Your Odyssey Awaits

In this episode of Your Odyssey Awaits we're finally gonna talk about the most stressful part of not only trip planning but also just life in general. WARNING: your host is not a certified financial planner and she also has her own debt to tackle. But we here live by the motto "live to work, not work to live" so it's important to plan some time away for yourself as a way to celebrate your financial independence and any major milestones in your life. This episode will cover ways to adjusts your daily to help with your savings and money traps to watch out for.

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Resources
Skyscanner
Hopper
Chase Sapphire
Morpho vans

It’s one thing to say that you wanna move to another country. But do you have the guts to follow through? In this week’s episode of Your Odyssey Awaits, we have Krisell talking to us about her time living in Australia, how she was able to afford this transition, and what she got out of the experience. 

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Check out Kriselle on:
Her Website
Personal Instagram
Empowered in Color Instagram
Personal Twitter
Empowered in Color Twitter
LinkedIn

Barely a week into the new year and I have already gone on a weeklong trip away from Texas! On this episode of Your Odyssey Awaits I will be going over my week in the Grand Canyon State, Arizona! As with my Maine episode, I did my best to do daily recordings of my trip so I can give y'all the freshest feel of my journey.

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Resources
Phoenix/Scottsdale
Airbnb this trip
Olive and Ivy
Matt's Big Breakfast
Butter's Cafe
Lost Dutchman state park
Hot Air Expeditions
Prescott
Whiskey Row
Van Gogh's Ear Gallery
Jerome
Haunted Hamburger
Flagstaff
Hotel Monte Vista
Bright Side Bookshop
Sweet Shoppe
Delhi Palace
National Parks and Forests
America the Beautiful Annual Pass
Grand Canyon
Big Pink Jeep
Grand Canyon Train
Petrified National Park
Coconino National Forest
Sedona
Devil's Bridge
Tlaquepaque


Wineries I was too lame to miss out on :'(

This week on Your Odyssey Awaits we’re gonna bring back a familiar voice into the mix. With our Singaporean golden boy Wilson, we talk about his experience traveling to the U.S. by himself for the first time during the holiday season. We’re also gonna hear about how he got adopted into a friend group.

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Resources
Big Red Bus
Lovers Point Park
North Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Barrel House Tavern
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
Self Guided Bike Ride
Muir Woods and Wine/Beer Tour

Traveling is meant to be a fun experience for the family, but it can be very stressful and nerve-wracking if a member of the family has special needs. This episode was inspired by the host's personal experiences with having a brother with autism, and we are fortunate to bring on Dina to share her expertise on the topic. Dina is a travel agent who specializes in finding locations and locations that accommodates for child AND adults with autism. 

Here on Your Odyssey Awaits, I believe that everyone deserves the right to have a fantastic and stress-reducing vacation that's within their means.

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Find Dina Farmer
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Facebook
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Resources
TSA Cares
Sheraton Hotel Orlando
IBCCS
Autism Travel through IBCCES
Airport Sensory Rooms
Disability Access Pass (Disneyworld and Universal Studios)
Wings Over Autism
Resort bubbles in Hawaii

It's a new year and the only resolution that I definitely have in mind is a new season of Your Odyssey Awaits! Thanks to timing and sheer luck, this show is now gonna be releasing WEEKLY.

I will also be giving my thanks to the listeners from across the lands who have taken the time to listen to my show. I would not be here without y'all and I hope that I have made some sort of impact on the way you perceive traveling.

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In this episode, Ody tells her story about how one solo trip to San Francisco changed her life. San Francisco became the City of Firsts for Ody. Tune in to hear more about her adventure in the city and some Facts & Stats on SF.

Key Takeaways To Tune In For

[00:01:11]  Introduction to the episode.
[00:02:03] Blogs from my past helped me with my podcast?!
[00:03:48] The things that led up to the San Francisco trip.
[00:07:10] Landing at the airport and seeing a yoga studio?
[00:09:06] Arriving at a hostel for the first time.
[00:11:37] First full day doing the Hop-On Hop-Off Tour.
[00:16:00] Attempting to bike to Sausalito by myself!
[00:23:24] Facts  & Stats: San Francisco, California.
[00:28:14] My wine tour to Sonoma.
[00:35:05] Walk, party, sleep, catch a flight, and work the next day!
[00:38:55] Things I enjoyed about my trip

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Resources
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
Chinatown and North Beach Night Walking Tour
Self Guided Bike Ride
Muir Woods and Wine/Beer Tour 

Through the magic of editing and friendship, we brought Alexis in again for another round of reminiscing on Your Odyssey Awaits. Listen to the ladies talk about their long-awaited 3-year reunion while in the mystical land of Utah! We got to cover Salt Lake City, Moab, Dead Horse Point State Point, and Arches National Park. I am so grateful that I planned this trip just before 2020 went too hard.

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Resources:
My Airbnb stay
Aarchway Inn
Red Rock Brewery
Moab Brewery
Moab Diner
Sweet Cravings Bakery + Bistro
Dead Horse Point State Park
Arches National Park

How a career in architecture and tourism led Sander to work for EF Ultimate Break. Ody dives deep into Sander’s background and his favorite (and not so favorite) moments about travel. If you are interested in learning more about EF Ultimate Break tune in to Facts & Stats to hear details about this amazing program.

Key Takeaways To Tune In For

[00:01:23]  Introduction to the episode with Sander and his background.
[00:05:47] Sander’s career paths in architecture and tourism.
[00:08:42] How Sander got involved with EF.
[00:15:21] Sander talks about how he manages tours and his role as a tour director.
[00:19:27] The things you can't control from Amsterdam to Athens. 
[00:28:50]  Facts  & Stats: EF Ultimate Break
[00:34:07] Ody’s experience from EF that helped her become an independent traveler.
[00:37:17] Do tour guides feel that they are a part of the group? Sander’s edition.
[00:43:19] What annoys Sander during a trip?
[00:49:13] How has Sander impacted people's lives and their travel experience.
[00:52:00] Reminiscing on our EF trip together.


Resources From this Episode:

Learn more about EF Ultimate Break!

More Ways To Follow Me & My Journey:

Website: yourodysseyawaits.buzzsprout.com
Instagram: @odysseus_v2
Pinterest: odyezeigwe

What's the point of doing a travel podcast if we don't get to do real-time travel diaries?? This is the first of a series of travel diaries on Your Odyssey Awaits where your host records her daily experiences on the go and compiles it together into an episode.

While the only options for travel are domestic, your home state or country can still have a lot worthwhile to explore! Ody decides to make Maine her first solo weekend getaway outside of Texas so she can experience REAL fall and eat this legendary lobster. Our destinations for this trip are Portland (the other one!), Bar Harbor, and Acadia National Park.

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Resources From This Episode:
Food
Highroller
Dimillo's
Miss Portland Diner
Scratch Baking Co.
Ben and Bill's Chocolate Emporium
Galyn's
Activities
Portland Head Light
Willard Beach
Acadia National Park (Day trip option)
Carriage Rides
Ivy Manor Inn