In this episode of Vacation Mavens, we are joined by adventure traveler and blogger Sherry Ott of OttsWorld. We dive into what it takes to plan a successful cycling vacation — everything from choosing destinations and tour types, to picking the right gear, training beforehand, and recovering well. Whether you're a biking newbie or looking to level up your next bike‐based trip, this one’s packed with insights and practical advice.

Sherry Ott is a long-time travel blogger (since 2006) specializing in adventure travel, especially for women. She started leading small group trips in 2018, including unique “cat lady tours” in Japan. Sherry began serious biking during the pandemic, upgrading to gravel bikes and exploring both domestic (U.S.) and international routes (Chile, France, Prince Edward Island). She is passionate about making bike travel accessible, safe, and fun for all skill levels.

• Decide between guided and self-guided tours — guided trips offer support and community, while self-guided give you more flexibility.
• Research destinations with strong bike infrastructure (trail networks, signage, support).
• Check elevation, distance, and trail type (paved vs. gravel) to match your comfort level.
• Look for tour companies that provide e-bike options if you want extra support.
• Read reviews, ask about group size, and confirm whether you can bring your own gear (seat, mirror, pedals).

• Start riding regularly at home to build saddle time and comfort.
• Practice on terrain similar to your trip (gravel, hills, road).
• Work on balance, confidence, and endurance.
• Don’t underestimate elevation — even moderate climbs can feel tough over multiple days.

• Always bring your own helmet for the best fit and safety.
• Pack a rear-view mirror (handlebar or helmet mount) for traffic awareness.
• Wear bright, high-visibility clothing so drivers and riders can see you.
• Bring rain gear and layers — weather can shift quickly.
• Prioritize comfort over style on the bike.

• Use compression socks or leggings (e.g. Vim & Vigor) to reduce muscle fatigue.
• Hydrate often and refuel with snacks during rides.
• Allow time for rest and stretching after long days.
• Be mindful of long flights post-trip — keep circulation flowing with compression wear and movement.

• Adventure Cycling Association – maps, routes, and trip planning tools.
• Tour operators like Experience Plus, Biketours.com, and Backroads.
• Tourism boards for bike-friendly regions with trail networks and infrastructure.

We recently covered Tamara's Galapagos cruise and also some tips for visiting Ecuador, but this week we are digging into where to stay in Ecuador. Tamara gives a recap of her trip including some mini hotel reviews for Hacienda La Danesa, Mashpi Lodge, and Hacienda Zuleta.

• Tamara spent 17 nights in Ecuador including 5 nights in the Galapagos, 1 night at Hacienda La Danesa, 2 nights in Cuenca, 1 night near Cotopaxi, 3 nights in Quito, 2 nights in the Mashpi Lodge, and 2 nights at Hacienda Zuleta
• You wouldn't want to move around this much but Tamara wanted to see a lot of the country
• Hacienda La Danesa is a good pairing with the Galapagos
• It is 1.5 hours from Guayaquil
• It is on a large property with a farm, cacoa plantation, and a teak plantation on site
• It is an all-inclusive property. There are only seven accommodations and there is also the family home, as it is still family run
• The lodge is very beautiful with a bar, restaurant, lounge area, and library
• The design and style is very beautiful and perfect for those that really appreciate nice design
• Included activities include milking the cows, biking with a local guide, river tubing, a visit to the cacao plantation, and a chocolate tasting and making workshop
• Additional activities include horseback riding, cooking classes, and off-site excursions
• For a Cloud Forest experience, especially if you don't want to go all the way out to the rainforest, Mashpi Lodge is a good option to pair with a visit to Quito or Cotopaxi
• It takes about two hours to get to Mashpi Lodge and the last hour is on a very rough dirt road and not great if you have neck or back issues
• Mashpi Lodge is really great for birdwatchers
• Tamara wouldn't recommend it for families with very young kids as it is pretty active
• 2-3 nights is perfect for the Mashpi Lodge
• There are morning and afternoon excursions and you can also opt into a night hike
• Each evening there are presentations from naturalists or biologists
• It is an all-inclusive experience with meals and activities (not alcohol or spa services)
• The Sky Bike gives a "birds eye" view of the Cloud Forest but it is hard work to pedal across the cable
• Hacienda Zuleta is located in the mountains about 1.5-2 hours from Quito
• It is a historical, family-run, colonial-style hacienda that offers a very authentic feeling stay
• This is also an inclusive stay with meals and activities
• The town is known for embroidery and there is a handicraft market every Sunday
• Some of the activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding (additional), visiting the Condor rehabilitation center, embroidery classes (additional), visits to the cheese making factory, tours of the kitchen garden and grounds, watching the sheep or cows be milked, and more
• The food is fantastic at Hacienda Zuleta
• Tamara also spent two nights at Casa Gangotena in central Quito, which is a fantastic luxury hotel which is well-located in the historic old town

• Galapagos cruise

For this episode, we are joined by Nicky Omohundro of Little Family Adventure and the Untethered and Wanderwise podcast to talk about some of our favorite fall getaways.

With over 15 years creating digital content and as a USA Today 10Best family travel expert, Nicky Omohundro operates a nationally syndicated travel website, Little Family Adventure, and award-winning podcast, Untethered & Wanderwise. As a licensed travel advisor and empty-nester with international trips planned, she inspires women over 45 to reclaim their wanderlust and travel independently.

Here are a mix of road trips, international getaways, and local staycation ideas for the fall.

• Eureka Springs, Arkansas in the Ozark National Forest. Eureka Springs is a cute Victorian town in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. It is a pretty drive and peak fall color is late October. If you like haunted history, the Crescent Hotel is supposed to be one of the most haunted hotels in the country.
• Vermont is quintessential New England charm and beautiful fall color. You have beautiful country inns and bed and breakfasts. Top towns include Stowe, Woodstock, and Manchester. Hotels book up very early for peak weekends and prime foliage is late September - early October.
• Victoria, British Columbia is easy to access from the Victoria Clipper from Seattle. The harbourfront is beautiful and Butchart Gardens. It is also a unique wine region. September is a great time to go.
• Piemonte in Northern Italy. Fall is white truffle season and wine harvest season. You do need to book hotels in advance, especially near Alba because of the Alba White Truffle Market, but otherwise the towns aren't crowded.
• Portugal is an amazing destination in October, including the Porto and Douro Valley wine region. For sunshine, head to Alentejo where it has started to cool off and you can enjoy wine tasting and relaxation.
• Oklahoma City - right in the middle of the country but often overlooked, it makes a great weekend getaway. Pumpkinville is one of the best pumpkin patches in the country. You also have great food, art, and history including western and indigenous culture. Next year is the 100 year anniversary of Route 66 and Oklahoma City has the longest stretch of the highway. The old Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel is now set up in Wheeler Park in Oklahoma City.
• Finger Lakes, New York - it is beautiful in the fall with cute small towns, wine trails, and special events. The area also has a lot of agritourism including apple farms, pumpkin patches, cheese makers, dairies, and even alpaca farms.
• Boone, North Carolina on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Great scenic drives or hiking on Grandfather Mountain and a mile-high swinging bridge. You can fly into Asheville and drive to Boone. It is also a fun college town.
• West Coast road trip along Highway 1 from the Washington / Oregon coast, through the sand dunes and into the Redwoods. Some of the small shops in the tourist towns may close during the week as it gets later into the fall.

• New England travel
• Portugal girls trip to Douro Valley and Porto
• Piemonte in Northern Italy
• West Coast road trip

Today we are talking about what happens when you turn left on the airplane and fly business class! Now that Kim and Tamara have flown business class on many airlines including Delta One, Aer Lingus, TAP Airlines, Emirates, Finnair, Condor, Avianca, and others. Whether you are booking on points or paying cash, there are some things that you need to know first.

