Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

Latest Episodes:

AT#917 - Travel to Door County, Wisconsin Oct 19, 2024

Show notes

Hear about travel to Door County in Wisconsin as the Amateur Traveler talks with Bailey Freeman from atravelingbee.com about our recent press trip to the "Cape Cod of the Midwest."

Here are the key things to do in Door County, Wisconsin, based on our experiences:

Outdoor and Adventure Activities

Hiking and Nature Exploration

Peninsula State Park: Features a watchtower atop limestone cliffs with panoramic views of the bay and beyond.
Whitefish Dunes State Park: Home to the tallest sand dunes in Wisconsin, covered with trees and foliage.
Ridges Sanctuary: Offers boardwalks, rare plants, and historic range lights; it also features the southernmost boreal forest in the U.S.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/things-to-do-in-door-county-wisconsin/

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AT#916 - Travel to the West Indies Oct 12, 2024

Show notes

Hear about travel to the West Indies, to the islands of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jeff Ohlfs about his island-hopping adventure.

Why should you travel to these 5 islands?

Jeff says, "Some of them are not visited at all. Some of them are overly visited. They're all near each other, so it makes for a nice little grouping. I used St. Martin as a base. St. Martin is known as the friendly island and you can do daily flights to each of the other islands."

Jeff recommends an itinerary that includes visiting five of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, known as the British, Dutch, and French West Indies. His suggested itinerary includes the following islands:

St. Martin (French and Dutch)

Use St. Martin as a base for island hopping.
Stay at the Azure Hotel and Art Studio on Simpson Bay Beach.
Explore both the Dutch side (Philipsburg) and the French side (Marigot).
Visit historical forts like Fort Amsterdam and Fort St. Louis.
Experience the famous Princess Juliana International Airport at Maho Beach.
Recommended dining: Beirut Restaurant (Mediterranean), Mary's Boon Restaurant (local fish), and Villa Royale (French side, goat curry with guava berry liqueur).

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-the-west-indies/

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MT#3 - This Week in Travel Reunion Oct 09, 2024

Show notes

This Week in Travel was a podcast that was in production from 2009 to 2020. In this reunion episode of This Week in Travel (dubbed "This Decade in Travel"), the original hosts, Gary Arndt, Chris Christensen, and Jen Leo, reconnect after a long hiatus. They share life updates and reminisce about their past travels and podcasting adventures.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/this-week-in-travel-reunion/

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AT#915 - Travel to the Laikipia Region of Kenya Oct 05, 2024

Show notes

Hear about travel to the Laikipia region of Kenya as the Amateur Traveler talks to Shaun Stanley from Stanley Safaris about one of his favorite African destinations.

Why should you visit the Laikipia region?

Shaun says, "Kenya as a whole is one of the most popular safari destinations in Africa. That's where the safari basically originated. That comes with its own problems in the form of too many tourists being in certain areas like the Massai Mara, which at the moment is getting quite a bad reputation for being overpopulated with vehicles around different sightings. We try and get our guests out of those sorts of environments and into the real African experience".

"This is where Laikipia really comes into its own. It's up in the North. It's off the beaten track. And it's basically made up of a series of privately owned farms. Back in the day, there were cattle ranches. The owners have now looked at the conservation model and gone, okay, we're going to convert part of our ranch into a conservation area. They've started to reintroduce wildlife back into those areas. We're talking wildlife that is completely different to what you're going to get in the Masai Mara. So it's one of the best places in Africa to see both black and white rhino, which as we all know, are highly endangered across Africa".

In the podcast, Shaun Stanley recommends the following itinerary for a visit to the Laikipia region of Kenya:

Arrival in Nairobi:

Spend one night in Nairobi to recover from your flight and acclimate to the African atmosphere. This also provides time to adjust after arriving in Nairobi's chaotic airport.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-the-laikipia-region-of-kenya/

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AT#914 - Travel to Normandy, France Sep 28, 2024

Show notes

Hear about travel to Normandy, France as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kat Butler from World Wide Honeymoon and France Voyager about this historic and wonderful part of France.

Why should you go to Normandy?

Kay says, "Normandy, I think, just offers so much. My road trip, that I did last year, was literally to prove that there was so much more to Normandy than the D-Day beaches. You've got Mont Saint Michel, the cider route. You've got the countryside. I think that Normandy makes some of the best cheese. You have The beaches. You also have places like. Giverny. You've got Etretat, which has the beautiful cliffs. It's well worth a visit."

Kat recommends a seven-day itinerary for Normandy, France, that offers a rich mix of history, culture, nature, and gastronomy. Here's a summary of her suggested itinerary:

Day 1: Paris to Giverny, Les Andelys, and Rouen

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-normandy/

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AT#913 - Driving Germany's Romantic Road Sep 21, 2024

Show notes

Hear about driving the Romantic Road in Germany as the Amateur Traveler talks to Leland and Crissy Walker about their trip through medieval villages, walled towns, thermal spas, and breweries.

Why should you drive the Romantic Road?

Crissy says, " I would recommend sending someone on the Romantic Road because it's like stepping back in time. It felt like a fairy tale. I would not have been surprised if I saw the gingerbread man running down the street."

