Unpacked by AFAR

The Creepy, Spooky, and Downright Weird Things That Happen in Our National Parks Oct 31, 2024

Can a scary story inspire you to travel? The hosts of National Park After Dark have been spooking listeners into enjoying the outdoors for years. In this episode of Unpacked by Afar, Cassie and Danielle share the stories that continue to haunt them, what it’s like to stay in historic hotels with ghostly reputations, and how these morbid stories created a community of better prepared travelers.

What Can Go Wrong In National Parks?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How these stories can empower travelers to enjoy the outdoors.
Cassie and Danielle’s favorite hikes in U.S. national parks
What it’s like to go on a group trip with NPAD and where they’re headed next.

The Cozy, Creepy Vibes of Haunted Hotels

Don’t miss these moments:

[02:57] How National Park After Dark began. A love for the outdoors and a morbid curiosity.

[11:53] Storied stays in haunted hotels: The Stanley Hotel and the Crescent Hotel.

[17:46] Community stories about the weird and creepy things that happen outside.

[23:09] Danielle and Cassie’s favorite national parks.

“Enjoy the View, But Watch Your Back,”

For Cassie and Danielle, it was their shared morbid curiosity and separate passions for wildlife and history that led to the creation of National Park After Dark. From the way large predators get a bad rep to the brave, outdoorspeople who made a lasting impact, this episode will inspire you to do your own morbid research and lean into the darker side of national parks.

Resources

Read the full transcript of this episode.

Visit the National Park After Dark website or follow them on Instagram.

Explore 7 of the most haunted hotels in America.

Plan a trip to Grand Teton National Park or hike the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

From Gullah Geechee to Beach Jams: Peeling Back the Layers of Myrtle Beach Oct 24, 2024

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is so much more than its gorgeous beach. This week, follow Unpacked by Afar host Aislyn Greene as explores the 14 communities that make up the Grand Strand, a coastal community in South Carolina.

She tours Myrtle Beach's food, music, and culture scenes and drives down the Grand Strand to see the gardens and parks that beckon visitors away from the sand. In this episode, you’ll get off-the-beaten path and gain insight to plan your own unique vacation in Myrtle Beach.

What Is Myrtle Beach Known For?

In this episode you’ll learn:

More about the Grand Strand: the 60 miles of beach and 14 communities beyond the boardwalk.
Where to get the best food in Myrtle Beach: from Calabash buffets to red velvet waffles and Jamaican cuisine.
The preserved history of Myrtle Beach, the birthplace of shag and America’s first sculpture garden.

On The Storied Side of the Beach

Don’t miss these moments:

[08:28] A historic trolley tour of Myrtle Beach legends, from Alabama to Charlie’s Place.

[15:08] Where to eat in Myrtle Beach (the best food is off-the-beaten path).

[33:10] The Gullah Geechee Seafood Trail: learning a culture, uplifting a community.

Legends and Lands Beyond the Boardwalk

In this episode, Aislyn Greene peels back the layers on Myrtle Beach to help travelers get to the heart of a popular vacation spot.

She chats with locals about the best places to eat, visits America’s first sculpture garden, learns the history of Charlie’s Place, where Black swing musicians jammed, and connects with the Grand Strand’s most foundational communities.

Meet this week’s guests

Stuart Butler, chief marketing officer for Visit Myrtle Beach
Kathryn Hedgepath, the creator and narrator of the Myrtle Beach History Trolley Tours
Retro Myrtle Beach Guy, YouTube travel creator
Jamie Daskalis, chef at Johnny D’s Waffles and Benedicts
Andre James, freelance food writer
Ann Wilson, interpretive park ranger at Myrtle Beach State Park
Paige Kinnery, president and CEO of Brookgreen Gardens
Marilyn Hemingway, CEO and founding president of the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce and the Gullah Geechee Chamber Foundation

Resources

Read the full transcript of the episode.
Book one of Kathryn’s four trolley history tours.
Explore Retro Guy’s Myrtle Beach videos.
Dine at Johnny D’s (don’t miss the red velvet waffles).
Visit Myrtle Beach State Park.
Tour Brookgreen Gardens.
Read the Eater guide to Myrtle Beach.
Explore the Gullah Geechee Seafood Trail.
Explore more Afar stories about Myrtle Beach, like this food and drink guide and this guide for travelers with disabilities.
Go to Visit Myrtle Beach, for deals, events and guides during your tip.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us

Afar, A Retrospective: The Incredibly True Story of Renting a Friend in Tokyo Oct 22, 2024

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

A day in the life of a rent-a-friend can run the gamut of fake romance, crying at funerals and a 30-second selfie with a teenager. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, contributing writer Chris Colin travels to Tokyo to rent a friend.

At first, he expected nothing but kitsch. But as he navigates his newly forged—and reasonably priced—friendships with Miyabi,Yumi and Yusuke, what he learns changes the way he views Japan and his friendships back at home.

A Day In the Life of A Rent-A-Friend

In this episode you’ll discover:

The values and issues of Japanese society that created Client Partners, a rent-a-friend company.
The various reasons why Japanese locals are renting friends.
How you can rent a friend in Japan during your next solo trip.

Kodoku: The Lonely Gap

Don’t miss these memorable moments:

[06:11] Real life fake engagements and other rent-a-friend scenarios.

[10:47] Hikikomori and a nation’s spiritual health: A conversation with Client Partners’ CEO.

[16:22] Clarity, okonomiyaki and a genuine connection with a professional friend.

A Cultural Phenomenon or A Cure for Loneliness?

When writer Chris Colin first rented a friend in Tokyo, he was expecting something kitsch and wacky, like a cuddle or owl cafe. Instead, he found genuine connection and clarity about the elusiveness of friendship in his own life.

What are the issues in society that create a commercial market for friendship and what does this reveal about the connections we are able to create?

Resources:

Read Chris' original story and check out his other work.

Explore Afar's travel guide to Tokyo.

Learn more about Client Partners, the rent-a-friend company that Chris visited.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

I Have Insomnia—So I Tried Sleep Tourism to See if It Could Help Oct 17, 2024

Would you travel for a better night’s sleep? Sleep packages at luxury hotels ranging from menus with sleep-promoting ingredients to hypnotherapy sessions promise to promote better sleep, both during and after your stay.

In this episode of Unpacked, contributing writer Chris Colin travels to four different “sleep hotels” to find a cure for his own insomnia and discover what our sleep issues–and solutions–reveal about our collective psyche.

Does Sleep Tourism Work?

In this episode you’ll learn:

Handy sleep pointers for the traveler.
The unique amenities that “sleep hotels,”offer: from reiki to CBD and sleep masks.
What people do when they can’t sleep and how our sleep solutions reflect society.

A Quest for Better Rest

Don’t miss these moments:

[10:51] “Go to sleep, dream”: Hypnotherapy at Carmel Valley Ranch

[18:20] What’s a hyperbaric chamber? The unique sleep offerings at Stanly Ranch.

[24:11] Sleep Doctor, Michael Breus, teams up with The Post Ranch Inn.

Insomniacs and Sleep Doctors Tell All

In this episode, you’ll hear from yoga instructors, meditation guides, sleep doctors, hypnotherapists and a handful of insomniacs to get to the bottom of the rise in sleep travel.

Chris Colin sets out on a quest to discover if sleep tourism actually provides better rest and what our lack of sleep (and our attempted solutions) say about society as a whole.

Resources:

Read the full transcript of the episode.
Explore Chris’s website.
Check out the sleep programs at the hotels Chris mentions in the episode: the Kimpton Alton, Carmel Valley Ranch, Stanly Ranch, and the Post Ranch Inn.
Read Chris’s stories for afar.com and explore his website.
Listen to Chris’s podcast Longer Tables With José Andrés.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

A Local’s View of Paris: Off the Beaten Path in a Changing City Oct 10, 2024

Sidestep a stereotypical trip to Paris with cultural insights from journalist and long-time Paris resident Lindsey Tramuta. In this episode of Unpacked by Afar, she shares ways that Paris has changed over the last 20 years and tips for travelers to key into those changes when they travel.

From etiquette to fashion, cuisine to favorite neighborhoods—she helps you experience Paris off the beaten path.

Paris Like You Haven’t Seen It Before

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How Paris is blossoming into a global leader for urban transformation.
How the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics affected French locals.
Insider tips and must-knows before you travel to Paris.

French Tip: Always say “Bonjour”

Don’t miss these moments:

[04:32] Key insights from 20 years of change in Paris

[18:34] French etiquette and other things to know before you go.

[ 27:04 ] Lindsey’s favorite neighborhood spots.

An Insider’s Guide To Paris

Your local guide is Lindsey Tramuta, a journalist who has been living and reporting about life in Paris for two decades.In her work, she explores the people and ideas shaping Paris, and in today’s episode she lets us in on 20 years of change.

From what it’s been like in The City of Light since the Olympics and Paralympics wrapped, to the city’s evolving food scene, get local, these are the need-to-know tips for your next Paris trip.

Resources

Read the transcript of this episode.
Check out Lindsey Tramuta’s books: The New Paris and The New Parisienne
Follow The New Paris podcast
Explore more Paris content from Afar, including a travel guide, local tips for a 4-day trip, and where to go to avoid crowds.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Afar, A Retrospective: Why Did I Bring a Teenager to Venice? Oct 08, 2024

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

Hoping to recreate the same magical trip she took as a teen, author Emma John takes her friend’s 13-year-old daughter to Venice. But instead of awe, she’s filled with anxiety as she flies through a packed itinerary and struggles to impress her teenage companion. Will a reluctant teenager give into the wonders of the Floating City?

A Gondolier Wake Up Call

In this episode, discover:

Ideas for a week-long trip to Venice, beyond hitting tourist hot spots.
How to (and how not to) dress for a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica.
What one traveler did to help a teenager fall in love with Venice.

“What Are We Going to Do Next?”

Don’t miss these transformative travel moments:

[02:13] A midnight chase in the streets of Venice.

[05:38] Glass blowing at Murano, making Venetian masks and an otherwise packed itinerary.

[07:35] The unexpected views that led to a breakthrough.

Single in St. Mark’s Square

When Emma John was a teen, her mom’s single friend took her on a life-changing trip to Venice. An Afar contributing writer, and a traveler who is up for anything, Emma has written about country bluegrass, cricket and her most recent book is a memoir about singleness: Self-Contained: Scenes From a Single Life.

In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, she rediscovers the magic of Venice and learns a thing or two about travel itineraries and connections.

Resources

• Read Emma’s original story.

• Explore her other work.

• Check out Afar’s Venice travel guide.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Holiday Travel Tips for Stress-Free Trips: Introducing NerdWallet’s "Smart Money" Podcast Oct 07, 2024

How do you manage stress when you’re traveling during the holidays? And is it better to book with points or cash during some of the busiest travel days of the year? Believe it or not, it’s almost time to book your holiday travel, and our friends at NerdWallet have some tips for traveling stress-free. In this special episode of NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, their objective finance journalists answer real-world questions to help you make smarter decisions with your money and help your finances thrive.