• Research what aircraft is flying the route you are looking to buy because the business class can vary dramatically depending on the plane and the layout
• Keep in mind that the airline can still change the aircraft after booking
• The airline will provide you with the aircraft type and should list if it is a lay flat seat or a suite
• You can also research how often the aircraft is switched out
• Also look at YouTube plane reviews for the specific route that you are looking at booking
• You may want to splurge on business class on longer flights, for example longer than eight or nine hours
• Consider if you have an overnight flight, you may want to upgrade to business class
• Keep in mind that if the flight is leaving in the early evening, it may still be hard to sleep
• Also, dinner service can really cut into your potential sleep time so on a shorter flight (e.g. from the east coast to Europe), it may not be worth it
• If you want to book with points, you can also use a paid service or use paid apps to try to find the best reward flights
• If you are booking on points, keep in mind that you still need to pay taxes and fees on most flights and some airports (such as London Heathrow) are very expensive
• If you have Avios points, you can move them to different programs but other partner programs you can combine
• Business class is different than first class. Many airlines don't have first class, such as Qatar or Delta, but others have first class, business class, premium economy, and economy
• When you are traveling business class, you have access to the priority lane for checking your bags
• Some airports offer a priority security lane as well
• When traveling business class, you have access to the airline lounge (if available in the airport)
• You also get to board early and they will typically bring you a welcome drink
• Keep in mind that your under-the-seat space is limited in business class and some airlines or aircraft set ups have better storage than others
• The airline will also provide you with a small amenity kit with a sleep mask, moisturizer, lip balm, and other items
• They will also provide you with a comfy blanket and pillow and some will make up your bed for you
• Our favorite business class experiences include Qatar, Turkish Airlines, and JetBlue Mint
• Our favorite lounge experiences have been the Virgin lounge in Heathrow, the Business Class lounge for Turkish Airlines in Istanbul, and the Garden in Doha, and the British Airways lounge

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We recently talked about Tamara's trip to the Galapagos but today we are talking more about the logistics about traveling to Ecuador and some travel tips. Tamara spent 17 nights in Ecuador, including 5 nights in the Galapagos and found it a warm and welcoming country with beautiful and diverse landscapes. Amazing Ecuador helped Tamara organize her trip.

• Most flights from the U.S. come into Quito or Guayaquil
• It is only 3.5 hours from Miami
• There are many regions including the Cloud Forest, Rainforest, volcanoes and mountains, National Parks, Galapagos, and more
• Tamara spent: 5 nights in the Galapagos, 1 night at Hacienda La Danesa, 2 nights in Cuenca, 1 night in Cotopaxi National Park, 3 nights in Quito, 2 nights in the Cloud Forest at the Mashpi Lodge, 2 nights at Hacienda Zuleta
• It helps to work with someone to figure out your priorities and build an itinerary around your interests
• Generally you want to spend at least two to three nights in each place
• Cuenca is a UNESCO heritage city with plenty of outdoor adventure nearby too
• Cotopaxi is at a higher elevation, making hikes challenging
• If you just have a week, fly in and out of Guayaquil and do the Galapagos and Hacienda La Danesa
• Safety - you need to be very careful after dark in Quito and other cities and beware of pickpockets. Don't walk around after dark, especially alone
• Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar as their official currency but most places also take credit cards but you will want small bills for tipping and the handicraft markets
• Many of the hotels are all-inclusive with meals and some activities
• Ecuador is a huge exporter of roses and through some regions you will see many roadside stands of 25-50 roses for less than $5
• Tamara recommends getting a driver because the roads are not very well marked, some aren't in the best condition, Google Maps isn't reliable, and drivers are very aggressive
• There are a range of four star boutique hotels and luxury hotels
• Ecuadorian food is very fresh and utilizes year-round produce of veggies and fruit
• Most meals start with a soup and then have a salad or vegetables. Fish and ceviche is quite popular. Quinoa is a popular grain
• You shouldn't drink the tap water in Ecuador but the produce at good restaurants and hotels are washed in filtered water
• Guinea pig is also popular in Ecuador as it is in Peru
• Chocolate and coffee are also grown in Ecuador and very popular
• Ecuador is the most densely populated country in South America
• If you have liked Costa Rica or Belize, you will probably also like Ecuador

• Galapagos cruise
• Mother-daughter trip to Peru
• Winelands of Chile
• Chile's Atacama Desert

Kim and her daughter Mia just got back from a mother-daughter trip to Switzerland. They celebrated her high school graduation with a grad trip and since Mia loves mountains and she was already going to be in France with a school trip, Switzerland was her top choice!

