Unpacked by Afar

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

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 Follow Tom Turcich (and Savannah) And read the AFAR story that inspired the headline for this 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

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 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 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/ 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 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 [email protected] 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

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/ 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 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 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 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 [email protected]. 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 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 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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/ 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 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 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 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/ 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

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/ 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 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. 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