The trip was planned. The Airbnb was booked. The dinner reservations were made. Then a text arrived Monday night: broken clavicle, ravine, emergency room. Five days before departure, everything was off. What followed was two and a half hours of Joe and Cheryl bouncing across the globe on a map, racing a midnight cancellation deadline, and trying to figure out where in the world to go instead. This episode is the story of how it all unfolded -- in real time, the night before they had to leave.

What You'll Walk Away With

• Why a friend's injury at exactly the "right moment" (although there is NEVER a true "right" moment for a severe injury) turned out to be the most accidentally perfect timing of the whole debacle
• The last-minute flight deal pages that most airlines hide -- and why they didn't help this time
• How to think about sunk costs when a trip falls apart: the simple reframe that unlocked the whole decision
• What to do when the helpful airline representative is... not that helpful
• The one credit card perk that opened up the entire map at midnight and changed everything
• Why sometimes the best travel decision is the one you make at 11:15 PM
• Crystal's pick if money were no object -- and why Joe agrees it's a great choice for a future trip
• The new Stacking Adventures format: short stories, over-under timelines, and listeners guessing how long Joe will talk

The New Format

This episode introduces something new -- shorter story episodes where Joe or Crystal share what's happening in their travel lives right now. Listeners are invited to guess how long the story will run. This one was supposed to land at 15 minutes. Joe clocked in at 21. Place your bets accordingly for next time, when Crystal takes her turn.

Resources Mentioned

• Stacking Adventures gear store -- stackingadventures.com/gotd
• Share your travel story -- stackingadventures.com/mystory
• Where in the World is Crystal? -- stackingadventures.com/mystory

Karen Cordaway of the Everyday Bucket List booked Amsterdam almost on a whim after watching a Ted Lasso episode. She stayed in the Jordaan neighborhood -- one of the swankiest in the city -- walked to the Anne Frank House, spent an afternoon at the Van Gogh Museum, took a canal tour in the rain, and nearly got knocked into the water by a cyclist who apparently had the right of way. She brings back everything: what surprised her, what moved her, what to eat, and what to watch out for when you're standing anywhere near a bike lane.

What You'll Walk Away With

• Why Karen almost ended up in a canal -- and the unofficial rule of Amsterdam that puts pedestrians firmly at the bottom of the hierarchy
• What the Anne Frank House actually feels like to walk through, including the real bookcase, the original sink, and the room where a 12-year-old pinned up pictures of movie stars
• How Karen did the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and a canal tour all in one day -- and why she recommends spreading them out if you can
• The Napoleon window tax story: why those narrow, vertical Amsterdam houses may have been built to avoid paying taxes on frontage
• Why spring is Karen's pick for the best time to visit -- and the hop-on hop-off tulip bus that takes you to what she calls the Disney World of flowers
• The open curtains culture: the Calvinist transparency theory versus the "showing off wealth" theory, and why the canal tour guide had a very different take
• Where to find Dutch pancakes with bacon embedded in the middle -- and why Karen thinks Amsterdam's food scene is surprisingly international
• The red light district at noon: what it's actually like to walk through, and the one rule that absolutely applies whether it's day or night
• Why Amsterdam works well for a 7-day trip with day trips built in -- and how to get to the Zaanse Schans windmills for free on a bus
• What kind of traveler Amsterdam is perfect for -- and why it's a harder trip with small children than you might expect

Where in the World is Crystal?

Adventure Annette tries to guess whether Crystal is in Tokyo.

Resources Mentioned

• Everyday Bucket List -- Karen Cordaway's podcast and travel content; Amsterdam playlist linked in show notes
• Anne Frank House, Amsterdam -- advance tickets required; no photography inside; annefrank.org
• Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam -- advance tickets required; vangoghmuseum.nl
• Zaanse Schans windmill village -- free entry, about one hour by bus from central Amsterdam; zaanseschans.nl
• Jordaan neighborhood -- recommended area to stay; central, walkable, canal access
• Keukenhof tulip gardens -- seasonal (spring); hop-on hop-off bus available from Amsterdam; keukenhof.nl
• Eating With Todd -- food content creator mentioned for Amsterdam restaurant recommendations; search on TikTok and Instagram
• Tony Chocolonely -- Dutch ethical chocolate brand; flagship store in Amsterdam; tonyschocolonely.com
• Stacking Adventures gear store -- stackingadventures.com/gotd
• Where in the World is Crystal? -- stackingadventures.com/mystory

Thirty-two thousand people. Forty miles. Five boroughs. One bridge that will test everything you have left in your legs. Crystal and Joe did the NYC Five Borough Bike Ride together -- Joe with his family, Crystal flying solo from DC with her own bike strapped to the back of her car -- and came back with everything the official website doesn't tell you. From booking bikes six months out to finding a $419 hotel the week before, this episode covers the real planning, the real costs, and the moments that made it worth every penny...including some of the tourist attractions they visited and restaurants they sampled.

What You'll Walk Away With

• Why you need to book your rental bike the moment registration opens -- and what happens if you wait too long
• The hotel pricing reality: what Joe paid booking five weeks out versus what Crystal paid booking one week before -- and the $115 Sunday night plot twist
• Why taxis in New York City are now consistently cheaper than Uber and Lyft -- and by how much
• The packet pickup experience: what to expect, what to buy, and the one vendor booth Crystal walked past and deeply regretted
• What 40 miles through New York actually looks like -- from Central Park's downhills to the DJ hauling a full sound system on his bike to the church choir cheering you on
• The pit stop party system that breaks the ride into manageable chunks -- and why Oreo cookies become a religious experience at mile 27
• The honest Verrazzano Bridge report: what it looks like, what it does to your legs, and why everyone who finishes says the same word when they hear its name
• Two restaurant discoveries worth building a whole New York trip around -- including a Michelin inspector favorite that doesn't take reservations and almost gave their table away
• The gear that saved Crystal's ride -- and the booth she skipped that she wishes she hadn't
• Why this ride lets you see more of New York in one day than most people see in five visits

Why This Episode Is Worth Your Time

The NYC Five Borough Bike Ride happens once a year and sells out fast. If it's on your list -- or you've never considered it -- this is the most practical hour of planning you'll find anywhere. Crystal and Joe didn't have a perfect plan. They had a great trip anyway, and the difference between the two is exactly what this episode is about.

Adventure Highlights

Crystal drove from DC with her own bike. Joe flew in with family for a long weekend that included the Tenement Museum, the 9/11 Memorial, a Yankees game, The Edge observation deck, and two of the best meals New York City quietly keeps to itself. They ended up in the same wave on race day without planning it -- and the Verrazzano Bridge united them in suffering.

Resources and Places Mentioned

• NYC Five Borough Bike Ride -- bikenewyork.org; registration opens annually, sells out quickly
• Unlimited Biking and BikeNYC -- rental options; book as early as possible, expect $150+ for 24 hours
• Hotel Indigo Financial District -- Crystal's last-minute find; $419 Saturday, $115 Sunday
• DoubleTree Battery Park -- Joe's hotel; booked five weeks out at ~$130/night average
• Lindens at the Boro Hotel -- Saturday night dinner; standout cocktails and burger
• Emilio's Ballato -- Sunday celebration dinner; no reservations, Michelin inspector favorite, arrive early
• John's Pizzeria on Bleecker Street -- Joe's recommendation for New York pizza at its best
• The Edge at Hudson Yards -- observation deck, $45/person, glass floor included
• Serendipity 3 -- Times Square dessert stop; $1,000 gold ice cream available with one month's notice
• Tom Schwab's chamois cream -- Crystal's ride-saving gear recommendation
• Too Good To Go app -- mentioned for finding discounted food options around the city
• Stacking Adventures Clubhouse -- join on Facebook for trip photos, videos, and community
• Share Your Adventure -- stackingadventures.com/mystory; win the Emerald backpack by guessing where Crystal is in Japan

Here are the full corrected show notes:

Group Travel 101: The Good, the Bad, and Why It's Almost Always Worth It

You don't know what you don't know -- and nowhere is that more true than when you're planning your first international trip. Group travel solves a problem most people don't realize they have: not just the logistics, but the insider knowledge, the local connections, and the moments that never make it onto any itinerary. Joe, Crystal, and travel agent extraordinaire Donna Pelletier break down everything you need to know before you book -- including the one type of person who will ruin your trip and why they'll still give you great stories.