They visited Geneva, Zermatt and the Jungfrau Region because they really wanted to focus on the mountains. Altogether they spent eight nights in Switzerland and they moved around a lot. The itinerary included:

• 1 night in Geneva
• 2 nights in Zermatt to see the Matterhorn
• 2 nights in Grindelwald
• 2 nights in Wengen
• 2 nights in Lucerne

If you are going to Switzerland and you really want to spend time in the mountains, skip Geneva and Lucerne and focus more on the smaller towns, not the cities. Their favorite town was Zermatt for hiking and also wine tasting.

Grindelwald was the other favorite because of the hotel and the view of Eiger.

Some of the activities included:

• Visit the old town in the cities (e.g. Geneva)
• Hiking (which are harder than you might expect even on trails described as easy, use Google Maps to see elevation, buy or bring hiking poles if you can and are checking a bag)
• Cable cars (which are pricey)
• Matterhorn Glacier (you can also ski even in the summer)
• Alpine slides / mountain coaster / ziplines

The train is a great way to get around the country and if you use a Swiss Rail Pass you also get transportation on some of the cable cars (but not all). It makes it very easy because you don’t need to worry about buying tickets. First class will give you more seating options and it is less crowded so it is quieter. It is hard to use the trains if you have large luggage as some of the trains are more for locals/commuters. Try to pack light if you can or use a luggage forwarding service.

It is better to stay longer in each destination as you spend a lot of time transiting up and down the mountains via train/cable car. Basing yourself in Murren or other smaller towns ends up with a lot of time waiting for transportation. It makes more sense to stay in Grindelwald, Interlaken, or Lauterbrunnen.

When planning a trip, be sure to plan at least six to nine months in advance if you want to stay in town and at the better hotels. Also, when considering different hotels, the hospitality is wonderful but look closely at the amenities that are offered. Most don’t have air conditioning but it wasn’t needed in the mountains. Some hotels have screens on the windows but not all and there are a lot of flies and some mosquitoes.

Keep in mind that shops close early (6-7 pm) and that busses also stop running by 7:00 pm in small towns. Hotels and meals are very expensive in Switzerland, especially now that the dollar is weak against the CHF and Euro. Main entrees are 30-50 CHF per person, salads 12-19 CHF, and beer was cheap but wine was expensive. To save money, you can buy wine or beer at the grocery store to enjoy before you go out. Drink sizes are also very small.

The food is a lot of fondue, cheese, pasta, raclette, and chocolate. Other regions might have more regional specialties. Otherwise there are a lot of burgers and international cuisine. If you do have allergies, there are a lot of peanuts and other nuts being served as a snack or included in dishes.

Credit cards can be used almost everywhere. In all the tourist areas, everyone spoke English. They were less accommodating in the city or non-tourist establishment.

Be sure to pack and wear sunscreen. It is hard to find places to refill a water bottle so you may want to carry your own snacks and drinks.

Tamara is just back from a 5-night Galapagos Islands cruise on board the Galaxy Yacht. She was hosted on this trip by Galaxy Expeditions but all opinions are her own.

Galaxy Expeditions operates a number of yachts in the Galapagos and also can arrange for land travel in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. The Galaxy Yacht has eight cabins for a maximum of 16 passengers.

