Podcasts about Viator

We continue with part 2 of this historic 9-day adventure through Egypt exploring the impressive Abu Simbel, and continuing on our Nile River cruise stopping in Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple, and ending in Luxor - a literal open air museum. In Luxor we take you into the most colorfully preserved tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the impressive cliffside Temple of Hatshepsut, take you through the largest Temple of Karnak, and end with seeing the Temple of Luxor, right in the middle of the city, lit up at night. We close the episode with one last spa day at the amazing Hilton Cairo Heliopolis.On this trip we went with Gate, cruised on the Queen of Hansa and in Cairo stayed at ⁠Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino ⁠and ⁠Hilton Cairo Heliopolis.⁠ If those Cairos hotels are booked, check out these other highly rated hotels in Cairo.Check out our recommended Egypt experiences on Viator to visit all the same sites we did on this trip.Find a great flight deal to Cairo by signing up for Thrifty Traveler Premium and get flight deals sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.—---------------------------------------Shop: Trip Itineraries ⁠& ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠Connect: ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We take you along a 9-day adventure through Egypt starting with the iconic Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx of Giza and then taking to the seas for a 4-day Nile River cruise stopping at ancient temples in Aswan Luxor and Kom Ombo. We bring you to Abu Simbel, colorful tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum throughout this part one of our two-part episode series.On this trip we went with Gate, cruised on the Queen of Hansa and in Cairo stayed at Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino and Hilton Cairo Heliopolis. If those Cairos hotels are booked, check out these other highly rated hotels in Cairo.Check out our recommended Egypt experiences on Viator to visit all the same sites we did on this trip.Find a great flight deal to Cairo by signing up for Thrifty Traveler Premium and get flight deals sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.—---------------------------------------Shop: Trip Itineraries ⁠& ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠Connect: ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

Mitch Bach talks with Jenn Barbee, co-founder of Destination Innovate, about the real inner workings of DMOs, those three letters that every tour operator has an opinion about but few actually understand. Jenn has spent 30 years inside destination marketing, from a shoestring US Department of Commerce team trying to promote America on a $50,000 budget to her current work closing the gap between DMOs and the small businesses they are supposed to serve. The conversation covers how DMOs get funded, why they sit on valuable visitor data, and what tour operators can actually do to get beyond the dead-end website listing.It goes further than the typical "how to work with your tourism board" advice. Jenn and Mitch get into the identity crisis hitting tour operators and DMOs at the same time: both are losing ground to OTA platforms, both need direct guest relationships, and neither is building enough local partnerships to fight back. They talk short-term rental hosts as untapped referral channels, guerrilla marketing tactics that cost almost nothing, and the hard truth about inbound tourism to the US heading into World Cup and the 250th anniversary.Key TakeawaysYour DMO has expensive visitor data that could sharpen your product, pricing, and ads, but they will not hand it over unless you ask. 06:14 – 07:19 DMOs invest in data about visitor appetite, competing markets, and traveler clusters by neighborhood and interest type. That information rarely trickles down to small tour businesses because DMOs feel pressure to contextualize it or fear judgment on their numbers. Frame your ask around strengthening the destination's tourism product, not just helping your business, and you stand a real chance of getting access to insights you could never afford on your own.The single best first move with your DMO is to find the community manager and introduce yourself with specific visitor language, not a sales pitch. 11:48 – 12:58 Audit your tour product against what the destination website is promoting in terms of itineraries or themes, then reach out where you see a match or a gap. Lead with collaboration. Once you have that baseline, you can inch toward higher-value asks like data sharing or co-promotion, but only after you have earned the relationship through showing up and being useful.Survey your customers about whether they booked the experience before the hotel, then bring that data to the DMO. 56:29 – 56:39 If you can show a DMO that your tour attracted bed nights, you are speaking their only real language: occupancy and bed tax justification. Most tour operators never collect this data, and most DMOs have never seen it from a small business. It positions you as a strategic asset rather than another name on a listings page.DMOs are shifting from marketing organizations to stewardship organizations, and that tension is something you can use. 08:50 – 09:59 Many DMOs now describe themselves as "destination management" or "stewardship" organizations, moving toward what is right for their communities. Their boards and bed tax collectors still want heads-in-beds KPIs. If your tour disperses visitors into underserved neighborhoods, supports local businesses, or tells a more honest destination story, you become the kind of partner that helps a DMO justify its new direction to the people holding the purse strings.Getting listed on the DMO website is a win. Stop underestimating it. 13:10 – 13:45 Many operators treat a listing as table stakes, but some DMOs do not even offer that without a paid membership. If you are listed, follow up by tagging the DMO constantly on social media and feeding them content they can reshare within their brand guidelines. The social media managers have more flexibility than the executive staff and will amplify content that feels fresh or on-brand.If your local DMO is stuck promoting only the marquee attractions, skip them and go to the state level. 17:38 – 18:32 A DMO locked into bread-and-butter promotion is usually in protection mode, worried about occupancy numbers. State tourism offices have embraced experience-driven programming and are more open to working with operators who tell a broader story. For most small tour businesses, the state governor's conference on tourism is where accessible DMO relationships start.Short-term rental hosts are closer to the guest than any DMO, and tour operators should be building direct relationships with them now. 24:31 – 26:00 Short-term rentals nationally overtook hotels in occupancy as of September 2025. Those hosts talk directly to guests about what to do in town. A recommendation from a local Airbnb host is warmer than any OTA listing and costs zero commission. Finding them is manual (social media DMs, local searches), but the payoff is a direct referral channel with no middleman.Stop chasing first-time visitors. Loyal, repeat visitors spend more, stay longer, and sustain the businesses that matter. 32:49 – 33:32 DMOs and operators both fixate on acquiring new customers while ignoring the people who already love the destination. Repeat visitors become patrons of smaller, niche experiences and local businesses. For multi-day operators especially, a returning guest who books a deeper or different tour is more profitable than constantly feeding the top of the funnel.Identity beats branding. Know who you are and say no to the rest. 38:44 – 41:27 Jenn draws a hard line between brand (what you market) and identity (who you actually are and who you serve). When you lead with identity, you market less because the right people find you. That means turning down some customers and product ideas, which is terrifying for newer operators, but it prevents the bland, generic positioning that makes you invisible on platforms like Viator and GetYourGuide.The "book direct" movement matters for tour operators just as much as it does for short-term rentals and hotels. 42:58 – 44:28 Hotels lost roughly 80% of their distribution to OTAs. Tours and activities sit around 40% OTA-controlled, which means there is still time to build direct channels. DMOs missed the OTA boat the first time and are caught in a relevancy crisis. That creates a shared interest: both of you need to reclaim the guest relationship before the platforms own it entirely.Guerrilla, person-to-person marketing is the only thing worth betting on in this environment. 34:16 – 35:03 Replace coffee sleeves at a local shop for a week with a message like "next time mama's in town, try this." That costs almost nothing and puts your name in front of a local audience in a real, physical moment. Operators burning money on flashy ad campaigns and agencies are losing to the ones doing the manual work of building one relationship at a time.Bring tour operators, short-term rental hosts, and local businesses into the same room. The collaboration that comes out of it is worth more than any campaign. 30:35 – 32:17 A 12-person Tourpreneur meetup in Dallas turned competitors into collaborators planning joint tours before they left the room. Those rooms should include short-term rental hosts, restaurants, coffee shops. Nobody is organizing these cross-sector local gatherings yet. That is the opportunity.Rethink the "travel presentation at the library" model. Gather local people around something that is not your tour. 53:23 – 54:46 Jenn pitches a revival of the house-party model for travel: 10 to 15 people, food, conversation, then introduce the experience. For multi-day operators, this replaces the stale slide deck. Book clubs are surging. House gatherings are surging. The sale happens because you built trust in a personal setting, not because you ran a Facebook ad.Quirky, unpolished video cuts through. But virality does not equal business success. 36:32 – 37:38 Behind-the-scenes, day-in-the-life content is what is actually getting traction on social right now. The less templated and less AI-generated it feels, the better it performs. Use that attention as a hook, then shift to collaborative content and real relationship-building that converts. A weird 30-second clip of your tour prep is worth more than a polished banner ad.The inbound tourism situation in the US is worse than most operators realize, and pretending otherwise is a losing strategy. 48:28 – 50:43 Canadian airlines are pulling US routes for summer 2026. Sixteen countries now have travel advisories against

