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4 episodes with flytographer
2 episodes with flytographer
2 episodes with flytographer
2 episodes with flytographer
2 episodes with flytographer
I always say some of the most innovative ideas come from personal experiences, and Nicole Smith's story is proof. What started as a meaningful moment in Paris with her best friend evolved into Flytographer, a global platform that helps people capture unforgettable travel memories through professional photography. Nicole didn't just build a business; she created a movement rooted in human connection, storytelling, and joy. In this episode, Founder & CEO Nicole Smith shares her journey from a corporate career at Microsoft to launching a two-sided marketplace with no startup experience—all while raising two young kids. We discuss the ups and downs and how conscious leadership and resilience enabled her to lead with clarity, even during the pandemic. If you've ever had a spark of an idea and wondered, “Could this be something?”—this episode is for you. Here are a few highlights from our conversation: * How a trip to Paris inspired the creation of Flytographer * The moment Nicole decided to leave corporate life and go all in on her vision * Navigating a global shutdown and rebuilding with profitability and purpose * Why community, trust, and storytelling are at the heart of the Flytographer model * Nicole's personal mission to get moms (and all caregivers) back into the photo Join me, Ramon Vela, as we listen to the episode and hear how Nicole turned a simple idea into a global celebration of memory, connection, and reinvention. For more on Flytographer, visit: https://www.flytographer.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don't forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today's Sponsors: Workspace6 - Private Community for 7, 8, 9-figure Brands: https://www.workspace6.io/ Workspace6 is a private community where over 950 seven, eight, and nine-figure brand operators trade insights, solve problems, and shortcut growth. It's the anti-fluff operator's room, and for your first 30 days, it's just $1. Get real answers and skip the trial and error.
We're joined by Nicole Smith, Founder and CEO of Flytographer, the world's leading vacation photography company. Nicole shares how she grew Flytographer from a side hustle to a global 8-figure brand, and how she's built a community rooted in joy, connection, and creativity.
We all take hundreds of photos on our travels these days, but I was keen to chat with Nicole Smith, founder of Flytographer, about how their network of photographers take this to the next level in many popular travel spots around the world. Nicole is an avid traveller who caught the travel bug young, and after a very unfortunate photographic "accident" on a long trip through Asia, she realised just how important having photos to job our memories can be. Nicole and I chatted about what it means to be a thoughtful traveller, the benefits of meeting up with local people in the places we visit, and more about how special our photographic travel memories can be. Links: Flytographer - https://www.flytographer.com/ Win a $100 Flytographer voucher - https://forms.gle/zUsK9byTtER9XbLD8 Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/349 Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you've ever looked back at your vacation photos and wondered where you were in them… this one's for you.In honor of Mother's Day this week, we're celebrating all the Moms out there as host Kim Anderson shares a heart-filled conversation with Nicole Smith, the founder and CEO of Flytographer—a global vacation photography company that's transformed how families document their travels. With professional photographers in over 380 cities around the world, Flytographer helps people get frame-worthy photos with Mom in the picture, not just behind the camera.Nicole shares how a spontaneous photo shoot on a cobblestone street in Paris sparked a business idea that wouldn't let go. What started as a side hustle while juggling a full-time corporate marketing job and single motherhood has become an 8-figure business and a movement that reminds moms everywhere: you deserve to be seen in your memories too.You'll walk away from this episode inspired by Nicole's journey, and with a fresh reminder that you don't need a perfect plan to build something meaningful—you just need to start.In this episode, you'll learn:How to build a global travel brand from scratch—even without tech skillsWhy getting in the photo matters (for you and your kids)The behind-the-scenes story of Flytographer's growth to 35,000+ 5-star reviewsThis episode is for the moms doing it all, the dreamers holding back, and anyone who wants to travel more meaningfully and live life on their own terms.So hit play and get inspired to stop waiting, start building, and maybe even book that trip—with you in the picture this time.RESOURCES:Connect with Nicole & Flytographer: Website, Get Mom Back in the Photo Campaign & Instagram⚡ROUND RESOURCES:The Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria, BC Canada A Fine Balance by Rohinton MistryMouth Tape Sleep AidEPISODE DETAILS:05:15 - Home might be the best place 17:10 - You don't need it all figured out14:40 - When making a big decision16:15 - When the right idea grabs hold of you18:25 - Why not you? Want travel tips and a behind-the-scenes look at the podcast? SIGN UP for our weekly newsletter here! It's just the good stuff, I promise. No spam here. Support the showMore Travel with Less Money—Download Your FREE GUIDE & Start Exploring! Let's connect on Instagram! @DesignHerTravel Get $20 when you Sign-Up for Buzzsprout Please Note: I may earn a small commission when purchasing through these links. It doesn't cost you anything extra but does help support the show.
Paris Macaron Class: vi.me/mTi2CBespoke Family Tours of Paris with Zoe at The Petit Guide (we did the Montmartre tour)Photo shoot: Flytographer! If you've never used them before, use my link to get $25 off your first photo shoot! In this episode, we're sharing how we took our family of 5 to Paris using travel points, showing how we explored Paris while staying at the Hyatt Regency Paris E'toile with Eiffel Tower views. We break down exactly how we managed hotel accommodations, transportation, dining and activities for three kids in one of Europe's most beautiful cities.• Using 85,000 airline points to fly all five family members to Paris• Navigating European hotel room limitations with connecting rooms for families• Taking advantage of Club Lounge access at Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile• Using the Paris Metro system with kids – surprisingly easy with navigation apps• Participating in kid-friendly activities like The Petite Guide tour of Montmartre• Taking a macaroon-making class where kids got hands-on experience• Visiting the Louvre Museum and seeing Napoleon's apartments• Enjoying the Tuileries Gardens with playground, trampolines and carousel• Finding family-friendly dining at Le Relais de L'Entrecôte and Brasserie de Louvre• Experiencing unexpected kindness from strangers on the MetroIf you enjoyed hearing about our Paris adventures, please share this episode with a friend who might be planning their own family trip!
Welcome to The Bouquet Toss, the podcast that helps you plan your wedding day, your way! We're your hosts, Jessica and Sari, and in each episode, we dive deep into the traditions and trends you either love, hate, or don't quite understand. In today's episode, we're tackling the world of wedding registries! We discuss the wide variety of registry options available, from traditional kitchen items to cash funds and more creative choices like experience-based gifts. Speaking of experiences, we highlight one particularly unique idea—booking a professional photographer through Flytographer to capture your honeymoon memories in stunning destinations around the world! Episode Highlights: Why registry items like kitchenware still matter, especially for more traditional guests. The growing popularity of cash funds, honeymoon funds, and other non-traditional gifts—and why they're here to stay. How Flytographer can make your honeymoon even more unforgettable with a professional photo shoot in any major city across the globe. Tips for building a registry that truly reflects your needs, whether you're planning a future home fund or adding more personalized experiences. This episode is presented by Flytographer. Head to https://www.flytographer.com/love to get an exclusive offer on a Flytographer photoshoot for your upcoming trip or as a thoughtful wedding gift for a special couple in your life. We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts and suggestions to podcasts@lovestoriestv.com. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Enjoy the episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on Spotify, Amazon, Apple Podcasts, or on Love Stories TV's YouTube channel. Learn more at https://www.thebudgetsavvybride.com.
Erin and Keri examine financial integrity when someone in the community asks a question about spending a found gift card. And what about using gift cards in general? Are they a good gift idea? Plus how best to accept and spend a gift card when you're on the receiving end. Share your opinions on gift cards with us here: https://www.speakpipe.com/erinskyekelly Take all the pictures! Erin loves working with Flytographer: https://flytog.co/ERINSKYEKELLY _______________________________
Flytographer referral link - you can use our link to save $25 off your first booking! Thank you in advance for supporting our free content
We are CELEBRATING! Thanks to YOU, we hit 1 million downloads of the Get The Hell Out Of Debt podcast! And there is no better way to celebrate than by talking with the brilliant Mel Abraham. Erin was personally impacted by Mel many years ago and would not be doing what she's doing had she not met him. Mel shares his invaluable wisdom on financial freedom, emphasizing the importance of time as currency and the steps needed to build a Money Machine through different income streams. Mel also gets personal and shares his past financial struggle, how a health challenge compelled him to serve at a higher level. Erin says his book Building Your Money Machine: How to Get Your Money to Work Harder for You Than You Did for It is a step-by-step guide for becoming a millionaire and it's a MUST have for your library. Thanks for continuing to share this podcast. We appreciate every rating and review, every like and subscription. Mel Abraham's links: Building Your Money Machine book- https://amzn.to/4bAYgVB The Entrepreneur's Solution book - https://amzn.to/4bSP6nR Website - https://melabraham.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/melabraham9/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCZdiVkFGQo&list=UULFdky90A06l99KCvfKDD8wcw Get The Hell Out Of Debt is now on YouTube! Watch - and subscribe! - here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS24I208_hI&t=1s&list=UULFdky90A06l99KCvfKDD8wcw _______________________________
Erin is running down her top 10 list to live a wealthy life. From optimizing your spending, to sensible investing, and even choosing the right life partner, this list is a comprehensible rundown with actionable tips to get you on your financial way. _______________________________
Natalia's latest match looked good on paper but then the financial red flags showed up. The world of dating is a tricky one to navigate but Erin has some guidelines to get you a read on a potential partner's money beliefs sooner rather than later. _______________________________
When it comes to marketing your business, quality photos can make all the difference in attracting and engaging potential clients. However, simply having high-quality images is NOT enough. In this episode, Robin and Jennifer share how you can get the most out of any photo shoot, whether it's by a professional or you've employed the help of a friend who can simply press a camera button down. Regardless of your investment level, learn how you can maximize the opportunity to get great images that portray professionalism and trustworthiness, yet also allow for authenticity and individuality to shine through. From choosing the right photographer and location to curating relevant outfits and props, you can create visually stunning and impactful imagery that sets you apart in the industry! Today we will cover: (00:40) Why brand shoots are important for external credibility (10:10) Understanding your brand identity before you schedule a photo shoot (14:35) Consistency and intention in your imagery (16:00) Choosing the right photographer and location (24:50) Creating a vision board using Pinterest (27:30) Infusing stock imagery along with brand photos (29:20) Outfits, aesthetics, and props for a brand shoot (34:45) Tips for feeling confident in front of the camera Resources mentioned: Peerspace: peerspace.com Elevae: elevaevisuals.com Flytographer: flytographer.com Pixaround: pixaroundyou.com CLIENT COMMUNICATION TEMPLATES tiquehq.com/client-communication-templates _____ JOIN OUR NICHE COMMUNITY: tiquehq.com/niche FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/tiquehq CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES & PROGRAMS: tiquehq.com
On June 6, a panel of remarkable women took the stage at the Women's LEAD Vancouver event to share their inspiring journeys. LaQuita Cleare, the evening's keynote speaker and Founder of Clear Communication Academy; Kiara LeBlanc, CEO & Founder of Lifted Fitness; Teena Gupta (Sim), CEO of Rosemary Rocksalt and Co-Founder of Nurse Next Door; Marie Khouri, an acclaimed sculptor based in Paris and Vancouver; and Dr. Maryam Zeineddin, a family doctor and CEO & Founder of Zili CARA, each brought their unique perspectives to the discussion. Moderated by Paulina Cameron, COO of Flytographer and Author, the panel shared stories of entrepreneurship, building community, pivotal life moments, and the challenges of navigating family dynamics while pursuing a path true to themselves. Their conversation is filled with wisdom, authenticity, and invaluable insights, inspiring listeners to forge their own unique paths.
On this episode of The Wealth Exchange, we have featured audio from our live panelist discussion that took place on May 8th at our Women's LEAD Event in Toronto. The night was filled with community building and knowledge sharing with our inspiring panelists; Diana Matheson, Co-Founder, Project 8 and Canadian former professional soccer player, Safoura Zahedi who is an Artist, Architect, Educator, and Geometry Expert, Meghan Roach, the President and CEO of Roots, and Dimitra Davidson, Founder of Indeed Laboratories. This diverse group of panelists from different backgrounds and fields of work shared stories of their successes and barriers to leadership. Steering the conversation was our expert moderator, Paulina Cameron, COO of Flytographer and Author, who was able to tie together the shared experiences of all the incredible women who took the stage.
Nicole Smith, the Founder and CEO of Flytographer, joins the show to share her journey from selling her car to stay in business to creating the vacation photo marketplace that's captured over 4 million memories in nearly 400 cities around the world. Hear how to sleep on a trampoline, turn your side hustle into a full-time business, stay easy to work with, run a global company, and a special Travel Edition of Rapid-Fire Q&A. Connect with Nicole at Flytographer.com, on Instagram @Flytographer and @FlytographerLife, and on LinkedIn
In this episode, Paulina, former CEO of the Forum and author of "Canada 150 Women," captivates us with her astute advice on operational clarity, financial acumen, and the significance of community for women in business. Paulina dispels the one-size-fits-all notion of success and capital fundraising, advocating for a strategic and tailored approach that aligns with your business model—whether it's utilizing lines of credit for inventory or cautious debt management for branding and digital presence. The conversation transitions to the power of networking, as Paulina underscores the importance of genuine relationships and the long-term benefits of consistently showing up, even when it feels awkward. With a career spanning finance, management consulting, and impactful leadership, Paulina's narrative is interwoven with the celebration of community and the collaborative triumphs of women entrepreneurs. Jessica and Paulina tackle the delicate dynamics of team culture and the advantages of building a support network before seeking financial aids. Paulina's departure from the Forum to join Flytographer marks a poignant moment in the podcast, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of entrepreneurial opportunity after the pandemic. This episode is an essential listen for anyone yearning to build a business that resonates with the community's heartbeat and yearns to grow through authentic connections. Join us on the LOVE Unplugged podcast to gain Paulina Cameron's groundbreaking perspectives on entrepreneurship, community building, and strategic growth in a supportive and knowledge-rich environment. WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE 14:16 Accessing community, mentors, and advisors empowers entrepreneurs. 18:58 Know enough to oversee, ask and learn. 30:40 Challenging misconceptions and defining personal success in business. 32:15 Reevaluating priorities and financial structures for balance. 42:30 Utilize debt and lines of credit wisely. 44:46 Grow by adding value to existing relationships. CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulinaacameron LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulinacameron YOUR RESOURCES Work 1:1 with Jessica Frigon: https://www.projectloveco.com/services CEO Thrive Kit: https://projectloveco.myflodesk.com/ceothrivekit
Alisha and Tess sit down with Founder and CEO at Flytographer, Nicole Smith, to chat about her journey as an entrepreneur and how she was able to prioritize her own well being while scaling a very high growth business. They chat through the surprising benefits and outcomes that have come from a service that has ultimately changed the game when it comes to hiring a photographer. This inspirational conversation left us wanting more!--Find out more about Flytographer:Website - https://www.flytographer.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/flytographer/?hl=enLinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/company/flytographerFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/FindFlytographer/X - https://twitter.com/Flytographer
Episode Notes Carolyn Campbell, author of "City of Immortals: Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris" was our first guest (learn more, or download her app at http://cityofimmortals.com), followed by Nicole Smith, the CEO and Founder of Flytographer
Find us on social media: Facebook & InstagramEmail us: hello@thetinlounge.com Discussion:Review: Flytographer for Travel Photo Shoots in Maui, Paris, Los Cabos and BeyondCan ChatGPT be a travel planner? We tested it outConsumers Want More Personalization When It Comes to Travel Planning As heard on Excess Baggage:Tour Operators & Advisors Forced to Cancel Trips as Peru Shuts Down Machu PicchuSanctuary Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic ReopensFAA identifies company responsible for system outageOutrigger would like to expand into Florida and CaliforniaNew Grand Canyon Glamping Resort OpensNominate Yourself for Travel Agent's 30Under30 of 2023Why Northern Lights Viewing Will Be Stellar Over the Next Few YearsState Department Cautions Against Using Uber in Cancun, Surrounding AreasMexican Caribbean Expected To Have Less Sargassum This YearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Today Show's Jenn Falik and I teamed up this holiday season to give you more of what you've been asking for: GIFT GUIDES! We go through all of our favorite things and pick the best of the best. This week we're talking about the things you get people who say, “oh, don't get me anything!” Do you follow Jenn? You should be following Jenn: https://www.instagram.com/jennfalik/?hl=en She's the Today Show's resident shopping expert and her newsletter, The Ultimate Edit, is full of some of the best product recs! Subscribe here: https://jennfalik.com/the-ultimate-edit-directoryThe answer to the question?: FLYTOGRAPHER: http://flytog.co/mQruwrOJenn even explained how it worked: https://jennfalik.com/blog/flytographer-review-how-to-get-the-best-vacation-photosCheck out The Shop Hub, a spreadsheet designed by us for you to help make your holiday shopping an easier, more enjoyable experience. On The Shop Hub you'll find all the brands you love to shop and their corresponding sales, codes and deals. We also worked with some of these brands to get you exclusive codes for 20% (or more!) off your purchases. In part with our Shop Hub, we also launched our FIRST EVER IRL, hold-in-your-hand, Gee Thanks!-branded goods in collaboration with Balance Bound. GO SHOPPING WITH US!Subscribe to the newsletter for exclusive discounts just for you: www.geethanks.substack.com Shop our Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/geethanksjustboughtit Gee Thanks! appreciates its supporters, especially Alley Peplinski, Becca Sheaffer, Allie Nagy, Angi James, Lindsay Creech and Erin Gibson! Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/geethanks Follow along with recs (and share your own via DM) on the “Gee Thanks, Just Bought It!” Instagram: www.instagram.com/geethanksjustboughtitpod and shop all of our recs here: www.geethanksjustboughtit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In today's episode I am chatting with Nicole Smith, founder of Flytographer. I am obsessed with this company and totally inspired by Nicole as a mom and entrepreneur for creating such an incredible service. If you don't know about Flytographer, it's kind of like AirBnB for photo shoots, anywhere you travel. She has created a massive network of photographers in 400 cities around the world, and a seamless central booking system. But it's so much more than that, and Nicole shares what she loves most about the service. We booked Flytographer for our family trip to Maui and it was awesome (shoutout to Taena!). We came away with the best souvenirs possible, beautifully captured memories. It was easy, quick, and super fun. Nicole and I chat about how so often moms are the ones behind the camera, and don't show up in the family photos as much as everyone else. Photos can be a legacy for your family and you need to be there too! You can find the full show notes, Nicole's bio, and contact info at www.momcamplife.com/flytographer.
Nicole Smith, founder of Flytographer, a travel service that connects you with hand-picked local photographers in many destinations around the world, turned her side hustle into a multi-million dollar business.Today, Nicole and her team have grown Flytographer into a multi-million dollar business that operates across six continents and was ranked as one of the fastest-growing startups. She is passionate about sharing her experiences openly to inspire other women entrepreneurs around the world. Nicole shares how she created her startup from idea to side hustle to over $25 million dollars in sales and how she had to turn her business around during Covid. When the pandemic hit, her sales instantly went to zero and she had to lay off 80% of the team. Nicole explains how she was able to come back and continue to grow a profitable, evergreen business. Also on Speaking of Travel, find out how Chow Chow, a culinary event in Asheville, NC, is pairing diverse community leaders with chefs to tell their own stories through food. And discover why being in a fantastic neighborhood in close proximity to historical landmarks is a win-win for your vacation experience. John Zellers, General Manager of the Elevation Lofts Hotel in downtown Asheville, NC, shares how this historic building, originally built over 100 years ago, is so special today.
Before starting up Flytographer, Nicole was happy in her global marketing job at Microsoft, but had the idea and simply couldn't shake it. What started as a side hustle has grown into a global business, selling over $20 million in photo shoots and capturing millions of priceless memories.There was an inflection point for Nicole when she needed to make a decision - to take the leap from side hustle to giving it everything. She asked herself, “what would my 85-year-old self say about this situation?” and went full force into the startup.Nicole's first experiences with pitching were demoralising with many male investors saying they simply didn't “get” the product. Nonetheless, Nicole secured angel investment and has raised several rounds since. While Nicole feels that there's a lot of pattern matching in Silicon Valley, it can be positive: it forces you to build a stronger business because you don't get the pass that others might get. In this episode you'll discover:How accelerator programmes can kick start your fundraising journeyThe level of traction you need to secure a “yes” from investorsHow important it is to master your pitch
We welcome Nicole Smith on the show this week as we talk about Flytographer, a company she founded after a trip to Paris that led to a breakthrough Idea.Nicole is the CEO and founder of Flytographer and this episode gives us an insight into what she calls herself, a ‘sidepreneur' while making the switch from a successful career and making that jump into starting your own company whilst being a parent. There are some juicy bits in here about developing a startup efficiently in a brand new product market, hiring, Jim Carey's birthplace, funding and investment and speaking to the founder of a travel photography service we, of course, speak about travel and the future of travel in a post-covid world... Support the show and Buy us a coffee!Edited by: Simon HoernerProduced by: Samuel Gregory and Chris AddamsTheme Music by: Chris AddamsSponsored by: Jupiter and the GiraffeWebsite: https://thattech.showYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4paazkqrlwtB_WW28w4GsgInstagram: @thattechshow_LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thattechshow/Get in touch: hello@thattech.show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How would you like to come home from your travels with AMAZING travel photos?! That's exactly why Nicole started Flytographer back in 2013.On this episode we chat with Nicole Smith, the founder of Flytographer about starting her business, how the last 2 years have impacted Flytographer, and the magic of travel photography!Visit the Flytographer websiteSupport the Travel Mug Podcast by buying us a coffee! You'll make our day & you'll get access to fun stuff like bloopers and extra content.GRAB OUR MASTER PACKING LIST HERE*****************************************We are travel enthusiasts who do not claim to be professionals! Instead we are two Halifax, NS natives with travel blogs who somehow found one another on the internet and now, we have a podcast!!Join us every two weeks as we talk about our favourite destinations, travel tips, travel fails and all things travel!We have a big passion for travelling and talking about travel so we hope you will listen and join the conversation.You can find us here:FacebookInstagramJenn's Travel Blog Jenn's YouTube channelMeggan's Travel BlogMeggan and husband Peter's YouTubeDisclaimer - all episodes are our opinions/experiences, always do your research and make travel plans based on your budget and comfort levels.
Hear from Nicole Smith, the Founder and CEO of Flytographer, a marketplace that connects people with local photographers in cities around the world for fun, hassle-free vacation photoshoots. Under the pandemic, the business also expanded to offering local hometown photoshoots, headshots, and a travel gift-themed e-commerce shop. She was previously a Marketing Manager and Consultant and Microsoft and helped develop high-impact, results-oriented content to support product sales. In this episode, Nicole shares with Ali and Weilyn tips on starting your side hustle despite uncertainties, as well as how Flytographer, a travel photography company, worked through the obstacles of the pandemic. Learn more about Nicole and Flytographer here: Nicole's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelisasmith/ Nicole's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flytographerlife/ Flytographer's Website: https://www.flytographer.com/ Flytographer's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flytographer/ If you also enjoyed the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you could leave a short review for us! Follow the Entrepre女ers Network: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theentreprenuersnetwork/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-entreprenuers-network/about/ Podcast produced and presented to you by Stefanie Lee and Shreya Gupta.
Tamara is just back from a trip to Greece and she tells us all about this dream vacation. Find out what it is like to travel to Greece right now -- plus what to do and where to stay in Santorini and Naxos! ABOUT OUR SPONSOR – ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES Today's podcast is brought to you by Atlas Ocean Voyages. If you have ever dreamed of cruising to Greece or Egypt, now is the time to book! Atlas Ocean Voyages just introduced its expedition ship World Navigator. This small ship, luxury vessel is built for adventure in a sustainable, energy-efficient manner. Perfect for adventurous families or multi-generational groups, its compact size and small guest count of fewer than 200 passengers, means a higher space to guest ratio and more intimacy and personalized service. From August through September 2021, World Navigator will sail 7 separate 12 night itineraries to Greece and Egypt. And its small size and agility means she can dock in smaller ports, avoiding large crowds and getting a more authentic experience. And this summer, arrivals in Greece do not coincide with any other cruise ships in port! Bookings are all inclusive, including both airfare and excursions. The ship's facilities and protocols reflect state of the art public health guidance. With stringent public health protocols followed by staff and crew with pre-boarding and pre-embarkation PCR testing provided for all passengers. Social distancing will be maintained with small group shore excursions. Atlas welcomes travelers to ‘come back to something brand new' To learn more, please visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com and we thank them for their support. 2021 Trip to Greece Tips Greece reopened to USA citizens this springs. Visitors need to either be fully vaccinated (all shots + 14 days) and have a vaccination card OR show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of boarding the plane. These are reviewed at check in for your flight. Visitors also need to fill out a Passenger Locator Form more than 24 hours before arrival. The Greece government will then send you a QR code after midnight on the day of your arrival that you need to show at Customs on your arrival. You need to show the receipt of submission or QR code when you check in to your flight. Masks are required in airports, planes, trains, ferries, ferry ports, busses, and taxis, as well as indoors. You also need to complete health forms before going on ferries or boats and either be vaccinated or take a test before going on a ferry. Vaccination cards will also be checked when you check into hotels. To return to the USA, you need to take a PCR test within 72 hours of your flight departure. There are public clinics available to get tested but appointments may be required and hours are limited. Tamara's tests on Naxos were 60 euro per person. You can also order Binax Now tests from Abbott Laboratories online. Just make sure they are the ones approved for travel and include online monitoring of the test as that is what is needed for re-entry into the USA. On Santorini, Tamara stayed at the Canaves Oia Epitome, which is a new property from the Canaves brand, and it is a luxury hotel located about 10 minutes walk from Oia and Ammoudi Bay. They booked the honeymoon suite with private plunge pool. Elements Restaurant at the Canaves Oia Epitome offers an amazing Degustation Menu and it was a top dining experience. Santorini is a very popular destination and Oia is the most famous town. When you visit, be sure to go into town early in the morning to avoid crowds. Tamara also had a chef's tasting dinner at Lycabettus in Oia but felt it wasn't worth the price. Santorini Wine Trails does half or full-day wine tours in Santorini. All tours are private right now. Ammoudi Fish Tavern is a fun restaurant right on the water in Ammoudi Bay with great views and fresh fish. Tamara also did a photo shoot with Nikola from Flytographer and got some great photos. Book ferry tickets in advance of your trip Note that you should arrive at the ferry port early to figure out where to queue up. Boarding the ferry can be chaotic so listen closely for when they call your boat and note that the same ferry makes multiple stops at different islands so it isn't like there is a separate boat for each island. It helps to arrange transportation for airport and ferry pick ups so you don't have to wait in a long line when you arrive. We used Welcome Pickups on Santorini and Athens. On Naxos, Tamara stayed at the Virtu Suites boutique hotel on the beach in Agios Prokopios. Naxos is a much more affordable than Santorini -- dinner for two costs only about 40 euro at many local tavernas. Tamara booked a full day private boat tour and snorkeling with Naxos Sailing. They also offer small group trips and have a variety of itineraries. The boat tour stopped in Paros and Tamara took a cab to Naoussa, the main town, which is really beautiful and filled with shops and restaurants. Tamara and Glenn also took a full day wine, cheese and island tour with Eleni from Philema Food Tours. In Naxos Town many people visit Apollo's Temple or the Portara for sunset but you need to get there early to get a prime photo spot. In Athens, Tamara stayed at the Hotel Grand Bretagne, which she was able to book using Marriott points. The rooftop restaurant, where breakfast is also served, has beautiful views of the Acropolis. Full Episode Transcript [00:00:00.060] - Kim Tate Today, we're taking a European journey to the Greek islands. [00:00:15.900] - Announcer Welcome to Vacation Mavens. A family travel podcast with ideas for your next vacation and tips to get you out the door. Here are your hosts, Kim from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara from We3Travel. [00:00:30.870] - Tamara Gruber Today's podcast is brought to you by Atlas Ocean Voyages. If you've ever dreamed of cruising to Greece or Egypt, now is the time to book. Atlas Ocean Voyages just introduced its new expedition ship, The World Navigator. This small ship luxury vessel is built for adventure in a sustainable but energy efficient manner. It's perfect for adventurous families or multigenerational groups. Its compact size and small guest count of fewer than 200 passengers means a higher space to guest ratio and more intimacy and personalized service. [00:01:00.750] - Tamara Gruber From August through September 2021, World Navigator will sail seven separate 12 night itineraries to Greece and Egypt, and its small size and agility means she can dock in smaller ports, avoiding large crowds and getting a more authentic experience. And this summer, arrivals in Greece do not coincide with any other cruise ships, and port bookings are all inclusive, including both airfare and excursions. [00:01:22.590] - Tamara Gruber The ship's facilities and protocols reflect state of the art public health guidance, with stringent public health protocols followed by staff and crew. With preboarding and pre embarkation PCR testing provided for all passengers, social distancing will be maintained with small groups shore excursions. Atlas welcomes travelers to come back to something brand new. To learn more, please visit AtlasOceanVoyages.com, and we thank them for their support. [00:01:48.330] - Tamara Gruber Kim, I have to say after just coming back from Greece, now is such a good time to go that if people could still book a cruise for later this summer or the, you know, the fall, it would really be a great time to go. [00:02:01.560] - Kim Tate I can see that I was following along on your stories. I think a lot of people are just unsure about all the you know, I guess in some ways you'd say loopholes and things you have to think about when you're traveling. And so it might be the perfect time for summer in Europe. [00:02:16.230] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, it's definitely not as crowded. And people are very eager to welcome you back. And, you know, luckily, especially with Greece, the emphasis that they've put on vaccinating people in hospitality and on the islands and plus the fact that everything is outside it makes you feel so much more comfortable. So definitely a good time to go. But otherwise, if you can't go this year and you've dreamed about a cruise either to Egypt or the Greek islands, then check out Atlas Ocean Voyages for small ship luxury cruising. [00:02:48.060] - Tamara Gruber Sounds like a great way to go because it includes all your excursions and everything else. At least you know exactly what it's going to cost you. [00:02:54.660] - Kim Tate Yeah. And as we've already said, the small ships are really the way to get a more intimate experience with the destination. So you're not being dropped off on huge piers. [00:03:03.390] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, exactly. When we took our ferry back, I saw maybe one or two cruise ships that a couple of the islands that we stopped out on the ferry back to Athens. But those were mostly like small ships as well. [00:03:14.070] - Tamara Gruber So, yeah, cruising is coming back. We saw on our flight back to JFK, like one whole section in the back seemed to have those little celebrity bags. So it's nice. Yeah, well, that's exciting. And I think it's great if people want to look at kind of that new journey. And like you said, there's still a whole month of August left for the summer. So if you've got some free time to make an impromptu vacation plans, then the Atlas Ocean Voyages might have a good deal for you to jump on. [00:03:43.800] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, and if you want to explore Greece by land or at least to the islands, then I can give you some tips, because that's what we're going to be talking about this episode. [00:03:53.460] - Kim Tate I cannot wait to hear about your trip. It seems like you guys really enjoyed your time together. And, you know, for an anniversary trip, it seems like it it just checked all the boxes for you guys. So I'm looking forward to sharing with our listeners everything that you guys did and what you learned. And we should just get right into it. [00:04:11.580] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, definitely. It was one of those trips where I was prepping myself as we were driving down because we had to drive to New York and we flew from there just so that we could get a direct flight to Athens. [00:04:23.550] - Tamara Gruber So since our other flight was canceled, we wanted to not have to worry about transiting through another European country and worrying about what their entrance requirements were and such. And so we're driving down and I said to Glennn, like, look like something is going to happen, like not everything is going to go smoothly. [00:04:41.010] - Tamara Gruber You know, that's always the case, but especially right now, like, we need to prep ourselves like I've had in my mind, like this dream trip for two years now. Right. And that's like dangerous, you know, when you are putting so much like, you know, hope and everything into this trip that you've thought about for so long and especially, you know, as we're used to traveling. But, you know, after two years of not a lot of travel, it's like it gets even more focus, you know, for you. [00:05:04.510] - Tamara Gruber I'm like, something's going to go wrong. And it just ended up like, you know, OK, there are a couple, like, little bumps, but thankfully, like, nothing huge happened. And it was just it was just so nice. Still be in a different place, you know what I had said, like, I need a change of scenery. If we can't go to Greece, like we're going somewhere that has palm trees or something, like I needed a change of scenery and then it just it was beautiful, but it was everything is outdoors and we just. [00:05:33.430] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, you had to put on a mask when you were in, like, you know, a cab or something like that. But we just didn't worry. [00:05:38.770] - Tamara Gruber And it was really amazing. [00:05:40.450] - Tamara Gruber And I think it was like the combination of those couple of things of like feeling really normal and being in a new place and just having this amazing time. [00:05:50.260] - Tamara Gruber And and we you know, it was a splurge trip for us. So I booked, you know, some luxury hotels. And just like being that back in that experience. And you think about like what we talked about in our last episode about how like for the services and the hotels and stuff right now, you know, because of staffing, I like to be back in like what felt like a very normal travel experience was it was just amazing. It really is awesome. [00:06:13.570] - Tamara Gruber It really was so good. And I look yeah, I look at the pictures and I'm like, you can just tell, like, our smiles, like we're just happy. [00:06:21.670] - Kim Tate Yeah, exactly. That's what I got that sense from. Just everything that I was watching and following and seeing. It was just seemed like you guys had had a really great time. So why don't you start us, you know, for the people who are wondering, why don't you explain what you did before to be able to get to Greece, you know, so they just know what the requirements are maybe. And then walk us through your itinerary if you want or however you want to present it. [00:06:45.960] - Tamara Gruber Definitely. So, yeah, there's definitely a few things to know about going to Greece right now. I mean, they were one of the first European countries to open up. So what they require is you either need to be vaccinated, fully vaccinated, which includes the two weeks after your second dose or your one dose if your one dose person like I was. And you also need you know, if you don't have that, then you need to show a negative test PCR test within the last 72 hours. [00:07:14.110] - Tamara Gruber And you show that when you arrive at the airport, when you're checking in in the U.S. and the