What You'll Walk Away With

• Why group travel isn't just convenient -- it's how you get experiences that solo travelers simply can't access
• The three destinations on today's dream list: Northern Lights Finland, Greek Island hopping, and the Italian Riviera through Tuscany to Venice
• How to get to the Acropolis, Santorini's clifftop restaurants, and ancient ruins with no crowds -- and why your tour guide already knows exactly when to go
• The bag handling secret that eliminates one of travel's biggest headaches entirely
• Why your first group tour is really a preview -- and how most travelers use it to plan a deeper return trip on their own
• The one thing first-time international travelers consistently get wrong when they skip unfamiliar itinerary items
• What to look for when comparing group tour companies -- and why flexibility in optional excursions matters more than the base itinerary
• How to tip your guides the right way -- including the cash versus QR code debate and what the best companies tell you upfront
• The Collette Tours deals currently available -- including up to $1,500 off per couple, complimentary door-to-airport transfers, and cancel-for-any-reason insurance
• Where in Japan Crystal is hiding -- and how close the community is to finally figuring it out

Why This Matters Now

If you've been putting off international travel because it feels complicated, expensive, or just hard to plan from scratch, this episode makes the case that a group tour removes most of those barriers at once. You get the local knowledge, the pre-vetted logistics, and the community -- and you come home knowing exactly where you'd go back on your own terms.

From the Adventure Deck

Joe and Crystal compare group travel notes from Dubai, Egypt, Jordan, Peru, Vietnam, and Italy while Donna Pelletier from Vacations by Donna walks through three specific Collette Tours itineraries worth dreaming about right now. The monk story from Angkor Wat makes an appearance. So does the glow-in-the-dark pirate show in Prague that absolutely nobody asked for. The mystery of where Crystal is in Japan inches one step closer to resolution.

Resources Mentioned

• Collette Tours -- collette.com (book through Donna below); current deals up to $1,500 off per couple with air included
• Vacations by Donna -- [email protected]
• Stacking Adventures Gear of the Day -- stackingadventures.com/gotd
• Where in the World is Crystal? -- stackingadventures.com/mystory
• Contact Joe or Crystal -- [email protected] / [email protected]

Most people plan Hawaii all wrong. They try to hit three islands in ten days, get stuck behind slow drivers on the Road to Hana, and never make it past Waikiki. This week Joe and Crystal sit down with Doug Norman, who has lived on Oahu since the 1980s, for the kind of advice you only get from someone who actually lives there.

In this episode:

Why the Big Island should be your first stop, what makes each island completely different from the others, the Pearl Harbor attractions most visitors miss, and why Waikiki is both overrated and worth your time.

Biggest takeaways:

Do less than you think. One island per week minimum. The visitors who enjoy Hawaii most are the ones who slow down and let it find them.

Skip the sunrise bus to Haleakala. You board at 3:30am, sit in a diesel-idling parking lot with 300 strangers, and hope the clouds cooperate. There are better ways to watch a Hawaiian sunrise.

The Big Island gives you things no other island can. Snow and lava on the same day. Black sand beaches. The quietest place in the world inside a volcanic crater. Start here.

Ask your hotel concierge for this week's best local restaurant, not the brochure rack. And then go to Zippy's anyway.

Also in this episode:

The ninth island of Hawaii isn't in the Pacific. Crystal is still somewhere in Japan.

Head to stackingadventures.com/mystory to guess the city and win travel swag from Emerald Cruise Lines.