In this episode, Nathaniel gives us the briefest of histories on this ancient site located in the region of Campania in southern Italy. From early tribes like the Enotrians and Greek settlers from Sybaris to the Grand Tour and WWII, Paestum has endured and served many purposes through thousands of years. We'll tell you all you need to know before you go. If you're looking to book a hotel in or around Paestum, we recommend the hotels below. There are several different areas to stay in when you visit Paestum, near the archeological park, in the modern city, or near the beach. Next to each hotel we have listed the general area it is in. Tenuta Duca Marigliano Boutique Hotel - near the archeological park of Paestum -  Expedia | BookingHotel Villa Rita - near the archeological park of Paestum - Expedia | BookingSavoy Hotel & Spa - near the beach of Paestum - Expedia | BookingMec Paestum Hotel - in the modern city of Paestum - Expedia | BookingHotel Royal Paestum - best budget hotel near the beach of Paestum - Expedia | BookingHotel Dei Templi - best budget hotel near the archeological park of Paestum - BookingIf you're looking to take a tour in Paestum, we recommend these from Viator. Small group tour of Paestum with an archeologist ViatorPrivate tour of Paestum with an archaeologist ViatorThese hotel and tour links are affiliate links, and while we don't represent any of the companies listed, we do receive a small commission which goes towards supporting Only A Bag. We appreciate your support! If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.x Darcy and Nathaniel Only A Bag

El Centro San Viator de Sopuerta, fundado en 1952, está situado en la comarca de Encartaciones de Bizkaia. De titularidad Diocesana desde 2003 como parte de la Fundación Marcelo Gangoiti, es un Centro de formación, perteneciente a la Red HETEL, de referencia en el tejido socio-económico e industrial con influencia en muchas localidades de su entorno.

On this week's Just the Tip, Kim is taking you along on a bucket list experience The Blue Lagoon in Iceland! This world-renowned steamy turquoise spa experience is as amazing as it looks. In this episode, we bust a few mistruths and share the full experience to get you excited to visit yourself!You can book the same ⁠Combo Blue Lagoon & Transfer ticket on Viator⁠ that we used.Since you are going to The Blue Lagoon, you'll want to check out our ⁠Sky Lagoon⁠, ⁠Winter Iceland Trip⁠ and ⁠Summer Iceland Trip⁠ episodes too and our ⁠Iceland Itinerary⁠ too!Find great flight deals to Iceland by signing up for ⁠⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠⁠ and get flight deals sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trip Itineraries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

This episode is a continuation of our essential need-to-knows about visiting Venice. In this episode we're talking about food, tours, shopping, and more details on getting around, including the cheapest way to experience a boat ride across the Grand Canal.We'll answer questions like "What are cicchetti?," "Should we take a walking tour?," and "How do we know if the souvenirs we buy are really made in Venice?" In this episode we talk about taking a traghetto across the Grand Canal for €2. There are several points where you can do this, but not all of them run frequently or consistently. Here are the departure and arrival points that we recommend:San Tomà to/from O GarzoniS. Maria del Giglio to/from SaluteDogana to/from San Marco (Vallaresso)The city of Venice charges an entry fee to tourists staying outside of Venice and coming into Venice for the day. Here is a link to dates when those fees apply: ⁠⁠official Municipality of Venice website⁠⁠. That fee is €5 for booking the entry ahead of time and €10 for 3 days within the entry period or day of. More on this in our next headlines episode.For the map of the vaporetto, you can ⁠⁠click here⁠⁠. The map is in Italian and English, and while it doesn't have a timetable, it allows you to plan out when a vaporetto will be helpful! Below are some of the links we mentioned to hotels, tours, and more. Any link with an asterisk (*) is an affiliate link. Even though we don't represent the company, we receive a small commission if you use the link to book your stay. We mentioned the hotel we stayed at in Venice between the Ponte Realto and Piazza San Marco which is the "⁠Graspo de Ua"⁠.*Another hotel that we've heard amazing things about is the "⁠Hotel ai Mori d'Oriente⁠".* We also mentioned the super-swanky in the previous episode ⁠JW Marriott hotel*⁠ if you want to stay on this private island. And for the even more swanky, like, almost TOO swanky, we talked about the hotel on ⁠San Clemente.⁠* If you want to take a tour while in Venice, check out Viator.com*.Food tours in Venice*Gondola rides and tours*Tours in Murano*Likewise, if you're thinking about taking the train into Venice, you can check out ⁠Omio⁠* for tickets. They're an aggregate with an English-speaking help desk which can make any hiccups easier to solve. You can read more about Venice in our articles on onlyabag.com!If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Likewise, if you'd like to read our "Retrospective" of the year, you can check it out on Substack: "⁠⁠⁠A Year in Retrospect: Ai Tempi Belli⁠⁠⁠". Want to help the podcast? You can check out all of our affiliate links ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you book through any of them, we receive a small commission, and it helps to keep us going! You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going! As always, thank you all so much for listening.x Darcy and Nathaniel Only A Bag

In this episode, Scott McNeely, Head of Product and founding team member at Epicurate and co-founder of Modern Adventure, traces his journey from “kid with an Apple II+ in his mom's dessert business” to building and scaling product teams in travel, publishing, and tech. He reflects on growing up in humble circumstances while attending an elite LA boys' school, stumbling into travel writing, and then helping Lonely Planet and Viator navigate the shift from print to digital products. Along the way, Scott shares how his bias for action, love of ideas, and willingness to figure things out on the fly shaped his career.Scott opens up about the moments when those same strengths became liabilities, like a shouting match over digital transformation with Lonely Planet's leadership, and the emotional gut punch of being passed over twice for what felt like his perfect VP role. He talks candidly about anger, grief, and self-doubt, and how he rebuilt his confidence by zooming out, leaning on movement and thinking time, and staying curious. From scaling a team from 1 to 65 at Viator to learning to delegate, slow down, and create space for others, Scott offers a grounded, human look at what it really takes to keep growing as a leader.In this conversation, you'll learn:How to read your environment and decide whether to push for change or move on, using Scott's Lonely Planet experience as a case study.What it really takes to evolve from “get stuff done” operator to leader of a 60+ person team, including delegation, structure, and support systems.A grounded way to rebuild confidence after major setbacks, from being passed over for a dream role twice to anchoring your identity beyond one job.Things to listen for:(00:00) Intro(02:09) Scott's upbringing and early influences(08:28) Thank you to our sponsor, Navattic(05:53) Early career pivots and first big lessons(13:16) Pushing change and hitting resistance(27:27) Reading your situation with clarity and EQ(28:48) Leadership growing pains and delegation(31:29) Scaling fast teams and personal evolution(42:48) Career setbacks and shaken confidence(52:09) Centering habits for focus and resilienceA huge thanks to this episode's sponsor:Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value Resources:Connect with Scott: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmcneely Learn about Epicurate: https://epicurate.vip/Learn about Modern Adventure: https://modernadventure.com/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.coHire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coachingJoin Growth OS: https://deliveringvalue.co/growth-operating-system

In this episode, editors Sara V. Torres and Nahir I. Otaño Gracia discuss the themed issue of Viator they co-edited entitled "Early Global Insularities." They are joined by three of the contributors to the cluster (Tarren Andrews, Tanvir Ahmed, and Jonathan F. Correa Reyes) for a conversation about both pre-modern discourses of insularity, the lasting legacies of discourses that approach insularity as a form of isolation, and some of the ways in which insularity can be theorized as a form of connection. Islands occupy a sometimes ambiguous place in center-periphery models. As the conversation explores a wide range of conceptualizing islands in medieval, early modern, and modern texts, it "centers" insularity as a topography, a literary conceit, and a disciplinary trope. In a time of climate crisis, the precarity of islands and archipelagoes (so often the sites of colonial violence) brings a sense of urgency to this reappraisal of the historical ideation of insularity and the relationship of the local to the global. For more information, visit www.multiculturalmiddleages.com.

Kevin and Sylvia launched iRide Arusha in July 2024, offering motorcycle tours and rentals in Tanzania. Within 18 months they scaled across four East African cities through a franchise model called iRide Africa, with partners operating in Rwanda, Nairobi, and Mombasa. The franchise structure allows riders to cross borders and book multi-country tours.The episode covers operational realities: importing equipment across borders, navigating tourism regulations, managing multi-country payment processing, and running rentals and guided tours as two distinct businesses with different customer profiles and sales cycles. Kevin and Sylvia share how they find customers through motorcycle clubs, price for premium buyers, and use immediate response times as a competitive advantage.TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS1. Test adjacent niches when your market is saturatedRather than launch another safari company in an oversaturated market, Kevin and Sylvia identified motorcycle touring as an underserved adventure niche in East Africa. Consider what adjacent experiences your destination supports that competitors aren't offering.2. Franchise models can scale faster than going soloWithin 18 months, iRide expanded across four East African cities through franchise partnerships. Partners share mechanics, bikes, marketing resources, and customer referrals. This creates a network effect where riders can start in one country and end in another, adding value no single operator could deliver alone.3. Target communities, not just individualsKevin reaches out directly to motorcycle clubs in major US cities. One Chicago BMW Riders club is bringing eight people in February. Booking one club creates the revenue of eight individual customers with a fraction of the acquisition cost. Find the clubs, associations, or communities that match your experience type.4. Customer service is a competitive advantage in developing marketsTheir immediate response times and willingness to hop on Zoom calls builds trust fast, especially for customers who've never been to Africa.5. Platform diversification requires testing, not guessingiRide is on Get Your Guide, Viator, Klook, WeTravel, and fielding Facebook messages, but hasn't found the magic channel yet. Test widely, track what converts, double down there.6. Price for the experience you're actually delivering, not your self-doubtKevin admits they severely underpriced at launch. Beginner business owners often can't see their own value clearly. If you're offering wow moments and authentic connections, charge accordingly.7. Guided vs. rental requires different marketing and operationsRental customers (experienced, self-sufficient, quick decision makers) need less hand-holding than guided tour customers (more questions, longer planning cycles, higher price points). These are functionally two different businesses with different messaging, pricing, and customer profiles.8. Gross revenue and net income are very differentVehicle maintenance, cross-border parts sourcing, and insurance eat into margins constantly. Build cash reserves and expect hidden costs, especially in asset-heavy businesses.9. Local language fluency unlocks competitive advantagesSylvia's Swahili fluency helped navigate Interpol holds on imported bikes, handle tourism police complaints from competitors, and build long-term supplier relationships. Language access isn't just customer-facing—it's operational power.10. Differentiation isn't just what you do, it's how guests connectGuests consistently cite the vastness of the landscape and local interactions (like lunch with Sylvia's 88-year-old farming grandmother) as their standout memories. Design for connection points your format uniquely enables.

Les contaremos que para esta jornada hay 3 plenos urgentes o extraordinarios convocados dejar atrás las dimisiones de los 3 miembros del PP cesados de militancia y envueltos en la investigación del caso mascarillas.- El legionario herido por una explosión el jueves en la base de Viator ha perdido una mano y parte de la otra. Está estable y se recupera en Torrecárdenas tras ser operado de urgencia.- Después del Black Friday... hoy llega el Cibermonday. Día de descuentos en comercios físicos y online centrados principalmente en productos tecnológicos.- En los deportes el Almería empató a 0 contra el Huesca en un partido que dominó pero donde le faltó encontrar portería. Con este punto es tercero.- En Cultura hoy le hablamos de la escena alternativa almeriense de la mano del festival "Morada Sónica".Escuchar audio

This week's Travel Tuesday takes you along our girls trip to the Napa Valley wine region! Britt and Kim meet Robin there for four winery and tasting experiences, three days, two nights, and one wholesome, silly, and cute weekend. We loved Napa, and you will too!On this trip we went to 4 amazing wineries and had an amazing brunch:St. Supery Estate Vineyards - ⁠From Grape to Garden Wine and Vegetable Pairing Experience⁠Round Pond Estate - ⁠Gourmet Experience⁠Sterling Vineyards - ⁠Hilltop Experience⁠Winston's - Sunday morning brunchHere are some resources to help plan your trip to Napa:Download our ⁠Napa Valley Weekend Itinerary⁠ FREEHotels in Napa: ⁠Hilton Garden Inn Napa⁠, ⁠Napa Winery Inn⁠, ⁠Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa⁠, or ⁠The Cottages of Napa Valley⁠Places to Stay in Yountville: ⁠Napa Valley Railway Inn⁠, ⁠Mason Fleurie, A Four Sisters Inn⁠, ⁠Napa Valley Lodge⁠St. Helena Hotels: ⁠Vineyard Country Inn⁠, ⁠El Bonita Motel⁠, ⁠Harvest Inn⁠⁠Napa Valley wine experiences, tastings, and tours⁠: If you want to do Napa escorted, we highly recommend hiring a local private vehicle through Viator to take your group.Travel ⁠reusable wine packing envelopes⁠ to keep the bottles you buy safe until you get home.Find a great flight deal to Napa, or anywhere else, by signing up for ⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and get flight deals sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Shop:⁠ Trip Itineraries ⁠⁠&⁠ ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠Connect:⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

Elizabeth, a mom of three boys from Louisiana, planned an intentional one-on-one 12th birthday trip with her oldest to San Diego in October 2025, staying at the iconic Hotel del Coronado. In this episode, she shares how they spent their days tide-pooling in La Jolla, exploring the San Diego Zoo, and hiking Torrey Pines. She also walks us through how San Diego's Kids Free October program helped stretch their budget by making most of her son's entry fees free, and why this trip was such a special way to celebrate turning twelve.This episode is now available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you'd like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/kelseygravesFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_gravesFollow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mskelseygravesJoin us in the Trip Tales Podcast Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in this epsiode:- Kelsey's COMFRT Hoodie 15% off discount link: https://comfrt.com/KELSEY279- Hotel del Coronado neighborhoods: The Views, The Victorian, The Cabanas, Beach Club, Shore House- Hotel del Coronado breakfast at The Veranda, sunsets and drinks at the Sun Deck overlooking Point Loma- San Diego Zoo, panda exhibit- Cowboy Star Steak Restaurant- Sunset Cliffs at Point Loma- Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve: Guy Fleming Trail, Razor Point Trail to Red Butte- Birch Aquarium in La Jolla- Kayak Tour with Everyday California (leopard sharks!)- Tide-pooling in La Jolla, Viator tour with Snorkel Matt- Scripps Pier tide pooling- Village Pizzeria Coronado Island - Travel Agent: Katherine Boulet

We spend one day in each port - Sydney & Brisbane Australia and could Sydney be the best port view in the world? Here's how we recommend that you spend one day in each of these port cities in Australia to get just a taste, especially if you want to see the native species. Listen in for our experiences and tips and continue to follow along as we sail from Tasmania to Singapore with Pricess Cruises. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Travel More, Spend Less, Skip the Search, Join Travel Deal Insiders and get the latest and hottest travel deals delivered straight to your inbox -- for the price of a cup of Joe, you could save hundreds, if not thousands on your next trip. You're already planning everyone's vacations. Might as well get paid for it. Get Our Ultimate Packing Guide for Traveling Smart and Packing Light + Access to Exclusive Weekly Content here. Do More with Viator. Visit sunshinetravelers.com/viator to book local tours & experiences you'll remember. Stay connected when you travel for WAY LESS than using your carriers international plan, download an Esim from Gigsky and save a ton of money. Use code sunshine for 10% off Never Overpay for a Flight Again, Get Daily Drop Pro Don't waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, Get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear! Protect your privacy, increase your security, keep your browsing data secure, and don't get locked out of websites with Express VPN - get 3 months free with a yearly plan Follow Sunshine Travelers Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on TikTok @sunshinetravelerspodcast Follow us on X @sunshinetrvlrs Connect with us on LinkedIn @sunshinetravelerspodcast Get travel tips and follow our travels on Instagram: @sunshinetravelerspodcast Connect with us on Threads @sunshinetravelerspodcast Connect with us on Threads See our travel videos on YouTube @sunshinetravelerspodcast Save our travel ideas on Pinterest @sunshinetravelerspodcast Music: This Acoustic Happy Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

The FAA cuts air traffic to ease controller strain, Tripadvisor trims its workforce to double down on AI and experiences, and luxury hospitality faces a reckoning with its own overconfidence. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy covers how the shutdown is grounding more than flights, why Tripadvisor is reinventing itself for the AI era, and what “the illusion of knowledge” really means for the future of luxury travel. Articles Referenced: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠U.S. to Cut Air Traffic by 10% at Major Airports Due to Government Shutdown Layoffs Hit 20% of Tripadvisor, Viator and Administrative Staff: Scoop The Illusion of Knowledge in Luxury Hospitality Honorable Mention: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Honorable Mention: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AskAConcierge on IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