other thing that you need to do is complete a passenger locator form and you need to do that. You can probably would be emailed it from your airline carrier, but otherwise you can find it on like the Greek website. [00:07:32.710] - Tamara Gruber You need to fill that out before 24 hours before you leave. So, you know, at least a day before you leave, you fill that out and it has all your information, your passport information, all that kind of stuff. But also look where you're going to be staying. [00:07:44.950] - Tamara Gruber You know what places you're visiting, all of that. It's an online form. You you submit it and then you get a receipt that it's been submitted and that's what you show when you get to the airport to check in. [00:07:59.020] - Tamara Gruber Then when you arrive in Greece, it's kind of weird because they email you a QR code, but they only email it to you like after midnight the day of your arrival. So we were doing like an overnight flight. So it's like we couldn't show it at the airport when we arrived because we don't have it yet. But we showed it at the airport I'm sorry, when we arrived in New York. But when we arrived in Athens, luckily they have free Wi-Fi in the airport. [00:08:23.800] - Tamara Gruber Just connect and then you get the QR code and you show them as you're coming into the customs area for Athens. [00:08:30.550] - Tamara Gruber So that's really it. It's pretty simple, really. There are some other things to think about just in terms of, you know, traveling right now. Like if you're going on a ferry, you need to show your vaccination card or your test, but you also need to complete like a health form, you know, like one of those like you haven't had these symptoms, you know, that kind of stuff. And they give you a QR code for that. [00:08:56.200] - Tamara Gruber Of course, I can talk later about like the whole ferry boarding process. And it's such like a madhouse. They don't actually check that. [00:09:02.110] - Tamara Gruber But, you know, technically, you need to do those kind of things, too. So there are some things. [00:09:07.900] - Tamara Gruber And when we checked into each of our hotels, they checked our vaccination cards. [00:09:11.620] - Tamara Gruber So, you know, you keep that information handy. We had to do one for a boat that we went out on for the day. We had to show the vaccination card and fill out a health form for that as well. So I guess either a vaccination card or a negative test. Yeah, but then within three days, does it have to be within three days so we can keep repeatedly testing while you're there if you're not, you know, because we're vaccinated. That's something that you would look into if you have younger children that couldn't be vaccinated or something like that. Yeah. Something to ask. And then, of course, to come back to the US, everyone right now needs to have a negative PCR test. [00:09:48.940] - Tamara Gruber So when we arrived, I had already figured out what we were going to do to make sure that it was possible. Otherwise I would have bought those Abbot Binax Now test to bring with us. [00:10:04.990] - Tamara Gruber So they have two different Abbott ones. This is I guess good to know. Like there's one that you can buy just in like a CVS or something. That that does not qualify for overseas travel. [00:10:15.310] - Tamara Gruber Because it needs to be monitored, but they have another one that you can order online, I think it's one hundred and fifty dollars that includes like multiple tests. [00:10:24.220] - Tamara Gruber And what you do is you self administer it, but you do it like you get in an appointment with a doctor, like over Zoom. Right. And watch, you know, that you're doing it so that they can verify, you know that to you. [00:10:36.700] - Tamara Gruber So, yeah, that's a separate one. You have to order online and that's actually an option. But luckily for us, we were able to get to our second island of Naxos. We our hotel helped us arrange an appointment at a clinic there. We just it could take up to 24 hours before we were getting our results. So we did on Friday for a Sunday morning departure. And we had our results by Friday evening. And it cost us only 60 euro per person. [00:11:03.400] - Tamara Gruber If they came to the hotel and did it for us, it was going to be like a hundred and twenty euro per person. So that's what we did. [00:11:08.950] - Tamara Gruber But just one thing to note about when you are traveling and you're looking to go to a local clinic for your way back, the hours are very limited. Still, like the one that we went to is closed on Saturdays. So, you know, you needed to plan that into your time window. But then some of them will be open, like for a few hours in the morning or a couple hours in the afternoon. But it's not like all day or, you know, you know, 24 hours. [00:11:31.600] - Tamara Gruber So you need to definitely plan ahead with that. But overall, like, it was pretty easy. I definitely think the the most challenging part is, you know, just the long flight, you know, frankly, like, I've never had a mask on for 16 hours before. And that is true. You know, that was a really long time because we had to deal with our long flight. You know, you have your time in the airport, the long flight on the way there. [00:11:54.490] - Tamara Gruber We then had like a three hour layover in the Athens airport and then another flight to Santorini, because our itinerary was to have three nights in Santorini, five nights on Naxos, and then one night in Athens for our return. So when we arrived, we wanted to not have to spend time in Athens, but get right to our destination just because we didn't have we just didn't have a lot of time. If I had two weeks, I would definitely spend more time like in Athens. [00:12:19.900] - Tamara Gruber So we had that flight, you know, and then the cab ride from the airport to our hotel. So, you know, that's that's a long time, you know, to be in your mask. I definitely switched up my mask like midway. Yeah. About getting this thing kind of stinks after a while, you know. Yeah. [00:12:36.490] - Kim Tate Are they not doing food either? So do you have to kind of make sure you're packing your own food and then are you able to eat it. [00:12:41.620] - Tamara Gruber They do do food, yeah. [00:12:42.770] - Tamara Gruber So we had our flight was Delta from JFK to Athens. We did have a bit of a scare that we weren't going to make our flight because we gave ourselves five hours to get to New York and it should take three hours. But it ended up taking like five and a half. And we parked in like an economy pre booked online. So then we had to take an air train over to the airport. And we were so nervous that, you know, we started off so relaxed, like we have plenty of time. Then we were so nervous that we weren't going to make it, but we got there. It was kind of chaos in the JFK Airport because it's just super busy. And, of course, you know, everyone, not everyone had all the information they were supposed to have right now. [00:13:25.360] - Tamara Gruber And then that takes a little bit of a longer time. But we got triggered as we were boarding. [00:13:29.920] - Tamara Gruber We got on luckily, they were serving food because we our plan was to go to a lounge and have a meal and, you know, take some, you know, some time. We didn't have that. So we were getting on to the plane with a bag of chips and some trail mix for like a ten hour flight. So, yeah, luckily they serve food and basically, you know, they make announcements, of course, when you board just the same way they would in the US. [00:13:53.560] - Tamara Gruber And while you're eating, you can lower your mask. And then it's kind of like after they do their meal service, they're going around being like mask up, like making sure everyone was still lingering, you know, that they're lifting the mask. But I will say, and I've said this before, like with us travel, that if I was not vaccinated, I would not be comfortable going because there are a lot of people that, you know, it's an overnight flight, it's dark. [00:14:20.080] - Tamara Gruber People are kind of lowering their masks as they're sleeping. And on those kind of overnight flights, the flight attendants aren't up and down the aisles as much checking. So I think, yeah, you definitely see some like if they saw someone, they would say something, but they weren't being super proactive with. Checking often is I say, you know. [00:14:40.840] - Tamara Gruber But that's not the case in the ferries and in the, you know, Athens airport, it seemed like, you know, much more strict. And on the ferry, someone went around regularly like, you know, talking to people and even having a little confrontations with people. So if that's something that's worried, I know I've gotten a lot of messages. I don't want to linger on this too much because there's a lot of really good stuff to talk about. [00:15:01.900] - Tamara Gruber But, you know, I've gotten a lot of messages from people, like asking how comfortable I was. And I want to say, like when I was in Greece, I felt extremely comfortable. I really, really did. [00:15:10.900] - Tamara Gruber You know, we had masks on in the cabs, but everything else. Is really outside, you know, like it's it's amazing how much everything is outside, I came back and I'm like, oh, right, restaurants have indoor dining, but we don't want to do that, you know? So it's it's very comfortable in that way. [00:15:28.320] - Kim Tate Great. So you made it to Santorini. That was your first stop. So what sort of things did you do there? [00:15:34.440] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. So in Santorini, Santorini is a very crowded like over tourist island. It's really expensive, but it is very, very beautiful. [00:15:44.820] - Tamara Gruber And so I knew that we wanted to only spend a few nights there because they didn't have the budget to spend a long time. And I have to say that this year is such a great time to go because it still seemed a little crowded at times and it was picking up like throughout our stay seem to increase. But they were telling me, all the locals are telling me that it was only about 20 percent of the 2019 numbers. So it's definitely like an over tourist destination. [00:16:12.600] - Tamara Gruber And I had an opportunity to visit when there weren't that many people there, which made it like absolutely amazing. [00:16:18.460] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, we stayed like one of the main towns is called Oia. And it is it's an essential that everybody sees in the pictures. Exactly. [00:16:30.130] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. Yeah. So I really wanted to stay there again. This was our milestone anniversary, a birthday trip. So it was a splurge, something that we'd saved up for for a while. [00:16:40.620] - Tamara Gruber So I had booked us three nights at a luxury hotel that called the Canaves Oia Epitome. So this brand, the Canaves, they have, I think three or four properties that are well known, luxury properties, most of them are right in the town. This one is brand new and it is just about a ten minute walk outside of town, kind of like down the hill. But we love the location and I loved the property. It was gorgeous. [00:17:07.740] - Tamara Gruber I had booked us a honeymoon suite with a plunge pool. So big splurge on the suite. We've never spent this much on a hotel. I will admit, you know, definitely like a huge privilege here. [00:17:17.580] - Tamara Gruber But we walked in and so it was like you kind of opened this one door. You go up some steps and there's like our patio with our plunge pool to loungers, picnic table, a little bench. And then you go into the room from there. [00:17:32.340] - Tamara Gruber And we walked in and we were just like, wow, like this. It's just so nice to go back to, like a luxury hotel and have this beautiful place and beautiful, you know, setting. And it was just it was so nice. Like, I'm so glad that we had that splurge. They do have other they have some other spaces for families. And there actually I saw a number of families, both with teens and with like toddlers are smaller, like elementary school age. [00:18:01.770] - Tamara Gruber So there are other types of rooms, some larger, some smaller. So that was my big splurge. At one point, Glennn was like, how much was this place? And I'm like, I'm not going to tell you. This was one where I was like, I want to book this, you know, and surprise you. And so we we really, really enjoyed that, like, kind of sitting out by the our little plunge pool. [00:18:22.500] - Tamara Gruber But then they also have, you know, the property has like a really nice infinity pool and it overlooks the water. And you get really beautiful sunset views there, which, you know, in this part of Greece, like some some of the views, some of the places will face a caldera. So you'll get really pretty hues and color, but you don't see the actual sunset. So this is the sunset and it's like ten minute walk up to town or they can shuttle you and like a ten minute walk down to Ammoudi bay, which is where are the sunset catamarans go out. [00:18:55.620] - Tamara Gruber And it's just like there's a lot of cool fish restaurants. So I thought the location was fabulous. [00:19:01.110] - Tamara Gruber The service was amazing, the food was great, the breakfast is included. And it's one of those things where you can order as much off the menu as you want. You know, like you order a la carte and then they're like, oh, do you want fruit? Do you want this? Like the one day that I had breakfast, I like pineapple juice. And so on their menu, they had grapefruit and orange juice. And I was like, oh, do you have pineapple juice? [00:19:22.440] - Tamara Gruber And they're like, we can do that for you. And they came out, they had like blended a fresh pineapple for me. [00:19:28.770] - Tamara Gruber And the the food was just it was fantastic. Like everything was so good. And our first night there, like we were exhausted. [00:19:35.280] - Tamara Gruber Right, because we had this five hour drive. Then we had, you know, a ten hour flight, three hour layover, half hour flight, you know, so we got there and I saw those lounge chairs by our plunge pool. And I'm like, I am taking a nap right there. And so we kind of just like napped in the sun for like an hour or two was somehow like it. Just something about the excitement of the first day of your trip where you just like kind of have the adrenaline to keep going, right? [00:20:01.320] - Tamara Gruber So that little nap was like all I needed. I usually plan for something like this for our first day to just have dinner close to the hotel where we're staying. So I had booked dinner at the hotel. The hotel has two restaurants, one is like fine dining, one is casual. I had booked us at the fine dining restaurant and so we ended up having like a degustation menu, like a chef's tasting menu, seven courses. And so you would think we would be like way to jet lag to like appreciate it. [00:20:31.580] - Tamara Gruber But I will tell you, this is one of the best dining experiences of our lives. And we still go back and we're like, is it because we were just so happy to be there? Or is it just like that first night? You have nothing to compare it to. [00:20:44.120] - Tamara Gruber But it was really just wonderful because the service was so it was just so perfect. [00:20:49.160] - Tamara Gruber It wasn't crowded because it was primarily just people at the hotel. So, you know, we were outside. We are overlooking this beautiful infinity pool and the sunset and, you know, our tables were all spaced and our server was just so sweet. Like every time I was, like, really enjoying a dish. And I would compliment her and compliment the dish. She would get almost like a giggly, you know, like she was so pleased with how much we liked it. [00:21:17.480] - Tamara Gruber And it just like that shows like how much like it means to them to, like, present and prepare like something that someone's really enjoying, you know, like that kind of hospitality where it's not just like a you know, like a process, like a routine. You know, it was just like a lot of it added a lot of enjoyment. And the the food was just it was fantastic. It was so, so good. So, you know, another huge splurge for us. [00:21:41.090] - Tamara Gruber But like, if you stay there and I actually had like three people, I think like or more messaged me on Instagram saying that they had either already booked it or they were booking it for the fall, like that particular hotel and asking about the restaurant. So I definitely think it's the it's a luxury hotel. And the price point is just slightly below the places that are in town. So it made it you know, it made it fit with my budget. [00:22:07.400] - Tamara Gruber You know, it was already a splurge budget, but. Yeah. So anyway, that's what we did the first day. And then the next day, again, I didn't want to like over because I really wanted to make sure that this trip was like some exploration, but a lot of time for like relaxation and doubt and just time to enjoy it and soak it in. You know, I didn't want us to be like, go, go, go. [00:22:26.300] - Tamara Gruber And we also didn't want to be around a lot of other groups or people. So we did things, you know, like more on our own or privately. [00:22:33.560] - Tamara Gruber So the next day we decided to walk into town and I thought we're just going to maybe, like, wander around for a little bit. But it was so charming. And so we were just like going down all these side streets and I'm taking like a million pictures and we just loved it. [00:22:47.810] - Tamara Gruber And it was so quiet at first. Like in the beginning, the streets were like empty when we got there, probably like ten thirty. [00:22:54.500] - Tamara Gruber And the streets were so empty. And everyone says, like, go super early in the morning, but I'm like my first day. I'm not getting out there like 6:00 a.m. you know, that's not my idea of a vacation. And then it got like a little busier, like closer to noon. But I think if you're going on a regular year, you probably really have to get there early to avoid the crowds. That's why it's kind of nice to stay right in that area, because if you're traveling from another part of the island, of course, you're not going to get there, you know, quite that early. [00:23:19.820] - Tamara Gruber Right. But it got really hot, definitely. People ask me about the weather, too. It was probably in the high eighties, like maybe low 90s the entire time we were there. I mean, I loved it. [00:23:30.470] - Tamara Gruber Like it was it was the kind of weather where I could go out every night in a sundress and not have to bring a sweater, you know, just like, wonderful. And it was, you know, the sun was strong. [00:23:40.940] - Tamara Gruber So you would like a little break from it or take a swim. But it wasn't I didn't find it oppressive. Apparently earlier in that week, there was you kind of what's been typical Europe right now is the end of June, early July for the last few years has had like an extremely high heat wave. So they had temperatures well above one hundred for a few days. But then, like I said, when we were there, it was kind of more normal summer. [00:24:03.300] - Tamara Gruber But still, we needed a place. We needed a little break. And their lunches are a little bit later. They're still like at one point we stopped and we just Glennn had, I think, like a beer and I had a smoothie and we just sat at a place where we're having this beautiful view. And then we walked around some more and then we had this amazing lunch. I like this salad with grilled shrimp and like, everything was like so wonderful. [00:24:24.050] - Tamara Gruber And all I could think was like years ago when I was a picky eater, I was like, oh, I could never do I could never go to Greece because I don't like and I like this like at the time I didn't like feta, now I love feta. [00:24:34.970] - Tamara Gruber I still don't like olives. And I didn't eat as much fish. But it is like the food was amazing. All the food that I had was really, really good and I did not have a problem with that at all because I for a long time ago I was like, I'm gonna have to do it on a cruise so that I like the food, but I've expanded my palate. So we had a wonderful lunch. Like there's just so many places that have beautiful views or cute courtyards. [00:24:58.520] - Tamara Gruber And it's just we had a lovely time and it reminded me a lot of the Amalfi Coast in Italy and in Capri, except the shops there aren't like the big designer shops. It's more like, you know, there's there's a lot of touristy kind. You know, now knickknacks and T-shirt kind of things, but then there's some more local shops, and so I liked that. You know, sometimes when you go to places and you see all these, like really upscale designer shops and like, well, first of all, I can't afford to shop there wherever I see them. [00:25:30.650] - Tamara Gruber And like, if you can get that at a city, like, near you, like, why do you need it like on vacation? You know, I'd rather find, like, more of the local kind of authentic things. Like we stopped into a gallery and I totally was ready to buy art until I realized we missed a zero on the on the painting price. But yeah, we just had a really lovely time. We went back and we sat by the pool and then we went back into town that night and we did another tasting menu at this place called Lycabettus, I'm sure mispronouncing it. [00:25:59.150] - Tamara Gruber But it's named that after a place in Athens that also has a beautiful viewpoint. But it basically is a restaurant like on a cliff side. So you pay more to sit on this like promontory that sticks out into the caldera. And you have this great view. Of course, Glennn was like, so where it is like, am I going to be nervous? And we had to go down all these steps to get to it. [00:26:24.500] - Tamara Gruber He was like slowly going down the steps and the the hostess kept turning and looking back. And I'm like, we're OK, you know? But I will say, like, that place was crazy expensive, which we knew it was going to be, because it's definitely very like this is one of the most beautiful places to have a meal or whatever. But I didn't think it was worth it. So I wouldn't say to do it like the food was good, but it was much more like it came out very quickly and it was like everybody near us was getting the same thing at the same time. [00:26:54.950] - Tamara Gruber And it just didn't have that personal feel to it. And for like a gas station menu was a lot of like phone this and, you know, like very I don't know, kind of it was inventive, but it also felt very like it's probably been done a lot, you know. Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah. So I mean, but it was still we had a beautiful view. We wandered around town afterwards and it's just so nice. [00:27:13.550] - Tamara Gruber We sit as we're sitting there because we probably had like an eight thirty reservation, like, you know, the sunsets. And then so things start to have that beautiful glow and then the lights start to come on. And then by the time you leave, it's like all lit up and it's just, you know, like really, really gorgeous. I really fell in love with, like, that part of Santorini. But, you know, someone asked me, like, how long should you stay in Santorini? [00:27:35.750] - Tamara Gruber And I said, well, I think at least three nights, you know, maybe two nights if you've already, you know, been in Greece. But really, it depends on your budget. Like, how long can you afford to stay there because the food's expensive, like everything is definitely pricey. [00:27:49.700] - Tamara Gruber So our last day on Sunday, we ended up we had booked a half day wine tour with Santorini wine trails, and we did that. All the tours that they're doing right now are private. So, you know, we basically visited a vineyard and then Santorini is probably most well known for their wine, their white wine. And so we went to, I think, three wineries and did different tastings and tasting. We had like some local cheese or one thing I totally fell in love with was the tomato paste, because like Santorini is known for tomatoes, too. [00:28:25.520] - Tamara Gruber And you think about tomato paste like that, you would buy at the store, come to where the little can and you just like your lasagna or something like that. Like this was it was like you just want to spread it on bread. It was amazing. You know, I definitely had a great time on that tour. We learned a lot. You know, it's just the kind of thing that we like to do. Again, this trip was very oriented towards couples, you know, as I apologize, or people like looking for family, you know, kids, things to do because we were very focused on things that we love to do. [00:28:56.390] - Kim Tate Well, that still sounds awesome. Sounds like a gorgeous splurge. And I'm sure there's plenty of people listening that don't have kids are looking for an anniversary trip or, you know, some kind of luxury luxury time. So I think it's good. [00:29:08.840] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. [00:29:09.800] - Tamara Gruber And then our last night, we walked down to Ammoudi bay and we watched other sunset catamarans go out and man, those things were packed. Those were crowded. [00:29:17.900] - Tamara Gruber And then we had dinner down there at a Ammoudi Fish Tavern, which was it was just a great you know, it's very touristy feeling, but it's just it was like such fresh fish. The guy was like, no, no, come over to that, because I was asking, like, what is this type of fish like? And he's like, come look. And I'm like looking at it is not going to help me know how it tastes like, you know, he kept trying to like, you know, like, look at this one and we'll cut it this way. [00:29:44.810] - Tamara Gruber He'll do this. But, you know, it's very fresh. [00:29:47.390] - Tamara Gruber So, you know, that was that was a lot of fun. And I didn't mention. But if you follow on Instagram, you've probably seen. [00:29:52.730] - Tamara Gruber But we did a Flytographer photography shoot that morning before we did the wine tour. So that was a lot of fun to [00:30:00.770] - Kim Tate those turned out so well. And I'm happy with the dress you chose. It looked perfect. [00:30:05.240] - Tamara Gruber Thank you. And thank you. Yes. For your advice. I was going back and forth, but I'm like, you know, I just feel comfortable in this one. And I think, like, you know, Glennn is a pink shirt. It'll kind of go together and yeah, we worked with Nikola and he did a fantastic job. And he did so many different, like locations. We're like really fast, which is good because, like, I didn't think about poor Glenn because it was a lot of like edges. Edges. [00:30:33.540] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, exactly. I did at one point he was just like, I need a break. I, I'm sitting this one out, take some pictures of her on her own. But, you know, we had fun. It was it was really nice. So it's just something that it's just such a good memory. Like I know I will look back at those photos and like always smile, you know, I was they'll bring back such happiness. [00:30:56.520] - Tamara Gruber It's nice to have photos of the two of us because frankly, I don't know. We have some from our wedding, like, yeah, I have a lot of that. [00:31:03.210] - Kim Tate So he did a great job also of posing you guys. I mean, they were definitely nice anniversary shots. And I think that was part of it is some of the looks and the poses were great. So it wasn't just being in a beautiful area. I mean, they really were engaging of the two of you and good, good representative representation of your relationship. [00:31:22.210] - Tamara Gruber So, yeah, no, I agree. [00:31:23.970] - Tamara Gruber It was it was really it was very nice. And so I'm happy to do that and tip for anyone that wants to do something like that for a future trip. What I do for photographer is every Black Friday they have a sale and I buy a gift certificate like gift card for that sale and then I'll just use it whenever I book for a trip. So little money saving tip there. [00:31:47.270] - Kim Tate If it's that smart, is it? So it's like a gift card or whatever. And then you can. Yeah. [00:31:51.840] - Tamara Gruber And then I get a code or whatever you apply. [00:31:53.670] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. Yeah. [00:31:55.320] - Tamara Gruber So and that one I had a credit from, we had booked for Paris and twenty twenty that we didn't do and so I wanted to use it. I didn't know how long they were going to keep that credit valid and I didn't know when our next family trip would be. So my kids do this so. [00:32:09.600] - Tamara Gruber Yeah but so that kind of wraps up Santorini. And then the next day we were taking a ferry over to Naxos, which is one of the largest of the Cyclades Islands. And it's you know, but it's quieter and it is a lot less expensive. I know that our friend Eric from Travel Babo has gone there a lot with his family. And, you know, so I decided to do that as our second island. [00:32:32.860] - Tamara Gruber It would have been nice if we had a little more time to maybe squeeze in one other island. But, you know, that one was good. We did five nights. I think a lot of people will do like Santorini. Well, maybe they'll do Mykonos, but Mykonos is very much like a young party island. I'm like, yeah, I'm too old for that. And it's super expensive. Or they'll do Crete, but Crete is huge. And so you could do like your whole vacation. [00:32:54.150] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. Just on Crete. Yeah. So yeah, this felt like a good mix for us to have like one more of the famous ones and one of the slightly less visited ones. So we took the ferry and I'll just like a few words about taking the ferries in Greece just because it was new to me. And now I know. And if I had known what to expect, I may not have been so stressed out. [00:33:12.420] - Tamara Gruber But we got to the very port early. But it's just open. There's no like docks that have names of where to go. So we went into like the siege at office, which was the ferry that I had booked. [00:33:24.000] - Tamara Gruber We had filled out our forms and also done our mobile boarding passes. We had all that like on our phones, but we weren't quite sure where to go when we got there. So I went to the office. They're like, oh, just go to like this building like Terminal four. So, OK, so we go in there and we're sitting there and I hear different people talking around me and they're like, oh, we're going to make a noise, we're going to Athens. [00:33:43.740] - Tamara Gruber So I'm like, OK, so there's multiple boats. So we have to like, really listen for like when our boat is coming right. And the time is getting closer and closer and closer and the place is really filling up and everyone's talking and it's just like loud and you can't hear a thing. And then I hear some guy like all the way at the end of the hall, like coming in and shouting like anyone going to want, you know, and you're like, what was that? [00:34:06.870] - Tamara Gruber So there's like nothing on the loudspeaker to like. No. You know, which boat are they announcing? Should I go out? Do I not go out like what's going on? And then finally I hear them say, like Paros and I hear them say things. [00:34:20.280] - Tamara Gruber And so I'm like, oh, OK, that's not us. That's not us. And then finally, it seems like everyone is just walking and going. So I'm like, we should just go. Like, I was going, yeah. So as we get out there, the boat is coming in and I realize it's a huge boat. This boat is going to all those islands. It's not like there's one boat to meagerness, one boat to Paris, one boat to Athens. [00:34:43.320] - Tamara Gruber So I'm like, oh, OK, I get it now. But so you're in this giant, like heard and then they are running a few minutes late, which they often are. And so like the boat is not even like docked yet and you know, the gangplank is down, people are ready to walk off and they're like hurting us. They're like, go, go, go, go, go down. You, you know? And I'm like, you know, I have my you know, we have our luggage. [00:35:07.230] - Tamara Gruber Of course, I have my phone out to show, like the boarding pass. And I think I'm have to show like my health form and my boarding pass and like all this stuff. And the people are streaming off the boat and and, you know, we're like streaming on at the same time and the people are in the back almost with, like, cattle prods, like, go, go, go. And I hear the captain go in like, we got to go. [00:35:26.710] - Tamara Gruber We got to leave. We got to leave my. Oh, my God. Like, what are they going to do, like leave people, you know, we're barely on the boat. And the thing is coming up and they're pulling away and we're it's just like you're in the hold of the boat with, like, the cars. And there's like these racks where you can put your luggage and some of them are labeled with certain islands. But, you know, people are just throwing their luggage up on racks and like you're running out of space. [00:35:51.910] - Tamara Gruber So Glenn's like putting it up on the top thing. And then there's this huge, like line to get up the stairs, you know, but it's like very bouncy at this point. So you're, like trying to keep your balance, but there's like a catch point because that's where you then have to show, like, your boarding pass. They never checked the health forms, you know, and then we get up there and then finally they're like, OK, these are your seats. [00:36:11.650] - Tamara Gruber And we sit down. [00:36:12.160] - Tamara Gruber We're like, oh, OK. [00:36:14.200] - Kim Tate Like, that was very stressful. How long ago, right? Was it? [00:36:17.560] - Tamara Gruber It was. I think I was like about an hour and a half to go from Santorini to Naxos. [00:36:22.900] - Kim Tate What do they do with the people who don't have their boarding? [00:36:25.120] - Tamara Gruber I know. Exactly. And they start from like they stopped at another island like Ios, I think first, you know, and so I don't know. I don't know. Do they like I have no idea what you put your kind of don't want to put your bag in first either because like how do you get your bag out then these racks of everybody and throwing their bags on top. And I believe that they wait there for a while. They'll let you get your bag. [00:36:50.590] - Tamara Gruber so then we're sitting there and you hear and it's, you know, how things are. At least they had a loudspeaker on the on the ferry. And the ferry is very much like, do you actually hear it, though? It's probably like what you're used to with your ferries where, you know, you have assigned seating. It's more like airplane seating, like, you know, like you have seats. [00:37:07.330] - Kim Tate We don't run out here in Seattle. It's open seating. [00:37:10.790] - Tamara Gruber So, yeah. So we had assigned seating and I was like, there's a concession bar. So it's more like, you know, it's, it's a big, you know, it's a big boat. [00:37:17.410] - Tamara Gruber There's multiple tiers. [00:37:18.790] - Tamara Gruber So there is a loudspeaker, there's like TVs playing but they're in Greek. I don't know what's going on in them. And they're making the announcement first in Greek, but then in English. But I tell them, you you cannot understand it. It's just Charlie Brown. Yeah. And so we're just like, what? [00:37:33.010] - Tamara Gruber You know, what was that? [00:37:34.000] - Tamara Gruber What was that? And like, luckily we had seen as the boat was coming in, there was like one of those leg things where it was like Ios, Naxos, Paros, and it gave like the order. It seems like we're going to be the second one. Just remember where the second one, you know, but they're like, oh my, please report to whatever. [00:37:50.770] - Tamara Gruber So basically, like before you get to your island, they're calling you to go down to the hold and that's where you grab your luggage. Yeah. So then we grab our bag. [00:37:59.920] - Tamara Gruber But even then, like, it got stuck on, like there was like a net up there and like the wheel was stuck and we're like, oh, I got to get it out, you know. And then we're, you know, standing there and again, like it's like the thing is barely coming down. Stop, drop and roll. [00:38:12.280] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, like, go, go, go, go. [00:38:15.040] - Tamara Gruber And then the cars are coming off and they're like, get out of the way. And I'm like, oh my God. Like, what am I supposed to do? This is crazy. But one thing I will say is when you arrive at an island by ferry or by plane, it's really helpful if you have your transportation already arranged because there are not a ton of taxis on these islands. So we saw people like waiting a really long time for a taxi. [00:38:37.510] - Tamara Gruber So I had used I read about it online somewhere, but it's called Welcome Pickup's. It's like a little bit like an Uber, but you arrange it ahead of time and it worked seamlessly. They weren't on Naxos, but it worked in Athens and it worked in Santorini, you know, where we walked out of the plane in Santorini. And there's a guy holding a sign, you know, Gruber, and we get right in and go. And that's how it was when we arrived in Naxos. [00:39:00.730] - Tamara Gruber Although I didn't use that service, it was like through the hotel. But it was just so nice to be like, oh, here's a guy. You know, we do that we like just super long line to try to find a taxi. And, you know, so that was really great. I would definitely recommend using the welcome pick ups because the hotel in Santorini was going to arrange something. I think they were going to charge us maybe like seventy five euro. [00:39:21.580] - Tamara Gruber And then I booked through this and it was like less than 50 euro. So I'm sure it's even cheaper if you got a taxi. Sometimes it's like you're already spending that much money. It's like, do you really need to save twenty five bucks or whatever? [00:39:38.170] - Tamara Gruber Then that's how a lot of like when we were in Naxos, we the main town is called Naxos Town or Chora, I guess like what I've learned is that on the islands there's one town and all the others are villages, you know, so you have to like get to a certain size. And then all the main town is called like or something like that. And but it's also just called Naxos. [00:39:56.620] - Tamara Gruber So so we were about fifteen minutes south of there, like on a beach called Agios Prokopios. I always like switch the key in the P and so you could take a bus like back and forth. But we were like, yeah, I'll just take a taxi. But, you know, like, it's it is a little bit more so I can see why people would like to stay in town, but I really loved our location. So we stayed at a place called the Virtu Suites. [00:40:30.980] - Tamara Gruber Maybe they have a dozen rooms or so. They have different ones. We didn't we didn't go with the top of the line there. I just looked like a Seaview suite. So it was just like basically you walked out of our room and the pool was right there. But I love this hotel again. It was really new. Like they opened, I think late 2019. [00:40:51.880] - Tamara Gruber So then they were closed most of last year. [00:40:55.090] - Tamara Gruber And so there, you know, they are back and they were like, please leave us a review. Or if you like, we need, you know, we need to get the word out and like don't you worry. Yeah. I'm going to like let them know. So we, I loved it. Like everything was all these natural materials. It was like rope and wood. And, you know, it's just like a very, very nice style, very comfortable style. [00:41:16.990] - Tamara Gruber The service was wonderful. It wasn't I don't even know if all the rooms were filled. Definitely not when we got there, because we got there on a Monday, I felt like at first. We might have been like one of the only ones in the place. The room was pretty large, you know, it was just it was just so nice like you. [00:41:32.230] - Tamara Gruber We walked out of our room, you know, two steps. [00:41:34.930] - Tamara Gruber There is the pool, you know, ten steps. We're at the restaurant, which is like open area, restaurant, bar facing the street. And then you go across the street and there's the beach and the beach is gorgeous. [00:41:46.840] - Tamara Gruber And they have you know, they have loungers with umbrellas. And all you have to do is a hotel guest just have them reserve it. They give you a form the night before and the reserve you loungers down in the front. And then if those don't fill up, then like people can come and pay to stay at the other ones, you know, and they can bring you drinks and food and stuff. And so it was the and the beach was beautiful. [00:42:09.850] - Tamara Gruber The water was like fairly calm, whereas up by town, like there were a lot more waves. It was rougher. Like that's where people like surf and windsurf. [00:42:17.260] - Tamara Gruber So I thought it was great even for families, you know, like it. And it was it was fun because someone had said like, oh the yeah, the because the beaches in Santorini are like rock. [00:42:28.990] - Tamara Gruber So they're like, oh no. Naxos has really good beaches there. It's like silk. And I'm like, OK, they haven't seen, you know, some beaches because that was not like Florida. Well, it was it was not rock. It was more like, you know, what I'd have here in the in the Northeast, like, you know, coarse sand and then, you know, maybe some rock, like as you are getting into the water. [00:42:51.400] - Tamara Gruber And then it kind of drops off fairly quickly. And then it's super, super soft, like there is no seaweed, no shells. [00:42:57.130] - Tamara Gruber Like it was just really beautiful. [00:42:59.470] - Tamara Gruber You could go out, you know, and just kind of float or swim. And you had a pretty good current. Glenn tried to swim a little bit and it was it was tough. [00:43:06.700] - Tamara Gruber But, you know, you can just float and just like, you know, enjoy and relax. And the water was clear and, you know, a couple of fish swimming around. It was just it was really, really beautiful. Like, I was like, why am I in the Caribbean like this water? It was so turquoise. It was really beautiful and quiet. there were families. They would play like beach games and, you know, kids around. But it was it did not feel super crowded at all, like especially if you were out there in the morning. I think I posted some pictures and you can see there was like no one in the water. It was just it was beautiful, really, really beautiful. So I loved where we stayed. [00:43:40.720] - Tamara Gruber The town right where we were staying was smaller. So it was basically like a couple of beach shops with like beach bags and bathing suits and stuff like that. [00:43:50.200] - Tamara Gruber Maybe one boutique shop where I actually bought something and a few restaurants, you know, there were there were a few like attached to hotels. There were a few like right on that beachfront road and then a couple of others, but like very, you know, authentic and good food. [00:44:07.000] - Tamara Gruber You know, like we had our two dinners that we did. There were forty euro total and we had an appetizer to like giant entrees that we couldn't finish, I think. Well, the one place they brought us a free dessert, two drinks, like I was like forty euro versus Santorini. So it was it was really very affordable there. Even the hotel restaurant, which was really good, was not overpriced, you know, for anything. A hotel restaurant is always going to be a bit more. [00:44:35.380] - Tamara Gruber So we loved it there. I would definitely recommend looking at staying there. Like I said, it was very comfortable, great service. [00:44:42.520] - Tamara Gruber And, you know, the distance from town was a little bit of a challenge, like we did take a taxi back and forth a few times. But it depends like if you're planning on renting a car or if you're going to, you know, just spend time on the beach, like you don't necessarily need to be going back and forth every day. Yes, I really enjoyed it. And then our first sounds nice. [00:45:03.010] - Kim Tate You know, first full day there, I had arranged for us to charter a private sailing on a sailboat. It was something that we had done. When we were in Italy one time and it was like one of my best travel days ever, so like, I really want to do this and we just didn't want to do like we wanted. I felt like we're in the islands, like, how do you not get out on the water and see it from the water? [00:45:25.360] - Kim Tate And like that felt like part of the experience. But I didn't want to do like a big group thing. Like, it just wasn't comfortable with that. [00:45:31.900] - Tamara Gruber So, yes, I had booked it through Naxos Sailing and the guy, the Captain George was like he was such a character, so funny. [00:45:40.960] - Tamara Gruber So I don't know, like, sarcastic, like just he was great. But he also like, you know, he really took care of us and he had like another guy that was kind of like apprenticing for him, helping out too. But we went out for the whole day and we went first to it. So basically, like from Naxos, you can see the island of Paros. So we went over to Paros and then there's some small, like a smaller island off of Paros called Antiparos And so there was an area there where we were snorkeling or is like definitely popular. You could see like a number of boats coming out to do snorkeling there. There are a couple like yachts sitting there. It was a little bit rough. It reminded me a little bit of when you and I were in Key Largo and we went, oh, yeah, yeah. So not as seasick, but like, remember when we got in there and we're like, really bobbing around like the water bobbing like this. [00:46:37.390] Like I went in and I'm going to I'm you know, I'm just not comfortable in the water. It's, I've never like the water, I don't enjoy swimming. I don't like going under the water. Snorkeling is fine because I can stay on top. But then when you're like bobbing around and then like a wave is coming and like water went down my snorkel. So then I'm like coughing and they're like, just blow it out. And I'm like, no, I'm done. [00:46:55.000] - Tamara Gruber I'm out of here. So, Glenn, you know, he did a little bit more and I just, like, hung out in the boat. But, you know, the water is beautiful, is great. [00:47:02.680] - Tamara Gruber Then we went over on Paros. [00:47:04.930] - Tamara Gruber There's like a sea cave that you can snorkel into, but the top of the cave has a big hole in it. So you had, like, the stream of light, like coming into this cave. So it's like a really neat experience. So we pulled up to there. But because it's like a fairly big sailboat, he couldn't get super close. [00:47:20.200] - Tamara Gruber So you'd have to, like, swim over and he gives you like a noodle and stuff, you know, because, like, I'm not a super strong swimmer, but I, I was like climbing down to get into the water and I just looked at it and I'm like, no, I'm not doing it. I'm sorry. Like, I'm just not I don't because I, I remember when we were in Italy, we I swam through this like grotto and like on the other side I had Hannah and stupidly, we didn't have like life jackets or noodles with us. [00:47:45.010] - Tamara Gruber And we were both getting tired. And I pulled her up on to some rocks and some guy had to like, help me get her back to the boat. So I'm like, no, I just don't think I can swim that far. Like, I don't think I'm that, you know, I'm comfortable. So Glenn went with, like, the other guy on the boat and I just hung out on the boat and he loved it. He thought it was great, but it just wasn't something like like, again, I'm just not a very good swimmer. [00:48:06.370] - Tamara Gruber So then from there went to like a small fishing village on Paros and we could stay in, like, hang out and have lunch there and go to a beach there. We're going to be there for like three hours. So it gives you time to like explore Paros. That's the reason I booked this particular tour, because I felt like, oh, this gives us a way to, like, see another island without having to, like, worry about the ferry schedule. [00:48:29.860] - Tamara Gruber So we decided to go and take a cab to the main town and I always mispronounce this one too. But it's like Naoussa. We had to wait a really long time for a cab. So again, like if we had arranged it ahead of time, it would have worked much better because by the time we finally got there, we only had like a little over an hour and we needed to eat some lunch too. [00:48:59.380] - Tamara Gruber Like I would have I would have had lunch while I was waiting if I had known it was going to take that long. And they're like, oh, it's going to be ten minutes and it was going to be half an hour. And then suddenly, like an hour later, we're still like waiting for the cab. But that town was gorgeous. [00:49:12.490] - Tamara Gruber It was so charming. I know again, Eric has posted some pictures from there in the past, but it was I fell in love with that town and I'm like, we have to come back and we have to stay on Pario so that we can explore more of this town. [00:49:24.430] - Tamara Gruber It just felt like there were just so many shops. There's so many, like in the old town, like so many little alleyways and restaurants and things to explore. Just looks so cute. But we had kind of a quick lunch quick, a little walk through, and then we had to take the cab back. [00:49:37.990] - Tamara Gruber And then from there we sailed back to Naxos and I just kind of like chilled out. And it was it was a great day. [00:49:46.420] - Tamara Gruber So, you know, again, a really fun thing to do, whether you do it private or they do, you know, small groups, you know, and he has a bunch of different tours he does on sunset catamarans. So actually, he gives you a DVD with the photos because he has like an underwater camera. So he takes photos all throughout the trip. Then he gives you a DVD. [00:50:04.990] - Tamara Gruber So the next day when we were in town, we stopped by the boat to get the DVD and he was like, oh, someone like already reached out to me that said that, you know, they heard. About it from you, and they booked a trip with us. I'm like, oh, that's amazing. You know, so because I don't think he I mean, we paid for everything on this trip like nothing was sponsored or comped. So I didn't even always even mention that to people. [00:50:25.670] - Tamara Gruber So I don't even know if I don't think he's very savvy when it comes to Instagram. I don't think he knew that I tagged, you know. [00:50:32.000] - Tamara Gruber Oh, yeah. He was probably just like, wow, this is great, you know? Yeah. So that was a great day. I'm sorry. I'm just like going on. [00:50:41.600]
Flytographer connects travelers with local photographers in over 350 cities around the globe for fun, hassle-free photo shoots.Inspired by a 2011 trip to Paris, from the desire to capture vacation memories that weren't awkward selfies or blurry photos from strangers, Nicole Smith set out to solve the gap in the market for vacation photography. Two years later, Flytographer was born.Today, our community of 500+ hand-picked professional photographers has captured over 3 million memories across six continents. We believe that memories are the best souvenirs and connecting with a local artist is one of the best ways to experience a new city.We chat about what it's like to run a company of photographers and how Paris changed her life!https://www.flytographer.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/join/Laviecreative)
#077 Tips for photographing your trip to Italy One of our favorite things to do is look at photos of past trips to Italy and relive the memories of time spent soaking up la dolce vita. Italy has to be one of the most photogenic countries in the world but sometimes the photo we hoped we had taken didn't quite turn out the way we wanted it to. If you want to take great photos in Italy, it pays to be a little prepared. On this week's episode we chat to professional photographers Natalie and Andrea from Flytographer who love taking photos of visitors on their vacation to Italy. They share their tips for taking the perfect snaps from Rome to the Amalfi Coast!Get all the tips and details of the gear mentioned in the show in the full show notes for this episode at: https://untolditaly.com/77 If you're an Italy lover looking for an immersive experience, come and join us in our online piazza - it's our favorite place to meet with podcast guests and learn more about Italian food, wine and culture. Learn more >> https://untolditaly.com/communitySupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/untolditaly)
Success means different things to different people. For Nicole Smith, founder of Flytographer, a global company that's captured over 3 million memories across six continents to date, success is about reclaiming her calendar and her time. Nicole's story of entrepreneurship, single motherhood, and how she built a multi-million dollar business is awe-inspiring. Listen and learn.
In this episode of Suited Up, I am joined by Nicole Smith. Nicole is the founder and CEO of Flytographer, the first global marketplace that connects travelers with hand-picked local photographers for fun, vacation photo shoots. She grew Flytographer from idea to a multi-million dollar business that operates in 300+ cities across six continents, and was ranked as one of the fastest-growing startups in Canada in 2017 & 2018 by Canadian Business Magazine. Flytographer has been called “The Future of Travel Photography” by Conde Nast Traveler and “An Ingenious Travel Hack” by Oprah.com. Nicole was also selected as an E&Y “Winning Women Class of 2018” and featured in Mashable’s “Eight Women Shattering the Travel Industry’s Glass Ceiling.” In 2015, she pitched on Dragons’ Den (two offers, which she turned down!), and in 2018 won the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) “Pitch for the Purse”. She is now a board member at FWE, and loves advising new entrepreneurs. Our conversation covered everything from taking the leap of faith to create a startup, challenges women entrepreneurs are facing today, and how to foster a close-knit team and positive work environment when your employees are scattered around the globe. Be sure to follow @suiteduppodcast on Instagram and Suited Up Podcast on Facebook for updates on new episodes or to connect! Connect with Nicole: Flytographer Website - https://www.flytographer.com/ Flytographer Instagram - @flytographer Nicole's Instagram - @flytographerlife Other resources referenced in the episode: Flytographer Travel Shop, Better Everyday Photos with Your iPhone course and Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) Music credit: On The Wave by Groove Bakery | https://groovebakery.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ Cover art by Delaney Tesch
Building an engaged, happy global community in the gig economy isn’t easy, but it is possible – just ask Nicole Smith, Founder and CEO of Flytographer! Nicole’s company Flytographer is a marketplace that connects travelers with hand-picked local photographers for fun vacation photoshoots. In six... The post Shoot Your Shot: Navigating the Gig Economy with Nicole Smith – December 8, 2020 appeared first on Startup Canada.
In this episode of Suited Up, I am joined by photographer Krystal Kenney. Krystal was born in a small suburb outside of Baltimore, Maryland but packed her bags at the age of 26 to start out on an adventure in Paris, France. She never expected to still call Paris home over 8 years later where she now resides with her Italian husband and her adorable pup, Coco. When she's not whizzing around the city photographing events she also teaches online courses in photography and will be publishing her first book, a memoir, about her time in Paris called "Paris, A Life Less Ordinary." She also hosts a popular podcast where she records weekly interviews with creatives in Paris called "La Vie Creative" available on iTunes. We had a delightful conversation about the vibrant community of artists in Paris, the fascinating events she has photographed in The City of Lights and around the world, and challenging herself to take on a new creative endeavour during the pandemic. Be sure to follow @suiteduppodcast on Instagram for updates on new episodes or to connect! Connect with Krystal: Krystal's website - https://www.missparisphoto.com/ Krystal's Instagram - @missparisphoto Krystal's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/krystal.kenney.923/ "La Vie Creative" podcast - https://laviecreative.buzzsprout.com/ "Paris, A Life Less Ordinary: Memoir" - https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Life-Less-Ordinary-Memoir-ebook/dp/B08CL6FKSG Other resources mentioned in the episode: Flytographer, The Travel Shop by Flytographer, and "Better Everyday Photos with Your iPhone" photography course. Music credit: On The Wave by Groove Bakery | https://groovebakery.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ Cover art by Delaney Tesch
Nicole Smith is the founder and CEO of Flytographer and a mom of two boys based in Victoria, B.C. Inspired by the photographs from her own trip and recognizing the trend of travelers seeking authentic local experiences, Nicole found her true calling and launched Flytographer in March 2013. Now six years later, Flytographer has more than 550 photographers in 300+ destinations around the world and has helped over 10,000 happy customers capture priceless vacation memories.In this episode you will learn:How Nicole identified a gap in the market for vacation photographyHow a trip to Paris with her bestie planted the seed of a simple idea that would change the course of her career as an entrepreneur and CEOHow "work-life integration" is her mantra juggling her busy life as an entrepreneur and mom raising two boysThe advice she has for other moms who think their dream is too big to chaseHow her company is working hard to capture priceless memories for people, while helping shift the culture of 'doing it for the 'gram' in popular tourist destinations around the world.Get some serious wanderlust following Flytographer on Instagram or book a session with a Flytographer photographer at Flytographer.com.
If you’ve ever wanted to capture a moment with a loved one while traveling, you’ve likely faced the awkward encounter of asking a stranger to take a photo, only to realize the final product is entirely subpar. On today’s episode, Nicole Smith shares how a reunion with her best friend in Paris gave her the idea for Flytographer, a company that connects travelers with local photographers around the world, capturing special moments and experiences in a way a selfie never could. While Nicole was satisfied with her career in tech and steady life back home in Canada, she couldn’t ignore the feeling that a need for better travel photography existed and ultimately decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. Over the last six years, Flytographer has expanded to three-hundred cities across six continents and has been hailed one of the fastest-growing startups in Canada. Anyone who wants to make an impact on the world of travel or may have a business idea they just can’t shake, this one's for you.
Entrepreneurial success can be chalked up to a number of things and one of them is usually good timing. In this episode of The Go-To, we sit down with two experts who have mastered their elevator pitch and communicated it with finesse, to land their big opportunity when the timing was right. First, we get the low down on the three components of an elevator pitch with Nicole Smith, Founder & CEO of Flytographer and then we hear how being open to options led to the success of MYTAGALONGS Founder & CEO, Nicole Authier. Get ready to master your elevator pitch in this week's episode and ask yourself “when opportunity comes knocking, will I be ready?”
Le succès d'une entreprise peut être attribué à un certain nombre de facteurs, dont le bon « timing ». Dans cet épisode du Go-To, on va s'assoir avec deux experts qui ont maîtrisé leur argumentaire d'ascenseur, et l'ont communiqué avec finesse, afin de saisir leur grande opportunité lorsque le moment était propice. Tout d'abord, on va découvrir les trois principaux éléments d'un argumentaire d'ascenseur avec Nicole Smith, fondatrice et directrice générale de Flytographer, puis on va savoir comment l'ouverture aux options a mené au succès de la fondatrice et directrice générale de MYTAGALONGS, Nicole Authier. Préparez-vous à maîtriser votre argumentaire d'ascenseur dans l'épisode de cette semaine et demandez-vous « Quand l'opportunité se présentera, serai-je prêt? »
Have you ever taken a vacation somewhere, and wished you knew a local photographer who could capture some photos of you while you were there? Flytographer is a Canadian-based startup that connects travelers with hand-picked local photographers in over 275+ destinations for fun, candid vacation photo shoots. Their photographers not only capture incredible memories but are amazing resources for what to eat, see and do in each city. Nicole Smith is the founder and CEO of Flytographer, and in this interview we talk about how it works, how it all started, and how as a photographer you can get involved. Website: https://www.flytographer.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flytographer/
Michelle Ardiel is the Director of Photographer Operations at Flytographer, the very first platform created for vacation photographers that now works with 500 photographers in 300 cities around the world. Passionate about seeing the connections between travelers and local photographers, Michelle fosters community with intentional global retreats that build life-long friendships. Notes: How creating a community allows for better retention The importance of social, not just work-related tasks during an off-site/meetup Booking a meetup depending on the busy/slow season of the business Booking in a city that is most convenient to the majority of the home base Why community is the most important thing
One of the things I love about doing this podcast is meeting super interesting people. And learning about how they got to where they are today. That’s why today I invited Nicole Smith. Nicole Smith is the founder & CEO of Flytographer a personal photography service when you travel abroad. It’s a really great concept, you should check out their site. I invited Nicole because she didn’t fit the stereotypical startup founder mold. She’s a mother of two boys. She was a successful marketing executive with Microsoft. And Nicole launched her startup in the middle of a successful career. Simply put, Nicole had a lot more to lose than your 20-year old college grad. Today we dive into things like: Overcoming imposter syndrome How she got on the Today Show and the Canadian version of Shark Tank…Dragon’s Den And how her corporate background didn’t hold her back from being a scrappy entrepreneur If you think it’s too late to follow that entrepreneurial path, this interview with Nicole will convince you otherwise. Links: Flytographer Nicole Smith on LinkedIn I'd like to hear from you: What topics should we cover? Send me an email or reach me on Twitter @marcbitanga Did you like the episode? Rate it or submit a short review. Connect with me: On LinkedIn On Twitter @marcbitanga On Instagram @marcbitanga
You know I love slow travel and if you're travelling on foot that's one of the slowest forms of travel there is - hence my love for the topic of hiking, which is what this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about! I start off the episode talking with highly experienced hiker Greg Seymour, who has through-hiked the Appalachian Trail (amongst other hiking experiences) and we chat about some of the wonderful benefits of being out there in nature. Next I talk with Eva Westerling who, despite considering herself something of a non-hiker when she was younger, has gone on to do some amazing hikes on her travels, particularly in Morocco and Oman. Lasty I chat with Talon Windwalker about his hiking experiences with his daughter both in the United States and in Europe, and how you don't have to be out in the vast wilderness to experience benefits from going for a hike. Links: Book your travel photos with Flytographer - https://www.flytographer.com/ - and get $50 off a shoot by using the code AMANDA50 Greg’s site Chica and Sunsets - https://chicaandsunsets.com/ Greg's post comparing the Appalachian Trail and the Camino de Santiago - https://chicaandsunsets.com/appalachian-trail-vs-the-camino-de-santiago/ Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com Talon’s website http://1dad1kid.com/ Talon on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/onedad1kid/ Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/124
Does the winter cold have you dreaming of an island getaway? This week Kim and Tara from Pint Size Pilot share their recent experiences on the island of Barbados. Learn everything you need to know about planning a Barbados vacation with kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Presenting sponsor Rosetta Stone 01:21 - Talking with Tara Cannon 03:46 - Tara’s vacations to Barbados 05:33 - Best time to go to Barbados 07:29 - Popular areas to stay on the island 12:15 - The people of Barbados 14:13 - Beaches in Barbados 14:55 - Tara’s favorite hotels 19:22 - Restaurants/local foods 24:04 - What to see/do in Barbados 26:08 - Spas in Barbados 30:40 - Getting around the island 34:53 - Final tips for visiting Barbados 42:20 - Where to take a family photo 47:07 - Tara’s favorite travel gear 50:12 - Where Tara is going next 53:30 - Kim’s upcoming vacations SPONSOR: ROSETTA STONE Are you planning an international trip next year? Now is the time to start learning a new language with Rosetta Stone. The Rosetta Stone language learning system prepares you to use your new language skills in the real world. Rosetta Stone uses visual cues and its Dynamic Immersion system to develop practical conversational skills. With an emphasis on speaking, you will feel confident using your new language skills when traveling abroad. This holiday season, why not gift your family (or yourself) a three, six, 12, or even a 24-month subscription for as little as under $11 per month! You can learn on the go with the Rosetta Stone mobile app with features like downloadable lessons for learning offline and an audio companion for environments where you can listen but not speak aloud. Visit RosettaStone.comto sign up today. ABOUT TARA CANNON Tara Cannon is the owner of Pint Size Pilot– a Family Travel Adventure Blog dedicated to taking the fear out of exploring the world with kids. Follow Tara on Facebook, Instagram, Twitterand Pinterest. TIPS PLANNING A BARBADOS VACATION Mid December to the end of April is high season to visit Barbados, which is when the weather is the best and it is dry season so you don't get much tropical rain. Hurricane season is between August and September but being as the island is farther out of the path of hurricanes, there is slightly less of a chance that there will be a storm compared to the other Caribbean Islands. Keep in mind that vacationing to this island will get a bit pricey. If it is right for you be sure to look into all -inclusive resorts. If you don’t have it in your budget to rent a car, or you don’t feel confident enough to navigate around the island, the Barbados bus system is cheap and not to bad to use. Though if you are traveling with young kids it may not be the best option since you will be carting so much stuff around. There is no issue with language since English is widely spoken on the island. Keep in mind that wearing camouflage is illegal and reserved only for their military. They will confiscate it as well as drones if found in customs. BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO Tara has used Flytographer to book a photographer to take photos on the west coast. You can surely take your own sunset shot on the beaches of the west coast. You will just need to be a little creative with your lighting to light the faces of your family. Hilton Barbados has a great area to play around with family photos! FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Tara loves to wear her bathing suit underneath a romper so that she can stop whenever she finds a great spot to go in the water. She also likes to be prepared and packs a bag with towels and sunscreen to keep in the car for those potential stops. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Guide to Barbados with Kids Lone Star Restaurant Cutters Cuz’s Fish Shack Folkestone Marine Park FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, orGoogle Playand leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035# You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcaseand We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebookor Twitter. Thanks for listening!
Have you ever gone on vacation, only to return with way too many selfies and blurry photos? Well, that almost happened to the founder of Flytographer, Nicole Smith. She was a few days into her trip with her best friend in Paris, when they both realized that their photos weren't properly depicting the great time they were having. Instead of taking more selfies, and settling for horrible images, they asked a friend to come along for the day to take some candid shots. That's when it hit her. This was a time when experiences and photographic memories were so important. Why wasn't there a travel company offering this type of service? Once home, she researched the topic and realized there was a hole in the market. So she started small, by offering photography sessions as gifts for friends that were on vacation, in order to test out her idea. And the rest is history. Take a listen to see how Nicole bootstrapped her vision, while raising little kids and turned her dream into a reality. It wasn't easy; but her story proves that was your can dream, you can achieve with a lot of hard work and dedication.
Women make up half the overall workforce, but they account for only a quarter of the positions in information technology, or IT, according to global consulting giant Deloitte. In this episode, I interview Scarlett Sieber, Senior Vice President of New Digital Businesses at BBVA and former Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder of tech startup Infomous, who frequently speaks on topics of innovation, women and technology. Also, we hear from single mom Nicole Smith, founder and CEO of Flytographer, a travel photography platform included in that 10 percent of female-founded tech startups, and three years later is reports multiple 7-figures in revenue. We talk about:
How many times have you come back from a once-in-a-lifetime trip only to realize your photos were blurry, or maybe that, because you'd taken all of them, you weren't actually *in* any? These were the problemsNicole Smith was trying to solve when she founded Flytographer, a company that connects travelers with local photographers so vacationing couples and families can come back with professional-level, Instagram-envy-provoking photos. Nicole joins us this week to talk about the phenomenon of pro vacation photography, as well as the evolving role of photos in our traveling lives.
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