“My goal with Rockstars and Runways is to understand the desires of my travelers well enough to capture that feeling and package that for them,” says Rockstars and Runways owner Kayla Diaz de Acre, referring to the adrenaline rush she knows so well from her own life. Her clients want that “on top of the world” feeling, whether they’re looking for a relaxing vacation or a thrilling adventure.
For Kayla, life is a seamless blend of high-octane rock stages and high-fashion runways. It’s a duality that has shaped her unique approach to travel planning, where she creates “over-the-top travel experiences” for her clients. She smiles as she recalls a particularly unforgettable recent honeymoon she planned in Spain. After being whisked away by a private driver upon landing in Mallorca, the couple stayed in a historic hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. They later traveled to the mainland, exploring Basque Country, and hopping trains through Pamplona and Barcelona. The trip was a mix of luxury and adventure, including hiking in the Pyrenees mountains, horseback riding, and catching a flamenco show.
Kayla knows “exclusive” means different things to different people, from an isolated penthouse to a private helicopter. While she’s early in her business journey, she has access to suppliers who can make these dreams—and more—a reality for anyone. She can coordinate private safari experiences in Africa, private yacht rentals, or even heliskiing on unmapped routes in places like Breckenridge and Whistler. She also specializes in getting “last-minute tickets” to sold-out events and championship games, like a recent Taylor Swift concert in New Orleans.
Her romantic getaways, a specialty of hers, are equally curated. A couple celebrating their 15th anniversary and 40th birthday will be taking an adults-only Mediterranean cruise, with pre- and post-stays in Barcelona and Athens. Another couple on their first trip without their kids is heading to Impression Isla Mujeres, which was voted the “most Instagrammable resort in the world.” The adults-only resort offers gourmet dining, maid service three times a day, and a spa.
For families and larger groups, Kayla embraces the challenge of different interests and generations. She once planned a ski trip to Whistler, Canada, for a multi-generational group with half the group being avid snowboarders and the other half preferring more relaxing activities. While coordinating flights and ski-in, ski-out accommodations, she also arranged non-skiing activities like a hockey game, ziplining, and a complete bobsledding experience.
Sometimes the most ambitious trips come from unexpected places. She helped a couple with their honeymoon who had wildly different visions for a perfect February trip—one wanting Switzerland and the other Scotland. Kayla had to break the news that neither was a realistic option for that time of year if they wanted a “lush green” experience. So she challenged them to “think big,” and they ultimately decided on a dream trip to the Galapagos Islands. Kayla was able to find them a spot on a small 12-passenger cruise ship, making their dream honeymoon a reality.
Kayla believes that a legendary vacation is a delicate balance of relaxation and adventure. “If I go somewhere with a full itinerary… I’m going to come home absolutely exhausted,” she says, but doing “nothing the whole time” makes her feel guilty. She aims for a few things planned that push her clients’ comfort zones, whether it’s ATVs in Ecuador or a cooking class in Peru.
Her “rockstars” also benefit from her affiliation with Virtuoso, which provides perks like early check-in, late check-out, and free upgrades. She also advocates for trip protection to give her clients peace of mind and arranges private transfers to and from airports, which she calls “absolutely chef’s kiss” for a stress-free start to a trip.
Her own next ambitious trip is to Ireland with her husband, three-year-old, and six-month-old. It will be the family’s first trip as a family of four and her first time driving on the opposite side of the road. “When you’re traveling with small kids and families like that, it’s really just important to have that perspective change,” she says. “That it’s just going to be a different experience than one you’d have on an adults-only vacation.”
For her, the win is being in a new country and experiencing different flavors and sounds—not necessarily checking off every item on a to-do list.