From driverless rides at airports to a surprising debit-card comeback and a major consolidation at Tripadvisor, today's travel headlines cover innovation, reinvention, and strategy shifts shaping the industry. Sarah Dandashy breaks down Waymo's growing footprint in mobility, United's push to reach younger travelers, and Tripadvisor's move to merge with Viator amid investor pressure. Articles Referenced: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Driving Cars' Hazy Travel Proposition Gets Clearer United Airlines to Launch Its Own Debit Card Tripadvisor and Viator to Merge Operations, Layoffs Imminent: Scoop Honorable Mention: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Honorable Mention: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AskAConcierge on IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Les contaremos que desde la Asociación de Tropa y Marinería Española siguen pidiendo explicaciones y responsabilidades por la muerte del soldado almeriense a Daniel Ruiz Mateo tras una explosión el pasado viernes en las instalaciones de la base de la legión en Viator.- Se ha levantado el Secreto de Sumario en la investigación por la violenta muerte de Antonio Campos. Esto supone que ahora las partes personadas ya tienen acceso a las diligencias.- La Guardia Civil ha detenido a 4 personas por el asalto violento a un camionero en la Ciudad del Transporte de La Mojonera, el pasado 21 de Septiembre, al que atropellaron y dispararon.- El paro al contrario que en Andalucía y España, ha bajado en el mes de Octubre alcanzando su cifra más baja en estas fechas desde el año 2007.- Esta previsto que el Ayuntamiento de Almería capital apruebe hoy inicialmente sus presupuestos para 2026. Son 300 millones, el más alto de su historia.Escuchar audio

Un militar ha fallecido esta mañana en la Base Álvarez de Sotomayor de Viator, en Almería, durante unos ejercicios en el campo de maniobras. Hay además otra persona herida.También esta madrugada ha fallecido el hombre de 53 años que resultó herido grave el miércoles en Gibraleón, en Huelva, después de caerle encima la estructura de un toldo por el temporal.Todo en el comienzo del fin de semana de Todos los Santos y día de los difuntos, algo atípico al no haber puente. Hoy es además la noche de Halloween con numerosos dispositivos de seguridad en toda la comunidad.Escuchar audio

Montini made history with a win over St. Laurence, Joliet Catholic stunned Providence to make the playoffs and St. Patrick defeated St. Viator in a matchup of former NFL players turned head coaches. Marian Catholic, Brother Rice and Carmel each added wins in Week 9.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Southwest Airlines expects up to $1 billion in new earnings when it launches extra legroom seats next January, marking a major shift from its signature open seating model, and is also exploring airport lounges by 2026. Activist investor Starboard Value is urging Tripadvisor to sell TheFork, improve Viator's performance, and boost profitability, even hinting the company could be an attractive acquisition target. Meanwhile, G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip warned that the travel industry is in “panic mode” over meeting 2030 climate goals, calling for more achievable targets across all companies. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Israel Abrams threw for 231 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for a fourth, in a half of play, and Montini took care of business in a 49-3 blowout of St. Viator.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

This season, Trade Secrets is hosting the Trade Secrets Tech Summit. Every Monday, co-hosts Emma Weissmann and Jamie Biesiada will feature a different travel technology company that works with travel advisors. A representative from the featured company will begin with a five-minute elevator pitch to tell advisors about their product, followed by a 15-minute Q-and-A with the hosts. This week’s featured company is Viator, represented by Chief Commercial Officer Sarah Dines. Trade Secrets is using Host Agency Reviews’ list of technology providers as a basis for this season. If a technology company doesn’t have a profile, advisors are encouraged to send a link to the hosts to be added to the list. This episode was sponsored by Europe Express. Further resources Sarah Dines on LinkedIn Viator on the web Viator’s travel agent center Viator partner support: Help center Contact Viator on social media LinkedIn Instagram X Facebook TikTok YouTube Get in touch! Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TikTok formally launched Travel Ads, giving brands action-oriented ad formats (single video, catalog video, carousel) to target users engaging with travel content—an audience TikTok says is 2.6x more likely to book after searching on the platform. Booking.com will add roughly 150,000 attractions via a direct integration with FareHarbor, expanding U.S. supply and tapping operators that also list on rivals like Viator and Klook. Park Hyatt unveiled “Luxury Is Personal,” its first major campaign in 5+ years, as Hyatt accelerates luxury expansion—aiming to woo guests and developers amid gaps in key U.S. cities and a 146% luxury footprint increase since 2017. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠ Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠ Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠ X: ⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

We're taking you to the incredible country of Georgia, one of the most underrated countries in the world where wine, history, and culture come together in the most magical way in the main city of Tbilisi and beyond. We explore historic spas, wine baths, local nightlife, cultural sites, natural wonders in the Caucasus Mountains.We also dive deep into our experience at WINECAST, a five-day festival celebrating cinema, wine, and Georgian culture with film screenings, wine tastings and masterclasses, live music, and more!Highlights of Georgia:The rich history of Georgia as the birthplace of wine

Benet's Luke Doyle's 66-yard punt return for a touchdown broke a tie game late in the third quarter as the Redwings went on to beat St. Viator 21-13 on Friday night.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley and Jamie Lane dive into the latest shifts shaping short-term rentals and travel. Vrbo's new guest cancellation policy aims to increase flexibility and bookings but raises concerns from hosts about risk and revenue stability. Tripadvisor faces investor pressure to spin off Viator, signaling how tours and experiences are becoming central to the travel ecosystem. Meanwhile, Casago doubles down on its franchise model, taking over hundreds of former Vacasa properties to push a localized, service-driven approach. Join us as we break down what these moves mean for hosts, managers, and the future of the STR industry. This episode is brought to you by ⁠Guesty⁠! Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jamie Lane – ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Michael Goldin – ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠@SkiftNews⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tripadvisor faces fresh activist pressure as investor Palliser urges the company to prioritize or sell its fast-growing Viator unit, which it values higher than Tripadvisor's entire market cap. Washington, D.C., hotels saw occupancy dip to 64% after a federal takeover of local police, though the decline mirrors broader national softening in demand. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines launched a joint loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, and Alaska struck a deal to equip its fleet with Starlink Wi-Fi. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Join Melissa Perri as she dives into some of the best advice about career growth in product management from an incredible group of industry leaders. Monica Lewis from LinkedIn, Kristin Dorsett from Viator, Dheerja Kaur from Robinhood, Lucie Buisson from Contentsquare, Ben Hafele from the Lean Startup Co., Marco De Freitas and Amber Brestowski from Vanguard, Oliver Seil from Belkin International, David Myszewski from Wealthfront, and Eilon Reshef from Gong share their insights on developing strategic judgment, embracing learning, and leveraging AI for productivity.Discover how focusing on impact over scope, obsessing over problems, and starting small can accelerate your growth in product management. Our guests also discuss the importance of market fit strategy, learning from missteps, and being open to unexpected opportunities.Want to accelerate your product management career with practical advice from industry leaders? Tune in to this episode for actionable insights and strategies to help you grow and succeed.You'll hear us talk about:07:45 - Embracing Learning on the JobKristin Dorsett talks about not sweating the small stuff and embracing learning on the job, emphasizing that nobody has it all figured out and the value of continuous growth in product management.15:22 - Leveraging AI for ProductivityLucie Buisson explains how using AI can enhance productivity, allowing product managers to focus on strategic thinking and customer engagement by freeing up valuable time.23:10 - Starting Small to Prove ConceptsBen Hafele introduces the "Convinced Do Loop," highlighting the importance of starting small to prove concepts instead of trying to convince everyone at once, thereby enabling more effective product management strategies.Episode resources:Monica Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamlewis/Kristin Dorsett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristindorsett/Dheerja Kaur: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dheerja/Lucie Buisson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucie-buisson/David Myszewski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmyszewski/Amber Brestowski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-brestowski-019b56ab/Marco De Freitas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-de-freitas-80416714/Oliver Seil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-seil/Eilon Reshef: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eilonreshef/Ben Hafele: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hafele/Check our new course: https://productinstitute.com/p/mastering-product-strategy-overviewTimestamps:00:00 Introduction03:03 Monica Lewis: Grow where you are04:28 Kristin Dorsett: Don't sweat the small stuff07:36 Lucie Buisson: Use AI to reclaim time for strategy11:12 David Myszewski: Lean into what's working13:30 Amber & Marco: Obsess over problems, be ruthless with priorities18:50 Oliver Seil: Learn with intention21:20 Ben Hafele: Start small and let doing drive buy-in

Mic Drop MomentsSometimes, life hands you a standing ovation for opening a stubborn jar, and honestly, that's the kind of energy we need more of. A recent study finds that every day “mic drop moments” are all around us. What is one of yours?Knowing the answer to a quiz showDiscovering when you go to pay for something it's actually discountedMaking someone laugh with a perfectly timed jokeSailing through multiple green traffic lights in a rowTicking off everything on your to-do listCatching something which has been thrown at you quicklyFixing a tech issue for someoneLife Before My Spouse/ My KidsAs much as you love your significant other, what is something you miss from being single:The lack of responsibility and obligations. The rush of 'firsts' — that first date rush/nervous feeling. Holding hands for the first time, first kisses, the first time having sex with someone. Not ever having to be accountable for random stuff I do around my own house. Being able to come home from work and not speak a single word.Deciding on what to have for dinner without a second opinion. Side Hustles That Could Lead To Full Time WorkAccording to a recent Gallup poll, more than 60% of Americans want to be their own boss. While a full-time job pays the bills and has benefits, it doesn't give you the freedom to be in charge, and that's what makes side hustles so appealing to some people.Tour guide - Being passionate about parts of your city and knowing how to show people around is the key and you can use sites like Facebook, Upwork and Viator to market yourself. Some tour guides report making an average of $100 to $300 per tour, sometimes much more.AI Services - Know your way around ChatGPT or similar tools? There's a demand for those skills.Online courses - Whether you've had some business success others can learn from or have hobbies or skills people are interested in, think about putting together an online course to sell on Etsy, Skillshare or Udemy.Medical coding - If you're properly certified and know how to review records for accuracy and help with data entry, this income stream can become a full-time job.Fashion designer - Several clothing and jewelry brands started as side hustles, so why not yours? One success story is Kate Sullivan, founder of Sage Vintage, who started the handmade jewelry company as a side hustle and brought in over $500,000 in revenue last year.Graphic design - Know your way around Canva or Photoshop? Sites like PeoplePerHour and 99designs can help you find your client base and as you build a portfolio and establish a reputation, your business could take off.Second Date UpdateFelicis calls about Nolan. They met on Hinge. They decided to go for burgers in Alameda After the date, Nolan ghosted.

