Kim and Tamara recently visited Istanbul, Türkiye for the first time to attend the SATW (Society of American Travel Writers) Annual Conference. In this episode, they share their insights and tips for others planning a trip to Istanbul including where to stay, top sights to visit, safety, and other travel tips.

Show Highlights:

• Turkish Airlines has a lot of direct flights from the USA (including Boston and Seattle)
• Turkish Airlines business class varies depending on what plane you are on and you need to be strategic about choosing your seat
• It takes about an hour to get from the airport to the city center and there is a lot of traffic in Istanbul. Tamara used Welcome Pickups and Kim used Sun Transfers for private transfers, which were both affordable and possibly cheaper than taxis.
• It is best to stay in the Sultanahmet neighborhood for first time visitors near the main attraction, Kim also stayed in the Galata Tower area but it is very hilly and hard to access for cabs.
• Tamara stayed at the Hagia Sofia Mansions Hotel (a Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel) and Kim stayed at the White House boutique hotel.
• They also stayed at the Conrad Hilton during the convention but wouldn't recommend that area unless you are about to get on or off a cruise.
• You can ask Google Maps for an accessible route to avoid hills.
• Kim and Tamara really enjoyed taking a small group tour of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia. You can do it on your own but the guide takes care of getting the tickets and plan it so you don't need to figure out what time the mosques are open for visitors.
• You need to cover your hair when you enter a mosque and take off your shoes so it is helpful to wear slip off shoes and socks.
• In the Hagia Sofia, visitors can only go to the second level and look down at the main prayer area. You can also see the gold mosaics and Christian imagery from when it was a church.
• The Basilica Cistern is also nearby and it is very popular with very long lines. We would recommend that you buy skip the line tickets online in advance. Tamara took a guided tour but it was hard to stay together in the crowd and you need to use a listening device to hear the guide.
• The Sulimaniye Mosque, near the Spice Market, is also well worth a visit for its gorgeous architecture. It is equal or even better than the Blue Mosque.
• The Rustem Pasha Mosque is also beautiful, but smaller.
• The Spice Market, also known at the Egyptian Market, has tons of shops selling tea and spices. Just beware that they sell via the kilo and that is a huge amount so you need to request a much smaller amount unless you want to spend an arm and a leg. The sales guys are very good at upselling and aggressive about engaging you to get you into the shop. They also offer free samples.
• See Tamara's tips on visiting to Istanbul as a solo female traveler: https://yourtimetofly.com/istanbul-solo-female-travel/
• The Grand Bazaar is largely gold jewelry and knock off designer goods with just a few more authentic shops with Turkish linens or carpets.
• Make sure you try simit in the morning, baklava, Turkish Delight, and Turkish coffee and tea. There are some shops or tours that include someone who "reads" your tea leaves or coffee grounds.
• Turkish cuisine is very beef and lamb centric. A braised beef and eggplant is a popular dish.
• Let the restaurant bring different types of mezze, as many of these are delicious and things you might not have tried if you picked yourself.
• Gozleme is a flatbread topped with cheese or cheese and spinach.
• Credit cards are widely used but you should bring cash (or get cash from an ATM) for taxis and you will be able to spend less if you pay in cash when you go shopping.
• Be prepared to tip.
• Make sure the taxi starts the meter and know ahead of time about how much it should cost. And if you use Uber, don't let them tell you that they don't pay via the app.
• The tram is an easy way to get around and there is a kiosk to purchase tickets with an English option.

Kim and her daughter Amelia went to New York City in December to experience the Big Apple for the holidays. In addition to enjoying the holiday markets, ice skating, and decorations, they went on a quest to find all the of the Taylor Swift related spots in the City. If you have a Swiftie fan, give this episode a listen!

Trip Highlights:

• Kim stayed at the Grayson Hotel near Bryant Park, which has a good location but the rooms are very small and the rooftop bar is pretty loud and crowded
• They visited from Sunday - Wednesday to avoid the weekend crowds
• Earlier December is better because the crowds get heavier the closer it gets to Christmas and between Christmas and New Years
• Ice skating in Bryant Park is much cheaper than skating in Rockefeller Center and if you have your own ice skates, it is free. You need to book your time slot when it opens a week in advance. You get 20 minutes to get your skates and 50 minutes on the ice for your time slot.
• Kim and Mia used CityPASS New York to see many of the sights. The passes are available digitally and you can book reservations (when needed) from within the CityPASS app.
• They did Top of the Rock at night and then the Empire State Building during the day. During the holidays, Top of the Rock has a seasonal Christmas pop up bar.
• There are Christmas Markets at Columbus Circle, Bryant Park, Herald Square, and Union Square to visit. Bryant Park is one of the busiest markets.
• The storefronts on Fifth Avenue are decorated and Sixth Avenue has a lot of large ornaments and other holiday decorations.
• They didn't get to visit the lights in the neighborhood of Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.

Taylor Swift Spots in NYC:

• Housing Works - where Taylor Swift filmed part of the "All too well" video
• House on Cornelius Street
• Bus Stop Cafe near Cornelius Street
• Walk on the Highline
• Chelsea Hotel
• See more details in Kim's Instagram post

On this episode, we recap our favorite hotel stays from 2024, with picks that are great for international and domestic travel for couples, friends, or family trips.

• Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht - part of Hyatt Hotels, this hotel has a fabulous location on one of the main canals in a great area. The staff was helpful and the room was stylish. The only thing to keep in mind is that it has an open bathroom concept, so it wouldn't be great for families or two friends sharing a room. This is a good option for those who travel with points. Chase is a transfer partner with Hyatt. Tamara visited this hotel in January on her weekend getaway to Amsterdam.
• Exeter Hotel Reykjavik - this hotel also has an open bathroom format. The location is about a 10-minute walk from the main shopping and sightseeing district. The room rate also included free breakfast and there was a passcode-locked gate for storing luggage. Kim stayed here with her daughter before their Windstar Cruise.
• Weston Inn Vermont - this is a nice luxury inn in Southern Vermont with top-notch service, a great restaurant, nicely appointed rooms, a spa and fitness center with fantastic yoga classes. This is a perfect romantic getaway. Read Tamara's full review.
• Inn at Laurel Point, Victoria - Kim talked about this hotel on a recent episode about Victoria, BC. It is located right on the waterfront just a short walk from downtown. They have spacious rooms, nice L'Occitane bath products, soaker tubs, and a fabulous cafe and full-service restaurant on site.
• Sandestin Hilton, Florida - located along 30A near Destin, Florida, this area has gorgeous white sand beaches and calm water. This is a great hotel for families because one of the towers has 300 rooms that have bunk beds. It is easy to have a family of five in one room and not feel cramped. Read Tamara's full Sandestin Hilton review.
• White House Hotel, Istanbul - had rooms with three twin beds, making it a great choice for a friend trip to Istanbul. The price was extremely reasonable and it is in the Sultanahmet neighborhood near all the main attractions.
• Hagia Sofia Mansions, Istanbul - this is a Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel, also in the Sultanahmet neighborhood and it was beautiful. The rooms are spread across multiple buildings and the rooms feel very luxurious. There are two restaurants and the breakfast has so much food.
• Park Hyatt Istanbul - Macka Palas - the hotel room was fabulous but it is located in a high-end shopping district, which may mean you spend more on cabs getting around the city.
• Avantgarde Refined Urgup - Cappadocia is a region of towns and this hotel is in the up-and-coming town of Urgup. This is a newly-opened, cave-style hotel with excellent service and food.
• Meneghetti Wine Hotel, Croatia - this is Tamara's favorite hotel of the year. They stayed in a one-bedroom residence that had a living room, 1.5 baths, loft bedroom, with a private backyard and patio. The hotel is located on a wine estate and has multiple restaurants, two pools, a beach club, spa, and more. Read about Tamara's couples trip to Croatia.

Other Episodes You May Enjoy

• Where to go in 2025
• Explore Iceland on a Windstar Cruise
• Weekend getaway in Victoria, BC
• Explore Croatia from Dubrovnik to Istria
• Amsterdam with kids

Tamara is just back from a festive trip to Nova Scotia, Canada where she was able to experience small town holiday celebrations, the Halifax Evergreen Festival, and the Christmas Tree Capital of the World! Her trip was sponsored by Tourism Nova Scotia. All opinions are her own.

We are looking for feedback for 2025! Do you want weekly episodes? More interviews? Short episodes? Video? Drop us a line at [email protected] and [email protected].

Mentioned on the podcast:

• Tamara visited Halifax, New Ross, Mahone Bay, Lunenberg, Barrington, Liverpool, and Shelburne in Nova Scotia.
• While Nova Scotia is popular in the summer, it has plenty to offer in the winter for the holidays
• Many of the small towns feel like walking into a Hallmark Christmas movie set with a great small town, community atmosphere.
• It is a different vibe from big city holidays or German Christmas Markets, but it is perfect for those that prefer a small town environment.
• The Canadian dollar is also weak against the U.S. dollar so it is a good budget, off-season destination.
• It is only a 1.5 hour direct from Boston, but there are also direct flights to other cities on the U.S. East Coast.
• Downtown Halifax has an Evergreen Festival that includes an Evergreen Bright Trail, a small Evergreen Market with shops and fire pits, and other special events like a sports area with mini curling.
• Glow Gardens in Halifax is a great event for families featuring indoor light displays, bouncy houses, mini golf, roller skating, a Christmas train, live entertainment, and more.
• 2 days in Halifax was perfect.
• Museums in Halifax include the Pier 21 Immigration Museum and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which has a great exhibit on shipwrecks including fragments from the Titanic.
• New Ross is the Christmas Tree Capital of the World, which ships its Balsam Fir trees. You can visit the Ross Farm Museum or one of the cut-your-own Christmas tree farms. There is also a trail called Ruby's Trail that you can climb through the evergreens to a small chalet, which is home to "Twig the Elf."
• Mahone Bay had a Christmas festival with a small craft fair and a Christmas bells concert, as well as holiday decorations throughout the shops downtown.
• Lunenberg hosted a huge community arts and crafts fair for the holidays. The town of Lunenberg is very pretty, with colorful architecture and plenty of restaurants and shops.
• In Shelburne, Tamara stayed in a huge waterfront suite at Albert's Inn. Shelburne hosted Miracle on Dock Square with a walk-through Christmas parade, visit with Santa, craft fair, and various stands throughout town. It finished with fireworks over the water.
• Tamara also went searching for the lobster trap and buoy Christmas trees along the coast of Nova Scotia.
• Tamara finished her stay at the White Point Beach Resort, which has cabins, a lodge, and glomes (glamping domes). It was warm and cozy, with a great view and very nice, even in the winter.

Other Episodes You May Enjoy:

• Summer travel recap: New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island
• German Christmas Markets
• European Christmas Markets

Not sure where to go on vacation next year? We have all kinds of ideas from new theme parks, new attractions, new hotels, cities and destinations celebrating anniversaries, destinations that are easier to access thanks to new direct flights, and more. Plus, stick around to hear where to avoid in 2025 too!

