Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

Two months after her house burned down, Afar sent the award-winning author of Miss Burma, Charmaine Craig, to Lisbon, Portugal, with 24 hours’ notice. Without a plan, Charmaine aimlessly follows tourists through cobbled streets before stumbling upon the grave of one of the country’s most beloved authors: Fernando Pessoa. Following in his footprints, her trip transforms into a poetic journey through loss, impermanence, and hope. 

Portugal’s Elusive Poet: Fernando Pessoa

In this episode discover: 

Twin Flames, Twin Houses

Don’t miss these transformative moments: 

[01:39] Lost history and landing in Lisbon. 

[05:02] Meeting Francis Pessoa: a master poet of impermanence. 

[08:00] Echoes of destruction, from L.A. to Lisbon. 

A Literary Adventure in Lisbon

The only book Charmaine Craig brought to Lisbon was The Book of Disquiet by Francis Pessoa. Though she knew the author lived in Lisbon,Charmaine didn’t expect to stumble upon his tomb in her first 24 hours. In this episode, an unplanned trip to Portugal becomes a deeply personal, poetic tour through grief, impermanence, and hope. 

Resources: 

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

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What happens to suitcases that can’t be reunited with their owners? It’s not something we think about that often, but for Bryan Owens, it’s an entire business. He’s the CEO and now-owner of the Scottsboro, Alabama–based Unclaimed Baggage, the only store in the United States that sells lost luggage. As you’ll hear in today’s episode, his dad launched the business more than 50 years ago with an old Chevy pickup and $300. And now the business stocks more than 7,000 new items a day. 

The company recently released its first annual Found Report, a deep dive into the more than 2 million items that came through its doors in 2023, including including the aforementioned live snakes and fancy handbags. Host Aislyn Greene talks with Bryan about where these bags come from, how the company makes decisions about what to sell and, more interestingly, what it does with everything else: Donations and partnerships with organizations like Wheels for the World are critical to its mission. 

Meet this week’s guest

• Bryan Owens, CEO and owner of Unclaimed Baggage

Resources

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark our words: 2025 will be the year of crowd-free travel. That’s why our editors and contributors spent months seeking out 25 incredible, undertouristed destinations to explore next year. Our annual Where to Go list spotlights under-the-radar escapes, alternatives to popular hotspots, and interesting places around the world you may have been overlooking for too long. And in this episode of Unpacked by Afar, four editors share how they chose those places, where they're most excited to visit, and how to make a positive impact when you travel. This episode will help you plan an epic travel year—and feel good while doing it. 

Overtourism No More

In this episode you’ll learn: 

Where Should I Go Next?

Don’t miss these moments: 

[01:57] What makes this “Where to Go” list different from the rest. 

[07:48] The destinations these travel experts can’t wait to visit. 

[15:08] How to get off the tourist trails and make a positive impact on a place. 

[19:17] What you need to know about travel in 2025.  

Our Editors Guide You to the Places That Want Tourists

Each Afar editor brings unique expertise to this roundtable discussion. Sarika Bansal has lived on five continents and is the editorial director of Afar magazine, as well as the editor of the book, Tread Brightly: Notes on Ethical Travel. Billie Cohen, Afar’s executive editor, spent more than three years as a digital nomad and has a soft spot for nerd travel. Tim Chester focuses on destination inspiration and sustainable travel as deputy editor. And when it comes to info and breaking news about the air, cruise, and consumer travel spaces, deputy editor Michelle Baran is our go-to travel expert.

In this episode, they take us behind the scenes of this year’s Where To Go list, share what excites them as travelers, and reveal how their work inspires readers to go out into the world and use travel as a force for good. 

Resources

Read the transcript of this episode. 

Explore the Where To Go in 2025 list. 

Still want to go to a popular tourist destination? Here’s how to get off the tourist trail. 

How to get your Real ID, and keep up with updates on traveling to Europe and the UK. 

Follow Afar on Instagram, to see these destinations come to life in a new way. 

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

A pet orangutan, a 106-year-old grandma, and a wedding where 10,000 guests were fed. When writer and host of NPR’s The Splendid Table, Francis Lam, heard stories from his friend Azalalina Eusope about her life in Penang, Malaysia, he couldn’t help but marvel at them.  

But when the San Francisco-based chef (who has served Barack Obama and the Malaysian prime minister) invites Francis to come home with her after a decade away, he discovers the complex family dynamics that underpin her stories—and the ways that food can bind even the most complicated families. 

Five Generations of Street Vendors 

In this episode, explore:

Remaking the Past with Laksa

Don’t miss these transformative moments: 

[04:09] Star anise and curry: Rediscovering Malaysia’s comforts. 

[08:42] The sights, smells and salts of Penang’s street food scene.  

[10:04] “I felt so gross for having my notebook with me.” A bittersweet homecoming. 

Time Travel Through Tripe Salad

As a teen, Azalina Eusope vowed she wouldn’t follow in the footsteps of the four generations of Mamak street vendors that came before her.

In this episode, the San-Francisco based, Malaysian chef returns home with writer and host of NPR’s The Splendid Table, Francis Lam. Together, they discover how cooking Malaysian dishes does more than preserve her culture—it grants her the power to reclaim it. 

Resources: 

Read Francis’ original story on afar.com

Follow Francis Lam on Instagram 

Dine at Azalina’s in San Francisco

Check out NPR’s The Splendid Table

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wendy Mak, the author of The Capsule Wardrobe: 1,000 Outfits From 30 Pieces, shares how to pack with ease by using the philosophy she mastered to help countless clients create capsule wardrobes. From how to create your own capsule travel wardrobe, no matter the weather to multifunctional footwear and space-saving essentials—conquer your packing woes once and for all. 

In this episode you’ll learn: 

[06:46] Think separates: Packing guidelines for a sunny vacation. 

[08:00] Overpacking need not apply: functional footwear and funky fall weather.

[15:24] Lipstick panties, hat clips and other stylist-approved hacks. 

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

Can a train be a travel destination? Welcome to “Amtrakistan.” On a quest to cure his chronophobia and calm his anxious mind, Eric Weiner, the bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss, books a roomette on an Amtrak train that travels from Washington D.C. to Portland,Oregon. 

On this episode you’ll learn: 

Don’t miss these transformative travel moments: 

[01:28] Can a train trip cure my chronophobia? 

[06:06] Time: the abundant resource of Amtrakistan.     

[09:03] “You’ve got to dance with the train,” she said. 

[13:41] Lessons about time, brought to you by Amtrak. 

The New York Times best-selling author, Eric Weiner, never left the train during his four day journey— but he discovered a new world. After traversing 2,806 miles, 12 states and four time zones, the compulsive watch checker finally learns to slow down. 

In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, step into the world of slow-train-travel and discover how one traveler found peace and connection aboard. 

Read Eric’s original story.

Buy Eric’s book, The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Place on Earth. 

Watch the docuseries, Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss. 

Check out Eric’s other work. 

Explore Afar’s tips for train travel. 

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can a scary story inspire you to travel? The hosts of National Park After Dark have been spooking listeners into enjoying the outdoors for years. In this episode of Unpacked by Afar, Cassie and Danielle share the stories that continue to haunt them, what it’s like to stay in historic hotels with ghostly reputations, and how these morbid stories created a community of better prepared travelers. 

What Can Go Wrong In National Parks?

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

The Cozy, Creepy Vibes of Haunted Hotels 

Don’t miss these moments: 

[02:57] How National Park After Dark began. A love for the outdoors and a morbid curiosity. 

[11:53] Storied stays in haunted hotels: The Stanley Hotel and the Crescent Hotel. 

[17:46] Community stories about the weird and creepy things that happen outside. 

[23:09] Danielle and Cassie’s favorite national parks. 

“Enjoy the View, But Watch Your Back,”

For Cassie and Danielle, it was their shared morbid curiosity and separate passions for wildlife and history that led to the creation of National Park After Dark. From the way large predators get a bad rep to the brave, outdoorspeople who made a lasting impact, this episode will inspire you to do your own morbid research and lean into the darker side of national parks. 

Resources

Read the full transcript of this episode.

Visit the National Park After Dark website or follow them on Instagram. 

Explore 7 of the most haunted hotels in America. 

Plan a trip to Grand Teton National Park or hike the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier.  

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is so much more than its gorgeous beach. This week, follow Unpacked by Afar host Aislyn Greene as explores the 14 communities that make up the Grand Strand, a coastal community in South Carolina.

She tours Myrtle Beach's food, music, and culture scenes and drives down the Grand Strand to see the gardens and parks that beckon visitors away from the sand. In this episode, you’ll get off-the-beaten path and gain insight to plan your own unique vacation in Myrtle Beach. 

What Is Myrtle Beach Known For? 

In this episode you’ll learn:

On The Storied Side of the Beach

Don’t miss these moments: 

[08:28] A historic trolley tour of Myrtle Beach legends, from Alabama to Charlie’s Place. 

[15:08] Where to eat in Myrtle Beach (the best food is off-the-beaten path).

[33:10] The Gullah Geechee Seafood Trail: learning a culture, uplifting a community. 

Legends and Lands Beyond the Boardwalk

In this episode, Aislyn Greene peels back the layers on Myrtle Beach to help travelers get to the heart of a popular vacation spot. 

She chats with locals about the best places to eat, visits America’s first sculpture garden, learns the history of Charlie’s Place, where Black swing musicians jammed, and connects with the Grand Strand’s most foundational communities. 

Meet this week’s guests

Resources

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. 

And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

A day in the life of a rent-a-friend can run the gamut of fake romance, crying at funerals and a 30-second selfie with a teenager. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, contributing writer Chris Colin travels to Tokyo to rent a friend. 

At first, he expected nothing but kitsch. But as he navigates his newly forged—and reasonably priced—friendships with Miyabi,Yumi and Yusuke, what he learns changes the way he views Japan and his friendships back at home. 

A Day In the Life of A Rent-A-Friend

In this episode you’ll discover: 

Kodoku: The Lonely Gap 

Don’t miss these memorable moments: 

[06:11] Real life fake engagements and other rent-a-friend scenarios.  

[10:47] Hikikomori and a nation’s spiritual health: A conversation with Client Partners’ CEO. 

[16:22] Clarity, okonomiyaki and a genuine connection with a professional friend. 

A Cultural Phenomenon or A Cure for Loneliness? 

When writer Chris Colin first rented a friend in Tokyo, he was expecting something kitsch and wacky, like a cuddle or owl cafe. Instead, he found genuine connection and clarity about the elusiveness of friendship in his own life. 

What are the issues in society that create a commercial market for friendship and what does this reveal about the connections we are able to create?

Resources:

Read Chris' original story and check out his other work.

Explore Afar's travel guide to Tokyo.

Learn more about Client Partners, the rent-a-friend company that Chris visited.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you travel for a better night’s sleep? Sleep packages at luxury hotels ranging from menus with sleep-promoting ingredients to hypnotherapy sessions promise to promote better sleep, both during and after your stay. 

In this episode of Unpacked, contributing writer Chris Colin travels to four different “sleep hotels” to find a cure for his own insomnia and discover what our sleep issues–and solutions–reveal about our collective psyche. 

Does Sleep Tourism Work?

In this episode you’ll learn: 

A Quest for Better Rest 

Don’t miss these moments: 

[10:51] “Go to sleep, dream”: Hypnotherapy at Carmel Valley Ranch

[18:20] What’s a hyperbaric chamber? The unique sleep offerings at Stanly Ranch. 

[24:11] Sleep Doctor, Michael Breus, teams up with The Post Ranch Inn. 

Insomniacs and Sleep Doctors Tell All 

In this episode, you’ll hear from yoga instructors, meditation guides, sleep doctors, hypnotherapists and a handful of insomniacs to get to the bottom of the rise in sleep travel. 

Chris Colin sets out on a quest to discover if sleep tourism actually provides better rest and what our lack of sleep (and our attempted solutions) say about society as a whole. 

Resources: 

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. 

And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices