All the S**t I've Learned Abroad

In this episode of All the S**t I've Learned Abroad it's a full on planning session! With our New Years travel resolutions fresh on our. minds, we really want to make sure we get them all ticked off the list this year! So in this episode, Steph walks us through her New Zealand trip planning all in real-time. So from flights, car rental, and hostel accommodation (yes, we said hostel!) we're searching for the best deals and we're booking them as we find them. Tune in now to learn some hot tips and tricks you can use in your own next travel planning session!

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Happy 2025! What better way to kick off the new year than with All the S**t I've Learned Abroad's annual travel resolution episode. Join Steph Paige and Andrea Gillis as they revisit their 2024 travel resolutions to see which were actually achieved, and then let's look ahead to their 2025 travel goals and resolutions to get your inspired for your own travel journey! What will be on the list this year? Tune in to find out!

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In this episode we're talking all things no-plan travel today. Have you ever planned an unplanned trip? Bit of an oxymoron there! For the spontaneous and 'non planner' people out there, mystery trips are growing in popularity, so what are you mystery trip options?

Want to learn more about the sites we talk about in this episode? Check out:

• Black Tomato's Get Lost - The Ultimate Adventure
• Wowcher UK's Mystery Holiday

00:00:00 - Introduction to No-Plan Travel

00:01:55 - OptimiSing Destination Weddings

00:03:09 - Upcoming Trips: Berlin and Texas

00:05:06 - Plus One at Weddings: Normalising Best Friends

00:07:06 - No-Planning Trips: Concept and Experiences

00:09:05 - Personal Experiences with Unplanned Travel

00:12:06 - Future Unplanned Travel Plans

00:14:16 - Practicalities of Booking Last-Minute Flights

00:17:34 - Spontaneous Road Trip in Ontario

00:20:12 - Challenges and Excitement of No-Plan Travel

00:20:56 - Black Tomato: The Ultimate No-Plan Experience

00:24:01 - Affordable Mystery Holidays with Woucher

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Group travel at it's core is often the perfect blend of solo travelers at heart who want to experience a new place whilst still having the camaraderie of traveling with others with a built-in support system, making it easier to navigate new places, handle unexpected situations, and enjoy diverse perspectives and ideas.

Joined by Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures, Bruce shares the company's inspiring founding story and it's commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism. Learn about the transformative impact of group travel and how G Adventures is making a difference in the industry.

[00:01:32] Entrepreneurial journey of G Adventures.

[00:06:36] Evolution of travel industry.

[00:08:39] Responsible travel and community tourism.

[00:12:35] Ethical animal encounters in travel.

[00:21:41] Group travel options.

[00:23:16] Roommate matchmaking process.

[00:28:28] Community bonding through travel.

[00:30:34] G Adventures' Chief Experience Officers.

[00:36:32] Group travel experiences.

[00:39:20] Age diversity in travel.

[00:43:51] Evolving travel styles.

[00:45:22] Support and Reviews Importance.

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It's all about priorities! Ask yourself, are you making travel a priority in your life? If the answer is no, then why not? While we have many priorities in life, we often forget to add travel as one of them. For many reasons, like mental and physical health, creating long lasting memories, and becoming more cultured, Steph and Andrea discuss why travel should always be included as a priority in your life and how we prioritise travel in our lives.

So let's dive in!

[00:03:31] Packing struggles and workout plans.

[00:06:55] Prioritising travel in our lives.

[00:14:28] Reminders of human kindness.

[00:16:57] Relationships and travel bonds.

[00:20:43] Benefits of hiking and travel.

[00:26:09] Prioritising travel over work.

[00:27:57] The importance of travel.

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It's time to dive into the world of artificial intelligence, also known as AI! While still in its infancy, is becoming more popular for travellers looking to simplify their travel planning. From finding hidden gems to crafting personalised itineraries, we test out different AI prompts to help us plan for our next upcoming trips. Does it live up to the hype? Tune in to find out!

00:00:00 - Introduction to AI in Travel

00:00:40 - Andrea's Upcoming Trip to Cyprus

00:01:58 - Steph's Canceled Iran Trip

00:04:36 - Personal Connections and Travel Opportunities

00:07:48 - AI as a Travel Planning Tool

00:08:14 - ChatGPT for Creative Writing and Work

00:09:35 - First Experiences with ChatGPT

00:10:32 - Using AI for Road Trip Planning

00:11:58 - Refining AI Prompts for Better Results

00:13:39 - AI for Finding Dining Options

00:15:06 - Discovering Hidden Gems with AI

00:16:09 - AI for Solo Travelers

00:17:27 - Testing AI for Solo Dining Recommendations

00:18:55 - AI vs. Traditional Search and Blogs

00:20:09 - AI for Finding Remote Work-Friendly Cafes

00:21:16 - The Literal Nature of AI Prompts

00:22:16 - Exploring AI Travel Apps

00:23:23 - AI for Trip Budgeting

00:24:06 - AI for Destination Inspiration

00:25:30 - ChatGPT's Advantages and Limitations

00:26:03 - Crafting a Custom Trip with AI

00:27:16 - Finding a Beach Vacation in Europe

00:28:39 - Planning a Luxurious Trip to Cyprus

00:31:02 - Budget Breakdown for Cyprus Trip

00:32:37 - Refining AI Prompts for Non-Drivers

00:33:07 - Personalising Road Trip Itineraries

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In 2024 solo travel is becoming more popular than ever, but it can still be very daunting for those who have yet to take their first solo trip. So we give you our hot tips on great things you can do while solo traveling and while your might be alone, you'll never feel lonely!

00:02:01 - Booking Flights and Work Trips

00:02:21 - Airbnb Hosting Experiences

00:12:30 - Benefits of Walking Tours

00:15:20 - Food Tours and Meeting People

00:17:42 - Dining Alone and Alternatives

00:20:11 - Market Days and Eating Out

00:22:04 - Attending Local Performances

00:23:18 - Cooking Classes for Solo Travelers

00:24:50 - Using Dating Apps While Traveling

00:28:44 - Bringing a Kindle or Book

00:29:37 - Bookstore Browsing and Cafe Hopping

00:38:19 - Final Thoughts on Solo Travel Activities

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This is a spicy one! Steph and Andrea get into a very intense debate... to recline or not to recline your airplane seat?! When we're flying, while we do have the option to push our seats back, is it always acceptable to do so? How long does a flight need to be before it's acceptable to recline your seat? And is it even your problem if the person behind you is too tall? Ultimately we need to ask the airlines who owns those two inches of space between the two seats? So buckle in and get ready for a heated episode!

00:00:00 - Debate on Airplane Seat Reclining

00:04:32 - The Middle Seat Dilemma

00:05:05 - To Recline or Not: The Great Debate

00:07:02 - Personal Reclining Etiquette

00:08:20 - Meal Service and Reclining Seats

00:09:00 - Considering Tall Passengers

00:10:01 - Reclining on Short Flights After Long Hauls

00:11:29 - The Domino Effect of Reclining

00:12:08 - Buying Seats with Extra Legroom

00:13:28 - Children Reclining Seats

00:14:16 - Courtesy of Asking Before Reclining

00:15:51 - Who Owns the Two Inches of Space?

00:18:28 - Dealing with Aggressive Passengers

00:19:19 - Judging the Situation Before Reclining

00:20:32 - Crossing Legs and Reclining Seats

00:21:39 - Airline's Responsibility for Seat Space

00:23:30 - Passive-Aggressive Responses to Reclining

00:24:14 - Ownership of Space and Airline Policies

00:27:15 - Dealing with Unusual Situations on Planes

00:28:45 - The Debate Continues: Courtesy vs. Rights

00:30:38 - Lack of Courtesy in Post-COVID Travel

00:31:13 - Conclusion and Opinions on Reclining Seats

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How does social media impact your travel experiences? Is social media ruining travel experiences or making them better? Are we too obsessed with getting the right content instead of taking in the experience? Are we focusing too much on FOMO and what we see online? And are we traveling to some of these places we see online for the right reasons? Let's dive in!

00:00:00 - Social Media's Impact on Travel

00:05:42 - Discovering Local Spots via Social Media

00:07:47 - The Pros of Sharing Travel on Social Media

00:09:03 - Reflecting on Posting Travel Content in Real Time

00:11:47 - The Influence of Social Media on Travel Destinations

00:13:14 - Expectation vs. Reality in Travel Posts

00:15:46 - The Phenomenon of Over-Tourism

00:17:03 - Personal Reflections on Social Media Use While Traveling

00:19:03 - The Benefits of Social Media for Travelers

00:21:17 - Concluding Thoughts on Social Media and Travel Responsibility

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Valentine's Day may have passed but it did get us thinking about love languages! Love languages are all about how you give and receive love, for and from others. But how do these relate into your travel style? Quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, gift giving and physical touch. We chat through these five love languages and how you can integrate these into travel to get the most out of your trip, whether with a partner, friends or even traveling solo.

00:00:00 - Love Languages and Travel

00:02:47 - Unplanned Big Trips and Booking Beliefs

00:03:20 - The Quest for a Wellness Retreat

00:05:13 - Spa Getaways vs. Genuine Retreats

00:06:32 - Valentine's Day and Galentine's Celebrations

00:07:06 - Love Languages and Their Travel Connection

00:08:07 - Defining and Understanding Love Languages

00:09:17 - Quality Time: Travel Edition

00:10:55 - Acts of Service on the Road

00:11:45 - Gift Giving While Traveling

00:12:37 - Physical Touch and Travel Intimacy

00:13:51 - Words of Affirmation for the Solo Traveler

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