The Whitsundays are a tropical paradise of 74 islands set in the heart of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. With crystal-clear turquoise waters, pristine white beaches, and world-class sailing, the region is one of Australia’s most iconic holiday destinations.

This week, Melissa joins Tracy to share everything you need to know to plan your dream Whitsundays getaway. From the famous Whitehaven Beach with its squeaky-soft silica sand, to unforgettable sailing adventures and insider tips, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Where the Whitsundays are located and how to get there (Hamilton Island or Proserpine/Airlie Beach gateways)
• Why Whitehaven Beach is a must-see and how to plan your visit
• The best times of year to travel — from whale watching in winter to stinger season considerations in summer
• Accommodation choices include luxury island resorts, Airlie Beach stays, and unique experiences like ReefSleep
• Top activities such as snorkelling, jet ski tours, Hill Inlet lookout, and sunset cruises
• Hidden gems beyond the main tourist trail, including Cape Gloucester, Dingo Beach, and Hideaway Bay
• Insider planning tips, like booking Whitehaven trips early in your stay, in case of weather disruptions

For photos and highlights from Tracy and Melissa’s visits, head to the shownotes linked below!

⭐️ Guest - Melissa Delaware from "The Queensland Travel Guide"
📝 Show Notes -Episode 75

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #18 - Queensland Travel Tips: Beaches, Outback Adventures, and Hidden Gems
• Episode #32 – Brisbane Day Trips: Islands, Wildlife, and Hidden Gems
• Episode #46– Discovering Western Australia: Essential Insights and Travel Tips with Tess Moone

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Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

In this episode of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, host Tracy Collins is joined by her husband and regular co-host Doug Collins to share the story of their epic 10-day coast-to-coast road trip across Australia, from Brisbane to Perth. Together they talk through the logistics, highlights, surprises and practicalities of covering 4,500 kilometres (2,800 miles) through outback towns, iconic routes such as the Nullarbor, and three very different states.

Tracy and Doug reflect on the planning that went into the trip, the memorable stops they made along the way, and their favourite places to stay. They also offer honest thoughts on what they might do differently next time. Expect stories of wildlife sightings, the reality of budgeting for fuel and accommodation, preparing the car for such a journey, and a few mishaps on the road (including the drama of a locked-in car key rescue).

The episode wraps up with the total cost of the trip, along with practical tips to help you plan your own bucket-list Australian drive and make it as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

Show notes - Episode 74

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #46 – Discovering Western Australia: Essential Insights and Travel Tips with Tess Moone
• Episode #32 – Brisbane Day Trips: Islands, Wildlife, and Hidden Gems
• Episode #7 – UK to Australia: Making the move with guest Karen Bleakley

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📍London Travel Planning
Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

“The perfect trip rarely exists.” No matter how carefully you plan, travel throws curveballs. In this candid chat, the Ladies Who Travel unpack what happens when plans fall apart: a protest that blocks all roads, weather-cancelling bucket list moments, and train strikes that derail rail itineraries. 

You will hear different coping styles in action - Shelly’s calm in a crisis, Melissa’s quick “meltdown then regroup,” and Tracy’s pragmatic pivots. We also share practical tactics: build flexibility into your plan, book priority experiences early, research potential disruptions, and keep backups ready (including Shelly’s smart two-phone system for solo travellers). 

We also discuss openly the emotions behind cancelled plans and how to move on quickly. As Melissa says, “It’s okay to have your five-minute meltdown, express your disappointment, and then ask: now what am I going to do?” Because so often the best stories start with, “Well, this wasn’t what we planned…”

⭐️ Guests - Melissa (QueenslandTravelGuide.com.au) and Shelly Marie (SoloHerWay.com)
📝  Show Notes - Episode 73 

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #56 – Essential Tips for Surviving Long Haul Flights [Ladies Who Travel]
• Episode #52 – Travel Safe Travel Smart: Real Tips for Every Type of Traveller
• Episode #65 - Navigating Food Abroad: Tips, Mishaps & Healthy Hacks with the Ladies Who Travel

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🇬🇧UK Travel Planning
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📍London Travel Planning
Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

What sparks a lifelong love of travel? For some, it starts in childhood. For Melissa, co-host of Ladies Who Travel, it was different. She did not travel overseas until she was an adult, and her journey from novice to explorer shows how travel can shape a life. 

In this month’s Stamped episode, Melissa shares the moments that defined her: wandering Sydney at 19 with a paper map, the pull of “The Beach,” and a three-month solo round-the-world trip at 26. That journey transformed her confidence. “There’s something about travelling alone that makes me feel on top of the world.”

She brings to life magical moments, such as watching her daughter experience snow for the first time in Prague, and explains why Thailand keeps calling her back. 