Listen to Smart Money by NerdWallet wherever you get your podcasts: https://link.chtbl.com/1tURflyR

This Wilderness Lodge Will Take You to the Center of Life in an Ancient Forest Oct 03, 2024

Explore an ancient, biodiverse rainforest by land, sea and air at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge in British Columbia. In this episode of Unpacked by Afar, follow senior deputy editor, Jennifer Flowers, as she hikes through new and old forests in Ursus Valley, tastes bull kelp on a boat ride in Clayoquot Sound and helicopters to a mountain peak.

She learns why “untouched” isn’t an accurate description for a remote rainforest like this one on Vancouver Island. From the histories and sustainable work of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth First Nations people who have stewarded the land for centuries to the flora and fauna that work together to thrive, this weekend trip is a cold plunge into a harmonious ecosystem.

Inside a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

In this episode you’ll learn:

What makes a forest old? A primer on CMTs (culturally modified trees) and signs of old growth.
Who the Nuu-Chah-Nulth First Nations people are and how they have sustained and protected the ancient forest for centuries.
How the coastal biome of Clayoquot Sound contributes to life on land.

Nature Encounters at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge

Don’t miss these moments:

[07:40] An expedition into an old forest valley: baconlike bark and CMTs:
[11:02] Borrowing banana slugs, and the First Nations groups who steward the forest.
[15:48] Coastal encounters at Clayoquot Sound: black bears, bull kelp and more.

A Plunge, a Hike and a Helicopter Ride

“If These Walls Could Talk” is an Afar series that explores the stories—and secrets—hotels can tell us about the places we visit. One of Afar’s Hotels We Love, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge promises to immerse guests in the biodiverse ecosystem of an ancient rainforest.

In this episode, Jennifer Flowers takes us along as she hikes through old and new forests in Bedwell River Valley and Ursus Valley, tastes bull kelp on a boat in Clayoquot Sound and encounters the traditions of the Ahousaht people who have sustained the forest for millennia.

Resources:

Read the full transcript of the episode.
Book a weekend at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge.
Explore our Canadian Hotels We Love list.
Follow Jenn on Instagram to see more great hotel content.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

These Three Women Travel Solo With Confidence (Now You Can Too). Sep 26, 2024

Embrace the benefits of solo travel with seasoned tips to conquer fears, make the most of any trip and respond confidently to concerned loved ones. From the best places to visit solo to how to make plans for unexpected hiccups— in this episode of Unpacked by Afar, audio engineer and solo traveler Nicolle Gatleland chats with Pamela Holt, the host of TV Show, Me, Myself and the World: The Art of Solo Travel, and Bonderman Travel Fellowship advisor, Brook Kelly, to give you the tools to safely enjoy traveling alone.

Going Solo, But Not Alone.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to conquer common fears and feel safe while traveling alone.
Tools to embrace the benefits of a solo trip and connect with others.
Tips to ease the concerns of loved ones and translate your experiences.

When Women Embrace Solo Travel.

Don’t miss these memorable moments:

[02:13] 80 countries by age 50. The origins of a solo travel evangelist.

[12:06] French fries, new friends and avoiding arrest in Russia.

[40:32] Overcoming self (and parental) doubts about the safety of solo travel.

Feeling Nervous About Traveling Solo?

At age 23, Afar audio engineer, Nikki Galteland, traveled solo for 8 months with The Bonderman Travel Fellowship. Her advisor, Brook Kelly, continues to help hundreds take safe and meaningful solo trips. She shares how to prepare for the unexpected, ease the concerns of loved ones and get the most of a solo trip.

In this episode, Nikki also interviews Pamela Holt, the host of Me, Myself and the World: The Art of Solo Travel, who vowed to visit 80 countries by the time she was 50 (mostly solo). She shares anecdotes and advice to help you overcome barriers, connect with others and embrace the joy of solo travel.

Resources

Read the transcript of this episode.
Explore more Afar content for solo travelers—from the best places to go solo to how to make friends on a solo trip.
Need help getting travel insurance? We got you.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Afar, a Retrospective: Comedian Negin Farsad Makes Kansas City Laugh—And A Little Uncomfortable Sep 24, 2024

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

We sent Fake the Nation host and comedian, Negin Farsad, on a last-minute trip to America’s Heartland, aka Kansas City, Missouri. The author of How To Make White People Laugh, is six months pregnant and doing stand up in a comedy club that hasn’t had a woman on stage in five weeks.

From waddling on the “wrong side of town” to sharing her experiences as an Iranian-American Muslim in an interracial relationship—she moves past the pleasantries of ribs and fountains and glimpses the heart of Kansas City.

They Stared At Me While I Waddled.

In this episode, discover:

How a New Yorker walks her way through Kansas City sights.
A comedy set that parallels a tourist’s experience of the city.
The ways race and segregation in Kansas mirror the rest of the country .

“Dirty, Hungry Comedy Eyes.”

Don’t miss these transformative travel moments:

[3:45] A traveler’s comedy set: Six months’ pregnant and sightseeing.

[8:00] The “wrong side of town” and leaning into the uncomfortable.

[11:22] Kansas City, united by “sincere booty shaking.”

Resources

• Read Negin's original story.

• Read this Afar story by Negin about a magic mushroom retreat

• Explore Negin's other work.

• Follow Negin on X.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.

I’m a Polyglot—These Are the Secrets to Learning New Languages Sep 19, 2024

What if they don’t understand me, speak too fast, or worse—ignore my attempt and revert to English? Polyglot and Babbel instructor Noël Wolf, is well-versed in overcoming barriers and connecting with locals through language learning. From how learning 10 phrases led to being treated like family, to learning Spanish by playing volleyball— she shares the secrets to having deeper travel experiences through language learning.

Learn a Language, Unlock a Culture.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Responses for when you’re in a sticky language misunderstanding.
The ways that language learning can enrich your travels—and your character.
How to set realistic goals and take steps toward fluency.

Language: A Cultural Currency of Appreciation.

Don’t miss these memorable moments:

[2:36] Becoming your full self and how culture shapes you.

[5:20] Don’t sweat the small stuff: Tips for speaking with confidence.

[16:27] The many benefits of embracing a new language.

[21:46] Love Is Blind and other avenues to success.

Tell Me: How Do People Really Speak?

Noel is a German polyglot — she speaks English, French, Spanish and Italian fluently and is currently learning Dutch and Brazilian Portuguese. Follow her tips to ditch the flashcards and make real-life connections with even the smallest amount of language knowledge.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to have more authentic travel experiences through language learning. Whether your goal is to order gelato or gain a better understanding of culture, follow these tips to set attainable goals and speak with confidence as soon as you land.

Resources

Learn from Noël at Babbel. *Afar listeners can use code 1432288 to get 55 percent off a lifetime subscription.*
Read the transcript of this episode.
Explore more Afar content for language learners:

The Easiest Languages for English Speakers to Learn.

Why We Shouldn’t Always Use Translation Apps When We Travel.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

The Spontaneous (Travel!) Story of How Afar Came to Be Sep 12, 2024

No plan. No luggage. Five weeks in India. Joe Diaz and Greg Sullivan, dreamed up Afar on a beach in Goa more than 15 years ago. In this candid episode of Unpacked, they reflect on what they’ve learned by helping people travel deeper. From the spontaneous trips that honed the company’s values to how they’ve helped shape the travel industry, get an inside look into the transformative power of rallying around travel as a force for good.

But, How Many Kitchen Tables Have You Visited?

In this episode, discover:

How Afar helped pave the way for “experiential travel.”

The origin and impact of Learning Afar, which gives students access to travel.

How you can continue to shape travel as a force for good in the world.

Going Home with a Rickshaw Driver.

Don’t miss these memorable moments:

[2:03] It started without a plan—or luggage.

[14:55] The first step: transformative travel education.

[25:15] Spin the globe and other stories that have impacted them the most.

[37:49] A trip to Cairo that led to a surgeon’s debut on The Daily Show.

[45:15] A friendly debate on travel practices—from packing to plane rides.

The Transformative Power of Teachers Turned Travelers.

Greg Sullivan and Joe Diaz met in the classroom, so when they traveled to India and found a deeper way to travel, they had to share that with others. In this lighthearted conversation, they share the spontaneous travel stories that have impacted the industry and continue to sustain Afar 15 years later.

In this episode you’ll learn how Afar went from an idea to a multi-faceted media company, how they’ve pivoted over time to hone their impact on the world and how you can travel in a more conscious and connected way.

Resources

• Explore Afar’s 15-year anniversary hub of favorite stories, including:

A Skeptic Visits the Holy Waters of Lourdes.

What It’s Like to Navigate Cairo’s Chaos as a Blind Traveler.

• Read the transcript of this episode.

• Listen to the podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:

A Blind Man’s Trip Will Change the Way You Go on Safari.

A Blind Surfer Takes On Kauai’s Legendary Waves.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us

Afar, A Retrospective: A Blind Man's Trip Will Change The Way You Go On Safari Sep 11, 2024

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

How can you have the best experience on a safari? Seeing might not be as crucial as you think. Travel with AFAR contributing writer, Ryan Knighton, who lost his sight years ago, as he tastes, feels, smells and hears his way through the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in Zimbabwe.

A Sensory Connection with Zimbabwe’s Natural Ecosystem

In this episode, discover:

What it’s like to go on safari in Zimbabwe

How to plan your best safari trip—beyond sightseeing

How a luxury safari can deepen your travel experience.

You Can Do Better Than A Lion Photo On Your Next Safari

Don’t miss these transformative travel moments:

[2:44] A tight grip and a close call with an elephant

[5:11] A leafy tasting near Singita’s Pashamusa Lodge

[8:52] Ryan follows his nose and meets a kindred rhino

[9:57] The unforgettable sounds of survival

Resources

• Explore the 20 Best African Safari Camps

• Read the full story that Ryan wrote for Afar magazine.

• Follow Ryan on X.

• Check out Ryan's other work.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

It's Time to Reclaim the "Tourist" Label Sep 05, 2024

The world has had enough of "bad" tourists. But while most of us know not to trespass (with a car!) across ancient bridges or defile national heritage sites, the problems with tourism go deeper than that. Enter "The New Tourist" by journalist Paige McClanahan, a thoughtful invitation to engage with the issues facing travel—and the solutions. In today's episode, host Aislyn Greene chats with Paige about the lack of government regulation that turned tourism in Barcelona into a nightmare, the power (and peril) of social media, and what Paige means by “the new tourist.”

In this episode, discover:

Tourist hot spots around the world and how they've made tourism work for them (or not)

Why government regulation is more important than we think.

