In this episode, Johnny Jet shares his deeply personal story of overcoming a debilitating fear of flying before becoming a travel expert.

A dream trip to Australia in high school was derailed when, at the airport, he had a panic attack and refused to board the plane, devastating his family and himself. He spent the next three years struggling with anxiety and fear—not just of flying, but even of leaving home.

Learn what triggered this and how Johnny dealt with it.

Johnny created a travel newsletter and website in 1995 that he has been publishing ever since.

✅ Tips for Overcoming Fear of Flying

• Visualize flying—even simulate it at home.
• Speak with pilots or flight attendants to understand the safety and mechanics of flight.
• Start small—book shorter flights on larger planes for a smoother experience.
• Break up long-haul trips with stopovers (e.g., Hawaii or Fiji en route to Australia).
• Distract yourself with music, reading, or a hobby during takeoff.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs, which can worsen anxiety and behavior.
• Consider fear of flying courses, including airline programs with simulators and pilots.
• Practice gratitude and perspective—remember that flying opens the world.

https://amateurtraveler.com/fear-of-flying/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Germany’s Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg as the Amateur Traveler talks to Matt Kepnes (Nomadic Matt) about his visit to the hills and woods of southwest Germany.

Why should you go to the Black Forest?

Matt says, "You'll find incredible hiking, lots of lakes, waterfalls, and cute little quintessential German towns with beautiful architecture. There are also a lot of hot springs around the Baden Baden area. Plus, there's just great food and I just really loved the welcoming vibe of the people."

Matt’s Suggested Black Forest Itinerary:

Day 1–2: Heidelberg

• Why go: It is a historic university town with vibrant nightlife, a beautiful old town, castle ruins, and great food.
• Highlights:
• Heidelberg Castle (ruins)
• Perimeter hiking trails and viewpoints
• Heidelberg Student Jail (Mark Twain visited!)
• Contemporary art museum
• Nightlife: comedy shows and lively bars
• Tip: Hike up from the city center for great views; look for printed maps with trail info.

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-germanys-black-forest/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to the Basque Country in France and Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks to Craig Anderson about his recent trip to the home of the Basque.

Why should someone go to the Basque Country?

"It's a very unique region so it's got some unique architecture, it's got unique history. The culture is unique and fairly compact, so you can get around and explore the whole thing in a week. There's obviously other things that you can go see if you wanted to spend a little more time."

Craig's 7-day Basque Country itinerary (France & Spain) includes a mix of historic towns, stunning coastal landscapes, cultural experiences, and exceptional food and wine. Here’s the breakdown:

Day 1: Bayonne (France)

• Arrive in Bayonne, the cultural and historical heart of the French Basque Country.
• Explore the Old Town, bridges, plazas, and Bayonne Cathedral.
• Visit the Musée Basque et de l'histoire de Bayonne to learn about Basque culture.
• Sample Bayonne chocolate and Bayonne ham, along with local cheeses and cherry tarts.
• Walk along the city's ramparts.

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-the-basque-country-in-france-and-spain/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Genoa and Liguria in Italy as the Amateur Traveler talks to Enrica, Ligurian food expert from ASmallKitcheninGenoa.com about her home region in Italy.

Why should you travel to Liguria?

Enrica says, "Liguria is a wonderful region, not just because this is my region, but there are many reasons for traveling here. First of all, for its spectacular scenery. We have a mix of mountains and sea with dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and trails. But we also have other fantastic landscapes like the well-known dry and stone walls, so-called Muretti a Secco, which are awarded as a patrimony of UNESCO for their beauty and importance, and of course the world-famous colorful fisherman village facades. Then we have a wonderful veggie-oriented cuisine."

Enrica recommends a 7-day itinerary for visiting Genoa and Liguria in Italy, focusing on authentic experiences beyond Cinque Terre. Here’s her suggested itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Genoa & First Impressions

• Arrive in Genoa via the airport or train from Milan.
• Stay in a central hotel (preferably outside the old town for safety at night).
• Start at Spianata Castelletto, a panoramic terrace accessible by public elevator, for a breathtaking view of Genoa.
• Walk through Caruggi (narrow medieval alleys) and explore historical shops (Botteghe Storiche).
• Consider taking a food tour with Enrica to taste pesto, farinata, focaccia, and candied fruit.
• Evening in Boccadasse, a small fishing village within Genoa, ideal for aperitivo or dinner.

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-liguria/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Duluth, Minnesota as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel photographer Autumn Carolynn about this city on Lake Superior that has captured her heart.

Why should you go to Duluth?

Autumn says, "There are so many reasons why Duluth to me is a place that someone can go and feel like they are at home, I feel like it is just so unbelievably beautiful, but it's also a place where you feel at peace and you feel calm. So it is one of the top places in my mind. I had this goal to go to 30 countries before I turned 30 and out of all the places that I've been to, Duluth is still my number one, which some people think is weird, but to me it just is."

Summer Itinerary (Warm-Weather Activities & Scenic North Shore Drive)

This itinerary focuses on outdoor activities, hiking, and exploring the North Shore of Lake Superior.

1. Start in Duluth:

• Visit the Aerial Lift Bridge (watch ships pass under it, listen for the Captain’s Salute).
• Walk around Canal Park, shop at Duluth Pack, and eat at Grandma’s Saloon (wild rice burger & chicken wild rice soup).
• Stop by Canal Park Brewing Company (try "Loon Juice" cider).

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-duluth-minnesota/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, friend of the show Gary Arndt turns the tables on host Chris Christensen and asks him questions about Amateur Traveler, giving a behind-the-scenes view of the podcast.

Here are some of the questions that this episode will answer about the Amateur Traveler podcast:

Origin Story:

"How did you come up with the idea of the Amateur Traveler?"

"What was the format originally?"

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/questions-and-answers/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Stuttgart, Germany as the Amateur Traveler talks again to Kristin Montgomery from growingglobalcitizens.com and mycornerofgermany.com about her corner of Germany in the Baden-Wuerttemberg region. 

Why should you go to Stuttgart? 

Kristin says, "Stuttgart is the car capital of Germany. It's home to Porsche and Mercedes Benz. It's a wine region. In fact, there are actually vineyards within the city, which is pretty cool. And around here, there are some amazing castles and also some really cool special events that I'm going to tell you about."

Kristin recommends an itinerary that includes a mix of Stuttgart’s city attractions, day trips to nearby medieval towns, wine regions, and castles, as well as attending seasonal festivals. Here’s the itinerary she suggests:

Day 1: Exploring Stuttgart

• Start at Schlossplatz: The heart of the city, surrounded by historic buildings, gardens, museums, and shopping.
• Visit the Württemberg State Museum in the Old Castle: Learn about the history of the region from prehistoric times to the monarchy.
• Stroll along Königstraße: One of the longest shopping streets in Germany, leading toward Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof.
• See Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and Stuttgart 21 Project: Learn about the controversial railway infrastructure project.
• Relax at a Beer Garden in Schlossgarten: Enjoy local German specialties such as Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), German Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli), or lentils with spätzle.
• Visit the Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart (City Library): A strikingly modern library, popular for its Instagram-worthy architecture.
• Tour a Car Museum:
• Mercedes Benz Museum (Recommended for its historical storytelling)
• Porsche Museum (If you're more interested in sports cars)
• Dine at a Besenwirtschaft (Temporary Wine Tavern): Experience local Swabian wine culture, where small, family-run wineries temporarily open their homes as restaurants.

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-stuttgart-germany/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kathy Condon from the Palm Springs Insider Guide about this desert tourist area she calls home.

Why should you go to Palm Springs?

Kathy says, "Imagine living in a place where you have 350 days of sunshine. It's hard to explain that how alive Palm Springs is with the arts."

Kathy highlights the region’s year-round sunshine, boutique hotels, midcentury modern architecture, outdoor adventures, arts and culture, and vibrant dining scene.