• Universal Orlando is opening Epic Universe in May of 2025 and you currently need to buy a three-day ticket, with one day to be spent in the Epic Universe Park. There are also three new hotels opening in 2025 in conjunction with the new park.
• Walt Disney World is also reopening the Test Track attraction and getting a new parade in Magic Kingdom. Disneyland will also be celebrating its 70th anniversary all year long and adding a new Walt Disney animatronic attraction. Two new attractions will also open in the Avengers land.
• Mattel Adventure Park is opening in Glendale, Arizona with a Barbie Fun House and Hot Wheels roller coaster.
• Oklahoma City is opening an Okana Resort with a hotel and waterpark right next to the new First Americans Museum near the Bricktown entertainment district.
• Santa Rosa, California is celebrating the Peanuts comic strip's 75th anniversary at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center. (Hear more about Kim and Tamara's trip to Santa Rosa.)
• Germany is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Fairy Tale Route (read more about Jade from Vagabond 3's tripwith her daughter)
• Southwest is now flying direct flights to Iceland from more cities (such as Nashville). Just know that you won't be able to use your Companion Pass for Iceland flights.
• This winter is also supposed to be another peak solar cycle to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, Alaska, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
• There are also new direct flights from Atlanta and Philadelphia to Copenhagen via a KLM code-share with Delta.
• Copenhagen is one of the oldest theme parks in the world and the city is quite family friendly.
• If you are traveling to Europe next year, at some point they will introduce the ETIAS visa and the UK is now going to introduce its own visa system in January 2025.
• 2025 is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth and cities like Bath, England will be doing a lot to celebrate. It is a great time to plan a trip for literary fans!
• Fiji now has direct flights from Dallas. Fiji is an affordable and exotic destination for families, which is easier to get to and much cheaper than places like the Maldives.
• There will also be new direct flights from Newark, NJ to Faro in the Algarve in Portugal (hear about Kim and Tamara's trip to Portugal). United also has flights to Sao Miguel in the Azores.
• Turks and Caicos has opened many new luxury hotel properties and beachfront villas and offers beautiful beaches. They are also opening a second airport.
• Indianapolis will be a great spot for a girls' trip or a mother-daughter sports-themed trip - just get your tickets to the Indiana Fever very far in advance. Seattle is also a great sports city with a women's soccer team and WNBA team.
• Italy is celebrating the Jubilee year from December 2024 through Epiphany January 6, 2026. Rome is going to be extra busy next year, especially at the Vatican (and it could be closed for events.)

In 2025, Tamara will be visiting both Peru and Chile in March and April 2025. Kim is meeting her daughter Mia in Paris in July and doing eight days in Switzerland.

Imagine taking a weekend getaway to another country without needing a car or getting on a plane! Kim recently took a trip to Victoria, British Columbia. Victoria is on the tip of Vancouver Island and is actually closer to the U.S. than Vancouver. You can take a high-speed ferry on the Victoria Clipper directly from Seattle. Another option is to take a seaplane from Kenmore Air or Harbour Air from Vancouver. There is also a car ferry from the Port Angeles area.

You can listen to more about Kim's previous trip on Episode 139 about Victoria or read her tips for taking the Victoria Clipper. This trip was hosted by the Victoria Clipper.

The high-speed ferry takes about 2.5 hours from Seattle. The ferry drops off in the main Victoria Harbor and you can walk to the Inn at Laurel Point. Kim has also stayed at the Coast Hotel during a previous stay, but that is slightly further away from the city center. The Fairmont Empress is great for a luxury stay or even just to book a high tea experience.

Things to do on a weekend getaway:

• Butchart Gardens - which also offers high tea in the original family home. If you book a trip on the Victoria Clipper, they offer vacation packages that also include things like bus transfers to the Gardens.
• In the Harbour, Canada has done a place-making project to give more visibility to First Nations as it was historically a very important cultural site for many local First Nations people.
• There are three free daily shuttles to the Malahat Skywalk, which is owned by the Malahat Nation. You climb a ramp through an open, beehive-like structure and at the top, you can climb on a net and look out over the scenery and the water. There are also various sculptures made by locals. You can walk back down or take a slide for part of the descent.
• You can also go wine tasting in Victoria at Blue Grouse Estate Winery with a gorgeous tasting room, or the Venturi-Schultz Vineyard, where they also make estate balsamic vinegar and Enrico Winery. Local wines include Pinot Noir, sparkling wine, and white wines.
• Ritual Nordic Spa in downtown Victoria has a great Nordic spa experience with steam, a sauna, a cold plunge pool, salt room, showers, an infrared sauna, and a private patio for relaxation.
• Aura is the restaurant at the Inn at Laurel Point and is excellent (the coffee shop also has amazing croissants)
• Endive is a pescatarian restaurant with seasonal ingredients and many things are served family style.

Tamara recently took a press trip to San Antonio, Texas, hosted by Visit San Antonio, to see what there was to do in San Antonio for families. She found that San Antonio has a lot of history and culture, great food, fun theme parks, and plenty of free or affordable attractions.

San Antonio could make a great winter or spring break family vacation (when the weather is cooler). The city is also ideal for a girls' trip or couples getaway weekend. Top sites include:

• San Antonio is the theme park capital of Texas with four theme parks within a short drive. They have the largest SeaWorld of all the parks. There is also a Six Flags, Schlitterbahn water park, and Morgan's Wonderland.
• Morgan's Wonderland is an ultra-accessible amusement park but built so that everyone can play. Each ride and attraction has been designed from the ground up to be accessible and conscious of those with special needs.
• The San Antonio CityPASS can save you money if you want to visit quite a few museums and attractions (including the San Antonio Zoo).
• The Riverwalk extends for 15 miles and outside of the core downtown horseshoe section, it is a quiet and lush urban park. You can even kayak on the river.
• The Pearl is a dining and entertainment district with residences and the Hotel Emma.
• The food in San Antonio is great and it is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Some highlights: Eddie's Taco Shop, Best American Daughter, Burgerteca, Stix and Stone, The Jerk Shack, and La Panaderia
• In addition to the Alamo, there are four other Missions that are run by the National Park Service, which offer even more to see.
• The Witte Museum is great for kids with plenty of interactive exhibits and play areas.
• The Japanese Tea Garden in Brackenridge Park is beautiful and peaceful
• Hemisfair Park downtown also is great for family with young kids with splash pads and climbing structures.
• Tamara stayed at the Intercontinental San Antonio Riverwalk on the quieter section of the Riverwalk. There are also great resort hotels in Hill Country just outside of San Antonio.

See more about Tamara's trip and reasons to visit San Antonio with kids.

Other Episodes You May Enjoy

• Girlfriend getaway to El Paso, Texas
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Kim recently took her two girls to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando for a mother-daughter getaway. Hear more about her trip, learn some strategies for using Lightning Lane, new rides, new theme parks coming, and comparisons between the parks.

It was hot, humid, and rainy in the afternoons, but they still had a fun time exploring all the parks. Luckily, Universal Orlando has more indoor rides that help on rainy days.

Updates from Walt Disney World

• Tron in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom - it is like riding a motorcycle but on a roller coaster track. The ride is fabulous but really short.
• Splash Mountain is now Tiana's Bayou Adventure - this is a two-by-two flume-like ride that has been redesigned.
• Disney now has Lightning Lane Multi Experience and Lightning Lane Single Experience. With the Multi Experience, it works on multiple rides and as soon as you tap into one ride, you can request the next Lightning Lane. You want to purchase and prebook your first ride in advance. Single Experience is where you can buy a Lightning Lane time slot for individual rides like Tron or Rise of the Resistance.
• Disney's Lightning Lane experience is better than Universal's Express Pass because they load people from that lane faster.
• Disney has also changed their rules around their Disability Access service and made it much harder to obtain a pass. Keep this in mind if you have children with special needs and have used that service in the past.
• Tip: If you want to stay at one of the Deluxe hotels on property, you can stay by renting Disney Vacation Club points. (Riviera has Skyliner access) See Kim's article on renting and using DVC points.
• Disney is building a new ride in the Avengers Campus and they are getting rid of the Tom Sawyer Island and Riverboat in Magic Kingdom to create Cars Land.

Updates from Universal Orlando

Note: Universal Orlando hosted Kim's family for this part of the trip.

• Kim stayed at the Loews Sapphire Falls, which is a Moderate property and does not include the Express Passes. The Sapphire Falls is within walking distance to the parks and guests get one hour early entry.
• Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure still has very long lines.
• The nice thing about the Universal Express Passes don't require you to book any times online, so it is less stressful to manage. However, many people have these passes because they are staying at the premium hotels and the lanes load slowly so sometimes you don't save a lot of time (sometimes only about 10 minutes of time savings).
• There is a Universal Express Unlimited Pass that lets you ride a ride in the Express pass lane as much as you would like, without limits.
• Universal Orlando is building a whole new theme park in 2025 called Epic Universe. It is going to be further away from CityWalk and the other parks or hotels. It will also have another portion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Ministry of Magic. There will also be two premium hotels and a How to Train Your Dragon land.

