Fly with Chris and Di

By listening to Fly with Chris and Di, you will learn how to make the most of your vacation and truly feel relaxed, organized, and proud of the time you took away from work.

Disney for the Holidays With Krystin Turner from Dreams Unlimited Travel 06/29/2020

Health and Wellness While Traveling 06/22/2020

Get to Know Chris 06/15/2020

Africa with Ashley 06/08/2020

Italy Quick Tips 06/04/2020

Italy with Traveling Tanya 06/01/2020

Affording Travel with Danielle Desir (The Thought Card) 05/25/2020

Budget Friendly National Parks with Michelle (The Wandering Queen) 05/18/2020

What is Your Post-Quarantine Travel Destination? 05/11/2020

How to Budget for Travel with Nikki Rue 05/04/2020

How to Enjoy Travel While Social Distancing 04/27/2020

Why You Should Book a Small Cruise Ship 04/20/2020

Glamping with Ruben Martinez Co-Founder of GlampingHub 04/13/2020

Planning the Ultimate Girls Trip with Cienna CEO of Your Life Travel Club 04/06/2020

Season 2 Opener 03/30/2020

How to Stay on a Keto Diet While Traveling 09/16/2019

How to Stay on a Keto Diet While Traveling We are on location today, and we are recording outside while we are waiting for our room to be cleaned. We aren't going to tell you the location on this episode, but Chris does drop a couple of hints. We are both on the keto diet or at least eating in a way that puts our bodies into ketosis. We are basically becoming fat burning entities. Although, Chris's version is a bit modified. Keto and healthy eating are popular, but it still takes some effort, forethought, and planning to eat keto or focus on eating healthy while traveling. This show focuses on eating foods that are high in good fat, with moderate proteins, and low carbs. There are different types and versions of the keto diet, but this show should help get the wheels turning on how to stay on your eating plan while exploring the world. Show Notes: [05:56] Our number one focus is having a plan. You want to think about accommodations, transportation, and what you need to bring with you. [07:27] When on a road trip take a cooler. Pack things that may be hard to find and, of course, anything you need while on the road. [08:50] If your traveling by plane, you can leverage the Shipt app. This is a 2-3 hour delivery service owned by target. You can have water or whatever delivered at your hotel. [10:13] If you are staying at an Airbnb, you can always run to the grocery store. [10:47] You can also shop beforehand using grocery pick up services. [11:11] Amazon is another amazing option. Put the apps on your phone before hand. [11:44] Keto friendly foods that travel well are mustard, salad dressing, spices, cooked meats, boiled eggs, avocado, pork rinds, and heavy cream. You can also throw in cheeses, chia seeds, and berries. [14:16] It's also helpful to have keto coffee and protein shakes with MCT oil. [15:57] There's a Whole Foods next to our hotel, and the breakfast we got there was so good that we went back for lunch. [16:30] Think about things to snack on for air travel. We like jerky, coconut chips, nut butters, pork rinds, tuna packets with keto mayo, stevia, nuts, and bulletproof coffee. Put coffee in your carry on, so the drug dogs don't think you are trying to cover up a scent. [17:49] Get perishables when you are at an Airbnb. They are very friendly for special dietary restrictions. [18:41] You have to be a little more creative when staying at a hotel. The free breakfast can be loaded with temptations. It's a carb buffet. [20:06] We like Vega and Best Fat Fuel shakes. Magnesium and potassium are important for women. [23:35] We also like Zevia soda. Root beer is our favorite. [26:34] Grilled and sauteed meats are easy go-tos. Make the best choices, you don't have to be perfect. Cheeses and avocado are great choices. Vegetables and leafy greens are perfect. Chris loves asparagus. [28:40] Watch the condiments. Look out for sugar and carbs. Oil and vinegar or adding avocado are great for salads. [30:55] Bacon or sausage and eggs are great for breakfast. You can have grilled chicken with no bun. [31:47] Lunch options include a bacon cheeseburger with no bun. Grilled chicken, nuggets, and salad are a great option. You can get an unwich at Jimmy John's. [32:57] You don't have to be perfect, but it helps to be aware. Especially, if you travel a lot. [33:41] There are tons of dinner options like grilled fish and vegetables. Lobster and butter is also keto approved. [34:51] Drinking on keto will slow down the ability to breakdown fat, but champagne or dry wines only have about two net carbs. [36:12] Unfortunately, beer isn't keto approved. [37:06] Most liquors are no carbs. Just leave off the sweet mixers. [39:01] Fish options include flounder, herring, salmon, sardines, sole, tuna, trout, cod, and halibut. [39:17] You can also try Cornish game hen, duck, goose, pheasant, quail, or ostrich to mix things up. Di's favorites are shellfish like clams, crab meat, mussels, oysters, shrimp, squid, and lobster. [40:01] You can have whatever meat you want as long as it's not fried. Try things like bacon, beef, ham, lamb, pork, and veal. [41:09] Cheeses are also one of Di's favorites. Think about trying things like parmesan, goat cheese, blue cheese, cheddar, gouda, mozzarella, cream cheese, Swiss, and feta. [42:10] You can also use a carb manager app to make things easier. Having a fitness app can make sure you are moving. The Apple watch also has a cool fitness tracker. Chris likes My Fitness Pal. Links and Resources: Get $40 off your first home booking of $75 or more and $15 off towards an experience of $50 or more Get a $100 daily credit when you stay 2 or more nights and book at least 3 days in advance Just $5.99 a month Unlimited grocery delivery Save $50 For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/11245370

Where to Eat in Nashville 09/09/2019

Where to Eat in Nashville We are wrapping up our Nashville series with where to eat in Nashville. We already talked about and . Now it’s time to talk about some of the amazing food options when in Nashville. If you haven’t eaten yet, this episode will make you hungry. We’ve been focusing on eating better and getting fit. Diane is on the keto diet and Chris is doing a keto/paleo version. To be honest, preparing for this show was a bit of a challenge to our diets. There are so many great things to do and see in Nashville and the food is no exception. We kick things off with some great spots in Downtown Nashville. We tell you about the super cool Acme Feed & Seed along with what we each like to order. We also tell you where to get amazing oysters and unbelievable milkshakes before moving on to our favorite spots in The Gulch. After that we tell you about Midtown hotspots, some classy West End options, our favorite spot in 12 South, Hillsboro Village, and Chris’s favorite pizza place in East Nashville. Warning: graphic food descriptions, please eat before listening to this episode. Show Notes: [04:15] Downtown Nashville is the hustling and bustling area where all of the honkytonks are located. [04:32] Acme Feed & Seed is a cool historic building with a honkytonk on the first floor with great food and drinks. There is also a great bar and food on the second floor which also has sushi. The third floor is an event center called The Hatchery. There is also a rooftop bar with great views of Broadway, the Cumberland River, Nissan Stadium, and Riverfront Park. [07:42] Get Ike & Mike Nachos on the second floor. [08:25] Chris would eat an acme burger with bear creek beef & cheddar cheese and hand-cut fries. Di would have he farm-raised catfish with hush puppies, hand cut fries, and slaw. [09:32] For dessert, try a southern hand pie with cinnamon ice cream and caramel sauce. [10:05] The Southern Steak & Oyster. They serve breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner. At brunch you can get pictures of mimosas. They also have great oysters. [11:54] Eat like Chris with the fried chicken, greens, and mac and cheese or a double-cut smoked pork chop. Di likes the shrimp and grits or seared sea scallops. [14:11] There is a special dessert place called Legendairy. It's a crazy over the top milkshake bar. They make things like Death by Chocolate which is Dutch chocolate and rocky road ice cream, chocolate icing rim, chocolate chips, whipped cream, chocolate fudge drizzle, chocolate sprinkles, and a fudge brownie on top. [17:06] Now we are moving into The Gulch. The Whiskey Kitchen has great cocktails with awesome names. They have an extensive whiskey menu and late night dinners. [18:34] Chris would eat dry wings (sweet & smoky bbq, togarashi, or ranch-spiced) to start and three little pigs brick oven pizza (sausage, pit ham, Gifford’s bacon, mozzarella, provolone). [19:33] Di would have the rocket salad (arugula, slicked strawberry, blue cheese crumble, toasted pecan, lemon herb vinaigrette) to start and low country pulled pork sandwich with chipotle mac & cheese. [20:27] Biscuit Love is world famous. They have three locations. They serve breakfast, lunch, and brunch. They started as a food truck and make everything from scratch. Try an east nasty chicken sandwich. [21:33] Chris would have the princess which is buttermilk biscuit, Nashville style spicy boneless hot chicken thigh, pickles, mustard, and honey. [22:15] Di would have Bonuts which are fried biscuit dough, tossed in sugar, topped with lemon mascarpone, served over blueberry compote or Hummingbird Family Reserve a drop biscuit filled with pineapples and banana jam, topped with cream cheese frosting and pecans. [23:28] Jackalope Brewing Co. The founders met while studying in Scotland. They have brews with cool names. Chris would have a Fennario IPA and Di would have Thunder Ann Pale Ale. [26:09] Midtown. The Patterson House is a speakeasy in a secret location. Governor Malcolm R. Patterson vetoed prohibition, but his veto was overridden by the state legislature. They have unique cocktails and delicious food. [29:48] Get some Nashville hot chicken at Hattie B's. [31:22] Chris would get the Damn Hot with southern greens. Di would get the Southern with no heat with either peach cobbler or banana pudding. [31:45] Warning: Shut the Cluck Up!! is HOT! [34:31] We love pizza, but only recommend places we go. DeSano has communal seating and traditional style pizza, calzones, cannolis, and you can even get slices. [36:03] The West End. The Americano is like a tapas bar. It's fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere. [37:12] Saltine is a great seafood place, and they have oysters. Chris's favorite go-to dessert is chocolate cake. [38:34] 12 South has some cool places to eat. Bartaco is our go-to spot. They have street tacos. We always order the chips and salsas. [40:06] Chris orders the chicken and shrimp. Di loves the crispy rock shrimp, glazed pork belly, Baja fish, and when in season the crispy oyster tacos. [42:36] The Christie Cookie Co. is across the street. They have amazing cookies and brownies that are awesome. Take some home! [44:09] The Frothy Monkey serves breakfast through dinner, and they have great coffee and food options. [45:41] Hillsboro Village: Check out the Pancake Pantry. Get there before 9:00 am. There is a long line, but the pancakes are worth it. [47:31] Kay Bob's has Persian and Southern influenced healthy food. [48:26] When you make it to East Nashville hit up Five Points Pizza. This is Chris's favorite, and even though you can get just a slice, he suggests the whole pie. [50:25] The Pharmacy has 100% Tennessee raised burgers. They have great burgers, brats, and shakes. They make their own condiments and have a unique beer selection. [51:44] Time to wrap up and go eat. Links and Resources: Get a $100 daily credit when you stay 2 or more nights and book at least 3 days in advance get up to $5 off with your first ride Downtown Nashville: The Gulch: Midtown: West End: 12 South: Hillsboro Village: East Nashville: For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/11163791

The Top Things to Do in Nashville 09/02/2019

The Top Things to Do in Nashville We’ve already talked about , but what are you going to do while you are there? You probably know Nashville is famous for country music and nightlife, but there is more to Nashville than that. Downtown Nashville is often called Nashvegas because of all of the amazing bars, restaurants, and venues. We suggest fun ideas whether you are into shopping, sports, or dancing. We break down some of the more famous night spots and honky tonks in the area. It’s even possible to have a sighting of a favorite artist or two while you are out. Some of these places are even owned by stars like Luke Bryan, John Rich, Kid Rock and more. We also talk about local attractions other than bars and some really fun family ideas that are two hours or less away. If you are planning a Nashville trip, we have tons of fun ideas and suggestions for you to explore. Show Notes: [04:48] Nashvegas or downtown. Nashville hosted the 2019 NFL draft and showcased everything that Nashville has to offer. [05:18] Lower Broadway or 2nd and Broadway is known for the Honky Tonks. [05:46] Honky Tonks usually have country music and some type of line dancing. It's typically people dressed in western gear but they don't have to be. [07:21] There are a lot of blocks in this four block area. [07:36] Some iconic bars include Tootsies, The Stage, Legends, and Roberts. These are the Honky Tonks right behind the Ryman which was originally the Grand Ole Opry. After shows, people like Johnny Cash would head out and have a drink at these places. [08:35] There's all kinds of great local talent, plus you never know who you'll see there. [09:11] There are also bars created by big stars like Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Kid Rock. There's the Redneck Riviera bar which isn't far away from Mount Richmore where Jon Rich lives. [10:54] There are also some great places to dance in Lower Broadway like Acme Feed & Seed, Bourbon Street Blues, and Skulls Rainbow Room. [11:15] Wildhorse Saloon line dance has line dance lessons. They also have other dancing and great fun times. [12:03] Nashville is a great place to see your team. Nissan Stadium where the Titans play their home games is right downtown. [13:12] The Country Music Hall of Fame is also in this area. As well as, the Nashville Convention Center and Johnny Cash Museum. [14:15] There's a lot of great shops. You can get boots, souvenirs, and music. Local boutiques include Nash collection and southernaire Market. [14:49] We like to drive around and look for the Elvis Statue. [15:57] Get around in style in a Nashville Pedal Pub. We recommend the motorized ones. [18:06] You can also get pulled around by a tractor that pulls a flatbed. It's like a hay ride, but there are seats and a bartender. [20:06] There are all kinds of rolling parties like buses without tops. They also have golf cart taxis that help you bar hop safely. [22:59] There are also many great tours in and around Nashville. The Ryman hosts concerts and events, and you can get a tour. [23:43] The Centennial Park Parthenon is another great sight. [24:29] The current Grand Ole Opry is near the Opryland Hotel and the Opry Mills Mall. [25:54] You could also have a dinner cruise on the General Jackson Showboat. [26:39] If you don't mind going a little further away, you could go on the Jack Daniel's Distillery tour. [27:58] Arrington Vineyards has their own wine. It's a beautiful place. Kicks Brooks is one of the owners. [29:16] We also have Old Hickory Lake. You can rent boats and find your own private sand bar to hang out on. [31:37] Mammoth Cave National Park has bike trails and Cave tours. [32:21] Land Between the Lakes is the largest stretch of untouched forest on the East Coast. [33:31] If you go two hours south to Huntsville Alabama, there is a fantastic Space and Rocket Center. [34:33] Eat at Rosie's Cantina when you are in Huntsville. [35:59] Rock Island State Park is actually on our list of places to go. It looks gorgeous. [37:15] If you head towards Memphis, you will find the Pinson Mounds. These are Native American burial and ceremonial mounds. There's also an archaeological park there. Links and Resources: Get $25 off your first fix get up to $5 off with your first ride For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/11092520