Resources mentioned:

Doug Norman at militaryfinancialindependence.com

Travel gear we actually use: stackingadventures.com/gearoftheday

The gate agent calls for volunteers. The number keeps climbing. It feels like free money. Crystal took it once in Denver and spent the night in a windowless hotel with a $12 meal voucher she couldn't use. This week Joe and Crystal break down what actually happens when you say yes, plus everything else changing fast in the world of travel right now.

In this episode:

The real math on airline vouchers and why the airlines almost always win, what Southwest's assigned seating change actually means for travelers, how to survive the new TSA reality, and whether TikTok destinations are worth the trip.

Biggest takeaways:

Before you volunteer, check where the airline actually flies. A $600 credit is worthless if none of the destinations are on your list and it expires in a year.

Discount airlines have fewer flights. If you miss one or it cancels, the next one might be a full day away. That math changes the deal completely.

Pre-check and Clear are more valuable than ever right now, and your credit card may already be paying for them without you knowing it.

Adventure of the week:

Jennifer is taking her dad to Ireland on a three-week family history quest, flying premium economy on points. We want to hear how it goes, Jennifer.

Where in the world is Crystal?

We've narrowed it down significantly. Think you know? Head to stackingadventures.com/mystory to guess and win travel swag from Emerald Cruise Lines.

Resources mentioned:

Share your adventure or guess Crystal's location: stackingadventures.com/mystory

Travel gear we actually use: stackingadventures.com/gearoftheday

River cruises look effortless in the brochure—twinkling lights, mulled wine, storybook towns. But what really makes the experience unforgettable isn't just the scenery… it's everything happening underneath. Traveling with family (including a first-time international traveler), navigating group dynamics, figuring out when to splurge, and occasionally ending up on the wrong bus in a foreign country. In this kickoff episode of Stacking Adventures, Joe and Crystal unpack what a Rhine River Christmas markets cruise is actually like—both the magic and the moments that don't go according to plan.

What You'll Walk Away With

• How to choose the right travel companions—and why the wrong mix can quietly derail even the best itinerary.

• A smarter way to balance group travel with personal freedom so no one feels stuck (or resentful).

• When paying cash for flights can beat using points—and why flexibility sometimes matters more than optimization.

• What upgrading to premium economy really gets you on a long-haul flight—and when it's worth it.

• How European Christmas markets are structured, and what to expect beyond the postcard version.

• The must-try foods, drinks, and traditions—including how those souvenir mugs actually work.

• What sets an upscale river cruise (like Uniworld's Antoinette) apart from other options—and where the experience shines.

• The reality of "all-inclusive" cruising, from guided tours to hidden onboard perks.

• What it feels like to explore iconic stops like Cologne, Strasbourg, and Lucerne—and which moments stand out most.

• How a simple travel mistake (like getting on the wrong bus) can turn into the story you remember most.

Why This Matters Now

For many travelers in their 40s, trips start to carry more meaning. You're not just checking destinations off a list—you're creating experiences with people who matter. That also means higher stakes: coordinating schedules, managing expectations, and making sure the investment of time and money actually delivers. Understanding how these trips really work helps you design travel that feels as good in the moment as it does in the photos.

Adventure Flavor

Joe and Crystal swap stories from the Rhine, from Cologne's towering cathedral to Strasbourg's winding streets—plus a near-miss that proves even the best-planned trips can go sideways. Along the way, Joe shares what it was like bringing his mom on her first overseas adventure (with a little help from a well-timed promo video), while the two compare notes on river cruising, chocolate factories, and the art of getting just a little lost… and still ending up exactly where you're supposed to be.

Prepaying for travel extras feels like smart planning. Until you lose money because your plans change and there are no refunds.

Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond trade travel updates and money lessons, starting with Crystal's quick February return to Barbados. She chose an Airbnb near the beach with a pool over an all-inclusive resort, made grocery runs to cook her own meals and avoid overindulgence, and learned a hard lesson about dangerous winter waves and riptides. Going out before lifeguards post red flags? Bad idea.

They compare Airbnb costs to all-inclusives and note that Airbnb quality can be a gamble without solid reviews. You might save money or you might end up somewhere disappointing with no recourse.

Then Crystal recounts her return flight nightmare. Major delays, buying a last-minute Frontier ticket to get home, and losing money after prepaying for a checked bag she couldn't use due to customs and liquids logistics. That sparks a broader debate: when does prepaying for travel extras save you money, and when does it backfire?

Joe shares his Disney World trip centered on standout resort restaurants and explains the 60 day reservation advantage (but only if you're staying on property). He also notes that Hyatt rewards earn more free nights than other programs but elite status resets yearly, which changes the calculation.

They preview upcoming travel including Salt Lake City, possible Morocco, Santa Fe, a Beirut/Istanbul contingency plan, and Alaska, plus touch on weather-disrupted trips and resorts reopening in Jamaica.

What You'll Discover:

• When prepaying for travel extras saves money and when it costs you

• The real costs of Airbnb versus all-inclusive resorts in Barbados

• Why Airbnb quality is a gamble without solid reviews

• Beach safety lessons about riptides and winter waves

• How Crystal lost money on a prepaid checked bag due to last-minute flight changes

• Disney dining hacks including the 60 day reservation advantage for on-property guests

• Why Hyatt rewards earn more free nights but status resets create trade-offs

• How to handle major flight delays and last-minute rebooking

• Upcoming travel destinations and contingency planning

• Weather disruption strategies and resort reopening updates

This Episode Is For You If:

• You've lost money on prepaid travel extras when plans changed

• You're debating between Airbnb and all-inclusive resorts

• You want Disney dining tips that actually help you get reservations

• You're planning beach trips and want to stay safe in the water

• You're curious about hotel loyalty programs and whether status is worth it

• You believe learning from others' travel mistakes beats making your own

Question for You:

What's the biggest travel prepayment mistake you've made? Lost money on a checked bag? Prepaid a hotel you had to cancel? Drop your story in the comments because Crystal's Frontier experience might save another traveler from the same fate.

What happens when you stop treating retirement like an ending… and start treating it like an expedition?

On this episode of Stacking Adventures, Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond connect with retirement mindset mentor George Jerjian (creator of the DARE Method) from London to unpack the 80-day, around-the-world journey that reshaped how he thinks about identity, courage, and life after 55.

George didn't just plan a bucket-list sprint. He worked with a travel agent, chose mostly countries new to him, and intentionally left space for serendipity. Along the way, he learned to stop "ticking boxes," listen to his body, skip prepaid tours when needed, and even find peace wedged into a middle airplane seat. Because sometimes the biggest shift isn't geography—it's mindset.

This isn't just a travel story. It's a retirement reset.

What You'll Learn in This Episode 🌍 Travel With Intention (Not Just an Itinerary)

• Why George chose unfamiliar destinations to stretch himself

• How leaving room for spontaneity created the most meaningful moments

• Why slowing down and listening to your body matters more than "getting your money's worth"

🦁 South Africa: Awe, History, and Perspective

• Reflecting on Nelson Mandela's legacy at Robben Island

• Five days on safari in Timbavati near Kruger—witnessing both the beauty and brutality of nature

• What wild places teach us about humility and resilience

🇦🇺 Australia & Identity

• The Great Barrier Reef near Hamilton Island (yes, wetsuits required—sharks and jellyfish are real)

• Melbourne's Immigration Museum and Australia's "populate or perish" story

• Driving the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles

• Why exploring national identity helped George reflect on his own

🇳🇿 New Zealand: Nature as Teacher

• Digging hot-water pools on Coromandel beaches

• The train ride from Christchurch to Greymouth

• Milford Sound, the Southern Alps, and swimming with dolphins in Kaikōura

• A Māori dance lesson that challenged the need for approval (hint: wrist-shaking beats applause)

🇯🇵 Japan: Service and Resilience

• Learning from a samurai historian in Kanazawa about service in Japanese culture

• Visiting Hiroshima after reading John Hersey's Hiroshima

• What rebuilding after devastation teaches about forgiveness and human strength

🇨🇦 Canada: Awe as the Final Lesson

• Vancouver's rain-soaked greenery

• The sleeper train to Jasper

• Banff, Lake Louise, and the Icefields Parkway

• Quebec City's French character and layered history

George closes with a simple but powerful idea: travel restores awe—and awe restores perspective.

