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What happens when you take the magic of Disney and the magic of Christmas and combine them? You get Disney for the holidays. Our friend and Disney travel expert Krystin Turner is here today to talk about some of the cool things that are available from Disney during the holiday and Christmas season. She has stayed at all of the resorts and has extensive knowledge about Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Cruises. We were lucky enough to have Krystin as our guest on season one of the podcast when we talked about creating a unique Disney experience.
Going to a Disney park or on a Disney cruise is something our family has talked about for years. Krystin is a Disney travel expert from Dreams Unlimited Travel and she shares the ins and outs of the different venues, special holiday features at the resorts, entertainment, decorations, costumes, and treats. She also talks about snowing on main street during the parade, The Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion, the best time to go, the best time to book, and more.
Show Notes:
[01:48] Krystin Turner is a vacation planner from Dreams Unlimited Travel. She helps plan Disney vacations anywhere from cruise lines to Disney World and Disneyland. She can help with every aspect of the trip.
[03:31] Christmas time is the best time to go to any Disney destination. Disney starts decorating for the holidays on the 1st of November.
[03:57] The Christmas party at the Magic Kingdom is one of Krystin's favorite things to do. It's a limited ticket after hours event. There's a Christmas parade and treats are included. The characters are in costume and it even snows on Main Street.
[05:20] All of the resorts are decorated and every park has a giant Christmas tree. There's even a real gingerbread house with edible shingles.
[05:54] Krystin has stayed at all of the Walt Disney World Resorts. She stayed at Wilderness Lodge over the holidays, but most resorts have great holiday activities and themes.
[07:31] The Christmas party has different treats including cookies, hot chocolate, and specialty offerings.
[09:26] At Disneyland the castle lights up and Disney California Adventures has decorations and the festival of holidays. They also have It's a Small World Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday. They change the lighting and decorations and even the scent. The mansion becomes The Nightmare Before Christmas themed mansion.
[11:46] The Christmas parade is twice a day, and you don't need special tickets.
[12:21] Special snacks change every year.
[13:26] Disney cruises have something for everyone. Even though the trips are more expensive, a lot of things are included and you end up spending less while on board.
[15:05] Disney cruises have high-level entertainment and first-run movies.
[15:36] During the holidays, all the characters are dressed in Christmas attire. There's a tree lighting ceremony. The whole ship is decorated beautifully. There's a Santa Claus meet and greet and story time with Mrs. Claus and of course the gingerbread house.
[17:55] A Disney cruise is definitely more expensive. A Disney cruise is a lot more relaxing than a Disneyland or Disney World experience.
[19:54] The week of Christmas is the most crowded and expensive time to go. If you're planning a trip, go the first week of December.
[21:21] The earlier you book the better. Book the day the cruise is released. Book Disney World a 180 days in advance and Disneyland is a little more flexible.
[22:21] The further out you plan, the more relaxing it is and the easier it is to get those dinner reservations that you want.
[23:10] There are special things you can do like dessert parties or firework reservations.
[25:04] You can get a hold of Krystin at [email protected].
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
Dreams Unlimited Travel
A Unique Disney Trip
Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Grand Floridian
Disney Springs
Epcot
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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We are joined by Jamie and Skylar from Explorcation on this episode of the podcast. They have a fantastic blog and vlog on YouTube. They share a ton of advice for staying healthy and well when you are traveling.
Jamie and Skylar are a couple who loves to travel, explore new places, and try new experiences. Many of their travels include adventures like hiking to secluded beaches, jumping off of waterfalls, paddling to beautiful destinations, and learning to rock climb.
They also travel to relax and include videos from cruising and spending time on beaches. They live in Florida and travel as often as they can while still working full time.
In this episode, Jamie and Skylar share their top tips for staying healthy and well while traveling and many planning and preparation tips and resources. Make sure to stay tuned until the very end to hear their favorite three places they have visited.
Show Notes:
[01:39] They both work full-time, but they love being active as much as possible.
[01:52] They both grew up in the midwest and had limited opportunities to travel. They moved to Florida to travel more often and live a more active lifestyle.
[02:31] Explorcation started four years ago when they went on a cruise to the Virgin Islands. They came back from that trip with so much video footage and decided to start the YouTube channel as a way to document their travels for themselves.
[03:53] They hope to inspire other people to visit new places, try new things, and live a healthier and more adventurous lifestyle.
[05:01] Some days it is a struggle to balance it all, but it really helps to have a second person to get input and help with the process.
[05:57] Learning to set time boundaries and sticking to them have really been key to working full-time and growing Explorcation.
[07:35] Their relationship has grown from working on the blog and vlog together.
[10:08] They were fortunate to have a big trip right before COVID hit. They still have footage they are sharing and working on from that trip.
[11:11] They were also lucky not to have any trips interrupted by COVID because they didn’t have any additional trips planned for that time.
[13:19] They encourage their viewers to find healthy activities they enjoy, make them feel good, and add joy to their lives.
[13:31] First you have to make the decision to keep healthy habits while you are traveling. That is the first challenge.
[14:43] They found themselves not feeling well for several days after returning from trips after enjoying too many drinks, food, and sun.
[16:29] They still enjoy these amenities, but only in moderation.
[17:15] They realized that the best stress reliever for them was just to get out and do what they loved in nature and be adventurous.
[17:37] Returning with more energy and less stress was definitely a big motivator for them. Jamie had a second motivator and that was her health.
[19:01] For Jamie adopting a healthier lifestyle and being more active is what she needed to take back her life. She started by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and taking vitamins.
[20:11] The one thing that has contributed to their health and happiness has been finding the activities that they both enjoy.
[21:35] When they moved to Florida they started to find active hobbies that they both enjoyed doing together like paddleboarding.
[23:11] They both also enjoy rock climbing. They got into rock climbing because they found a Groupon online.
[25:15] They started rock climbing indoors and climbed for over a year before they thought about outdoor rock climbing. Their first outdoor rock climbing trip was to Asheville, North Carolina.
[27:09] Their rock climbing trips were only day trips. Some destinations do offer multiple-day backpacking trips.
[28:17] They have also developed a love for hiking. They really appreciate the hills and mountains.
[29:12] They love to hike to secluded beaches. They find these beaches by doing research and watching other vlogs.
[32:01] They usually take backpacks. They have one backpack with essentials and a cooler backpack for cool drinks.
[34:01] It is important to do the research to find out what exactly can you do that is something that you are interested in.
[36:30] On cruises you can use the excursions that the cruise ship provides or find your own.
[37:03] You know that if you book your excursions through the cruise ship they are not going to leave you. If you are doing excursions on your own research them ahead of time and make sure they are legit. They suggest having a back-up plan just in case you are left behind.
[38:14] When they are planning and preparing for trips they watch a ton of travel vlogs, check Trip Advisor, read blogs, travel magazines, and many online resources.
[39:54] Their top tip staying healthy while traveling is to stay as active as possible. They find activities that they both enjoy and plan their trips around those activities.
[41:56] When you are traveling to a destination where you have the option to prepare your own food they highly recommend visiting the local market and local produce stands.
[42:51] They recommend booking a hotel with a gym or a swimming pool to increase your options for physical activity. You can book a cruise that has several activities aboard.
[44:05] For travel or active days it is important to pack healthy snacks and stay hydrated. You can bring an empty water bottle through airport security and fill it up once you get to the terminal.
[45:22] The last tip for when you actually reach your destination is to avoid foods that have a negative impact on your health. If you put the effort in you can almost always find healthy produce. If you have the opportunity to cook your own meals they highly recommend it. Many cruise ships offer healthier options.
[47:41] Skylar’s top 3 places he has visited are Costa Rica, St. Lucia, and Joshua Tree Park.
[49:02] Jamie’s top 3 places she has visited are Costa Rica, St. Lucia, and Puerto Rico.
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
Explorcation Blog
Explorcation on YouTube
Explorcation on Twitter
Explorcation on Instagram
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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It is finally time to get to know our other host better. Today we are going to dig deeper and get to know more about Chris and his travel adventures. He waits until the very end of the episode to share his special story about his favorite childhood travel experience and adds some special guests in on the discussion.
We also discuss Chris’s top 3 places to go, where he would like to go, and great family adventures. We talk about restaurants, excursions, and more. We hope you enjoy this little peek into Chris’s travel history and his most memorable traveling adventures.
Show Notes:
[03:02] Chris has a special story about his favorite childhood travel experience that he is going to share at the end of the episode.
[04:23] Chris was first introduced to travel on road trips to Nashville. He was typically the navigator.
[05:09] Chris grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, which is 210 miles from Nashville.
[06:18] Chris shares about being in a handbell choir at church as a child with his siblings and cousins.
[08:45] New York City at that young age was very memorable. The handbell choir traveled to New York City to perform
[10:08] Later in life Chris moved to New York and lived an hour and a half from New York City.
[11:26] Chris shares his top three destinations that he has visited in his whole life.
[12:19] He enjoyed learning about Roman history and Pompeii in Italy and visiting the colosseum.
[14:55] Their advice is to not fill up on the first course because in Italy there are many courses.
[15:02] Chris shares about their experience in Scotland including St. Andrews and the countryside.
[17:11] His number three destination is Las Vegas because there is so much to do.
[19:15] Go cars are a great excursion. They are little cars that provide GPS that talks to you about different historical sites and where to go.
[20:20] Chris’s favorite family trip is the RV trip, but the kids’ favorite trip is to Los Angeles.
[20:59] His favorite destination with their extended family was the Dominican Republic. They went with 20 people at two different times. It was an all-inclusive resort and there was a lot to do.
[23:26] The all-inclusive resorts are perfect with kids, especially older kids. The kids were able to make their own choices and do fun things with safety.
[25:01] Two places that Chris has not yet been to are Hawaii and Africa.
[26:34] The third place that Chris still wants to go to is Dubai because it seems so luxurious.
[28:49] Chris shares about their experience staying at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas.
[31:02] They were moved to a very luxurious room at the Cosmopolitan Hotel when the room they reserved wasn’t available.
[33:14] They upgraded to first class on a trip and they brought them cocktails and warm nuts.
[35:20] Chris’s favorite pancakes are Cracker Barrel's pancakes.
[36:02] His favorite steak house is Ruth’s Chris. They really enjoyed their visit to Ruth’s Chris in Keystone at the Crossing in Indianapolis.
[37:03] If you ever fly through Minneapolis airport, in the main concourse check out pizza at Black Sheep.
[38:29] Chris’s favorite excursion was their open-air helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. He would love to do it again on a nice day.
[40:15] Chris’s earliest childhood experience was their family trip to Orlando. He calls his Aunt Deborah, and two cousins to share what they remember about their trip.
[42:35] Chris’s Aunt Deborah shares the facts of this favorite childhood experience to Orlando.
[44:16] They had their trip outlined with AAA and they stayed in Kissimmee.
[47:15] Brian remembers them packing up in their yellow Cadillac (“The Canary”) and driving all night.
[48:15] Brandy remembers leaving at night time with 3 adults and five children packed in one Cadillac. They all kept asking, “Are we there yet?”
[50:51] Everyone got along on the trip and didn’t fight, but there was one instance of a spilled Coke on the floor.
[52:44] They used a paper map for directions, but they also had a CB radio.
[53:27] Brian remembers their first stop being to a little waterpark on the side of the road.
[55:42] They went to Disneyland and Wet and Wild.
[57:11] The day after they arrived they went to Disney World. They also went to Sea World.
[58:39] They enjoyed going to the pool every day.
[60:22] They remember staying at Disney all day and seeing fireworks and the parade at the end of the day.
[61:12] Aunt Deborah’s favorite memory from the Orlando trip was all of them packing into the car. They brought lots of activities and snacks for the car ride.
[63:48] This trip is so memorable for Brandy because it was their first time going to Disney and it was all of them went together.
[64:48] This trip is so memorable for Brian because it was a long trip and they were in hot and sunny Florida.
Links and Resources:
Episode 40 - Africa
Episode 39 - Italy
Italy Quick Tips
Episode 15 - Our Trip to London, Paris, and Scotland
Surly Beer
Episode 7 - Vegas Off the Strip
Go Cars
Episode 9 - First Time RVers
Episode 19 - 4 Days in Los Angeles
Cracker Barrel
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Black Sheep Pizza
Kissimmee, Florida
Walt Disney World
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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Award-winning travel agent, Ashley Morris from Alpaca Your Bags, will be joining us to talk about AFRICA! Ashley joined us in Season 1 to tell us all the tips and tricks to planning an amazing destination wedding or vow renewal. Ashley is back and fresh off of a trip she recently took to East Africa. She is going to share all of the details of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. She shares how she was lucky enough to get to go on a safari and preparation including visas and vaccinations.
We are going to hear every thrilling thing that happened on this amazing trip. You will learn how to prepare for the trip, the wide variety of lodging available, things you could never imagine, and the different experiences you could have in both Nairobi, Kenya, Zanzibar, and Tanzania. She also talks about weight limits for flights and packing light and taking exactly what you need. You are going to be ready to pack your bags before this interview even ends! So, let’s fly!
Show Notes:
[02:01] Ashley Morris is the owner of Alpaca Your Bags, a website all about travel.
[02:48] Ashley just got back from a trip to Africa. She normally specializes in destination weddings, but she knows that people are also very interested in adventure travel.
[03:53] She went on a 12-day safari.
[04:36] Wild Voyager offered trips to travel advisors and contacted Ashley.
[06:34] You need a visa as well as a passport to go to Kenya and Tanzania.
[07:20] You have to have your documents in order and get travel vaccinations.
[08:27] You do need a vaccination for yellow fever.
[11:28] There are special clinics dedicated to travel and travel preparation such as Passport Health.
[13:58] Ashley shares her preparation for the trip. Long sleeve shirts with built in SPF are very useful. Hats and fleece are great too. Get those pants that zip into shorts. You also want light colors that don't attract bugs. Go for greens, browns, and khakis.
[17:14] Ashley went to Kenya for the safari and Tanzania for the recovery. Masai Mara is a huge game reserve in Kenya. You will have a more diverse experience here than you would in the Serengeti.
[19:29] Ashley saw the Big 5 which are cape buffalos, lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards. Plus all of the other animals you would expect like hippos and giraffes.
[21:32] It was overwhelming to be a nature among these beautiful animals.
[22:11] The big activity is called a game drive. This is where you drive around and see the animals. They are most active at sunrise and dusk.
[25:22] One of the most amazing parts of the day was sitting around the campfire talking about what they'd seen.
[26:03] Their camp was more rustic with tented rooms and bathrooms. They had a chef that made everything from scratch. She would also make one unique Kenyan item.
[29:05] They also went to a Masai Village and learned about the warriors.
[31:19] Everything on a safari is driving. They drove probably three or four hours a day.
[31:37] Some lodges and resorts have other activities.
[32:11] Some lodges will specialize in things like photography. Your travel advisor can tailor your experience to what you want.
[33:42] Understand your budget and what you're comfortable with.
[35:02] You can actually go on a hot air balloon safari. After landing, they had a bush breakfast. It was extremely elegant with champagne. It's a lovely way to celebrate a morning.
[37:33] They flew to Tanzania in a small plane. First they flew to Zanzibar. You can also see Freddie Mercury's first home because he was born in Zanzibar. There are also beautiful beaches and a lot of history.
[40:13] This was a more luxurious experience. They also went to Prison Island and saw land tortoises.
[44:12] Go to the elephant sanctuary in Nairobi.
[46:19] Ashley loved Stone Town Zanzibar.
[48:18] The food in Zanzibar was much more refined. There was a lot of Middle Eastern and Indian food.
[49:33] Cost depends on factors but there is a range of $7,000 to $15,000 plus travel expenses.
[51:27] Avoid peak times like during the animal great migration.
[53:14] Call Ashley for a consultation.
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
Alpaca Your Bags
Schedule an Appointment with Ashley
Alpaca Your Bags on Instagram
Planning a Destination Wedding or Vow Renewal
Wild Voyager
Passport Health
Masai Mara
Prison Island
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Stone Town of Zanzibar
The Elephant Sanctuary
Giraffe Center
The Rock Restaurant Zanzibar
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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Hey, fly listeners, thanks for joining us for this quick tip Thursday. If you haven't checked out episode 41, be sure to do so. In that episode, Tanya Shelburne of the Traveling Tanya blog took us through all of the ins and outs of planning a trip to Italy. If you're thinking of taking a tip to this amazing company you will want all of that info. Today, Tanya gives us some top tips for how to make the most out of your Italian vacation. Some of the things we talk about include when to go to Italy.
We also talk about food and drinks. Did you know that in Italy wine is cheaper than soda? We also talk about the best way to avoid the tourist crowds by exploring early in the morning or late in the evening. Tanya talks about the wonderful food like pizza and pasta and how you can find some really great grab-and-go food and eat surrounded by Italian ambiance. We also talk about spontaneity versus pre-booking and so many other ways to get the most out of your Italian vacation.
Show Notes:
[01:00] You need to think about when you want to go to Italy.
[01:08] Summertime is Tanya's least favorite time to go. The preferred time is what they call shoulder season. This is springtime in April and May or fall in September or October.
[01:30] During these times you'll find lower prices and more temperate weather. The crowds are also lighter.
[02:41] The best times for exploring are early in the morning or late at night.
[03:06] Wine in Italy is cheaper than soda, so why not indulge? You'll also have to ask for water and ice isn't common.
[04:42] Pizza and pasta are king and grab-and-go spots are plentiful.
[05:45] There are wonderful bread and pastries everywhere. The food also has less additives and preservatives, so it balances out the calories.
[06:36] Think about what cities you are visiting and your highest priority attractions. These are the ones that you will want to pre-book.
[07:29] Pre-booking can also save you money. It's also good they leave some free time for spontaneity and rest.
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
Traveling Tanya
Traveling Tanya on Pinterest
Traveling Tanya on Twitter
Traveling Tanya on Instagram
Traveling Tanya on Facebook
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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Tanya Shelburne, author of the Traveling Tanya blog is here with us. Tanya is on a mission to inspire busy people like you to make travel a priority by sharing her vacation adventures and travel tips. Like us, she has two teenagers and loves to travel the world. Today, Tanya is going to take us to Italy. Tanya shares all kinds of insights about going to Italy. She even shares a great tool for trip planning and creating your own itinerary. This episode will have you dreaming about visiting Italy and will give you tools to begin planning now.
She also shares tips for packing and why it pays to pack light. We also discuss transportation and why it’s important to plan in advance. We discuss trains, planning airport to hotel transportation, and traveling through Venice in vaporettos. Talking to Tanya feels like taking a trip to Italy as she shares her favorite hotspots, tours, food, classes, and amazing places to visit. She talks about historic landmarks and where to find the best view in Florence. We discuss Venice, centrally located Florence, and Rome along with how to get the most out of your trip.
We are recording this in mid-march of 2020 and Italy is under a full lockdown. Everyone is on quarantine due to the impact of the coronavirus. This doesn't mean we can't plan for future travel and have something to look forward to in order to keep our spirits up.
Show Notes:
[01:33] Tanya is a mom and wife who lives in the Midwest. She has a husband, a full-time job, and two teenage daughters. She also does a lot of volunteer work.
[01:56] She loves to travel and that's why she started a travel blog. She makes time to travel whenever she can.
[02:23] Tanya would like for people to make traveling a priority and not put those trips off.
[03:31] We are recording this in mid-march of 2020 and Italy is under a full lockdown. Everyone is on quarantine due to the impact of the coronavirus. This doesn't mean we can't plan for future travel and have something to look forward to when our spirits are down.
[04:33] Italy is Tanya's favorite place in the entire world. Tanya is passionate about traveling to Italy.
[05:49] She loves travel planning almost as much as she loves the actual travel.
[06:22] Tanya uses Tripmasters for all of her planning.
[06:48] She loves creating her own itineraries. Tripmasters will combine everything and your per person cost. It's not as expensive as you think.
[09:12] You could also get an organized tour, but Tanya likes to plan her own trip with some help from Tripmasters.
[10:04] Rome2rio can help you plan your transportation ahead of time.
[13:37] Tanya is also a Rick Steves fan. He has a great app with walking tours that are fabulous.
[15:57] YouTube is also a great travel and Italy travel resource. There are also great travel blogs like Traveling Tanya.
[18:30] Pack what you know you will need. You can always buy stuff there.
[20:06] Check with your airline about baggage fees before packing. Decide if you want to check your bags or not.
[21:39] Tanya says it's possible to do a week in Italy with just a carry on and a backpack. The largest bag you can fit in the bin.
[22:36] It's also possible to do laundry in Italy. Learning to pack light will make your experience better.
[24:42] In Venice, you will travel by boat. Often in a ferry.
[28:32] Without vehicles, you can enjoy the beauty of Venice.
[29:40] Great things to see our Saint Mark's Square, the Basilica, Doge's Palace, and the old prison. There is also a wonderful old bookstore. There are also neighboring islands and amazing food and wine.
[35:23] When you visit Europe, you will definitely get your steps in. Pack comfortable shoes.
[36:51] You can also go through guided tours with locals.
[38:50] Florence is south of Venice. It's centrally located and a great home base for exploring many of the different cities in Italy.
[40:40] Tanya's favorite spot in Florence is the Piazzale Michelangelo. The view is amazing.
[46:54] Tanya and her daughters took a cooking class in Florence.
[49:17] Teenagers need downtime and activities. Older traveling companions may need a slower pace. Pay attention and keep your plans flexible.
[50:09] If you go to Italy, you will probably go to Rome. There's more hustle and bustle. Tanya and her family took a day trip there. You could spend a week there, but it's a good idea to see what you can.
[52:11] They went to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. They also went to the Pantheon.
[54:24] Pizza is available everywhere. Pasta and gelato were also daily things.
[56:00] The best flavor that Tanya ever had was a raspberry gelato.
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
Traveling Tanya
Traveling Tanya on Pinterest
Traveling Tanya on Twitter
Traveling Tanya on Instagram
Traveling Tanya on Facebook
Tripmasters
Rome2rio
Rick Steves Audio Europe™
Our Private Photography Tour in Venice
Piazzale Michelangelo
Florencetown
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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Having the right mindset is a popular topic no matter what you’re trying to accomplish. When it comes to travel, the two main mindset issues people often have are lack of time and lack of money. Our guest today has developed strategies to make travel a priority. She talks about her techniques for intentional budgeting and saving for travel. We also talk about how to find the best flights and deals, the difference between a trip and a vacation, and why travel can be so rewarding.
We are joined by Danielle Desir. Danielle is the author of the book Affording Travel: Saving Strategies for Financially Savvy Travelers. She’s a personal finance writer, a blogger, and the host of The Thought Card Podcast. She has managed to pay off $63,000 in student loan debt, buy a house at 27, and travel to 27+ countries all while working a full-time job.
Danielle is a financially savvy traveler who is passionate about travel and money. Today she shares how we can also be financially savvy travelers, and how we can plan and save for travel and also pay off debt at the same time. She even throws in some quick tips for finding the passion and will to pay off those student loans. She is a pure delight and you’re going to love her as much as we did.
Show Notes:
[02:01] Danielle started traveling at a young age. As a child, she spent every summer with her grandparents in Haiti.
[02:39] She grew up with a mother who was really conscious of saving money. She opened her first retirement account at 15 and started putting money away right away.
[03:31] In college, she wanted to travel more, but money was an issue. That's when she made it a goal to find creative ways to make travel a priority in her life.
[04:42] She's made travel a priority, and it shapes all of her decisions.
[05:24] She started her blog in 2015 in order to document her trips.
[06:03] She started her The Thought Card Podcast in 2018, because she wanted to create a more intimate connection with her audience.
[08:04] Danielle recently launched her book, Affording Travel: Saving Strategies for Financially Savvy Travelers.
[08:17] One of the first things when you want to start saving for travel is to think about your mindset and is there anything holding you back. People often complain that they don't have the time or they don't have the money.
[08:38] In Danielle's book, she really tackles the money aspect and the first chapter is about adjusting your priorities.
[09:16] She makes saving for travel a priority by treating travel expenses like a bill. Saving for your travel expenses will bring richness to your life.
[10:30] Danielle created a separate bank account for her travel fund. Seeing your travel savings grow is a quick win.
[12:31] Danielle uses a virtual envelope system by having multiple bank accounts.
[16:05] She discusses how her student loan interest was accruing every day as the clock ticked on.
[17:03] Emotion is a good indicator of passion.
[18:05] Danielle wanted to have the financial freedom of not having student loan debt. So she stayed at her mom's house and made sure to pay extra principal every day and month until the debt was paid off.
[20:09] Be creative and look at things as challenges as opposed to obstacles.
[21:07] Her reward was a yearly trip.
[22:50] She saved and found great deals when she had to spend.
[23:57] At the beginning, she would choose destinations according to deals. She's more intentional now.
[24:52] A trip is about the external experience. A vacation is more relaxing. Based on your travel style choose the destination.
[26:43] Define what you want to experience and find good deals based off of that.
[29:01] Automation can help your saving systems operate in the background.
[30:12] Danielle gives us great resources for cheap flights like Secret Flying and The Flight Deal.
[32:24] She also likes the deals from Travelzoo.
[33:24] She's been to more than 27 countries.
[34:00] You can get her book on Amazon to find the best deals and money saving travel tips.
[35:02] Her top three favorite places include China, Bermuda, and Iceland.
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
The Thought Card
The Thought Card Podcast
Danielle Desir on Twitter
Danielle Desir on Instagram
The Thought Card on Facebook
Affording Travel: Saving Strategies for Financially Savvy Travelers
Secret Flying
The Flight Deal
Scott’s Cheap Flights
Thrifty Traveler
Travelzoo
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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National parks are a great way to explore natural beauty close to home and in other countries. Today, we chat with Michelle Stelly who fell in love with hiking, backpacking, and camping. She runs the The Wandering Queen blog, where she talks about her adventures and shares tips and tricks for beginner and experienced hikers and campers. Michelle’s enthusiasm and love of nature is contagious as she talks about how she began, where she’s been, and her favorite places to go.
Michelle and her husband are in Washington where they have access to great national parks. They’ve also traveled to Patagonia in South America, Iceland, Switzerland, Australia, and all over the US. Her favorite park is her first one visited which is Zion National Park in Utah. Michelle gives tips for exploring hiking and national parks. She talks about travel tips, activities, choosing accommodations, and why you should make a reservation. We also get a first hand look into top essentials and extras you should bring, what to wear, how to save on park fees, and Michelle even shares what she likes to eat on her trips.
Show Notes:
[01:54] Michelle runs The Wandering Queen which is an outdoor hiking travel blog.
[02:17] She was born in Panama, but grew up in Houston Texas.
[03:05] She is also an engineer. She didn't start hiking and camping until after she graduated from college.
[03:21] Michelle began indoor rock climbing. She was afraid of heights. She was invited to go outdoor rock climbing, which eventually led to hiking and camping.
[04:30] She then became obsessed with exploring the outdoors.
[04:59] Michelle, her husband, and her two dogs started their outdoor adventures.
[05:52] Their first national park was Zion National Park.
[07:27] Michelle began exploring cities and then discovered that national parks were it for her.
[08:09] Her first backpack trip was in Canada. Then they went to Patagonia and Iceland.
[09:30] After moving to Washington, finding great places to hike became so much easier.
[10:19] She hikes, camps, and backpacks almost every single week.
[11:05] She goes winter backpacking in the snow and is able to hike in the rain.
[11:31] Patagonia is in South America.
[13:33] It's a good idea to check the weather before you go hiking. It's better to hike in warmer climates in the fall, winter, or spring.
[14:25] Find the nearest airport, and you'll have to rent a car.
[15:50] There's so much to do at national parks. You can hike, kayak, backpack, rock climbing, and just about any other outdoor activity you are interested in.
[16:17] Choose your activity before booking your accommodation.
[17:30] When choosing accommodations you may be able to find a hotel, but you can also camp or backpack.
[19:29] Some camping and backpacking areas are first come first serve, but for many of them you have to make reservations at recreation.gov. Michelle would recommend getting a reservation.
[22:46] Camping is usually around $10 to $20 a night. You can also get an America the Beautiful Pass for around $80 to handle yearly park entrance fees.
[23:40] Be sure to pack the ten essentials which include navigation equipment, sun protection, first aid kit, a firestarter or matches, hiking tools, extra food, extra water or water filter, emergency shelter, headlamp, and extra clothes.
[26:59] You might need a daypack, trekking poles, camera, bear deterrent, a personal locator beacon, and bug protection.
[30:00] Michelle has seen moose, elk, and bears. She also shares a warning about the attacking squirrels.
[31:59] Don't wear cotton. You want wicking material. Have a rain jacket or a poncho and dress in layers. You can also bring a sweater just in case. Leggings can be more comfortable and you could also wear hiking pants. Wear hiking shoes or hiking boots. Also bring wool socks, a hat, and sunglasses.
[37:19] A typical weekend hike could be from 4 to 11 miles depending on the weather. Michelle has a 19 mile goal.
[38:43] Michelle brings things like fruit, jerky, nuts, protein bars and sometimes sandwiches. When she camps, she likes burgers and s'mores.
[40:34] Michelle's top three national parks include Zion National Park, Mount Rainier, and Canyonlands National Park.
[45:03] You can start hiking at any age. Be sure and check out Michelle's hiking course.
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
The Wandering Queen
Michelle on Twitter
The Wandering Queen on Pinterest
The Wandering Queen on Instagram
The Wandering Queen on Facebook
The Wandering Queens Facebook Group
Sign up for the FREE 9 day hiking course!
Recreation.gov Find Your Next Adventure
Zion National Park
National Parks in Washington
Patagonia National Park
Big Bend National Park Texas
America the Beautiful Pass
Naked and Afraid
Canyonlands National Park
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. -
Hey Fly listeners, we are thrilled to have you with us today. We are your hosts Chris and Di, and if you are anything like us, you are ready to get out of the house and go somewhere, anywhere, as long as you can get the heck out of dodge and see something besides your four walls.
Have you been planning your post quarantine destination? We have, and for this episode, we have lined up some travel industry experts and see where they are planning to take their first post quarantine trip. So buckle up, grab a pen and some paper for notes and let’s fly!
Nikki from She Saves She Travels blog is thinking either Destin, Florida, or Glacier National Park because she has small children and doesn’t feel comfortable flying just yet. Tanya from the Traveling Tanya blog loves taking her family to the beach, so they are going to Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Michelle The Wandering Queen is thinking about Grand Teton’s National Park.
Cienna, the CEO of Your Life Travel Club, is craving Pizza from Italy and is just waiting for the country to open up. Ashley from Alpaca Your Bags Travel feels comfortable taking an 11-night Celebrity Cruises to the S. Caribbean. Di wants to head to a quiet beach while Chris is thinking Vegas Baby!
But no matter where you go, be safe, have fun and drop us a line, tell us where you are going and why it’s such a magical place for you.
In This Episode:
[00:51] Fly listeners, we are happy to have you with us!
[01:48] Di welcomes Nikki to the show.
[02:12] Nikki from She Saves She Travels blog is sharing her post-quarantine trip options, either Destin, Florida, or Glacier National Park in Montana.
[03:34] They are planning a mid-summer vacation, which one they choose is open.
[04:11] Tanya Shelburne is next up; she is the author of the Traveling Tanya blog.
[04:35] Tanya shares that after quarantine, they will head to Gulf Shores, Alabama.
[05:29] Check out her website for her tips on picking the right beach house or condo for you and your family.
[07:45] Chris and Di share that their refrigerator in the garage has a sticker of every place they have ever traveled.
[08:43] Michelle, the Wandering Queen, speaks about the Grand Tetons National Park being the first place she is taking her family once they have lifted the quarantine.
[09:18] Michelle shares her tips and things she is excited to do.
[11:12] Cienna Richards is the CEO of Your Life Travel Club, shares that Italy is calling her name.
[12:05] Cienna has tips for anyone who hasn’t been to Italy before.
[13:21] Di and Chris talk about where they have eaten pizza in Italy.
[14:49] The last guest is Ashley from Alpaca Your Bags Travel.
[15:23] Ashley, where will you be going post-quarantine?
[15:48] Her first destination is a work trip to St. Lucia, and after that, she will go on an 11 night Celebrity Cruises.
[17:05] How do you feel about getting on a cruise ship? Can you do it?
[17:45] Chris and Di share their #1 pick for their post-quarantine trip is Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina for total relaxation.
[19:50] Di’s shares one of her favorite things in Ocean Isle Beach.
[21:44] For those of you who are beach people, share a moment of bliss with me.
[22:32] Chris says that the beach doesn’t work for him. He wants to go to Vegas, Baby!!
[22:56] He shares that the day that they were supposed to fly out for a week in Vegas, the quarantine hit.
[25:05] We just gave you nine locations to add to your travel list.
[25:22] Let us know your post-quarantine destination of choice on social media @flywithchrisanddi or drop us an email if you are a fly insider.
To become a Fly insider, go to www.flywithchrisanddi.com and sign up!
Be sure to connect with our guests today; they would love to connect with you.
Links and Resources
Fly with Chris and Di
@flywithchrisanddi
Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
@flywithchrisdi
Twitter
Bloggers
Nikki Rue
@shesavesshetravels
Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
Tanya Shelburne
@travelingtanyashelburne
Facebook | Pinterest
@tanyashelburne
Twitter
Michelle Steely
@wanderingqueen
Facebook | Twitter
@thewanderingqueen
Instagram | Pinterest
Travel Agents
Cienna Richards
@yourlifetravel
Facebook | Instagram
Ashley Morris
@alpacayourbags
Facebook
@alpacabagstravel
Instagram | Instagram
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Our friend Nikki Rue from She Saves She Travels is back. Regular listeners may remember her tips on How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible from episode 23. Nikki runs a travel and finance blog that specializes in helping people work with the income they have to go on the trips they want. Her blog is a wealth of tips and resources to save money, budget, and find the best travel deals. We loved all of her tips for finding cheap flights, and today we take it a step further by talking about how to plan and set up a budget to make travel a reality.
Nikki talks about the first things you need to decide on and how flexibility and traveling during off seasons can save money and stress. We also talk about smart ways to find that money to set aside and why it’s always better to save in advance as opposed to going into credit card debt for that vacation. We also talk about some of the hidden costs that not everyone thinks about and why it’s super important to have a cushion just in case.
This Episode is sponsored by Beatrice Bradley. Their line of travel accessories make packing easier and cleaner. Go to www.BeatriceBradley.com today and enter code FLY30 for 30% off site-wide and FREE shipping.
Show Notes:
[03:11] Nikki Rue runs the travel and finance blog She Saves She Travels. She's a certified financial coach specializing in helping people manage their money, so that they can travel the world and live their best life.
[04:20] One of the first steps when creating a vacation budget is to know how much the trip will cost. You need to know where you're going and when you are going.
[04:53] Searching Google and Pinterest are great places to start. You can also include the search term "budget" in your search.
[05:12] Fees and expenses that people often overlook include baggage fees, travel insurance, and boarding their pets. Nikki always adds an extra 10% to her budget just in case.
[06:43] Your biggest expenses will be transportation and accommodations. Being flexible with your dates can save you a lot of money.
[08:05] There are deals and dramatic discounts available right now. If you do book, make sure that you have flexibility and can actually afford it.
[09:10] You can find great deals on activities on Groupon. Some city visitor centers also offer discounts and can send you coupon books beforehand. Tripadvisor is also great for restaurants and activities.
[10:42] Adapt the right mindset and decide where you want to splurge or save.
[11:47] Once you know your initial budget, break it down according to how many months before your trip. Then you have a monthly savings goal. Make travel a priority for your finances.
[12:36] You could also open up a separate bank account just for travel. Some banks will allow you to name the account a nickname like Hawaii.
[14:34] Use travel cards wisely but avoid a vacation hangover. It's no fun paying for your vacation after the fact.
[15:33] Cancel subscriptions that you aren't using and put them in your vacation fund. You can also create extra money coming or selling things you don't use.
[16:57] You can save a lot by cutting down on dining out or buying coffee drinks.
[17:59] It's about prioritizing your finances and being intentional with your spending to make your income work for your goals.
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
Beatrice Bradley enter code FLY30 for 30% off site-wide and FREE shipping
She Saves She Travels
She Saves She Travels on Instagram
She Saves She Travels on Facebook
She Saves She Travels on Pinterest
How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible
Groupon
Tripadvisor
Save 50% on Your First Coaching Session With Nikki
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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We love to travel and love to talk about travel. Our plans have been put on hold for a while, but that doesn’t mean that we still can’t dream, plan, and prepare for our future trips. We had a Vegas trip scheduled for last month that we had to cancel. We are going to talk about ways that you can have fun with travel while still staying safe at home. Now is the perfect time to do some dreaming, research new locations and experiences, and plan your next trip.
Dreaming and planning can be almost as fun as the trip itself. Now is the time to research some of your favorite destinations and potential destinations. Travel books, movies, and maps can all be used to help discover where you want to go and what you want to do. We also talk about fun things you can do at home that are like a vacation. We discuss how to incorporate activities, food, and themes into your planning. There are great deals out there just make sure you understand cancellation policies. We also discuss why it’s okay to pick that date now.
This Episode is sponsored by Beatrice Bradley. Their line of travel accessories make packing easier and cleaner. Go to www.BeatriceBradley.com today and enter code FLY30 for 30% off site-wide and FREE shipping.
Show Notes:
[03:06] Dreaming about travel. Travel books and movies are great ways to plan, think, and dream about travel.
[04:12] Chris loved maps when he was growing up. When his family took trips, he was the navigator. Looking at the maps inspired him to dream about the different locations and places that he could someday go.
[05:04] We are more planners and doers than dreamers, but this is a great time for dreaming about future trips. You can also make a list while you're dreaming about your future trips.
[05:57] It's really fun to have something to look forward to. Your kids can get involved in your dream travel list.
[06:17] Diane's travel bucket list includes Bora Bora and Antarctica from last week's episode and Australia.
[06:54] Chris wants to go to Africa, Alaska, and Hawaii.
[07:25] When travel is taken away from you, you appreciate it even more.
[07:38] Fun things you can be doing right now thinking outside the box. Make tents inside. Kids can read, do homework, or just get away for a while. Tents in the backyard are fun too.
[10:35] Outside projector movies are another creative thing to do.
[11:28] Take a trip to your guest room. Pack an overnight bag. Try out your fun travel gear.
[12:34] Theme days are another fun idea. You can learn about different locations or have themes like zoo day.
[14:02] 1 in 10 people are supported by a travel type industry. Ways to support them include purchasing tickets for future dates. You can also renew your season pass. Keep these businesses thriving.
[16:28] You can get great discounts with extended times when you purchase tours now.
[16:53] Now's the time to research your new travel gear and help support the industry.
[18:08] Focusing on your future vacation is a great way to get your mind off of some of the things that are going on now.
[19:44] Picking a date is a great way to get started to think about what you want to do.
[20:18] We were supposed to be in Vegas the second week of March. We had airfare, a hotel, a car, and activities planned. People were very accommodating with letting us cancel.
[21:58] Make sure that flexible cancellation is an option.
[22:49] Airbnb also did a really great job of giving us all of our money back. Always make sure you understand cancellation policies and what the company will allow you to do.
[24:00] We're going to call our first trip the Post-Pandemic World Tour. What are you going to call yours? #NameYourTrip
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
Beatrice Bradley enter code FLY30 for 30% off site-wide and FREE shipping
London Pass
New York City Tours
Hop On Hop Off Nashville Tours
Airbnb
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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We are talking about small ship cruises today. These are very different from your typical cruise. The smaller ships can go to more exotic ports and explore places where the larger ships can’t go. It’s also a much more intimate trip with the crew and other passengers. Our guests today are Deb and Dave from The PlanetD which was named by Forbes as a Top 10 Travel Influencer in the World!
Deb and Dave are award winning travel bloggers and have been featured on CNN, the BBC, Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Vogue, the Today Show, and more! Their travel videos are amazing! After listening to them talk about exploring the Amazon and camping under the stars in Antarctica, it’s hard not to want to go on one of these adventures. We know that you are going to love them as much as we do! They are so fun and we can’t wait to dive into our time with them. So, let’s fly!
This Episode is sponsored by Beatrice Bradley. Their line of travel accessories make packing easier and cleaner. Go to www.BeatriceBradley.com today and enter code FLY30 for 30% off site-wide and FREE shipping.
Show Notes:
[03:20] Deb and Dave started their travel blog in 2008. They kicked things off with a cycling trip from Cairo to Cape Town. They wanted to do something epic to put their names on the map.
[04:02] They started out by branding themselves as an adventure couple, but soon realized they might not be able to keep it up.
[04:33] As their travel style changed, they realized that adventure was for everyone. It's different for everyone and doesn't have to be epic.
[05:23] Small ship cruising has become a whole new adventure for Deb and Dave. They've gone to Antarctica and Greenland. They've also gone down the Amazon River and down the Panama Canal with a group of 40 people.
[06:01] Taking a small cruise ship is a very up and personal experience.
[07:37] You can sign up for different activities and that makes the group even more intimate.
[08:43] There are also different levels of activities. At dinner you get to share your experiences of the day.
[09:22] There are also options for dining for two.
[10:59] In Panama and Costa Rica, they had a lot of beach time. There were also kayaks and paddleboards out to use. The ships have hot tubs on them.
[11:43] Short cruises can range from 7 to 20 days.
[12:33] Antarctica was Dave's favorite cruise.
[14:03] On small ship cruises, you're able to explore different places and go down smaller tributaries. This works great for exploring the Amazon or Greenland.
[16:17] You need to bring warmer clothes and pack in layers for Antarctica. The cruise will usually furnish parkas and boots.
[17:03] On a small cruise, you also get to hang out with the captain.
[18:20] Most of the rooms are either suites or at least facing out, so you can see the ocean.
[19:51] There are fascinating lectures, films, games, and a happy hour.
[22:30] Deb and Dave have never had a bad small cruise ship experience even though they've gone on several different ships.
[23:04] There's a chef on board creating five course meals with wine pairings. There's only a breakfast buffet. They have table service for lunch and dinner.
[25:09] Prices usually start around $3,600 a person and can go up to a lot more. Everything is included, so it kind of evens out.
[27:55] It's really a unique luxury experience.
[30:32] Deb's favorite experience was kayaking in Antarctica. It was an incredible experience with penguins, seals, whales, and icebergs.
[31:18] Dave liked camping in Antarctica and sleeping under the stars and a full moon.
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
Beatrice Bradley enter code FLY30 for 30% off site-wide and FREE shipping
The PlanetD
The PlanetD on YouTube
The PlanetD on Instagram
The PlanetD on Facebook
The PlanetD on Twitter
Ultimate Pre-Travel Checklist
How to Pack for an Antarctica Cruise
Quark Expeditions
UnCruise Adventures
International Expeditions
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment -
Would you like to spend time in nature without all of the work and inconvenience of traditional camping? If so, Glamping might be the vacation or getaway option you’ve been looking for. Ruben Martinez is the co-founder of GlampingHub, a platform that brings together people looking for unique accommodations with hosts who are creating these spaces. It’s like Airbnb, but for unique glamping experiences to explore nature in a comfortable setting.
Ruben shares information about his platform and the glamping world. The GlampingHub platform began in 2013 and boasts over 30,000 accomodations now. According to Ruben, people are surprised to find out that there are unique glamping experiences in their local areas. It’s also a great business for hosts who want to create and host unique spaces and experiences that can generate high margins. The platform features really fun options like treehouses, Airstream glamping, safari tents, tiny houses, and more. These unique luxury accommodations make nature accessible while still being able to enjoy the comforts of home.
This Episode is sponsored by Beatrice Bradley. Their line of travel accessories make packing easier and cleaner. Go to www.BeatriceBradley.com today and enter code FLY30 for 30% off site-wide and FREE shipping.
Show Notes:
[01:41] For Ruben glamping includes direct access to mother nature, a certain level of comfort, and a uniqueness to the structure and surrounding area.
[02:29] Some options include staying in an Airstream, container house, or a tree house. The idea is to help city dwellers escape to nature while remaining comfortable.
[03:36] GlampingHub is like an Airbnb for the outdoors. It's a booking website that allows you to search through thousands of options in your area.
[04:39] They wanted to bring all of the information together so that people could easily find unique outdoor experiences.
[06:38] Ruben loves camping, but his young daughters need a little more comfort than comes with traditional camping. Glamping also lets people who are new to camping enjoy the outdoors without buying a lot of expensive equipment.
[09:24] Many people who love the outdoors want to create an experience that they've had and hosting is the perfect way. It also makes good business sense to open up these semi permanent structures.
[10:43] A lot of them are more in tune with the environment as they help people get in touch with mother nature.
[11:07] The average cost can be a bit more than a hotel stay, because you are getting a unique experience with nature. The margins are good for the hosts.
[12:06] Every business is trying to take a bigger piece of the millennial pie. Glamping naturally fits with their priorities. Millennials enjoy experience based traveling.
[14:35] GlampingHub has over 30,000 properties worldwide. There are fantastic options in places like Australia and South America.
[16:04] People are starting to realize that investing in the glamping space makes sense. The economy has really grown.
[20:53] Being able to get outside is really important to people's physical and mental state right now.
[21:39] Glamping is the opposite of a cruise, so it may be a good way to distance yourself right now. This type of travel at this time could make sense for some people.
[23:23] This type of industry could be more resilient and bounce back faster during these times.
[24:20] There are a lot of reviews on GlampingHub that will help you figure out what type of accommodation is right for you.
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
GlampingHub
GlampingHub on Twitter
GlampingHub on Pinterest
GlampingHub on Instagram
GlampingHub on Facebook
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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We talk with a young CEO who runs a company that empowers women to travel the world with other women in a way that feels safe and removes stress and uncertainty. This is a perfect solution for women who haven't found the right travel partners and are reluctant to tackle solo international travel. It’s a pleasure to talk with this young entrepreneur about her journey, her business, and her love of travel and empowering others.
Cienna Richards is the CEO of Your Life Travel Club where Cienna and her team create amazing all inclusive group travel experiences at exciting locations around the world. If you're a woman who would like to travel with other women but can never get a group together or don't have a core group of friends who want to travel, this service is perfect for you, because Cienna is going to tell us all about why you should be traveling the world with other women. Let's fly.
This Episode is sponsored by Beatrice Bradley. Their line of travel accessories make packing easier and cleaner. Go to www.BeatriceBradley.com today and enter code FLY30 for 30% off site-wide and FREE shipping.
Show Notes:
[03:12] Cienna Richards is the CEO of Your Life Travel Club. It's a business that holds international travel retreats for women. She started it about a year ago when she was 22 years old.
[03:52] Her personal mission is to empower women to travel more and be safe while doing so.
[04:28] Make sure you choose the right people or person to travel with.
[05:59] Get to know the world. It's amazing to travel and learn about different cultures and food. You'll see the world in a different light. The locals can give you a deep dive into their world.
[07:43] Cienna shares a story about not feeling well in Madrid and being helped by this beautiful woman who took her to the hospital and pharmacy.
[11:15] Budgeting is essential for travel. It's easy to overspend. Plan things out before you start out. Running out of money isn't fun. Also plan a hotel that is close to the airport.
[15:28] Women travelling together develop strong bonds.
[17:30] Women are able to stick together and form a beautiful bond and are able to protect each other. The travel club helps women to find women to travel with and get to know and form bonds with other women.
[19:59] The stress is taken out of the trip because everything is planned including food, airfare, hotel room, and activities.
[21:25] Cienna started college when she was 16. She was considering becoming an international business lawyer. She graduated at 20 years old. She changed her major to advertising. She worked at a TV station.
[23:38] She started traveling and fell in love with traveling. She then went back to school to get a degree in a medical profession.
[26:04] No matter what she changed her major to, her goals revolved around travel. It was a windy path to get her to where she is today.
[27:58] She is passionate about seeing women and other people succeed. It's hard to find what you are supposed to do for the rest of your life. Her goal for her company is to empower women and build a community to uplift each other.
[30:00] Your Life Travel Club is going to have an Ultimate Girls Trip to Madrid Spain. It's on July 11th of 2021. The trip is all inclusive including airfare and there's a cooking class, flamenco show, and a professional photo shoot. There are four spots out of 10 left. Fly with Chris and Di listeners will get their $99 deposit waived.
[32:50] Chris asks Cienna what her favorite spots are. She includes Zurich Switzerland, Madrid Spain, and Italy in general.
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
Beatrice Bradley enter code FLY30 for 30% off site-wide and FREE shipping
Your Life Travel Club
Your Life Travel Club on Facebook
Your Life Travel Club on Instagram
Cienna Richards on LinkedIn
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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We are so excited to be back and kicking off Season 2 of Fly with Chris and Di. We appreciate you joining us. For those of you who are new, we are here to share tips on how to love your trips. In this Season 2 opener, we are going to share what we’ve been up to in the off-season. Hint: It has to do with Football and local Nashville culture. We are also going to give a little preview of what you can expect in this upcoming season.
We all love vacation, but sometimes we’re so busy with work and life that vacation time creeps up on us, and we have to scramble to find the best place to visit. If this sounds like you, we can help. We are going to answer the dreaded question of "where should we go for vacation?" We are going to do all of the research and leg work, so you can focus on the fun stuff. We are going to interview experts and find the best ways to save money, best places to visit, where to stay, and learn with you about exotic travel destinations.
Show Notes:
[01:13] We've been gone for awhile. We ended our season and then went into work mode.
[01:40] We've been busy, working and traveling for work and some family travel.
[02:00] This was a great NFL season for Titans fans. This was a busy football season. We saw the Georgia Bulldogs in Tennessee.
[03:15] We also saw the Chiefs in their last loss to the Titans and ate at Biscuit Love.
[03:51] If you follow us on social media you probably saw a lot of pictures posted. We even got to see Patrick Mahomes.
[04:19] We spent some time in Georgia over Thanksgiving.
[04:30] We have an upcoming jam packed season. We are going to focus on the dreaded question of, "where should we go for vacation?"
[04:43] If you're anything like us, you love to travel but don't always have time to do the research.
[05:24] One of the things that we did was take our daughter to see Hamilton. It was amazing. The whole show is delightful. The first song gave us goosebumps.
[06:27] We moved to Nashville a year and a half ago. We have really been exploring the city. We saw Hamilton and went to the symphony. We also did the Hop-on Hop-off Bus. Now Chris knows all of the historical facts about the city.
[06:58] We also did a three part series on things we are learning about Nashville.
[07:16] In Season 1, we talked about things that we know and that we've done. In Season 2, we'll be learning with you about locations all over the world such as Africa, Europe, and Fiji.
[08:08] We're going to have an expert on glamorous camping and we'll learn all about glamping.
[08:23] We'll explore how to save money and even find some low cost vacations. We are going to have something for everybody.
[08:56] We'll be here every Monday with an exciting new episode.
[09:20] We truly appreciate our listeners and would love to connect and interact on any of the social media platforms. Tell us what you want to know and we'll try to fit it in.
Links and Resources:
Biscuit Love
Hamilton
Nashville Symphony
Nashville Hop-on Hop-off Bus
Where to Stay in Nashville
The Top Things to Do in Nashville
Where to Eat in Nashville
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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We are on location today, and we are recording outside while we are waiting for our room to be cleaned. We aren't going to tell you the location on this episode, but Chris does drop a couple of hints. We are both on the keto diet or at least eating in a way that puts our bodies into ketosis. We are basically becoming fat burning entities. Although, Chris's version is a bit modified.
Keto and healthy eating are popular, but it still takes some effort, forethought, and planning to eat keto or focus on eating healthy while traveling. This show focuses on eating foods that are high in good fat, with moderate proteins, and low carbs. There are different types and versions of the keto diet, but this show should help get the wheels turning on how to stay on your eating plan while exploring the world.
Show Notes:
[05:56] Our number one focus is having a plan. You want to think about accommodations, transportation, and what you need to bring with you.
[07:27] When on a road trip take a cooler. Pack things that may be hard to find and, of course, anything you need while on the road.
[08:50] If your traveling by plane, you can leverage the Shipt app. This is a 2-3 hour delivery service owned by target. You can have water or whatever delivered at your hotel.
[10:13] If you are staying at an Airbnb, you can always run to the grocery store.
[10:47] You can also shop beforehand using grocery pick up services.
[11:11] Amazon is another amazing option. Put the apps on your phone before hand.
[11:44] Keto friendly foods that travel well are mustard, salad dressing, spices, cooked meats, boiled eggs, avocado, pork rinds, and heavy cream. You can also throw in cheeses, chia seeds, and berries.
[14:16] It's also helpful to have keto coffee and protein shakes with MCT oil.
[15:57] There's a Whole Foods next to our hotel, and the breakfast we got there was so good that we went back for lunch.
[16:30] Think about things to snack on for air travel. We like jerky, coconut chips, nut butters, pork rinds, tuna packets with keto mayo, stevia, nuts, and bulletproof coffee. Put coffee in your carry on, so the drug dogs don't think you are trying to cover up a scent.
[17:49] Get perishables when you are at an Airbnb. They are very friendly for special dietary restrictions.
[18:41] You have to be a little more creative when staying at a hotel. The free breakfast can be loaded with temptations. It's a carb buffet.
[20:06] We like Vega and Best Fat Fuel shakes. Magnesium and potassium are important for women.
[23:35] We also like Zevia soda. Root beer is our favorite.
[26:34] Grilled and sauteed meats are easy go-tos. Make the best choices, you don't have to be perfect. Cheeses and avocado are great choices. Vegetables and leafy greens are perfect. Chris loves asparagus.
[28:40] Watch the condiments. Look out for sugar and carbs. Oil and vinegar or adding avocado are great for salads.
[30:55] Bacon or sausage and eggs are great for breakfast. You can have grilled chicken with no bun.
[31:47] Lunch options include a bacon cheeseburger with no bun. Grilled chicken, nuggets, and salad are a great option. You can get an unwich at Jimmy John's.
[32:57] You don't have to be perfect, but it helps to be aware. Especially, if you travel a lot.
[33:41] There are tons of dinner options like grilled fish and vegetables. Lobster and butter is also keto approved.
[34:51] Drinking on keto will slow down the ability to breakdown fat, but champagne or dry wines only have about two net carbs.
[36:12] Unfortunately, beer isn't keto approved.
[37:06] Most liquors are no carbs. Just leave off the sweet mixers.
[39:01] Fish options include flounder, herring, salmon, sardines, sole, tuna, trout, cod, and halibut.
[39:17] You can also try Cornish game hen, duck, goose, pheasant, quail, or ostrich to mix things up. Di's favorites are shellfish like clams, crab meat, mussels, oysters, shrimp, squid, and lobster.
[40:01] You can have whatever meat you want as long as it's not fried. Try things like bacon, beef, ham, lamb, pork, and veal.
[41:09] Cheeses are also one of Di's favorites. Think about trying things like parmesan, goat cheese, blue cheese, cheddar, gouda, mozzarella, cream cheese, Swiss, and feta.
[42:10] You can also use a carb manager app to make things easier. Having a fitness app can make sure you are moving. The Apple watch also has a cool fitness tracker. Chris likes My Fitness Pal.
Links and Resources:
Airbnb Get $40 off your first home booking of $75 or more and $15 off towards an experience of $50 or more
Waldorf Astoria and the Conrad Hotel and Resorts Get a $100 daily credit when you stay 2 or more nights and book at least 3 days in advance
Carb Manager App
Keto Diet Tracker
My Fitness Pal
Apple Watch Activity Tracker
Amazon Prime Just $5.99 a month
Amazon Fresh Unlimited grocery delivery
Shipt Save $50
Vega Protein Shakes
Fat Fuel
Formula Dispensers for Travel
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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We are wrapping up our Nashville series with where to eat in Nashville. We already talked about Where to Stay in Nashville and The Top Things to Do in Nashville. Now it’s time to talk about some of the amazing food options when in Nashville. If you haven’t eaten yet, this episode will make you hungry. We’ve been focusing on eating better and getting fit. Diane is on the keto diet and Chris is doing a keto/paleo version. To be honest, preparing for this show was a bit of a challenge to our diets.
There are so many great things to do and see in Nashville and the food is no exception. We kick things off with some great spots in Downtown Nashville. We tell you about the super cool Acme Feed & Seed along with what we each like to order. We also tell you where to get amazing oysters and unbelievable milkshakes before moving on to our favorite spots in The Gulch. After that we tell you about Midtown hotspots, some classy West End options, our favorite spot in 12 South, Hillsboro Village, and Chris’s favorite pizza place in East Nashville.
Warning: graphic food descriptions, please eat before listening to this episode.
Show Notes:
[04:15] Downtown Nashville is the hustling and bustling area where all of the honkytonks are located.
[04:32] Acme Feed & Seed is a cool historic building with a honkytonk on the first floor with great food and drinks. There is also a great bar and food on the second floor which also has sushi. The third floor is an event center called The Hatchery. There is also a rooftop bar with great views of Broadway, the Cumberland River, Nissan Stadium, and Riverfront Park.
[07:42] Get Ike & Mike Nachos on the second floor.
[08:25] Chris would eat an acme burger with bear creek beef & cheddar cheese and hand-cut fries. Di would have he farm-raised catfish with hush puppies, hand cut fries, and slaw.
[09:32] For dessert, try a southern hand pie with cinnamon ice cream and caramel sauce.
[10:05] The Southern Steak & Oyster. They serve breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner. At brunch you can get pictures of mimosas. They also have great oysters.
[11:54] Eat like Chris with the fried chicken, greens, and mac and cheese or a double-cut smoked pork chop. Di likes the shrimp and grits or seared sea scallops.
[14:11] There is a special dessert place called Legendairy. It's a crazy over the top milkshake bar. They make things like Death by Chocolate which is Dutch chocolate and rocky road ice cream, chocolate icing rim, chocolate chips, whipped cream, chocolate fudge drizzle, chocolate sprinkles, and a fudge brownie on top.
[17:06] Now we are moving into The Gulch. The Whiskey Kitchen has great cocktails with awesome names. They have an extensive whiskey menu and late night dinners.
[18:34] Chris would eat dry wings (sweet & smoky bbq, togarashi, or ranch-spiced) to start and three little pigs brick oven pizza (sausage, pit ham, Gifford’s bacon, mozzarella, provolone).
[19:33] Di would have the rocket salad (arugula, slicked strawberry, blue cheese crumble, toasted pecan, lemon herb vinaigrette) to start and low country pulled pork sandwich with chipotle mac & cheese.
[20:27] Biscuit Love is world famous. They have three locations. They serve breakfast, lunch, and brunch. They started as a food truck and make everything from scratch. Try an east nasty chicken sandwich.
[21:33] Chris would have the princess which is buttermilk biscuit, Nashville style spicy boneless hot chicken thigh, pickles, mustard, and honey.
[22:15] Di would have Bonuts which are fried biscuit dough, tossed in sugar, topped with lemon mascarpone, served over blueberry compote or Hummingbird Family Reserve a drop biscuit filled with pineapples and banana jam, topped with cream cheese frosting and pecans.
[23:28] Jackalope Brewing Co. The founders met while studying in Scotland. They have brews with cool names. Chris would have a Fennario IPA and Di would have Thunder Ann Pale Ale.
[26:09] Midtown. The Patterson House is a speakeasy in a secret location. Governor Malcolm R. Patterson vetoed prohibition, but his veto was overridden by the state legislature. They have unique cocktails and delicious food.
[29:48] Get some Nashville hot chicken at Hattie B's.
[31:22] Chris would get the Damn Hot with southern greens. Di would get the Southern with no heat with either peach cobbler or banana pudding.
[31:45] Warning: Shut the Cluck Up!! is HOT!
[34:31] We love pizza, but only recommend places we go. DeSano has communal seating and traditional style pizza, calzones, cannolis, and you can even get slices.
[36:03] The West End. The Americano is like a tapas bar. It's fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere.
[37:12] Saltine is a great seafood place, and they have oysters. Chris's favorite go-to dessert is chocolate cake.
[38:34] 12 South has some cool places to eat. Bartaco is our go-to spot. They have street tacos. We always order the chips and salsas.
[40:06] Chris orders the chicken and shrimp. Di loves the crispy rock shrimp, glazed pork belly, Baja fish, and when in season the crispy oyster tacos.
[42:36] The Christie Cookie Co. is across the street. They have amazing cookies and brownies that are awesome. Take some home!
[44:09] The Frothy Monkey serves breakfast through dinner, and they have great coffee and food options.
[45:41] Hillsboro Village: Check out the Pancake Pantry. Get there before 9:00 am. There is a long line, but the pancakes are worth it.
[47:31] Kay Bob's has Persian and Southern influenced healthy food.
[48:26] When you make it to East Nashville hit up Five Points Pizza. This is Chris's favorite, and even though you can get just a slice, he suggests the whole pie.
[50:25] The Pharmacy has 100% Tennessee raised burgers. They have great burgers, brats, and shakes. They make their own condiments and have a unique beer selection.
[51:44] Time to wrap up and go eat.
Links and Resources:
Waldorf Astoria and the Conrad Hotel and Resorts Get a $100 daily credit when you stay 2 or more nights and book at least 3 days in advance
Lyft get up to $5 off with your first ride
Where to Stay in Nashville
The Top Things to Do in Nashville
Downtown Nashville: Acme Feed & Seed
The Southern Steak & Oyster
Legendairy 3rd Ave N
Legendairy Milkshake Bar on Facebook
The Gulch: Whiskey Kitchen
Biscuit Love
Jackalope Brewing Co
Midtown: Patterson House
Hattie B’s
DeSano’s Pizza
West End: Americano
Saltine
12 South: Bartaco
The Christie Cookie Co.
Frothy Monkey
Hillsboro Village: Pancake Pantry
Kay Bob’s
East Nashville: Five Points Pizza
The Pharmacy
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.
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We’ve already talked about Where to Stay in Nashville, but what are you going to do while you are there? You probably know Nashville is famous for country music and nightlife, but there is more to Nashville than that. Downtown Nashville is often called Nashvegas because of all of the amazing bars, restaurants, and venues. We suggest fun ideas whether you are into shopping, sports, or dancing.
We break down some of the more famous night spots and honky tonks in the area. It’s even possible to have a sighting of a favorite artist or two while you are out. Some of these places are even owned by stars like Luke Bryan, John Rich, Kid Rock and more. We also talk about local attractions other than bars and some really fun family ideas that are two hours or less away. If you are planning a Nashville trip, we have tons of fun ideas and suggestions for you to explore.
Show Notes:
[04:48] Nashvegas or downtown. Nashville hosted the 2019 NFL draft and showcased everything that Nashville has to offer.
[05:18] Lower Broadway or 2nd and Broadway is known for the Honky Tonks.
[05:46] Honky Tonks usually have country music and some type of line dancing. It's typically people dressed in western gear but they don't have to be.
[07:21] There are a lot of blocks in this four block area.
[07:36] Some iconic bars include Tootsies, The Stage, Legends, and Roberts. These are the Honky Tonks right behind the Ryman which was originally the Grand Ole Opry. After shows, people like Johnny Cash would head out and have a drink at these places.
[08:35] There's all kinds of great local talent, plus you never know who you'll see there.
[09:11] There are also bars created by big stars like Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Kid Rock. There's the Redneck Riviera bar which isn't far away from Mount Richmore where Jon Rich lives.
[10:54] There are also some great places to dance in Lower Broadway like Acme Feed & Seed, Bourbon Street Blues, and Skulls Rainbow Room.
[11:15] Wildhorse Saloon line dance has line dance lessons. They also have other dancing and great fun times.
[12:03] Nashville is a great place to see your team. Nissan Stadium where the Titans play their home games is right downtown.
[13:12] The Country Music Hall of Fame is also in this area. As well as, the Nashville Convention Center and Johnny Cash Museum.
[14:15] There's a lot of great shops. You can get boots, souvenirs, and music. Local boutiques include Nash collection and southernaire Market.
[14:49] We like to drive around and look for the Elvis Statue.
[15:57] Get around in style in a Nashville Pedal Pub. We recommend the motorized ones.
[18:06] You can also get pulled around by a tractor that pulls a flatbed. It's like a hay ride, but there are seats and a bartender.
[20:06] There are all kinds of rolling parties like buses without tops. They also have golf cart taxis that help you bar hop safely.
[22:59] There are also many great tours in and around Nashville. The Ryman hosts concerts and events, and you can get a tour.
[23:43] The Centennial Park Parthenon is another great sight.
[24:29] The current Grand Ole Opry is near the Opryland Hotel and the Opry Mills Mall.
[25:54] You could also have a dinner cruise on the General Jackson Showboat.
[26:39] If you don't mind going a little further away, you could go on the Jack Daniel's Distillery tour.
[27:58] Arrington Vineyards has their own wine. It's a beautiful place. Kicks Brooks is one of the owners.
[29:16] We also have Old Hickory Lake. You can rent boats and find your own private sand bar to hang out on.
[31:37] Mammoth Cave National Park has bike trails and Cave tours.
[32:21] Land Between the Lakes is the largest stretch of untouched forest on the East Coast.
[33:31] If you go two hours south to Huntsville Alabama, there is a fantastic Space and Rocket Center.
[34:33] Eat at Rosie's Cantina when you are in Huntsville.
[35:59] Rock Island State Park is actually on our list of places to go. It looks gorgeous.
[37:15] If you head towards Memphis, you will find the Pinson Mounds. These are Native American burial and ceremonial mounds. There's also an archaeological park there.
Links and Resources:
StitchFix Get $25 off your first fix
Lyft get up to $5 off with your first ride
Where to Stay in Nashville
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
Robert’s Western World
The Stage on Broadway
Legends Corner Bar
Ryman
FGL House
Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar
Luke’s 32 Bridge
Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk & Steakhouse
Redneck Riviera Bar
Mount Richmore
Love Circle
Bourbon Street Blues
Acme Feed & Seed
Skull’s Rainbow Room
Wildhorse Saloon
Nissan Stadium
Bridgestone Arena
Country Music Hall of Fame
Nashville Convention Center
Johnny Cash Museum
NASH Collection
Southernaire Market
Centennial Park Parthenon
Grand Ole Opry
Opryland Hotel
Opry Mills Mall
General Jackson Showboat
Jack Daniel's Distillery Tour
Group Trip on the Bourbon Trail
Arrington Vineyards
Old Hickory Lake
Mammoth Cave National Park
Land Between the Lakes
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Rosie’s Cantina
Rock Island State Park
Pinson Mounds
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. -
With music, sports, nightlife, and great places to eat, Nashville has it all. It’s also our hometown, and we are excited to talk about it today. There is so much to do and see in Nashville, and we’ll be talking about this in upcoming episodes, but today is all about where to stay when visiting Nashville. From modern upscale hotels with rooftop bars to unique boutique hotels, there are so many choices when deciding where to stay in Nashville.
We share our planning expertise to help you find a place to stay that suits your interests and what you want to do during your visit. Nashville is made up of different neighborhoods that all have their own unique vibe. We kick off with some of the nice places to stay downtown that are located close to stadiums and bars. Then we move on to hotels that are in The Gulch, Midtown, and Printers Alley. If you want something a little quieter, we also talk about some lovely residential areas that have Airbnb options. Nashville has something for everyone, and we want to help you find the perfect place for you to stay.
Show Notes:
[03:47] Chris lived in Nashville for a couple of years after he finished school. We recently moved back.
[04:11] In the last 7-10 years, Nashville has really grown. Especially, the downtown area called SoBro or South of Broadway.
[04:33] Downtown is the most popular area. This is where the stadiums and the bars and clubs are located. This is where you can experience Nashville.
[05:36] The Westin Nashville is close to everything and a wonderful place to stay with two restaurants and a rooftop bar.
[06:28] The Noelle is a boutique hotel. It's a creative gathering place with a rooftop bar called the Rare Bird. It looks like an old train station and a really great unique feel.
[07:41] Hilton is one of our main go-tos with three restaurants and two bars. You can also get suites. This is great if you love Hiltons or are a rewards member.
[09:01] When you have a special occasion or want to go all out, the Bobby Hotel is an upscale experience on the cusp of the Nashville music scene. It even has a rooftop lounge with a swimming pool and it's right in Printer's Alley.
[11:30] Other great downtown locations include The Omni, the J.W. Marriott, the Renaissance, the Sheraton, the Hilton, and the Hilton Garden Inn.
[11:48] The Fairlane Hotel is a metro modern hub. It's a quirky mid-century modern design from the 1960s and 1970s. If you were around at those times it will hearken your childhood memories.
[12:55] A boutique hotel specifically designed for groups is the Bode. They have from one to four bedroom units with chef kitchens and balconies. This would be a wonderful and unique place for a group to stay.
[13:35] Nashville has country music and honky tonks, so you can just get down and have a good time. There are also very trendy upscale places to stay. NashVegas can compete with places across the world.
[14:26] The Gulch is an upscale trendy area. It has more of a local feel, it's about two miles off of the strip. There are cool hotels and restaurants.
[15:50] We're going to start with the Thompson Nashville. All of the rooms have floor to ceiling windows that overlooks the Gulch and downtown. The decor is mid-century modern with hardwood floors and there are three restaurants there.
[16:24] The 404 Boutique is a tiny hotel. They only have four king suite rooms with custom vintage furniture. They also have loft spaces and photography by local artists. They also have the award-winning 404 Kitchen restaurant.
[18:23] Midtown is about 5 miles away from downtown. Hattie B's Hot chicken is in Midtown. This is a great area for young professionals. Each area has a different vibe. You'll find more locals here.
[19:49] Embassy Suites and Home 2 Suites are good choices. There's also The Kimpton Aertson with 180 guest rooms. They also have 12 suites and 12 different room types. There is private dining and an award winning brasserie. Di wants to spend the day at their spa and get a four handed spa.
[21:56] West End is one of Chris's favorite areas. It's a little further from the city. This is where Vanderbilt is at. It's also a little more affordable.
[23:14] You can walk to Midtown from West End, but you'll need a car for the other areas.
[23:40] You can stay at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt or the Loews Vanderbilt or the Hayes Street Hotel. The Hayes Street is a boutique hotel with a minimalist vibe and the Hayes Street Bar.
[23:53] The Hutton Hotel is a four star, four diamond hotel that caters to musicians. It's upscale and casual, and it has creative spaces for musical professionals. It also has penthouses and is super pet friendly. You could also run into one of your favorite musicians here.
[24:51] The Hutton is also very pet friendly with special water bowls and treats. They also have a complete vinyl library and in room record players. They also have a house car that will take you anywhere in a 3-mile radius, and it happens to be a Tesla. The fitness center has a Peloton bike and TRX.
[26:10] All of the music studios are between West End and Midtown.
[26:57] 12 South is a residential neighborhood. There are a lot of bars, restaurants and shops here. It's walkable and has Bartaco. There's a cool vibe with a lot of locals.
[28:31] Belmont University is also a large school in Nashville. It's a small quaint beautiful area. You can great Airbnbs in these neighborhoods.
[30:10] Hillsborough is an urban neighborhood with younger adults and college students. There are over 25 bars and restaurants.
[30:55] East Nashville is well-known because of the musicians and artists that live here. It's like its own city with over 100 restaurants and shops. You can't walk to other neighborhoods if you are staying here.
[32:48] When you are planning your trip, think about all of these things when determining the right place to stay.
Links and Resources:
Airbnb Get $40 off your first home booking of $75 or more and $15 off towards an experience of $50 or more
Waldorf Astoria and the Conrad Hotel and Resorts Get a $100 daily credit when you stay 2 or more nights and book at least 3 days in advance
The Westin Nashville
Noelle, Nashville
Rare Bird Nashville
Hilton Downtown Nashville
Bobby Hotel
Omni Nashville
J.W. Marriott
Renaissance Nashville
Sheraton Grand Nashville
Hilton Nashville Downtown
Hilton Garden Inn
Fairlane Hotel
Bode Nashville
Thompson Nashville
404 Boutique
404 Kitchen
Hattie B's Hot Chicken
Embassy Suites Nashville at Vanderbilt University Hotel
Home 2 Suites Nashville
The Kimpton Aertson Nashville
Henley Modern American Brasserie
Kimpton Spa
Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt
Loews Nashville
Hayes Street Hotel
Hayes Street Bar
Hutton Hotel
Writers Studios
Mane & Rye Dinerant
Bartaco
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This summer we took a trip back to Walt Disney World. It had been about 10 years since our last trip to Disney. We loved our last trip. Our son was about 9 and our daughter was four years old. Everything was exciting to the kids. They loved the trip, and we did as well.
We weren’t so sure how this new trip would go because our daughter is now 14, and we were also bringing her 14 year old cousin. We weren't sure if it would be the same with two 14 year old girls. We’ve learned that the one thing you can count on with teenage girls is that you can't count on anything.
Since we weren’t sure if they would still love Disney and all it has to offer, we took extra steps with our planning to make sure that we had an amazing trip that everybody loved. Today, we are going to share that planning and our trip with you. You can use these tips for traveling anywhere with teenagers.
Show Notes:
[03:44] Tip number one is to plan. Disney helps you with the Disney app. It helps you plan each day, it has your hotel information, meal reservations, fast passes, and more. [04:42] Download the app and look at each park you want to go to and which days you will be there. You get access to one fast pass per park a day.
[05:53] You only get three fast passes per day. Make sure to set up your fast passes as soon as they are available. Teens will want to choose the rides they want.
[07:19] Dianne had to ride the Tower or Terror.
[07:49] You get an hour block of time for your fast pass. You can't book your next one until after that time slot is over. This is why you need to plan your day and the rides.
[08:44] After you have your day and fast passes planned, it's time to think about food options. If you're spending the day in Epcot, get a meal in Epcot for that evening. Travel between parks can be time consuming.
[09:37] Having a plan where you are going to eat helps avoid "teenage slump".
[10:16] Once everything is in the app, the teens can approve.
[11:01] Bring a comfort item for your teens. Our teens wanted a blanket. It's cold on the plane. It's nice to be able to relax with a blanket.
[12:51] Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes. We walked 17,000 steps everyday.
[15:10] Tip number four is to let your teens pick out a souvenir. Disney is great at merchandising. Going shopping is also a great break from the heat. The teens were invested in shopping when they knew they had a budget.
[17:52] Number five is about keeping your teens hydrated and well fed. Encourage them to eat, even if it's on a different schedule than you.
[19:25] Pro Tip: Where ever there are soda machines, you can get ice water. It's much colder than the bottles and free. The girls loved it. You don't have to carry anything in the park.
[21:04] We used Shipt to purchase two cases of water for the hotel.
[24:27] It get hots at Disney in the summer. Teenagers will start to get moody. Stay cool by taking shopping breaks in cool shops. Eat meals and slow down in cool inside environments. An ice cream break after lunch is good too. Shade breaks are also helpful. Cooling towels can be bought in advance. They have them at Disney too, but they are almost $17.
[28:53] Battery operated misting fans also helped so much. Bring hats for shade and to avoid sunburn. Also bring sunglasses. String bags are also part of the pre-Disney pack. We only bought food and souvenirs.
[32:06] Let the teens use their cellphones at Disney. Having them use the app helped with everyone knowing the schedule and fast passes. The phones were also great for photos with characters. We did ask them to stay off of social media. We also used the phones for games in line.
[35:45] Tip number eight is to let the teenagers sleep. We had later dinner reservations and the girls were happier.
[38:08] Tip number nine is also giving them enough down time. Parents need down time too.
[39:01] Tip number ten is to give the kids some freedom. They liked riding the rides alone and exploring a bit on their own.
[40:16] Pro Tip: There are lines for single riders only. This line allowed us to walk right on. You can also get more rides in.
[41:42] Allow the teens to make some choices with the fast passes.
Links and Resources:
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