• You need to fly to the Galapagos from either Quito or Guayaquil in Ecuador (1.5 - 2 hours)
• At the airport before leaving the mainland, you need to purchase your tourist card and have your luggage inspected and zip tied to protect the islands from bringing in invasive species
• A delegate from Galaxy Expeditions met her at the airport to walk her through the process
• Once you arrive in the Galapagos, you need to pay an entrance fee to support the National Park ($200 per person) and they reinspect luggage, which takes about an hour on arrival
• You then meet your group and take a bus to the port where you load onto zodiac boats to get to the yacht
• A 5-night cruise was a nice amount of time to reach many of the islands and see a ton of wildlife but longer would be more tiring and could get a little repetitive
• Most of the cruises in the Galapagos are 16-32 or maybe 50 passengers
• If you are prone to motion sickness, you will feel it, especially at night as they moved from place to place
• The engines are also loud so bring ear plugs or a sound machine to help drown it out
• I'd recommend bringing Dramamine or seasickness meds as well as sleep aids
• On board, there were two solo travelers, a few couples and a mother-daughter duo from Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and the USA
• The food was really good and breakfast was usually a buffet and lunch was a buffet or served and there were usually two options for a dinner entree
• They also served light snacks and fresh juice or tea after excursions
• Excursions and meals are included (alcohol is not)
• Excursions start early and stay busy all day. The first excursion of the day is usually at 6 - 7 am
• There are typically two hikes per day and one to two snorkeling excursions per day
• They provide wet suits and snorkel gear on board
• The week started busy and got a little less so towards the end, which was appreciated
• Tamara saw sea turtles, fish, penguins, frigate birds, blue, red, and brown-footed boobies, sea lions, iguanas, and Galapagos tortoises
• There is a naturalist guide on board that leads every excursion and provides so much information about the wildlife and ecosystem
• The islands Tamara visited on Galaxy Yacht itinerary C are: Santa Cruz, North Seymour, Bartolome, Santiago, Genovesa, South Plazas, and San Cristobal

• Land-based trip to the Galapagos
• Mother daughter trip to Machu Picchu
• Atacama desert in Chile

On this episode we are sharing some of our top tips for finding good guided day tours or special experiences when you are traveling. We will walk through how to find them, how to book, and tips for taking city tours.

• On your arrival day, don't schedule a guided tour since your plane may not be on time and you may be tired from traveling. If anything, look at doing something impromptu like a hop on hop off bus or just walking around on your own.
• On your first full day in a city, it is helpful to take a guided tour to get the lay of the land and get recommendations from a local
• Some common tour booking platforms are Viator and Get Your Guide. Just understand that these are platforms advertising different tour companies or operators, the tours aren't actually run by Viator or Get Your Guide
• Often you can find the tour operator name on the listing and if you want, you can look up that company and book direct to support small businesses
• Be sure to read the details of what is included on the tour and whether or not you are going inside points of interest or just seeing it from the outside
• Pay attention to the meeting points and end point to choose ones that are fairly convenient for you based on where you are staying
• Make sure you look at the reviews and ratings before booking a tour
• Look at the number of people that are on the tour. It will often list the maximum number of passengers on a tour.
• Some tour companies, like Shore Excursions, offers a back-to-ship guarantee, which is great if you are booking cruise excursions
• Look at what tickets are included
• Put in the date when you are looking at pricing as it can vary depending on the season, day of the week, etc. Also, go through the full checkout screen to see what additional fees or taxes are added when building your budget
• Some other tour companies that we like are: Walks (or Take Walks), Livtours (small groups), Devour Tours (food tours), Eating Europe (food tours), Tours by Locals, The Tour Guy, and City Experiences
• You can also Google "free walking tours" to find pay as you go or tip-based walking tours by locals
• Always plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before the tour starts to check in
• Map out the meeting place before you go and know how you will get there
• Know if you need to be dressed a certain way (headscarf, covered shoulders, etc) or if you can't bring bags/backpacks, etc.
• Private tours are great for families or if you have mobility issues because it is easier to customize them
• Don't forget to tip a good tour guide. Group tour tip is typically $5 per person and a private tour is $10-20 per person if it is a half day or full day
• Have small bills handy for tipping
• Rick Steves has great audio tours for Europe, GPS My City has self-guided tours, and VoiceMap is another app for self-guided audio tours that are more cost-effective than a guided tour.

What should you look for when choosing a hotel, and what are some pitfalls you can try to avoid? Get ready for summer travel with this week's episode full of tips and laughs.

