Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast

In this first bonus episode of Amateur Traveler, we discuss how and why to travel solo, even if you are not single. My Guest: Beth Santos is the founder and CEO of Wanderful, a global community and lifestyle brand that aims to empower and connect women who travel. She is also the author of Wander Woman, in which she shares insights and advice on solo travel, particularly for women. Beth focuses on encouraging women to explore the world independently and safely. She challenges common misconceptions about solo travel, especially the notion that it is only for single people or those without families. She emphasizes that solo travel can be a valuable and empowering experience for anyone, regardless of their personal circumstances. In addition to her work with Wonderful, Beth is known for advocating female empowerment in travel and her efforts to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women travelers. Questions: In the podcast episode, several key questions and topics related to solo travel are add

Hear about travel to Romania and Northern Hungary as the Amateur Traveler talks to Lisa VanderVeen about her recent Intrepid trip to the area. Why should you go to Romania? Lisa says, "Romania is much more than Dracula and Vlad Tepes, though I will confess that was my initial draw to the country. It's got a great diversity of landscape and a multi layered history going way, way back. And then also as recently as the, communist times. Lots of really interesting museums to visit." "In terms of the topography and the geography, it's just amazing. It's got beautiful towns the Maramures region has a history of weavings and just the colors, red, orange, pink, and blue with the haystacks dotting the rolling hills and the mountains in the backdrop are really stunning." "The Carpathian Mountains are moody and they're filled with lore and at the same time they feel a little bit like Switzerland. There's great beauty, great history, and wonderful food and wine in Romania." Here's the itinerary of the trip to Romania and

Hear about travel to Northeast Florida as the Amateur Traveler talks to Angie Orth from Angie Away about her hometown and the area around it. Why should someone go to Northeast Florida? Angie says, "So many reasons. People come to Florida for a lot of different reasons. Mostly theme parks, maybe swamps, alligators, Miami. Those are the things when I meet people around the world that they think Florida is about. Everybody thinks I either live in Miami, in some kind of penthouse, or like at Disney World, in a castle of some sort." "There's so much to do here, but I would say the majority of it is It's outdoors, it's nature, it's history. We have a ton of interesting history that even natives don't necessarily know about. It's hidden away in the neighborhoods and buried and there's ruins and also layers of history, layers and hundreds of years and wars. To make this area what it is and it's really interesting once you start going to the national park areas and the forts and the ruins." Angie recommends several m

Hear about a road trip at the top of the world in Northern Norway as the Amateur Traveler talks to Torunn Tronsvang from Up Norway about this scenic but remote destination. Why should you go to Northern Norway? Torunn says, "There are so many good reasons why one should go to Northern Norway, and I think just as an introduction to Norway, I think it's worth mentioning the trend now of cool cations — skipping the hot and steamy Southern Europe and rather going up North to Norway. to Norway and Northern Norway." "And Northern Norway, of course, if I were to summarize in one word, regardless of season, I'd say, go there for the light. Because in the summer, you have the midnight sun, which means that you have this magical, radiant light all day and all night. If you go there in winter, you have the northern lights, but you also have arctic lights, so you have color nuances of pink, orange, sometimes turquoise, of course, you have the very green-yellow northern lights on clear and starry nights" Torunn recommends

Hear about travel to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean as the Amateur Traveler talks to David Brodie from Travel in 10 about his experience in this tropical paradise. Why should you go to the Maldives? "I think it's a place that a lot of people have probably seen influencer videos or postcards of the luxury resorts that are there. And it does have. probably some of the most luxurious island resorts you're going to find anywhere in the world. Crystal clear waters, incredible snorkeling, incredible diving, and really at that luxury end of the spectrum, there is an enormous amount of properties on their own islands there, throughout the, about 187 islands that are populated in the island chain, about 160 of those 160 plus that have. Resorts on them." "I say, really some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world and a whole new sort of aspect to tourism that's developing there with the opening up of the local islands and the local island tourism that's emerging there now as well." Trip Overview David's advent

Hear about travel to the region of Castile and León in Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks to Ethan Witthun about the region where he studied abroad. Day 1: Avila Morning: Walk the Murallas (Walls): Start early to walk along the medieval walls of Avila, known for being one of the most complete medieval walls in Spain. Purchase an Avila card online for easy access and an audio guide. Visit the Cathedral of Avila: Explore this unique cathedral, which is part of the wall, and features distinct red stone in its construction. Afternoon: Visit the Basilica of San Vicente: Known for its unique architecture and the shrine of San Vicente. Lunch at Restaurante Las Murallas: Enjoy a famous steak while sitting outside with views of the walls. Visit Los Cuatro Postes: Head here during siesta time for a panoramic view of Avila and its walls.  ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-castile-and-leon-spain/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Afghanistan as the Amateur Traveler talks to bigger and adventure tour guide Sibu Szymanowska about this adventurous destination, even for her. Why should you go to Afghanistan? Sibu says, "Because we are very influenced by what we see in the media nowadays and it is definitely one of those countries that will end up shocking you. But not Shocking you in a negative way, but shocking you in a very positive way, because there is so much more to the world than what we see on mainstream media, on the news, but by what our governments tell you, and Afghanistan obviously is not an easy destination to navigate, but is it possible?"... Yes. Cities Visited Kabul: The capital city with significant historical and cultural sites. Bamiyan: Known for the destroyed Buddhist statues and diverse landscapes. Herat: Famous for the Blue Mosque and historical Citadel. Sites to See Kabul: Bibi Maru Hill, local mosques, bird market Bamiyan: Buddhist statue site, Band-e-Amir National Park Herat: Blu

Hear about travel to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jo Clark from Have Glass, Will Travel about her hometown. Why should someone go to Myrtle Beach? Jo says, "Myrtle Beach is on the Grand Strand as we call it. It's on the coast of South Carolina and we are in the midst of 60 miles of gorgeous beach. Nice and wide. No rocks. I mean you can walk for miles and miles. It's just the perfect place. We have great weather. We have everything. we have history, we have music, and of course the beach." Jo sent us this itinerary: A WEEK IN MYRTLE BEACH ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-myrtle-beach-south-carolina/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel the Great West Way from London to Bristol as the Amateur Traveler talks to Penny Sadler, who writes Adventures of a Carry-on, about her recent trip to Southwest England. Penny Sadler is a freelance writer covering wine, food, travel, and lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in CNBC Travel, Culture Magazine, Matador Network, InsideHook, The Alcohol Professor, Vintner Project, The Cheese Professor, and elsewhere. She’s a Wine, Spirits Education Trust graduate and hosts tastings in her free time. Why should you go? Penny says, "The Great West Way is a historic route and basically now a tourist route that goes from London to Bristol. From London to Bristol is about two hours, and along the way, there are charming market towns, old pubs, castle ruins, rolling hills, and lots of farmland, it's very rural Stonehenge, Avebury, there's so much to see." Penny Sadler's itinerary for the Great West Way offers a scenic and historically rich journey from east to west. Here is a breakdown of the recomme

Hear about travel to India including the Golden Triangle as the Amateur Traveler talks to Nir ben Dov from Israel about his recent trip to the subcontinent. Why should you go to India? "I've gone to India many times over the past 20 25 years and it's a place that I've grown to love and love to hate it's a strange place. It's a place with its own character not for everyone But a very intriguing, place not easy, but a great place to visit. It's very different. So I decided this time to take my wife because I know that traveling with my wife, it just has a completely different flair to it. I know my wife likes the colors, the very bright colors, and the chaos in India." Nir's recommended itinerary for India includes: Delhi: Arrive in Delhi. Spend some time at Connaught Place (CP), a central commercial area. Chris recommends a number of Historic Places in Delhi to see ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-india-2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo as the Amateur Traveler talks to Justin Barnes about his recent trip to the Balkans. Why should someone go to the Balkans? Justin says, "It's a fascinating intersection of the East and West. It's been shaped by history over many different iterations from the Greeks to the Illyrians to the Byzantines to the Ottomans. And whenever you have a place like that's been shaped by so many different cultures and with such a fascinating history, you see a lot of things you don't really see elsewhere on the globe." "In addition, it's very inexpensive. The places that I'm going to be talking about, Albania, North Macedonia are much less expensive than even other places in the Balkans, let alone the rest of Europe. The area was much more green and lush than I was expecting. I don't know what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting beautiful green forests everywhere." "nd the cities that we went to, pretty much everything was walkable. Aside from the time that it tak

Hear about travel to the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna as the Amateur Traveler talks to Keith Jenkins from VelvetEscape.com who keeps returning to this unvisited gem. Why should you go to Emilia-Romagna? Keith says, "I think most people will know about the Products that come from there, the food, even the cars, maybe some of the cities, but they would just not associate that with the name Emilia Romagna. And we all know Parma, Bologna but there's so much more to explore. And a large part of the region is actually pretty, off the beaten track, because you have all these little, small, medieval towns. On the plains, also at the hill towns, which are absolutely beautiful. And there's so much to explore. They've got huge forests and lakes and national parks." Based on Keith Jenkins' detailed description, here's a recommended itinerary for a trip to Emilia-Romagna: Day 1: Arrival in Parma Morning: Arrive in Parma. Check into your hotel. Afternoon: Explore Parma’s city center. Visit the Cathedral and the Bap

Hear about cruising the waters of Alaska and British Columbia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Susan Portnoy about her recent experience on a Hurtigruten expedition ship. Why should you do this cruise? Susan says, "I think it's not going to be for everybody. It is a long journey. It's 18 days. That is music to my heart, but may not be for everyone. But it's also more intrepid. It's not the kind of trip where you've got a lot of boardwalks and stores and places to hang out, which you might do and have in Juneau or Haines. We went to uninhabited islands. One was, for example, St. Matthews, which belongs to Alaska. Very few people know that. And more people have climbed Everest than been on St. Matthews." Adventure Cruise from Nome, Alaska to Vancouver: A Day-by-Day Journey Susan Portnoy recently embarked on an unforgettable Hurtigruten expedition cruise from the remote town of Nome, Alaska, to Vancouver, Canada. This 18-day journey was perfect for those seeking adventure, wildlife, and a deeper connection with

Hear about travel to Newport, Rhode Island as the Amateur Traveler talks to Phil Roberson about this city that was one of the 5 largest in the American colonies.  Why should you visit Newport? Phile says, "There's a lot of reasons to want to come here, but if you love the ocean, if you love the Gilded Age kind of life if you love history, especially, there's just a lot to see in Newport." Based on Phil's detailed description of Newport, Rhode Island, here's a recommendation for a week-long trip to Newport, including various activities, historical sites, dining options, and outdoor adventures. Day 1: Arrival and Orientation Morning: Arrive in Newport, and settle into your accommodation. Afternoon: Take the Daily Newport Trolley Tour for an overview of the city and its major attractions. Evening: Dine at The Mooring Seafood Kitchen and Bar Restaurant on the wharf.   ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-newport-rhode-island/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to the Jaén province of Andalucia Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks to Molly Sears-Piccavey who lives in Andalucia. Molly says, “Jaén is a province in western Andalucia that is not really very known or associated with tourism. If we take southern Spain the western side of Andalucia which is Granada, Cordoba, Jaén, and Almería are not as touristic perhaps as the side of Andalucia which is where Malaga and Seville are. Cordoba and Granada are very well visited because of their Muslim architecture such as the mosque or their Alhambra Palace, but Jaén is inland and a little bit further away. And many people don’t manage to discover Jaén and I think Jaén has a lot to offer the visitor.” ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-jaen-andalucia-spain/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Northern Morocco as the Amateur Traveler talks to 5 listeners of the show who joined this year's trip to explore the medinas and other features of the country. The Intrepid Travel North Morocco Adventure tour offers an immersive exploration of Northern Morocco, rich with cultural experiences, historical landmarks, and breathtaking landscapes. Below is a detailed day-by-day itinerary that highlights the tour's key activities and destinations. Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca Activity: Arrival and meet up at the hotel Highlights: Arrive a day early to explore Casablanca independently Visit the old medina, Rick's Café, and the Hassan II Mosque (make reservations in advance for a tour) Meet the tour group in the hotel lobby at 6 PM for introductions and dinner ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-northern-morocco/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Southern Morocco as the Amateur Traveler talks to Ady from Hit The Road Music Studio about an area he fell in love with while touring it in a mobile recording studio. Ady recommends a detailed itinerary for a week-long trip exploring Southern Morocco, starting and ending in Marrakesh. Here’s a breakdown of the suggested trip: Day 1: Marrakesh Arrive in Marrakesh and spend the night. Experience the bustling city, try a mix of European and Moroccan cuisine, and get a taste of the local culture. Day 2: Travel over the Atlas Mountains Travel from Marrakesh over the Atlas Mountains, experiencing the dramatic change in landscape and climate. Spend the night in Ouarzazate, a city famous for its film studios and proximity to the film location for movies like "Gladiator" and "Star Wars."   https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-southern-morocco-2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to the country Palau as the Amateur Traveler talks to Randy Rohrer about his recent kayak and scuba safari to this tropical paradise.  Why should you go to Palau? Randy says, "I think people should go to Palau if you want to experience incredible diverse underwater marine life colorful corals, clear warm water. It's an unspoiled underwater paradise with beautiful sandy beaches, and it also has World War II history. When we were there, we saw colorful corals, fish of all species and sizes, jellyfish, turtles, sharks, squid, manta rays, dolphins, giant clams, and all kinds of exotic plants." Embarking on a kayak and snorkel safari in Palau in the Western Pacific, Randy Roar from Maryland shares his exhilarating experience, revealing why this remote archipelago is a paradise for adventure and nature lovers. Arrival and Stay in Koror Travelers typically fly into Koror, the bustling hub of Palau, via Hawaii and Guam. Randy suggests taking an extra day to acclimate and recover from jet lag upon ar

Hear about travel to Oklahoma as the Amateur Traveler talks to Caitlin from TwinFamilyTravels.com about her home state and its history, culture, and scenic beauty. Why should you go to Oklahoma? Caitlin says, "People should visit Oklahoma because it has a unique history and it has a lot of natural beauty. I think it's surprising and unexpected to a lot of people. It has a complicated history in many ways. We'll get into that. But it has seen a lot of revitalization and improvement over the years. There's really been an increase of top-notch museums, and outdoor spaces, and there's really just something for everybody to enjoy here." Caitlin's one-week itinerary for exploring Oklahoma, particularly centered around Tulsa, includes a variety of cultural, historical, and outdoor activities. Here’s a breakdown of the itinerary she recommends: Day 1: Downtown Tulsa Start with breakfast at Dilly Diner. Visit the Center of the Universe, an acoustic anomaly. Explore the Woody Guthrie Center, dedicated to the famous

Hear about travel to Newfoundland and Labrador as the Amateur Traveler talks to Bri Mitchell from travelingmitch.com based on the summer they spent in this less visited Canadian province. Why should you go to Newfoundland and Labrador? Bri says, "It is a very vast, wide, and open province. It has extremely warm people very enticing outdoor adventures really incredible opportunities to get out onto the water and explore different parts of the Atlantic Ocean. And specifically today, I want to talk a little bit about Western Newfoundland and Labrador, so starting in the western coast and making your way up towards Labrador." "It's larger than many countries. I think I was looking up It's a square kilometer area, and it's larger than Japan, Germany, and Finland. A lot of people think of Eastern Canada as being small and little towns and not a lot to explore. But when you think about its size, Newfoundland and Labrador as a province is very expansive. So it's a great place to go if you enjoy a road trip if you enj