Vacation Mavens

Tamara is hosting an all-women small group trip to Portugal this fall and she would love for you to join her! Find out all the details and sign up here. Did you know that Kim has been on safaris in four African countries? Today she shares some great tips that will help you decide where you might want to go, understand the differences between various safari experiences, and provide some advice for planning an African safari trip. You can read more about a few of Kim's safari experiences here: Garden Lodge, Chobe River, Botswana Chobe National Park, Botswana South Africa

Tamara is hosting an all-women small group trip to Portugal this fall and she would love for you to join her! Find out all the details and sign up here. In this episode, Tamara talks about her two-week German Christmas Markets road trip! If you have this magical holiday trip on your radar, make sure to give this episode a close listen and check out the following articles: German Christmas Market itinerary (10-day road trip) Beyond Bratwurst: 32 German Christmas Market foods and drinks to try 5 Reasons to visit the Stuttgart Christmas markets 7 Christmas Markets near Frankfurt work a day trip

Before we say goodbye to summer and pull on our flannels and break out the pumpkin spice, Tamara and Kim are back with a recap of Tamara's European summer travels including a month spent exploring France by river and barge cruise! Tamara first spent two weeks in the United Kingdom, on a road trip through both Scotland and Wales with two other travel writers. She then took the Eurostar down to France and spent one week cruising through the Canal Nivernais on the Hotel Barge Elisabeth. Next, she went to Bordeaux and her husband joined her for a weeklong river cruise with AmaWaterways. Tamara finished up her summer of cruising with another canal barge cruise with European Waterways on the Canal du Midi in Southern France. The Mavens break down the differences between river and barge cruising and what to expect on each. Mentioned on the Podcast: 2 Days in Edinburgh itinerary Wales road trip itinerary Prettiest villages in Wales Cruising through Burgundy, France on the Hotel Barge Elisabeth Barge Lady Cruises - travel agency specializing in barge cruising Things to do in Bordeaux, France AmaWaterways Guide to a Bordeaux river cruise with AmaWaterways European Waterways

Well it has been a minute since we had a chance to catch up and record a podcast but in this episode Tamara shares her insights and experience from her recent family trip to Japan. Kim and Tamara also share their love for Scottsdale, Arizona and some of the things they did on a girls' trip together. Read more at: Scottsdale girls weekend Reasons to visit Scottsdale in summer Best Scottsdale Arizona resorts for girlfriends trips Scottsdale weekend itinerary Tamara also talked about her time in Paso Robles, California. You can read her Paso Robles itinerary to get inspired to visit this wine region. Kim attended conferences in Walt Disney World (read her tips for using DVC points to save money on a Disney World vacation), Disney Land, and San Antonio. She also took a family cruise to Alaska aboard the Norwegian Bliss, which was different from her Alaska cruise on Holland America last summer. Kim also took a quick press trip to Iceland, where she was able to explore Reykjavik and visit the Sky Lagoon. We really dug into Tamara's 2-week trip to Japan which included: 5 Days in Tokyo 5 Days in Kyoto 3 Days in Osaka If you are planning a trip, be sure to read Tamara's Japan travel tips! When talking about how great Google Maps can be to figure out transportation in Japan, Kim also mentioned her post about using Google Maps to plan a trip. Tamara was also just back from a short press trip to Waterton and Glacier National Parks. We will be traveling a lot over the summer so expect to hear another episode in the late summer. Then you will hear about Tamara's trip to Scotland & Wales, her river and barge cruises in France, and Kim's amazing trip to Kenya. Full Episode Transcript [00:00:00.000] - Kim Today, we're journeying to the land of the rising sun.   [00:00:14.520] - Tamara Welcome to Vacation Mavens a family travel podcast with ideas for your next vacation and tips to get you out the door. Here are your hosts, Kim from Stuffed Suicase and Tamara from We Three Travel.   [00:00:29.740] - Tamara Kim, I can't believe the last time I really talked to you was when we were together in Scottsdale in April.   [00:00:34.670] - Kim I know. It's been a crazy travel season for us. Good. I love that travel's back and everything, but it's also crazy because I thought we would be talking more and we've seen each other so much at the beginning of the year. And then all of a sudden it's like, Oh, summer is almost over.   [00:00:47.920] - Tamara Not quite. That was our intent was to have this monthly. We're struggling, guys. So if anyone is still listening and subscribe to us, which I hope that they are, we're going to do a quick little rundown of some of our recent travels. Now you'll see why we haven't been able to connect and record an episode.   [00:01:07.600] - Kim Yeah, exactly. It's been insane. The last time you guys heard from us, we were headed to Scottsdale, which was middle of April, and we both, I think, had an amazing trip there. We both published our articles, so you can always head to Wee 3 Travel and Stuff Suitcase and see the stuff that we covered. But I loved Scottsdale. It was great.   [00:01:25.720] - Tamara Yeah. I think Scottsdale just continues to be a place I want to go back to because there's so many beautiful resorts and hotels, so there's always some place new to check out. There's amazing spas. Then this time, we did a lot of really cool activities.   [00:01:41.370] - Kim I loved how it was really I think Scottsdale is a great destination a combination for being able to do outdoorsy things. We did hot air balloons, horseback riding, a few different things. But we also did wine tasting and shopping and went to some museums. Then, like you said, went to an amazing spot, the Phoenixion. Scottsdale, if you are a spa person, that's where you want to go.   [00:02:03.230] - Tamara I've been watching our friend, Colleen, that lives out in Scottsdale. She seems to be hopping around another spa every day. I'm like, Wow, I want to come be your friend right now.   [00:02:12.830] - Kim I think everyone's been saying that, I want your job.   [00:02:15.790] - Tamara I'm sure. I would definitely say romantic getaway, girlfriend get away. Scottsdale is amazing for that. There's plenty to do with the family as well because of all those outdoor activities. But definitely check out. I know I have an itinerary. You have some great suggestions on things to do in the summer and how to manage the heat out there. D efinitely check those out on our websites to see more.   [00:02:39.620] - Kim So where did you head after Scottsdale?   [00:02:41.800] - Tamara I went right from Scottsdale to T uson to see Hannah for a little bit. And then the following week, I went to Paso Robles, which I'd learned.   [00:02:51.090] - Kim I always said it was Paso Robles. Oh, it's Robles.   [00:02:52.980] - Tamara Yeah. And it's actually Robles. And I'm like, I feel silly saying Robles.   [00:02:57.270] - Kim Yeah, it sounds like Marbles.   [00:02:58.630] - Tamara But that is a wine region in central California near San Louis Biscoe. I just love it. I was there, I think it was nine or eight years ago with the family, and we were checking out some family friendly wineries there. But it has just exploded in terms of the number of wineries, but also really good food now. The downtown has expanded. I stayed in a new boutique hotel that was just I loved it, which was so cool. It has a rooftop bar. It had a wine, actually a champagne vending machine in the lobby. Oh, I saw that. I saw your story on that. Yeah. So I had a great time out there. And I definitely think anyone that's into wine, put that on your radar as a region to visit. You can easily spill a long weekend. I had a couple of really wonderful spots that I went for wine tasting, just those perfect, incredible views, great food, wonderful wine. I think where many, many years ago it was newer to the scene or it was well known for J. L oor, some of the bigger names. There's just so much going on out there.   [00:04:02.940] - Tamara Where did you go next? Because I know you were really busy right after our.   [00:04:06.130] - Kim Scottsdale trip, too. I had three trips back to back. I did go to Disney World for a conference and I got to ride the new Tron ride. I also checked out a new hotel, which was the Contemporary Hotel, which I had never been to. I loved that. I really do love the splurging on those Disney World hotels that have the monorail access and the ones we've been at Revere too with the Skyliner because, man, it's amazing how much easier it is just to get into and not have to deal with the bus system because then whenever I have to wait for a bus to one of the parks and it's like, inevitably I get there and I'm the last one, I've got to wait for 20.   [00:04:39.400] - Tamara Minutes or something. I will say that's what I liked the most about Disneyland because I've never stayed on park at Disney World. I've only stayed at partner hotels and by hotels.   [00:04:50.150] - Kim Yeah, it is a big splurge for sure. I have a great article about that, though, because we splurged and used... We rented DVC points to be able to stay, and it's still not cheap. It was for the graduation trip and stuff, and this one does a conference hotel rate. I'm definitely not saying it's cheap, affordable, but if you do want to splurge, renting DVC points, and I have a link, so if anyone wants it, or you can look up the how I saved $2,000 plus dollars at Disney World. I have how we did that in there. I actually just tried to do it for Disneyland, but they didn't have any availability because Disneyland only has one property, almost two. Anyways, I did that. But then right after that, I also went on another Alaskan cruise, which you and I have talked about a few times. I'll soon have a couple of articles updated, but this was more of just a family cruise, so I didn't actually treat it like a work trip, which was nice to.   [00:05:39.930] - Tamara Just relax. Which cruise were you on this time, though? Because I feel like was it last summer that you did celebrity?   [00:05:44.310] - Kim Holland last August, which I absolutely loved. I loved Holland. I haven't done celebrity in Alaska yet, but Holland America was awesome. This time we did Norwegian because my family has status with there, and so they like to book Norwegian. We did the bliss, which we have been on the bliss before for a little media sailing when they started it.   [00:06:02.560] - Tamara That's the one that we took.   [00:06:03.920] - Kim To Alaska. Yeah, exactly. Family trip. Yeah. Anyway, so that was that. Then I had one other conference, then back to Disneyland. I hit both the parks within about three weeks of each other, but that was a lot of fun and just...   [00:06:17.460] - Tamara You should have really had a Disney.   [00:06:19.000] - Kim Cruise in the middle. I should have. That would have been perfect. Yeah, exactly. But anyways, that was a wrap up for me. My final trip that I did was I went at the end of May and went to San Antonio for another conference. It feels like most of mine were conferences. I was just conference out. But San Antonio is a cool city. It's been a while since I've been there. I went there for one day when I went to school in Texas for a little while. It was fun checking out San Antonio. But I know you've done a lot of other travels that did not involve conferences.   [00:06:51.170] - Tamara Yeah, I'm like, Have I? I guess. You forget by now. Yeah, that's for sure. Well, I went back to T uson a week and a half later to pick up Hannah and bring her back from school. Then we were home for a week. Then we did our two week trip to Japan. Then I was home for, I don't know, two weeks. Then I just did a real quicky trip to Glacier National Park area.   [00:07:14.290] - Kim Right. I forgot you went to glacier and I went to Iceland. I forgot to mention that. Oh, yeah. I'm blanking on June. I forgot June even existed. Sorr