Unexpected fall trips that go beyond leaf-peeping—Portugal, Oaxaca, the Azores, and more. Think fall travel is all cabins and foliage? Think again. In this episode, we're going beyond the leaves to spotlight fall trips you've probably never considered—but will want to take. From soaking in hot springs in the Azores and sipping wine in Portugal's Douro Valley to celebrating Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca or hiking Utah's national parks under more incredible skies, these unique autumn escapes offer fewer crowds, better weather, and unforgettable experiences. We'll explore: Portugal's Douro Valley & Alentejo — vineyard harvests, walking tours, and riverside charm Oaxaca, Mexico — cultural immersion during Day of the Dead France's Dordogne & Luberon — medieval villages, truffle markets, and slow travel The Azores — crater lakes, hot springs, and peace without the price tag Utah's Mighty 5 National Parks — red rock adventures with ideal fall temps Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Links Mentioned in this Episode: Macs Adventure - Self-Guided Walking and Biking Tours in Portugal Viking Duoro Valley River Cruises More Links You'll Love: Listen to our Portugal Episode Here Travel More, Spend Less, Skip the Search, Join Travel Deal Insiders and get the latest and hottest travel deals delivered straight to your inbox -- for the price of a cup of Joe, you could save hundreds, if not thousands, on your next trip. You're already planning everyone's vacations. Might as well get paid for it. Get Our Ultimate Packing Guide for Traveling Smart and Packing Light + Access to Exclusive Weekly Content here. Do More with Viator. Visit sunshinetravelers.com/viator to book local tours & experiences you'll remember. Stay connected when you travel for WAY LESS than using your carrier's international plan, download an eSIM from Gigsky and save a ton of money. Use code sunshine for 10% off Never Overpay for a Flight Again, Get Daily Drop Pro Don't waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, Get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear! Protect your privacy, increase your security, keep your browsing data secure, and don't get locked out of websites with Express VPN - get 3 months free with a yearly plan Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on Facebook Follow our travels on Instagram Save our travel ideas on Pinterest See our travel videos on You Tube Follow our travels on TikTok Follow us on X (Twitter) Connect with us on LinkedIn Connect with us on Threads Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

On this episode we are sharing some of our top tips for finding good guided day tours or special experiences when you are traveling. We will walk through how to find them, how to book, and tips for taking city tours. Episode Highlights On your arrival day, don't schedule a guided tour since your plane may not be on time and you may be tired from traveling. If anything, look at doing something impromptu like a hop on hop off bus or just walking around on your own. On your first full day in a city, it is helpful to take a guided tour to get the lay of the land and get recommendations from a local Some common tour booking platforms are Viator and Get Your Guide. Just understand that these are platforms advertising different tour companies or operators, the tours aren't actually run by Viator or Get Your Guide Often you can find the tour operator name on the listing and if you want, you can look up that company and book direct to support small businesses Be sure to read the details of what is included on the tour and whether or not you are going inside points of interest or just seeing it from the outside Pay attention to the meeting points and end point to choose ones that are fairly convenient for you based on where you are staying Make sure you look at the reviews and ratings before booking a tour Look at the number of people that are on the tour. It will often list the maximum number of passengers on a tour. Some tour companies, like Shore Excursions, offers a back-to-ship guarantee, which is great if you are booking cruise excursions Look at what tickets are included Put in the date when you are looking at pricing as it can vary depending on the season, day of the week, etc. Also, go through the full checkout screen to see what additional fees or taxes are added when building your budget Some other tour companies that we like are: Walks (or Take Walks), Livtours (small groups), Devour Tours (food tours), Eating Europe (food tours), Tours by Locals, The Tour Guy, and City Experiences You can also Google "free walking tours" to find pay as you go or tip-based walking tours by locals Always plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before the tour starts to check in Map out the meeting place before you go and know how you will get there Know if you need to be dressed a certain way (headscarf, covered shoulders, etc) or if you can't bring bags/backpacks, etc. Private tours are great for families or if you have mobility issues because it is easier to customize them Don't forget to tip a good tour guide. Group tour tip is typically $5 per person and a private tour is $10-20 per person if it is a half day or full day Have small bills handy for tipping Rick Steves has great audio tours for Europe, GPS My City has self-guided tours, and VoiceMap is another app for self-guided audio tours that are more cost-effective than a guided tour.

We are planning a trip that's been 20 years in the making. Ever since we did a family cruise to the Bahamas two decades ago, my dad has talked about doing an Alaska cruise—always calling it a bucket list dream. And somewhere along the way, Melissa and I realized that if we didn't make it happen soon, it might not happen at all. So we sat down, got serious, and planned the kind of Alaska cruise he's always talked about. In this episode, we're sharing how to choose the right cruise line, why Glacier Bay and Denali were musts, and what it means to make a lifelong travel dream come true finally—for him, and all of us. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Travel More, Spend Less, Skip the Become a Travel Deal Insider and get the latest and hottest travel deals delivered straight to your inbox -- for the price of a cup of Joe, you could save hundreds, if not thousands, on your next trip. See www.traveldealinsiders.com for details. You're already planning everyone's vacations. Might as well get paid for it. FREE GUIDE - Get Our Ultimate Packing Guide for Traveling Smart and Packing Light + Access to Exclusive Weekly Content here. Do More with Viator. Visit sunshinetravelers.com/viator to book local tours & experiences you'll remember. Stay connected when you travel for WAY LESS than using your carrier's international plan. Download an eSIM from Gigsky and save a ton of money. Use code sunshine for 10% off. Never Overpay for a Flight Again, Get Daily Drop Pro. Don't waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, Get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear! Protect your privacy, increase your security, keep your browsing data secure, and don't get locked out of websites with Express VPN - get 3 months free with a yearly plan. Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on Facebook Follow our travels on Instagram Save our travel ideas on Pinterest See our travel videos on You Tube Follow our travels on TikTok Follow us on X (Twitter) Connect with us on LinkedIn Connect with us on Threads Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

In this episode, the guys chat all about Kevin's month long road trip across the US. They get into his favorite moments from the trip and what he learned along the way. They also discuss Viator's new insurance requirement and how they believe it will impact other watersport businesses.[SPONSORS] - This show is sponsored by Take My Boat Test and WaveRez.Show Links:Website: https://www.watersportpodcast.comFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/awgpodcastFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1155418904790489Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awg_podcast/

Episode 118 - Fall is the Perfect Time to Visit Amelia Island When most people think of a beach vacation, summer is the season that comes to mind. But for those of us who live here on Amelia Island, we know that fall is when the island really comes to life in a different way. The pace slows, the weather starts to cool, and the charm deepens. In this episode, we're sharing why we think fall is the best time to visit Amelia Island—and how you can make the most of your stay.” Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Get our Amelia Island Guide Travel More, Spend Less, Skip the Search, Join Travel Deal Insiders and get the latest and hottest travel deals delivered straight to your inbox -- for the price of a cup of Joe, you could save hundreds, if not thousands on your next trip. You're already planning everyone's vacations. Might as well get paid for it. Get Our Ultimate Packing Guide for Traveling Smart and Packing Light + Access to Exclusive Weekly Content here. Do More with Viator. Visit sunshinetravelers.com/viator to book local tours & experiences you'll remember. Stay connected when you travel for WAY LESS than using your carriers international plan, download an Esim from Gigsky and save a ton of money. Use code sunshine for 10% off Never Overpay for a Flight Again, Get Daily Drop Pro Don't waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, Get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear! Protect your privacy, increase your security, keep your browsing data secure, and don't get locked out of websites with Express VPN - get 3 months free with a yearly plan Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on Facebook Follow our travels on Instagram Save our travel ideas on Pinterest See our travel videos on You Tube Follow our travels on TikTok Follow us on X (Twitter) Connect with us on LinkedIn Connect with us on Threads New Music: This Acoustic Happy Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

