CityView Magazine

28 May 2022 A t work, they call him doctor. At home, he's dad. But when his family sets out on another adventure, Sanjay Shah has a different title: CTO. at's "chief travel officer." Sanjay charts all the arrangements for airline flights, hotel and resort stays, outdoor excursions and more when he, his wife and two adult children explore the world. "He gets huge kicks out of this," says his wife, Liza, 53. "Preparing for the trip is as much of a thrill as traveling," says Sanjay, 55. He's a nephrologist — a kidney specialist — so analytical thinking comes naturally. Family on the go Fayetteville couple, adult children explore the world together BY BOBBY PARKER e Shahs typically travel abroad or in the U.S. once a month. eir son, Rohun, 25, and daughter, Preeya, 22, go with them when their college-student schedules allow. When they're deciding where to go, each member of the family gets to pick a personal Top 3 list of destinations. ey talk about the possibilities and come to an agreement. e options are ever-evolving, says Liza, so there's always someplace new in the mix. "Our bucket list keeps on increasing as we check them off the list," says Liza. e Shahs' love of travel extends back to at least 1995, when he was in training to become a doctor. ey were living in a small apartment and decided that the most important thing in life is "memories, not money." So they took a break from med school for a seven-month world tour. Since then, they have visited six continents. ey hope to check off No. 7 when they go to Antarctica next February. e Shahs try to avoid tourist traps such as expensive shops and restaurants. "Stuff is stuff," says Liza. "We focus on the experiences." She loves to explore "village life." "For every great city, there's something even more fabulous in the country," she adds. Clockwise from top left, the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile, in 2016; at Machu Picchu, called the 'Lost City of the Incas' and built around 1450, in 2020; at Edinburgh castle in Scotland, built on a volcanic rock in the 11th century, in 2017; the lion preserve in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe in 2015. FEATURE

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