This week Ashleigh and Christopher play a fun travel-themed game of "Would You Rather?" covering topics like flights, hotels, budgets, destinations and more. Which would they choose - unlimited free flights in economy or luxury hotels and paid flights? Listen in to find out!

Ashleigh and Christopher introduce the show and explain they're playing a travel "Would You Rather" game this week.

Ashleigh and Christopher taste Handstand White wine from Chateau Grand Traverse and discuss the history of the winery and its founder.

Ashleigh discusses an article about how medical claims accounted for the most travel insurance claims in 2024, especially on cruises. They provide tips for purchasing travel insurance.

Ashleigh and Christopher share that they recently attended the Travel and Adventure Show in Chicago, and they want to bring back some of the knowledge they learned to share with listeners.

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- Actor and travel writer who has worked for National Geographic - Big takeaway from his talk was "don't be afraid." Say yes to opportunities when traveling. He told a story about accepting an invitation to golf in Ireland which ended up being a life-changing experience.

- Runs a YouTube channel called "The Tour Guy" focused on travel tips and tours in Europe - Very helpful with efficient travel techniques and packing tips

- Daughter of Arthur Frommer, founder of Frommer's Guidebooks - Shared inspirational stories and quotes from her father about budget travel - Talked about places where the American dollar stretches furthest for travel

- Canadian travel expert with a background in optimization and efficiency - Great tips for saving money on travel with systematic approaches - Favorite website he mentioned: IMOOVA for relocating vehicles very cheaply. They recommend his book: Stop Dreaming Start Traveling.

- Formerly with The Points Guy website - Gave tips for getting around inconveniences imposed by travel brands - Suggested joining AARP at age 18 for discounts

Christopher and Ashleigh share their favorite wines from off-the-beaten path wine regions: - Saperavi from Georgia - Nebbiolo from Mexico - Lambrusco from Italy - Cabernet Franc from Michigan - Etna Rosso from Sicily

Ashleigh and Christopher share highlights from their weekend getaway to Chicago for the Travel Show: - Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn downtown, close to favorite restaurants - Ate at favorite breakfast spots like Beatrix and Wildberry Pancakes - Enjoyed dinner at Eataly, Frontera Grill, and deep dish pizza at Pizzeria Uno - Shopped at specialty grocery stores like the Spice House, Nespresso, and Ghirardelli

Ashleigh and Christopher encourage listeners to check out a Travel and Adventure Show if there is one coming to their area.

Hosts Ashleigh and Christopher talk about how they’ve been missing their recent trip to Puerto Rico and have a bit of the post-travel blues as winter sets in. They share 10 tips for beating the winter travel blues.

Ashleigh suggests going back through photos from your last trip and printing them to create a photo book. She also recommends displaying travel photos around your house as cheap art.

Christopher's #1 tip is to simply take a trip if you're able to get away, even just for a long weekend.

Ashleigh recommends finding recipes for dishes you enjoyed during your last trip. It helps you recreate some of the experience at home.

Both Ashleigh and Christopher enjoy spending time researching and planning future trips, even if they don't have firm dates. It helps beat the winter blues by giving you something to look forward to.

Ashleigh suggests taking day trips nearby to get out of the house and experience something new, like visiting a museum.

Christopher recommends attending a travel show like the Travel & Adventure Show to get inspired about future destinations.

Christopher shares that practicing a foreign language for an upcoming trip helps beat the blues. Ashleigh mentions she has a 1,700+ day Duolingo streak!

Both hosts recommend finding new travel TV shows, YouTube channels, podcasts, etc. to discover fresh content and get inspired. Listen to episode 23 and 28 for inspiration.

Christopher suggests making a bucket list of places you want to visit. It helps give you something to look forward to.

Ashleigh mentions flight deal alert services like Going and NextVacay that can help you find and book cheap flights.

Christopher shares a weird tip he saw online - turn up the heat in your house, play sounds/video of a beach, and pretend you're on vacation somewhere warm!

If your winter travel blues continue several weeks after returning from a trip, talk with a healthcare provider.

The hosts try a Valpolicella Ripasso wine from the Veneto region of Italy. Christopher explains how the winemaking process for Ripasso incorporates pomace left over from making Amarone wine.

In this episode, Christopher and Ashleigh discuss the latest travel news from January 2025.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/most-turbulent-flight-routes-2024-8771077

https://www.travelandleisure.com/jetblue-delayed-flights-fine-usd2-million-passengers-8768705

Christopher and Ashleigh tried a Verdicchio wine from Italy's Veneto region. Christopher discussed principles of pairing wine with different foods like spicy, fatty, or sweet dishes. The Verdicchio went well with their tacos because the sweetness balanced the heat.

In this episode, hosts Ashleigh and Christopher share their favorite things to do in Puerto Rico that get you off the beach and experiencing more of the island's culture, nature, food, and festivities.

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The oldest part of San Juan with old buildings, forts, cultural attractions, and good food. Great place to spend time and hang out.

Puerto Rico has three bioluminescent bays that glow year-round. Laguna Grande near Fajardo is the most accessible. Mosquito Bay in Vieques is the brightest in the world. For the best experience, go near the new moon.

The only tropical rainforest in the U.S. national forest system. Features scenic drives, hiking trails with waterfalls and views. Expect rain even when dry elsewhere.

Puerto Rico is known for rum. Recommended distilleries: Ron del Barrilito for small batch, Don Q for mixology class and tasting, Bacardi for a big brand experience.

Puerto Rico grows coffee in the mountains. Cafe Lareño is a top farm with tasting bar. Many only offer tours on weekends. Visit Discover Puerto Rico for additonal coffee haciendas to explore.

Stay connected wherever you go with Airalo eSIM. Airalo's eSIMs are available in over 200 countries worldwide and are trusted by over 10 million users. Visit Airalo.com for more information.

Snorkel right from beaches in Rincon and Fajardo. The outlying island of Culebra is known for its snorkeling as well. See coral reefs and tropical fish away from the beach. Or learn how to Scuba!

Visit the famous lechoneras (pork roast restaurants) like Lechonera Los Pinos along the Ruta de Lechon for whole roasted suckling pig and local sides.

Experience Puerto Rican culture at festivals year-round across the island, like the San Sebastian Festival in Old San Juan, pineapple festival in Lajas, and more.

Find handmade woodwork, textiles, and more from local artisans at craft fairs like the Rincon Art Walk or explore the many galleries in Old San Juan.

Top art museums include Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico in San Juan and Museo de Arte de Ponce with the island's largest art collection.

40+ food stalls with Puerto Rican cuisine, international food, and more. Eat, walk around, and enjoy the beach scene without swimming.

Instead of wine this week this week, Christopher and Ashleigh enjoyed a Pina Colada out of a pineapple. Check out the recipe from Don Q.

In this episode, Christopher and Ashleigh share their top ten tips for visiting Puerto Rico after visiting the island multiple times.

Christopher recommends learning basic Spanish phrases, especially for food service and driving. Knowing phrases like "please," "thank you," and numbers is helpful.

Christopher emphasizes understanding Puerto Rico's unique relationship as a part of the U.S. as an American territory. Being informed about this complex relationship will help you interact respectfully with locals.

While San Juan is a popular destination, Christopher encourages getting out and exploring other regions of Puerto Rico to see more sides of the island.

Christopher recommends engaging with local culture and supporting the local economy by trying local cuisine, visiting museums and festivals, and purchasing local art.

Ashleigh suggests exploring beyond just the beaches to really experience what makes Puerto Rico special.

Ashleigh recommends booking car rentals early, as they can be scarce around busy travel times. She suggests considering local companies like Aki Koki as an alternative to major rental chains.

Ashleigh highly recommends visiting the smaller islands of Culebra and Vieques, which can be accessed via inexpensive ferry from mainland Puerto Rico.

Christopher talks about Bordeaux style wine blends and "meritage" wines during the wine break.

Ashleigh suggests staying somewhere with backup power and water in case of outages, which are common in Puerto Rico.

Ashleigh recommends DiscoverPuertoRico.com as a great resource for trip planning.

Christopher suggests considering flying into alternate airports besides just San Juan, like Aguadilla or Ponce, which may have cheaper flights.

Ashleigh and Christopher discuss Flighty, an app they've been using to track flights and flight history. They recommend it for getting flight delay notifications and tracking friends' flights.

In this episode, Christopher and Ashleigh share their love for Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. They discuss the history, attractions, challenges, and their favorite places to stay and eat in this beautiful, historic city.

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Founded in 1496, Old San Juan is the oldest European established city in the U.S. It was originally a walled, fortified city with the purpose of military defense. Many parts of the old wall and several iconic fortresses like El Morro remain today.

Top attractions include:

Some difficulties travelers may encounter include:

Tips: Book morning and evening activities to avoid mid-day heat. Have a backup quick meal option and make reservations for dinner. Rent a car only for non-San Juan portions of your trip.

Christopher and Ashleigh love Hotel El Colonial in Old San Juan. It's adults only, has a free open bar, and is located in their favorite part of the city.

Other good options are Hotel El Convento or unique Airbnbs right in Old San Juan.

Recommendations for breakfast/lunch:

Dinner favorites:

Classic Puerto Rican dishes to try: Churrasco steak, mofongo (mashed plantains), tostones (fried mashed plantains), Popsicles from Señor Paleta.

And be sure to try Puerto Rican coffee! Cafe Cuatro Sombras, Finca Cielitos, and Café Cola'o were recommended.

Let Christopher and Ashleigh know if you have any other Puerto Rico tips!

links to add- vieques blog, spice house mulling spices, mowtown museum blog, new youtube channel

Join Ashleigh and Christopher as they recap their travel adventures of 2024 and look ahead to 2025.

They recap their trips to Puerto Rico, New York City, Disney World, and a cross-country Amtrak trip. Highlights include San Francisco, Muir Woods, and Napa/Sonoma.

Christopher makes mulled wine using 2 Lads Rola Red, mulling spices, and a bit of brandy. He recommends using lighter, less tannic wines.

More trip recaps including 3 weeks in Italy, Michigan camping, Mackinac Island, Greenville SC, and more. They also took several weekend trips around Michigan and day trips to Detroit including visiting the Motown Museum for the first time. 

Looking ahead to 2025, they are excited for more camping trips including Canada. Christopher got a new truck for towing. They also hope to visit Mexico City and return to Europe.

Ashleigh and Christopher discuss Time Out magazine's list of the 21 best places to travel for Christmas. They go through the list location by location, giving their thoughts on each destination. Locations include classic Christmas destinations like New York, London, and Vienna, as well as some more unique options like Thailand, Tokyo, Cape Town, and Guatemala City.

Christopher discusses about Chardonnay. He talks about the differences between French and Californian styles of Chardonnay, oak vs unoaked Chardonnay, and cool vs warm climate Chardonnays. They taste a Michigan Chardonnay from Chateau Grand Traverse that Christopher loves.

Ashleigh talks about her recent experience renewing her passport online. She says it was very easy and only took 3.5 weeks. She gives tips for getting passport photos taken for free from AAA if you're a member. She also talks about using phone apps to take the photo yourself.

Sparkling rosé Pinot Noir from Two Lads Winery in Michigan