Perhaps most revealing is her observation about landmark attractions: after visiting the Taj Mahal with a group, not a single person named it their highlight. Instead, everyone cherished human connections. Whether you are a seasoned traveller or just beginning, this conversation offers insight into creating meaningful travel experiences. 

Listen now, then join our "Ladies Who Travel" Facebook group or explore our tours specifically designed for women over 50.

⭐️ Guest - Melissa Delaware from "The Queensland Travel Guide"
📝 Show Notes -Episode  72

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #18 – Queensland Travel Tips: Beaches, Outback Adventures, and Hidden Gems
• Episode #32 – Brisbane Day Trips: Islands, Wildlife, and Hidden Gems
• Episode #47 – Pack Like a Pro: Essential Tips, Tricks + Travel Hack

Support the show

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📍London Travel Planning
Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

Tanya returns to share part two of her incredible African adventure, taking us through Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe with thrilling stories of desert landscapes, wildlife encounters, and natural wonders.

• Flying from Cape Town to Walvis Bay to begin the Namibian adventure
• Exploring German-influenced Swakopmund and taking a Sandwich Harbour tour where sand dunes meet the ocean
• Joining an overland safari with Nomad Africa through Namibia's stunning landscapes
• Encountering traditional Herero women and Himba people while travelling through northern Namibia
• Witnessing extraordinary wildlife at Etosha National Park's waterholes, including midnight elephant and rhino sightings
• Taking a scenic flight over Botswana's Okavango Delta before camping in the wilderness
• Experiencing the thrill and vulnerability of mokoro (dugout canoe) rides with hippos and buffalo nearby
• Finally spotting the elusive leopard during the last safari in Chobe National Park
• Viewing the magnificent Victoria Falls from both Zimbabwe and Zambia sides
• Taking a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls for a breathtaking aerial perspective
• Sampling local cuisine, including the adventurous mopane worm

⭐️ Guest - Tanya Munro
📝  Show Notes - Episode 71

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #70 - Epic Africa Adventure Part 1 - South Africa
• Episode #52 – Travel Safe Travel Smart: Real Tips for Every Type of Traveller
• UKTP Episode #82 – Trip Report with Tanya Munro [Insider Tips, Memorable Moments, and Unexpected Discoveries]

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Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

Tanya Munro shares her incredible multi-country African adventure, focusing on South Africa in this first episode of a two-part series. After 35 years on her bucket list, she finally travelled through Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Cape Town and the Garden Route, experiencing wildlife encounters, cultural discoveries and stunning landscapes.

• Best time to visit South Africa for wildlife viewing is during the dry season (June-July)
• Starting in Johannesburg provided important historical context through a Soweto township tour
• Thornhill Safari Lodge near Kruger offered incredible wildlife viewing including lions, cheetahs and elephants
• Cape Town surprised with its beauty, perfect weather and Table Mountain backdrop
• V&A Waterfront area provided safe, convenient accommodation with good security
• Garden Route tour covered 1,200km of diverse landscapes from mountains to coastline
• Blyde River Canyon (third largest canyon in world) was an unexpected highlight
• Game meats like kudu, springbok and ostrich were culinary standouts
• Cape Malay cooking class in Bo-Kaap offered cultural immersion through food
• Learning about South Africa's history early in the trip provides essential context

Join us next week as we continue Tanya's journey through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

⭐️ Guest - Tanya Munro
📝  Show Notes - Episode 70

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #48– Moroccan Adventure: Highlights, Culture, and Travel Tips from Our Intrepid Trip
• Episode #52 – Travel Safe Travel Smart: Real Tips for Every Type of Traveller
• UKTP Episode #82 – Trip Report with Tanya Munro [Insider Tips, Memorable Moments, and Unexpected Discoveries]

Support the show

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🗺 Global Travel Planning
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🇬🇧UK Travel Planning
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📍London Travel Planning
Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

In episode 69 of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy is joined by Shelly and Melissa for a Ladies Who Travel episode all about staying healthy on the road.

Together, they dive into the realities of travel wellness, sharing practical tips, personal stories, and lessons learned from decades of global adventures. From long-haul flights and disrupted routines to managing mental health and bouncing back from injuries, this honest chat covers it all.

Melissa opens up about navigating mental health and healing after injury, Shelly shares how daily habits and supplements help her stay grounded, and Tracy reflects on the importance of slowing down and listening to your body.

Whether you are a frequent flyer or planning your first big trip, this episode offers real-world advice to help you feel your best while exploring the world.

