The Travel Hacks Money Experts Actually Use
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
Release Date: 11/20/2025
A 37-Year Hawaii Resident Tells You Everything the Brochures Won't
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
Most people plan Hawaii all wrong. They try to hit three islands in ten days, get stuck behind slow drivers on the Road to Hana, and never make it past Waikiki. This week Joe and Crystal sit down with Doug Norman, who has lived on Oahu since the 1980s, for the kind of advice you only get from someone who actually lives there. In this episode: Why the Big Island should be your first stop, what makes each island completely different from the others, the Pearl Harbor attractions most visitors miss, and why Waikiki is both overrated and worth your time. Biggest takeaways: Do less than you...
info_outline
Why That Airline Voucher Is Almost Never Worth Taking
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
The gate agent calls for volunteers. The number keeps climbing. It feels like free money. Crystal took it once in Denver and spent the night in a windowless hotel with a $12 meal voucher she couldn't use. This week Joe and Crystal break down what actually happens when you say yes, plus everything else changing fast in the world of travel right now. In this episode: The real math on airline vouchers and why the airlines almost always win, what Southwest's assigned seating change actually means for travelers, how to survive the new TSA reality, and whether TikTok destinations are worth the trip....
info_outline
What a Rhine River Christmas Markets Cruise Is Really Like
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
River cruises look effortless in the brochure—twinkling lights, mulled wine, storybook towns. But what really makes the experience unforgettable isn’t just the scenery… it’s everything happening underneath. Traveling with family (including a first-time international traveler), navigating group dynamics, figuring out when to splurge, and occasionally ending up on the wrong bus in a foreign country. In this kickoff episode of Stacking Adventures, Joe and Crystal unpack what a Rhine River Christmas markets cruise is actually like—both the magic and the moments that don’t go according...
info_outline
Travel Lessons from Barbados to Disney World
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
Prepaying for travel extras feels like smart planning. Until you lose money because your plans change and there are no refunds. Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond trade travel updates and money lessons, starting with Crystal's quick February return to Barbados. She chose an Airbnb near the beach with a pool over an all-inclusive resort, made grocery runs to cook her own meals and avoid overindulgence, and learned a hard lesson about dangerous winter waves and riptides. Going out before lifeguards post red flags? Bad idea. They compare Airbnb costs to all-inclusives and note that Airbnb quality...
info_outline
George Jerjian’s 80-Day Trip Around the World (and the Retirement Mindset Shift It Sparked)
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
What happens when you stop treating retirement like an ending… and start treating it like an expedition? On this episode of Stacking Adventures, Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond connect with retirement mindset mentor George Jerjian (creator of the DARE Method) from London to unpack the 80-day, around-the-world journey that reshaped how he thinks about identity, courage, and life after 55. George didn’t just plan a bucket-list sprint. He worked with a travel agent, chose mostly countries new to him, and intentionally left space for serendipity. Along the way, he learned to stop “ticking...
info_outline
Alaska, Bike Tours, Study Abroad, and Smart Travel Tips (Crystal visits the DC Travel Show!)
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
Want to travel more without overspending or falling for tourist traps? In this episode of Stacking Adventures, Crystal reports back from the Travel & Adventure Show in Washington, DC, breaking down what the experience is really like, whether the upgraded ticket was worth it, and what she’d absolutely do differently next time (hint: show up early and never skip the insider perks). Crystal and Joe swap travel confessions, talk about navigating crowds and convention chaos, and share how small detours can transform an ordinary trip into a memorable adventure. Along the way, the...
info_outline
One Book, Dozens of Pubs, and a Life-Changing Journey
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
What starts as a European trip in 1987 turns into a quirky quest across England after a chance bookstore discovery, and eventually becomes something far more meaningful than anyone expected. Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy are joined by award winning mystery writer Michael Balter, who shares how stumbling upon a coffee table book listing historic pubs across England accidentally launched him on an unforgettable pub crawl adventure. What began as "let's see if we can find these places" became a journey crisscrossing the English countryside, visiting tiny villages, atmospheric taverns, and...
info_outline
Biking 1,000 Miles Down Highway 1 From Canada to Mexico
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
What would happen if you said yes to the adventure that's been quietly tugging at you for years? Joe Saul-Sehy talks with author and long distance cyclist Cory Mortensen, who decided to stop dreaming about a big ride and actually pedal one. He biked from Canada to Mexico along Highway One. This isn't just about cycling. It's about committing to something that feels bigger than you, preparing without overthinking, and discovering what you're capable of when the road stretches out in front of you. Cory shares how solitude, unexpected kindness, and a willingness to stay curious shaped his...
info_outline
Our 2026 Travel Plans! (January Clubhouse Meeting)
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
Alright, Adventurers…let’s hear it. Where are you going in 2026—and what’s the trip you really want to take if time, money, and real life would kindly stop being so clingy? Whether you’ve got a big international swing planned or you’re stacking mini-adventures closer to home, this is your official invitation to say it out loud and let the rest of us cheer you on (and possibly steal your ideas). This year’s travel planning comes with a little more structure, a little more imagination, and a whole lot more “let’s actually do the thing.” We’re talking trips with...
info_outline
Joe Visits Dollywood and New River Gorge NP
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
Sometimes the best adventures are the ones that surprise you. In this episode of Stacking Adventures, Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy hit the road expecting a great trip—and come back with a whole new appreciation for West Virginia (and a certain famous theme park just over the border). From the cozy charm of small towns to jaw-dropping national park views, this journey blends classic road-trip spontaneity with practical travel lessons you can steal for your next getaway. Along the way, Crystal and Joe talk fall colors, unexpected highlights, and the kinds of little decisions that can...
info_outlineWant to know how to travel smarter? Ask people who obsess over every dollar and still manage to see the world.
Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy just got back from FinCon in Portland, where they collected travel wisdom from some of the sharpest money minds and most experienced travelers they know. These aren't Instagram travel influencers with brand deals—these are people who've figured out how to maximize every trip, extract value from corporate travel, and turn credit card points into actual adventures.
From Lacey Langford's wallet-friendly strategies to Steve Stewart's genius networking hack (that works way beyond conferences), this episode is packed with tactics you can actually use. You'll hear how to leverage corporate discounts for personal travel, pack like a minimalist without sacrificing essentials, squeeze every drop of value from credit card perks, and even use Instacart to skip the vacation grocery run.
Crystal and Joe also tackle the AI question: can ChatGPT actually plan your trip, or will it send you to a restaurant that closed three years ago? Plus, they share stories from YouTubers, TikTok creators, and fellow travel hackers who've cracked the code on exploring without going broke.
Whether you're planning your next weekend getaway or dreaming of something bigger, this episode turns money-nerd wisdom into your personal travel playbook.
And stick around for the Gear of the Day—a roadside essential every adventurer should keep close.
What You'll Take With You:
• Steve Stewart's networking strategy that makes conferences (and travel connections) actually pay off
• Lacey Langford's proven tactics for saving money without sacrificing comfort or fun
• How to turn business travel into personal adventures using corporate perks
• Michelle Lambright's credit card strategy: which perks matter and which are just marketing
• Em's frugal travel hacks that let you travel like you have money even when you're watching every dollar
• When AI travel planning helps—and when you need to verify everything it tells you
• The corporate discount secrets that work even if you're not traveling for work
This Episode Is For You If:
• You want to travel more but your budget keeps saying "maybe next year"
• You're tired of travel advice from people who clearly aren't paying for their own trips
• You've got credit card points but no idea how to actually use them effectively
• You want practical hacks, not just inspiration porn from someone's highlight reel
• You believe smart travel is about experiences per dollar, not just checking boxes on a bucket list
Ready to Level Up Your Next Trip?
What's your best travel hack that actually saves money? Drop it in the comments—we're always looking to add to our arsenal. And if you've got a disaster story about following bad travel advice (looking at you, AI recommendations), we want to hear that too.