I grew up in a town 90 miles south of San Francisco called Watsonville.  Whenever my family wanted to do something special, we'd go to "The City" to see stage shows, concerts and sporting events, go Christmas shopping and enjoy great dining.  I always thought I'd live there, but as the years went on, I realized that I couldn't and probably never will, because it's one of the most expensive places to live in the country.

Of course, that doesn't mean I don't like to visit.  It's actually preferable to living there.  Since I go to San Francisco at least twice a year because family is still there, it's home to me.  As such, I have my favorite places to visit and to eat.  I go into each of these in more detail in this episode.

My top 5 favorite places

Marina Green to Fort Point
Oracle Park
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Golden Gate Park and Lands’ End
Marin Headlands

My top 5 favorite restaurants

Yank Sing
Tacorea
Any restaurant in Japan Center
La Taqueria
Boudin

Find out more about my blog, The Sansei Traveler, here:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Need help with travel planning?  Please check out my Cruise Planners site:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

If you like this podcast, please give it a (great) review, subscribe and let your friends and family know about it!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sansei-traveler/id1521880256

Next week's episode will detail what to do when you're cruising for the first time.  Don't let COVID-19 prevent you from experiencing the fun of going on a cruise!

Thanks for your support!

Some people think travel advisors barely exist, but more travelers are seeking our services. This is especially true as the COVID-19 pandemic has taken hold and disrupted travel.

Travel "agents" would essentially be order takers for people needing a flight, hotel, rental car, cruise or tour.  Now we "advisors" are taking on a more consultative role.  With travelers being more knowledgeable and informed, we can help clients make the right decisions when it comes to planning.

Here are seven reasons why you should consider hiring a travel advisor for your next vacation planning, (which I get into more detail in the podcast).  You

o   Can get better rates, prices and value

o   Use industry connections for exclusive access

o   Benefit from hiring trained professionals

o   Get perks you can’t get elsewhere

o   Have an advocate before, during and after travel

o   Enhance your knowledge from destination and travel vendor experts

o   Help you create unforgettable travel experiences

(Plus one more: Avoid travel research overwhelm)

Subscribe to the Sansei Traveler podcast and give a review!

• iTunes
• Spotify
• Google Play
• Stitcher
• iHeart Radio

If you'd like to know more about my travel agency, please click here:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

And if you'd like to know more about The Sansei Traveler:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Thanks for your support!

In the next episode of The Sansei Traveler Podcast, I'll let you know about what to do in my very favorite city in the world...San Francisco!

My daughters and I went to Chicago a few weeks ago.  The purpose was to visit a few campuses that my younger daughter is interested in to apply for college.  But it was also to just get away from quarantine at home and get a change of scenery. 

Although we debated on cancelling or going, we decided on moving forward and going.  We took safety precautions – wearing face coverings, distancing, taking food out, washing our hands – very seriously wherever we went.  Most people in the city did too, except for those on Lake Shore Drive Trail.  I know it’s hard to wear a mask while running, walking or biking, but it still gave me pause.

We enjoyed the short weekend time we spent in the Windy City.  In the podcast, I tell you some of the five must-do’s while you’re here.  Granted, things may have been more fun if more places had been open, but we made the best of the situation.

Here are some of the places I mentioned on the broadcast:

Skydeck Chicago (at the Willis/Sears Tower)

Portillo’s

Lou Malnati’s

Navy Pier

Chicago’s First Lady Cruises

I also report on some news stories, particularly Royal Caribbean’s new Muster 2.0, with updated safety and evacuation procedures.  If you’ve been on a cruise ship and done the muster drill, you’ll appreciate this new way to fulfill a necessary procedure.  Disney World resorts will also open soon, on a staggered schedule.  I personally think it’s too early to travel to Florida and to Disney World because of its being a pandemic hotspot.

Another update is on cruising.  From an order from the CDC, cruises cannot sail until September 30th.  This even applies to smaller lines, with a few dozen to a few hundred passengers total.  This just typifies the fluid nature of how cruising and travel in general is going now.

In this week's episode of The Sansei Traveler Podcast, I share how land tours, guided travel and independent customized trips are becoming more popular now, especially as cruises are still closed until October 2020.  Domestic destinations, especially those in certain areas of the United States, are trending with those who want to travel now.

Trafalgar, a UK-based travel company that's been around for more than a century, is offering more US-centric itineraries.  This is especially important as American travelers are currently restricted to where they can go.  I gave Trafalgar as one example of a land-based tour company, but this is the case with others such as Collette, Globus and Trafalgar's sister companies Insight/Luxury Gold and Contiki.

I also spend some time talking about my family's trip to Japan last year, and how I enjoyed the guided group tour being in an unfamiliar country.  Our trip was planned through InsideJapan, which I hope to talk about in a future episode.

Coming soon: Subscribe to The Sansei Traveler Podcast and give it a review

If you'd like to know more about my travel agency, please click here:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

And if you'd like to know more about The Sansei Traveler:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

In the next episode of The Sansei Traveler podcast, I talk about cruising and the current status of when they will next sail.  The situation remains fluid, and as of today cruises won't happen until at least October 1st, and probably later. 

I give you some of the official guidelines from the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA), and how they've come to their next steps to ensure the health and safety of their guests.  I try to dispel the idea that cruise ships are floating "Petri dishes" and can be quite safe and healthy for travel.  I also mention some smaller cruise lines that you might want to consider if you still want to go on a cruise any time soon.

Cruising will look very different from pre-COVID times.  Some cruises, when it does begin again, will probably be a less than full capacity and may even be only half-full.  This would present an interesting opportunity to experience a cruise, especially if you haven't been on one and might be intimidated by the crowd sizes.

These lines have a smaller passenger capacity, about a few hundred or less, and definitely have a more intimate travel experience:

UnCruise
American Cruise Lines
American Queen
Windstar

If you'd like to know more about my travel agency, please click here:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

And if you'd like to know more about The Sansei Traveler:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Coming soon: subscribe to the Sansei Traveler podcast and give a review.

In the next episode of The Sansei Traveler Podcast, I'll give you my take on the land tours, guided group tours and independent customized travel, and why it's trending now.

Hi - I'm Janice Sakata-Schultze, a certified travel advisor, blogger, writer and photographer.  I have a home-based travel agency with Cruise Planners and a blog called The Sansei Traveler.  This podcast is a companion to the blog.  In this first episode, I'm just here to say "hi" and introduce you to the why of this podcast.  I also talk a little about myself and giving you a quick update on the ever changing state of travel.  You'll also learn about what's coming in the podcast, so please subscribe and let others know about it too!

I want to start a podcast because I want to be perceived as an authority in travel advising, and to a lesser extent travel in general. But more important, I want to inspire you to travel and discover things about active adventure, culinary and wellness travel that you may not know about or were not aware of.  Most of all, I want you to be brave when you travel and never fear the unknown, because it can take you to something wonderful and memorable.

If you'd like to know more about my travel agency, please click here:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

And if you'd like to know more about The Sansei Traveler:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Coming soon: subscribe to the Sansei Traveler podcast and give a review.

Thanks for your support - I'm looking forward to taking this journey with you!  Next week...I'll be talking about the state of the cruise industry for summer 2020.