  Kim took a last minute spring break trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland with her younger daughter and this week on the podcast, she tells us all about it! She flew into Dublin and then stay at a country estate hotel in Northern Ireland before visiting Belfast, the Causeway Coast, Derry/Londonderry, and Galway before looping back to Dublin. See Kim's articles on: Ireland travel tips Ireland packing list 2 Days in Dublin Ireland Trip Highlights: Killeavy Estate in Northern Ireland Belfast - Titanic Belfast and city architecture Causeway Coast - Carrick-a-Rede bridge, Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle Bishop's Gate Hotel in Derry - walk the walls around the city Galway - Kim didn't love Galway and her stay at the G Hotel because it felt more like a conference center hotel then something great for families. It was also a long walk into the center city. (see where Tamara stayed at a bed and breakfast near Galway) Kylemore Abbey in Connemara & Cliffs of Moher Clontarf Castle Hotel in Dublin suburbs Malahide Dublin - Trinity City Hotel and Trinity College / Book of Kells, shopping for Aran Sweaters

Spring break is almost here and on this episode Kim and Tamara share their experience on a girls' trip in Oceanside, California and then their mother-daughter trip to Disneyland with their girls.  If you want some inspiration for a SoCal getaway, be sure to listen in!

Happy New Year! We are back and apologize for taking so long to release a new episode. Moving forward, we will strive to have one episode a month to share our travels and tips, as we continue to each put more time into our respective websites. But first, Tamara has a big announcement and that is that she is hosting a women-only small group trip to Iceland in September 2023! You can get all the information on YourTimetoFly.com and she really hopes that some listeners will be able to join! Note that there is a discount of 15,000 ISK if you register by January 15, 2023. Next Tamara tells us all about her two-week trip to Northern Italy! Some highlights include: 5 Days in Piedmont full of wine tasting, truffle hunting, and great food Her stay at La Villa Hotel in Piedmont A wine tour with Piedmont Food and Wine Tours Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como 2 days in Milan (highlights walking tour with LivTours) Hired DayTrips to visit Bergamo, Brescia, Sirmione on Lake Garda, and Borgo sul Mincio 2 days in Verona (mentioned Love in the Villa and Letters to Juliet movies), ½ day walking tour with LivTours 2 days in Bologna Cooking class in Bologna with Cesarine 2 days in Parma Day trip with Food Valley Travel Return to Milan

This episode is sponsored by Glacier Country Tourism. All opinions are our own. This week, Tamara shares what it is like to visit Glacier Country, Montana on a girls' trip and Kim shares her thoughts on this scenic part of Northwestern Montana. From Missoula to Whitefish, Kalispell to Glacier National Park -- if Montana is on your bucket list, give this episode a listen! Read more: Adventurous Weekend Getaways to Western Montana- We3Travel Best Things to do in Glacier National Park - Stuffed Suitcase Things to do in Glacier Country, Montana Glacier Country is a tourism region of Northwestern Montana that covers eight counties To get to Glacier Country you can fly into Missoula or Glacier Airport in Kalispell, both of which offer many direct flights, especially from the western USA You need to rent a car to visit this region and part of the experience is the scenic drives through the countryside To visit Glacier National Park, Tamara stayed at the Homewood Suites in Kalispell, which is about 45 minutes to the western entrance of Glacier National Park To visit Glacier National Park you need a reservation to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road from when it opens in June through mid-September. Reservations open 120 days in advance and fill up in minutes.  Things in and around the park close by mid-September to early October. Kalispell and Whitefish are both good for exploring Glacier National Park if you can't get reservations in the park. Whitefish is a ski resort town that is very cute but also pricey. The road into the Many Glacier section and Two Medicine Lake are gravel and very rough road. Kim stayed in Under Canvas at Glacier National Park in West Glacier and the Isaac Walton Inn, which is an old train depot and you can stay in a train caboose. On her trip, Tamara stayed in a few different types of accommodations including: The Lodge at Trout Creek -- B&B lodge Bridge Street Cottages in Big Fork Laughing Horse Lodge Residence Inn Missoula If you want to see wildlife, drive through the Bison Range not far from Missoula Other fun outdoor adventures are: Kootenai Suspension Bridge & Kootenai Falls Ross Creek Cedars Scenic Area Llama trekking with Swan Mountain Llama Treks Soak in the hot springs at Quinn's Hot Springs Kayaking Clearwater Trail into Seely Lake Sunset boat tour on Flathead Lake Shoulder season in September was a great time to be  If you are visiting be sure to Recreate Responsibly: Leave no trace Plan ahead and make reservations Be flexible as plans may need to change because of weather, fire, road closures, etc. Be mindful of wildlife and carry bear spray when hiking (buy it there but don't bring it on the plane)  

We are back from our summer travel and packed a whole lot into a one episode recap! We apologize in advance for some audio difficulties on this one, especially after taking so long to get it live. Thanks for hanging in there with us! On this episode we cover Tamara's summer trips to: Nantucket (read her 3 days in Nantucket itinerary) New Brunswick, Canada (Road trip itinerary, places to stop on the Fundy Parkway, and tips for visiting Hopewell Rocks) Prince Edward Island, Canada (3 day PEI itinerary) Sailing on the Schooner Heritage Maine Windjammer Walking holiday on Hadrian's Wall Path And Kim shares about her adventures: Mediterranean cruise on Costa Cruise Lines (One Day in Rome Itinerary) Gorilla trekking in Uganda Alaskan cruise on Holland America Graduation trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando (How to Save Money at Disney World)

We are still catching up about our spring break trips and this time Kim shares the ups and downs from a Norwegian Cruise Lines voyage from New York City to the Bahamas with stops in "Orlando" and Norwegian's private island. Listen in and see if you are ready to set sail. In NYC, Kim stayed in the Hyatt Centric in Times Square for 2 nights before her cruise. The hotel was part of the American Express Fine Hotels Collection and she was able to get a $200 statement credits on her Amex Platinum Card. The hotel has a good location, but slow elevators and the rooftop bar is not open to minors. They flew into Newark and took the Airtrain to NJ Transit to Penn Station Kim was able to visit the Museum of Natural History, rent bikes and ride through Central Park, see a Broadway show, and explore NYC before the cruise. The cruise port terminal in NYC is very busy and it is hard to find the right spot to check in with very long lines. It took over three hours to complete check in for the cruise so if you are cruising out of NYC soon, be sure to pick an early check in time and expect to wait. Passengers has to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test, as well as a passport, in order to board. The ship seemed to be understaffed because there was a lot of waiting in line to disembark and wait for tenders for excursions. The ship didn't seem to be at capacity but that may be because there wasn't enough staff to fully open. Kim and her family cruised on the Getaway from Norwegian Cruise Lines. Her girls like the ropes course but they have recently changed the ropes course and moved things around. If you book a package that includes specialty dining, it is usually just for the first 2 people in a cabin and if you want to add the kids you need to pay extra. In the bathrooms they provide a pump of shampoo and body wash but not lotion or conditioner. The kids club was not open during her cruise and they instead offered a voucher towards the arcade. When docked at Port Canaveral, Kim and her family went to the Kennedy Space Center but they didn't have a lot of time to explore because the boat didn't dock until 1pm and they didn't get off the boat until 2:30 and the KSC closes at 6pm. At the Norwegian private island in the Caribbean you need to take a tender boat over to the island so getting on and off takes a long time.

After a long hiatus, we are back with an update! Unfortunately Tamara and Kim both came down with COVID after returning from their respective spring break trips, which has delayed getting a new episode out. But this week Tamara fills us in on her adventures (and misadventures) on spring break and shares some of the highlights and tips from her week in Paris. Paris Trip Highlights This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. All opinions are our own. Tamara and her family stayed at Le Relais Saint Germain in the 6th Arrondissement See her full 5 days in Paris itinerary Tamara's Paris trip planning timeline and checklist You can also see Tamara's Paris travel tips One of the highlights was seeing Monet's Water Lilies at the Musee d'la Orangerie, relaxing in the Tuileries Gardens, and an amazing tour of the Louvre The tour was "Mona Lisa at her Quietest" by Take Walks / Walks of France Tamara also recommend the Ultimate Food Tour of the Marais neighborhood with Devour Tours She recommends skipping a river cruise on the Seine, or do it at night when everything is lit up Tamara and her family also didn't enjoy going up the Eiffel Tower, but if you want to do it, make sure you book tickets well in advance for a timed entry Two food highlights were the chef's tasting dinner at Ze Kitchen Galerie and lunch with Hannah at Cafe Recruitment For Paris, Tamara recommends the Bandolier phone case and lanyard as the perfect travel companion for easy access to your phone for taking pictures, directions, etc. She also liked the packable travel backpack from Travelon

Travel is roaring back and before you jet off on spring break, here are a few things you need to know about flying. Tamara and Kim break down which airlines charge fees for baggage, carry on bags, seat assignments, and more. Be prepared and know what to expect before you book your next flight! Airfares are pricey this year with increased demand and increase fuel prices When booking airfare, keep in mind that you have 24 hours to cancel from the time of booking with U.S. carriers with no change fees and for full refunds Pay attention to the type of airfare that you are buying so you know what the limitations of that fare might be (such as no changes, no carry on baggage, no seat assignment, etc) Always look at what the airlines charge for checked or carry on bags. Southwest is one of the only airlines that includes checked bags, unless you have airline status or an airline credit card For airlines that charge for checked bags, it can be hard to get your carry on bag on board if you are in a later boarding group. However, they can gate check your bag for free but often you will need to go to the baggage carousel to pick up your bag Some airlines offer a baggage guarantee that they will have your bag out within 20 minutes, which often it takes that long to get off the plane and to the baggage claim It is worth buying a luggage scale to make sure your bag is not overweight (usually 50 lbs for a checked bag but some budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier have a 40 lb maximum) When flying budget airlines, you should pay for your bags when you book the airfare because it gets increasingly more expensive later in the process Many budget airlines actually charge more for a carry on bag than a checked bag Some airlines like Easyjet let you buy additional weight for checked bags Most US airlines will include a carry on bag unless you book a restricted fare (usually labeled Basic) and all include a personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you Carry on bags do have size limits so you can't usually expand it or it won't fit in the sizer For some budget airlines, you can get a deal if you buy the ticket at the airport (in advance of the flight) Budget airlines also charge you to print a boarding pass so either use a mobile boarding pass or print it yourself at home Many airlines are charging for seat selection or at least charging for premium seating positions towards the front of the plane or aisle/window seats Especially for family travelers, if you want to sit together you should really purchase seat assignments, especially since so many flights are completely full these days and there is very limited options for switching seats You should definitely select seats at booking. If no seats are available together you can try to call the airline and see what they can do. Sometimes they reserve the back row for families You can usually upgrade to premium class seats that would have extra legroom and better location within the plane When you pay for seat assignments, that is per segment, which can really add up for a connecting flight Some airlines also offer early boarding upgrades. If you really need to get your carry on bag on board, it can be worth it to pay for early boarding. This is also usually a perk for those that have airline status or the airline credit card. Many times the premium seats (leg extra legroom seats) come with early boarding If you have a tight connection, it makes sense to pay for a seat close to the front of the plane If you don't have a carry on bag, then it makes sense to wait until the end to board, especially if you have an aisle seats Recently many airlines have gotten rid of change fees, but not all so make sure you look first before booking. Just keep in mind that they may not charge a fee for changing your flight but you do have to pay the difference between the two flights Cancelling flights usually means you are getting a credit with a certain amount of time to use it, you won't get your money back Usually you don't have to fly by the expiration date, you just need to book by that date (but double check the rules) Alaska, JetBlue, Delta, and sometimes Southwest are known for friendlier staff than United and American Many airlines offer in flight entertainment but you need to bring your own device. Some have seatback entertainment, like Jet Blue that has movies and live Direct TV, but they aren't reliable and you need to bring your own headphones, which sometimes need an adapter for the headphone jack There isn't always consistency between the in flight experience JetBlue gives a good snack selection. American only serves the Biscoff cookies. Some airlines offer snack boxes for sale Some airlines offer WiFi for a fee but it isn't reliable or strong enough for streaming and others offer free texting (like JetBlue or Southwest) Budget hotels do not provide entertainment and they also charge for all drinks or snacks, including water If you are able to achieve status on a particular airline you can get things like upgrades based on availability, lounge access or reduced charges for lounges, early seating, and free checked bags. There are usually levels that offer increased perks

Wondering how to earn more points towards travel? Trying to decide which travel credit card is the best fit for your family? This week we chat with points and miles expert Jennifer Yellin about the best travel credit cards for families. Kim and Tamara also talk about the changing travel restrictions in Europe, the Caribbean, and cruises. Note that since this podcast was recorded, Italy has also dropped its testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers. About Jennifer Yellin Jennifer Yellin is the founder of Deals We Like, where she helps her readers travel on a deal. She writes about everything travel related, such as travel credit cards, travel rewards (points and miles) and travel destinations. Jennifer is also a freelance writer for CNN Underscored and The Points Guy where she writes on similar travel topics. Jennifer loves traveling to beach destinations and embracing ski trips with her family. How to Pick the Best Travel Credit Card for your Family For family travel, you need to book early if you are looking to use points since they are popular times to travel and you need more seats than if you are traveling solo When choosing a credit card to start using points there are some that are very easy to redeem points, like Capital One which allows you to earn points and then use the points eraser to erase the travel charge on your credit card. Others, like Chase Ultimate Rewards, you transfer your points to airline or hotel programs to use your points. You can get better value that way but it takes a little more work There are also airline or hotel specific cards that provide certain perks, like a free night certificate or free baggage, that can be valuable if you are able to fully utilize it Also look at the annual fees and make sure you are getting more value than you are paying in annual fees The Hyatt card will help you earn Globalist status, which will provide nice perks like room upgrades. See our episode about the best hotel loyalty programs Southwest is a popular card for Southwest fliers that can earn the Companion Pass (see our episode about flying families for free) The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great card but wait to sign up until they have a very good sign up bonus. Points transfer easily on a one-to-one basis and you can even book through their travel portal. They have a partnership with Southwest and OneWorld Alliance members like American and British Airways If you transfer 1-to-1 to Hyatt, you will get more value out of your points then transferring to Marriott If you do decide to have multiple cards, make a note of which cards give more points for specific categories (e.g. gas, travel, supermarket) and put a piece of tape or label on each card and write on it which category to use that card for If you have a specific trip in mind, find out what hotel you want to stay at and then look at signing up for that hotel brand credit card and sign up when there is a good bonus (unless a card like Chase has a better welcome offer) You can also sign up for credit cards in you and your partner's name or a personal and business card to get multiple sign up offers if you have a specific trip in mind When you want to use points for a family, it can be hard to find enough free seats for everyone. Just keep in mind that if you book separately you may end up separated if they reshuffle the flights but you can try to get the itineraries linked to avoid this If you have status, you probably want to buy a ticket for the person with status and use points for the rest Expert Flyer is a membership website that helps you find special award availability For international airlines, it also helps to use an award booking service to help find flights to a specific destination, these usually cost about $150-200. Usually you don't pay unless you can book You can use Point.me (used to be Juicy Miles) where you put in your itinerary and the system will provide you with options that you can book and that is a less expensive service because it is automated When you transfer points, it can take 24-48 hours for the points to show up in your account and you can't book until they are available. You can Google how long it takes to transfer points between specific programs Once you transfer points from your credit card to an airline or hotel program, you can switch them back to the credit card so be sure you want to use them To earn additional points, sign up for every shopping portal available such as eBates/Rakuten (for cash back or points), some have Chrome Extensions to remind you to purchase through the portal. Most mainstream ecommerce sites will earn you points There are also a lot of sign up bonuses around big shopping weekends Cashbackholic will show you which shopping portals offer the best rates/points offers EV Rewards will also compare for you Always look at the targeted offers that are sent to you from your credit card companies to earn extra points or cash back Buy gift cards through shopping portals, put purchases on credit card and have others pay you back for group dinners, class gifts, etc. Never sign up for a credit card without a sign up offer Southwest currently has a good offer for earning a Southwest Companion Pass Make sure you can always easily meet the minimum spend requirements when signing up for a new card If you are applying for a mortgage or a loan soon, don't apply for a new credit card, but otherwise it won't hurt your credit score Cancel cards when you are no longer getting value, but you can also call and see if you can get a fee waived or reduced If you have applied for 5 or more Chase cards in 24 months, you can't get approved for a new card and Amex offers are usually once in a lifetime but you may be able to get it once they roll off your credit card in seven years or so Full Episode Transcript [00:00:00.190] - Kim Tate Stay tuned to find out how you can charge your way to free travel. [00:00:15.450] - Announcer Welcome to Vacation Mavens, a family travel podcast with ideas for your next vacation and tips to get you out the door. Here are your hosts, Kim from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara from We 3 Travel. [00:00:29.890] - Kim Tate Tamara. It's kind of a fun intro today because I feel like we're going to share some happy news for a change that's happening. Do you want to kick us off and start talking about some changes that are happening in the travel space lately? [00:00:41.710] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. I mean, just overall, I think everyone feels a whole lot better than they did a month ago, for sure. And I know traffic to my website showing that people are more interested in international travel than they have been, for obvious reasons. But it's just so nice to be on the side of things where it's like things are getting better. [00:00:58.670] - Kim Tate We have good news. Yeah. [00:01:00.680] - Tamara Gruber But as you guys know, we're planning a spring break trip coming up very quickly, and we've been keeping everything crossed that everything goes okay. But we saw just actually, I just saw very recently, I think it was on February 12 that France has lifted their testing requirement to get into the country. So it's just like one of these hurdles that I can check. I can just cross off like, okay, the day before, how am I going to get the test that I need? And is it going to come back in time depending on how things are there or they're going to shut now that things are better, they're closing some testing centers. What's the best way to get this test that they need? So it's just like one of those hurdles that I don't have to go through now. And it's just it's such a relief. And also because Hannah had COVID in early January, I was actually going to get her tested to see if she's still testing positive. Do I need to get the doctor's note and go through that whole thing? And so as restrictions are lifted, it's just so nice to have one less thing that you have to do as you're getting out the door, and then one less thing that could kind of screw up the road. [00:02:11.860] - Tamara Gruber Obviously, you could still get sick, but hopefully you would know that versus like, oh, no, you're actually asymptomatic. Not that we want to be traveling asymptomatically, but you know what I mean? So I'm just encouraged that there are a number of European countries that are lifting their testing requirements at the same time, though, I should say that is for people that are fully vaccinated and different countries have different rules about full vaccination. Like, for example, for France, you need to also be boosted if it's been more than seven months since your second shot or your only shot if you're like me when it was Johnson, Johnson. So you need to follow still those kind of guidelines and all of the rest. But at least on the testing front, it's one thing. So, yeah, so France lifted it. The UK has lifted that, Ireland has lifted it. Spain lifted it. And I've seen that both Portugal and Greece have lifted it for the EU. And so my matter of time before they lift it for the US as well. And part of it might be like the US still has the requirement that people need to test, including US citizens, on entry into the US. [00:03:24.420] - Tamara Gruber So it might be one of those things where it's like, well, if you lift it for us, we'll have it for you kind of thing. But yeah, at least I mean, right now we're still going to have to get tested in France to go into Italy. But at least we know that that's pretty easy to do. Like, there's tons of pharmacies around and it's cheap and readily available and fast turn around. So I'm not as worried about that. And then I actually just ordered some testing kits from EMED, which is what you and I used when we were in Portugal because it's the proctored self testing that is accepted for return to the US. [00:04:00.540] - Kim Tate And it's instant. Yeah, it's really good. [00:04:02.170] - Tamara Gruber Yeah.

