Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast

It is almost Earth Day and it is time to start thinking about ways to get outside with your kids this summer. This week we chat with Celine from Family Can Travel on her tips for hiking with kids. After hiking in Norway, Italy, Japan, and around her home in the Canadian Rockies, Celine has plenty of experience to share! ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about Global Entry 02:55 -...

Amsterdam is a popular tourist destination known for its fast-paced bicycles, "coffee" shops, tulips, houseboats, art, and history. But is it kid-friendly? American-expat Elizabeth from Dutch Dutch Goose shares her itinerary and tips for visiting Amsterdam with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Tamara about DC 02:24 - Crowds in DC 14:55 - Talking with Elizabeth 18:11 - How long to spend in...

Have you wanted to visit the land of Hobbits and kiwis? Maybe bungee jump off a cliff or take a jet boat down a river? This week we chat with Australian Melissa Delaware from Thrifty Family Travels about how to plan a two-week family vacation to the South Island of New Zealand.   ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Tamara about her Florida Trip 03:33 - Upcoming trip to DC 06:35 - Kim's upcoming cr...

Wondering what a Disney cruise is really like and how it compares to other cruise lines? This week Kim and Lesli from 365 Atlanta Family share their thoughts and impressions about their first Disney cruise. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Tamara about Martinique 01:26 - Apps used 02:30 - Overview of trip 14:26 - Talking with Lesli 15:30 - Lesli's first impression of the Disney cruise 16:15 - D...

If you are getting ready to plan your next trip, be sure to check out these recommendations on the best travel apps and planning sites first! ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim about Disneyland 11:50 - Talking with Shellie 15:27 - Apps for airfare 20:28 - Deals on hotels 22:59 - Sites like Airbnb 31:48 - Deals on car rentals 34:55 - Apps for saving on tours 39:55 - Putting together a trip iti...

Want to know what is coming at Disney resorts around the world in 2019 and beyond? Kim and Lesli are just back from the Disney Social Media Moms conference and have the full scoop. We apologize for Tamara's audio on this episode, we aren't sure what happened but at least Kim and Leslie do most of the talking. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Intro 01:04 - Talking with Lesli and Kim 01:30 - Disney social med...

We are back from our girlfriend getaway to El Paso, Texas and we have so much to share about our experience. This was a great destination for a girl's trip for active ladies that also love shopping, wine and good food. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 06:29 - Hotels in El Paso 10:05 - Enjoying the food 21:08 - Exploring El Paso 22:15 - Cowboy boot factory 26:30 - Downtown street...

Spring break is just around the corner and summer vacation planning is in full swing. Have you created your travel budget yet? This week, Kim and Tamara teach you how to save money when you are booking your trip and tips for saving money on vacation too. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Sponsor Wanderlist 02:32 - Planning with a budget in mind 04:56 - Activity prices add up 06:50 - Budget saving tips for fl...

The Galapagos Islands are on just about everyone's travel bucket list, but trying to figure out how to plan a trip there is overwhelming. Cruise, land, both, tour, on your own? There are so many choices. This week Kellie from 4 Worn Passports gives us her well-researched advice on how to plan a trip to the Galapagos with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about wildlife 01:20...

Everyone wants to go to Paris. But what do you do outside of Paris? This week we chat with Barbara Weindling, a travel advisor with Ciao Bambino to learn tip for France travel beyond Paris. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Tamara and Kim about NYC 07:42 - Getting into and out the city 13:15 - Talking with Barbara 16:15 - Regions outside of Paris 18:45 - How many days to spend 20:16 - Classic tr...

Do you dream of taking a trip to Italy? So do we! This week we are joined by Italian-native Angelo Carotenuto from LivItaly to get his tips on how to plan your first trip to Italy. We talk through all the fun ways to explore Rome, Florence, and Venice. Our presenting sponsor is LivItaly Tours . This family owned business offers over 140 tours and experiences all around Italy, and soon to come Spai...

How do you even start planning a trip to Alaska? This week Nancy Canter walks us through a two-week itinerary for exploring Alaska with kids. Our presenting sponsor is LivItaly Tours . This family owned business offers over 140 tours and experiences all around Italy, and soon to come Spain. Dedicated to making travelers truly "live" the local culture, LivItaly keeps its groups small and intimate....

