Travel Squad Podcast

We’re taking you along to see the best of Liechtenstein in just one day. We’ll start the sightseeing journey at the Liechtenstein Center, wander through Vaduz’s Städtle, walk the cobblestone streets, see the Cathedral of St. Florin, and take in the atmosphere by the Government and Parliament buildings, and iconic Ruhende Frau sculpture by Fernando Botero. 

If you want to take this exact trip, you can download our ⁠1 day Liechtenstein Itinerary⁠!

 Highlights from this episode include:

• Highlights of Liechtenstein 
• Liechtenstein Center 
• Städtle (Vaduz Pedestrian Zone)- including the Cathedral of St. Florin, Government building, Parliament Building, and the Ruhende Frau von Fernando Botero Sculpture
• Hop on the ⁠City Train in Vaduz ⁠
• Castles of Liechtenstein: Gutenberg Castle & Vaduz castle 

Our top recommended hotels in Lichtenstein are ⁠Giessen Hotel & Coffeehouse⁠, ⁠Hotel Schatzmann⁠, or check out other ⁠highly rated hotels in Liechtenstein⁠

Things to pack while visiting Lichtenstein:

• ⁠Electrical outlet adapter⁠
• ⁠Reusable water bottle⁠ &⁠ water bladder⁠
• ⁠Collapsible Day Backpack⁠
• Purchase an ⁠e-Sim⁠ to have cellular data on the go

Find a great flight deal to Liechtenstein, 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.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We're taking you to the coast of Maine for 4 nights aboard the J. & E. Riggin, a historic windjammer that turns 100 in 2027! On this trip the schooner is your hotel, your transportation, and your restaurant. We share what life on board is really like: sleeping in the cabins below deck, quick "pits and bits" showers, an island lobster bake at sunset, spotting seals and porpoises, a shore day in Castine, pumpkin carving on deck, and the homemade bagels that close out every sailing.

Highlights of this episode:

• What Maine windjammer sailing is

• The history of the J. & E. Riggin, a 1927 oyster dredger turned passenger schooner

• How to get to Rockland, Maine, and where to stay the night before

• What to pack, and what you can leave at home

• Cabins, bathrooms, showers, and the onboard meal schedule

• Seasickness on Penobscot Bay

• Sailing through the fog and a lobster bake on Calderwood Island

• The wildlife you’ll see along the sailing trip

• A shore day in Castine and Fort George

• Swimming, paddle boarding, oysters, and a pumpkin carving "contest"

• Sunrise on deck and the last-day bagel tradition

Book your sailing: Check out the J. & E. Riggin 2027 Sailing Schedule and get 10% off when you book by February 1, 2027.

Hotels near Rockland we recommend:

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Portland Maine Airport, where we stayed the night before

• 250 Main Hotel, Rockland

• Samoset Resort, Rockport

Packing for the windjammer cruise trip Seasickness bands, seasickness patches, binoculars for animal viewing, headlamp, Kindle for reading on the deck, layers because Maine coastal weather is bipolar, beanie, and a ballcap.

Find a great flight deal to Portland or Boston 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!

Welcome to this week's Just the Tip! Kim takes you inside Lapis Spa at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a 55,000-square-foot wellness retreat on the Strip. She shares what her $200 Celestial Waters day included, from vitality pools and cold plunges to a Himalayan salt room and a stargazing lounge, what it's like to sit through a 40-person Aufguss sauna ritual, the treatments she'd book next time, and tips to get the most out of your visit.

Highlights of this episode:

• What Lapis Spa is and why it's an award winner

• The Celestial Waters experience and what it costs

• Lo-Tide mornings vs. Hi-Tide afternoons (and how long you can stay)

• Vitality pools, cold plunges, steam rooms & infrared saunas

• Himalayan salt room, aromatherapy spaces & heated tepidarium chairs

• Zero gravity chairs & the Stargazing Lounge

• The Aufguss Event Sauna ritual

• Amenities: robes, sandals, towels & hair tools

• Signature massage & facial treatments

Hotels in Las Vegas we recommend:

• Fontainebleau Las Vegas, home of Lapis Spa

• The ARIA Resort & Casino

• The Flamingo

Check out our Las Vegas Viator Experiences on Viator for all activities we recommend in Sin City.

Find a great flight deal to Las Vegas 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 Stowe, Vermont, our 50th and final U.S. state! We saved Vermont for last so we could see it at peak fall foliage, and it did not disappoint. We share leaf-peeping hikes and waterfalls, covered bridges, maple farms, cider flights, iconic attractions like the Ben & Jerry's factory tour, a day trip to Burlington, and the coziest cabin we called home for the five day trip.

Highlights of this Stowe episode:

• How to get to Stowe and when to go for peak foliage

• Where to stay in Stowe
• Mount Washington Auto Road (New Hampshire)
• Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks & the Vermont State House in Montpelier
• Tasting the finest cider and wine at Stowe Cider, Citizen Cider, Ellison Estate Vineyard, and Cold Hollow Cider Mill.

• Gold Brook Covered Bridge (Emily's Bridge)
• Stowe Pinnacle hike & Moss Glen Falls
• Stowe Village, Von Trapp Family Lodge & The Alchemist
• Burlington day trip: Colchester Causeway, Church Street Marketplace & Citizen Cider

• Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour
• Dinner at Hen of the Wood
• Smugglers' Notch scenic drive & Bingham Falls
• Mount Mansfield, Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm & the Stowe Recreation Path
• Cabot Creamery & Cold Hollow Cider Mill

Where to stay in Stowe:

• Mountain Pines Cabin (hosted): a private 4-bedroom post-and-beam cabin with a hot tub and gas fireplace, minutes from Stowe Village. Book direct and use code TRAVELSQUAD for 10% off stays of 3+ nights booked before January 31, 2027.
• Topnotch Resort 
• Von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort 

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

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

Thank you to our amazing partners in this episode: Mountain Pines, Stowe Cider, Citizen Cider, Ellison Estate Vineyard, and Cold Hollow Cider Mill. All opinions are our own.

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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 on her first-ever trip at the front of the plane: a 9 hour Delta One flight from Rome to JFK in New York City. She gives the full review including what the lie-flat seat and Missoni amenity kit are really like, every course of the meal (short rib, an ice cream sundae, and a warm chocolate chip cookie included), and how she maximized remote work life and worked on free Wi-F.

Highlights of the Delta One review:

• What Delta One is and which flights offer it
• Flying standby and why Kim paid only $338 in taxes and fees
• Why you should always ask about paid upgrades at check-in and the gate
• The cabin: lie-flat seats, 1-2-1 layout with direct aisle access, mattress pad, and suites with closing doors on newer aircraft
• Plush bedding and the Missoni amenity kit with Grown Alchemist skincare
• Mimosas, hot towels, and a chef-curated multi-course meal
• Seatback entertainment and free Wi-Fi for working at 35,000 feet
• Delta One Lounges at JFK, LAX, BOS & SEA
• Sky Priority perks: check-in, security, boarding & bags
• Is Delta One worth paying for?

Find a great Delta One flight deal with Thrifty Traveler Premium. 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 giving you the inside scoop on what it’s really like to fly Premium Economy with Cathay Pacific. From priority check-in to mid-air meals and in-flight sleep quality, we break down every part of the 16-hour red-eye journey from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. If Hong Kong is on your list, be sure to check out our full ⁠Hong Kong itinerary⁠ and ⁠episode⁠ for even more tips and must-do experiences.

Whether you're considering an upgrade or just curious if it’s worth the points, this honest review covers everything: seat comfort, service, entertainment, food, and overall experience.

• Enjoy bulkhead seats with extra legroom, located right behind business class
• Receive priority check-in and early boarding benefits
• Get 2 free checked bags, up to 50 lbs each
• Experience upgraded seating with amenity kits, larger pillows, and calf rests
• Elevated in-flight meals: beef with roasted veggies, fried pork noodles, Ghirardelli chocolate, and Haagen-Dazs ice cream
• Sip on wine and cocktails, with a broader drink selection than economy
• Noise-canceling headphones and enjoy a wide selection of in-flight entertainment
• Cons: limited storage, no window, and no Wi-Fi

Find amazing flight deals on Cathay Pacific Airlines by signing up for ⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and getting daily flight deals (points and cash) sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to save $20 on your first year subscription.

Check out our other airline reviews below, or listen to our complete⁠ ⁠Airline Reviews playlist on Spotify⁠⁠ to hear them all in one place:

• ⁠⁠Singapore Airlines Business Class Review ⁠

• ⁠⁠Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Review⁠

• ⁠KLM Business Class Review⁠

• ⁠⁠Egypt Air Business Class Review⁠

• ⁠⁠American Airlines Domestic Business Class Review ⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Review ⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠TAP Air Portugal Stopover Program ⁠

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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.

We took a KLM Business Class Flight from San Diego to Amsterdam and are giving you the inside scoop on our experience. From the check-in process and lounge access at SAN, to the onboard service, seat comfort, in-flight dining, and even how we felt stepping off the plane in Amsterdam we're covering it all. Whether you're planning an international trip or just curious about what it’s like to fly KLM’s premium cabin on a long-haul route, this episode has everything you need to know.

Here’s what we cover:

• Seat setup: window vs middle seats, storage, and lie-flat comfort

• Amenity kit + perks: champagne, mocktails, noise-canceling headphones, and more

• In-flight dining: from crab salad & truffle pasta to French toast & cheese plates

• Entertainment & WiFi (or lack of it)

• Service experience: how KLM stacks up against Singapore Airlines & others

• The iconic ceramic Dutch house souvenir 

• Our overall rating: 7/10 good value, but with some misses

Check out our other airline reviews below, or listen to our complete ⁠Airline Reviews playlist on Spotify⁠ to hear them all in one place:

• ⁠Singapore Airlines Business Class Review ⁠

• ⁠Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Review ⁠
• ⁠Egypt Air Business Class Review  ⁠
• ⁠American Airlines Domestic Business Class Review ⁠
• ⁠Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Review ⁠

• ⁠⁠TAP Air Portugal Stopover Program ⁠⁠

Find amazing flight deals on KLM Airlines by signing up for ⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and getting daily flight deals (points and cash) sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to save $20 on 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 aboard Singapore Airlines’ Premium Economy for their 10-hour flight from Tokyo to LAX. Was the experience worth the points? How does it compare to flying economy or splurging on business class? (P.S. We’ve reviewed Singapore Airlines Business Class too—check that one out after this!

• We’re breaking down the entire experience:
• Booking with points & paying extra for those prime bulkhead seats
• Pre-flight perks like priority check-in and 2 free checked bags
• The seat comfort (hello calf rests & 8-inch recline!)
• In-flight service & amenity kits
• Our gourmet meals via Book the Cook 
• Entertainment options, WiFi access, and more!

Download our ⁠⁠Singapore Itinerary⁠⁠ and listen to our ⁠two days in Singapore⁠ episode for the perfect plan to spend two days in this amazing island nation.

These are the hotels, tours, and resources we recommend in Singapore:

• ⁠⁠St. Regis Singapore⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Marina Bay Sands ⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Pan Pacific Singapore ⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Singapore activities we recommend via Viator ⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Airalo ⁠⁠eSim

Check out our other airline reviews below, or listen to our complete⁠ ⁠Airline Reviews playlist on Spotify⁠⁠ to hear them all in one place:

• ⁠⁠Singapore Airlines Business Class Review ⁠⁠
• ⁠KLM Business Class Review⁠
• ⁠⁠Egypt Air Business Class Review⁠ 
• ⁠⁠American Airlines Domestic Business Class Review ⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Review ⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠TAP Air Portugal Stopover Program ⁠⁠

Find great flight deals with Singapore Airlines by signing up for ⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and watching the daily flight deals (points & cash) that are emailed directly to you! 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 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!