⭐️ Guests - Melissa (QueenslandTravelGuide.com.au) and Shelly Marie (SoloHerWay.com)
📝  Show Notes - Episode 69

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #56 – Essential Tips for Surviving Long Haul Flights [Ladies Who Travel]
• Episode #43 – Finding Your Ideal Accommodation: Tips, Tricks, and Travel Tales
• Episode #52 – Travel Safe Travel Smart: Real Tips for Every Type of Traveller

Support the show

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🗺 Global Travel Planning
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🇬🇧UK Travel Planning
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Instagram - UK Travel Planning
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📍London Travel Planning
Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

What do you get when you mix an empty nest, unstoppable curiosity, and a cheeky life motto to “spend the kids’ inheritance”? In this episode of Stamped, Mandy Watson joins Tracy to share the bold, breathtaking, and often hilarious stories behind her lifelong love of travel.

From being stranded in Hawaii with just $1 at 18, to summiting Kilimanjaro at 40, trekking the Inca Trail at 50, and planning Everest Base Camp at 60, Mandy proves that travel is not something you grow out of. It is something you grow into.

She recounts a heart-racing “Attenborough moment” in the Maasai Mara, reflects on places she is glad she has seen but does not need to return to, shares her dream of finally spotting the Northern Lights, and offers up a simple travel tip you will actually want to use.

With nearly 70 countries already ticked off and 26 more on the horizon, Mandy’s story will inspire you to revisit your own bucket list and maybe even expand it.

Guest - Mandy Watson from SpendingKidsInheritance
Show notes - Episode 68

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #19 – Explore the World with Mandy: Travel Tales and Adventures from Across the Globe
• Episode #63 - Stamped: Amanda Kendle – How Thoughtful Travel Shapes a Life of Meaningful Adventures
• Episode #60 - Lost in Translation: Hilarious English Mix-Ups on Your Adventures Abroad

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📍London Travel Planning
Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

We take you on a journey through our 13-day adventure in Malaysia, exploring Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Ipoh by train, ferry and grab taxis while sharing our experiences, favourite foods, and practical tips.

• Flying business class on Malaysian Airways and enjoying their famous satay chicken skewers
• Staying at the Crowne Plaza in Kuala Lumpur, perfectly positioned five minutes from the Petronas Towers
• Taking the first-class train to Penang with access to the Ruby Lounge and meal service
• Exploring Penang's UNESCO sites, including the Peranakan Mansion and the Chew Jetties
• Witnessing monkeys crossing electrical wires at precisely 6:30 pm to reach their dinner spot
• Discovering Ipoh's incredible cave temples: Sam Po Tong, Nam Thaum Tong, and Ling Seng Tong
• Trying countless Malaysian dishes at hawker centres, including bean sprout chicken and Ais Kacang dessert
• Using the Grab app for easy and affordable taxi service throughout Malaysia
• Catching the comfortable Aeroline coach from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore instead of flying

Whether you're planning your first trip to Malaysia or returning for more exploration, be sure to carry some cash for food courts, stay hydrated in the tropical heat, and most importantly, come hungry for the incredible Malaysian cuisine.

Show notes - Episode 67

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #15 –  Insider’s Guide for First-Time Visitors to Singapore
• Episode #62 – Making Long-Term Travel Work: Practical Advice for Your Own Adventure
• Episode #47– Pack Like a Pro: Essential Tips, Tricks + Travel Hacks

Support the show

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🗺 Global Travel Planning
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Instagram - UK Travel Planning
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📍London Travel Planning
Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

Hawaii expert Marcie Cheung shares essential insights for planning your first trip to the islands, from choosing which island to visit to navigating transportation and experiencing authentic local culture. We unpack common misconceptions about Hawaii's geography, budget considerations, and practical tips for making the most of your Hawaiian vacation.

• Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island are the four main Hawaiian islands tourists visit
• Hawaii is expensive year-round – budget early for accommodation, flights, car rentals and activities
• Best time to visit is during the shoulder seasons: May-mid June and September-early November
• Plan one main activity per day rather than overscheduling your itinerary 
• No ferries connect the major islands – island hopping requires flights and half a day of travel time
• Most islands require rental cars – book well in advance
• Hawaii is casual – pack light with swimwear, one nice outfit, and reef-safe sunscreen
• Take advantage of happy hour "pupus" (Hawaiian appetisers) to save on food costs
• Must-try foods include Spam Musubi and authentic shave ice (not snow cones)
• Experience Hawaiian culture through hula performances and traditional luaus

Guest - Marcie Cheung from Hawaii Travel with Kids and host of the Hawaii Travel Made Easy Podcast.
Show notes - Episode 66

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #3: Exploring New Zealand’s South Island
• Episode #33: 3 Days in Los Angeles: Itinerary & Travel Tips
• Episode #30: Secrets of Maine: Local Experiences and Natural Wonders 

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📍London Travel Planning
Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!