was unbelievable. That helmet is on my bookcase. A great reminder of how far I’ve traveled.

Rebecca: My first-ever Louis Vuitton travel bag at the flagship store in Paris, while attending the wedding of Eva Longoria and Tony Parker.

What is always in your carryon suitcase?

Terry: Deodorant, lip balm, face lotion, just in case you get stuck overnight somewhere, toothbrush and toothpaste, TSA-friendly. Headphones. One or two amazing books. I can’t go without reading every day. Setting the Table by Danny Meyer of Shakeshack fame, and Eat A Peach by David Chang. I love restaurateur’s books – it’s such a thankless job. It takes so much courage and effort and I want to always find out how the best do it. I’m reading them slowly because I don’t want them to end.

Rebecca: Everything. Oh my God. Handbag and a tote. Earphones, phone, charger, medications, sunglasses, reading glasses, lip gloss, powder, hand sanitizer. My LV roller has my shampoo, face wash cosmetics, curling iron, hair brushes, hair products. Pajamas. And even my underwear. I don’t like TSA looking at my underwear. (Laughs).

Best meal on an airplane?

Terry: Flying to Dubai, on Emirates. There were all these courses. I even took a shower in the air, I couldn’t believe it. The food was incredible. Emirates is the best airline I’ve ever been on.

What do you always order from Room Service?

Terry: I’m a big cheeseburger guy.

Rebecca: Filet mignon well done. It want it dead as a doornail. I don’t want anything bleeding on my plate. (Laughs)

(For more about Terry and Rebecca, read their incredible and inspiring story that was published in Guideposts.)

For more about my Wanderlust and Wellness travels, please Follow me on Instagram at @DebbiKickham.