Leland and Crissy's recommended itinerary for Germany's Romantic Road is a one-week journey, traveling from north to south. Here's a detailed breakdown of their itinerary:

Crissy's Itinerary PDF

Day 1: Frankfurt to Würzburg

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https://amateurtraveler.com/driving-germanys-romantic-road/

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MT#2 - Living Abroad with Justin Barnes Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

In this bonus episode of Amateur Traveler, we discuss issues associated with living abroad.

My Guest

Justin Burns, a part-time resident of the Canary Islands, joins us to share his experience of living abroad. He talks about the practical aspects of relocating to a foreign country, from navigating visa options to adjusting to life in a new place. Whether you're considering a move overseas or just curious about what it's like, Justin offers helpful insights based on his personal journey.

Questions

In this podcast with Justin Burns, several key questions are addressed, including:

How can someone move abroad and what are the steps involved?

Justin explains the different visa options, such as retirement, digital nomad, and investment visas, and the application process.

What challenges do people face when relocating to a foreign country?

He discusses both bureaucratic hurdles, like obtaining necessary documents and dealing with red-tape, and emotional challenges related to language barriers and cultural adjustments.

What are the costs of living abroad compared to the U.S.?

Justin compares the cost of healthcare, housing, groceries, transportation, and more in Spain to the U.S. and provides insights into how moving abroad can result in significant savings.

What are some of the emotional surprises of moving abroad?

He shares his experiences dealing with frustrations like language barriers and cultural differences and how those affect day-to-day life.

What should people consider when choosing a place to live abroad?

Justin provides tips on what to look for when selecting a city or country, including things like local amenities, accessibility, and whether the destination is welcoming to expats.

How does the process of buying property abroad work?

He explains the steps involved in purchasing a home overseas, including the role of notaries and legal differences compared to the U.S.

What are the tax implications of living abroad?

The podcast discusses double taxation agreements and how taxes work for expats living in places like Spain.

These topics provide practical insights for anyone considering a move abroad or curious about the lifestyle.

https://amateurtraveler.com/living-abroad/

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AT#912 - Travel to Georgia Sep 14, 2024

Show notes

Hear about travel to the state of Georgia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Lesli Peterson from 365 Atlanta Traveler about the state where she grew up.

Why should you go to the state of Georgia?

Lesli says, "I love Georgia because I am an outdoor person, and Georgia's got this great city. Everybody talks about Atlanta. Atlanta is fantastic. I'll tell you why I think it's most fantastic. But, it also has, Mountains, so beautiful hiking opportunities, waterfalls great camping, beautiful rivers filled with fish and all that sort of thing."

"And then the beach. So there's the coast. Most people know Savannah, but there's so much more to the coast than just Savannah. In fact, Savannah doesn't even have a beach. But this idea of this big city, mountains, and beach. All in one place is very enticing."

Lesli outlines a diverse itinerary for visiting Georgia, focused on outdoor activities, cultural history, food, and unique attractions. Here's a summary of her recommended itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Atlanta

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-georgia/

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AT#911 - Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas Sep 07, 2024

Show notes

Hear about traveling to Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jill Robbins about her favorite part of the state she calls home.

Why should you visit Lubbock and Amarillo?

Jill says, "Amarillo and Lubbock are both smaller cities. I don't like the word off the beaten path or hidden gem, but these are just great little slices of Texas and they both really showcase the unique landscape of Texas."

"Lubbock is in the high plains area. Amarillo is in the panhandle. They're both known for different things, but both have some surprises, things you might not expect to see in a small town. They both have a lot of things to do. Amarillo is more focused on outdoor adventure and Americana that is the old Route 66".

"Lubbock is known for music history and particularly being the birthplace of Buddy Holly. So that is what puts that on the map."

Here's the itinerary that Jill Robbins recommends for visiting Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas:

Day 1: Arrival in Lubbock

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-lubbock-and-amarillo-texas/

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MT#1 - Solo Travel with Beth Santos Sep 04, 2024

Show notes

In this first bonus episode of Amateur Traveler, we discuss how and why to travel solo, even if you are not single.

My Guest:

Beth Santos is the founder and CEO of Wanderful, a global community and lifestyle brand that aims to empower and connect women who travel. She is also the author of Wander Woman, in which she shares insights and advice on solo travel, particularly for women.

Beth focuses on encouraging women to explore the world independently and safely. She challenges common misconceptions about solo travel, especially the notion that it is only for single people or those without families. She emphasizes that solo travel can be a valuable and empowering experience for anyone, regardless of their personal circumstances.

In addition to her work with Wonderful, Beth is known for advocating female empowerment in travel and her efforts to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women travelers.

Questions:

In the podcast episode, several key questions and topics related to solo travel are addressed:

What is solo travel, and who is it for?

What are the benefits of solo travel?

How can women travel solo safely?

What practical advice is there for planning a solo trip?

How do you handle loneliness when traveling solo?

What are the challenges and rewards of eating alone while traveling?

How can solo travelers balance planning and spontaneity?

What should you pack for a solo trip?

What can someone learn from solo travel?

How can someone prepare for their first solo trip?