Where to Stay in Nashville 08/26/2019

Where to Stay in Nashville With music, sports, nightlife, and great places to eat, Nashville has it all. It’s also our hometown, and we are excited to talk about it today. There is so much to do and see in Nashville, and we’ll be talking about this in upcoming episodes, but today is all about where to stay when visiting Nashville. From modern upscale hotels with rooftop bars to unique boutique hotels, there are so many choices when deciding where to stay in Nashville. We share our planning expertise to help you find a place to stay that suits your interests and what you want to do during your visit. Nashville is made up of different neighborhoods that all have their own unique vibe. We kick off with some of the nice places to stay downtown that are located close to stadiums and bars. Then we move on to hotels that are in The Gulch, Midtown, and Printers Alley. If you want something a little quieter, we also talk about some lovely residential areas that have Airbnb options. Nashville has something for everyone, and we want to help you find the perfect place for you to stay. Show Notes: [03:47] Chris lived in Nashville for a couple of years after he finished school. We recently moved back. [04:11] In the last 7-10 years, Nashville has really grown. Especially, the downtown area called SoBro or South of Broadway. [04:33] Downtown is the most popular area. This is where the stadiums and the bars and clubs are located. This is where you can experience Nashville. [05:36] The Westin Nashville is close to everything and a wonderful place to stay with two restaurants and a rooftop bar. [06:28] The Noelle is a boutique hotel. It's a creative gathering place with a rooftop bar called the Rare Bird. It looks like an old train station and a really great unique feel. [07:41] Hilton is one of our main go-tos with three restaurants and two bars. You can also get suites. This is great if you love Hiltons or are a rewards member. [09:01] When you have a special occasion or want to go all out, the Bobby Hotel is an upscale experience on the cusp of the Nashville music scene. It even has a rooftop lounge with a swimming pool and it's right in Printer's Alley. [11:30] Other great downtown locations include The Omni, the J.W. Marriott, the Renaissance, the Sheraton, the Hilton, and the Hilton Garden Inn. [11:48] The Fairlane Hotel is a metro modern hub. It's a quirky mid-century modern design from the 1960s and 1970s. If you were around at those times it will hearken your childhood memories. [12:55] A boutique hotel specifically designed for groups is the Bode. They have from one to four bedroom units with chef kitchens and balconies. This would be a wonderful and unique place for a group to stay. [13:35] Nashville has country music and honky tonks, so you can just get down and have a good time. There are also very trendy upscale places to stay. NashVegas can compete with places across the world. [14:26] The Gulch is an upscale trendy area. It has more of a local feel, it's about two miles off of the strip. There are cool hotels and restaurants. [15:50] We're going to start with the Thompson Nashville. All of the rooms have floor to ceiling windows that overlooks the Gulch and downtown. The decor is mid-century modern with hardwood floors and there are three restaurants there. [16:24] The 404 Boutique is a tiny hotel. They only have four king suite rooms with custom vintage furniture. They also have loft spaces and photography by local artists. They also have the award-winning 404 Kitchen restaurant. [18:23] Midtown is about 5 miles away from downtown. Hattie B's Hot chicken is in Midtown. This is a great area for young professionals. Each area has a different vibe. You'll find more locals here. [19:49] Embassy Suites and Home 2 Suites are good choices. There's also The Kimpton Aertson with 180 guest rooms. They also have 12 suites and 12 different room types. There is private dining and an award winning brasserie. Di wants to spend the day at their spa and get a four handed spa. [21:56] West End is one of Chris's favorite areas. It's a little further from the city. This is where Vanderbilt is at. It's also a little more affordable. [23:14] You can walk to Midtown from West End, but you'll need a car for the other areas. [23:40] You can stay at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt or the Loews Vanderbilt or the Hayes Street Hotel. The Hayes Street is a boutique hotel with a minimalist vibe and the Hayes Street Bar. [23:53] The Hutton Hotel is a four star, four diamond hotel that caters to musicians. It's upscale and casual, and it has creative spaces for musical professionals. It also has penthouses and is super pet friendly. You could also run into one of your favorite musicians here. [24:51] The Hutton is also very pet friendly with special water bowls and treats. They also have a complete vinyl library and in room record players. They also have a house car that will take you anywhere in a 3-mile radius, and it happens to be a Tesla. The fitness center has a Peloton bike and TRX. [26:10] All of the music studios are between West End and Midtown. [26:57] 12 South is a residential neighborhood. There are a lot of bars, restaurants and shops here. It's walkable and has Bartaco. There's a cool vibe with a lot of locals. [28:31] Belmont University is also a large school in Nashville. It's a small quaint beautiful area. You can great Airbnbs in these neighborhoods. [30:10] Hillsborough is an urban neighborhood with younger adults and college students. There are over 25 bars and restaurants. [30:55] East Nashville is well-known because of the musicians and artists that live here. It's like its own city with over 100 restaurants and shops. You can't walk to other neighborhoods if you are staying here. [32:48] When you are planning your trip, think about all of these things when determining the right place to stay. Links and Resources: Get $40 off your first home booking of $75 or more and $15 off towards an experience of $50 or more Get a $100 daily credit when you stay 2 or more nights and book at least 3 days in advance /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10992467