Below is a detailed guide based on her recommendations:

Where to Stay

Palm Springs has 75 boutique hotels (50 rooms or less), many with unique themes reflecting the area’s midcentury modern charm. Kathy suggests:

• Alcazar Palm Springs – A stylish boutique hotel within walking distance of downtown Palm Springs.
• The Skylark, Palm Springs – Features an Airstream trailer check-in and a retro ambiance.
• The Cole, Palm Springs – A 1960s-inspired hotel with a modernist vibe.

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-palm-springs-california/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to off-the-beaten-track regions of Colombia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Justin Barnes about multi-color rivers, granite monoliths, giant palm trees, and deserts.

Why should you go to these places in Colombia?

Justin says, "These locations are all extremely unique. Caño Cristales is unlike anything we've ever seen. It's full of colors, red, green and gold in the river. The area near Inírida called Mavecure is three giant hills. Just imagine something like if you took a half dome or El Capitan and just drop them in the middle of the rainforest, sticking up 2000 feet above. The forest area I was talking about has just thousands and thousands of the tallest palm trees in the world. They're all fairly close to Bogota."

Justin suggests an off-the-beaten-path itinerary in Colombia, visiting four unique destinations, all within 90 minutes by plane from Bogotá:

Suggested Itinerary:

1. Caño Cristales (La Macarena, Meta) – 3 days, 2 nights

• Fly to La Macarena.
• Visit Caño Cristales, the "Liquid Rainbow," famous for its vibrant red, green, and gold colors.
• Explore petroglyphs, unique rock formations, and diverse wildlife.
• Take hikes through the Serranía de la Macarena National Park.

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-hidden-colombia/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Dubai and the United Arab Emirates as the Amateur Traveler talks about an unexpected trip to the region.

Why should you visit the UAE?

The United Arab Emirates is an odd combination of new and old. It is a multi-cultural country where 90% of the people who live there are guest workers from around the world. It is very modern, but if you look closely, you can find historic sites.

Travel on this trip was sponsored by United Airlines. They wanted me to review their Polaris Business class as a solo international traveler.

Here's the itinerary that Chris recommends based on his trip to Dubai and the UAE:

Day 1: Arrival & Exploring Old Dubai

• Stay near Dubai Creek (Chris stayed at the Arabian Courtyard Hotel and Spa).
• Explore Dubai Creek:
• Walk through the old market near the creek.
• Visit the Al Seef district, a modern area designed to look traditional.
• See wind towers, a historic cooling system in traditional Emirati architecture.
• Visit Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding:
• Learn about Emirati culture, clothing, and traditions.
• Take an Abra (boat) across Dubai Creek (cost: ~1 dirham).
• Explore Deira’s Gold Souk and Spice Souk:
• Browse the gold shops and traditional spice markets.

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-dubai-and-the-united-arab-emirates/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Timor-Leste as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane about this small out of the way tropical country where he is doing volunteer work.

Why should you go to Timor-Leste?

Jonty says, "... Because nobody else goes if that's your thing. It was quite a shock when I went to Australia, and there were tourists. Whereas going around Timor, there's almost no tourists. So that's a bonus. And it has world-class snorkeling, world-class diving, world-class hiking."

Jonty recommends an itinerary for Timor-Leste that spans approximately a week, balancing time in Dili, nearby islands, and exploring the mainland. Here's the suggested breakdown:

Day 1-2: Dili

• Explore Dili City:
• Visit Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum for an overview of the country's history.
• Stop by Santa Cruz Cemetery, the site of the 1991 massacre.
• Take a walk in Tasitolu, an area with three lakes, significant for bird watching and local culture.
• Cristo Rei of Dili:
• Hike up to the iconic 27-meter statue of Jesus Christ. Enjoy panoramic views of Dili and surrounding beaches.
• Relax at nearby beaches like Cristo Rei Beach or Back Beach for snorkeling.
• Dili Traditional Dishes: Try local cuisine at restaurants like Pro Ema or Dilicious Timor.

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-timor-leste/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices