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180 - Traveling for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year? You won’t be alone. More than 200 million people will travel over the holidays, and many of them hardly ever fly the rest of the year. Travel agents Rob & Kerri Stuart share their best holiday travel tips for driving and flying, so you can skip the stress, avoid the most common mistakes, and get where you’re going without forgetting the things that matter.

BOOK YOUR VACATION - We're here to help!

Whether it’s a day trip to grandma’s, a holiday road trip to stay with family, or a flight to a hotel across the country, this episode covers what to check, what to pack, and how to get through the busiest airports of the year.

What You’ll Learn:

• Holiday road trip checklist: tire pressure, oil level, and why low tires hurt your gas mileage
• Two road trip must-haves: a portable tire inflator and a portable jump starter
• Why a Known Traveler Number and TSA PreCheck are worth it, even if you only fly once a year
• How TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR can save you hours in holiday security lines
• Airport meet-and-greet concierge services that take you from your gate to your ride
• Why an airport lounge credit card pays off during Thanksgiving and Christmas travel
• Airport parking tips: reserve ahead or use a drop-off, Uber, or Lyft
• Why lost luggage is most likely during these three weeks, and how Apple AirTags help (including the time an AirTag saved Rob’s carry-on bag)
• What to do if you forget something at a hotel or resort
• Carry-on-only packing tips for domestic and international trips

Plus: Our Christmas Markets River Cruise
Rob & Kerri are spending Thanksgiving flying business class on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Brussels for their first-ever European Christmas markets river cruise. It’s a travel agent fam trip on a brand-new, ultra high-tech river ship built only for full-ship charters.

🎄 Black Friday Deal: Danube River Wine Cruise, July 11–18, 2027
LEARN MORE HERE

Join Rob & Kerri on their full-ship charter aboard AmaWaterways’ new AmaRudi, sister ship to the AmaMagna. It’s twice as wide as a typical river cruise ship, with more public space and bigger cabins. Book and deposit by November 30 and you’ll get a FREE 3-day, 2-night post-cruise stay in Budapest, Hungary, with your hotel, daily breakfast, and excursions included. That’s about a $2,000 value. See the link below for details.

Our best holiday travel tip of all? Pack your patience. Plan for long lines, traffic, and weather, and enjoy the trip anyway.

Ready to travel inspired? Subscribe for weekly travel tips, travel ideas, cruise insights, and expert advice from professional travel agents. Stop scrolling, start going!

#HolidayTravel #ThanksgivingTravel #ChristmasTravel #TravelTips #PackingTips #TSAPreCheck #RoadTrip #RiverCruise #ChristmasMarkets #AmaWaterways #TravelPodcast

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179 - When you hear “river cruise,” do you picture a dinner boat with a buffet and a DJ? You’re not alone, and you’re missing out on one of the best ways to see Europe.

PLAN YOUR RIVER CRUISE ADVENTURE

In episode 179, Rob and Kerri answer the seven questions people ask most about European river cruising. They draw on their own river cruise sailings, from their first in 2014 to this year’s Danube cruise on the AmaMagna. By the end, you won’t just be thinking about a river cruise. You’ll be ready to plan one.

In this episode:

• How a river cruise differs from a dinner cruise and from an ocean cruise. Think of it as a floating boutique hotel that wakes up in a new town every morning.
• What’s actually included, and how that changes from one cruise line to the next
• Who goes on these trips, and whether you’ll be bored. (Hint: the crowd is getting younger every year.)
• Cabins, balconies, and seasickness, plus where an upgrade matters most
• The best time to go, from spring tulip cruises to fall harvest and the Christmas markets
• What happens when the river is too high or too low
• Which river to choose first: the Danube, Rhine, Douro, Seine or Rhône
• Bonus: how active these trips are, and what travelers with limited mobility or scooters need to know before booking

Sail with us! Join our Wine Cruise Full Ship Charter on the brand-new AmaRudi, sailing the Danube July 11–18. We’ll be joined by wine experts Rob and Michele from Varietals & More in Vero Beach and Kinsey from Tim’s Wine in Windermere, Florida. Join the interest list here

What will your first river be? Join the conversation on Instagram @TravelInspiredPodcast.