What the "new tourist" looks like—and tips for embracing the new ethos.

Meet this week’s guest

Paige McClanahan, author of The New Tourist

Resources

Read the full transcript of the episode.
Buy the book.
Listen to The Better Travel Podcast, hosted by Paige.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.

From Bomba to Bad Bunny: Searching for the Sounds of Puerto Rico May 30, 2024

Puerto Rico has had a huge impact on the world's music scene, in comparison to its size. And on this week's episode, host Aislyn Greene travels to the island to find out why. She explores bomba and plena, two of the earliest forms of music that emerged from Puerto Rico’s African ancestors. Discovers jibaro music, or “hillbilly” music, though this style of music is incredibly complex and improvisational. Found the source of danza music, watched salsa musicians urge people to their feet, and met with reggaetón artists.

And though we couldn’t possibly capture all of the complexities of the island’s music in one episode, we hope it does reveal what she found: a place that is singularly committed to art and music. As one of her guides, Nory, put it: “We are artisans, we are painters, we are all musicians. That’s actually the identity of a Puerto Rican.”

Meet this week’s guests

Margarita “Tata” Cepeda, owner of Puerto Rico Is Bomba, a dance and music school
Maribel Martinez, guide at House of the Troubadour Luis Miranda “Pico de Oro”
Melina Aguillar, owner of Isla Caribe Tours
Norymar Maldonado, Isla Caribe tour guide
Angelina Villapiano Luna, musician, dancer, and salsa teacher
Petra Rivera Rideau, author of Remixing Reggaetón: The Cultural Politics of Race in Puerto Rico
RaiNao, urbano musician
Herson Guerrero, professor, photographer, and musician

Resources

Read the full transcript of the episode.
Listen to the playlist.
Read Petra's Bad Bunny Syllabus
Listen to the La Brega podcast.
Explore club 58 at La Concha resort.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to Afar’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Live Snakes, Birkin Bags, Hoverboards, and More: Life Inside the Store That Sells Lost Luggage May 23, 2024

What happens to suitcases that can’t be reunited with their owners? It’s not something we think about that often, but for Bryan Owens, it’s an entire business. He’s the CEO and now-owner of the Scottsboro, Alabama–based Unclaimed Baggage, the only store in the United States that sells lost luggage. As you’ll hear in today’s episode, his dad launched the business more than 50 years ago with an old Chevy pickup and $300. And now the business stocks more than 7,000 new items a day.

The company recently released its first annual Found Report, a deep dive into the more than 2 million items that came through its doors in 2023, including including the aforementioned live snakes and fancy handbags. Host Aislyn Greene talks with Bryan about where these bags come from, how the company makes decisions about what to sell and, more interestingly, what it does with everything else: Donations and partnerships with organizations like Wheels for the World are critical to its mission.

Meet this week’s guest

Bryan Owens, CEO and owner of Unclaimed Baggage

Resources

Read the full transcript of the episode.
Check out Unclaimed Baggage.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to Afar’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

A Way (Way, Way) Better Way to Book Travel Using Points and Miles May 16, 2024

It’s easier than ever to earn travel points and (sometimes) miles through credit cards and loyalty programs. But when it comes to actually using those points to book travel, things can get complicated. While there are people out there who love to geek out about those complications, it’s not for everyone. Enter companies like Award Magic, which uses their expertise to book award travel using your hard-earned points. In this week’s episode, Award Magic owner and CEO shares shares his backstory (shocker: he was a math teacher), his vision for the business (it involves really affordable around-the-world tickets), and why we should all be flying business class more than we do. Plus, he works his magic to book a Japan flight using host Aislyn Greene’s Chase points.

Meet this week’s guests

Brian Cohen, CEO and owner of Award Magic

Resources

Read the full transcript of the episode.
Check out Brian’s Award Magic services.
Listen to our episode about the best programs to earn points and miles.
Explore Point.Me, another award-booking service.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to Afar’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Replay: Everything You Need to Know About Travel Insurance (Before Booking Your Summer Trips) May 09, 2024

With summer travel on the horizon, it's an excellent time to talk about everyone's favorite subject: Travel insurance. It's not the sexiest subject, is it? And yet, it can play a huge role in saving you money, time, and even sanity. In this replay episode of Unpacked by AFAR, we speak with five experts to help you understand how to decided if and when you need insurance, the different types of policies you can buy, and how to use travel insurance if something goes wrong on your trip.

Meet this week’s guests

Wendy Perrin, travel expert
Christina Tunnah, general manager of marketing and brands for World Nomads
Beth Godlin, President of Aon Affinity Travel Practice
John Gobbels, vice president and COO of Medjet
Nick Cavanaugh, founder and CEO of Sensible Weather

Resources

Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Read our primer on travel insurance.
Explore Wendy Perrin’s website.
Use sites like travelinsurance.com or insuremytrip.com to help you decide on the right policy.
Learn more about World Nomads.
Discover more about Aon Affinity Travel Services.
Learn more about Medjet.
Find out more about Sensible Weather.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Visiting Native Communities Is More Important Than Ever—Here’s How to Do It Right Apr 25, 2024

Last November, while reporting our “Unpacking Albuquerque” episode, I spent a day at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. It’s this huge complex that takes up a city block, and it serves as the gateway to New Mexico’s 19 pueblos. Part of my tour included an interview with Monique Fragua, the center’s COO (and a woman with great taste in jewelry, as you’ll hear in the episode).

We talked about why the cultural center exists, beyond just sharing pueblo cultural life (and food—the restaurant is a must-try). Monique explained that many travelers are interested in visiting the pueblos but are either unsure of or unaware of the etiquette around visiting. For example, some pueblos are completely closed to the public and have no interest in developing tourist infrastructure and others have “more formalized experiences like visitors’ center or organized hiking tours,” Monique says.

So the IPCC serves as a kind of training ground as well, where visitors can ask questions like, “What’s the proper terminology?” and receive guidance around photography, attending cultural events, and more.

It got me thinking more broadly about Native tourism, which has expanded in recent years. And with the explosive success of True Detective: Night Country, there’s more attention than ever on Native issues. So we put together an episode on why to visit these communities—there are more than 500 tribes in the United States, each with totally different histories, customs, and experiences—and how to do so in a way that’s mutually beneficial.

There’s one line that’s stuck with me since Monique and I talked: She says that if we remember that we’re experiencing Native life “through a lens of a living community, a breathing culture,” we’re on the right path.

Meet this week’s guests

Sherry Rupert, CEO of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association
Garan Coons, communications officer for the Winnebago tribe
Kirby Metoxin, council member for the Oneida nation
Monique Fragua, COO of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Listen to the “Unpacking Albuquerque” episode.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

The True Story of One of the World's Most Diverse Cities Apr 18, 2024

This week on Unpacked, we travel north to Toronto, Ontario, one of the world’s most diverse cities to explore what’s made it that way—and how we as travelers can best engage with it. That includes eating a peameal bacon sandwich (and learning what that is) at the St. Lawrence Market, visiting the city's most unusual museum, exploring its diverse parks and gorgeous waterfront, and eating (and eating and eating).

Meet this week’s guests

Bruce Bell, St. Lawrence Market historian and tour guide
Matthew Jordan, founder of Hidden Rivers walking tours
Elizabeth Semmelhack, curator at the Bata Shoe Museum
Karen Carter, cofounder of BAND
Chef Nuit Regular, founder and co-owner of 11 Thai restaurants
Jusep Sim, chief epicurean officer of Chopsticks and Forks

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Taylor Swift, New Flights, and Climate Change: Everything You Need to Know About Summer Travel This Year Apr 11, 2024

Summer is coming. And while it's not looking like this season will be as insane as summer 2023, it's still best to begin planning now. So on this week’s episode of Unpacked, AFAR's mighty destination teams discusses what's to come. They share the best places to visit this summer—think Southern Hemisphere—and what you need to tackle now to stay ahead of the came. Plus, we unpack the best visa expeditors and the best way to use those points and miles. (Hint: It involves outsourcing.)

Meet this week’s guests

Mark Ellwood, freelance travel writer
Chloe Arrojado, associate destinations editor
Tim Chester, deputy editor

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Listen to our episode on travel insurance, where we discuss Sensible Weather.
Learn more about Award Magic, the point booking service, and ItsEasy, the visa expediter.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Behind the Scenes: How We Create Our Best New Hotels List Apr 04, 2024

The best hotels are a destination unto themselves. On this week’s episode of Unpacked, AFAR senior deputy editor Jennifer Flowers reveals the 31 properties that made our 2024 Best New Hotels list and why booking a hotel is the most important choice you’ll make for your trip.

The list is a collection of the best hotels that opened in the past year, but these hotels are much more than just a place to sleep and store your clothes. There are places where you can literally touch history, like at the Raffles London at the OWO, where Winston Churchill once presided. If you love design, you can book a few nights at the Violino d’Oro in Venice, where everything you might touch was made by local artisans. Or, if you want to get off the grid and outdoors, there’s the Shinta Mani Mustang in a remote corner of Nepal that doesn’t see many tourists.

Jenn joined the podcast to talk about how she put together the list, what she looks for in a great hotel, and how—as she puts it—“when you check into a hotel, it can actually be the destination.”

Meet this week’s guest

Jennifer Flowers, AFAR senior deputy editor

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Read the full list of the 31 best new hotels.
Follow Jenn on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Subscribe to AFAR’s hotels newsletter.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

This Midwestern City Is One of the Country’s Best-Kept Food Secrets Mar 28, 2024

Hot tip: Don’t listen to this week’s episode of Unpacked hungry. Because we’re traveling to a surprising Midwestern city to explore what makes it one of the most fascinating food cities in the country. Last June, host Aislyn Greene traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, and was surprised by what she found: A refreshingly progressive, highly bikeable, very outdoorsy, and (best yet), delicious city.

If you're a food-motivated traveler, you're likely always looking for the next great spot. And as she ate her way through Madison, Aislyn wondered: Why aren't more people talking about Madison? So in today’s episode, that’s exactly what we’re doing. We'll explore Wisconsin's agriculture scene, meet the city's most interesting chefs, and look at what to do when you're too full to eat any more.

Meet this week’s guests

Shilpa Sankaran, founder of Kosa
Lindsay Christians, food editor and arts writer at the Capital Times
Sean Pharr, chef and owner of Mint Mark
Itaru Nagano, chef at Fairchild
Shaina Robbins Papach, co-owner of Harvey House and Butterbird
Dan Bonnano, chef and owner of Pig in a Fur Coat
Jamie Brown-Soukaseum, chef and owner of Ahan
Garret Olsen, co-owner of Madison Adventure Tours

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Check out the latest season of Top Chef: Wisconsin
Read my guide to the culinary scene there.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

At This Remote Island Resort, Staff Housing Is (Almost) as Luxurious as the Guest Quarters Mar 21, 2024

If you travel to a remote island resort, where do the people who work there live? Because of course, if we are traveling to a remote location, it’s highly unlikely that it’s an easy place for hotel staff to commute to and from. Typically on an island resort, staffers are housed in the middle of the island and don’t have access to the beach, the walking paths, or any of the amenities that make these destinations so appealing to travelers.

