Can you just picture yourself relaxing under a palm tree on a beautiful beach with a tropical drink in your hand? When you are ready to plan a vacation to the Caribbean, get ideas on the best islands and resorts from Caribbean Expert Sarah Gabbadon Greaves. Just keep in mind that some reopening plans have changed or rolled back for Americans since we recorded this episode. Please always check the latest regulations before planning a trip -- this is a good time to use a travel agent that is up to date on travel restrictions. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Tamara about her Florida trip 12:45 - Talking with Sarah 15:00 - Open Islands and regulations 21:25 - Islands to visit 27:38 - Visiting from a cruise 30:50 - Beaches for families 34:43 - Active adventures 40:58 - Getting out 44:30 - Places to stay 52:50 - Final Tips 57:32 - Sarah’s Favorite Travel Gear ABOUT SARAH GREAVES-GABBADON Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (aka JetSetSarah) is a travel writer, on-screen host and self-described “Carivangelist,” who goes to the beach and beyond to share the culture, lifestyle and personalities of the Caribbean with the world. Based in Miami, she creates content for outlets including Travel + Leisure; Islands.com; AARP; Essence magazine; the U.K.’s Telegraph and Canada’s Globe and Mail newspapers. Sarah is also jetsetter-in-chief at JetSetSarah.com where her passions – travel, style and fitness – meet. Follow Sarah on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. TIPS FOR VISITING THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS The Caribbean has surprised the world with how well it is doing with respect to the virus. As of June there have only been 16,000 cases. The islands of Anguilla, Saint Barts and Nevis have all been declared Covid free. The islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Antigua and Saint Barts are all open. They are expecting to open the islands of the Bahamas, Grenada, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Puerto Rico and Turks and Caicos soon. (Although some have since been closed to Americans -- please check updates!) Each island that is open has different regulations in terms of safety. There was a time when one could just hop on a flight and explore a different island on a whim. Now you will need to plan ahead and find out exactly what is needed for each specific island. Some might need proof of a negative test that was done within three days while others say that they will test you as soon as you arrive, or even both. If you are planning a trip soon to the Caribbean make sure to budget extra money if you end up in a situation where you need to quarantine for 14 days. Though quarantining in the Caribbean may not be so bad. Certain islands have quarantine hotels where you can’t leave the hotel, but you are allowed to go from your room to the beach! You should also keep in mind that if you have to get tested at an island it will cost you roughly $100 each person. They can not afford to test for free. When it comes to choosing an island, if you are looking for the total package, Jamaica is the island for you. Great food, great people and direct flights onto the island, especially if you are coming from the East Coast of the US. The Grand Cayman may not have any all inclusive resort, but they do have some great hotels. This is a really great family island to visit. They have very pristine waters and it is actually where scuba diving was invented. They don’t expect cruise ships to start visiting the Caribbean until possibly the fall. Even when they do start the ships will be at 50-75% capacity. They will also most likely be shorter, three to four night cruises and include stops on private islands. Cruising can be a great way to see a few islands in one trip and then decide on places you want to go back and explore more fully off the cruise. Doctor’s Cave Beach in Jamaica is really beautiful and well maintained. On Turks and Caicos there is a beach called Bambarra Beach that may seem a bit tricky to get to since you have to take a ferry and drive a bit. But when you get there you will realize it was worth the travel. The water is crystal clear and stays about knee deep for about a quarter mile out! There are no places to eat on this beach so you need to pack a picnic, which may be the only downside for some. On Grand Cayman there is a beach called Smiths Cove that is about a twenty minute drive from Seven Mile Beach. It is pretty small, but very relaxing. Jamaica has some really great mountain biking trails in the Blue Mountains. Dunn’s River Falls is a must do for visiting Jamaica. You will take a hike with a group that leads you to the top of a 600 foot high waterfall. Not recommended for children under seven. Saint Lucia has great hiking on a volcano called Gros Piton. You can also tour the drive-in volcano, which collapsed long ago. Your guide will tell you all about it. Right next door there are sulphuric mud pits that are supposed to be very healing. If you are staying at an all inclusive resort don't be afraid to get out and really take in the culture. If you are not sure where to go it is always helpful to ask the front desk or your driver, but a really great person to ask is someone on the house keeping staff. They seem to have really great recommendations and they are coming from their own experiences not just off a list they may be paid to promote. Staying on a private island is not cheap but so relaxing! If you have the money to splurge on a vacation a private island stay may be for you. There are so many islands in the Caribbean, all with different languages, music, culture and more. If you have never been, look around and find one to visit! If you have been to an island, don’t think that you have been there, done that. Find a different one to explore and enjoy! December through April tends to be the busiest for travel. So if you can, try to plan your trip just outside of these months. Like the US tipping is expected and though you don’t really need to worry about exchanging money or credit cards too much it is good practice to keep some cash handy for tipping. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Sarah loves her style and fashion. Her travel uniform is a pair of G-Star jeans along with a graphic T and her Adidastrack jacket. Then she will pair that with a pair of Adidas sneakers. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Caribbean Travel Atlantis Submarines Atlantis Bahamas Baha Mar Grand Cayman Ritz Carlton  Petit St Vincent - Private island resort Fowl Cay Villas - Private island resort Compass Cay Marina - Private island resort What to pack in your carry on   FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!  

Vacation Mavens

169: Where to go in the Caribbean

If you are ready to hit the beach, head to Virginia Beach, where there is something for everyone. This week we chat with Brianna Simmons, from The Casual Travelist, about her hometown of Virginia Beach and all it has to offer families. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about the beach 06:20 - Tamara’s upcoming trip 12:20 - Talking with Brianna 14:25 - How Virginia is doing with Covid-19 15:57 - Different sections of the beach 18:06 - Hotel vs. Beach House 19:45 - Activities 22:29 - Favorite Restaurants 24:40 - When to go 25:36 - Where Brianna wants to go next 26:48 - Brianna’s Favorite Travel Gear 28:20 - Coming up Next ABOUT BRIANNA SIMMONS Brianna Simmons is a travel blogger at the Casual Travelist where she balances her love for travel with a full time career as a physical therapist. Whether you’re getting away for 2 days or 2 weeks she aims to show you how to make the most of your vacation days. Follow Brianna on Facebook and Instagram. TIPS FOR VISITING VIRGINIA BEACH Virginia Beach has a beach experience for just about everyone. The main area is a resort area, which has a three-mile long boardwalk, making it a very family-friendly place to visit. During the summer they usually have music acts and a lot of other activities going on. This is also the area where you can find most of the hotels. If you are looking for a place quiet, you can always visit the Chesapeake Bay area, which is great and has calmer waters. Sandbridge is another area that is relaxing, located at the very northern tip on the Outer Banks. Depending on how long you are staying and where, renting a beach house is a great way to vacation at Virginia Beach. Going to the beach may be the main reason why you are visiting the area but there are definitely some other activities that you can do on your trip. For instance there is a really great Aquarium that also offers dolphin wildlife cruises during the summer months. They also offer whale watching cruises during the winter months. If you want to stay outdoors there are some different state parks you can explore and even camp if you are feeling adventurous. In Chesapeake Bay there is First Landing State Park that has some great wooded or water trails and also offers some camping areas. Around Sandbridge there is False Cape State Park, but you will have to hike or bike there since you can not drive to the park. Holiday weekends are usually very busy. Make sure to check the weather when you are planning your trip, as the days get closer you want to prepare yourself if it ends up being rainy. Being that the beach is on the East Coast you want to keep in mind the chance of hurricanes. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Brianna loves to wear her comfortable clothes, which includes a pair of leggings from American Giant paired with a Marine Layer t-shirt. As another layer she loves to wear her Daisy Wrap from Eddie Bauer that goes with everything. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Where to Eat in Virginia Beach Beach Packing List - Stuffed Suitcase Hilton Garden Inn - Virginia Beach The Cavalier Hotel Virginia Aquarium  Commune Restaurant Bay Local Eatery Lolly’s Creamery Casual Foodist FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