Travel is always better with friends. So put the phone down: Stop Scrolling and Start Going!

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178 - Planning a European river cruise and seeing scary posts about low water levels on the Rhine and Danube? Before you panic or cancel, listen to this. Travel agents Rob & Kerri Stuart cut through the social media hype with real answers, including what happened on their own AmaWaterways Danube river cruise this year.

Let us help you with your vacation planning - START HERE

Sailing from Budapest to Vilshofen, Germany, Rob & Kerri found out on opening night that low water meant no ship could sail south past Vienna. Here’s what that looked like: an extra night in Budapest at the stunning Párisi Udvar hotel, a bus transfer to the AmaMagna in Vienna, and an optional bus excursion to Bratislava. Their verdict: with the right cruise line and a little patience, low water doesn’t have to ruin your vacation.

What You’ll Learn:

• What’s really happening with low water on the Rhine and Danube rivers
• How river cruise lines handle low water: ship swaps, bus transfers, rerouted itineraries and skipped ports
• Why fleet size matters, and how Viking, AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways compare
• Why you shouldn’t cancel your river cruise based on Facebook posts
• The travel insurance fine print most travelers miss: why standard and even most cruise policies don’t cover low water levels
• How to build flexibility into your trip with pre- and post-cruise nights and changeable flights
• Why the Seine, Rhône and Douro rivers are smart alternatives if water levels worry you

Whether you’re booked on a Danube river cruise, dreaming of a Rhine Christmas markets cruise, or just starting to plan your first European river cruise, this episode gives you the expert travel tips you need to travel with confidence.

Have questions about your river cruise? Rob & Kerri will give you honest advice, whether you book with them or not. Subscribe for weekly travel inspiration, cruise tips and destination guides. Stop scrolling, start going!

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177 - Three passions, three exclusive full-ship charters, and you can’t book any of them anywhere else. Rob and Kerri introduce Marquee Cruises, the new charter division of Creating Magic Vacations, and walk you through three once-in-a-lifetime sailings for 2027. Plus, the Travel Inspired Podcast is now coming to you every week on Travel Tuesday!

START TO PLAN A VACATION HERE

First, what is a full-ship charter? Every cabin, every dining table, and every lounge seat belongs to our group. That means everyone on board shares the same passion, and the whole experience (tastings, private events, and shore excursions) is designed around the theme.

🍷 Wine on the Danube | July 11–18, 2027
Be among the very first guests on AmaWaterways’ brand-new AmaRudi, sister ship to AmaMagna. Hosted by Michele and Rob, owners of Varietals & More in Vero Beach, in partnership with Tim’s Wine in Windermere. Sail from Vilshofen to Budapest through Passau, Linz, Grein, the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley, Krems, Vienna, and Bratislava, tasting wines where they’re grown. Includes all meals, a full drink package, every shore excursion, and all hosted tastings and seminars. From $5,349 per person, double occupancy. The Owner’s Suite is already sold out!
👉 WINE CHARTER HERE

🏎️ Formula 1 on the Danube | July 18–26, 2027
Skip the hotel scramble for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Your floating hotel in Budapest is the brand-new Transcend Connect, the first river ship built specifically for groups, with just 60 staterooms that can convert into two-room suites. After the race, keep cruising to Bratislava and Vienna. Race tickets and track transfers are packaged separately. Pricing coming soon, so join the interest list to hear first.
👉 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX

Can’t choose? The wine cruise ends in Budapest on July 18, the same day the F1 cruise begins. Combine them for 15 nights of wine and racing!

🐢 Galápagos Expedition | December 11–18, 2027
Sail aboard the National Geographic Islander II with only 48 guests, our smallest group ever. Explore by Zodiac with expert naturalists, snorkel with sea lions, and walk among blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises. Interest list members will be contacted first.
👉 GO HERE

Bringing a group? Ask about our generous incentives for groups of 5 cabins or more.

Ready to start? Visit CreatingMagicVacations.com and click Plan a Vacation. Follow us on Instagram for all our adventures.

Travel is better with friends. It’s time to stop scrolling and start going! ✈️

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176 - Travel scams, social media influencers, AI trip planning, online booking sites and the $299 “be your own travel agent” trend could all ruin your next vacation. Rob and Kerri Stuart break down the five biggest threats and how a real travel advisor protects your trip.

Leave your Vacation Planning to the PROS - start here. 

What’s threatening your next vacation? In episode 176 of the Travel Inspired Podcast, Rob and Kerri Stuart, travel advisors since 2008, share five things that can ruin your trip before it even starts, and you’ve probably been tempted by at least one of them.

In this episode:

• Travel scams and fake travel certificates: The “your free cruise certificate is about to expire” calls and postcards, why they’re scams, and the red flags to watch for.
• Vacation planning from social media: Why a 30-second influencer video isn’t a vacation plan, what the perfect photos leave out, and why Facebook group advice can steer you wrong.
• Using AI to plan your trip: Where AI travel planning falls short, from outdated information and paid reviews to confident wrong answers, and who you call at 2 a.m. when your flight is canceled.
• The $299 “be your own travel agent” trend: Why buying the title doesn’t make someone a travel professional, and what it means for travelers.
• Online booking sites: Expedia, Hotels.com, Kayak, Priceline and Trivago look like five different sites, but they’re mostly owned by just two companies. Learn what you can give up by booking through an OTA, including loyalty points, perks and flexibility.
• The solution: How working with a real travel professional (and the right travel insurance) protects your time, money and vacation.

Ready to plan a trip the right way? Reach out to Rob, Kerri or one of the Creating Magic Vacations travel advisors.

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175 - Thinking about a Douro River cruise in Portugal? Rob & Kerri Stuart share their honest review of 7 nights round trip from Porto aboard AmaWaterways' AmaSintra. They cover what makes the Douro different from the Danube and Rhône, the one excursion you shouldn't skip, and their favorite things to do in Porto.

PLAN YOUR RIVER CRUISE HERE

In episode #175 of Travel Inspired, your travel agent hosts and best-selling authors take you up the Douro Valley. It's a river of terraced vineyards, small charming towns and port wine everywhere you turn, with no big cities or castles along the way. You'll hear why the river's locks became part of the onboard entertainment, including Carrapatelo, which lifts you about 115 feet. They also explain why ships don't sail at night, and why the top deck and pool were the busiest spots on board.

Plus, the excursion their AmaWaterways rep insisted they couldn't miss: Salamanca, Spain. It's known as "La Dorada" for its golden sandstone buildings and is home to Spain's oldest university, two connected cathedrals and one of Europe's most beautiful plazas. Rob & Kerri share a tip for timing your shopping and lunch there, since most stores close in the afternoon.

In this episode:

• What makes a Douro River cruise different from other European river cruises
• Cruising through the Douro's locks, including Carrapatelo
• Life on board the AmaSintra and skipping an excursion for a local meal
• The Salamanca day trip: why it's worth the bus ride
• Things to do in Porto: Bolhão Market, Dom Luís I Bridge, São Bento station tiles, the McDonald's Imperial, pastel de nata and more
• How to spot legitimate market vendors in Porto
• Why you should add a day or two in Porto after your cruise
• Small-ship group charters, and why travel is better with friends

Two countries in one cruise, a valley that photos can't capture, and a group of friends to share it with. Is Portugal on your must-visit list yet?

Plan your trip: Want help planning a Douro River cruise, a small-ship charter or your next adventure? Reach out to Rob & Kerri. They've been there and know what they'd do differently.

Stop scrolling and start going!

Missed episode #174? Listen for our 3-night Lisbon pre-cruise adventure.

#DouroRiver #RiverCruise #Portugal #Porto #AmaWaterways #Salamanca #PortWine #TravelPodcast #EuropeTravel #TravelInspired

Tags/keywords (for the YouTube tags field and show notes):
Douro River cruise, AmaWaterways Douro, AmaSintra, Porto Portugal, Douro Valley, river cruise review, Salamanca Spain, port wine, things to do in Porto, Europe river cruise, Portugal travel, small ship cruise, group travel, travel agent podcast

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174- Is Portugal really worth all the hype? Rob & Kerri Stuart just spent 10 days finding out — and in this episode, they break down exactly how to do it right.

Let us help you plan your next adventure- start here

This is Part 1 of a two-part series covering their AmaWaterways river cruise through Portugal, starting with a 3-night pre-cruise stay in Lisbon before boarding the AmaSintra for the inaugural Godmother Cruise on the Douro River. Rob & Kerri walk through their Lisbon city tour, a day trip to the fairytale village of Sintra and the Pena Palace, the coastal town of Cascais, a stop in Salamanca, Spain, and the scenic drive to Porto through Tomar’s Convent of Christ.

In this episode:
∙Why Portugal has become one of Europe’s hottest destinations right now
∙Touring Lisbon: Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, and the best pastéis de nata
∙Day trip to Sintra: Pena Palace and the colorful hilltop castles
∙Cascais and the Portuguese coastline (it looks just like Monterey, CA)
∙A side excursion to Salamanca, Spain
∙Why you should always add pre-cruise and post-cruise time to a European river cruise
∙Behind the scenes of AmaWaterways’ first Godmother Cruise on the all-new AmaSintra
Shoutouts: Cruise Director Nicholas Cabrera and Lisbon tour guide Tiago

Rob & Kerri Stuart are travel agents, best-selling authors, and hosts of the Travel Inspired Podcast, broadcasting from the CMV Studio in Orlando, FL. They’re the founders of Creating Magic Vacations, a full-service travel agency specializing in cruises and European travel.

Planning a trip to Portugal or a Douro River cruise? Visit CreatingMagicVacations.com and click “Plan a Vacation” to get started.
Interested in the Douro Wine Cruise in July 2027 aboard the brand-new Ama Rudi? 

Go here to learn more

Don’t miss Part two where Rob & Kerri cover the Douro River cruise itself and their time in Porto.

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#Portugal #DouroRiver #AmaWaterways #Lisbon #Porto #Sintra #RiverCruise #TravelPodcast #EuropeTravel #CascaisPortugal #CreatingMagicVacations

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173 - Join hosts and travel agents Rob and Kerri as they explore how the 2026 FIFA World Cup is reshaping America's image on the world stage. With the tournament underway across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, this is the first World Cup hosted by three nations and the first to feature 48 teams — and millions of international travelers are streaming in to experience it firsthand. 

PLAN A VACATION - START HERE

In this episode, Rob and Kerri dig into what this once-in-a-generation moment means for America's global image, its travel industry, and the way the world sees U.S. destinations. From electric fan zones in Atlanta and Kansas City to the buzz building around host cities like Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Seattle, they share firsthand travel insight on how a global sporting event can reshape a country's reputation — for better or worse — and what it means for the future of international tourism to the U.S.

Whether you're a soccer fan planning a bucket-list trip, a travel lover chasing your next unforgettable destination, or just curious how mega-events shape the way we experience a country, Rob and Kerri bring their expert take packed with insight, inspiration, and a few Instagram-worthy detours you'll want to add to your travel list.

🎧 Tune in for:

• How host cities are transforming into global travel destinations
• The soft power (and challenges) of hosting the World Cup
• Hidden-gem travel spots in host cities beyond the stadium
• What this moment means for U.S. tourism's global reputation

Perfect for: travel enthusiasts, soccer fans, digital nomads, and anyone dreaming up their next international adventure.

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172 - Thinking about a European river cruise but don't know where to start? With luxury and experiential travel bookings skyrocketing, more travelers than ever are choosing small-ship and river cruise vacations over traditional ocean cruises — but with so many river cruise lines out there, how do you pick the right one?

Let us help you plan your next River Cruise Adventure - click here

In this episode, best-selling cruise authors and travel advisors Rob & Kerri Stuart break down the 8 major river cruise lines they work with and reveal exactly which type of traveler each one is built for. From Viking's understated Scandinavian elegance to Uniworld's boutique-hotel luxury, from AmaWaterways' food-and-wine-forward energy to American Cruise Lines' passport-free journeys along the Mississippi — this episode is your shortcut to finding the river cruise ship that fits your travel style, budget, and dream itinerary.

You'll learn:

• Why Viking put European river cruising on the map and who it's really for
• The difference between value-forward lines like Avalon and ultra-luxury options like Uniworld
• Which cruise line is best for foodies, wine lovers, and active travelers (hint: AmaWaterways)
• Why Tauck is the top pick for multigenerational family trips with zero hassle
• How to experience an authentically European vibe with Amadeus or a British feel with Riviera
• The all-American, no-passport-required option for exploring the rivers of the USA

Whether you're a first-time river cruiser or a seasoned traveler ready to upgrade, Rob & Kerri give you the real, on-the-ship insight that AI and Google searches simply can't — because they've toured, dined, and sailed on these ships themselves.

🎧 Listen now and start planning your perfect river cruise vacation.

Topics covered: river cruise lines, Viking River Cruises, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Tauck river cruises, Amadeus river cruises, Riviera River Cruises, American Cruise Lines, European river cruise, luxury travel, small ship cruising, best river cruise for first-timers, multigenerational family travel, travel advisor tips

📍 Watch on the Travel Inspired YouTube channel or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Ready to plan your river cruise? Connect with Rob & Kerri, your Travel Inspired hosts and certified travel advisors, to find the perfect line, ship, and itinerary for your next adventure.

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Ever dreamed of sailing through the heart of Europe, gliding past medieval towns, vineyards, and centuries-old castles? In this episode of Travel Inspired, veteran travel agents and bestselling cruise authors Rob & Kerri Stuart are fresh off their third cruise on the Danube River — and they're spilling everything.

BOOK YOUR CRUISE HERE

ROOM TOUR - AmaWaterways AmaMagna Cabin 201

Link to show as mentioned on the show - the story of "Baggy"

From Budapest's stunning riverfront to the charming streets of Passau, Germany, Rob and Kerri walk you through a 7-night Upper Danube itinerary aboard AmaWaterways' flagship ship, the AmaMagna — widely considered one of the finest river cruise vessels in the world. Whether you're a first-time river cruiser or a seasoned traveler looking for your next European adventure, this episode is packed with the kind of honest, practical advice you'll only get from people who do this for a living.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why the Danube is one of the best starter itineraries for first-time river cruisers
• The difference between Upper and Lower Danube itineraries — and how to choose
• What makes the AmaMagna so unique (hint: it's twice the width of a standard river cruise ship)
• Their favorite stops: Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, Linz, and Passau
• Tips for handling flight cancellations, low water levels, and other travel curveballs like pros
• How to navigate customs, tax refunds, and transfers in Europe
• Real stories from the road — Roman ruins, family-run wineries, Iron Curtain history, and one very rare watch

Rob and Kerri also share what it's really like when things don't go to plan — canceled flights, reroutes through Zurich, and a last-minute scramble for airport transfers — and how experience and preparation make all the difference.

This is expert travel advice from agents who've lived it, not influencers who were paid to say it.

🎧 Listen now and start planning your Danube River cruise adventure. 📺 Watch on YouTube for the full visual experience, including a walkthrough of the AmaMagna and Suite 201.

👉 Ready to book? Visit CreatingMagicVacations.com and click Plan a Vacation to work directly with Rob & Kerri.

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