A No Drama Trip to Disney with Teens 08/19/2019

A No Drama Trip to Disney with Teens This summer we took a trip back to Walt Disney World. It had been about 10 years since our last trip to Disney. We loved our last trip. Our son was about 9 and our daughter was four years old. Everything was exciting to the kids. They loved the trip, and we did as well. We weren’t so sure how this new trip would go because our daughter is now 14, and we were also bringing her 14 year old cousin. We weren't sure if it would be the same with two 14 year old girls. We’ve learned that the one thing you can count on with teenage girls is that you can't count on anything. Since we weren’t sure if they would still love Disney and all it has to offer, we took extra steps with our planning to make sure that we had an amazing trip that everybody loved. Today, we are going to share that planning and our trip with you. You can use these tips for traveling anywhere with teenagers. Show Notes: [03:44] Tip number one is to plan. Disney helps you with the Disney app. It helps you plan each day, it has your hotel information, meal reservations, fast passes, and more. [04:42] Download the app and look at each park you want to go to and which days you will be there. You get access to one fast pass per park a day. [05:53] You only get three fast passes per day. Make sure to set up your fast passes as soon as they are available. Teens will want to choose the rides they want. [07:19] Dianne had to ride the Tower or Terror. [07:49] You get an hour block of time for your fast pass. You can't book your next one until after that time slot is over. This is why you need to plan your day and the rides. [08:44] After you have your day and fast passes planned, it's time to think about food options. If you're spending the day in Epcot, get a meal in Epcot for that evening. Travel between parks can be time consuming. [09:37] Having a plan where you are going to eat helps avoid "teenage slump". [10:16] Once everything is in the app, the teens can approve. [11:01] Bring a comfort item for your teens. Our teens wanted a blanket. It's cold on the plane. It's nice to be able to relax with a blanket. [12:51] Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes. We walked 17,000 steps everyday. [15:10] Tip number four is to let your teens pick out a souvenir. Disney is great at merchandising. Going shopping is also a great break from the heat. The teens were invested in shopping when they knew they had a budget. [17:52] Number five is about keeping your teens hydrated and well fed. Encourage them to eat, even if it's on a different schedule than you. [19:25] Pro Tip: Where ever there are soda machines, you can get ice water. It's much colder than the bottles and free. The girls loved it. You don't have to carry anything in the park. [21:04] We used Shipt to purchase two cases of water for the hotel. [24:27] It get hots at Disney in the summer. Teenagers will start to get moody. Stay cool by taking shopping breaks in cool shops. Eat meals and slow down in cool inside environments. An ice cream break after lunch is good too. Shade breaks are also helpful. Cooling towels can be bought in advance. They have them at Disney too, but they are almost $17. [28:53] Battery operated misting fans also helped so much. Bring hats for shade and to avoid sunburn. Also bring sunglasses. String bags are also part of the pre-Disney pack. We only bought food and souvenirs. [32:06] Let the teens use their cellphones at Disney. Having them use the app helped with everyone knowing the schedule and fast passes. The phones were also great for photos with characters. We did ask them to stay off of social media. We also used the phones for games in line. [35:45] Tip number eight is to let the teenagers sleep. We had later dinner reservations and the girls were happier. [38:08] Tip number nine is also giving them enough down time. Parents need down time too. [39:01] Tip number ten is to give the kids some freedom. They liked riding the rides alone and exploring a bit on their own. [40:16] Pro Tip: There are lines for single riders only. This line allowed us to walk right on. You can also get more rides in. [41:42] Allow the teens to make some choices with the fast passes. Links and Resources: Get $40 off your first home booking of $75 or more and $15 off towards an experience of $50 or more get up to $5 off with your first ride For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10891101

Maximize Your Frequent Flier Miles 08/12/2019

Maximize Your Frequent Flier Miles Taking advantage of frequent flyer programs is a great way to save on flights and upgrade to a more comfortable flight. You can also use some points for other things like merchandise or even drinks. It can get confusing trying to make sense of all of the options. This is why we are sharing our experience on how to maximize those benefits and get the most out of your miles program. We talk about how to become a frequent flyer member. If you're already a member, don't worry, we have stuff for you too. We talk about some of the benefits of being a frequent flyer. We also talk about how to sign up for frequent flyer programs, and we also talk about how to get the most out of your miles. We also wrap up the show with a comparison of three different airlines and the benefits that they provide. We’ve done the research, so you can just enjoy the benefits. Show Notes [02:45] Being part of a frequent flyer plan really makes you feel special. It also makes purchase of tickets and check in really easy. The airline will have all of your information including precheck to make the security experience much easier. [04:08] Your information is also already stored, so you don't have to waste time retyping your information every time you purchase a new ticket. [04:35] Another great benefit is earning free flights. You can use your points for flights or extras like upgrades, baggage fees, and drinks. [07:16] You can also trade your points for experiences or merchandise or even Amazon gift cards. [08:08] It's easy to sign up for frequent flyer miles. Go to the airline website and click on the join now button. Once you enter your information, you'll get a frequent flyer number. We keep our information on a spreadsheet. Take a picture and keep the info on your phone. [11:02] Make sure your frequent flyer number is connected to your ticket when you purchase the ticket from other online sites. [13:36] Airlines want to build brand loyalty, and they want you to be members. Staying loyal to one brand will help you maximize your miles. [16:10] Saving your miles for the most expensive tickets will save you more money. It's always great to upgrade to even comfort plus. Be flexible with your flight time to maximize points. Sometimes miles to upgrade aren't the best use. Save the miles for purchasing tickets. [18:16] American Airlines AAdvantage they provide miles with 34 partners. You can use the miles for a lot of different things. There are four elite status levels including gold, platinum, executive platinum, and platinum pro. These miles do expire after 18 months. [20:00] With Delta SkyMiles, you earn 5 SkyMiles for every dollar. There are also partner airlines. You can also earn on purchases with credit cards. Miles can be used for travel, upgrades, and merchandise. Medallion status gives you unlimited upgrades. Miles never expire. [22:54] Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program. This is based on the amount of money you spend. They're also no blackout dates, and the points never expire. You can also get companion tickets which are two tickets for the price of one. [24:48] Benefits often change over time, but these are updated as of today. Links and Resources: Get $40 off your first home booking of $75 or more and $15 off towards an experience of $50 or more Get a $100 daily credit when you stay 2 or more nights and book at least 3 days in advance For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10814003

How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible with Nikki Rue 08/05/2019

How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible with Nikki Rue Booking a trip or vacation can be frustrating for people who don’t know where or when to look, but it’s possible to save and still have awesome trips when you know where and how to look for the best deals. This is why we invited budget travel expert Nikki Rue on the show today. Nikki runs where she shares budget travel tips, inspiration from her trips, and more with her readers. Nikie gives us great tips on the best time to book a flight, why it’s so important to be flexible with dates and airports, and she shares some little heard of subscription services that can save travelers big bucks to local and exotic locations. Show Notes [02:36] Nikki Rue runs the travel blog She Saves She Travels. She has been traveling for years. It's her goal to break the myth that you have to be rich to travel. [03:14] She teaches people how to budget and prioritize their trips through her site. She also gives awesome travel tips and shares inspiration about the trips that she has been on. [03:34] Nikki is flexible with her travel dates. Traveling in the off season or on Wednesdays and Tuesdays is less expensive. [05:22] You may be able to find cheaper flights at a different airport. You can also fly into neighboring towns. Major airports are a little less expensive. [08:03] Try going into incognito mode in your browser to find a cheaper flight. [10:09] You can sometimes get better deals by booking separate flights, because you could use different airlines for each flight. [11:33] Be creative and look at different options. [12:30] Let the flight prices come to you. You can do this through discount subscription services like Next Vacay. [14:48] Nikki shares her favorite subscription services like FareDrop, Scott's Cheap Flights, and Secret Flying. People don't realize the value of these services. [16:48] Kayak is also awesome for looking at flight prices. Flights are usually the best price from 60 to 90 days out. [18:22] The time of day also matters. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings are good times to look for flights. [19:39] The three favorite places that Nikki has been to are Hawaii and the island of Kauai, Turks and Caicos, and any beaches or anywhere she can relax. Links and Resources: Get a $100 daily credit when you stay 2 or more nights and book at least 3 days in advance For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10652075

Group Trip on the Bourbon Trail 07/29/2019

Group Trip on the Bourbon Trail One of our favorite trips was the birthday trip that I planned for Chris last year. Chris likes planning. He plans most of our trips, and he is not a fan of surprises. So, I couldn’t completely surprise him with the trip, but he was surprised by the great planning and what a wonderful time he had. Chris is a fan of bourbon, so I thought it would be a great idea to take him and some friends on a bourbon tour. It’s good I wasn’t trying to create a complete surprise, because I needed some input from Chris to design the perfect birthday bourbon tour. First I needed to know if he was even interested in a bourbon tour. Then I needed to know which distilleries he would like to visit and who he wanted to go on the trip with us. Once I had this information the preparation could begin. In this episode, we share how I laid out and planned the trip, and all of the fun things we did. Show Notes [04:22] The first thing that Di did when planning this trip was ask Chris key questions. You will get a really great experience if you hire one of the companies that offer tours. [05:11] Chris looked at the guest list, and they were all bourbon fans. Chris is a fan of Blanton's bourbon, so they had to go to Buffalo Trace Distillery. [06:05] Some people on the guest list were fans of Woodford Reserve and Four Roses Bourbon, so these distilleries were also added to the tour. [06:32] Chris chose the locations from a list where he had to choose the east or the south route. [07:04] The tour is a full day tour that includes admission to most of the distilleries. [07:18] While planning, we needed to know which route we were going to take and how many people were going to be on the tour. [08:01] We were planning more than the day of touring. We had to plan how to get there and how to get home, because we had 13 people in our group. [08:29] We needed to create an itinerary for a group that told people where to be and when to be there. [09:12] We also rented a van, so we could all drive down together. [10:22] This was a 3-day weekend and the tour was planned for Saturday. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Louisville. [11:48] We arrived Friday afternoon, so we went to Churchill Downs horse track and had a couple of mint juleps. Di picked a winner that everyone bet on except Chris. [13:48] When we went back to the hotel, it was happy hour. They had free food and the waitresses bring you drinks. It was like a huge party. [15:53] Then we had dinner at a pizza place called Birracibo. The windows made it feel like we were sitting outside. [16:56] That left the rest of the night for us to have fun on Fourth Street Live. This is where they have live concerts on the street, and there are bars and restaurants. [17:51] The first place we went was the Sports and Social Club. They had cornhole, bowling, and beer pong. It was like a college bar for grownups. [20:07] Then we went to PBR the pro bull riding bar. It's a country bar where you dance. [21:10] We were right around the corner from the hotel. We had a big day in the morning, so we walked back. [21:28] We used Mint Julep Tours for our excursion. We also brought a cooler. [23:37] Our driver Dan picked us up early in the morning. We had a really nice private bus. [25:09] We saw famous horse farms on our way to Woodford Reserve. The grounds and buildings were beautiful and a bus took us to the distillery. [28:35] The storage warehouse with the stacked barrels was really interesting. Then we went into a tasting room. You get a row of bourbon and chocolate bourbon balls that pair with the whiskey. [32:56] We went to a restaurant called Addies. We had drinks and really good food. [33:49] Then Dan took us to Four Roses. At Four Roses, we had a quick tasting and then headed to Buffalo Trace. [37:55] We had another tour, and then it was time for the tasting. If you want a tour where you drink this is the one. [40:25] We got back to the hotel around 5:30 which was just in time to get ready for Chris's birthday dinner at Brendon’s Catch 23. [41:35] It's good to make reservations beforehand when you have a large group. We had a great table, birthday cake, and a wonderful time. [42:13] Di was thorough with the planning, but she also left some time for flexibility in the schedule. After dinner, we had time to go to the casino. [43:29] The next morning, we had a nice ride back and got to chat with our friends. Links and Resources: get up to $5 off with your first ride Get a $100 daily credit when you stay 2 or more nights and book at least 3 days in advance For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10552952

10 Tips for Protecting Your Home While on Vacation 07/22/2019

10 Tips for Protecting Your Home While on Vacation Worrying about whether your home is safe can really take the fun out of vacation. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to secure your home and create peace of mind so that you can enjoy your trip. Today, we have expert realtor Amy Corey here to share 10 tips that will help secure your home while you are on vacation. Amy is the realtor that we used to buy a home, sell a home, and to help get us connected with an agent in Tennessee. Amy works by referral only, so she is freed up to focus on the buying and selling of client homes instead of worrying about marketing her business. We think Amy is wonderful and are super excited to have her here today. We also share a funny story about our house buying experience with Amy. Show Notes [05:20] Amy calls herself a real-estate brat because her mom was in real estate for 36 years. Amy is now celebrating 15 years this month as a residential realtor. [06:10] Any works exclusively by referral in Indiana and all over the country. She has a top notch group of professional agents that are represented in every state. [06:35] She has helped many clients move out of Indiana. She has also had the honor of helping the many agents that she networks with. [07:38] Working by referral gives her the opportunity to put her head down and focus on what's needed whether it's selling or buying. She always hopes to exceed her clients expectations. [10:46] One of the first and foremost things you can do to protect your home is to get a home security system. They have become much more inexpensive recently. They also add to the resale value when you sell your home. [11:46] It's nice to have a monitored system with a local presence. [13:17] Amy works with an agent at ADT who helps educate clients and find discounts for them. [14:23] Hold your mail, packages, and newspaper delivery when you are gone. Have a trusted neighbor keep an eye on things and look for packages. [16:40] Keep your lawn mowed and watered. A brown lawn lets people know that you are gone. [21:54] When it comes to social media, don't post about your trip until you are back home. [23:18] Have a safe at home in case something happens. Put important documents and sentimental items in your safe. [25:59] Lock your garage door. There is a manual lock to the side. [30:20] Lights are so important for security. Get motion sensor lights for the outside, especially in dark areas. Also have timers for your inside lights and vary the areas and times. [33:36] There's a lot of advantages to spending a little to stay safe. [34:16] Have the stickers or signs that say that you have a security system. [35:52] Quick rundown: Utilize a home security system. Hold the mail. Have a plan for packages and flyers. Don't skip on home maintenance. Be careful on social media. Utilize a safe. Disconnect your garage door and lock it. Install a sensor on outdoor lights. Install timers on indoor lights. Advertise security. Links and Resources: Get $40 off your first home booking of $75 or more and $15 off towards an experience of $50 or more Get $25 off your first fix For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10505357