Family travel adventurer Karilyn Owen, from NoBackHome.com, shares her love of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California. Find out why you should look beyond Yosemite to these lesser visited National Parks. Tamara also shares a some new attractions in New York City that you should check out if you are planning a visit soon. About Karilyn Owen Karilyn, the founder of the popular family travel blog No Back Home, is a writer, photographer and influencer sharing her family’s adventures at home in Southern California and around the world to inspire other families to get out and explore, even if it’s just in their own city. Karilyn and her nature-obsessed 11 year old focus on hiking, backpacking, camping, hands-on learning and seeking out the world’s beauty wherever they find themselves. Karilyn has traveled to 50 countries on her own and to 35 with her son. Follow Karilyn on Instagram. Read Karilyn's blog posts about: Kings Canyon Scenic Byway Camping in Kings Canyon Visiting Sequoia National Park in the winter Sequoia National Park in one day Tips for Visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Sequoia and Kings Canyon are actually two separate national parks, but they are operated together They are south of Yosemite and many people will extend a trip to Yosemite to include Sequoia and Kings Canyon, but they have enough to make for a good stand alone trip, even for multi-generational families They offer huge sequoia forests, granite canyons, and rivers If you wanted to fly out for a trip, the largest major airport would be Los Angeles (LAX) and it is about a 3-4 hour drive from there. You can also connect and fly into Fresno, CA Sequoia is good to visit any time of year and you can go snowshoeing and you can drive all the way into the park (in the summer you need to take shuttles) You need to visit Kings Canyon in the summer as the road that goes through the park closes after the first snow. Giant's Highway which connects the two parks is also closed in the winter. The roads generally open in late spring, as early as April and as late as June, depending on the snow You can drive from the Giant's Forest area of Sequoia to the main tourist area in Kings Canyon in about one hour, although it is another hour into the Canyon If you are doing just these two parks, you will want to stay three days or longer, especially if you are visiting in the summer when you are spending more time waiting for shuttles Some people will do Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia in one week The must-see places in Sequoia are: The Congress Trail - about 3 miles through the forest Morro Rock - climb up about 430 stairs to the top, sometimes people like to do this for sunrise Mt. Whitney is the highest mountain in the continental US but you need a permit to climb it as part of the John Muir Trail Big Trees Trail is great for kids because it is a boardwalk with signposts explaining the life cycle of the trees Topakah Falls - there aren't sequoias but it is a great trail that has a waterfall, you can see wildlife, and it isn't as crowded In Kings Canyon do Mist Falls trail, but not in the early season because the rivers are too high Sequoia and Kings Canyon don't currently require reservations to enter the park or permits for hikes beyond the John Muir Trail or backpacking Favorite camping sites: Camping is the best for both parks because the nearest towns are about 45 minutes away (without traffic) Sentinel Campground, open mid-May-September is best in Kings Canyon Lodge Pole in Sequoia is a good spot for families with plenty of amenities In the winter, stay in Three Rivers, near the entrance of Sequoia, and there are places to explore in town If you want to stay outside of Kings Canyon, there are Airbnbs in small towns outside of the park but the biggest large town with hotels would be Visalia, CA, about an hour - an hour and twenty minutes away If you are driving an RV or camper van, there are limitations on lengths/heights for both parks that you should check ahead of time before you go or book a rental A food truck called Gorilla Quesadilla in Three Rivers and a restaurant in Visalia that is delicious and large portions that make everyone happy Visalia is a great town because there are more restaurant options (there aren't any places inside of the parks) and you can also take an orange grove tour There have been a number of forest fires in recent years so you may want to avoid August and possibly September, and follow the National Parks on social media to get updates about smoke or park closings When you are visiting make sure to follow the Leave No Trace principles and bring in recyclable materials that you can easily pack back out because garbage is limited in the parks There are a lot bears in the park (especially Sequoia) so make sure to make a lot of noise as you are hiking, but luckily they are generally not aggressive. Make sure to store all food in bear lockers Bear spray is not allowed in the California National Parks There is not good cell service in the park so you may want to invest in a GPS tracker like a Garmin Inreach device Make sure you bring in enough water and food in case of an emergency Karilyn loves wearing wool and has been wearing a Wool And dress every day for the last year

This week we explore two regions of Portugal. One, the Algarve, is popular for its cliffs, beaches, and sea caves. The other, Alentejo, is lesser-known but serves as the breadbasket of Portugal and is a popular wine region. Our guest, Rachel Laidler, Head of Portugal for EPIC Travel, is an expert in both. About Rachel Laidler Rachel Laidler is the Head of Portugal for EPIC Travel, a custom travel agency that designs bespoke itineraries in Portugal and Morocco. EPIC focuses on luxury adventure travel and maintains close relationships with suppliers to provide clients with unique cultural experiences. You can follow EPIC Travel on Instagram at @epicbemore. Travel to Alentejo Alentejo is the largest region in Portugal, making up approximately one-third of the country. This is the region that is the "breadbasket" of Portugal. It is also a popular wine-making region. In Alentejo you can find some small fortified villages, vineyards, cork tree farms, and lots of open space. When visiting Alentejo, EPIC Travel can help match you with the best hotel or accommodations to suit your travel style. Depending on how much time you have, you can either stay in one location for 3-4 days or split your time between hotels with 2-3 days at each. Alentejo has some similarities with Tuscany in Italy, but it is more affordable and not a popular with tourists. The Alentejo is where to go to relax and enjoy nature and the products of the land. It is a good place to connect with local culture. Some of the popular towns to visit are: Evora, Monsaraz, and Estramoz A few of the activities you can enjoy in Alentejo are: cork trekking, star gazing, horseback riding, picnics, farm tours, wine tasting, hiking, and biking. Cork trekking is possible at Herdade da Maroteira A few hotels to consider include: Torre de Palma -- this hotel is family owned and run, each room is unique, you can watch the sunset from the top of the tower. Nearby you can visit Roman Ruins. On property there is one restaurant, a pool, stables for horse riding and carriage rides, and a full winery. The resort offers wine tasting, tours, classes, and blending workshops. São Lourenço do Barrocal -- this is a luxury hotel that has been in the same family for hundreds of years. While it is luxurious, it is not in your face or over the top. The people are very welcoming and friendly and the resort is laidback and comfortable, with understated style. The hotel has a farm and organic garden, as well as a winery. There are two restaurants, one is seasonal and outside under the trees. Activities include on-site pools, biking, hiking, horseback riding, star gazing, farm tours, family treasure hunts, an on-site spa, and other activities. There are cottages with two to three bedrooms that are ideal for families. Herdade da Malhadinha Nova -- this is a very large wine estate with three different styles of accommodations. One is adults-only and more contemporary, one is in the original farm house with smaller, more traditional rooms. The last is also arranged like a house with common spaces and set around a pool, but the rooms are larger and more contemporary with a minimalist style. The estate is spread out and has beautiful rolling hills and vineyards. On site you can enjoy horseback riding, wine tasting, 4x4 tours, picnics, yoga, and other daily activities. They can also arrange hot air ballooning. Travel to the Algarve The Algarve is the southern coast of the country and is famous for its cliffs, caves, and beaches. It is a very popular spot for British tourists, but there are plenty of spots to get away from the crowded tourist areas. EPIC recommends visiting the far east or far west sections of the Algarve, or visiting the surrounding mountains. Rachel recommends the towns of Lagos, Tavira, and Olhão. Some popular activities include active adventures in and out of the water like kayaking, surfing, stand up paddleboarding, biking, and hiking October is a great time to go to the Algarve because you still have the warmer weather but not the large crowds. Another great time to go in April (after Easter) through June. It is fun to cycle from one town the next and explore local towns along the way or do local activities Sagres is good for surfing Burgau is a colorful town with houses painted multi-colors. Morgado do Quintão is a great destination for families to stay away from the coast. There are villas on site with multiple bedrooms and private pools set on a vineyard. Casa Mãe in Lagos is another recommended spot in town and close to all the attractions but also offering a pool Casa Modesta is a family owned hotel that overlooks a natural park.

It is a new year and time to start dreaming about planning an amazing family vacation to celebrate getting through the last two years. Since so many of us are in that dreaming stage right now, this week we talk to Tara Cannon, from Pint Size Pilot, to get her recommendations on some epic family vacation destinations and unique hotels for families to spark your wanderlust. About Tara Cannon Tara Cannon runs the family travel adventure blog PintSizePilot.com. Her goal is to encourage families to travel a little further afield to enjoy truly unique and exceptional adventures, whether in their home country or abroad. Epic Family Vacation Destinations Panama - a great lower-cost alternative to Costa Rica for a jungle lodge vacation. Note that some jungle lodges have a minimum age requirement of about 5 or 6. Panama offers a good mix of jungle and beach within easy reach and distance of each other. Panama City also offers great hotels, restaurants, and culture. Also don't miss the Panama Canal observation center. The Guna Yala or Sand Bas Islands is another great spot to visit. See Tara's recommendations for Panama with kids And sailing the Sand Bas Islands with kids Iceland - Iceland is very safe and fairly easy to get to from the U.S.. There is so much to offer in terms of excursions from whale watching, glacier hikes, geothermal pools, waterfalls, horseback riding, and more. It is easy to do a number of day trips from Reykjavik. See Tara's Golden Circle self-drive guide Things to do in Reykjavik with kids France - A classic family trip that is easy to get to and you can be immediately immersed in another culture without being too far out of your comfort zone. It is nice to spend a few days in Paris but then spend time in Provence, the Dordogne, or South of France. See Tara's recommendations on things to do in Paris with kids Things to do in Provence with kids And the Dordogne River Valley with kids Peru - Go beyond Machu Picchu. Lima is an incredible city for culture and food. From Lima, fly to Cusco and then spend time in the Sacred Valley before Machu Picchu. From Cusco, fly to Lake Titicaca. It helps for kids to be a bit older to appreciate the culture and spend more time on guided tours. See Tara's Peru family vacation tips Barbados/Caribbean - see episode 113 with Tara about the Barbados.Tara also likes Anguilla, Saba, and islands off of Guadeloupe. Galapagos - the Galapagos is another fantastic trip for families, but it is very expensive and takes a lot of years of saving. If you go, also spend some time in mainland Ecuador. It can cost an extra couple of thousand dollars for a family to fly to the Galapagos from the mainland. Tips for Planning Epic Trips Look for inspiration from articles in online newsletters and print magazines, following travel bloggers that have similar travel styles, and Instagram. Sometimes you can find a hotel that you really want to visit and then build a trip around that hotel. Coffee table books can also provide inspiration. Create a loose family bucket list of places everyone would like to go. Timing will often drive where to go based on weather, pricing, time to get there, seasonality, etc. If you don't enjoy the research and planning process, it helps to work with an experienced travel advisor that really knows the destination. If you want to do it yourself, read posts from bloggers who have been themselves and don't be afraid to reach out to those bloggers and ask for some advice. Facebook Groups (such as our Travel with Teens group) can help a lot as other travelers will provide advice. Travel forums such as TripAdvisor are also helpful to ask questions and get advice. Epic Hotels for Families Lapa Rios in Costa Rica - National Geographic Unique Hotels of the World, has individual casitas on the Oso Peninsula. This is a remote hotel that offers an all-inclusive package that includes guided excursions during the day. It borders a protected national park with incredible wildlife. Hacienda Zuleta - this ranch estate in the highlands of Ecuador is a family-run ranch estate that has been converted to a hotel. Each room is different and you are treated like family. The ranch is on an organic farm and working dairy farm. You can fed the calves, watch the cheese being made, go horseback riding, visit a condor protection center, and gather with other guests in the evenings. Adare Manor - provides the Irish manor house/castle experience without the high price of someplace like the Ashford Castle. Fogo Island Inn - an architectural masterpiece of a hotel in Newfoundland, Canada, on an island called Fogo Island. The hotel was created to support the economy of the island and it uses locally-made products and has created jobs in that area. Awasi Atacama - lodge in the Atacama Desert in Chile. You stay in a beautiful adobe casita and schedule tours with a guide in the desert each day. You can discuss and choose your excursions the night before. The hotel also has a great chef and wine program.

Before we look ahead to 2022, we take some time to look back at 2021 and recap some of our favorite travel places and travel products. Tamara's Favorite Things for 2021 This post contains affiliate links, if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. All opinions are our own. Products: Peak Design travel tripod https://amzn.to/3EUTXVz Yoozon self-stick and tripod with Bluetooth remote https://amzn.to/3e6J4Vf Bose Sleepbuds (new version) https://amzn.to/3s4fPKI Delsey Paris Clavel https://www.delsey.com/us/en/p/clavel-30_-exp-spinner-upright-403845830.html Places: Vista Verde Ranch, Steamboat Springs, CO https://we3travel.com/vista-verde-ranch-review/ Terramor Outdoor Resort, Bar Harbor, ME https://we3travel.com/terramor-outdoor-resort-review-glamping-near-acadia/ Canaves Oia Epitome, Santorini, Greece https://yourtimetofly.com/where-to-stay-in-santorini-for-couples-canaves-oia-epitome-review/ Virtu Suites, Naxos, Greece https://yourtimetofly.com/virtu-suites-where-to-stay-on-naxos/ Torre de Palma, Alentejo, Portugal https://yourtimetofly.com/6-must-stay-at-wine-hotels-in-portugal/   Kim's Favorite Things for 2021 Products: Kindle Unlimited (https://amzn.to/3q5Fv72) 6 mos for $30 or $9.99 / mo Audible (https://amzn.to/3F4XYqP) free 30 days then $5.95 / mo first 3 premium plus - then $14.95 / mo Knack Bag (https://knack-bags.pxf.io/ZdqLgR)  Aerie Offline Leggings with side pocket (https://rstyle.me/+dmgDhgr9GEdzOEd3DyhtSQ)  Places: Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle (https://stuffedsuitcase.com/taste-washington/) Safari West (https://stuffedsuitcase.com/safari-west-santa-rosa/) Monterey CA / Hyatt Regency (https://stuffedsuitcase.com/things-to-do-in-monterey-with-kids/) Manor Vail Lodge Herdade da Malhadinha Nova

What is green and blue and volcanic all over? This week on the podcast, Kim and Tamara are joined by Katja Gaskell from Globetotting.com to talk about their recent trip to the Azores in a continuation of our Portugal coverage. The Azores are an archipelago of nine Portuguese islands in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean and they are a unique blend of the landscapes of Hawaii, Ireland or Wales, and Iceland with the culture of the Portuguese mainland. Hear what makes these islands so special, and what you need to know before you plan a trip to the Azores. Disclosure: Our trip was hosted by EPIC Travel, a boutique travel agency specializing in arranging custom itineraries in Portugal and Morocco. EPIC’s in-country travel planners have close relationships with hotels, guides, drivers and tour operators and can design the perfect trip for your travel style and interests. EPIC focuses on adventure and cultural experiences to allow you to have a deeper and more epic journey. If you book with EPIC Travel and mention that you heard about them on the Vacation Mavens podcast, you will receive a VIP Welcome Gift on arrival. Tips for Visiting the Azores, Portugal The Azores are nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that are part of Portugal You can fly direct from Europe on Ryan Air and some other airlines, or you can go through Lisbon via Tap Airlines and utilize the free layover offering From the USA you can fly direct from Boston on Azores Airlines/ SATA Airlines and starting May 2022 United will offer direct service from Newark The largest island is São Miguel and the main city where the airport is is Ponta Delgada (PDL) São Miguel is a unique mix of landscapes and the island is very well maintained and beautiful The Azores are a real adventure destination for adventure tourism There are currently not a lot of restaurants and hotels for tourists, so you really need to plan very far in advance and be flexible with your plans. It also helps to stay at a hotel with a restaurant You should plan a trip six to nine months in advance The weather can be volatile where you experience many seasons in a day, but the water stays warm thanks to the Gulf Stream and it doesn't get terribly cold in the winter Summer is the ideal time to go, but also the busiest Plan on spending at least three to four days in São Miguel, more if you want to take part in some more of the adventure activities If you plan on visiting multiple islands with a full Azores trip, plan on 10 to 14 days in total A trip to the Azores is a sightseeing and active vacation, and not a resort-based, relaxation island vacation Other Azores islands to visit include Pico, Sao Jorge, Faial (which are very close to each other) and Terceira If you are not comfortable driving through small towns with narrow streets or along cliffs then you may want to take a private tour with a driver/guide Some roads get washed out due to rain or storms that cause mudslides Guides will also be able to check apps and weather to see what conditions are like in different places and can adjust on the fly Best places to see in Sao Miguel include: Caloura (fishing village) Sete Citades (blue and green lakes) Furnas (thermal activity and hot springs) Ribeira dos Caldeiroes (waterfalls) Ponta da Ferraria (cliffs and lava beach) There are many adventure activities on Sao Miguel, perfect for adventurous families and families with teens including: Coasteering Snorkeling Cliff diving Canyoning Kayaking Surfing Dolphin and whale watching tours Where to stay on Sao Miguel: Azor Hotel in Ponta Delgada is convenient for access to the airport and town, with nice spacious rooms, nice views, and a great restaurant, but it is better to get outside of Ponta Delgada if possible Furnas Boutique Hotel is in Furnas and has a nice spa, hot springs, and pools heated by geothermal activity. There are activities on site and the hotel staff is extremely friendly and personable, but the rooms are on the smaller side. Santa Barbara Beach Resort is an eco-resort located above a nice swimming and surfing beach. There are different types of suites with kitchenettes, spread across different buildings, some of which have a shared infinity pool To visit the Azores, we needed a separate negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. You need to complete a locator form and upload your test results and these are checked upon arrival at PDL. Masks are also required indoors everywhere when we visited. To get inspired for future travel, watch 14 Peaks on Netflix and read Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh  

Tamara and Kim recently traded the northern cold and rain for Arizona's sunny skies on a "momcation" or girlfriend getaway to Tempe, Arizona. Find out what makes this college city a great option for either a family vacation or a girls' trip. With plenty of outdoor activities and great food, there is a lot about Tempe that may surprise you! Note: This episode was created in partnership with Tempe Tourism. All opinions are our own and we thank them for supporting our work! Planning a Trip to Tempe, AZ Tempe is adjacent to Phoenix, Arizona, but really more of its own city than just a suburb. Tempe is home to Arizona State University (ASU) so it has a college town feel, but there are also many large businesses with offices in Tempe and it is a growing city. It is easy to get to Tempe. Phoenix Sky Harbor airport has many affordable, direct flights and it is only a 10-15 minute Uber ride from PHX to downtown Tempe. You can also take the light rail directly from the airport station for only $2.00. If you plan on staying in downtown Tempe, you don't need a car as it is easy to walk, bike, Uber, or take public transportation. However, if you want to explore more of the area or enjoy some of the attractions and restaurants outside of downtown Tempe, you will probably want to rent a car for your trip. There are many things to do outdoors in Tempe including water-based activities on Tempe Town Lake, biking, relaxing at the pool, shopping, walking around downtown Tempe or the ASU campus, and enjoying outdoor dining. Tempe hosts many large events including the Iron Man race, baseball spring training, and in 2023 the Super Bowl will be held nearby. Tempe has recently expanded its hotel inventory to include the Westin Tempe, Canopy by Hilton, and soon the Omni Hotel and Vīb by Best Western. We stayed at the Tempe Mission Palms hotel in downtown Tempe, which was a great location for exploring. The Junior Suites are very spacious and quiet. The hotel has a nice pool and hot tub with a view of "A" mountain. Some fun things to do in Tempe include: Hiking "A" Mountain / Hayden Butte at sunrise or sunset Kayaking or paddle boarding on Tempe Town Lake with Boat Rentals of America Renting bikes or e-bikes from North Shore Water Sports to bike through town or along the lake bike paths Tempe has 218 miles of bike paths and bike lanes in Tempe, making it a great city for bikers and car-free living You can also rent scooters to explore Tempe Shopping and dining at the Tempe Marketplace, which has a great entertainment district with tons of great dining options Take photos in front of some of Tempe's murals Relaxing at the hotel pools. Some hotels like the Tempe Westin and Canopy by Hilton have great rooftop pools and lounges. These are also a great spot to see the sunset See a baseball game during Spring Training season or watching the Sun Devils college sports at ASU You can also rent a car and visit nearby Mesa or Scottsdale. Mesa is home to the Fresh Foodie Trail, which incorporates a number of farms, restaurants, and other unique stops. Some things to do in Mesa include: Enjoy BBQ or chips with homemade salsa at Jalapeno Bucks, which is set in a citrus grove. This is a popular spot with locals and visitors so expect long lines and outdoor picnic table dining Queen Creek Olive Mill offers olive grove tours, outdoor dining, and shopping for olive oil and olive-oil based products If you wanted to spend the night in Mesa, check out the Cozy Peach Glamping at Schnepf Farms, which has custom renovated Airstream trailers. Schnepf Farms also hosts many seasonal events Downtown Mesa offers shopping, cideries, breweries, restaurants, coffee shops, and game/arcade spots Cider Corps is a veteran-owned cidery that offers a wide-range of ciders and also incorporates other businesses to offer pizza and coffee There are also some great murals in downtown Mesa Tempe has many great food options, including: Top of the Rock at the Buttes Marriott offers amazing views and great fine dining for special occasions. If the weather is cooler, try to book a table on the terrace for great nighttime views For breakfast: Snooze, an AM Eatery -- near the college, they have a great retro design and unique offerings Morning Squeeze -- also has a fun retro diner vibe but with more traditional breakfast offerings Daily Jam -- near the Tempe Mission Palms in downtown offers famous waffles in various flavors, including red velvet waffles For lunch: Postino Annex -- located near campus, they offer great outdoor dining and it is great for groups with many small plates and bruschetta boards, plus they offer $5 glasses of wine before 5pm Barrio Queen -- located in Tempe Marketplace, they offered great Mexican / Southwest cuisine with amazing decor, outside dining, tableside guacamole, and delicious tacos For dinner: Culinary Drop Out -- great space for families or groups with ping pong tables, corn hole, and plenty of small plates to share. It is a large and lively space Ghost Ranch -- located about 10 minutes from Downtown Tempe, Ghost Ranch is delicious southwest cuisine with great drinks House of Tricks -- located near campus, this restaurant has a beautiful garden setting, making it a great spot for a romantic dinner or a special dinner with friends or parents taking out their college student Tempe is a good spot for a girl's trip or family vacation and a more affordable alternative to the high-end resorts in Scottsdale.  

Cruising is making a comeback and this week we talk to couples travel and cruising experts Dan and Mikkel Woodruff to learn about their recent cruise experience. About Dan and Mikkel Woodruff Dan and Mikkel are a husband and wife team who write about couples travel and cruising (with a focus on small format cruises) around the world. Their adventures take them as far away as Southeast Asia, to the Arctic Circle in Norway, around the United States and close to home in Raleigh, North Carolina. You can find their travel stories at SometimesSailing.com or SometimesHome.com. What to Expect When Cruising in 2021 and Beyond Norwegian Cruise Lines has announced that it plans to keep its 100 percent vaccination requirement indefinitely The Center for Disease Control has announced that in January it will be lifting cruise requirements and after that the guidelines will be dependent on each cruise line's individual rules During COVID, cruisers should expect to wear masks inside and for capacity to not be at 100 percent, giving a little more elbow room around the ship. Cruises may allow booking at 100 percent capacity, but they aren't yet fully booked. Some countries in Europe may require N95 masks to be worn (and these may be provided by the cruise line.) You will see even more hand sanitizing stations throughout the ship or more hand washing stations, especially on large ships Most cruise lines currently require all adults to be vaccinated and children to be rapid tested prior to boarding. Now that younger children can be vaccinated, this may change. Vaccination is especially required for small ship cruising. Once off the ship, you need to follow local rules. In many European countries you need to show your vaccination card to eat indoors or to enter shops/attractions. Some require both a photo ID and your vaccination card. Make sure you carry your actual vaccination card, because in some places a photo of the card is not acceptable. Cruising feels very safe right now when you know everyone on board is vaccinated and many ships have large scale testing capabilities or even do rapid testing in ports Most cruise lines have plans in place on where you would be housed and quarantined portside if you tested positive while onboard Travel insurance is always a good idea but make sure you understand what is offered through the cruise line and see if you need additional insurance to cover the flights or pre or post-cruise stays The cruise lines have a health and safety tab that outlines exactly what to expect during the cruise If you are departing from a foreign country, make sure you understand the entrance requirements for that country, which may include a negative test and a passenger locator form in addition to a vaccination card. You can also find this information on the embassy website Before booking, make sure you understand the cancelation policies or what would happen if the cruise line had to reschedule your sailing. Many cruise lines are offering Future Travel Credits (FTCs) and some will offer 125% credit if they have to reschedule. When it comes to new ships and itineraries, Kontiki Expeditions is offering a new small ship cruise that will cruise along the coast of Ecuador (not the Galapagos), and will focus strongly on the people and the culture. This is a great cruise to take in the winter because of the location along the equator American Queen Voyages will be cruising the Great Lakes and some of the American rivers like the Snake River and the Mississippi. They are also coming out with expedition ships in Alaska and will be doing the Inside Passage and incorporating First Nations culture The Emerald Azzurra and Sakara super yacht will be sailing in the Red Sea and off the coast of Africa and the Seychelles The Disney Wish megaship is also launching in 2022 The Celebrity Beyond is a new large ship launching in 2022 Virgin Voyages is an adult-only cruise line launching soon Many cruise lines, including small ship cruises are looking to attract multigenerational travelers. A-Rosa is a UK-based small ship cruise line that offers European river cruises and a new ship coming in March 2022 is very focused on families. For more information on small ship cruising, give episode 154 a listen.