Happy New Year! Kim and Tamara are catching up on New Year's resolutions and Tamara shares an update on her trip to London and best tips for visiting London with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara 03:18 - Holiday football fan rivalry 06:57 - Hamilton in London 07:35 - Flight experience for London 09:23 - Royal Garden Hotel 10:33 - Princess Diana 12:58 - Athenaeum Hotel 15:13...

Are you dreaming of beautiful sunsets and white sand beaches? We have you covered this week as we chat with Harmony Skillman about Naples, Florida. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Kim and Tamara chat about travel plans for 2018 09:50 - About Harmony Skillman 12:10 - Where is Naples? 15:20 - Tips on getting to Naples and getting around 17:43 - How long to spend there 18:36 - Must do activities 21:20 - Beach...

The year is drawing to a close and as we look back at all our travel experiences of 2017, Kim and Tamara share their favorites on this week's podcast. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about 2017 02:30 - Favorite cities 04:27 - Favorite city hotels 07:50 - Favorite beach hotels 11:30 - Favorite hotel outside of the city setting 15:00 - Favorite history tours 18:45 - Favorite food...

Wait Baja California is in Mexico? Katja Gaskell from Globetotting shares her tips on visiting Baja California with kids (and yes, it is in Mexico!) We chat about Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas, and the rest of the Baja peninsula. Plus stay tuned for another giveaway! ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about upcoming travels 04:19 - What airports are doing to make your time more comfort...

Do you want to visit the City of Stars? Laura Gibbons from Let's Go, Little One takes us on a trip to Los Angeles and tells us where to stay, what to do, and some of her favorite places to eat with kids. Plus, catch up with Kim and Tamara's recent visit to Clearwater, Florida. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about the TMS Family Travel conference in Clearwater, FL 04:44 - Clearw...

It is time to get in the mood for the holidays! Our picks for the best holiday destinations on the East and West Coast (and a few in between), will get you into the holiday spirit. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about holiday travel 03:34 - Tamara's tips for the holiday in NYC 05:59 - Christmas festival in Leavenworth WA 07:40 - Wassailing weekend in Woodstock VT 09:27 - Holida...

With the holiday gift giving season almost upon us, we thought it would be a good time to talk about our favorite travel tech. Leticia Barr from Tech Savvy Mama joins us to share her tips and choices for travel technology for families. ON THE PODCAST :30 Tamara & Kim's favorite travel tech 2:50 Tamara is getting the iPhone X 4:11 Kim is going back to the iPhone 8 Plus 5:55 Kim loves Google Photos...

Did you know that Disney has a resort in Hawaii? Find out everything you need to know about booking at Disney Aulani vacation from insider experts Kristi Marcelle and Kimberly Tate. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Kim about her recent Southern California trip 12:30 - About Kristi Marcelle 15:22 - Accommodations at Aulani Resort 21:55 - Pools and Beaches 26:10 - Activities for kids 34:50 - Char...

What's the number one thing to consider when choosing a family cruise vacation? Find out this and other cruising tips from this week's guest, Fadra Nally from All Things Fadra. What's the number one thing to consider when choosing a family cruise vacation? Find out this and other cruising tips from this week's guest, Fadra Nally from All Things Fadra. ON THE PODCAST 00:31 - Talking with Tamara abo...

This week Kim fills us in on her epic California road trip. She got off the beaten path in California and discovered some new destinations on this "Wild California" trip that will give your family ideas on how to go beyond amusement parks and beaches and see a new side to California. As we put this episode together, our hearts are heavy because of the loss of life and property as a result of the h...

Visiting the Disney Parks at Halloween can be a lot of fun, but there are some things to know before you go. This week we talk with Patty Holliday to get the scoop on tips for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and visiting Walt Disney World and Disneyland around Halloween. ON THE PODCAST 00:18 - Talking about Tamara's recent trip 14:11 - Talking with Patty 15:50 - Disneyland and Disney World a...

Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. It may be the home of country music but there is so much more to see and do (and eat!) This week we chat with Tennessean Kristin Luna to get the inside scoop on what to do in Nashville with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Update on Tamara and Kim's travels 01:25 - Talking with Kristen Luna 08:00 - How long to spend in Nashville 09:0...

Have you wanted to plan a camping vacation but you aren't quite ready for tent camping? Maybe a camper van is the answer. Shannon from TV Traveler shares her family's experience and tips on a campervan family vacation. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Tamara about her recent trip to Copper Mountain, CO 12:48 - Talking with Shannon about the camper van experience 14:25 - Road trip through Califo...