Packing 101: Tips for Summer Travel
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
Release Date: 06/10/2025
Big News and Behind the Scenes
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
After nearly a decade behind the mic, we’re wrapping up the Vacation Mavens podcast with one final episode. Over the years, we’ve shared travel stories, destination inspiration, and countless tips to help families and moms plan memorable adventures. In this farewell episode, we take a moment to reflect on our journey and to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has listened, shared feedback, and traveled along with us. Podcasting has changed a lot since we started nearly ten years ago, and as the space becomes more crowded, we’ve realized that it’s time to focus on new ventures....
info_outline
Exploring Kenai Fjords: An Unforgettable Alaska Lodge and Cruise Add-On
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
Dreaming of Alaska? In this episode of Vacation Mavens, Kim and Tamara take listeners beyond the traditional cruise routes to discover one of Alaska’s most beautiful — yet often overlooked — national parks. Kim shares her experience visiting Kenai Fjords National Park, including her stay at the secluded Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge on Fox Island and a breathtaking boat tour through glacier-filled fjords. Whether you’re planning an Alaska cruise or looking for a unique land-based adventure, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice for exploring...
info_outline
First-Time Visit to Paris: Tips, Neighborhoods & Must-See Attractions
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
Planning your first trip to Paris? In this episode of Vacation Mavens, Tamara and Kim talk about Kim’s first visit to the City of Light — and what first-time visitors need to know before they go. From choosing the best neighborhoods to stay in and navigating the arrondissements to tips for visiting top attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre Dame, this episode is filled with practical advice and insider tips for making the most of your Paris experience. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a girls’ trip, or a mother-daughter adventure, this conversation will help...
info_outline
Tips for Planning a Multi-Generational Trip
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
Traveling with kids, parents, and grandparents can be one of the most rewarding experiences—but it also comes with its own set of challenges. In this episode of Vacation Mavens, Tamara and Kim are joined by travel expert Kirsten Maxwell, founder of Kids Are a Trip and Groups Are a Trip. With over 40 countries under her belt, Kirsten shares her best advice for planning stress-free multi-generational vacations, from cruises and resorts to vacation rentals and group tours. Kirsten Maxwell is a travel expert and founder of and , who has turned her adventures across 40+...
info_outline
How to Plan a Cycling Vacation: Tips & Gear for First-Time Bike Trips
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
In this episode of Vacation Mavens, we are joined by adventure traveler and blogger Sherry Ott of . We dive into what it takes to plan a successful cycling vacation — everything from choosing destinations and tour types, to picking the right gear, training beforehand, and recovering well. Whether you're a biking newbie or looking to level up your next bike‐based trip, this one’s packed with insights and practical advice. Sherry Ott is a long-time travel blogger (since 2006) specializing in adventure travel, especially for women. She started leading small group trips in...
info_outline
Where to Stay in Ecuador: Mini Hotel Reviews
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
We recently covered Tamara's Galapagos cruise and also some tips for visiting Ecuador, but this week we are digging into where to stay in Ecuador. Tamara gives a recap of her trip including some mini hotel reviews for Hacienda La Danesa, Mashpi Lodge, and Hacienda Zuleta. Episode Highlights Tamara spent 17 nights in Ecuador including 5 nights in the Galapagos, 1 night at Hacienda La Danesa, 2 nights in Cuenca, 1 night near Cotopaxi, 3 nights in Quito, 2 nights in the Mashpi Lodge, and 2 nights at Hacienda Zuleta You wouldn't want to move around this much but Tamara wanted to see a lot of the...
info_outline
Perfect Fall Getaways for 2025
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
For this episode, we are joined by Nicky Omohundro of and the Untethered and Wanderwise podcast to talk about some of our favorite fall getaways. With over 15 years creating digital content and as a USA Today 10Best family travel expert, Nicky Omohundro operates a nationally syndicated travel website, Little Family Adventure, and award-winning podcast, Untethered & Wanderwise. As a licensed travel advisor and empty-nester with international trips planned, she inspires women over 45 to reclaim their wanderlust and travel independently. Episode Highlights Here are a mix of road trips,...
info_outline
Business Class Flights: What to Know Before you Book
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
Today we are talking about what happens when you turn left on the airplane and fly business class! Now that Kim and Tamara have flown business class on many airlines including Delta One, Aer Lingus, TAP Airlines, Emirates, Finnair, Condor, Avianca, and others. Whether you are booking on points or paying cash, there are some things that you need to know first. Episodes Highlights Research what aircraft is flying the route you are looking to buy because the business class can vary dramatically depending on the plane and the layout Keep in mind that the airline can still change the aircraft...
info_outline
Ecuador Travel Tips & Itinerary
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
We recently talked about Tamara's trip to the Galapagos but today we are talking more about the logistics about traveling to Ecuador and some travel tips. Tamara spent 17 nights in Ecuador, including 5 nights in the Galapagos and found it a warm and welcoming country with beautiful and diverse landscapes. Amazing Ecuador helped Tamara organize her trip. Episode Highlights Most flights from the U.S. come into Quito or Guayaquil It is only 3.5 hours from Miami There are many regions including the Cloud Forest, Rainforest, volcanoes and mountains, National Parks, Galapagos, and more Tamara...
info_outline
Mother-Daughter Trip to Switzerland (Plus Swiss Travel Tips!)
Vacation Mavens Travel Podcast for Women
Kim and her daughter Mia just got back from a mother-daughter trip to Switzerland. They celebrated her high school graduation with a grad trip and since Mia loves mountains and she was already going to be in France with a school trip, Switzerland was her top choice! They visited Geneva, Zermatt and the Jungfrau Region because they really wanted to focus on the mountains. Altogether they spent eight nights in Switzerland and they moved around a lot. The itinerary included: 1 night in Geneva 2 nights in Zermatt to see the Matterhorn 2 nights in Grindelwald 2 nights in Wengen 2 nights in Lucerne...
info_outlineGet ready for your summer vacation and future travel with these expert packing tips! From carry-on to checked bags, here are some things to keep in mind when packing for your next trip.
Episode Highlights:
- Use a packing list! It helps you not forget critical items. Start creating your packing list early in your Notes app
- Kim has an outfit planner that you can sign up for on Stuffed Suitcase
- Pay attention to your itinerary to figure out what you need to bring for each activity
- Also pay attention to the weather forecast for your destination
- Try to minimize the number of shoes that you bring on a trip
- Try on your outfits while packing and take a picture of yourself so that you remember what you put together (with shoes, accessories, etc.)
- You can also put the picture into your notes app with notes about what day you were going to wear it to remember
- Packing cubes with compression can be great for saving space
- You can pack the cubes by destination/stop on the trip or daily outfits or just pack all your pants together, all your shirts together, etc.
- If you are flying on an international carrier, make sure to look up their baggage rules to understand the size and weight of carry on and personal items
- Even domestic carriers have different weight limits
- If you are buying new luggage, buy the matching packing cubes that fit perfectly
- Look for packing cubes that zip to a rectangle and not lumpy
- Gonex and Eagle Creek can be great brands to try
- Lay flat bags are great for toiletry bags
- Travelon makes a good organizer for your electronics
- Vodka in a spray bottle can help refresh clothes
- Bring a travel scale to check baggage weights