Travel Squad Podcast

Show Notes

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 TourSan Diego, CA: Stay at the Hotel del Coronado or The Westgate Hotel and do the Haunted San Diego Ghost TourCharleston, SC: Stay at the Meeting Street Inn | Drury Plaza Hotel and do the Charleston Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking TourSt. Augustine, FL: Stay at the Casa Monica Resort & Spa or Casablanca Inn on the Bay and do the Ghostly Encounter TourLouisville, 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 GettysburgSan Antonio, TX: Stay at the The Menger Hotel or The Emily Morgan Hotel and do the Haunted Dinner TourBodie, CA: Stay at the Bridgeport Inn or The Bodie Hotel and do a Bodie Ghost WalkSavannah, GA: Stay at the Embassy Suites Savannah Historic District or the Hotel Bardo and do the Savannah History and Haunts Candlelit Ghost Walking TourNew Orleans, LA: Stay at the Hotel Mazarin or the Hotel Monteleone and do the New Orleans Premier Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Walking TourFind 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.—---------------------------------------Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon StorefrontConnect: 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 growingWhat a professional color analysis is (and how draping works)The four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn & WinterKorean & Chinese color-analysis methods vs. the Western seasonal systemBooking YESCOLOR in Almaty over WhatsAppWhat the 90-minute session includesOur results: Cool Summer & True WinterBeyond color: contrast, Kibbe body types, silhouettes, fabrics, necklines, jewelry, makeup, nails & hairCost: $80 in Almaty vs. $300–$500 in the U.S.Hotels in Almaty we recommend:Rahat Palace - where we stayedThe Ritz-Carlton, Almaty InterContinental Almaty by IHGHoliday 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.—---------------------------------------Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon StorefrontConnect: 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 hotelTips for visiting Bishkek (cash, e-SIMs, Yandex Go, tipping & more)Where to stay in BishkekBishkek Central Mosque (Turkish Central Mosque)Victory SquareOak Park & the Open-Air Sculpture MuseumVladimir Lenin StatueState Historical MuseumPanfilov ParkAla-Too Square & the changing of the guardOsh BazaarDinner at Papuri (Georgian khinkali!)Hotels in Bishkek we recommend:Sheraton Bishkek — booked with Marriott points, great home base before and after the tourAk Keme HotelOrion Hotel BishkekBook 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.—---------------------------------------Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon StorefrontConnect: 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 BluffThe Bluffton FarmhouseHyatt Regency SavannahBeach House Resort Hilton HeadDon’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.—---------------------------------------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!

In this episode, we recap our adventures in Kenai Fjords, Glacier Bay, Wrangell-St. Elias, and Lake Clark National Parks, sharing our favorite hikes, glacier cruises, bear viewing experiences, wildlife encounters, and travel tips.We also reveal our plans for visiting Alaska’s remaining national parks: Denali, Katmai, Kobuk Valley, and Gates of the Arctic. From watching brown bears catch salmon at Brooks Falls to camping above the Arctic Circle and exploring one of the most remote wilderness areas in America, we’re sharing exactly how we hope to experience these bucket-list destinations.In this episode:Kenai Fjords National Park travel tipsGlacier Bay National Park cruise experienceWrangell-St. Elias flightseeing & glacier hikingLake Clark bear viewing adventureOur Denali National Park itinerary plansKatmai National Park & Brooks Falls bear viewingVisiting Kobuk Valley National ParkExploring Gates of the Arctic National ParkTips for planning an Alaska National Parks road trip and fly-in adventureKenai Fjords:Hotels: Harbor 360 Hotel or Breeze InnEpisode: Kenai Fjords National Park in 2 Days by Land & Sea Viator Shop: Kenai Fjords Viator ExperiencesItinerary: 2 Day Kenai Fjords National Park Itinerary Glacier Bay: Episode: 2 Day Glacier Bay National Park AdventureItinerary: 2 Day Glacier Bay ItineraryWrangell - St. Elias: Hotels: Kennicott Glacier Lodge or Blackburn CabinItinerary: 3 Day Wrangell - St. Elias National Park Summer Itinerary Find a great flight deal to Anchorage with Thrifty Traveler Premium’s flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.—---------------------------------------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!

In this weeks Travel Tuesday Flashback Episode, we’re taking you with us to vibrant, bustling Tokyo! From theme parks to tea ceremonies, ancient temples to glowing digital art museums, we packed our itinerary with the best of Japan’s capital city—and now we're sharing it all with you. Whether it’s your first trip to Tokyo or you’re planning a return visit, this episode is full of helpful travel tips, must-do activities, and honest insights to help you experience the magic of Tokyo like a squad pro.Download our ⁠⁠5 Day Tokyo Itinerary⁠⁠ to make your trip planning even easier!Stay at the ⁠⁠Rembrandt Style Tokyo Nishikasai Grande Hotel⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠DoubleTree by Hilton⁠⁠ near the Kyoto StationGet an eSim from ⁠⁠Airalo ⁠⁠before you go and the ⁠⁠Tokyo Tourist Subway Passes⁠⁠ as soon as you get thereReserve your ⁠⁠Tokyo Disney Sea ⁠⁠tickets well ahead of timeWe highly recommend the ⁠⁠Tea Ceremony Workshop⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Sumo Wrestling Show⁠⁠ the ⁠⁠Onsen⁠⁠ experience, and going to ⁠⁠TeamLab Planets ⁠⁠while it’s still there.Visit iconic sites like Sensoji Temple, Sumida Park, Nezu Shrine, and Ueno Park during cherry blossom seasonStroll through Tsukiji Outer Market, sampling sushi, seafood, and Japanese street snacksDiscover hidden gems like Hamarikyu Gardens and the peaceful Nezu Shrine away from the crowdsTake in sweeping skyline views (for free!) from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building’s observatory and catch their epic Godzilla-themed light showFind more recommended activities in our⁠⁠ Japan Experience's Viator Shop⁠Find a great flight deal to Tokyo, or anywhere else, by signing up for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get flight deals sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.—---------------------------------------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 along on a five-day staycation in St. Petersburg, Florida, to see what it would actually be like to live in this sunny Gulf Coast city and explore it for the first time. Kim got a free 5 night stay on Trusted Housesitters in exchange for dog sitting so this is vacationing like a local!We share how to balance remote work, explore local coffee shops and fitness studios, relax at amazing beach resorts, dine at St Pete restaurant, experience the St Pete Pier, and see dolphins along its beautiful waterfront park.St Pete Episode Highlights:Experiencing St. Pete while working remotely and travelingSaving over $500 on accommodations through Trusted Housesitters (see our episode on Trusted Housesitters too)Tips for visiting St. Pete, including transportation, parking, and best times to goRelaxing at SkyBeach Resort and The Don CeSar using ResortPassExploring the St. Pete Pier, Vinoy Park, and downtown waterfrontDiscovering local coffee shops, restaurants, rooftop bars, and nightlifeVisiting St. Pete Beach and exploring the Gulf Coast beaches nearbyBrittanie’s honest take: could St. Petersburg actually be a place to live?If you go the traditional hotel route, here are some hotels in St Petersburg, FL we recommend:The Don Cesar on St Pete BeachThe Vinoy Resort & Golf Club overlooking Tampa Bay and the marina downtownHilton Garden Inn St Pete - Oceanfront hotel with the fun Coconut Charlie’s beachfront bar attached Check out our favorite St Pete, FL things to do in our Viator Shop.Find a great flight deal to St Petersburg with Thrifty Traveler Premium’s flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.—---------------------------------------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!