But there’s a new type of staff housing pioneered by the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, which created an entire island for its employees—one where they can also snorkel, swim, relax, eat, work out, and just generally soak in the Maldives. This week’s guest, Sally Kohn, traveled to the resort last year to get a peek at the island and see if it’s really as impressive as it seems. She was surprised by what she found—happy employees included.

Meet this week’s guest

Sally Kohn, activist, speaker, and author of the book The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity.

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Check out the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands.
Read some of Sally’s other AFAR stories, including her essay about traveling as a queer family, and her podcast episode about exploring tolerance in Amsterdam.
Buy Sally’s book.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Why You Have to See the April Solar Eclipse, According to an Airstream-Loving Astronomy Expert Mar 14, 2024

Where will you be on April 8, 2024? In case that date isn’t burned into your brain, it’s the day the sun, Earth, and the moon will completely align, creating a total solar eclipse that will sweep over a section of the United States. It will plunge cities around the U.S.—from Austin, Texas, to Buffalo, New York, into darkness for up to four minutes and 27 seconds and, according to our guest today, will be “the greatest science event in human history.”

That’s because it’s going to be one of the most accessible celestial events to happen in recent times: The path of totality crosses some of the most populated areas of the United States, and astro-tourists will flock to places like Texas in droves. Scott Roberts, today’s guest, will also be there, guiding a small group of people through the event at a ranch in Leakey, Texas.

To be honest, I wasn’t planning on traveling for the eclipse, but after interviewing Scott, I started to wonder if I’m missing out: He likens viewing an eclipse to some of his peak life experiences, nearly up there with witnessing childbirth. He’s seen four solar eclipses since he started photographing them as a young man, and now he’s a kind of eclipse evangelist.

Maybe you, like me, didn’t make plans to see the eclipse. Or maybe you’ve had your plans locked in since 2022. Either way, Scott has a nugget of wisdom for you, from how to view your first solar eclipse (hint: just enjoy it) to the reason we should all celebrate the sun’s rise every day.

He’s also an avid Airstreamer and has been traveling around the country in a 1968 Overlander named Barbara Jean after his travel-loving mom. He shared how he downsized to the Airstream lifestyle and how this kind of travel allows him freedom to follow his celestial obsessions.

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Check out Scott’s website, Explore Scientific.
Explore Scott’s eclipse trip in April (or just buy a pair of glasses).
Learn more about seeing the eclipse.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Meet this week’s guest

Scott Roberts, founder of Explore Scientific, and eclipse enthusiast

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Replay: Here's How to Get the Best Sleep While Traveling Mar 07, 2024

Unpacked, and host Aislyn Greene, are in Toronto this week! So we're resharing one of our most popular episodes from last season, because who doesn't need help sleeping from time to time?

We’ve all been there: Tossing and turning on a long-haul flight, or in an unfamiliar hotel bed. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Enter Anne Bartolucci, a licensed psychologist and a certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist. She’s the founder of Atlanta Insomnia & Behavioral Health Services, P.C. and the author of Better Sleep for the Overachiever. In other words, she knows her sleep—and she specializes in helping people improve their sleep without medication.

In this week’s episode, host Aislyn Greene chats with Anne about the one thing everyone should bring on their next flight, the proper use of melatonin (turns out most of us don’t use it correctly), and yes, how to get a decent night’s sleep in a new destination.

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Buy the neck pillow that AFAR editors swear by! (And go down our neck pillow rabbit hole.)
Explore Anne’s work at the Atlanta Insomnia & Behavioral Health Services, P.C.
Buy Anne’s book, Better Sleep for the Overachiever,on Amazonor Bookshop, or listen to it via Amazon.

Meet this week’s guest

Anne Bartolucci, a licensed psychologist and a certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

A Professional Decision Coach’s Secrets to Making Better Choices in Travel—and Beyond Feb 29, 2024

Have you ever gotten stuck in indecision? Maybe it was around where to travel, or when to book your tickets, or even something as small as where to eat when you’re on the road. Well, this week’s guest is an expert at cutting through the noise and helping her clients—and now you—make fast, solid decisions. Her name is Nell McShane Wulfhart, and she’s a professional decision coach.

Does it sound like a made-up job? Nell is the first to admit that it is in fact a made-up job. But one that she is uniquely qualified for, especially when it comes to travel. I’ve known Nell for about a decade now—as a travel writer. She has lived all around the world, from South Korea to Uruguay to Switzerland.

A couple of months ago, I got an email from Nell about her new Audible podcast, The Decision Coach. And I learned that for the past decade, she has also been (in her words) a “professional bossy boots.” That means that she sits down with clients who are stuck and helps them get unstuck. Some are chronically indecisive and need help getting out of that rut. Others are usually good decision makers but are stuck on a big life decision, like whether to have a baby, or take a new job, or move to a new country.

So I sat down with Nell to talk about how she makes decisions, how we can make better decisions, and how we can apply all of that to travel.

Meet this week’s guest

Nell McShane Wulfhart, podcaster and travel writer

Resources

Read a full transcript of the episode.
Listen to Nell’s podcast, The Decision Coach.
Check out her website for tips on making decisions and to sign up for her newsletter.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

How to Budget for Travel, No Matter Your Income Feb 22, 2024

Money is often a taboo subject in our culture, but it has a huge impact on our lives, our futures, and yes, our travels. Danielle Desir Corbett—our guest this week—works to dispel myths and encourage transparency on her podcast, The Thought Card, and her website, thoughtcard.com, where she even posts breakdowns for the many trips she's taken. In the episode, she shares her annual travel budget, her tips on budgeting in a way that is in alignment with what you truly value, and tools that can help you navigate finances without getting totally bogged down. Best yet: She’s found that by using these tools over the years, she’s been able to travel more than ever before—and still accomplish her financial goals.

Meet this week’s guest

Danielle Desir Corbett, podcaster and author

Resources

Read a full transcript of the episode.
Listen to Danielle’s podcast, The Thought Card.
Check out her website for tips on personal finance and travel, plus posts about trip costs around the world.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Unpacking Albuquerque Feb 15, 2024

In season three of Unpacked, we're introducing "Unpacking," a series that explores some of our favorite destinations around the world. First up: Albuquerque, land of hot air balloons, chiles, and some fantastic outdoor spaces. Join host Aislyn Greene as she unpacks the Southwestern city's outdoorsy roots.

Meet this week’s guests

Sarah Sheasley, director of marketing for Los Poblanos
Elaine Briseño, journalist and historian
Terry Brunner, the Director of the city of Albuquerque’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency
Justin de la Rosa, a local food writer and director of outlets for the Sawmill Market
Dylan Storment, director of wine and spirits at Los Poblanos
Missy Begay, cofounder of Bow & Arrow Brewing
Bill Stimmel, the entrepreneurial director at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Murray Conrad, hot air balloon pilot and owner of World Balloon

My Albuquerque itinerary

Where I ate, stayed, and played.

Hotels

Book a stay at Los Poblanos
Book a stay at Hotel Chaco

Restaurants

Activities

Take a bike and taco tour with Routes
Tour the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Visit the Paseo del Bosque
Take a tram up Sandia Peak
Fly with World Balloon
If you want to hear more of the flamenco episode you hear at the top of the episode, see a show at Tablao Flamenco

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

At This London Tour Company, Formerly Unhoused People Are Your Guides Feb 08, 2024

The issue of homelessness—or being unhoused, or facing housing scarcity—isn’t something we often talk about when it comes to travel, unless it’s in a negative sense. In this episode, however, we’re going to meet a London-based tour company that’s working on bringing homelessness into the tourism narrative.

It’s called Unseen Tours, a nonprofit founded in 2010 by Jayni Gudka. It offers London tours that touch on many of the city’s most popular sites and neighborhoods—Soho, King’s Cross—with a twist: They’re led by individuals who were once homeless. But the tours are not poverty tourism. They’re history-rich, city-focused walking excursions led by people with a very special kind of knowledge.

Meet this week’s guests

Rachel Parsons, journalist
Nic Shaw, guide with Unseen Tours
Jayni Gudka, CEO of Unseen Tours

Resources

Read a full transcript of the episode.
Book a tour with Unseen Tours.
Follow the podcast to ensure you don’t miss an episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

You Can Get Free Flights and Hotel Stays Easier Than You Think. Here’s How. Feb 01, 2024

The world of travel loyalty programs is . . . complicated. Last year, Delta made waves when it announced that it was making radical changes to its SkyMiles program. People very quickly—and this is the technical term—freaked the eff out. So, Delta swiftly (and wisely) backpedaled.

But as I learned from this week’s expert, Paul Rubio, this isn’t the only airline that has made less-than-positive changes. Delta just took the heat. Drama! It’s just the first of many (many) things related to travel loyalty programs that we'll learn about from Paul, a points and miles wizard. You may remember him from season two, when he shared his vast knowledge about the world of travel credit cards. And in today’s episode, he does the same for airline and hotel loyalty programs.

We start off exploring why it’s worth joining these programs—and it definitely is, and it definitely doesn’t have to take up your whole life—and which programs are best for both airline and hotel points. Then we dive deeper into how to maximize them, and how best to use them, including when you should buy points and when you should not.

It’s a pretty complex topic, but Paul has done all the legwork so that we don’t have to—as you can tell by the very long list of resources below.

Meet this week's guest: Paul Rubio, points and miles expert.

Resources

The recent changes to American Airlines' reward program.
The recent changes to Southwest's reward program.
The recent changes to United's reward program.
Delta's amended changes to its award program.
Paul's Tumi and Rimowa suitcase reviews.
Our guide to the World of Hyatt program.
How and when to buy points for hotels.
When to buy points for airlines.
How to get VIP rewards for credit cards.
How to use loyalty points for charitable donations.
How to use Points.Me.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Where to Cruise This Year—Even if You Think You're Not a Cruiser Jan 25, 2024

There’s a special magic to being at sea. Watching a port retreat as a ship begins to sail, the sensation of gently (or not so gently) rocking waves, the expansiveness of open water. This week’s episode is all about that magic, whether you would label yourself a “cruiser” or not.

To get the scoop on the high seas, we’re hearing from Fran Golden, who covers the cruise world for AFAR. Fran is a bonafide cruise expert. She’s been on more than 170 ships (at times, she’s taken up to 12 cruises a year), she’s written several books on cruising, and she loves every minute of it.

She shares her favorite itineraries for 2024 (including a sail along the western coast of Africa), the best cruise lines for every traveler (from small, casual sailboats to luxurious ocean liners), and tips and tricks for finding a good deal, even if you’re a solo traveler.

There are plenty of surprises, too: Fran gets seasick, for one. So she has excellent advice for anyone who goes green around the gills at the thought of stepping on a ship. And she talks a lot about sustainability, which is a key focus for the cruise industry right now, and for us here at AFAR.

Meet this week’s guest

Fran Golden, cruise expert

Resources

Explore Fran’s cruise stories on AFAR.com.
Follow Fran on Instagram.
Read the transcript of the episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for a full video of the conversation.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

The 25 Most Exciting Places to Travel in 2024 Jan 18, 2024

We're three weeks into the new year. Maybe you're a freshly minted, idealized version of yourself. Or maybe your new year's resolutions are as distant as the icebergs of Antarctica. But no matter what your life looks like, there's one thing you can count on: travel. And today, we're going to talk about the best places to travel this year, whether you want to chase eclipses, drink Uruguayan wine, or discover the coolest cities in Europe.

Every year, AFAR puts out an annual "Where to Go" list in the magazine and online. And this year is no exception. From the peat bogs of Estonia to the kite festivals of Weifang, China, to the waters of Fiji, this year's list of 25 places is robust, thoughtful, and deeply inspiring. (Not that we're biased or anything . . . . )

In this episode, the three editors who helped craft the list join host Aislyn Greene to talk about how and why they chose the places on the list, which ones they have personally visited, and their predictions for the year ahead.

Meet this week’s guests

Sarika Bansal, AFAR editorial director
Billie Cohen, AFAR executive editor
Tim Chester, AFAR deputy editor

Resources

Explore all 25 destinations on our “Where to Go in 2024” list.
Read the transcript of the episode.
Subscribe to AFAR’s YouTube channel for our *brand new* podcast videos.
Read our local's guide to Toronto.
Check our Toronto guide.
Listen to our episode about travel insurance.
Explore our feature story about Oman.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Unpacked Returns: A Bigger, Brighter World Awaits Jan 04, 2024

It's a fresh new year! And we all know that this also means that there's a fresh year of travel to plan, discoveries to be made, and adventures to be had. And Unpacked by AFAR is here for you every step of the way. AFAR editors will share the places they're dreaming of visiting this year. A cruise expert will unveil the best places to cruise in 2024, as well as the best cruise lines to sail with, even if you're not a cruiser. (And a little hint: These companies are more sustainable than ever.) We'll reveal the best ways to use and accrue air and hotel rewards, how to build a travel budget, deal with awkward plane encounters, and so much more.

And this season on Unpacked by AFAR, we're going farther than ever (literally) in our new series "Unpacking." Host Aislyn Greene is visiting some of our favorite places in the world and reporting back, meeting with the locals who define these places and sharing tips on how to best explore them.

So join us every Thursday beginning January 18th. Because the travel world is complicated. We're here to help you unpack it.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales by AFAR, a series of first-person stories about the trips that change our lives.

Where to Travel This Winter Sep 28, 2023

Winter is coming. (But not in a threatening, Game of Thrones-y kind of way.) So this week on Unpacked, AFAR’s mighty destination team is helping you prepare. We talk dreamy winter destinations, how to repurpose winter gear, the best time to fly during the holidays, and so much more.

Meet this week’s guests

Mark Ellwood, freelance travel writer
Chloe Arrojado, associate destinations editor
Tim Chester, deputy destinations editor

Resources

Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Explore our ideas for where to go in November.
And explore our ideas for where to go in December.

Being a Person With Dwarfism Has Never Stopped Me From Exploring the World Sep 21, 2023

Christophe Zajac-Denek is an actor, a podcaster, a traveler—and he’s 4 feet 4 inches tall. On this week’s episode of Unpacked, he shares how being a person with dwarfism has never stopped him from exploring the world.

Meet this week’s guests

Nicolle (Nikki) Galteland, Unpacked producer
Christophe Zajac-Denek, actor, surfer, and podcast host

Resources

Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Listen to Christophe’s podcast, I’m Kind of a Big Deal.
Watch Christophe's documentary, Standing on Water, about surfing and dwarfism, which was just awarded "best short" at the Jersey Surf Film Festival.
Listen to Nikki's podcast, Looters, a sci-fi western role-playing podcast.

How Maps Reveal the Secrets of our World Sep 14, 2023

You may use Google Maps every day, but how often do you think about how that map was made—and more importantly, who made it? In today’s episode of Unpacked, we do just that. You’ll never again look at a map the same way.

Meet this week’s guests

Billie Cohen, AFAR executive editor
Evan Applegate, editorial cartographer
Clinton Johnson, Antiracist Geospatial Architect
Dr. Atyia Martin, executive director of a nonprofit called Next Development Leadership (among many other things)
Cymone Davis, former town manager of Tullahassee, Oklahoma, the oldest historically Black town in Oklahoma.

Resources

Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Listen to Evan’s podcast, Very Expensive Maps, and check out the maps he makes.
See Clinton's National Geographic Explorer award.
Explore Cymone and Dr. Martin’s Black Towns & Settlements Project.

Don't forget to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic. And a special thanks to our September sponsor, Explore Asheville.

Can a Pledge Really Help Cure “Bad Tourists”? Sep 07, 2023

If you’ve been following the news, it’s been a summer of “bad tourists.” There was the woman who carved her initials into the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the drunk Brits, ahem, leaving their marks around Amsterdam. Of course, these are just the travelers who rise to the top—most people would never think of behaving this way on a trip. (Right??)

Still, it feels like the right time to explore a tool that’s trying to curb this bad behavior: the “travel better” pledge. If you haven’t heard of them, or signed one, essentially, a travel pledge is a promise that a traveler makes to follow a certain set of guidelines set out by the host community. Countries around the world, from Iceland to Palau, have launched pledges, which travelers can sign and share on social media.

The idea is to encourage people to think more about a place and its vulnerabilities, its values, and its needs, before a visit. Some pledges require a fee, and the money is funneled towards a particular cause, while others offer volunteer opportunities or help visitors tap into the ethics of a place. But in the end, they’re just ... words. And how effective can those words be, really?

That’s the question that AFAR deputy editor Tim Chester, our guide for this week’s episode, asked himself recently. Tim signed his first pledge last year, during a trip to an Indigenous community that has been highly impacted by the world. After returning home, he did a little digging and found that this pledge was part of a larger movement in travel.

Meet this week’s guests

Adora Nobuo, the program coordinator for the Friends of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary
Rebecca Ingram, the chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa
Ben Lynam, head of communications for the Travel Foundation, a nonprofit based in the UK

Resources

Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Read (and sign) Palau’s pledge.
Watch New Zealand’s pledge video.

Think Travel Insurance Is Boring? Prepare to Be Dazzled (or Just Financially Protected). Aug 31, 2023

Travel insurance: It's not the sexiest subject, is it? And yet, it can play a huge role in saving you money, time, and even sanity. In this episode of Unpacked by AFAR, we speak with five experts to help you understand how to decided if and when you need insurance, the different types of policies you can buy, and how to use travel insurance if something goes wrong on your trip.

Meet this week’s guests

Wendy Perrin, travel expert
Christina Tunnah, general manager of marketing and brands for World Nomads
Beth Godlin, President of Aon Affinity Travel Practice
John Gobbels, vice president and COO of Medjet
Nick Cavanaugh, founder and CEO of Sensible Weather

Resources

Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Read our primer on travel insurance.
Explore Wendy Perrin’s website.
Use sites like travelinsurance.com or insuremytrip.com to help you decide on the right policy.
Learn more about World Nomads.
Discover more about Aon Affinity Travel Services.
Learn more about Medjet.

Find out more about Sensible Weather.

A Skeptic's Guide to Birdwatching Aug 24, 2023

Have you ever considered birdwatching? If the answer is a "heck, no"—or even a "not really"—than this episode is for you. Host Aislyn Greene, also a birdwatching skeptic, dives deep into the world of birding to discover how to do it well, the equipment you need, and most importantly why to give this sport (yes, it's a sport!) a shot.

Meet this week’s guests

Dominik Mosur, animal care specialist at the Randall Museum and birding tour guide
Kara Cook, rooftop biologist for Audubon Florida
Aunt Cheryl, Aislyn’s bird-loving aunt

Resources

Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Find a bird tour around the world.
Find a field guide for your region—here’s a California example.
Download the Merlin app and the eBird app
Discover your local Audubon chapter.

Don't forget to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic. And a special thanks to our August sponsor, the Austrian Tourist Office. To learn more about the Bregenzerwald region, a collection of 23 villages deep in Austria’s western Alps, visit afar.com/austria-nature.

National Parks Are America’s Greatest Idea—and Biggest Problem Aug 17, 2023

When you think of America’s national parks, what comes to mind? For many of us—myself included—it’s the sense of openness, freedom, and awe that places like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite can spark. And yet, as we’ll learn in today’s episode, that’s not the whole story.

Hundreds of years ago, Indigenous communities throughout the United States lived on and cared for much of the land that makes up America’s 400-plus national parks and other protected lands under the National Park Service (NPS). Then settlers arrived and an ugly chapter in our national history unfolded, one that included the forced removal of Native peoples from that very land. In recent years, however, there’s been a growing movement to return that land—or at the very least, to work with Native communities to co-manage it.

Associate editor Mae Hamilton is taking us on a journey into that movement. She speaks with our current director of national parks, Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III—the first person of Native descent to hold the position—about his connection to the parks and his efforts to bring tribe members into the conversation. She also speaks to two tribe members who have worked closely with the NPS and are cautiously optimistic about the new chapter currently unfolding.

Meet this week’s guests

Mae Hamilton, AFAR associate editor
Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III, directorof the National Park System
Hanford McCloud, a member of the Nisqually Tribal Council
Tracie Revis, director of advocacy, cultural preservation and conservation of the Ocmulgee River

Resources

Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Learn more about Joint Secretarial Order 3403 and what it could mean for the national parks and Native communities.

Should I Give Money to Panhandlers When I Travel? Aug 10, 2023

There are few things as challenging as the moment when, while walking along a sidewalk in Paris, San Francisco, or Cartagena, someone in need asks you for money. (I will also say that I imagine there are few things as challenging as being in a place in your life where you have to ask strangers for money.)

What do you do, personally? Do you give? Do you avert your eyes and keep on walking? Is it somewhere in between? Regardless of the decision you make, it’s a complex moment from a human perspective. And that complexity was the subject of our inaugural digital advice column, also called Unpacked. In it Dr. Anu Taranath, a speaker, consultant, and author of the book Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World, responds to a reader’s question asking if she did the right thing by giving money.

And in today’s episode, Dr. Anu expands on her answer. We talked about her initial reaction to the question, the insidiousness of inequality, and the times in her life when she’s encountered panhandling. (She has an incredible story from a trip to Senegal.) What I love about Anu’s response is that she doesn’t have a definitive answer. In fact, she says, there are no easy answers when it comes to living in an unequal world.

But her advice is empathetic and full of understanding that the world isn’t black and white. And most importantly, she shares how to navigate these situations with dignity and grace—for all involved.

Meet this week’s guest

Dr. Anu Taranath, speaker, consultant, and author

Resources

Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Read Dr. Anu’s original response to the reader’s question.
Read Dr. Anu’s second column, about what to do when the person sitting next to you on the plane is drunk.
Buy her book, Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World

Will the "Real" Waikīkī Please Stand Up? Aug 03, 2023

AFAR senior deputy editor Jennifer Flowers—who heads up all our hotel content—has a deep familiarity with Waikīkī, the two-mile stretch of sand known for its hotels, waves, and tourists. Her mother is from Hawai'i, and her parents (both in the hospitality industry) actually met while working in a hotel. She played on Waikīkī as a kid, but for years, she's seen it as a kinda shiny, glitzy place—a place that seems a little, well, inauthentic.

So on a recent trip to O'ahu, she met with four different locals who helped her see a new side of Waikīkī.

Meet this week’s guests

Jennifer Flowers, AFAR senior deputy editor
Misty Thompson Tufono, executive vice president of Tihati Productions
Dylan Ching, vice president of operations for TS Restaurants, which includes Duke’s Waikīkī
Aunty Luana Maitland, director of cultural experiences at the Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort
Bonga Perkins, world-champion longboard surfer

Resources

Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Read Jenn’s story about the cultural experiences she had on Waikīkī.
Check out the Royal Hawaiian and its luau, run by Tihati Productions.
Explore the menu at Duke’s Waikīkī.
Discover the cultural center at the Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort.
Watch Bonga surf! (And check out his surfboards.)

The Promise and Peril of Digital Nomadism Jul 27, 2023

Digital nomadism has been hailed as a way to save communities—and slammed for raising rents and pricing out locals. In this week’s episode, Chloe Arrojado, an AFAR editor and digital nomad, explores the complicated ethics of working remotely.

Meet this week’s guests

Chloe Arrojado, AFAR associate editor, destinations
Olga Hannonen, a researcher at the University of Eastern Finland
Luci Jerkovic, head of global PR for the Croatian National Tourist Board
Nicole Lim, executive director of Movers and Shakas
Brent Hartinger and Michael Jensen, digital nomads

Resources

Read the episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Six tips for starting out as a digital nomad.
The best gear for digital nomads.
10 countries that make it easy to work remotely.
How to apply for Canada’s new digital nomad visa.

How to Get Airport Lounge Access, Even if You Don’t Have Airline Status Jul 20, 2023

Airport lounges can be one of the most complex, mysterious parts of the airport experience. Aside from buying a business- or first-class ticket, how do you access them? Is it worth buying a day pass? Are they really worth all the fuss? In this week’s episode of Unpacked, AFAR points and miles expert Paul Rubio reveals the secrets to gaining airport lounge access—no premium tickets required.

Meet this week’s guest

Paul Rubio, AFAR points and miles expert

Resources

Read the episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Read Paul’s primer on the best ways to get airport lounge access.
Explore the best credit cards to apply for now (with lounge access).
Learn why lounges are harder to access these days.

The Secrets to Traveling Well With Children Jul 13, 2023

Which countries are the most family friendly? How do you help kids deal with jet lag? What about routines, bedtimes, and kids in business class? In this week’s episode, four AFAR editors, all parents, share their answers to all those questions, plus real-world advice about traveling with small children—including one editor’s genius hack for making sure her kids eat.

Meet this week’s guests

Laura Dannen Redman, director of digital content
Sarika Bansal, editorial director
Tim Chester, deputy editor
Michelle Baran, senior travel news editor

Resources

Read the episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Explore some of our favorite family-friendly trips and destinations.
Listen to a Delta flight attendant’s top tips on flying with kids.

Summer Replay! The Best Places to Go in 2023 Jul 06, 2023

It’s a holiday week, one that (we hope) finds you swimming in a lake, or traveling to a new city, or otherwise enjoying these fleeting summer days. We don’t have a new episode this week, but given that we are halfway through 2023, we wanted to reshare our first episode of the year, our Where to Go in 2023 episode, in which editorial director Sarika Bansal and the team that puts together our annual list broke down said list and shared their thoughts on travel, present and future.

In it, they dig into the 12 destinations we focused on this year, including the Great Lakes, Bangkok, and Transylvania. We hope that it offers some inspiration, or at least a reason to dream as you bask in the summer sun. We’ll be back next week with another roundtable discussion about traveling with kids, and the following week with a deep dive into the world of digital nomadism. Happy listening!

Meet this week’s guests

Sarika Bansal, AFAR editorial director
Tim Chester, AFAR deputy editor
Ashlea Halpern, freelance writer and editor

Resources

Read the episodes’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Explore our Where to Go in 2023 list.

A Flight Attendant's Tips for Flying With Kids—Without Losing Your Mind Jun 29, 2023

Kids and flying can be polarizing—anyone else remember popcorngate? But in this week’s episode, flight attendant (and mother of two) Andrea Davis shares her secrets for flying with children, whatever their age. She has has tips on packing, jet lag, crying babies, and why it’s worth it to travel with little ones, even when things go sideways. And she has tips for the child-less adults on flights: It's worth a listen—as a reminder that kids and parents are usually doing their best and that, yes, you can lean on your flight attendant when the kiddo behind you is kicking your seat. New! Subscribe to our show notes email.

Meet this week’s guest

Andrea Davis, Delta flight attendant

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Check out our editor-approved travel seat for kids.
Inspired to travel? Read about our favorite places to travel with kids of all ages.
Want additional travel-with-kids content? You’ll find more here—and in our July 20th episode.

Inside Rick Steves’s Self-Imposed Carbon Tax Jun 22, 2023

Can $30 per traveler really make a difference when it comes to carbon offsets? For Rick Steves, the answer is “absolutely.” For the past four years, his company has paid a self-imposed carbon tax—in 2022, they donated $1 million to a dozen, carefully selected nonprofits to mitigate the carbon cost of their travelers. In this week’s episode of Unpacked , we chat with Craig Davidson, COO of Rick Steves’ Europe, about how their Climate Smart Commitment program works—and the life-changing results.

Meet this week’s guest

Craig Davidson, COO of Rick Steves’ Europe

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Listen to last week’s episode.
Listen to Rick’s podcast, Travel With Rick Steves.
Learn more about Rick Steves’ Europe Climate Smart Commitment.

Rick Steves Wants to Save the World, One Trip at a Time Jun 15, 2023

In the world of travel legends, Rick Steves is right up there at the top. Since he launched his company in 1976, he has sent millions of Americans abroad, either through his guided tours or via his many, many guidebooks. But his mission—to “curate culture shock”—comes with a cost.

Rick has long been aware of the environmental impact of encouraging so many people to travel, but he found that carbon offset programs didn’t do enough to alleviate his concerns. So Rick and his team created the Rick Steves’ Europe Climate Smart Commitment, which donates $30 for every traveler on their tours to a carefully selected set of nonprofits.

Rick came on the podcast to chat about the program, as well as his views on ethical travel. But the conversation was so wide-ranging and rich—touching on everything from dual-narrative travel to his belief in the power of crossing borders—that we decided to split it into two episodes.

This week’s episode focuses on Rick’s constantly evolving views on travel, his mission, and his belief in self-imposed carbon taxes. And next week, we’ll drill down into his Climate Smart Commitment with his chief operating officer, Craig Davidson.

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Listen to Rick’s podcast, Travel With Rick Steves.
Learn more about the Rick Steves’ Europe Climate Smart Commitment.
Read our story about a climate change reporter who wanted to fly less.
Check out our primer on carbon offsets and the programs that can make a difference.

Catch up on Unpacked, season two:

It's Not Too Late to Plan Your Summer Travels—Here's How Jun 08, 2023

This episode starts with a sunburn. That’s how on-topic it is. Because yes, it’s summer! And wow, do we have a lot of tips for you this year. To get them, I spoke with Mark Ellwood, the (sunburned) freelance travel writer who handles all of our monthly Where to Go columns, as well as the two editors who make up our mighty destination team, Chloe Arrojado and Tim Chester.

We started with planning—Mark is a planner, Chloe is not—and segued into how to score flight deals, if and when to travel to Europe during the hottest months, and our favorite road trip destinations. (Italy’s Prosecco Road, anyone?) We touched on lesser-known destinations, travel deals (it’s a great year to visit the U.K.), national parks, and even visiting places where it’s winter now.

So, no matter what you’re doing this summer—whether it’s road-tripping or trying to squeeze in a weekend getaway around your kids’ camp activities—we have something for you. Yes, even for you procrastinators. Happy summer travels!

Meet this week’s guests

Mark Ellwood, freelance travel writer
Chloe Arrojado, associate destinations editor
Tim Chester, deputy destinations editor

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Explore our Where to Go in July story.
Find great summer deals (they exist!) and book affordable airfare.
Need some beach time? We have the 20 best beaches in the world.
Drive the Prosecco Road that Mark mentions.
Visit our favorite national parks.

Are You Ready to Hand Over Your Travel Planning to the ChatGPT and AI Bots? Jun 01, 2023

Would you let ChatGPT plan your trip? Chris Dong, the host of this week’s episode, isn’t sure. As a travel writer, he knows his way around the world—and when we tasked him with writing a piece about the technology, he was initially skeptical about handing over the reins to, well, a robot.

To get answers, he spoke with Hannah Mieczkowski, an AI expert who holds a Ph.D. degree in human and AI interaction from Stanford University, and Seth Borko, a senior research analyst at Skift and author of an April 2023 report titled “Generative AI’s Impact on Travel.”

Together, they explained the ways ChatGPT can actually help us now, the things we need to watch for, and what we can expect in the future. As Chris discovered, it’s still murky territory. But there are some benefits—and there’s little chance we’ll be ruled by the robot overlords.

Meet this week’s guests

Chris Dong, travel writer and episode host
Hannah Mieczkowski, AI expert
Seth Borko, senior research analyst atSkift

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Read Chris’s companion piece about ChatGPT and travel.
Try ChatGPT for yourself!

The Making of a Patagonian National Park May 25, 2023

When Kris Tompkins, former Patagonia CEO, moved to Chile in the ’90s, she and her late husband, Doug Tompkins, began a decades-long conservation project in both Chile and Argentina. They faced obstacle after obstacle, but eventually persevered, creating more than a dozen national parks. It’s all the subject of a new documentary, Wild Life, streaming now, and of this week’s episode. Hear from Kris as she shares her story, from jaguar reintroduction to her enduring fascination with South America.

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Watch the film, Wild Life, on the National Geographic Channel (May 25th) and Disney+ (May 26th).
Learn more about the Tompkins Conservation.
Explore Rewilding Chile and Rewilding Argentina’s work.
Plan a trip to visit the new national parks.

How to Make Hard Travel Funny, According to a Comedian May 18, 2023

This week we’re chatting with comedian, activist, and podcast host Youngmi Mayer, who’s based in New York City’s Chinatown. Host Mae Hamilton, AFAR’s assistant editor, first came upon Youngmi on Instagram.

Youngmi’s post about not quite fitting in with Korean or American culture really resonated with Mae, and made her feel seen in a way she hadn’t before as a half Taiwanese and half white American person. Soon Mae began tuning in weekly to Youngmi’s podcast Hairy Butthole—based on the Korean saying “If you laugh while crying, hair will grow out of your butthole”—and quickly became a big Youngmi fan.

In this episode, Mae talks with Youngmi about a recent trip she took to her childhood homes in Korea and Saipan, an island near Guam. Youngmi had a traumatic childhood, a subject which makes a regular appearance in her standup. So returning home for her has always been a bit . . . complicated. So they discuss what it’s like to travel to a place that has emotional baggage for you and how to still find beauty in it. They also talk about Asian moms, what it’s like to be biracial and Asian American, and why these identities can be so complex.

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Listen to Youngmi’s current podcast, Hairy Butthole
Listen to Youngmi’s former podcast, Feeling Asian
Follow Youngmi on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok

Would You Hike 500 Miles With Your Teenager? Andrew McCarthy Said Yes. May 11, 2023

Hiking Spain’s Camino de Santiago trail is one of the world’s great pilgrimages. And actor, writer, and director Andrew McCarthy has walked the 500-mile Camino Frances, not once but twice, most recently with his teen son. It’s a journey he documented in his new book, Walking with Sam (Grand Central Publishing, May 2023), and shares with us in this week’s episode.

Some of you may know Andrew from his work in film and TV—he starred in such ’80s classics as St. Elmo’s Fire and Weekend at Bernie’s—but here at AFAR, we’re more familiar with his work as a travel writer and editor. In 2010, he participated in one of AFAR’s first Spin the Globe trips: We spun the globe and sent Andrew to Ethiopia with less than 24 hours’ notice—a trip that culminated in his near arrest.

But his latest book is a quieter adventure. As his son took his first steps into adulthood, Andrew wanted to recreate his own first Camino walk—and cement their bond. As they walked (sometimes together, sometimes apart), they faced blisters and hours in the baking sun, the paradoxes of solitude and companionship, and the transformative power of the Camino pilgrimage.

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode: https://www.afar.com/podcasts/unpacked/s2-e14-andrew-mccarthy
Read Andrew's Spin the Globe for AFAR: https://www.afar.com/magazine/spin-the-globe-andrew-mccarthy-in-ethiopia
Read Andrew’s new book, Walking with Sam: https://geni.us/2RERJ
Read the book that inspired Andrew’s first Camino pilgrimage, Jack Hitt’s Off the Road: https://geni.us/H6uG0
Read Andrew’s first book, The Longest Way Home: https://geni.us/g7I5JM
Watch some of Andrew’s films, including St Elmo’s Fire and Weekend at Bernie’s

Walking resources

If you want to tackle the Camino de Santiago: https://santiago-compostela.net/
If you want to tackle Japan's Kumano Kodo: https://www.afar.com/magazine/disconnect-from-the-modern-world-on-a-pilgrims-path-through-japan
If you just want to walk: https://www.afar.com/magazine/7-famous-pilgrimages-around-the-world-that-you-can-walk-or-cycle

Why Do I Want to Stay for Another Drink? The Subconscious Power of Music in Hotels May 04, 2023

Think back to the last time you stayed at a hotel: Did you notice the music playing? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, that music was likely highly curated. And this week, we explore how that music comes together—and the psychology behind it all.

Our guide is Rachel Parsons, a multimedia journalist and host of the solo travel series The Peregrine Dame. Rachel, who splits her time between London and L.A., was sitting in a hotel lounge when she overheard someone actively monitoring the music in the room. Suddenly, she was paying attention to the music in a way she never had before. And she wanted to know: What exactly is happening behind the scenes? To answer her question, she spoke with everyone from the CEO of a company that curates music for hotels to a music psychologist who shares why music is so effective in creating memories and moods.

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Book a night at the Andaz Liverpool Street
Book a night at the NoMad London
Listen to Ambie’s work
Read the Psychology of Music

Meet this week’s guests

Rachel Parsons, multimedia journalist
Gideon Chain, CEO of Ambie
Alex Lamont, music psychologist
Kristen Millar, creative director NoMad Hotels

Ghosts, Celebs, and Rock ’n’ Roll: A History of NYC’s Hotel Chelsea Apr 27, 2023

How does the hotel that attracted luminaries like Andy Warhol, Janis Joplin, and Sid Vicious undergo a renovation without losing its gritty, celeb-packed history? In this week’s episode of Unpacked, we’re debuting “If These Walls Could Talk,” which shares the secrets behind iconic hotels, beginning with New York City’s legendary Hotel Chelsea. AFAR’s hotel editor Jennifer Flowers takes us behind the scenes, where ghosts, celebrities, and charismatic residents lurk.

Meet this week’s guests

Sean MacPherson, hotelier
Sherill Tippins, historian and author of Inside the Dream Palace

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Watch Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, the Martin Scorcese documentary.
Read Inside the Dream Palace, Tippins’s book about the hotel
Book a night and see the history (and maybe a ghost or two) for yourself!
Read more about AFAR’s 2023 Stay List, which features the Hotel Chelsea

How the Host of a Must-Watch Nature Show Deals With Climate Change Apr 20, 2023

What will the Earth look like in seven years, as climate change progresses, and what we can do about it? That’s the premise of the PBS show Changing Planet, now in its second season, which is tracking six of the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems over the course of seven years.

In season one, host M. Sanjayan—CEO of Conservation International—travels to the plains of Kenya and the rivers of California to explore the effects of climate change and meet the people fighting against them. In season two, which premiered on April 19, Sanjayan travels to Australia to meet with Aboriginal people training the government in traditional fire-burning practices. This week on Unpacked, we chat with Sanjayan about the importance of Indigenous wisdom, what each of us can do to help support the planet, and how he keeps going when despair looms.

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode: https://www.afar.com/podcasts/unpacked/s2-e11-m-sanjayan-changing-planet
Watch Changing Planet season 1 and season 2: https://www.pbs.org/show/changing-planet/
Find out more about Conservation International and how to donate: https://www.conservation.org/
Learn how to use carbon credits to offset your travels: https://www.afar.com/magazine/what-should-you-know-about-carbon-offsets

How to Sleep Better While Traveling Apr 13, 2023

We’ve all been there: Tossing and turning on a long-haul flight, or in an unfamiliar hotel bed. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Enter Anne Bartolucci, a licensed psychologist and a certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist. She’s the founder of Atlanta Insomnia & Behavioral Health Services, P.C. and the author of Better Sleep for the Overachiever. In other words, she knows her sleep—and she specializes in helping people improve their sleep without medication.

In this week’s episode, host Aislyn Greene chats with Anne about the one thing everyone should bring on their next flight, the proper use of melatonin (turns out most of us don’t use it correctly), and yes, how to get a decent night’s sleep in a new destination.

Resources:

Buy Anne's book on Amazon: https://geni.us/YgEIc

Listen to the audio book: https://geni.us/z97HgaD

Buy the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781945074622

Explore her work at Atlanta Insomnia & Behavioral Health Services: https://www.sleepyintheatl.com/

Follow Anne on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/psychupacademy/

https://www.facebook.com/psychupacademy

Into the Heart of North America's Iceland Apr 06, 2023

This week, we’re heading to Iceland—well, kinda. We’re actually exploring the Viking hearts of New Icelanders, from Gimli, Manitoba to Mountain, North Dakota. Two towns divided by a border, but forever linked by their surprisingly storied and deep Icelandic roots.

Liz Beatty, host of the North Americana podcast, will be our guide to foam swords, Icelandic folk songs no child should hear, and an epic Viking battle reenactment at Gimli’s annual Icelandic festival. We’ll also meet a real, live fjallkonan. Want to know what that means? Tune in to find out.

Bonus: This week, we’re hosting travel trivia at the end of the episode!

Resources:

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Look at photos and listen to the full tracks of the songs featured in the episode.
Visit Íslendingadagurinn, the Gimli Icelandic Festival, which takes place this year from August 4–7.

A National Parks Road Trip for the Ages Mar 30, 2023

In early 2020, journalist Emily Pennington set out on a year-long road trip to visit all 62 national parks in the United States. A few months into her journey the pandemic struck, turning her life upside down. She chronicled it all in her new memoir, Feral(Little A, February 2023). In this episode, Emily shares her journey, what our national parks can represent (or not), and what kept her going when it seemed like the wheels were about to fall off, metaphorically speaking.

Resources & book/audiobook links

Follow Emily's adventures: https://brazenbackpacker.com/

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781542039710

Amazon: https://geni.us/inPj4

Audiobook: https://geni.us/4uQyqs

Tourism Was Destroying Kerala. So Kerala Fought Back. Mar 23, 2023

Kerala is one of the most striking states in southern India, with sandy beaches, lagoons, and cultural traditions that are magnets for travelers. But 15 years ago, tourism was taking its toll. Rice paddies were being destroyed to build resorts and hotels. Waste had become unmanageable. Locals weren’t benefiting economically. It’s a story that could’ve been a downward spiral, and yet it wasn’t.

In this week’s episode, journalist Paige McClanahan—host of the Better Travel Podcast—travels to Kerala to learn how the government responded and to witness the radical changes that followed. As she explores temples, kayaks through lagoons, and speaks with residents, she discovers that those changes have vastly improved the lives of locals (and travelers)—and could have a profound impact on communities around the world.

Resources:

This week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.
Inspired to travel to Kerala? Check out the AFAR Guide to Kerala.
And don’t miss out on one of the Village Life Experiences Paige explores in the episode.

Meet this week’s guests:

Paige McClanahan, host of the Better Travel Podcast
Dr. Harold Goodwin, founder and director of the International Center for Responsible Tourism
Rupesh Kumar, responsible tourism mission coordinator for the state of Kerala

Part II: A Man, a Dog, a Walk Around the World Mar 16, 2023

In 2015, Tom Turcich—and his dog, Savannah—left his home to begin a walk around the world that would span 7 years, 28,000 miles, 38 countries, and 6 continents. Over the course of those years, he spoke to Jason Moore—host of the Zero to Travel podcast—three different times. And over the course of the next two episodes, we'll hear those conversations.

If you haven't listened to part one, which we ran last week, we recommend you start there! In part two, Jason shares his first conversation with Tom, 15 months into the walk, and part of the second, about almost four years into the walk. Their conversations run from the logistics and reality (and pain!) of walking up to 20 miles every day to the lessons we can glean from these kind of journey—lesson that reveal what it means to be human.

Follow Jason Moore: https://zerototravel.com/

Follow Tom Turcich (and Savannah): https://www.tomturcich.com/

And read the AFAR story that inspired the headline for this episode: https://www.afar.com/magazine/tom-turcich-and-the-world-walk

Part I: A Man, a Dog, a Walk Around the World Mar 09, 2023

In 2015, Tom Turcich—and his dog, Savannah—left his home to begin a walk around the world that would span 7 years, 28,000 miles, 38 countries, and 6 continents. Over the course of those years, he spoke to Jason Moore—host of the Zero to Travel podcast—three different times. And over the course of the next two episodes, we'll hear those conversations.

In part one, Jason shares his first conversation with Tom, 15 months into the walk, and part of the second, about almost four years into the walk. Their conversations run from the logistics and reality (and pain!) of walking up to 20 miles every day to the lessons we can glean from these kind of journey—lesson that reveal what it means to be human.

Follow Jason Moore: https://zerototravel.com/

Follow Tom Turcich (and Savannah): https://www.tomturcich.com/

And read the AFAR story that inspired the headline for this episode: https://www.afar.com/magazine/tom-turcich-and-the-world-walk

How Travel Can Help Us Grieve Mar 02, 2023

We turn to travel for a thousand different things: Connection, adventure, vacation, learning, family, the list goes on. One element of life and travel we don’t often discuss is grief. But today, we’re going to.

In this episode, Erin Hynes—host of the podcast Curious Tourism—shares the ways that we can use travel to navigate some of the more difficult elements of life. She shares her own story and interviews two experts with very different experiences around grief.

Follow Erin:

http://pinatravels.org/

https://www.instagram.com/pinatravels/

https://twitter.com/pinatravels

Follow Zac:

https://www.workinprogressto.ca/zac

https://www.instagram.com/zed_eh_see/

Follow Andrew:

https://www.andrewsteven.com/

https://trailweight.com/

How to Travel, and Soothe Your Anxiety, in a Climate-Changing World Feb 23, 2023

It’s no secret that our climate is changing fast. From hurricanes to wildfires, those changes are impacting us more and more each year. How do we deal with the anxiety? And more specifically, how do we travel safely, smartly, and compassionately, in a climate-changing world? In this episode, AFAR senior news editor Michelle Baran shares her own experiences with climate anxiety, and talks with two experts about how we can find some peace—and travel with confidence.

Learn more about neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez: http://comprehendthemind.com/

Learn more about International SOS: https://www.internationalsos.com/

This season, we want to hear from you! Have a question for us to unpack? Let us know at afar.com/feedback or email us at unpacked@afar.com

Happy New(ish) Year! Now, Go Hug a Tree Feb 16, 2023

Hey, listeners! Have you ever hugged a tree? If not, today's episode might inspire you to. AFAR editor Aislyn Greene talks with forest-bathing guide, Ben Page, about our tall, leafy friends: Why they're so good for us, where to forest bathe in the United States, and how to bring the forest-bathing mindset wherever you go.

Ben Page's company, Integral Forest Bathing: https://www.integralforestbathing.com/

And his book, A Pocket Guide to Forest Bathing: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781647224189

If you want to learn more about Mountain Trek: https://www.mountaintrek.com/

The Best Places to Travel in 2023 Feb 09, 2023

Where should I go this year? It's our favorite question—and (we hope) yours! For our annual where to go list, we handpicked 12 unique destinations, from the Great Lakes to Tasmania. We offer ideas for every type of traveler, whether you want to bicycle along Prince Edward Island's new Island Walk, eat seafood and listen to music in the Brazilian city of Salvador, or appreciate art and architecture in the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah.

In this episode, we're unpacking the list with AFAR editorial director Sarika Bansal, deputy editor Tim Chester, and freelancer travel writer Ashlea Halpern. The three also weigh in on travel trends for 2023, the realities of traveling with little kids, and other tips for making 2023 your best travel year yet.

Read more at https://afar.com/wtg2023. And don't forget to follow our editors:

Sarika: https://www.instagram.com/sarika008/

Ashlea: https://www.instagram.com/ashleahalpern

Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timchester

Unpacked Is Back! (And a Little Different) Jan 27, 2023

It's a bright, shiny new year, which means a bright, shiny new year of travel. Here at AFAR, we're bursting with ideas and enthusiasm—and we want to share it all with you. Before you dive in, just a note that Unpacked will sound a little different this year: We'll still be unpacking the trickiest topics in travel, but we'll also touch on issues and trends like forest-bathing, climate change anxiety, using travel to heal grief, and our picks for where to go in 2023.

And this season, we also want to hear from you! What travel topics do you want us to unpack? Share your thoughts at afar.com/feedback or email us at unpacked@afar.com.

Is This Appropriate? How to (and How Not to) Engage With Cultural Tourism Aug 25, 2022

Have you ever wanted to take a picture during your travels, but you weren’t sure if it was OK? Or have you come across a traditional performance and wondered whether you should be there at all? In this episode, we explore the sometimes uncomfortable power dynamics at play in cultural tourism—and how to navigate them with ease.

Resources

For more about Bangarra: https://www.bangarra.com.au/

To explore Wild Expeditions Africa: https://wild-expeditions.africa/

To learn more about from the World Bank on Indigenous Peoples: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples

The Truth About Accessibility and Travel Aug 11, 2022

When it comes to travel, accessibility is often an afterthought. But it shouldn't be. Qudsiya Naqui, host of the Down to the Struts podcast, takes on a journey into the world of accessible travel. She speaks with writer Bani Amor, wilderness specialist Erika Rivers, and Maayan Ziv, the founder of AccessNow, a mobile app that helps travelers find and share accessibility information.

Resources:

You can learn more about Qudsiya and the Down to the Struts team at downtothestruts.com.

Learn more about disability experiences through media and culture. The Disability Visibility Project created by Alice Wong is a great place to start. You can find blog posts and interviews with members of the disability community at disabilityvisibilityproject.org.

See what Erika Rivers and her team at Wilderness Inquiry are doing at https://www.wildernessinquiry.org/

Explore Maayan Ziv and AccessNow at https://accessnow.com

Follow Bani Amor on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/baniamor/?hl=en

Special thanks to Story District in Washington D.C. for permission to share original audio from their March 2020 show, “She Comes First.” You can learn more about Story District by visiting storydistrict.org.

What in the World Is 'Regenerative Travel'? Jul 28, 2022

What in the world is regenerative travel? Kristy Drutman, host of the Brown Girl Green podcast, takes us deep in the world of green travel, where sustainability is about so much more than carbon offsets.

Resources

Brown Girl Green: https://www.browngirlgreen.com/

Amando Ho: https://www.regenerativetravel.com/

Paco Guerrero: https://www.gridmagazine.ph/

Is It Really Possible to Travel Like a Local? Jul 14, 2022

What does it mean when we say we want to "travel like a local?" It's a well-intentioned phrase, but also, well, impossible. In this episode, we'll unpack the concept of local travel. We’ll share tips on how to better connect in a new place, how to embrace our outsider status, and basically how asking ourselves these big questions can make our trips more fulfilling, and make us better guests in the world.

Resources:

Eric Weiner's essay: https://www.afar.com/magazine/five-ways-to-travel-more-responsibly

Eric's book, The Socrates Express: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781501129025

The digital accompaniment to the Unpacked podcast: https://www.afar.com/travel-inspiration/travel-for-good

Dr. Anu Taranath: https://www.anutaranath.com/

Dr. Anu's Book: Beyond Guilt Trips, Mindful Travel in an Unequal World: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781771134323

Jini Reddy: https://www.jinireddy.co.uk/

Jini's book, Wanderland: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781472951953

How to Navigate the Wild World of Animal Tourism Jun 30, 2022

There's nothing quite like a magical, transportive animal encounter—but how do we ensure those encounters are good for the animals (and good for the places we visit)? Journalist Byron Pace, host of the Into the Wilderness Podcast, takes us on a journey around the world, talking with wildlife experts ranging from a shark scientist in Australia to a California-based biologist.

This episode is sponsored by Explore Asheville, who shares our belief in the power of ethical travel. https://www.exploreasheville.com/

Resources:

Hear more from Byron's guests and from Byron himself at modernhuntsman.com/podcast.

Dan Blumstein: https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/person/daniel-blumstein/

Dan's book, Ecotourism's Promise and Peril: https://geni.us/dTFm

Melissa Cristina Márquez: https://www.melissacristinamarquez.com/

Pete Carr of the Endangered Species Protection Agency: https://speciesprotectionusa.org/

Sarah Roberts: https://www.sarahrobertsofficial.com/work-with-me

Lucas Bustamante, Tropical Herping: https://www.tropicalherping.com/about/lucas_bustamante.html

Have a travel conundrum you want us to unpack? Tweet us, DM us on Instagram, or post on our Facebook page.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AFARmedia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afarmedia/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfarMedia/

Let's Scale Back That Revenge Travel, Shall We? Jun 16, 2022

Today, we're talking about revenge. Well, sort of. In this episode, writer Paige McClanahan—host of the Better Travel Podcast—explores the concept of "revenge travel." While it's so tempting to want to take revenge on the time we lost to Covid, Paige invites us to think more deeply about our impact on communities around the world, many of which are more vulnerable coming out of the pandemic. Through conversations with Harold Goodwin of the UK-based Responsible Tourism Partnership and Judy Kepher-Gona, of Kenya's Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda, Paige offers tips on how to be kinder, more aware travelers—and how to have a little fun along the way.

This episode is sponsored by Explore Asheville, who shares our belief in the power of ethical travel. https://www.exploreasheville.com/

Resources:

Paige McClanahan: https://www.paigemcclanahan.com/

Harold Goodwin: https://responsibletourismpartnership.org/who-we-are/

Judy Kepher-Gona: https://sttakenya.org/

Have a travel conundrum you want us to unpack? Tweet us, DM us on Instagram, or post on our Facebook page.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AFARmedia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afarmedia/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfarMedia/

Introducing: Unpacked by AFAR May 19, 2022

Have you ever been traveling and encountered a situation where you felt a little . . . uncomfortable? Yeah, us too. Each week on Unpacked by AFAR, we'll unpack a single, ethically complex question. Say, “How can I travel with a lighter footprint?” or “How can I engage with animals in an ethical way while on the road?” Through a mix of first-person stories and interviews with experts in the field, Unpacked will explore not just answers to those questions, but new ways to engage with the places we visit and the people we meet. Because the world is complicated. Being an ethical traveler doesn't have to be.

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