Unpacked by Afar

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Amazon or 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 El Patio Mesa Provisions Coda Bakery Campo at Los Poblanos Level 5 at Hotel Chaco Farm & Table Bow & Arrow Brewing Old Town Farm 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. And a special thanks to our September sponsor, Explore Asheville. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, director of 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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: How to Make Hard Travel Funny, According to a Comedian The Making of a Patagonian National Park Are You Ready to Hand Over Travel Planning to the ChatGPT and AI Bots? It’s Not Too Late to Plan Your Summer Travels—Here’s How 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 at Skift 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! 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices