Takeoff to Travel

Nuremberg, Germany is one of the most famous cities in Bavaria, Germany, largely because of their Christmas market. However, the city is notable for more than just that celebration, not to mention its proximity to a number of great day trips. In this episode, Collin and Olivia share their favorite day trips they’ve taken, their favorite activities in the Alstadt (Old Town) and of course, the foods...

Oktoberfest is one of the most famous festivals in the world with millions of visitors a year - but there’s a lot you should know ahead of time about how to make the most of your time there. From how much you can expect to spend on food and drinks to what you need to know about getting a seat in the tents, tune in to this episode to learn what Collin and Olivia learned from their time exploring th...

Croatia has had a reputation for being a hidden gem of Europe for several years now, but the reality is that in 2023, it is nearly as popular (and expensive) as many other European countries. That being said, there are some ways to save money while still exploring the country and seeing all it offers. In this episode, Collin and Olivia share their travel tips for everything from ways to enjoy the...

When planning which countries to visit on your next trip to Europe, it’s easy to plan to hit the major highlights like Italy, France, and Spain. However, Collin and Olivia stumbled upon a country that they think you absolutely MUST add to your list: Montenegro. The country's natural beauty and places like Kotor, Perast, Durmitor National Park, and Tara Canyon make the entire country a feast fo...

Until recently, Croatia was considered the last hidden gem of Europe, but the secret’s out and it is no longer the cheap, undiscovered location it once was. However, Collin and Olivia recently discovered a European capital city that blew them away in terms of affordability, quality of activities, and overall feel. Listen to this episode for some key recommendations about what to do (and avoid) in...

Despite slowly gaining popularity as a tourist destination, Albania is still a relatively unknown country for many tourists. In this episode, Collin and Olivia share their stories and culture shocks from their first few weeks there, and provide advice about what to expect when it comes to transportation, foods, and culture. Resources: Charles Schwab Debit Card Travel Spreadsheet:  If you’re curiou...

While exploring London, Collin and Olivia saw over 30 major tourist attractions, from Westminster Abbey to the London Zoo. What’s more, they saved over $500 while doing it. How? With the 10 day London Pass. In this episode, they discuss the London Pass: how it worked, how much money it saved them, and whether it was worth it overall. Resources: London Pass ArcelorMittal Orbit London Stadium AllSta...

London, England can be expensive, but luckily, there are ways to do it without spending a ton. Collin and Olivia share their top tips for visiting the British capital on a budget - from packing a picnic to visiting the many free museums, they’ve got you covered.  Resources: ⁠Free Walking Tour Westminster⁠ ⁠British Museum⁠ ⁠Science Museum⁠ ⁠Victoria and Albert Museum⁠ ⁠Hill Garden and Pergola⁠ ⁠Har...

In this bonus episode, Collin and Olivia discuss the realities of full-time travel and share reflections from their last six months of seeing the world.  Travel Spreadsheet:  If you’re curious about how much money we anticipated spending in each place on our list (and also how much we have ACTUALLY spent so far), you can take a look here . We hope to make long-term travel feel more accessible and...

Collin and Olivia discuss their recent travels to Annecy, France and Geneva Switzerland, as well as share the truth about what it is really like to live in Aix-en-Provence, France for a month.  Travel Spreadsheet:  If you’re curious about how much money we anticipated spending in each place on our list (and also how much we have ACTUALLY spent so far), you can take a look here . We hope to make lo...

Collin and Olivia discuss the culture shocks they discovered in Spain and describe their first impressions of Aix-en-Provence, their French destination for the month of May. Travel Spreadsheet:  If you’re curious about how much money we anticipated spending in each place on our list (and also how much we have ACTUALLY spent so far), you can take a look here . We hope to make long term travel feel...

Collin and Olivia share recommendations for the best sites to see in Madrid and which ones you can skip, and discuss a uniquely provocative show that they saw while in town.  Travel Spreadsheet:  If you’re curious about how much money we anticipated spending in each place on our list (and also how much we have ACTUALLY spent so far), you can take a look here . We hope to make long term travel feel...

Collin and Olivia share first impressions of Madrid and discuss the country’s culinary delicacies and cultural differences, and expose a full-time travel myth. Travel Spreadsheet:  If you’re curious about how much money we anticipated spending in each place on our list (and also how much we have ACTUALLY spent so far), you can take a look here . We hope to make long-term travel feel more accessibl...

Hello friends!  Welcome to the 14th episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we shared our do’s and don’ts for Florence, Italy. Tune into this episode to hear about:  · Some common questions we’ve been asked about traveling full time · The culture shocks we’ve experienced in Italy · How to find good gelato and restaurants (and avoid the bad) · The do’s and...

Hello friends!  Welcome to the 13th episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we shared our top recommendations for activities to do in Florence.  Tune into this episode to hear about:  · A cooking class / wine tasting in the tuscan hills · The top five museums we recommend visiting (and the ones we don’t) · Two cities just a day-trip away that you can’t mis...

Hello friends!  Welcome to the 12th episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we talked about our adventures getting from Australia to Italy, and shared some our first impressions of Rome and Florence. Tune into this episode to hear about:  · How to survive a 15 hour flight · Our first impressions of Rome and Florence · Some lessons we’ve learned so far abou...

Hello friends! Welcome to the eleventh episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we talked about adventures we’ve had throughout the Gold Coast, and shared some valuable information for any travelers looking to visit. Tune into this episode to hear about: · The tours we’ve been on: Glow Worms, Mt. Tambourine, and Springbrook National Park · Our day trips to...

Hello friends! Welcome to the tenth episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we talked about our adventures in Singapore and our first impressions of Australia. Tune into this episode to hear about: · Our three day itinerary in Singapore (and some tips to save money) · The red-eye flight from hell · What to expect when going through immigration in Australia...

Hello friends! Welcome to the ninth episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we talked about what our experiences were like celebrating the Lunar New Year in Vietnam. Tune into this episode to hear about: · What it’s like to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Tet) in Vietnam · The Cornflakes story · The bad luck date · What we wish we had known before going to V...

Hello friends! Welcome to the eighth episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we talked about some of the sights we saw, our Friday the 13th from hell and shared an important lesson about the Vietnamese e-visa. Tune into this episode to hear about: · Our experience at Bui Vien Street (the Vietnam red light district) and the anti-American War Remnants Museum...

Hello friends! Welcome to the seventh episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we shared our thoughts from our first two weeks in Vietnam. Tune into this episode to learn: · Our first impressions of Ho Chi Minh City · Some unique features in our second Airbnb · The chokehold that karaoke has on Vietnam and some other culture shocks · A trip up to Hoi An - a...

Hello friends!  Welcome to the sixth episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we talked about our adventure to an elephant sanctuary, trip to Pai and a surprising piece of news. We also shared some dos and don’ts of Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Tune into this episode to hear about:   · Our experience at an elephant sanctuary (spoiler alert: it was...

Hello friends! Welcome to the fifth episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we talked about what we've been up to over the last few weeks, and shared a few of the culture shocks we have experienced so far in Thailand.  Tune into this episode to hear about:  Our day trip to Huay Tung Thao Reservoir - what surprised us and a lesson about planning a...

Hello friends! Welcome to the fourth episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we covered the adventure we had just getting to our first destination and our first impressions of Thailand. Tune into this episode to hear about: The nightmare we had just trying to get our boarding passes for our flights What happened to us when we got stuck in South Korea for 2...

Hello friends! Welcome to the third episode of Takeoff to Travel with your hosts, Collin and Olivia. In this episode, we covered all things packing. Tune into this episode to hear about: The luggage we are bringing on the trip (hint – it’s not a lot) What we’re packing inside our luggage – and what we’re not All about our specific travel gadgets How the first ‘test pack’ went The decision to sell...