168: Visiting Virginia Beach

This summer is definitely bringing back the great American road trip and one of the most beautiful is an Oregon Coast road trip. On the podcast, we talk with Jessica Baker from Boundless Bakers, about the time she spent on the Oregon Coast and she fills us in on the best places to stop, must see towns, and side trips to take along the way. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking about future road trips 07:20 - Talking with Jessica Baker 09:25 - How long to spend in Oregon 10:20 - Where to fly into and out of 11:30 - Where to stop 22:20 - Where to stay 25:40 - Day trip locations 27:25 - Driving around 29:20 - Final tips 31:00 - Jessica’s Favorite Travel Gear 32:50 - What's next for Jessica and her family 33:45 - Coming up next on Vacation Mavens ABOUT JESSICA BAKER Jessica Baker is a full-time mom, wife, and RVer. She and her husband, two young kids, and three cats have been traveling North America full-time for the last year and a half. Jessica has contributed to RV travel blogs such as CampingWorld.com and DoItYourselfRV.com. Follow Jessica on Facebook and Instagram. TIPS FOR PLANNING AN OREGON COAST ROAD TRIP You can spend anywhere between a long weekend and a full week exploring what the Oregon Coast has to offer. If you are coming from the East Coast or even just farther than a drive away from Oregon’s coast, then fly into Portland and rent a car. You can then either fly back out of Eugene, or make the return loop via the highway. The natural beauty of the Oregon coast is what draws visitors to explore. As you are making your way down the coast here is a list of cute towns and attractions to visit along the way. Cannon Beach - is a little touristy that has a great food and if you are a Goonies fan this town should definitely be on your list. Depoe Bay - this town is known for whale watching. It may be tiny but it is a lot of fun. Newport - has great seafood and harbor. If you are interested, this is a great place to do your own fishing. You need a license but it is not expensive to purchase. Florence - is also a fishing town and is north of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, which covers forty miles of dunes. You can rent equipment and ride around the dunes! Hug Point is a really great location to visit, but you have to keep in mind when high and low tide are since you could potentially get stuck where you don’t want to be. It is a great spot for exploring the tide pools and water caves that are along the point. Devil's Punch Bowl is another area where you need to watch the tide times. If you are adventurous, during low tide you can hike down into the bowl and explore the inside before the tide comes back in. Cobble Beach is made up of little black volcanic rocks and when the water runs over it, it makes a really unique and beautiful sound. It is highly recommended that you make this a camping road trip and even rent an RV if you want. If not you can stay in Cannon Beach, which has a bunch of little hotels. You can also try Newport as that is a bit larger and has a number of different places to stay. There are a few places within four hours of the coast that can make a great day trip: Tillamook has a lot of dairy farms and it is a great place to visit and try some different cheeses and ice cream. Crater Lake is a gorgeous sight to see, and if you have time to explore it, you should add this into your itinerary. The Columbia River Gorge is another great area to visit whether you make it a day trip or spend a few days there. It is close to Portland and could be a good stop to make before you make your way to the coast. Driving around Oregon is not too difficult, especially if you stay on Highway 101. You will feel comfortable driving even if you are towing or driving an RV. Just don't be surprised if you lose cell service from time to time. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Jessica recommends wearing plenty of layers when visiting Oregon. She loves her Columbia windbreaker as an outer layer. She also likes to wear a pair of convertible hiking pants. That way she can unzip them into shorts if she gets too hot. She also likes to pair this with a pair of Keen shoes. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Boundless Bakers Our Top 5 Oregon Coast RV Parks ($50 off RV rentals button on this page) Northern Oregon Coast RV Rentals (coupon here too) FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

167: Oregon Coast Road Trip

If your vacation budget is being squeezed, you are not alone. This week we tackle the topic of affordable vacation destinations (that you can hopefully take this year or in the near future) with Tim Leffel, author of "The World's Cheapest Destinations." Plus, we share some of our favorite black family travel content creators and commit to bringing more diverse voices onto the podcast.   ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Recommended black family travel bloggers 05:17 - Talking with Tim Leffel 07:20 - What makes a cheap destination 09:10 - US budget destinations 14:05 - Covid cases in other countries 15:35 - Budget places in other countries 20:50 - Tips for saving money 25:30 - Thoughts of what is to come 27:50 - Where Tim wants to go first 29:53 - Tim’s Favorite Travel Gear 33:20 - What’s next for Vacation Mavens ABOUT TIM LEFFEL Tim Leffel is an award-winning travel writer, editor, and blogger. He publishes five online magazines and blogs including Perceptive Travel, the Cheapest Destinations Blog, and Hotel Scoop. He is the author of several books including Travel Writing 2.0, A Better Life for Half the Price, and The World's Cheapest Destinations, now in its fifth edition. He is a member of NATJA and SATW and is North American Conference Director of the Travel Bloggers Exhange Conference (TBEX). Follow Tim on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. TIPS FOR TRAVELING ON A BUDGET Visiting a place where the cost of living is cheaper ends up being a bit cheaper if you are going to take a vacation there. If the cost of living is cheaper that means dinners, admission prices and even room costs tend to be lower than your home country or city. Just checking out smaller cities in the US rather than going to a big city like NYC or Chicago can help save you on the budget. There is still a lot to offer in smaller cities including museums, waterparks, aquariums, etc. Smaller cities are also usually easier to get around being that they are not as crowded. In other countries there are different regions that are budget friendly for families In Europe there are two great budget areas; one in Eastern Europe and one in the Balkans. The Southeast Asian countries are pretty close together and easy to get to, making this area a backpacker favorite. South America also has some great budget friendly areas to visit. Malaysia is one of these budget areas that doesn’t get thought about often, but it holds a lot to explore. The roads are easy to travel, the food is cheap and good and you don’t have to worry about the water, it is safe to drink. There are some destinations like Iceland or Canada that if you have had them on your bucket list some places are offering cheaper prices than normal and the exchange rate is really good. You should definitely look into these destinations if you have wanted to go there at all, this might be your opportunity to take that trip at a lower price that you could have before. (Just keep in mind that the Canadian border is closed until at least the end of July and, while Iceland is reopening on June 15th, you need to get tested either before you arrive or on arrival or be subject to a 14-day quarantine.) It may be tougher for families but the more you leave yourself open the options of making the trip trip cheaper increases. Travel dates are a big cost change if you are more flexible. Having kids in school makes this harder to do but it is definitely something to keep an eye on when your kids are younger and you are more capable to pull them out of school. You also want to think about high travel times for different destinations. Peak season for travel is going to be different in different countries and destinations. This will make your trip cheaper if you are able to go at a non-peak time. Other kinds of accommodations and travel options can make a big difference in your budget. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Tim loves to wear either ExOffico or CragHoppers clothing. He has tried out a bunch of different brands of gear and loves how well these brands have held up over the years. He will also almost always choose something that is quick dry and he can wash it in the sink if he has to. He has recently been wearing some Prana items because he likes the comfort and how they look. If he is going anywhere that he thinks might be busy, he will wear pick-pocket proof pants to keep his items safe. As for socks, he loves his Darn Tough socks that are very durable and comfortable to wear and are made in the USA. For shoes he likes a lot of different kinds but Sanuk’s are the best for compact travel. They are comfortable and they are also easily compressed and can fit nicely in your bag for travel, no matter what kind of bag you have. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Travelers to follow: Heather Greenwood Davis on Instagram Montoya from The Spring Break Family Blog Monet from The Traveling Child Blog Karen from The Mom Trotter Blog Tim’s Travel Books Stuffed Suitcase - Budget Vacation Worksheet Stuffed Suitcase - Budget Planner FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

166: Affordable Vacation Destinations

With states across the U.S. entering some phase of reopening, Kim and Tamara tackle the  topic of summer travel. What will be open, what should you expect if you travel, and what are the best trips to think about right now? Tune in. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 01:15 - Finding travel information 02:00 - Florida 11:08 - Flying 16:00 - States that are doing well 20:08 - Rentals 24:02 - International travel 29:20 - Reopening plans 31:50 - What to do locally TIPS FOR NAVIGATING REOPENING TRAVEL The information coming to you today is current as of May 27th. Location changes and regulations for travel are changing daily. Keep in mind that some locations have 14-day quarantine requirements for visitors coming from other states. Some states are state specific for these quarantines. For instance Florida is checking license plates specifically for New York and New Jersey. If you are planning to take a trip outside of your state for the summer, you may need to do a lot more research to make the trip happen. With information changing almost daily you may want to think about keeping to your own state in regards to summer plans for this year. As states are opening up, restaurants, hotels, beaches, etc. are limiting capacity. Some hotels and restaurants will only be opening at 50% capacity. Keep in mind that if you plan on flying somewhere some airlines are blocking the middle seat and having to change their schedules around a lot more than usual. You will need to be a bit more flexible than you normally would. You can also expect new procedures and long lines at the airport as more people start traveling. Flexibility with airline cancellations is coming to a close. Some airlines that were previously offering free cancellation or changes have stopped as of May 31st. So you need to keep this in mind when you are planning to take a flight somewhere. You may not be able to get your money back if you decide against the trip or find out new information regarding the place you are going that you don’t want to risk. Listen to more information about National Parks on our previous episode 164. In this episode you will get some useful information regarding what is happening with different parks and where to find the most updated information as places are being reopened. If you plan on renting a house somewhere, make sure you bring a good amount of supplies with you. You don’t know what you will be able to find when you get there. The grocery stores might not be as replenished as you would think. You will also be buying up supplies that the locals need as well. International travel will be more difficult. Some areas may be opening for tourists but only allowing certain countries to come in. You will need to make sure to do a lot of research on where you could be allowed and what their regulations for quarantine are. A lot of things are still up in the air and are changing almost daily. If you have a specific state that you would like to go to you can try googling what that state's reopening plans are. Some states have sites dedicated to what they are doing about reopening and maybe even dates for when things are happening. Keep in mind that though some states may be reopening for their citizens that does not mean that they are allowing travelers from out of state. Take this opportunity to explore the area around your house or town. You may not have known that there was a great hiking trail a mile from your house. Or maybe even a drive in theater in the next town over. You can use this time to explore around your own area, maybe even find some new regular places to visit. Tamara also wrote a post about where to go this summer and some safe travel tips. FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!  

What does reopening mean for travel in 2020?

Wondering what is in store for the National Parks this summer? The Vacation Mavens chat with John Tillison, a former park ranger and publisher of the Park Ranger John website, to get his take on planning a visit to the National Parks in 2020 and what to expect. Plus we talk about virtual Junior Ranger programs that you can do at home. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsors - COMRAD Socks and Moon Travel Guides 00:56 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about summer plans 03:40 - Talking with John Tillison 04:30 - What is happening with National Parks right now 06:30 - What to expect this summer 11:55 - Junior Ranger Program 19:30 - Virtual Tours 23:05 - Parks to visit 29:55 - Where John wants to go first 30:35 - John’s Favorite Travel Gear 33:20 - Coming up next ABOUT MOON TRAVEL GUIDES This episode is sponsored by Moon Travel Guides. What’s the best way to explore the world’s greatest cities like a local? On foot! Leave the tourist traps behind and discover local favorite spots in cities like Paris, Rome, New York, and Amsterdam with the City Walks series from Moon Travel Guides, which now includes a brand-new guide to Tokyo! As the pocket-sized companion to Moon Japan, Moon Tokyo Walks is the ultimate way to experience Tokyo’s infectious energy and futuristic charm at your own pace, without missing a beat. Visit moon.com or your favorite bookseller to grab your guide. ABOUT COMRAD SOCKS This episode is also sponsored by Comrad Socks. Comrad compression socks are an essential no serious traveler should board a flight without — at least on LA-NY or transoceanic segments — and makes a major difference in how your legs and feet feel during the flight, upon arrival, and the next day. Their aim is to make the best, most stylish, comfortable version of what’s traditionally been a boring but useful product—and that’s why travel customers that already know and wear compression are getting excited about. Receive 20% off your first using discount code VACATIONMAVENS. ABOUT JOHN TILLISON John was a Law Enforcement Park Ranger for 20 years before starting Park Ranger John. The goal of Park Ranger John is to share the things I learned while working and living in parks. I want our readers to have the best experiences possible in the parks they visit. Follow John on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. TIPS FOR VISITING NATIONAL PARKS As the National parks start to open you may see different rules and regulations for each park depending on the crowds that they are getting. Some parks may only be available for scheduled visits rather than just showing up. Crowd control has always been a top priority for National Parks and you will see that this is still a fact as the parks are slowly re-opening. Make sure that you are contacting the right people to find out what each park is offering as they start to open up again, whether it is a visitors center or the local Park Rangers. Facebook and Twitter have been a really up to date source of information for what is going on for each of the parks. The Junior Ranger Programs are a really great source of learning for a bunch of different age groups. The way the program works is that you would find a ranger at a visitors center or contact station and ask about the program. They will give you a booklet and throughout the day you will go through the visitors center and learn some of the history of the park. Then you will go out into the park and do some activities. Once you do the worksheets in the booklet you will take it into the ranger and take a pledge and receive a Junior Ranger Badge. This is not something that you can do in five minutes. You will need to make sure that you are getting the booklet as soon as you get there if this is something that you want to do for your visit. You can also earn a Junior Ranger Badge virtually. Different parks are offering some other virtual learning tools right now that kids can take advantage of. Just visit John’s site for information on the Junior Ranger Programs so that you can learn at home. You can look up National Park webcams and just look around at different parks at home. The average National Park visits is about 3 - 4 hours, usually between the hours of 9am and 4pm. So if you want to visit at a less busy time you should keep that in mind when planning your visit. The first couple weeks of June or the very end of August also tend to be less crowded due to school openings and closings. Unfortunately that won't necessarily be the case for this year! FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR John loves his Zamberlan boots because if his feet aren't happy he is not happy! He also likes to wear layers because it is easy to dress up or down, and clothes that dry quickly. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Junior Ranger Programs “Virtual” Parks National Park webcams 2019 Least Visited National Parks FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Tips for Visiting National Parks in 2020

We have reached the point in staying at home when we are really missing travel. To get the experience of traveling at home and fighting back boredom, this week Kim and Tamara interview two tour operators and a winery owner about the virtual experiences they offer. Angelo from LivItaly shares the innovative and engaging ways his tour guides are sharing their subject matter expertise (and humor!), while Rachel from Devour Tours talks about her company's free and paid cooking demonstrations and classes. And we chat wine and virtual wine tasting with Chris from Benziger Family Winery. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor - Comrad Socks 00:50 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 08:20 - Talking with Angelo from LivItaly 11:35 - LivTalks 20:50 - Where Angelo is heading first 23:30 - Talking with Rachel from Devour Tours 30:50 - What’s going on in Spain 32:15 - Where Rachel is heading first 33:33 - Talking with Chris from Benziger Family Winery 37:47 - Wine Wednesday 40:10 - Private Happy Hour 43:50 - Where Chris is heading first 45:17 - Up next for Vacation Mavens ABOUT OUR SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Comrad Socks. Comrad compression socks are an essential no serious traveler should board a flight without — at least on LA-NY or transoceanic segments — and makes a major difference in how your legs and feet feel during the flight, upon arrival, and the next day. Their aim is to make the best, most stylish, comfortable version of what’s traditionally been a boring but useful product—and that’s why travel customers that already know and wear compression are getting excited about. Receive 20% off your first using discount code VACATIONMAVENS. ABOUT ANGELO CAROTENUTO FROM LIVTOURS Angelo Carotenuto is born in Italy from an American mother and a Neapolitan father. After attending public Italian school up until the age of 18, he moved to the United States of America to attend Occidental College in Los Angeles. He pursued his BA in acting and also studied at the London Dramatic Arts perfectioning his art. He often loved to take his friends and family members around, proud of his cultural heritage and at ease in front of crowds. Angelo worked for companies of all sorts of shape and form, creating an outstanding CV and receiving thousands of 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and other social channels. He then realized that there was a niche of tourism that needed more attention. A segment of people that were actually looking for authentic emotions and that valued their dream of coming to Italy as extraordinary and needed to pursue every aspect they had ever dreamt of: food, wine, art, culture, soccer, fashion, ferrari, etc. He then founded LivItaly Tours with the intent of creating services that matched people’s dreams of Italy and that allowed them to authentically experience all of them, however and whenever they wanted, a la carte, throughout their vacation. Along with this, knowing that nobody dreamt about following a flag, in large groups, and having dirty headsets in their ears, he decided that even the most traditional of tours, needed to be an experience and opted to cap small group tours at max 6 people and offer private tours, all at competitive pricing. The mixture of the two ingredients: the quality of the tours and the variety of the offer, made LivItaly a leader in the Italian industry. With the help of Kristin, his wife, they brought LivItaly to be recognized internationally and partner and collaborate with the most infallible businesses of the world. LivItaly’s wide range of offers also include truly fantastic family tours and activities in almost every corner of the peninsula. Activities dedicated to provide entertainment to all family members, give the parents the ability to trust and relax while touring and making sure children go back with fond memories of their time in Italy. After years of providing excellent service to clients in Italy, LivItaly recently expanded to Paris, London, and Spain under the LivTours umbrella. Follow Angelo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. LIVTALKS The LivTours team has recently revealed LivTalks, a series of online events that bring the world to "visitors", even when we can't travel. Each session lasts approximately 45 minus and starts with an interactive and entertaining discussion between Angelo and a local guide, followed by questions and answered. Upcoming topics include: Best moments in Italian soccer Ostia, the cradle of an empire World War II: Facism, Jewish Persecution, and how Italians saved them Climbing the Dome of St. Peters from home Michelangelo and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel ABOUT RACHEL SCHNEIDMILL FROM DEVOUR TOURS Originally from New York, Rachel also called Washington DC her home for eight years where she worked in marketing roles across a variety of industries before moving to Spain two years ago. She has a serious (but fun!) interest in wine and is currently enrolled in the Spanish Wine Scholar program. Rachel has been working at Devour Tours for the last eight months and loves everything about her company; from its mission to help connect local culture to tourists, to the amazing group of people who work there. Devour Tours is based in Madrid and operates across eight cities in Europe, offering food and wine tours that represent each city. Follow Rachel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. DEVOUR TOURS Devour Tours offers a number of different free and paid Online Experiences from Facebook Live cooking sessions to virtual cooking classes. Devour Tours has also put together a virtual Cookbook from their favorite guides. Upcoming online experiences include: Pair wine and cheese like a Parisian Cook pasta like a Roman Discover England's history through 10 dishes Cook a Medieval recipe Discover Portugal's history through 10 dishes ABOUT CHRIS BENZIGER FROM BENZIGER FAMILY WINERY Still in high school when the Benziger family moved from White Plains, Chris finished his senior year in wine country. He went on to earn a degree in marketing from the University of San Francisco while spending summers, weekends and every spare moment working at the winery. He officially joined the Benziger Family Winery in 1993 as a Brand Manager. In addition to sales responsibilities, Chris also oversees the home ranch and its many farm related duties, i.e. shepherding the Benziger flock of sheep and cows, tending to the estate vegetable and fruit trees, and producing the Biodynamic preparations for all our vineyards. Chris feels that the only way to communicate the quality of the wines he promotes is by having the soil from the vineyard in which he’s endorsing under his nails. The best impression a winemaker can leave on his wines are his footprints in the vineyards. Follow Chris on Facebook and Instagram. BENZIGER WINERY Since visitors can come to the winery right now, Benziger and their sister winery, Imagery Winery, have introduced Wine Wednesdays every Wednesday on Instagram Live at 4pm PDT. Join in to learn or taste along by getting your wine for Wine Wednesdays from Benziger. Upcoming Wine Tastings include the following: FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

