Travel Squad Podcast

We’re taking you inside Zuvier Spa in Amsterdam to explore the saunas, steam rooms, pools, tranquility spaces, and wellness experiences. We share details of what to expect, how to navigate nude vs swimsuit required days, walk through the different ticket options, and detail the lunch menu. Zuvier Spa is a gorgeous and unique wellness venue - but very different than other coed spas we’ve reviewed.

In this Zuvier Spa episode we cover:

• How to get to Zuvier Spa from city center

• Tips for using Google translate to read signs within the spa (but most people speak English)

• What to pack and what to rent at Zuvier Spa

Hotels in Amsterdam we recommend:

• Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam by IHG

• Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park

• Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel

• Andaz Amsterdam, Prinsengracht

Find a great flight deal to Amsterdam with Thrifty Traveler Premium’s flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries ⁠& ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠

Connect: ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We’re taking you on a 3-day solo trip to Amsterdam starting with a business class flight on KLM and straight to exploring the city by foot and by canal cruise. We share what we did for 3 days including a museums, vintage shopping, coffeeshops, tasting dinners, a nude spa and more. We share if Amsterdam is good for solo travel and what we’d do differently if we went back again - including a few nearby day trips.

In this episode:

• Amsterdam history and modern culture facts
• Getting from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal by NS train in about 30 minutes
• A review of the Kimpton De Witt: plants in your room, daily cocktail hour, free bikes and breakfast
• Where to eat, drink, and enjoy coffeeshop shenanigans in Amsterdam
• Sightseeing and shopping in Jordaan, Bloemgracht, Egelantiersgracht, Westerkerk, the Anne Frank House and Dam Square
• The canal cruises with snacks and free flowing drinks, and how to choose between different experiences

Travel tips for Amsterdam:

• English is spoken almost everywhere
• Don't photograph or film sex workers or the windows in the Red Light District
• Use the NS app for train times and tickets
• The center is walkable: most spots are 10–20 minutes on foot; museums and Vondelpark are about 35
• Book timed Van Gogh Museum tickets in advance because they sell out

Hotels in Amsterdam we recommend:

• Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam by IHG
• Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park
• Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel
• Andaz Amsterdam, Prinsengracht

Find a great flight deal to Amsterdam with Thrifty Traveler Premium’s flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries ⁠& ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠

Connect: ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

Spooky season is here, and we're sharing 10 haunted cities and ghost towns across the U.S. that we've explored. We go from the Salem Witch Trials and a haunted hotel room at the Hotel del Coronado to Savannah's squares, New Orleans' Casket Girls, and the cursed ghost town of Bodie. Even if you don't believe in ghosts, these ghost tours are one of the most fun ways to learn a city's history.

Haunted places in this episode + where to stay & the haunted tour to take:

• Salem, MA: Stay at the Hawthorne Hotel or The Salem Inn and do the The Salem Witch Trials Tour

• San Diego, CA: Stay at the Hotel del Coronado or The Westgate Hotel and do the Haunted San Diego Ghost Tour

• Charleston, SC: Stay at the Meeting Street Inn | Drury Plaza Hotel and do the Charleston Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour

• St. Augustine, FL: Stay at the Casa Monica Resort & Spa or Casablanca Inn on the Bay and do the Ghostly Encounter Tour

• Louisville, KY: Stay at the The Brown Hotel  or SuperStays if you have a big group, and do the Louisville Ghost Tour.

• Gettysburg, PA: Stay at the Farnsworth House Inn or The Hotel Gettysburg and do the Spirits of Jennie Wade Ghost Night Tour in Gettysburg

• San Antonio, TX: Stay at the The Menger Hotel or The Emily Morgan Hotel and do the  Haunted Dinner Tour

• Bodie, CA: Stay at the Bridgeport Inn or The Bodie Hotel and do a Bodie Ghost Walk

• Savannah, GA: Stay at the Embassy Suites Savannah Historic District or the Hotel Bardo and do the Savannah History and Haunts Candlelit Ghost Walking Tour

• New Orleans, LA: Stay at the Hotel Mazarin or the Hotel Monteleone and do the New Orleans Premier Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Walking Tour

Find a great flight deal to your spookiest bucket-list city with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront

Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We're taking you inside the Arasan Spa & Bathhouse in Almaty, Kazakhstan, for one of the most interesting spa experiences we've ever had! We break down the Russian banya, Finnish sauna, steam rooms, and pools, how to navigate a communal (and nude!) bathhouse, and our nearly 2-hour spa package with a body scrub, seaweed wrap, and a massage from a Kazakh lady who does not hold back.

Highlights of this episode:

• What the Arasan Bathhouse is

• Tips: finding the right entrance, how pricing works, and what to bring

• Bathhouse etiquette (yes, it's nude)

• Finnish sauna vs. Russian banya vs. steam room

• The venik ritual

• The swimming pools (bring a swim cap)

• Eastern/Turkish hammam

• Spa services: massages, peels, wraps & packages

• Our "Tales of Maghreb" package: body peel, seaweed wrap & massage

Hotels in Almaty we recommend:

• Rahat Palace - where we stayed; big atrium, pool, hot tub, sauna & steam room 

• The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty - home of the Sky Lounge, Vista, and Le Petit Chef 

• InterContinental Almaty by IHG

• Holiday Inn Almaty 

Stay connected with an e-SIM from Airalo and check out our Kazakhstan Viator Experiences for all activities we recommend and even some we wanted to do but couldn't get to.

Find a great flight deal with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront

Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We're taking you along for one of our favorite experiences in Almaty, Kazakhstan — a personalized color analysis at YESCOLOR. We break down what a color analysis actually is, how Korean and Chinese color-typing goes beyond the classic four seasons, and why we paid $80 for the same 90-minute session that costs $300–$500 in the U.S. This is the first episode in our new beauty tourism series!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• What beauty tourism is and why it's growing

• What a professional color analysis is (and how draping works)

• The four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter

• Korean & Chinese color-analysis methods vs. the Western seasonal system

• Booking YESCOLOR in Almaty over WhatsApp

• What the 90-minute session includes

• Our results: Cool Summer & True Winter

• Beyond color: contrast, Kibbe body types, silhouettes, fabrics, necklines, jewelry, makeup, nails & hair

• Cost: $80 in Almaty vs. $300–$500 in the U.S.

Hotels in Almaty we recommend:

• Rahat Palace - where we stayed

• The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty 

• InterContinental Almaty by IHG

• Holiday Inn Almaty 

Check out our Kazakhstan Viator Experiences for all activities we recommend and even some we wanted to do but couldn't get to.

Find a great flight deal with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront

Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We're taking you to Almaty, Kazakhstan, where we attended the TBEX travel creators conference and explored the city and the Tian Shan mountains around it! We share some of the best highlights of Almaty, Kok Tobe, the Green Bazaar, Ayusai waterfall hike and Alma-Arasan hot springs, Shymbulak and the best Kazakh food - including horse meat! - we ate along the way.

Highlights of this Almaty episode:

• How to get to Almaty

• Where to stay in Almaty

• Where and what to eat in Kazakstan

• Sky Lounge & Vista at the Ritz-Carlton

• Kok Tobe: bob carts, Ferris wheel & eagle photoshoot

• Rakhat chocolate store

• Green Bazaar

• Panfilov Park & Zenkov (Ascension) Cathedral

• Arbat Street

• Le Petit Chef dinner experience

• Ayusai (Bear Valley) waterfall hike

• Alma-Arasan Gorge & Hot Springs

• TBEX conference & opening night party

• Color analysis

• Arasan Spa experience

• Arba Wine tasting 

• Shymbulak gondolas to Talgar Pass

Hotels in Almaty we recommend:

• Rahat Palace - where we stayed; big atrium, pool, hot tub, sauna & steam room 

• The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty - home of the Sky Lounge, Vista, and Le Petit Chef 

• InterContinental Almaty by IHG

• Holiday Inn Almaty 

Stay connected with an e-SIM from Gigsky or Airalo.

Check out our Kazakhstan Viator Experiences for all activities we recommend and even some we wanted to do but couldn't get to.

Find a great flight deal with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals — including business class award redemptions. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront

Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We're taking you to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and sharing everything you need to know before you go! We cover the city's Soviet-era landmarks, the stunning Turkish Central Mosque, Osh Bazaar, where to eat, and the travel tips that made our first days in Central Asia a breeze.

Highlights of this Bishkek episode:

• How to get to Bishkek & from the airport to your hotel

• Tips for visiting Bishkek (cash, e-SIMs, Yandex Go, tipping & more)

• Where to stay in Bishkek

• Bishkek Central Mosque (Turkish Central Mosque)

• Victory Square

• Oak Park & the Open-Air Sculpture Museum

• Vladimir Lenin Statue

• State Historical Museum

• Panfilov Park

• Ala-Too Square & the changing of the guard

• Osh Bazaar

• Dinner at Papuri (Georgian khinkali!)

Hotels in Bishkek we recommend:

• Sheraton Bishkek — booked with Marriott points, great home base before and after the tour

• Ak Keme Hotel

• Orion Hotel Bishkek

Book a Private Airport Transfer from Manas International Airport to your hotel — it's about 45 minutes into the city.

Check out our Kyrgyzstan Viator Experiences for all activities we recommend and even some we wanted to do but couldn't get to.

Find a great flight deal to Bishkek with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront

Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We're taking you off the beaten path to Kyrgyzstan, and sharing an unforgettable private 4-day tour around Issyk-Kul Lake! We cover the canyon hikes, horseback riding, an eagle hunting show, yurt camping, and hot springs that make this Central Asian gem worth the trip.

Highlights of Kyrgyzstan:

• How to get to Kyrgyzstan

• Where to stay in Bishkek

• Burana Tower

• Konorchek Canyons hike (Boom Gorge)

• Horseback riding in Chon-Kemin National Park

• Eagle hunting show in Bokonbaevo

• Yurt camp & swimming in Issyk-Kul Lake

• Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyons

• Barskoon Gorge & waterfall

• Jeti-Oguz (Seven Bulls) Gorge

• Ak-Suu Hot Springs

• Karakol's Holy Trinity Cathedral & Dungan Mosque

• Semenov & Grigoriev Gorges

• Ruh Ordo Cultural Center & boat tour on Issyk-Kul

• Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs

Hotels in Bishkek we recommend

• Sheraton Bishkek — booked with Marriott points, great home base before and after the tour

• Ak Keme Hotel
• Orion Hotel Bishkek

Book a Private Airport Transfer from the airport to your hotel, and check out the exact 4-Day Issyk-Kul & Chon-Kemin Private Tour and Eagle Hunting Show we booked.

Check out our curated list of other Kyrgyzstan Viator Experiences we recommend and even some we wanted to do but couldn't get to.

Find a great flight deal with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront

Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We’re taking you to Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina, for a luxurious Lowcountry getaway! We share the adventure of staying in an incredible townhome inside the 20,000-acre Palmetto Bluff community, exploring by golf cart and bike, spotting dolphins and alligators, and enjoying the beautiful May River scenery. We’ll also head to Hilton Head Island for a beach day, explore the secluded Daufuskie Island by golf cart, and spend a day discovering historic Savannah.

Hotels near Palmetto Bluff we recommend:

• Montage Palmetto Bluff

• The Bluffton Farmhouse

• Hyatt Regency Savannah

• Beach House Resort Hilton Head

Don’t forget to pack a good bug repellent - we have loved this one for years and newly love this itch relief solution for the bug bites that got through.

For your visit to Palmetto Bluff we recommend kayaking in Palmetto Bluff and doing a ghost tour in Savannah.

Find a great flight deal to the Savanna airport with Thrifty Traveler Premium’s flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries ⁠& ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠

Connect: ⁠YouTube⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We’re taking you on an unforgettable journey through the Interlaken region of Switzerland, the gateway to the Bernese Oberland. We’ll share insider tips to make the most of your Interlaken getaway, recommend the best towns and villages to visit and detail the hikes and experiences we did including toboggan rides, steam locomotives, waterfalls, fondue, glaciers, and more!

Download our ⁠4 day Interlaken itinerary⁠ to take this exact trip yourself! 

• Episode Highlights: 

• How to get to Interlaken and the other towns

• Using Interlaken as a base 

• Jungfraujoch Adventure 

• Staubbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen 

• Grindelwald First & First Cliff Walk 
• Harder Kulm Viewpoint and panorama restaurant 
• Oeschinensee Lake Gondola, Hike & Toboggan

• 
  

  We stayed at: ⁠Hotel Lotschberg ⁠in Interlaken, but if you are traveling by train we recommend staying closer to the train station at ⁠Hotel Interlaken⁠ or ⁠Royal St. Georges Hotel Interlaken⁠. You can also check out other ⁠highly rated hotels in Interlaken⁠, just remember to book early for the most options and best prices!

Other Switzerland travel tips and advice: 

• Purchase an ⁠E-Sim⁠ to have cellular data on the go
• Check out our ⁠Switzerland Activities & Tours⁠⁠ ⁠for all activities we recommend and even some that we wanted to do but couldn't get to.
• Purchase a ⁠Swiss Half Fare Card⁠, ⁠Swiss Travel Pass/Flex,⁠ or ⁠Bernese Oberland Card⁠
• Pack a ⁠collapsible day backpack⁠, ⁠umbrella⁠, and ⁠world travel plug adapter ⁠ 

Find a great flight deal to Switzerland, or anywhere else, with ⁠⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠⁠’s flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop:⁠⁠ Trip Itineraries ⁠⁠⁠&⁠⁠ ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠⁠

Connect:⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠, and⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!