Unpacked Travel Podcast

SNL Wild and crazy guysWhere ever you go, there you are by Jon Kabat-ZinnSong Exploder PodcastBlack PumasTape Notes PodcastThe 1975Glass Animals - “Tits Up”The Joy of X by Steven StrogatzEvicted by Matthews DesmondCharitiesDrugs Policy AllianceThe Harm Reduction Action Center - DenverChasing the Scream by Johann HariHigh Price - Dr. Karl HartHow to Change Your Mind - by Michael PollanKiva - Micro LoansQuetzaltrekkersTHREAD Baltimore

Click here for show notes on Episode 22!

Click here for show notes on Episode 21.

Click here to visit our show notes for Episode 20!

Find all the show notes at https://unpackedtravel.com/episode-19-new-things-rediscovering-music-erik-larson-fanboys-vote

Without a doubt one of our favorite episodes! We chat about Roam Research, tech, social media, DUNE, The Boys...so many things. We obviously hadn't talked in a while and had so much fun. Hope you enjoy!(Show notes will be up shortly)

Where is Guatemala?? - https://www.google.com/maps/place/Guatemala/@15.711383,-92.4791813,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8588135036e7506b:0x35982b375b84d5bb!8m2!3d15.783471!4d-90.230759Quetzaltrekkers (Volunteer) Trekking Company - https://www.quetzaltrekkers.com/xela/ Scott’s Cheap Flights - https://scottscheapflights.com/Cucuruchos Hostel (Antigua) - https://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Cucuruchos-Boutique-Hostel/Antigua/271323Casa Seibel (Quetzaltenango) - https://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Casa-Seibel/Quetzaltenango/86027State Department Travel Advisory Map - https://travelmaps.state.gov/TSGMap/?extent=-94.539832773,12.870344674,-85.01362929,18.24432455San Marcos La Laguna

We pulled out this wonderful interview (recorded in the magical time before COVID...) we had with Sarah McGihon, a friend and former employee of the co-working space we both belong to. It was a wonderful wide-ranging interview touching on all parts of Sarah's life which has been chock-full of travel from the start!Take shoe bagKeep Electronics separateDowny Wrinkle sprayHow to fold a suit in a specific way - chrisSacre Cour - Baby bottles winesFlight attendants don’t get tippedHistoryMarried in airplane hangerPhilosophy/MindsetPacking Minimalism vs MaximalismTravel Trips with AirplanesHow to get free drinks on an airplane - give a novelty to them upon boarding the plane (chocolate)Travel tips with airportsBaby cagesArauland FjorsWATERFALLS F$@#!!BABY Bottles in Paris - Liquor License

This episode features a free-flowing conversation where Chris & Chaz discuss great customer service, the wonders of Chipotle, rediscovering a love for fantasy novels and more!--Denna Quotes from The Name of the Wind: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/dennaProf G Show: https://podbay.fm/p/the-prof-g-show-with-scott-galloway/e/1599120000United Drops Changes Fees: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/change-fee.html?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=200830_ADMN_21488_ChangeFee_Prem_C000021488&utm_source=Airline_Other&utm_content=_ET01&launch_date=20200904&icid=109034894)

Mixing it up this week...and it was a ton of fun! Instead of talking travel, Chris & Chaz bounce around on some of the things that have brought them value during the past couple weeks. Chaz talks about his new buildy prowess and Chris struggles with Immanuel Kant.

Conde Nast Article/Tim FerrissGives you something to look forward toEscape Velocity from Everyday LifeGives you an opportunity to see your life from 35,000ft view“Shit, why am I doing this again?” - Blog PostLooking for safety net - applying for jobsCompromising!Being disconnectedDetoxing from SportsControl your inputsCoffee memory from PesciaBrain is firing on on cylinders in a new environment - cold splash of water to the neuronsTime slows down2.5 days felt like a week - RMNPDays feeling the same - Canary in coal mineIt can make you interesting to yourselfYou make friends from all over the world.You can start saying “yes” to new things. For better and for worse. Those are the stories that end up being the best. San SebastianIndia BreakfastIt shows you that there are many things that make us different but, more that make us the same. It opens up new parts of you that you want to explore.

What Julian Packed (can be much harder for women)Minaal backpacksJulians requirements: fit underneath the seat, maximize his ability to moveWoven latex clothes line like this one3 t-shirts (merino wool)1 short sleeve button down1 long sleeve button down2 pairs of pants (ABC Pants)2 pairs of shorts3 pairs of longer socks4 pairs of ankle socks3 pairs of underware (merino wool)1 Rain shell1 Patagonia nano puff1 Buff2 pairs of shoes: black slip on Vans, EarthrunnersDay packElectronicsLaptop w/ chargerKindlePower bankiPhone w/ SIM card--Dublin, IrelandKindle for reading while travelingHostel WorldWaitomo CavesTip: Most hostels keep rooms for walkinsAushcwitzGreat pieces of advice Julian recieved:Get a small backpack because of the agility and freedom. Less than

19,000 Day’s New Zealand--Interisland Ferry The Cook StraightMarlborough SoundsPicton, New ZealandTirohonga TrackNelson, New ZealandAbel Tasman National ParkThe Great Walks of New ZealandTotoranui Campground in Abel Tasman NPGolden Kayaks in Abel TasmanPancakes aren’t just for breakfast blog postPunakaikiFranz Joseph GlacierFox GlacierAoraki/Mt CookTranz Alpine Train from Greymouth to Christchurch2011 Christchurch EarthquakeJailhouse Hostel in ChristchurchLake TekapoChurch of the Good Shepherd (Tekapo)UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve at TekapoMt John ObservatoryQueenstown, New ZealandFergberger, QueenstownCanyoning New ZealandBungee Jumping New ZealandTahuna Pod Hostel, QueenstownHaka Lodge, QueenstownBen Lomond Hike, QueenstownSkyline QueenstownLake Wakatipu, QueenstownThe Remarkables, QueenstownWanaka, New Zealand

Support 11th Avenue Hostel here: https://www.11thavenuehostel.com/support-small-business-denver-hoste

Show NotesCarlo Rovelli - Reality Is Not What It SeamsChef’s TableCNN travel business articleCouchsurfing.orgUnited Clean PlusHilton CleanScott's Cheap Flights Email Schedule changes countIf an airline significantly changes your flight itinerary, you’re also eligible for a refund.Annoyingly, the law doesn’t define exactly what a “significant schedule change” is. Though it varies by airline, in general these would be considered significant:• 2+ hour change to your arrival or departure time• Nonstop flight changed to a connecting flight No excusesIf an airline cancels/changes your flight, you’re eligible for a refund, even if:• They only canceled/changed one flight in your itinerary• You had a basic economy ticket• It’s on a foreign airline. As long as a flight takes off or lands at a US airport, the airline must follow US law• The airline could really use the cash. That doesn’t give them the right to keep your money️What about third-party bookings?If you booked through a major online travel agency (think Expedia or Priceline), the good news is they’re generally following the airlines’ refund policies. If your flight is canceled, you’re owed a refund, even if you booked through a third party. Be proactiveFew airlines are proactively telling passengers about their right to a refund because they’d prefer you accept a voucher instead. If they’re stonewalling, these are the three things you can do:Hang up, call again. Airlines have thousands of call center agents and each has discretion to grant a refund. Countless times I’ve been told no on the first two calls, only to be told yes on the third call.File a complaint. The Department of Transportation will forward your complaint to the airline and threaten “enforcement action” if they don’t act soon. Here’s the form.Credit card dispute. Banks have protections for customers in case they pay for something that they don’t ultimately receive (like, say, a flight that got canceled). Wait to cancelIf you voluntarily cancel, you’re only entitled to a voucher. Even if you’ve decided not to take a future trip, hold off as long as possible in the hopes the airline cancels your flight.

Forgein Country Entrance Requirements - https://www.state.gov/travelers/New Zealand Department of ConservationEscape Rental VansWicked CamperVan RentalsInformation or “i” sites in New Zealand ← GREAT Places to get information while going around NZNew Zealand Intercity Bus PassBay of IslandsWhangareiAbbey Caves (Glow Worms) near WhangareiOtamure BayCape Reinga90 Mile BeachBeached Whale Video to show Kiwi accentWaipua ForestKauri TreesMOA Blog Post from ChazBlackwater Glow Worm Caves in WaitomoTongariro Alpine Crossing - Best Day Hike in the WorldLake TaupoTongarigo Alpine Crossing Shuttles - or book while you’re thereThe Haka by the New Zealand All Blacks (video)Haka (Wikipedia)Tama Lake Hike in New ZealandHun

Today is our first episode of the COVID Travel Spotlight series where we dig into the pandemic's impact on travel. Today's focus: the Airline Industry. TL;DR They're in quite a bit of trouble.We've included a lot of our notes from the episode outline below. More detailed notes can be found at unpackedtravel.com.--Airline BackgroundTough industry to begin with - High Cost / Margin, Highly RegulatedWarren Buffett has been clear about his disdain for investing in the airline industry because of this.Particularly vulnerable to external events = Volatile demandParticularly vulnerable to a wide array of unexpected events like terrorist attacks, natural disastersBecause of this volatility, during the bull market of the last 10 years when many SP500 companies have seen significant average yearly stock price increases, investors have not been willing to bet on airlines as much as other industries. Because of this, a strategy many airlines have employed to keep their stock prices on the rise has been buying back their own stocks, which uses their free cash flow to inflate the value of shares.SP500 airlines + Jet Blue - $47 billion or 96% of free cash flow, spent on Buy Backs over the last 10 years acrossPoint of contention but TLDR - many airlines don’t have as much cash as they would have without these buybacks.Hard to prepare for 94% dropUnited for example…$8 billion in buybacks over last 10 yearsIf they kept that, at their current $45m/day burn rate$1.35billion/month6 monthsMost air travel in US (and Europe) follows cycles where travel peaks during the summer and the bookings for that travel typically starts to peak in early Spring. This is a huge revenue period for airlines.Demand Collapse from COVIDResulting from:Government travel bans, Business policies, Personal concernsStatsAs of May 1st, United States air travel capacity is down ~94% (mid 90s)March 29, 2020 - 154,695 passengers TSA screening portals in the U.S.6% of the 2.5 million people from 2019Same daily level as 1956Revenue Collapse & Existential CrisisBad Industry + Demand Collapse = uh ohInternational Air Transport Association estimates for revenue losses:mid-February - $30 billionMarch 5th - $63-113 billionMarch 17th - $200 billionMarch 24th - $252 billionApril 14th - $314 billion (most recent)BailoutCashburnDelta $50-100mill/dayUnited $45-$100mill/dayAA $60mil/daySouthwest $30Two phase of federal aid: grants then loans.Grants to end of SEPT $3-6 billionLimits on executive payNo stock buy backsNo staff/major hour cuts through Sept 30Loans October +Can be applied for and not accepted.Despite this….United memo says 3,700 layoffs (30% of management team) Oct 1st, right after the grant ends. Delta - ⅓ of workers 37,000 have taken unpaid leaveSouthwest - Never laid off workers in 49 years "...if things don’t change dramatically over the May-June-July time periods, we’ll have to prepare ourselves for a drastically smaller airline."

Help ExchangeSkyscanner.comUffizi MuseumDuomoAccademia GalleryLa Giostra RestaurantAssassin's Creed 2Ostello del Chianti Hostel in Tavarnelle val di PesaCinque TerreRialto Bridge VeniceGenerator Hostel in VeniceTrieste, ItalyPisa, ItalySan GimignanoCastelina en ChiantiMontepulcianoPitigliano

This week, Chaz & Chris go off-topic (for the most part...there's still some travel talk, fear not) and talk about the things that have been bringing them value during the current COVID-19 quarantine. P.S. If you were wondering about this episode's featured image, its Chris' impromptu podcast studio. And the 'high-end' keyboard he dazzled you with.Here are links to the items mentioned in the show:Personal GrowthSpanishiTalkiLinguasorb SpanishThe Science of Good Cooking by Cooks IllustratedMental Models - Farnam StreetRay Dalio - Big Debt CrisesJason Zweig - WSJThe intelligent InvestoriPad app: Simply PianoWhy We Sleep by Matthew WalkerComptine d`un autre ete - l`apres-midi by Yann Tiersen (Amelie Song)Chef’s Table - SpotifyStrava AppEnjoymentPodcastsMarc Andreeson A16z PodcastProf G ShowThe Portal w/ Eric WeinsteinInfluence by Robert ChialdiniErik Larson BooksCentennial - James A. MichenerMezcalThe Name of the Wind by Patrick RothfussNew ProjectsPackingWandrd BagsAccess DuffelVeerNorthFace bag base camp travel canisterKindle Highlights TransferKlibReadwiseCommon Place BookGetting Things Done by David Allen

What else in the world would two guys who started a travel podcast rather talk about than their favorite countries?? Hint: NOTHING. Chaz & Chris each rank the top 3 favorite countries they've ever traveled to!VietnamVietnamStark Tower in Ho chi Minh CityDa Lat, VietnamHanoi, VietnamAgent OrangeSloveniaSloveniaLjubljanaBledKamnikTriglav National ParkSpainSpainSan SebasMadridSevilleGranadaAlhambraFlamenco DancingBunolLa TomatinaEcuadorEcuadorQuitoYagualocro SoupThe Secret Garden CotopaxiLake Quilotoa LoopCuenca, EcuadorThe Galapagos IslandBanosBolonEcuadorian Women WardrobeNew ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand Van RentalsWhangareiWaipua National ForestCape Reinga90 Mile Beach

"Travel is too expensive!!" Sadly one of the most frequent reasons why people around the country don't travel - and we're here to debunk it! Chaz and I run through the multitude of ways you can use the vast resources of the internet to travel on any budget!Here are links to the things mentioned in the episode:Chris and Jenna’s Travel Spreadsheet linkPico Iyer: Why We TravelVagabondging by Rolf PottsScott’s Cheap FlightsHopperSkyScanner.comThepointsguy.comCredit Card recommendations from The Points GuyHow To guides from Scott’s Cheap FlightsEli Roth’s Movie HostelAccomodationHostelworld.comCircus Hostel, BerlinNomadicMatt.comAirBNB.comWWOOFing - organic farming exchangeCouchsurfing.comHelpX.netTransportationBla Bla CarOvernight Busses in ColombiaEurail PassIndia TrainsThailand TrainsVietnam TrainsNew Zealand HitchhikingMaps AppMaps.MeWorking Holiday Visas (for American Citizens)Overview of the programFinancial Travel AppsTrail Wallet

Hold onto your trousers....It's Episode 1 of the Unpacked Travel Podcast!! In our inaugural episode, Chaz & Chris reflect on their humble travel beginnings and how it led them both to take year-long trips around the world.Here are links to some things mentioned in the episode:4-Hour Work Week by Tim FerrissMt KilimanjaroGoogle Search: Cool Places to see in the worldGoogle Search: How to travel longterm for cheapChaz’s Career Coach: Michelle PooleIn 5 years, what would you have wished you’d done?Chaz’s Travel Blog - Chaz: UnchartedThe Story of the Mexican Fisherman