The Retirement Mindset Shift

For listeners in that 55–75 sweet spot (and honestly, anyone thinking about what's next), George shares how extended travel can:

• Help you shed old identities tied to work

• Build courage in small, repeatable ways

• Reframe uncertainty as adventure

• Replace "What am I without my job?" with "Who do I want to become?"

Retirement isn't a withdrawal from life. It's a redeployment.

Basement Fun Along the Way

• The ongoing "Where in the World Is Crystal?" listener game (she's not in the continental U.S. or Aruba…)

• A nod to the show's Gear of the Day archive at stackingadventures.com/gtd

• George's memoir recommendation—his own book, Odyssey of an Elder: Around the World in 80 Days, written so you feel like you're traveling beside him

Adventurer Question 🌎

If you had 80 days and the courage to go somewhere unfamiliar, where would you go—and what part of your identity might you leave behind?

Share your answer in the comments or in the Stacking Adventures community. Because sometimes the biggest journey isn't around the world.

It's into the next version of yourself.

Want to travel more without overspending or falling for tourist traps? In this episode of Stacking Adventures, Crystal reports back from the Travel & Adventure Show in Washington, DC, breaking down what the experience is really like, whether the upgraded ticket was worth it, and what she'd absolutely do differently next time (hint: show up early and never skip the insider perks).

Crystal and Joe swap travel confessions, talk about navigating crowds and convention chaos, and share how small detours can transform an ordinary trip into a memorable adventure. Along the way, the conversation turns practical, focusing on smarter ways to plan trips, stretch travel dollars, and discover destinations you might never have considered.

What the Stacking Adventures traveler will take away from this episode:

• What a major travel show is actually like and how to decide if attending one is worth your time and money

• Why arriving early can completely change your experience, from smaller crowds to better vendor conversations and bonus perks

• How upgraded passes can pay off when they include seminars, early access, and food that offsets the ticket cost

• The value of talking directly with destination experts instead of relying only on online research

• How adding small, unexpected detours can dramatically improve road trips and create memorable experiences

New destinations and ideas added to Crystal's travel list:

• Alaska trips focused on viewing the Northern Lights

• Tuscany cycling vacations through Pedal & Sea Adventures

• European Christmas market itineraries explored by train through Rail Escape

• Jamaica experiences beyond resorts, including private Blue Hole excursions

• Hidden-gem domestic travel, including Moundsville, West Virginia's mix of history, quirky attractions, and outdoor stays

• Scenic driving routes like Oklahoma's Talimena Drive as a stress-free alternative to major highway routes

Smart travel planning tips you can use immediately:

• Setting Google Flights price alerts to track airfare without constant searching

• Enrolling in the free government Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for travel alerts, safety updates, and easier passport assistance abroad

• Evaluating travel swag, deals, and promotions without getting distracted by flashy booths

• Using train travel and regional transportation to simplify European itineraries

• Thinking beyond headline destinations to find better value and fewer crowds

Meaningful travel conversations from the show floor:

• How tourism initiatives in places like Zanzibar and Tanzania support local youth and communities

• Opportunities through AFS Intercultural Programs for study abroad, hosting exchange students, and scholarship-supported cultural exchange

• How travel perceptions often lag behind reality, especially after major weather events or news cycles

Because every adventure needs a little fun:

• The ongoing "Where in the World Is Crystal Trying to Travel?" guessing game

• Funny moments from the convention floor, including murals, test drives, and unexpected wins

• Travel stories that prove the best memories often come from places you never planned to stop

Your next adventure starts here:

Share your own travel stories and submit destination guesses for a chance at Stacking Adventures swag! Here's the URL for either: StackingAdventures.com/MyStory.

Because the goal isn't just to travel more, it's to travel smarter, connect more deeply, and come home with stories worth telling.