 

Other Episodes You May Enjoy

• Disney Vacation Club tips
• Choosing a Disney World hotel
• Walt Disney World tips
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If you love Italy and Greece, you are going to love today's destination! Tamara shares her two-week trip with her husband to Croatia. They visited Dubrovnik, Korcula, Hvar, Split, Zadar, and Istria for a mix of relaxation, food, wine, history, and cultural exploration.

Croatia is a lovely country to visit because it is very clean and one of the safest countries to visit in the world.

Unfortunately, it is also surprisingly expensive. It isn't the "cheaper" Italy. You can see a full Croatia budget breakdown. Istria was less expensive than other parts of the country.

Tamara's itinerary included:

• 3 nights in Dubrovnik at the Rixos Premium
• 1 night in Korcula at Aminess Hotel Korcula
• 3 nights in Hvar at the Beach Bay Hvar Hotel
• 1 night in Zadar at Hotel Bastion
• 4 nights in Istria at the Hotel Meneghetti

You can find her full Croatia itinerary for couples here.

It is best to fly into one city and fly out of another. For example, fly into Dubrovnik and out of Zagreb. To get around in the southern Dalmatian region and islands, you can ferry hop to different islands. To visit the northern part of the country, it is best to rent a car.

Another option is to take a small ship cruise or yacht charter to explore the coast and islands that way.

Other Episodes You May Enjoy

• Tamara's anniversary trip to Greece
• Couples trip to Piemonte, Italy

Tamara heads to Tucson, Arizona frequently since her daughter Hannah is now a junior at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Kim and Tamara first experienced Tucson together at a Family Travel Association Conference, but since Hannah started school Tamara has visited a number of times.

While many of her activities are centered around the University of Arizona, she has taken time to explore more of the area.

A few tips for visiting Tucson:

• Visit in the summer for lower prices but expect dry temps over 100 and it can also be monsoon season with short heavy rain storms and flooding
• Avoid May graduation, August move in, Parent weekend in September or October, the Mineral & Gem Show in February, and big football or basketball games to find better availability for hotels
• If you want a resort hotel with a pool, you are better looking at some of the hotels in the foothills versus downtown
• You need to rent a car if you want to stay at a resort and explore the area
• It is about 2-2.5 hours from Phoenix if you want to fly into there instead of Tucson or combine the two destinations

Favorite hotels:

• Best for families: Westin Paloma
• See Tamara's picks for the best places to stay in Tucson
• Favorite for couples: Hacienda Del Sol
• Best near campus: Graduate Tucson
• Best downtown: Home2Suites by Hilton

Things to do in Tucson:

• Saguaro National Park
• Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum
• Sunset at West Gate Pass
• Night sky star gazing at Mt Lemmon Windy Point or Kitt Peak
• Hiking in Sabino Canyon
• Pima Air and Space Museum
• Horseback riding at White Stallion Ranch / Cowboy Cookout at Tanque Verde Ranch
• Old Town Tucson
• Shopping along Fourth Avenue
• Enjoy Mexican food
• See more things to do in Tucson
• Great brunch spots in Tucson

Other Episodes You May Enjoy

• Scottsdale
• Tempe, Arizona

Kim just came back from her third cruise of the year and her first small-ship cruise on Windstar Cruises. TL;DR, she loved Windstar and small ship cruising! In this week's episode Kim dishes on everything you need to know about small ship cruising on Windstar.

Plus, hear about her pre-cruise excursions from Reykjavik including a small group Golden Circle tour with Hidden Iceland and hot springs experiences at the Sky Lagoon and Blue Lagoon.

Note: Kim was hosted by Windstar Cruises for purposes of her review. All opinions are her own.

Highlights of the Windstar Cruise experience:

• Small staff with personalized service
• Easier to make connections with fellow cruisers
• Very large cabins with a sitting area, walk in closet, and large bathroom
• Dining options
• Observatory lounge

OTHER EPISODES YOU MAY ENJOY

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• Barge and river cruising through France
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