Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

Latest Episodes:

AT#1006 - Travel to Dominica Jul 25, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, Sam Williams joins Chris to talk about the Caribbean island of Dominica, a destination he describes as “unspoiled Caribbean.” Unlike many Caribbean islands, where the main draw is the beach, Dominica is known for its rainforest, mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, snorkeling, whale watching, canyoning, and sea turtles.

Sam recommends spending about a week on the island, renting a car, and using the Roseau area as a base for much of the trip before finishing on the wilder east coast near Rosalie Bay.

Why Visit Dominica?

Sam says Dominica is a good choice for travelers who want a Caribbean island experience that feels different from the standard resort-and-beach vacation. The island has beaches, but its real appeal is its jungle interior, dramatic waterfalls, volcanic activity, rugged roads, and low-key feel. Outside of cruise ship days, many sights can feel surprisingly uncrowded.

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

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AT#1005 - Zaragoza and Aragon, Spain Jul 18, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, host Chris Christensen talks about his press trip through Aragon, Spain, joined by fellow travelers Kevin Revolinski and Cathy Bennett Kopf. Aragon sits in northeastern Spain, west of Catalonia, and stretches from Zaragoza north to the Pyrenees and the French border.

Why Visit Aragon?

Aragon offers Roman ruins, Mudéjar architecture, cathedrals, castles, abbeys, Garnacha wine, medieval villages, mountain scenery, and outdoor adventure, without the crowds of Spain’s better-known cities.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/zaragoza-and-aragon-spain/

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AT#1004 - Cruising the Briare Canal in France with European Waterways Jul 11, 2026

Show notes

Hear about luxury barge cruising in France as Chris Christensen describes a week aboard the Renaissance, a European Waterways hotel barge traveling through Western Burgundy and the Upper Loire.

Chris and his wife previously cruised with European Waterways on the Canal du Midi. For this journey, they returned to France to explore the Briare Canal, one of the country’s oldest canals, aboard a vessel carrying just eight passengers and five crew members.

The result was an unusually intimate trip combining French cuisine, historic towns, private châteaux, Sancerre vineyards, canal locks, and long, leisurely afternoons on the water.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/cruising-the-briare-canal/

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AT#1003 - Travel to Fiji (Yasawa Islands, Taveuni, Ovalau, and Viti Levu) Jul 04, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Fiji as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from jontytravels.com about this island nation where he lived this year.

Why should you visit Fiji?

Jonty says, "Fiji offers the classic South Pacific island experience, with excellent snorkeling and diving, attractive beaches, and welcoming people. It also has a well-established tourism industry, which accounts for approximately 40% of the economy. Fiji attracts around one million visitors each year, representing about 60% of all tourism in the South Pacific."

Jonty’s Experience in Fiji

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-fiji-3/

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AT#1002 - Travel to Paris, France Jun 27, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Paris as the Amateur Traveler talks to Angela J. Reed of Parisienne Farmgirl about museums, cafés, neighborhoods, markets, gardens, and viewpoints in the City of Light.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Why should you go to Paris?

Angela says, “Paris is alive. It has a rhythm of its own, and I think when you visit Paris, you get to become part of that rhythm.”

In this episode, she helps us plan a visit that includes the classic first-time Paris experiences, but also leaves room for the slower, more personal moments that make travelers want to return.

Itinerary

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-paris-france-2/

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AT#1001 - Travel to Western Crete, Greece Jun 20, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Western Crete as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from jontytravels.com about his hiking adventure around the villages and in the mountains of the largest Greek island.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Why should you visit Western Crete?

Jonty says, "Crete is a diverse Greek island, home to excellent hiking, dramatic gorges, atmospheric villages, epic coastlines, and ancient history."

Jonty spent around a week hiking in western Crete, village walks in the north, the White Mountains in the center, and along the south coast. He did a self-guided trip with the Natural Adventure and their local operator, S-Cape. They organize the logistics, including accommodation, bag transfers, and provide GPS walking routes. Many of the sights can be seen without hiking, though, in fewer days with a car.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-western-crete/

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AT#1000 - Travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Jun 13, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the annual Amateur Traveler trip as host Chris Christensen and guest Bill Abbott talk about a tour to 2 of the 5 'Stans in Central Asia.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Why should you go to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan?

Chris says, "In this area, you can stand in these beautiful cities that date back over two thousand years. This is a trip through some of the great crossroads of world history: Persian empires, Silk Road merchants, Turkic tribes, Mongol armies, Timurid architects, Russian generals, Soviet planners, and two very different modern countries. This is not the edge of the map as we tend to view it, but historically, it's the middle of the map."

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, we celebrate episode 1,000 with a trip through Central Asia to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The episode follows a G Adventures trip, Best of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, with a small group of Amateur Traveler listeners.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-uzbekistan-and-turkmenistan/

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AT#999 - Travel to Umbria in Italy Jun 06, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Umbria in Italy as the Amateur Traveler talks to Katerina Ferrara, the author of the Ultimate Festival & Travel Guide Umbria.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Why should you go to Umbria?

Katerina says, "Travelers should include Umbria in their plans because the hill towns feel just completely suspended in time. These are beautifully preserved places that stay off the main tourist track because the region has no major airport, and the high-speed trains are limited. But if you get there, you can really enjoy some time in the small towns as well as in nature."

"There are incredible hikes and pilgrimage trails, like the Way of St. Francis, that also work for cyclists. So if you've been to Tuscany and loved it, to me, Umbria should be your next stop. Everything you came to is here. It's got fresco churches, olive oil, wine, truffles, and no crowds. There's no coaches bringing giant tours. And also the prices are excellent. Lodging in Umbria costs a fraction of what you're going to pay in Florence, Rome, or Venice."

Katerina’s Recommended Umbria Itinerary

Katerina recommends a one-week Umbria itinerary by car, starting from Rome Fiumicino Airport, then driving north into Umbria. Her core route is:

Rome → Orvieto → Assisi → Gubbio, with day trips from each base.

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

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AT#998 - Travel to Delaware May 30, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Delaware as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dannelle Gay from the Traveling Cheesehead about her recent visit to The First State.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Why should you go to Delaware?

Dannelle says, "If you are a foodie, if you're a history buff, if you're a beach person, there are so many different reasons. If you're into military history or you get into aircraft World War II history, any of that, it is such an amazing place to visit. Yes, it's the first state, but there was so much more that I learned when I was there."

Suggested Delaware Itinerary

Fly into Philadelphia, then drive or take an Uber to the Wilmington / Christiana area. Dannelle stayed at the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana and liked it as a central base because Delaware is small enough that you can head north or south from there without changing hotels.

Day 1: Arrive and Base in Wilmington

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AT#997 - Travel Jerez and Cádiz, Spain May 23, 2026

Show notes

Hear about travel to Jerez de la Frontera and the province of Cádiz in Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks about a recent press trip to the 2026 Culinary Capital of Spain.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This episode is based on a recent press trip to Cádiz and Jerez, with guest Kristen Henning from Travel Past 50 joining Chris to talk about why travelers should consider this corner of Andalusia.

Why Visit Cádiz Province and Jerez?

The focus of the trip was Jerez de la Frontera, recently named Spain’s Culinary Capital for 2026. But as Chris and Kristen discovered, Jerez is not just about food. It is also about sherry, Andalusian horses, Carthusian monks, flamenco, history, and easy access to the beaches and ports of Cádiz Province.

Kristen describes Jerez as best known for sherry wine production, but says there is far more to the region than she expected. Travelers will find horses, especially the Andalusian horse, a deep history stretching from Roman times to the Moors, connections to Columbus and Magellan, flamenco, beaches, golf, and a strong food culture.

Chris starts by adding context for Cádiz, the oldest city in Spain, founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 BC. Cádiz later became Carthaginian, Roman, Visigothic, Moorish, and, after the Reconquest, Spanish. Its maritime history made it one of Spain’s most important ports, especially once trade with the New World shifted from Seville to Cádiz.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/jerez-spain/

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