163 Virtual Travel Tours and Experiences

If you are starting to feel a little stir crazy at home and missing travel, plan a travel theme night. This week on the podcast we chat with Katja Gaskell from Globetotting about how her family is spending their Friday nights dressing up and cooking recipes from different countries. Kim and Tamara also share some fun ideas for family movie nights. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor - Comrad Socks 01:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about their quarantine 08:47 - Talking with Katja Gaskell 10:40 - Themed dinners 24:03 - Keeping kids entertained 30:08 - Katja’s favorite travel gear 34:05 - Future trips for Katja and her family ABOUT OUR SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Comrad Socks. Comrad compression socks are an essential no serious traveler should board a flight without — at least on LA-NY or transoceanic segments — and makes a major difference in how your legs and feet feel during the flight, upon arrival, and the next day. Their aim is to make the best, most stylish, comfortable version of what’s traditionally been a boring but useful product—and that’s why travel customers that already know and wear compression are getting excited about. Receive 20% off your first using discount code VACATIONMAVENS. ABOUT KATJA GASKELL Katja Gaskell is the Founder of globetotting.com, a website for adventurous family travel. She is a firm believer that you can – and should! – take your children everywhere and anywhere no matter what age they are. She currently lives in London with her husband and three children, after nearly 12 years living abroad in Australia, India and Mexico. Katja has also written across a range of titles for Lonely Planet guidebooks and tried and tested luxury hotels for the British boutique hotel guide Mr & Mrs Smith. Follow Katja on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. TIPS FOR KEEPING TRAVEL IN YOUR QUARANTINED LIFE To keep the travel vibe alive even when staying home, consider planning a theme night. Choose a country and then cook or bring in food from that cuisine. You may consider dressing up or adding a family movie about or from that area to make it even more fun. Themes Katja and her family have done for their themed Friday dinners: Mexican theme with fish tacos for the meal. Her daughter dressed up in a skeleton decorated dress to be La Catrina. Who is one of the most recognizable symbols of The Day of the Dead celebrations, she is a tall female skeleton that wears a fancy hat with feathers. Her son dressed up as a lucha libre, which is a term used in Mexico for professional wrestling. If you don’t already know they wear unique masks with different colors. Katja dressed up as Frida Kahlo, who is a Mexican painter known for her portraits, with a headdress from a previous costume and a Mexican scarf. Her husband dressed up as a mariachi band member. Then their youngest dressed up as a princess, which may not be Mexican but was still fun. India theme with fish curry, samosas and aloo gobi, which is a dish made of potato and cauliflower. Dressing up was harder, since they didn’t already have items that went with the theme, but they decided to find some Bollywood movie posters and recreated them. Any theme you come up with can work. It could be based on places that you’ve been, on seasons, places you want to go, color, movies, etc. Make it something that your family will enjoy. If you have a family that is not into dressing up so much, you can just focus your theme around the food you have for your meal. If you have kids that are a bit older, you can make it so everyone has to make a dish for the meal. Take turns with control of the TV if you can. If it’s not your night and you don’t want to watch what someone else is you can go do something else that night. Depending on how you like to work, you can create a bit of structure for your kids by making a list or a schedule of different activities to do during the day. Quarantine tip for Katja: wear a pair of jeans at least once a week! FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Katja loves to be comfortable and wear jeans along with her Stan Smith Sneakers, and a long cardigan. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Frozen Dinner Theme - Stuffed  Suitcase Big Hero 6 Theme - Stuffed Suitcase Beauty and the Beast Theme - Stuffed Suitcase Vacation Planning for Kids - We3Travel FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

162 Travel from home with theme nights

Remember travel agents? They are no longer just those storefronts advertising cruises and packaged trips you used to see in shopping malls. Today's travel agents are advisors that can help you design a custom vacation. And in these uncertain times, using one is more important than ever. This week Kim and Tamara talk with Christina from Showcase the World about why to use a travel agent and if there are any drawbacks. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor - Comrad Socks 01:40 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about staying at home 06:03 - Thoughts of travel in the future 10:45 - Talking with Christina 13:50 - Agent fees 17:24 - On your own vs. with an agent 29:50 - Services agent provide for Disney 33:12 - Itinerary planning 36:30 - Finding the right agent 46:46 - Christina’s Favorite Travel Gear 48:25 - Coming up ABOUT OUR SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Comrad Socks. Comrad compression socks are an essential no serious traveler should board a flight without — at least on LA-NY or transoceanic segments — and makes a major difference in how your legs and feet feel during the flight, upon arrival, and the next day. Their aim is to make the best, most stylish, comfortable version of what’s traditionally been a boring but useful product—and that’s why travel customers that already know and wear compression are getting excited about. Receive 20% off your first using discount code VACATIONMAVENS. ABOUT CHRISTINA VIEIRA Christina Vieira is the owner of Showcase the World, a travel agency specializing in family travel destinations such as Walt Disney World, Europe and the Caribbean. She has been in the travel industry for 5 years and loves helping other busy moms plan the perfect vacation so they can spend less time worrying about all the little details and more time enjoying time together with their family. She loves spending time with her family which includes her 15 month old daughter, Annabelle at her home just North of Boston. Follow Christina on Facebook and Instagram. PROS AND CONS OF USING A TRAVEL AGENT If a travel agent works off of commission that means that there is usually no extra cost for you to pay. This is built into the price either for the tour operator or the hotel to keep as a profit or for them to pay the travel agent with it. Airlines however do not pay agents, so you may get charged a planning/booking fee for flights. Due to the time involved in planning detailed trips, some agencies do charge an additional planning fee. Keep in that agent fees are not put in place to gouge you with cost. They are there to compensate the agent for the time spent on their end. Using a travel agent does not mean that you are giving up control of your trip. You can find an agent that will work with you and have as little or as much say as you want. Some trips you might want to use an agent for: Disney World may be an option for using an agent. Even if you have been multiple times you see that most families do the same thing over and over just because they do not know what else is out there to do. Having an agent for this can help spread out your days giving you more options of things you never thought you could do. If you are new to Disney, having an agent will help you maximize your time and get things organized with dining reservations and such so you can just focus on enjoying your vacation.  Multi generational trips can also be easier with an agent. They will be able to help you balance different ages and activity choices for all or just some of the group. If you are planning a large/long trip, having an agent to help you get everything set and decided on can help make the trip more relaxing and less stressful. Should anything go wrong, you know that you have someone on your side to help you get things fixed. If you like to earn loyalty points and miles, planning through an agent will not affect this. You will still be able to earn points/rewards. However, if you are planning to use points, most agents won't be able to help you as they wouldn't get a commission on those bookings. If you have a really busy life, using an agent can really save you time on your research and booking, even just having to call around and find out more information about amenities or dates. Using a travel agent is especially important if you unfortunately have to cancel your trip. Your agent is the one that will be making phone calls and getting updates for you. Make sure that you talk to your agent to find out exactly what services they offer. In terms of Disney, some agents will just give you recommendations for restaurants and FastPass  plans but not book them for you, while others will give you the options and then book them all for you. Discuss the type of itinerary you enjoy. Do you like to be always on the go or have more flexibility and downtime? Do you want structured/booked activities or just recommendations on things to do? If you think you would like to use an agent for your next trip, make sure that you find the right one for you. This is important in helping your planning experience go smoothly. Picking an agent that has a different planning style than you like may cause you some frustration. If you think that you would like to travel with them you will most likely like to plan a trip with that person. You want an agent that asks about you and what your interests are, rather than just the dates you want to go and your budget. Be very upfront about your budget to minimize frustration during the planning process. Also think about what you prioritize more (activities versus hotel, location versus amenities, etc.) FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Christina loves her Skechers GOwalks but also likes her Yosi Samra flats for when she wants something a little bit dressier. She loves to fly in her Athleta trousers that are really comfortable and are a little more stylish than a pair of leggings, plus they have pockets! MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST 7 Reasons Why You Should Use a Travel Agent FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

Pros and Cons of Using a Travel Agent

All of this family time has been great, but when this is all over, I think us moms are going to need a girlfriend getaway. This week, Kim and Tamara chime in with their picks for girlfriend getaway destinations and tips for planning a drama-free trip. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor - Comrad Socks 01:30 - What we are doing to keep active 03:25 - East coast destinations 09:02 - West coast destinations 12:05 - Different kinds of girlfriend getaways 19:17 - Ski resorts in the summer 23:12 - Trips overseas 24:25 - Planning your trip ABOUT OUR SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Comrad Socks. Comrad compression socks are an essential no serious traveler should board a flight without — at least on LA-NY or transoceanic segments — and makes a major difference in how your legs and feet feel during the flight, upon arrival, and the next day. Their aim is to make the best, most stylish, comfortable version of what’s traditionally been a boring but useful product—and that’s why travel customers that already know and wear compression are getting excited about. Receive 20% off your first using discount code VACATIONMAVENS. GIRLFRIEND GETAWAY DESTINATIONS AND TIPS Some of our favorite east coast girlfriend getaway destinations: Saint Augustine, Florida; can be compared to Charleston, SC or Savannah, GA in its history. It has great food, warm weather and some great sites and shops. Gulf Shores or Orange Beach, Alabama; beautiful sunrises and beach walks, great food, fun beach bars, and plenty of things to do. Some of our favorite west coast destinations to have a girls trip. Wine Country; would probably make the top of the list for most girls trips. Napa, Sonoma, Santa Rosa to name a few. Going to these destinations does not mean that all you are doing is going to wine tastings. There are a lot of other opportunities there like zip lining, hiking and more. San Diego, CA; has some amazing food and some really great resort hotels. Hawaii is also a popular getaway since it is much easier to get to from the west coast, even for just a weekend getaway. Getting away to Arizona can give you a surprising mix of activities. You can go on some outdoor adventures then come back and have a relaxing spa visit. El Paso, Texas is another surprising girlfriend getaway destination. With its variety of different activities to relax and wind down or get out and try something new and adventurous. Ski resorts are not just for the winter. They try to have a lot of activities during the summer as well. Depending on the resort you go to they can offer a wide variety of outdoor activities. Including; ziplining, water parks, hiking trails, slides, adventure courses and much more. Depending on where you live in the USA, planning a trip to a different country can be faster and easier to get to than the other side of the US. Ireland, Portugal, and Iceland have all made great girls' trips. Planning a trip with multiple people can be hard but you have to make sure that one person is more of the lead on the trip. This person may have to push and make the hard decisions. Be honest with yourself and the people you are going with, especially when it comes to money. You don’t want to be the one that ends up spending more money because you lent it to someone to cover their part. You also don’t want to be the one that has to back out last minute because you actually can’t afford to go. This might leave everyone else having to pay more if you are splitting costs during the trip. FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

160 Girlfriend Getaway Destinations and Tips

These are tough times but we are here for you! Find out what happened when Tamara cancelled her trip to Europe and what we are doing at home while social distancing. Just remember, we will get through this and someday we will be traveling again. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking about Tamara’s cancelled trip 14:38 - Should we stay or should we go? 17:22 - Kim’s spring break small trip cancellation 19:39 - Situation at home 29:58 - Fast response needed 31:43 - Staying safe/keeping busy WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING If you have older kids, making a daily chore chart for them can help give a bit of structure to their days while you are staying inside. Even if they are just simply things like making their bed and doing something creative or academic. If you are going to do this you should also think about adding in a restriction if they do not do these things. Don’t be scared to go outside for walks of small outdoor adventures. While still keeping your distances from others you can get out for a little bit in the fresh air. You may not want to but you may want to think about giving your house a good cleaning while you are home. If you do go to the store, you may want to think about wearing gloves or even just wiping down what you buy. Be sure to wash your hands when you get home! Kim put together some activities to keep you busy at home including: Boredom busting bingo 25 Virtual day trips that you can take from home Tamara also found a way to keep kids busy and get them to help plan your next family vacation: Vacation planners for kids - with downloadable worksheets FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

159 Covid Update and Social Distancing

Ugh. As much as we don't want to have to tackle this topic, it is at the top of everyone's minds. This week Kim and Tamara share their decisions regarding spring break plans because of the coronavirus. Find out where to find important information regarding COVID-19 and travel warnings, as well as tips for staying healthy during this challenging time. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 03:08 - Kim’s trip changes 13:03 - Tamara’s spring break plans 23:55 - Tips for protecting yourself 29:55 - Final tips ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Comrad Socks are an essential no serious traveler should board a flight without — at least on LA-NY or transoceanic segments. These compression socks make a major difference in how your legs and feet feel during the flight, upon arrival, and the next day. Our aim is to make the best, most stylish, comfortable version of what's traditionally been a boring but useful product—and that's what our travel customers that already know and wear compression are getting excited about. To receive 20% off your purchase, visit https://comradsocks.com/VACATIONMAVENS and enter promo code VACATIONMAVENS at checkout. CORONAVIRUS TRAVEL DECISIONS Cancelling a trip can be a tough decision to make. You put so much time and money into your plans for a dream trip. But if you ever feel like you will need to cancel, look into all of the cancelation policies for airfare and hotels. Having all of the facts may help you make your decision. You may also find that because of something like the Coronavirus, airlines and cruise companies may be more lenient with cancelation fees due to this issue. Make sure that you are checking cancellation policies when you are booking so that you have an idea what will happen in case you ever need to cancel a trip. Most standard travel insurance does not cover cancelling over fear of something (Coronavirus, terrorism, etc.) or pandemics. For that you would need to purchase Cancel for Any Reason insurance (CFAR). You need to purchase this insurance within a certain number of days of the first deposit for your trip, typically 7-21 days. Also note that CFAR does not reimburse 100 percent. If you are traveling with kids that go to school, make sure to contact someone to see if you will be required to self quarantine when you come back. Get yourself prepared if this will be the case. In case travel warnings change while you are away, make sure that you stock up on food and other necessities before you leave. It also makes sense to make sure you pet or house sitter is available for an extended period of time, should you be quarantined or delayed getting home. Whether you are traveling or not, make sure that you are washing your hands often and wash them for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you are not touching your face and use sanitizer in between or when you can wash your hands right away. Wearing a mask may stop you from touching your face but it will not protect you from germs that you are touching and transferring around. You need to make sure that you are washing your hands regularly. Wipe down your area on a plane, train, or bus with sanitizing wipes, including the armrests, window shades, tray table, seat belt buckles, etc. Now is a good time to walk as much as possible, to avoid being in taxis or Ubers where others may have left germs. If you do take transportation or ride the subway, you should be sure to sanitize your hands right away after leaving. If you are planning or thinking of planning a trip somewhere, look into the areas and what is happening there as well as what they are doing in regards of quarantine. This can help you decide on where you want to go or even just where you know you don’t want to go, at least while this virus is going around. One resource is the CDC's COVID-19 page and the CDC Travel Health Notices page. If traveling internationally, you should also register with the U.S. State Department (for U.S. citizens) and the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST What it Cost Me to Cancel My Japan Trip - Stuffed Suitcase travel.state.gov FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

158: Coronavirus Travel Update

Often getting through an airport is the worst part of a trip. The hassle, the rush, the stress -- the people! This week on the podcast, Kim and Tamara share their tips for making the airport experience as low-stress as possible, even when traveling with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Sponsor - Comrad Socks 02:08 - Getting to the airport 14:13 - Getting through TSA security 17:45 - TSA Precheck/Clear 23:38 - Global Entry/Nexus 27:18 - In the Airport 38:10 - International Airport This episode is sponsored by Comrad Socks. Comrad compression socks are an essential no serious traveler should board a flight without — at least on LA-NY or transoceanic segments — and makes a major difference in how your legs and feet feel during the flight, upon arrival, and the next day. Their aim is to make the best, most stylish, comfortable version of what's traditionally been a boring but useful product—and that's why travel customers that already know and wear compression are getting excited about. Receive 20% off your first using discount code VACATIONMAVENS. TIPS FOR TRAVELING THROUGH AN AIRPORT When you are taking a trip by plane, be mindful of your boarding times. When you are planning when you need to leave for the airport make sure to not just look at your departure time. You want to make sure to go by your boarding time. Depending on the flight and airport this could be anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes before your departure time. Checking in in advance helps reduce your time at the airport waiting in lines, particularly if you aren't checking bags. Even if you are checking luggage you can pay in advance and just need to print your luggage tag when you arrive. Make sure you have all of your essential items easily accessible, like your boarding pass, ID, credit cards/cash, luggage tags filled out on all your bags. This will help when it is time to pull something out as you won’t have to fumble around to find what you are looking for. If you are traveling during a peak time make sure to look into your parking situation. Find out if you have the option to prepay for parking or if you need to park in an off site lot which will then require you to have to take a shuttle to the airport. If that is the case make sure that you give yourself a little extra time to unload your car onto a shuttle and for the shuttle to get you to the airport. Even just finding a parking spot in a lot or garage may take you some time. You will find that some airports may have Skycap available outside of the terminal. They can take your checked baggage and print out boarding passes for you right there, which can help you skip the indoor lines. Having one spot for all your documents really comes in handy for going through TSA Security. For some this might be an exterior pocket on their backpack/carry on. If you plan on keeping these items in a pocket on your person you may want to rethink for when you have to go through security. Since you have to empty all of your pockets to go through this can cause you to misplace or lose items if you have to shove them into a pocket or in a basket for them to go through the scanners.  If you don’t have TSA Precheck, you should really think about what you are going to wear to the airport. Especially when it comes to your shoes. Wearing a kind of slip on shoe would be your best option verses a shoe that you have to tie and untie to get them on and off. You will usually have an okay amount of time while you are putting items on the security belt but afterwards you will need to grab and move your stuff to get out of the way pretty quickly once they come through the otherside. You should also make sure to not wear any clothing that a lot of metal as these show up on the scanners and you may have to get pulled aside to get patted down.  Having TSA Pre check is a separate line from regular security check, where you don’t have to take out your toiletries or laptop/tablet as well as you will not have to take off your shoes. There is also a program called Clear that is a paid program which breaks down to $15/month. With or without precheck this program gets you to the front of either of the lines. Unfortunately not every airport offers this program. If you would like to sign up for TSA Precheck, you will need to go on to the government site to fill out an application. The next step will be to make an appointment for an interview. This is not something that you can do right before you book your flight.  Global Entry has a similar process. This is a different program but if you receive Global Entry you will also get TSA Precheck. For those of you that don’t know Global Entry is a program that gets you through customs quicker. The price difference is $100 for Global Entry and $85 for TSA Precheck. Nexus is another similar program that offers Pre check for some flights going into Canada. This program also has a faster line for when you are driving across the Canadian border.  Once you are through security, find your way to your gate and look for some seats if you have time to wait. If you need to see if you can find seats that have a plug by them. You might not want to use the USB plugs that they offer, there have been reports of viruses and data being stolen from these plugs. If you brought a refillable water bottle you may want to use the time to fill up your bottles and use the bathroom. When you are walking to your gate try and look around to where the bathroom, water fountain/water bottle station or even a place to grab food. This might save you some time trying to find these things after you get to the gate if you already know where it is. If you are nervous about getting through international airports you might want to look into a meet and greet service that airports offer. This is a paid VIP service where someone will meet you when you get off of your flight, they will then walk you to where you need to be. They will usually take you through a quicker security line and you may also be able to board your next flight before your boarding group. If you are an American Express Platinum member, you also receive access to Escape Lounges, Centurion Lounges, and other lounges through a complimentary Priority Pass membership. This can be a much more pleasant way to wait for your flight or to manage layovers. FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!  

157 Airport Travel Tips

We have talked about the Big Apple before from a local's perspective and the borough of Brooklyn, but what do you do on your very first visit to NYC? Tamara and Kim talk with Claudia from The Travelling Mom to get her advice (and share their own) about what to do, where to stay, what tours to take, and where to eat for NYC first-time visitors. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about NYC 03:14 - Talking with Claudia Laroye 06:15 - Planning your stay 10:30 - Traveling into and around the city 14:44 - Favorite hotels 19:12 - Must see attractions 24:40 - Tours 27:48 - Food locations 32:30 - Broadway tickets 37:12 - Final tips 37:45 - Claudia’s favorite travel gear 38:50 - Coming up next for Claudia ABOUT CLAUDIA LAROYE Claudia Laroye is a travel writer and editor living in Vancouver Canada. She is the founder of The Travelling Mom, editor of Twist Travel Magazine and writes freelance articles for print publications around the world. Follow Claudia Laroye on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. TIPS FOR VISITING NYC When you are planning to visit New York City you must think about how long you want to spend there. There is so much to see, even locals probably haven’t seen it all! Whatever you plan on doing, try not to over book yourself. Give yourself time to just walk around not rush from one location to the next so that you can fit it all in. Try to only choose five to ten activities if you plan on spending a long weekend. This is more than enough to fill your time. You should also plan on using the subway system, it can really help you get places without traffic or tiring yourself out walking to the other side of the city. Make sure to wear good comfortable shoes. You will be logging a lot of steps on your days in the city. Depending on what you plan on visiting in the city you should really look into getting a CityPASS. This might just save you some money on your visit. It can also save you some time too as the CityPASS allows you to skip the line at some attractions like the Statue of Liberty. Depending on which airport you are flying into, you can catch a train into Penn Station. You should keep in mind though that depending on the time of your flight and when you will be getting on a train, these are commuter trains so during rush hour they will be very packed and may have standing room only. Depending on the time of year you plan on visiting, hotel stays can get pretty pricey. January is usually pretty cost effective in terms of hotel prices. You should also keep in mind that rooms in NYC are usually compact. With that in mind you can figure out the best options for you and your family. The Best Western Plus Hospitality House is a really great place for families to stay. The location is great, plus they have some areas inside that offer great space to hang with the family. The rooms offer ensuite kitchens that you can stock up on food and snacks, that is great for late night and early morning hunger. These are must see locations for first time visitors to the Big Apple. Empire State Building - this is a very iconic place to visit and the views from there are just stunning. Time Square - it is free and a great place to walk around both during the day and night. Walking The High Line Walking through Central Park See a Broadway show Visiting some museums The MoMA The Natural History Museum The Guggenheim The Metropolitan Museum Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum For those that really love art there are some other smaller museums around the city. 9/11 Memorial Statue of Liberty Rockefeller Center - with the skating rink in the winter months If you want a great introduction of the neighborhoods in NYC, the hop-on and hop-off tours are great for first time visitors. But other than that, depending on what your interests are there are tours for almost everything. If you really want to see a Broadway show when you are visiting you should look into booking through the theaters ahead of time. If you are not sure if you want to go or can afford it, try the TodayTix app/website. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Claudia made sure to wear really great walking shoes/boots to NYC and likes pairing them with her black Athletaleggings and her Lululemon wraps and sweaters. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Dial 7 Car Service The Benjamin Hotel WestHouse Hotel Marriott Moxy Hotels Episode 150 - Things to do in Brooklyn Tips for Visiting NYC for First Timers - The Travelling Mom Fable & Lark Tour Shake Shack The Smith Restaurant Ellens Stardust Diner BareBurger - offers vegan options Chelsea Market Turnstyle Underground market Eataly Wagamama Headout NYC FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

156: Tips for your First Visit to NYC

What do you do when you get that dreaded alert on your phone or when your listing on the board of departing flights turns red? This week Kim and Tamara give their past tips as road warriors for what to do when your flight is delayed or cancelled, including how to be prepared for the inevitable. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 01:10 - Planning ahead 08:05 - Flight apps 12:10 - Tips for a delayed flights 21:52 - Connection issues 28:50 - Airport hotels 32:35 - Rental car 33:58 - Cancellation issues 40:03 - Coming up next/safe travel wishes TIPS FOR FLIGHT DELAYS AND CANCELATIONS When picking your flights when you are going on a cruise or even a train ride that have set boarding times, you should really think about giving yourself a good buffer in case you have any issues getting there. For example, if you book a flight that has an arrival time of 12pm and you have a boarding time for your cruise at 3pm, that only really gives you under three hours to get all of your luggage, get a taxi or car to the port than unload all of your luggage and board the ship. If you have even just one hour delay on your flight that can cause a lot of issues and unnecessary stress before you take a vacation. Imagine how you would feel if your flight ended up getting canceled! It is recommended that you book an overnight stay in the place that you are shipping out from so that you will just need to worry about getting to the port for boarding. Looking into flights that are nonstop can also help out with delay issues since you don’t have to worry about catching connector flights. When you are going on a flight make sure that you download the airline app and are logged in before you even get to the airport. If you haven’t logged in in a long time you might not remember your password and you have to reset. Doing this at the last minute might cause you some aggravation if you can’t just get right on when you need it at the airport. You should also look for the text notification options and sign up for that so that you will get notified of any delays right to your phone. If your flight gets delayed you should think about heading to a lounge. Lounges are more accessible then they used to be. If you have certain credit cards they can give you access to certain lounges. You can also sometimes pay for a day pass. If that is your plan for if you have a long delay, as soon as you find out if your flight is delayed you should head right there to beat the possible crowd that will try to get in. There is always the chance that your flight will get rerouted due to weather or other issues. In a situation like that, you really need to stay calm and think about what your next step is. Make sure to check your gates when you have connecting flights. Even if you checked before you boarded your first flight they do tend to change. This will help for when you get off of the plane, you will already know where you will need to go. You should also look to see a map of the airline that you are flying into so that you know which way you are turning as soon as you walk out. Depending on the airport there is usually a map in the back of the flight magazine! Otherwise you may be able to find a map on the app or airline site if you are able to get on it before they open the doors. If you need to book an airport hotel due to cancelations, you might want to look for places that offer airport shuttles so that you can avoid having to pay for and wait for a taxi as well as a place that offers free breakfast. Especially if you have a morning flight, you might want to be able to grab something quickly. You should also make sure that the shuttle is 24 hours so that if you have a really early flight or a late arrival you will still be able to get the shuttle and not have to pay for a ride to and from. You may also want to call the hotel that you booked and let them know when you would be getting there. You don’t want to be arriving really late and have them mark you as a no show and give away your room. Make sure you have easy access to all your travel information including the name of the hotel you booked, the times for your arrival and departure, your gate numbers, and your flight number. Check with your rental car company if you are arriving late to let them know that your flight was delayed and when you would be possibly arriving. You should also find out how late the desk is open. You don’t want to assume the desk is open 24 hours and have your flight arrive really late and no one is there to give you your car. If you have certain membership plans with the car rental company you may not even need to let them know that you will be late because they will hold it for you for so many hours after your booked pick up time. You should also make sure that you get the name of the person you talked to and note the time that you called in case there is any issue when you get there. This way you can tell them who you spoke to and what they said. If your flight gets canceled, depending on the type of ticket that you booked you could be pushed to the bottom of the list and end up waiting days to get booked on a new flight. You should try to call or go to a desk to rebook your flight as soon as you can, to see what they can do, even to see if they can get you on a flight to a different location that may be in the same direction but a  different airport, so that you are at least getting somewhere quicker. While waiting in line at the customer service desk, jump on the app or the phone to see if you can get service faster that way. Also tweeting the customer service of airline may help. Having travel insurance can really come in handy in these situations, they may not be able to cover everything but it is possible that you can get some coverage for the extra money that you have spent. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Allianz TravelSmart FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!

155: How to Handle Delayed or Cancelled Flights

Vacation Mavens is a family travel podcast offering destination inspiration and travel tips for traveling with kids. Co-hosted by Family Travel bloggers, friends, and moms Kimberly Tate from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara Gruber from We3Travel. Each week we chat about our recent travels and interview fellow parents and family travel experts about destinations or travel tips to provide the info you need to jumpstart family vacation planning and tips to get you out the door.

hubhopper

Vacation Mavens

hubhopper