Ask a Pilot 07/15/2019

Ask a Pilot Do you have any questions you would like to ask a pilot? We have some burning questions that we would like to ask a pilot, so we are super excited to have our guest today Brian Harris. Brian is Chris's cousin. He has been a pilot for a long time. Brian is going to answer all of our questions, and we also have a question from a listener. We have also taken some trips with Brian, and at the end of the episode Brian and Chris share a trip they took when they were young. If you would like your question answered during our show check out our to see what is coming up and join in on the interviewing fun. Show Notes [02:45] Brian has wanted to be a pilot since the 6th grade. He started with an aviation explorer program with the scouts. He fell in love with aviation and majored in aeronautical technology at Tennessee State University. [03:18] He then went to two flight schools and then instructed for a year and a half before landing his dream job as a pilot in 2002. [03:31] His ultimate dream of becoming a FedEx pilot was realized in October of 2016. [03:56] Brian's first flight was when he worked with a flight instructor at the YMCA who knew he wanted to be a pilot and offered to take him on flight. [04:29] They flew around, and he was hooked for sure. [05:03] After getting his degree he went to an aviation academy. He did three weeks of ground school and then the flight training where he soloed after three or four flights. [05:31] Then he went to All Transport Professionals or ATP in Atlanta. He got the rest of his ratings at ATP, and then he instructed for about a year and a half. [05:45] Once he was hired by an airline, he went through training on the airplane he was going to be on. They also have yearly training, which used to be every six months. [06:03] They fly in a simulator and make sure that they are still proficient. Any FAA problem areas will be implemented into the training program. They also work on takeoffs, landings, and emergencies. [07:01] Flight simulators are cool and amazingly hard. [07:39] What happens if someone has a medical emergency? The flight attendant first notifies the pilot. They will radio the company and air traffic control. When there's an emergency the flight is expedited. The plane can also communicate with a medical facility and talk to a doctor, if needed. [09:49] What do you eat on a long flight? He used to bring his own lunch or eat 30 little bags of peanuts. At FedEx, he gets to order his meals. On long flights, there is a third pilot, so they can rotate breaks. [14:20] Why do we need to put our phones on airplane mode? It's just to avoid interference with navigational aids. [16:20] What are the restroom rules? The crew asks passengers to remain seated, so they can taxi into takeoff. [18:08] Now there is a passenger bill of rights. [19:03] Why do we have to put our seats back up? It's about safety. It's hard to get by with the seats back. There can be emergencies on takeoffs and landings. [21:41] Chris and Brian had a Cadillac Caravan going to Nashville to Opryland. They also drove a Cadillac with three adults and 5 kids from Memphis, Tennessee to Orlando, Florida. They spent a week there and had a great time. Godfather's Pizza was the best pizza that Brian had ever had. [22:48] They didn't have any technology, they just played games in the car for 16 hours. They did have a CB radio. Links and Resources: Get a $100 daily credit when you stay 2 or more nights and book at least 3 days in advance get up to $5 off with your first ride For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10481042

4 Days in Los Angeles 07/08/2019

4 Days in Los Angeles We’ve been sharing travel tips and some of our great travel experiences with you. Today, we are doing something a bit different. We are sharing the actual four-day itinerary of our Southern California trip. In this trip, we had a great time and managed to see a lot in a very short amount of time. We spent some time in LA, a day in San Diego, and even made it South of the Border in Tijuana. People often ask how we do so much in such a short amount of time. It really comes down to planning. We wanted to get the most out of our trip, so we were very mindful of the time we had. If you want to make a similar trip, we share what we did each and every day, If you don’t want to plan, you can just follow our itinerary to get the most out of your trip. Show Notes [02:25] We took this trip from Indianapolis. We knew we would gain a little time, because we were going from Eastern Time to Pacific Time, so we left early. [03:25] If your flight is longer than three hours, upgrade if you can. [03:58] We had our nephew LJ with us. We were a party of five. [04:44] We had been to New York, Chicago, Florida, and we were trying to find somewhere in the US to go. We decided to go to California. [06:04] We arrived at LAX. We rented a Jeep Liberty. It was a little cozy in the back for the kids. You may want to make sure, you are able to get a larger car if you have multiple people. [08:42] We knew San Diego was only a couple of hours away, so we decided to go there too. [09:25] We stayed at the Hampton Inn SeaWorld location. We had two double beds and a sleeper sofa. [10:02] We took the Pacific Coast Highway out of LA to San Diego, and made a stop at Manhattan Beach. [11:43] We had lunch at In-N-Out Burger. We drove up in to the hills and took some amazing pictures. We left that day open to explore and not have to rush. [14:02] You have to give yourself flexibility when you have a plan. [14:48] We got to San Diego in the afternoon and checked in at the desk. The clerk suggested we go to Tijuana. She gave Chris directions to a restaurant in Puerto Nuevo that had butter fried lobster. [16:56] We head over the border and lost cell phone service. We were in Mexico with no GPS or map. We sat outside overlooking the Pacific. A mariachi played and charged a fee. [19:52] The fried lobster wasn't the best. The sun was setting as we left. There is a line to get back into the US. [21:28] There's bumper to bumper traffic, but the line has people selling things and banging on your car windows. It was a great life lesson for the kids. [24:29] We got back late, went to sleep, and our itinerary really starts now. [24:39] We ate breakfast at the hotel and went to Sea World. They had roller coasters, and we saw the whales. There are touch tanks and shows. [26:45] Sea World has an all-day dining deal that is a great deal. It was $29.99 for adults and $18.99 for the children. [27:49] We spent a day at SeaWorld, then we headed over to the Hyatt Place in Anaheim. We had a main bedroom and then another room with a bunk bed and a pull-out couch. [29:44] We used the Go City Los Angeles card. The Go Card can be a big money-saver. [31:19] We asked the kids what they wanted to do. We went over the list of things to do and bought the Go Card at home. [33:06] It took us two hours to get to Hollywood. We went to the walk of fame, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Dolby Theatre, and a Hollywood movie star tour on a bus. [37:14] That night they were filming the ESPYS at the Staple Center. We ate at a restaurant with outdoor seating that was right along the path where the athletes were walking, and we got to see everyone. Then we went back to the hotel. [41:25] The next day was our Universal Studios Tour. It was a lot of fun. We were also able to fit in the Warner Brothers tour. We even went on the set of Friends. [44:35] We also went into a sound effects room were they took a movie without sound and then layered in each sound until there was a cacophony of sounds. Each portion of sound is recorded separately. [45:52] We then spent the afternoon in Venice Beach and rented bikes. We were able to layer this in before heading to the airport. We even saw a man levitating. [48:35] Our flight wasn't until 10:00 pm, so we went to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. [50:40] Quick recap: Pacific Coast, In-N-Out Burger, Tijuana, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. Studios, Hollywood Movie Star Tour, Dolby Theatre Tour, ESPYS outside the Staples Center, Venice Beach, and Roscoe's. Links and Resources: Get $25 off your first fix Get $40 off your first home booking of $75 or more and $15 off towards an experience of $50 or more For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10434839

Relax in Cabo San Lucas 07/01/2019

Relax in Cabo San Lucas We are talking about relaxing in Cabo San Lucas. Summer travel can be crowded with so many people taking vacations. Our Cabo trip was amazing. We went in February, and were able to beat the crowds and enjoy relaxing in Cabo. If you live somewhere that has a cold winter climate, Cabo can be the perfect escape. We are going to walk you through our relaxation trip to Cabo San Lucas and give you advice and pro tips along the way. We’ll tell you about upgrades to get. How to make the most of your airport and transportation to the hotel. We share our entire journey, and our tips for unwinding and relaxing by the pool, meeting people, enjoying great food, and fun games. Show Notes [03:20] This was Chris's first relaxation trip. [03:52] Getting to Cabo requires a long flight. [04:05] Our first tip is to upgrade to comfort plus or first class if it's reasonable. Any flight over three hours starts to get uncomfortable in economy. [05:05] Tropical airports like the one in Cabo are fun. As soon as you come out of the plane, there is a bar. We had a drink while waiting for our transfer. [05:56] It's a good idea to have a transfer plan. Get clear on who you are riding with. [06:33] The ride from the airport to Dreams, where we stayed, was only a 30 minute ride. You are on the coast the entire time, and it is a nice ride. [07:24] We stayed at an all-inclusive resort called Dreams. It was quiet and calm and relaxing. [08:18] They'll immediately ask if you want to upgrade to the preferred club room. [08:35] We got a one bedroom suite with an ocean view. There was a gift basket with food and wine. There was a family room with a couch and dining area. [09:30] There are also special club areas with snacks and premium liquor. There was also an adult pool and beach area. [10:38] Our room also overlooked the adult pool. It was quiet and there were scenic sunsets. [12:18] The pools have a couple of swim up bars. There were also areas just for the club members. [13:16] If you go to this property, you don't have to go to the sales pitch to buy in to further vacations. [15:06] A couple of our friends were also there at the same time. We planned a deep-sea fishing trip on a chartered boat. [17:27] It was early and windy and the water wasn't calm. When the boat stopped moving and started rocking Di got motion sickness. [19:48] After a couple of hours, the captain decided to take Di back to shore. [21:40] We also went whale watching. It was a cute little boat and a great deal. We saw a lot of whales. We were right beside them. We also explored the Sea of Cortez and saw seals. [24:32] We went to Cabo Wabo after whale watching. Then we hung out at the resort for the next few days. [26:01] We played cards, scrabble, monopoly, and we met a lot of people. The club area was very relaxing. [26:44] We hung out at the pool and relaxed. [27:31] There was a spa with a gym, hot tub, cold pool, and sauna. There were also services like massages. [28:40] We did not swim in the Sea of Cortez. Most of the areas aren't swimmable beaches. It's too deep and there are undercurrents. We did see whales, and there is horse riding on the beach. [29:38] The food was fabulous. The had specialty restaurants, and you didn't need a reservation. [31:21] We ate at the poolside restaurant almost everyday. You can also eat in your room. Di's favorite was the seafood restaurant complete with flaming dessert. Links and Resources: For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10322705

Plan the Perfect Destination Wedding or Vow Renewal 06/24/2019

Plan the Perfect Destination Wedding or Vow Renewal We share a lot of tips and tricks for planning your own vacation, but when it comes to group trips or something as important as a destination wedding, there are a lot of advantages to turning to the help of a professional. This is why we are excited to have Ashley Morris on the show today. Ashley is the founder and owner of which specializes in group trips and destination weddings. Ashley shares important tips that only a travel professional can provide. An experienced professional can make recommendations, get discounts to rooms and amenities, and be the go between who handles the group financial part. We also grill Ashley on her favorite destinations, how she ended up with such a fun business name, and why she got involved in the travel industry. Ashley’s knowledge and passion really shine through in this fun interview. Show Notes [02:55] Ashley Morris is the owner and founder of Alpaca Your Bags Travel. The name may be funny but they take travel very seriously. [03:06] She's in her fifth year of business with Alpaca Your Bags. Prior to that, she worked in corporate marketing and advertising. [03:19] One of the things she brings to her new career is all of her past experience in advertising. She used to help people make marketing decisions, now she cuts through the clutter and helps people make travel decisions. [03:42] Ashley believes everyone’s style of travel is different, and there's something out there for everyone. [03:51] 75% of Ashley's business is group travel mostly for destination weddings. She also specializes in celebration groups whether it's a birthday, a family reunion, or a family holiday. [05:10] Ashley shares how she ended up with the name Alpaca Your Bags. [05:44] Ashley and her future husband wanted a destination wedding where they could focus on each other and quality time with friends and family. [06:22] The plan was to find an amazing tropical all-inclusive destination. They knew what they wanted, but not how to do it. [07:01] Her first attempt with a travel agent didn't go smoothly. Technology in the travel industry is a bit outdated. [07:40] They planned their wedding and had 60 people go to the Dominican Republic for their event. [08:04] When they returned, Ashley was looking for a next career and went to travel agent school. [08:36] It's her goal to make everything as easy as possible for her clients. She has a streamlined process where everything is done using technology. [09:22] Clients often get overwhelmed going online and doing their own research. [10:01] For something as important as a destination wedding having a travel adviser is really helpful. Ashley takes the time to get to know her clients, so she can plan the perfect event. [11:28] There are nuances to group travel that make it very helpful to have a travel professional on your side. Group booking can be a challenge. [13:12] Benefits of booking a group travel trip include travel professionals have relationships with the top resorts and hotels. [14:30] When you work with an adviser, you can get free rooms, discounts, excursions, and more. Without the help of an expert, you are leaving money on the table. [16:09] Ashley is constantly on the pulse of what is happening. She also travels to the destinations. [17:01] It's not just about the resort, there are a lot of moving parts to a trip like transportation. [17:34] A true travel expert will have actually been to the destination. [18:10] Ashley asks questions to narrow down the destination. Do you want a legal or symbolic destination wedding? [20:05] You do the legal part in the US, before you leave, then when you get to your destination you have a symbolic wedding. [20:53] In a symbolic wedding, anyone can officiate that wedding. [21:42] Legal destination weddings in Jamaica are very simple. [22:15] Do you want an all-inclusive resort? These are concentrated in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. [24:18] What is the comfort level of your friends and family when traveling? [26:12] Is it important to do what you want or accommodate as many people as possible? [27:41] What do you want to do when you get there? [28:59] Ashley's top three destinations are Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo. She also likes Ocho Rios in Jamaica. [36:18] Fifty percent of engagements happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. The ideal amount of time to let your family and friends know that you are having a destination wedding is 11 to 12 months. [37:03] The ideal time to contact Ashley would be 12 to 13 months before your event. Links and Resources: Call Ashley (212) 804-8956 For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. Become a and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10268189