In this episode, we're playing a round of This or That: Travel Edition — where we'll go head-to-head on all kinds of travel preferences. From window vs. aisle seats to street food or fine dining, we'll find out just how much we agree on… and maybe where we don't. So grab your favorite travel snack, and let's dive into some rapid-fire travel decisions that might say more about us than we think. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Travel More, Spend Less, Skip the Become a Sunshine Travelers Insider and get the latest and hottest travel deals delivered straight to your inbox -- for the price of a cup of Joe, you could save hundreds, if not thousands on your next trip. Come with us to visit the end of the Earth, Antarctica, the seventh continent — a true-bucket list destination - in 2026! Get all the details and sign up here! Come with us on a Bucket List Safari Adventure in Kenya. Get on our Priority Waitlist here, another Bucket List destination that you won't want to miss - June 2026. Get all the details and sign up here! You're already planning everyone's vacations. Might as well get paid for it. Get Our Ultimate Packing Guide for Traveling Smart and Packing Light + Access to Exclusive Weekly Content here. Do More with Viator. Visit sunshinetravelers.com/viator to book local tours & experiences you'll remember. Stay connected when you travel for WAY LESS than using your carriers international plan, download an Esim from Gigsky and save a ton of money. Use code sunshine for 10% off Never Overpay for a Flight Again, Get Daily Drop Pro Don't waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, Get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear! Protect your privacy, increase your security, keep your browsing data secure, and don't get locked out of websites with Express VPN - get 3 months free with a yearly plan Get travel inspiration, tips & destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on Facebook Follow our travels on Instagram Save our travel ideas on Pinterest See our travel videos on You Tube Follow our travels on TikTok Follow us on X (Twitter) Connect with us on LinkedIn Connect with us on Threads Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

In this week's Travel Flashback Episode, we're taking you on an epic road trip through the Dakotas! In this episode we detail our 6-day road trip that takes you through both North and South Dakota as we explore new cities, state parks, national parks, and unique roadside attractions including:Mount Rushmore National MemorialCuster State Park Jewel Cave National MonumentWind Cave Tour National ParkBadlands National ParkTheodore Roosevelt National ParkCrazy Horse MemorialWall Drug Spearfish Scenic BywayWe even talk about add ons like Carhenge and Toadstools Geological Park If you want to take this exact trip, you can download our 6 day ⁠Dakotas Itinerary⁠. The Dakotas itinerary gives travel tips, restaurant and hotel recommendations, links to every activity we booked, packing list, and a day by day itinerary for you to follow. If you are looking for activities & experiences in the area, check out our recommended ⁠Viator list⁠. We've listed hotel recommendations for this trip below: ⁠Bavarian Inn⁠ and ⁠Holiday Inn Express⁠ are both good choices for stays in Custer Stay at the ⁠Best Western⁠ or ⁠Cambria Hotel in Rapid City⁠Choose to stay at ⁠AmericInn by Wyndham⁠ in Medora or the ⁠Bowman Lodge & Convention Center⁠ in Bowman when visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park Find a great flight deal to the Dakotas by signing up for⁠ Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and watching the daily flight deals (points & cash) that are emailed directly to you! Use our promo code TS10 to get $10 off your first year subscription- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Shop:⁠ Trip Itineraries ⁠⁠&⁠ ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠Connect:⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Welcome back to the Sunshine Travelers Podcast. Today's episode is a special one — it's not about a dream destination or a luxury getaway, but about the powerful impact travel can have when it's driven by purpose. Today we're talking about a different kind of journey — one that involves hammers, teamwork, and a whole lot of heart. Melissa recently returned from Paraguay, where she joined a Habitat for Humanity build, helping to construct safe and affordable housing for a family in need. This wasn't about sightseeing or sampling local cuisine — it was about rolling up your sleeves, connecting with a community, and making a tangible difference. So in this episode, I'll be turning the mic toward Melissa to hear all about her experience — what the work was really like, and what she brought back with her that no suitcase could hold. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Other Episodes You'll Love; Episode 97 - How to Travel With Purpose in 2025: Volunteer and Service Travel Trends Get Our Ultimate Packing Guide for Traveling Smart and Packing Light + Access to Exclusive Weekly Content here. Travel More, Spend Less, Skip the Become a Sunshine Travelers Insider and get the latest and hottest travel deals delivered straight to your inbox -- for the price of a cup of Joe, you could save hundreds, if not thousands on your next trip. You're already planning everyone's vacations. Might as well get paid for it. Using our links helps support our Podcast, at no extra cost to you, Thank you! Do More with Viator. Visit sunshinetravelers.com/viator to book local tours & experiences you'll remember. Stay connected when you travel for WAY LESS than using your carriers international plan, download an Esim from Gigsky and save a ton of money. Use code sunshine for 10% off Never Overpay for a Flight Again, Get Daily Drop Pro Don't waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, Get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear! Protect your privacy, increase your security, keep your browsing data secure, and don't get locked out of websites with Express VPN - get 3 months free with a yearly plan Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on Facebook Follow our travels on Instagram Save our travel ideas on Pinterest See our travel videos on You Tube Follow our travels on TikTok Follow us on X (Twitter) Connect with us on LinkedIn Connect with us on Threads Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

Have you ever felt like the best travel deals slip through your fingers before you even know they existed? In this episode, we're talking about some of the most exciting opportunities happening right now in the travel world — and how you can be ready when the next one comes along. Whether you're planning your next big trip or just love the thrill of the hunt, this one's for you. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Get our Travel Deals Newsletter - sunshinetravelers.com/deals Stay connected when you travel for WAY LESS than using your carriers international plan, download an Esim from Gigsky and save a ton of money. Use code sunshine for 10% off - They even have cruise & land packages! LAST CALL - Come with us to visit the end of the Earth, Antarctica, the seventh continent — a true-bucket list destination - in 2026! Get all the details and sign up here! Come with us on a Bucket List Safari Adventure in Kenya. Get on our Priority Waitlist here, another Bucket List destination that you won't want to miss - June 2026. Get all the details and sign up here! Deadline is June 30, 2025! Get Our Ultimate Packing Guide for Traveling Smart and Packing Light + Access to Exclusive Weekly Content here. Do More with Viator. Visit sunshinetravelers.com/viator to book local tours & experiences you'll remember. Never Overpay for a Flight Again, Get Daily Drop Pro Don't waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, Get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear! Protect your privacy, increase your security, keep your browsing data secure, and don't get locked out of websites with Express VPN - get 3 months free with a yearly plan Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on Facebook Follow our travels on Instagram Save our travel ideas on Pinterest See our travel videos on You Tube Follow us on X (Twitter) Connect with us on LinkedIn Connect with us on Threads Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

In this Travel Flashback Episode, we're taking you on a road trip through the Gulf Coast and sharing the best things to do in New Orleans, LA, Orange Beach, AL, and Biloxi, MS along the way.Check out our curated ⁠Gulf Coast experiences⁠ and ⁠New Orleans experiences⁠ on our Viator shop⁠ ⁠for all activities we recommend and even some that we wanted to do but couldn't get to.Stay in the same hotels and do the same tours we did on this trip:⁠Hilton Garden Inn⁠, Orange Beach, AL⁠The Hotel Legends⁠, Biloxi, MS ⁠Hotel Mazarin⁠, New Orleans French Quarter⁠Voodoo Tour in New Orleans⁠⁠Ghost Tour in New Orleans⁠If you're looking for a flight deal to the Gulf Coast, we recommend signing up for ⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ to get daily flight deals (points & cash) emailed directly to you! Use our promo code TS10 to get $10 off your first year subscription.—---------------------------------------Shop:⁠ Trip Itineraries ⁠⁠&⁠ ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠Connect:⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Mitch Bach is joined by ToursByLocals CEO Lisa Chen and Sherif Abiza, Chief Community Officer of Withlocals. Together they discuss a recent incident of guide poaching amongst tour platforms, and talk about what trust and fairness looks like in our industry.Guide platforms operate differently than other OTAs like GetYourGuide, Viator or Klook, since they deal primarily in solo entrepreneurs who themselves are the face of the tour.In this episode of Tourpreneur the group discusses:what does the platform's commission get spent on?how a guide platform acquires a customerwhat goes into a great guide profilethe rise of video, and social commercewhat it takes to build trust between travelers, guides and a platformhow guides need to adopt a 'marketing mindset', beyond delivering a great tourwhat they think of Airbnb Experiences' new rebootDon't forget:Join Tourpreneur's 20,000 strong Facebook Group of tour professionals!Join us for TourWeek 2025, our annual conference for tour operators & guides!