• Pay attention to the bathroom layouts when viewing photos and reviews as a new hotel trend has been for more open bathroom layouts or glass doors/walls which may not be great for families or friend groups
• Hotels are getting better at sustainability initiatives but many are just paying lip service so if this is important to you, look for companies truly dedicated to environmental issues and offer things like bottle refill stations
• If you want to check out the location of the hotel, look at the Google Street view to see more what the area is like
• Keep in mind that suburban hotels off the highway are more likely to offer free parking, laundry facilities, and free breakfast
• When booking city hotels, make sure that it is located near public transportation but avoid hotels near train stations or bus stations
• When selecting a room, look at the square footage to compare the various room categories
• Keep in mind that when you are traveling internationally, it is hard to find rooms with two queens or doubles. It is even harder to find rooms that sleep five. Typically the rooms will have a double/king or two twins
• Sofa beds are not always clean so always ask for clean linens, just keep in mind that you will need to make them up yourself
• Accessible rooms sometimes have lower closets, which might not be great for longer dresses, and the showers might have roll in showers and the floor of the bathroom can get really wet
• Request a room location away from the elevator / ice machine and a higher floor if near a loud highway
• Connecting rooms have thin doors and there is a lot of noise that comes through so put in your special request "no connecting room door"
• Be sure to read reviews and look out for red flags about noise, cleanliness, location, and service
• Bring a sleep mask or something to cover the glowing appliances and lights in the room
• Travel with a white noise machine
• Look out for daily resort fees and high city taxes
• Some brands or boutique hotels offer happy hours or cookies throughout the day
• Don't expect upgrades - book the category that you want
• Check out what the parking situation is and whether or not it is indoors or outdoors. Parking garages will sometimes list the clearance height
• Tipping housekeeping for good service is appreciated so it helps to carry some smaller bills

Tamara is just back from a multi-generational trip to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. If you have ever wondered what it is like to stay at one of the popular Baha Mar Resorts, now is your chance to get the scoop and see if it is really the vacation of your dreams or not.

• This was a multi-generational trip with 14 people ages 17-83. There were a lot of considerations when choosing a destination including budget, activities, direct flights, and mobility issues.
• Tamara also considered the Hyatt in Aruba, the Hilton Zemi Beach House in Anguilla, and the Westin or Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman.
• There are three hotels within one resort at the Baha Mar and it has multiple restaurants, making it possible to stay for a week and eat somewhere different every night without taking cabs into town.
• The food is really expensive at the Baha Mar so you need to build that into the budget as it is inline with going out for a nice dinner in a big city, which is similar to many other island resorts.
• The three hotels are:
  • Rosewood Baha Mar - luxury property
  • SLS Baha Mar - good for couples, friends, and more of a party scene
  • Grand Hyatt Baha Mar - good for families and more affordable
  • There is also a "Reserve" section of the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar with suites and lounge access that is a hotel within a hotel
• You fly into Nassau and you fill out a form on arrival and then the immigration line was quite short. They pre-arranged hotel transfers through the concierge.
• There are many pools within the Grand Hyatt but if you don't reserve a cabana, sunbed or premium lounge chair it could be hard to find chairs, especially if you want a larger group to be together.
• They rented a cabana at the Nexus Club, which has an indoor section with a couch, television, fridge, and a full bathroom. It also had a sun bed, a table and chairs with an umbrella, and use of two in-pool loungers. It was a private pool just for those renting cabanas or staying at a certain room category that included a hot tub. It also had its own bar and food service.
• The beach isn't deep but it is longed and it is lined with 4-6 rows of lounge chairs packed in together and the beach was quite busy even in June.
• There is also a waterpark that is included for guests with some big slides and a lazy river, as well as a good restaurant.
• You can do paddle boarding and snorkeling and there are also paid motorized water sports and there is an activities desk that arranges excursions and day trips.
• The Baha Mar also has a kids club with daily activities and there are flamingos that do a "parade" every morning.
• The food at Baha Mar was very good and even Tamara was impressed.
• Regatta is where they serve a huge breakfast buffet but it costs about $44 per person.
• Because Tamara is a preferred partner with Hyatt Prive, she was able to get the following perks and amenities:
  • Free breakfast for 2 people per day per room
  • $100 per room resort credit
  • $50 per room beverage credit
  • automatic upgrade within 24 hours of booking
• There are many pool bars serving food for lunch and there are also food trucks by the beach.
• You need to pre-book dinner reservations and they cover the gamut from Italian, Asian, Chinese, Steak, Mediterranean, and some celebrity chef restaurants like Cafe Boulud and Marcus Fish and Chop House (from Marcus Samuelson)
• In Tamara's opinion, the Baha Mar is better suited for families with teens or adults versus with younger kids as the casino is really the center point of the resort.

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