Get to Know Di 06/17/2019

Our Trip to London, Paris, and Scotland 06/10/2019

Our Trip to London, Paris, and Scotland We took a fantastic trip back in October. We went to London, Paris, and Scotland. We did this trip in a pretty short amount of time, but we have a lot of inside tips and tricks and links that can help you get the most out of your London, Paris, and Scotland trip. This all came about because Chris is a Titans fan and found out about the NFL experience in London where the Titans were playing the Chargers and the NFL Experience helps plan your trip. Chris had never been to London before, and he and Di decided to add on a few more days to go to Paris and Scotland too. This is an in depth episode where we walk you through our amazing trip, and we share tips and things that will help you get the most out of a similar trip. We also include all kinds of links and resources that can help with your planning and with getting ideas on how to make your trip your own. We also throw in some great pro tips to avoid things like jet lag. Show Notes [02:03] Chris is a Titans fan. The Titans had a game in London against the Chargers. Chris thought it would be great to go to the game. Diane had been to London before, but Chris hadn't. [02:55] The NFL experience is all about seeing your team play. It's a great way to get tickets, but they also help coordinate the hotels and help plan things. It's a little more expensive, but we had a great time. The event was amazing. [04:12] We also added some extra days for Paris and Scotland. [04:22] The NFL experience was 5 days. You get a couple days before the game, then see the game and head home. [04:31] We got there a day ahead. We also didn't want to have jet lag. [05:03] We started exploring options. We even considered Ireland, but decided to check out Scotland. [05:34] Paris was also only a Chunnel ride away. [06:38] We flew into Heathrow overnight which was a genius idea with helping to combat jet lag. Pro tip: take an overnight trip and don't mess up your sleep patterns. [07:50] Arriving refreshed will allow you to hit the ground running. [08:13] From Indianapolis to Heathrow, we had a layover in Chicago and we have the Admiral Club. If you can, get a day pass for the Admiral Club if you have a layover. [09:46] We stayed in two different places in London. We arrived a day early and stayed at the Hilton on Park Lane for the first night. Then with the NFL Experience we stayed at the Sheraton Grand Park Lane. [10:20] The Park was right across the street from Buckingham Palace. We also used points at the Hilton and it was fabulous. As diamond members, we had our first afternoon tea. [11:30] tea is a wonderful experience with tea and pastries. We watched the double decker buses and it was great. [11:55] Then we began exploring the neighborhood. [12:07] Chris found a place on Yelp. He found Burger & Lobster. [14:24] We joined the NFL Experience at the Sheraton. We were all rested, and everyone else was tired. If your room isn't ready, you can leave your bags at the desk. [15:34] We kicked things off with a Double Decker bus tour. We saw a lot of the city and got to know people in the group. We also had happy hour with the group. They feed you and give you drinks. [16:27] You have options of things to do, but you don't have to do everything, so you can enjoy down time. [16:49] We ended up at the London Eye on the Thames. Our London Eye tour was a champagne tour. There was a big cart full of champagne. [19:44] The second day we saw the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. [22:09] We went to the Barrowboy & Banker Pub Fan Rally where we got to meet some of the players. [24:19] We also went on a dinner cruise on the Thames (The Dixie Harmony). There was music and drinks, and we went up and down the river and they opened up the Tower Bridge. [27:03] The next day was game day at Wembley Stadium. All of the teams were represented, because this is a huge event for Europe. [29:02] It was like a cross between a rugby match and an NFL game. People were dressed in crazy costumes and were like fanatics. [30:55] We took the Eurostar Chunnel to Paris We were only two or three hours away from Paris. Chris wanted to see the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa. [33:00] The train was clean and comfortable and it really flies. [33:46] Pro tips: Give yourself time for Chunnel security and have the things you need. We left our belongings in London, which kept us moving quickly. [35:01] They took the Hop-on-Hop Off bus, it's an easy mode of transportation, plus you can sightsee. They hopped off at the Louvre and took the skip the line small group tour. We went straight to the front of the line. Another awesome perk was skipping the bathroom line. [40:59] Chris did research on. There are seven major pieces of art. He found great reviews on his short museum tour where they got to see the main pieces. It was fast, but not rushed. [43:22] We got back on the Hop-on-Hop off bus and saw Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe. We got to see a lot of things while staying on the bus. [45:11] There were tons of cafes. We ate at Five Guys. [46:50] We got back on the train and went back to London. [47:16] We found a local train to Scotland. Chris wanted to see St. Andrews, go to a scotch distillery, he also wanted to drive on the left side of the road. [49:45] The train was the best option from London to Edinburgh. [50:54] We stayed at the Hilton in Edinburgh. The castle was amazing. We walked around town and went up to the castle. [52:54] We had tacos in Scotland. Chris almost bought a kilt. We discovered the Whisky Experience. [54:42] They talk you through the five regions of scotch which are Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Campbeltown, and Islay. You learn how scotch is made. We get to try the regional whiskeys. [57:44] We had pizza at a place that gives you a blanket. We went to a local pub. There was a Scottish jam session. [01:02:08] We had to rent a car to go to St. Andrews. The steering wheel was on the right side. There are also a lot of roundabouts. [01:05:58] St. Andrews is a public golf course. We took a tour of the grounds and heard about the history of how the course came about. [01:09:18] Scotland reminded Di of Ireland. Driving through the countryside was a great experience. It's beautiful and gorgeous during the day, but scary at night. [01:10:54] We stayed at a gorgeous boutique hotel called the Braemar Hotel - Craigendarroch Suites (Hilton). It was a suite with an old castle type of feel. [01:11:52] There are little squirrel figurines all over the property, and they all wear different outfits. [01:12:59] We stopped at the Glenfiddich Distillery. There were woolly Scottish cows that are super cute. [01:15:39] The Scottish countryside is amazing. [01:17:41] We took an Uber to the Doubletree Hotel for and early morning airport run. Always give yourself plenty of time. Links and Resources: For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and and leave a review. It will only get better from here. Don’t miss out on future episodes where we continue to share tips and tricks to get the most out of your vacation. /episode/index/show/flywithchrisanddi/id/10109193

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