In this episode, Jess, Pam, and Alex break down their recent spring break trips to Costa Rica—highlighting three unforgettable resorts, two different travel styles, and one shared love for how easy (and affordable!) this country is to explore with points and miles.  Flights on Points Alex and Jess both flew Southwest—Jess from Houston and Alex from Salt Lake City—and Pam chose United. Between Southwest Companion Passes, smart rebooking, and good timing, Jess got a great deal for round-trip flights for four people. Pam, always loyal to United for the elite-status perks, flew out of Denver and got a free upgrade to first class on the way home.   Where They Stayed: Andaz Papagayo, Rio Perdido, and Tabacón Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort (Hyatt Category 8): A luxury resort with monkeys, pools, and a new beach club you access by boat. Jess scored a Bay View Suite with a birthday upgrade, while Alex's family enjoyed connecting rooms with a rollaway for the kids.  Rio Perdido (Hilton SLH): Jess took her family here for a more boutique, off-the-grid experience. Set in the rainforest with private bungalows, thermal rivers, and mud baths, Rio Perdido offered a quieter, more immersive vibe.  Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa (Hilton SLH): Pam and Alex's family stayed at this jungle escape near La Fortuna. Booking via Hilton points and free-night certificates, they enjoyed connecting rooms, views of the Arenal Volcano, and unlimited access to the hot springs.   Rental Cars, Shuttles, and Driving Tips The Squad breaks down everything you want to know about whether to rent a car or book a shuttle service in Costa Rica and how to decide which option is best for your trip. They even advise on what kind of vehicles to avoid renting and recommend a great woman-owned transportation service if you don't want to drive yourself.    Activities: Adventures for All Ages Alex's crew went full-on jungle mode with: A zipline and rappelling canyon tour through Maquique Adventure A night walk with frog and snake sightings (not for the faint of heart!) Exploring La Fortuna  Jess and Ella did a canyon adventure at Rio Perdido, complete with a pro photographer tagging along. Meanwhile, everyone raved about thermal pools and monkey spotting! Whether you're team luxury resort or jungle bungalow, this episode proves that Costa Rica is made for points travelers—and families. 

On this episode of Destination on the Left, Laurel Greatrix and I explore why today's travelers are seeking out the experience first and planning trips around it. She shares the top types of experiences that travelers are searching for and explains why they allow visitors to explore a destination more deeply. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why today's travelers are increasingly planning trips around experiences rather than destinations, and what this shift means for destination marketers What types of travel experiences are trending right now, from outdoor adventures to immersive, small-group offerings like cooking and craft classes How Viator supports both large and small experience operators and helps them reach wider audiences through powerful distribution partnerships Why authenticity matters in travel experiences and how travelers are seeking unique, non-mass market interactions to go deeper into destinations What roles collaboration and strategic partnerships play in Viator's business model, including the relationship with TripAdvisor and broad third-party distribution The Experience-First Shift in Travel Planning Historically, travel planning centered around destinations, accommodations, and flights. Travelers picked a location, locked in their hotel, and then considered what activities to do once on site. But according to Laurel Greatrix, Vice President of Marketing at Viator, the world's largest travel experiences marketplace, that approach is rapidly evolving. Increasingly, travelers are first setting their sights on unique and memorable experiences and building their trips around them. What sets the experiences sector apart isn't just its offline-heavy operation or diversity, but the sheer pace of its growth. Since the pandemic, demand has soared for outdoor and active experiences, with destinations like Alaska, Utah, Colorado, and Banff seeing impressive spikes in bookings. Simultaneously, activities such as cooking classes and craft workshops are seeing consistent double- and even triple-digit growth rates. These trends show travelers craving meaningful engagement with destinations, a trend accelerated by the global prioritization of health, wellness, and authentic encounters. Authenticity and Personalization “Authentic” is a buzzword often used in travel, but as Laurel points out, it means something different to every traveler. Viator's data shows that while classic attractions, think the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, remain bucket-list essentials, growth is skewing toward bespoke, local, and hands-on experiences. Travelers increasingly seek opportunities to connect with local culture, meet passionate guides, and try their hand at activities like perfume making in Paris or chocolate crafting in Belgium. For marketers and operators, this means a growing need to communicate what makes their experiences unique, accessible, and “authentic.” Reviews, detailed product descriptions, and visually rich content can help set expectations and attract customers seeking depth over breadth. Collaboration in the Experiences Ecosystem Viator's success is rooted in collaboration, internally and through partnerships. Its acquisition by TripAdvisor shows how powerful collaborations can transform an entire market segment. By powering bookings across thousands of partner sites ranging from airlines to travel agencies and even Amazon, Viator helps even the smallest operators achieve global reach. Collaboration also extends to working with destinations and other experience providers. By joining forces, they can disperse visitor traffic, reduce overcrowding at major sites, and promote lesser-known experiences that contribute to local economies and more sustainable tourism practices. Resources: Website: https://www.viator.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurelgreatrix/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viatortravel/ X: https://x.com/ViatorTravel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viator YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ViatorTravel We value your thoughts and feedback and would love to hear from you. Leave us a review on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you want to hear more o​f. Here is a quick tutorial on how to leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Bomani Jones is joined by Domonique Foxworth for another edition of Foxworth Friday. On today's episode, the guys start off by talking about Bo's cornhole playing ability (0:38) and the proper etiquette when attempting to compliment a woman (11:28). They move onto the big game, where Domonique jokes that he has picked both teams on various shows (20:43), while Bomani isn't picking against Patrick Mahomes, despite knowing the Philadelphia Eagles have the superior roster (30:21). They also discuss Myles Garrett's trade request (34:35) and joke about Cam Newton being superhero size (38:18). The show rounds out with them agreeing on the best compliment you can give a man (41:02) and Bo's story about his 8th grade science project. (45:24) . . . Subscribe to The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for all the best moments from the show. Subscribe to Supercast for Ad-Free Episodes: https://righttime.supercast.com/ Download Full Podcast Here: Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6N7fDvgNz2EPDIOm49aj7M?si=FCb5EzTyTYuIy9-fWs4rQA&nd=1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-right-time-with-bomani-jones/id982639043?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Follow The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Social Media:  http://lnk.to/therighttime Support the Show:  PrizePicks: Daily Fantasy Made Easy! Visit PrizePicks.com/BOMANI and use code BOMANI for a first deposit match up to $100! Download the Viator app now and use code VIATOR10 for ten percent off your first booking in the app. Find travel experiences for you. Do more with VIATOR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, comedian Roy Wood Jr. joins Bomani Jones to talk about why his 2025 has been off to a busy start. The show begins with Bo plugging Roy's new special on Hulu Lonely Flower (0:34) and why Roy is not one of the typical depressed comedians (1:14). They move onto a wide range of topics including why kids are bad at speaking to adults (4:56), why they're both more comfortable staying at home (8:38), Roy getting invited to a sex party (11:56) and friends who go through divorces (16:06). Roy talks about his experience being on Celebrity Jeopardy (29:04) and what makes going to Knicks games at MSG so special (44:00). The show rounds out Roy's San Antonio Spurs prediction (50:16) and his thoughts on the current political climate. (51:33) . . . Subscribe to The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for all the best moments from the show. Subscribe to Supercast for Ad-Free Episodes: https://righttime.supercast.com/ Download Full Podcast Here: Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6N7fDvgNz2EPDIOm49aj7M?si=FCb5EzTyTYuIy9-fWs4rQA&nd=1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-right-time-with-bomani-jones/id982639043?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Follow The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Social Media:  http://lnk.to/therighttime Support the Show:  PrizePicks: Daily Fantasy Made Easy! Visit PrizePicks.com/BOMANI and use code BOMANI for a first deposit match up to $100! Download the Viator app now and use code VIATOR10 for ten percent off your first booking in the app. Find travel experiences for you. Do more with VIATOR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Right Time, Bomani Jones reacts to the Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis trade that rocked the NBA world. (1:00) Bo starts the show by trying to compute this massive trade and ask why the Dallas Mavericks would trade a 25 year old superstar, that basketball fans actually pay to see play? (7:47) Bo also makes sure to point out that Anthony Davis is still a great player and should be given some credit instead of being crushed online. (20:56) Bo then looks at the Los Angeles Lakers perspective, where LeBron James now is no longer the centerpiece of the team, and why Rob Pelinka had to hide this trade from Rich Paul. (29:02) And finally, we have another round of If You Haven't Heard stories involving litigation against sports gambling, DeepSeek, and Bryan Johnson's weird medical test with his son. (38:31) Then Bomani listens to some voicemails about the craziest thing you've heard a coach say in the locker room. (48:38) IYHH Contributors:  Matteo Wong, Staff Writer at The Atlantic: “China's DeepSeek Surprise: What to make of China's suddenly popular new AI model” https://bit.ly/4hCzDvc Sean Gregory, Senior Sports Correspondent at TIME: “The Man Who Took On Big Tobacco Has a New Target: Sports Betting” https://bit.ly/40ZOt9G  Kase Wickman, Culture and Society reporter at Vanity Fair“Don't Die Tech Mogul Bryan Johnson Is in an Actual Penis-Measuring Contest—With His Teenage Son” https://bit.ly/42MueNQ  . . . Subscribe to The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for all the best moments from the show. Subscribe to Supercast for Ad-Free Episodes: https://righttime.supercast.com/ Download Full Podcast Here: Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6N7fDvgNz2EPDIOm49aj7M?si=FCb5EzTyTYuIy9-fWs4rQA&nd=1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-right-time-with-bomani-jones/id982639043?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Follow The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Social Media:  http://lnk.to/therighttime Support the Show:  PrizePicks: Daily Fantasy Made Easy! Visit PrizePicks.com/BOMANI and use code BOMANI for a first deposit match up to $100! Download the Viator app now and use code VIATOR10 for ten percent off your first booking in the app. Find travel experiences for you. Do more with VIATOR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by Domonique Foxworth for another edition of Foxworth Friday. On today's episode, the guys start off by talking about Christmas after Domonique sees Bomani's festive Christmas hat. (0:30) After discussing the cold weather, which could be a big variable for College Football and the NFL playoffs (4:24), the guys transition to the news of the United Healthcare CEO who was murdered in NYC this past week. They breakdown the details of the assassination and how it sounded like hit job from aa movie. That inevitably leads to a conversation about health care, capitalism, and market economies in 2024. (8:54) After the break, the guys come back to have a discussion about Jameis Winston who has been pure comedy the last few weeks. What in the hell is going on with that man?! (28:00) From there they talk about other assassinations involving celebrities like Tupac and Biggie, and also bring up Joe and Hunter Biden and whether or not you would pardon your own son. (38:05) And finally, Bomani asks Domonique why he prefers the Eagles vs the Lions when it comes to the Super Bowl contender for the NFC. (53:20) . . . Subscribe to The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for all the best moments from the show. Download Full Podcast Here: Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6N7fDvgNz2EPDIOm49aj7M?si=FCb5EzTyTYuIy9-fWs4rQA&nd=1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-right-time-with-bomani-jones/id982639043?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Follow The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Social Media:  http://lnk.to/therighttime Support the Show:  PrizePicks: Daily Fantasy Made Easy! Visit PrizePicks.com/BOMANI and use code BOMANI for a first deposit match up to $100! Visit BetterHelp.com/BOMANI today to get 10% off your first month. Download the Viator app now and use code VIATOR10 for ten percent off your first booking in the app. Find travel experiences for you. Do more with VIATOR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Bomani Jones recaps everything that went down this weekend in College Football and the NFL. He starts the show by sharing his frustration with the current Thanksgiving week schedule in the NFL. Having the Thursday games, along with the Friday game, completely devalues the Sunday slate. (0:50) That leads Bo to breakdown the one good game on Sunday; Bengals vs Steelers, where we have two teams going in completely different directions this season. (4:30) Then Bomani discusses the Bills and the Ravens which includes a conversation about the MVP Award. The Bills beat up the 49ers with Josh Allen winning the game for his team, while the Ravens lost to the Eagles and Lamar Jackson was not at his best. Lamar wasn't the reason his team won or lost but at some point this season you have to be the reason either way. (6:08) From there, Bomani finally transitions to this wild weekend in College Football that involved way too many flags being planted. His take stands firm on the idea of outlawing Flag Planting because it leads to fighting. And if fighting is allowed, then flag planting is cool but this weekend showed that whenever an opposing team plants a flag, it automatically leads to a fight. It's the height of disrespect, and disrespect will not be tolerated. (17:33) And finally, another round of If You Haven't Heard stories and Bomani answers three voicemail questions about anything. (37:56) IYHH Contributors:  Yasmin Tayag, Staff Writer at The Atlantic: “Your Armpits Are Trying to Tell You Something” https://bit.ly/3AZhd8u Kimanzi Constable, Author: “I have 5 Gen Z children in the workforce, and they don't prioritize their careers. It made me rethink my life.” https://bit.ly/4fQ1mbx Ali Breland, Staff Writer at The Atlantic: “The Right Has a Bluesky Problem” https://bit.ly/49m58GX . . . Subscribe to The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for all the best moments from the show. Download Full Podcast Here: Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6N7fDvgNz2EPDIOm49aj7M?si=FCb5EzTyTYuIy9-fWs4rQA&nd=1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-right-time-with-bomani-jones/id982639043?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Follow The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Social Media:  http://lnk.to/therighttime Support the Show:  PrizePicks: Daily Fantasy Made Easy! Visit PrizePicks.com/BOMANI and use code BOMANI for a first deposit match up to $100! Visit BetterHelp.com/BOMANI today to get 10% off your first month. Download the Viator app now and use code VIATOR10 for ten percent off your first booking in the app. Find travel experiences for you. Do more with VIATOR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by Joel Anderson, of The Ringer, who starts the show by revisiting the “greatest Texas athlete you've ever seen in person” question from an earlier episode. Then Bomani reveals he's been saving a topic for Joel, why is Ne-Yo is the Big-12 Championship Game halftime performer? The guys wonder if there was literally anyone else who was available to perform. With the news of Joe Douglas getting fired, Bomani and Joel have a conversation about Aaron Rodgers and Jet's owner Woody Johnson. The guys wonder whether or not Tyrod Taylor should replace Rodgers and also if Woody Johnson is actually good at anything? And finally, the guys reflect on the 20th Anniversary of the Malice at the Palace. Where were they when it happened and how has their reaction to it changed from then to now?  . . . Subscribe to The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for all the best moments from the show. Download Full Podcast Here: Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6N7fDvgNz2EPDIOm49aj7M?si=FCb5EzTyTYuIy9-fWs4rQA&nd=1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-right-time-with-bomani-jones/id982639043?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Follow The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Social Media:  http://lnk.to/therighttime Support the Show:  PrizePicks: Daily Fantasy Made Easy! Visit PrizePicks.com/BOMANI and use code BOMANI for a first deposit match up to $100! Download EarnIn today in the Google play or Apple app store. When you download the EarnIn app type in The Right Time with Bomani Jones under PODCAST when you sign up. Visit BetterHelp.com/BOMANI today to get 10% off your first month. Download the Viator app now and use code VIATOR10 for ten percent off your first booking in the app. Find travel experiences for you. Do more with VIATOR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by Nate Tice, of Yahoo Sports, to discuss all things NFL. Bomani catches up with Nate, the pair discuss the current state of weather between NYC and Las Vegas, and realize just how old they are with this conversation. (0:35) That inevitably leads to a discussion about cold weather football and how smaller players, especially quarterbacks, are not built for the cold vs bigger guys. From there, Bomani asks Nate to help him decide whether or not the Steelers are legitimately good this season. Nate breaks down their defense, offensive live, and admits that even with Russell Wilson as quarterback this team can make some noise in the playoffs. (7:51) After briefly touching on the Chargers and the Bills, the guys transition to Anthony Richardson's performance this past weekend. (16:22) They discuss why the Colts can't give up on him, which leads to a conversation about former big boy QB's like Daunte Culpepper and Donovan McNabb who have succeeded in the league. (33:35) Finally after reminiscing about Mike Vick's prime, Bomani ends the episode by asking Nate to speak praises about his Detroit Lions. (53:20) . . . Subscribe to The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for all the best moments from the show. Download Full Podcast Here: Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6N7fDvgNz2EPDIOm49aj7M?si=FCb5EzTyTYuIy9-fWs4rQA&nd=1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-right-time-with-bomani-jones/id982639043?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Follow The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Social Media:  http://lnk.to/therighttime Support the Show:  PrizePicks: Daily Fantasy Made Easy! Visit PrizePicks.com/BOMANI and use code BOMANI for a first deposit match up to $100! Download EarnIn today in the Google play or Apple app store. When you download the EarnIn app type in The Right Time with Bomani Jones under PODCAST when you sign up. Visit BetterHelp.com/BOMANI today to get 10% off your first month. Download the Viator app now and use code VIATOR10 for ten percent off your first booking in the app. Find travel experiences for you. Do more with VIATOR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices