Travel Stories Unpacked

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! In this final episode of Travel Stories Unpacked, Ashley and Annie take one last ride through the stories, laughs, lessons, and bloopers that made this show so special. From silly moments behind the scenes to heartfelt reflections on what the podcast has meant to them, this farewell is packed with gratitude and good vibes. Whether you’ve been with us...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! ⚠️ Listener Discretion Advised: This episode includes graphic descriptions of an injury that may be unsettling to some listeners.  What starts as a dream adventure through Zion National Park — complete with e-bikes, epic hikes, sandboarding, and scenic views — quickly turns into a comedy of travel chaos involving lost gear, surprise injuries, and an...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! May is a special time to recognize the impact of travel professionals — it's National Travel Advisor Month and National Travel and Tourism Week (May 4–10)! In this heartfelt episode of Travel Stories Unpacked, we’re honoring the incredible independent travel agents who make dream vacations a reality through passion, purpose, and expertise. Join...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! This week on Travel Stories Unpacked, Ashley and Annie are diving deep into the trend of travel de-influencing. From Coachella clout chasers and van life glam shots to airport theory disasters, they’re unpacking how social media has shaped (and warped) our travel dreams. Are influencers the problem—or are we just too easily influenced?  Plus, are tra...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! AI (artificial intelligence) seems to be here to stay, and it is changing the way people travel. Are these changes something to fear, or something to embrace? How does AI impact travel agents, and how can they use AI to their advantage?  We are sharing tips and tricks that travel agents can use to bring AI into their workflow and provide a better exp...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Annie and Ashley went to Orlando for KHM Travel's Crystal Conference and got to spend the day at Universal Orlando Resort! Visiting both Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure. We unpack our favorite experiences, and compare it to Walt Disney World Resort.  We want to hear your theme park reviews! Are you team Universal or team Dis...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Travelers have been buzzing about the new airline changes taking place in 2025. Top of the list the month? Southwest Airlines changing their free checked bag policy.  Join Annie and Ashley as we unpack this change, and a surprising response from a competitor airline! Be sure to listen to the whole episode for a discount code and find what airline is...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Planning your next solo vacation as a female traveler? Or wondering where to go for your next girls trip? We are unpacking the best travel destinations for women in 2025! Some of our picks may surprise you!  We want to hear from you! Let us know your favorite place to travel as a woman! Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Email Ashley and...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! What is new in the cruise industry for 2025? Join us as we unpack trending cruise destinations, new ships, cruise line policy changes, and why you should always work with a travel agent!  Interested in becoming a cruise travel agent? Visit our website to learn more! https://khmtravel.com/become-a-cruise-travel-agent/ Share your travel stories and opi...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Our favorite books, TV shows, comic books, and movies can transport us to an entirely different world. What if we were able to travel to these places in real life?  We are unpacking some of our favorite fictional destinations that we wish we could visit! Places like Hogwarts from Harry Potter, The Shire and Rivendell in Middle-Earth from Lord of the...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! We love to talk about travel, and today we are unpacking what it is like for tourists when they visit the United States.  From experiencing our infrastructure, to shopping and American cuisine, there are plenty of culture shocks that tourists face.  One thing we can all agree on? Hot dogs are an America staple!  Share your travel stories and opinions...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Are you planning travel for 2025 and wondering what destinations to avoid? We are unpacking all the places you should think twice about visiting in 2025. From protests, to environmental impacts, to unpleasant crowds and travel delays, considering an alternate destination for your vacation can make your experience more enjoyable and sustainable!  What...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Thank you all for a great 2024, and first year of Travel Stories Unpacked! In this episode, we are going over some of our favorite highlights from the year, sharing your fan comments, and revealing our plans for Travel Stories Unpacked in 2025.  Did you have a favorite episode in 2024? What do you want us to talk about in 2025? Let us know in the com...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! It's the holiday season, and that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and in need of a vacation. What about skipping your holiday plans and opting for a cruise vacation instead? It isn't just the plot of the movie "Christmas with the Kranks," but a growing sector of travel.  Join Ashley and Annie as we unpack Christmas cruises, inclu...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Grab the guys, it's time for a vacation! This week, we are unpacking guys trips with our guest, Austin. Austin shares his experiences with bachelor parties in Las Vegas and a birthday in Colorado.  Share your guy trip stories and opinions with us in the comments, or anywhere on social media using #TravelStoriesUnpacked.  Want to share your trave...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! The holiday season is here, and for many of us that means the daunting task of finding gifts for everyone on our list.  Ashley and Annie are here to help you find the perfect gift for the travel lovers in your life! From small stocking stuffers, to our favorite must-have travel essentials, we have something for every traveler and every budget.  What...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Vacation is great for people watching, and sometimes that means watching people do something embarrassing, rude, or downright wrong! We are unpacking some of the things that we think are bad tourist behaviors. Joining Ashley for this travel topic is seasoned, and opinionated, traveler Joanne.  What is the worst tourist behavior you have seen while on...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! What is luxury travel? From contemporary travel brands, to premium and upmarket travel, we are here to talk about all the levels of luxury travel.  Bill "Bougie" Coyle is back to help unpack this growing sector of travel and answer all your luxury travel questions!  Share your luxury travel stories and opinions with us in the comments or us...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! New Orleans is known for its rich history and paranormal activity, and today we are unpacking this spooky city with New Orleanian, Bentlie Logan.  Don't believe in ghosts? Well, this episode might change your mind as Bentlie shares her personal ghost encounters from living in a haunted apartment to working at a haunted restaurant.  Planning a tr...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Have you ever experienced something supernatural while traveling? We are sharing scary travel stories that were submitted by our listeners! From a ghost tour in Florida, to a haunted restaurant in New Orleans, to accidentally staying at a haunted hotel in Kentucky, we are telling some truly chilling travel tales.  Sara Rawlings is back to share her t...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! How do Halloween traditions and customs spread throughout the world? Join us as we unpack how Halloween is evolving in Southeast Asia, and the surprising roots of Halloween in Tokyo.  We welcome back to the show, Annie Yu, who shares her unique perspective of experiencing Halloween in the United States and through her travels to Japan and South Korea...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Hello travelers and welcome to Travel Stories Unpacked!  In this episode we are unpacking river cruises with our guest, Bri Greathouse. Bri describes her Viking river cruise on the Rhine as a "once in a lifetime opportunity."  We are going to break down some of the major difference between ocean cruising and river cruising.  We want to know...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! September 27 is World Tourism Day and the theme for 2024 is Tourism and Peace. Join Ashley and guest Geoff Cox a we unpack this important topic.  Geoff has been in the travel industry for more than 30 years, and has experienced firsthand the positive impact of travel, but we also discuss the more complex realities of travel, like sustainability, over...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! Traveling with your partner can make or break a relationship. Discovering each other's travel style and finding a good balance for everyone takes compromise and commitment. Ashley is joined by longtime her partner, Nate Bricker, to unpack how they navigated their first couples trip to Traverse City, Michigan.  What is your dynamic like as couple...

Share your travel stories and opinions with us! We are happy to welcome back to the show, Ashley Jacin, as we unpack all our opinions about camping. Spoiler: we don't think camping counts as a vacation! But, it can be a rewarding and affordable way to see the world.  We want to know your camping stories, hacks, and opinions! Share them with us in the comments, or anywhere on social media usin...