On this episode of the Healthy Family Project Podcast, we’re joined by Lauren Gay to chat all things budget travel. Lauren is a travel writer, podcaster and social media influencer who is passionate about inspiring and empowering black women to step out of their comfort zones for new experiences in travel and adventure. She joined us to share tons of tips that make travel accessible for all budgets including how to save on airfare, take advantage of reward systems, and tips for working with travel agents.

Budget Travel Hacks Podcast

Summer break is here and we could all use a vacation! Inflation is driving price increases in all industries especially travel, but there are lots of ways to save and still be able to enjoy a much-needed family getaway. We’re so excited to have Lauren Gay, creator of Misadventures of an Outdoorsy Diva Blog, join us to share all her top budget travel hacks.

With a little flexibility and planning, families can enjoy a variety of trips from exploring the national parks to embarking on international adventures. Lauren walked us through what type of trips are best for families looking to keep budget top of mind plus how to take advantage of reward systems to score free hotel nights or reduced airfare prices. All of these hacks add up to tons of savings & ensure you get the best bang for your buck! Tune in below to get all of Lauren’s trips and hear about her favorite trips to date!

Budget Travel Podcast

About Our Guest, Lauren Gay

Lauren Gay is the creator of Misadventures of an Outdoorsy Diva Blog,  host/producer of the award winning Adventure Is A Lifestyle Podcast, published photographer, speaker, consultant, on-air TV travel expert, and adventure coach.  She is a travel writer and social media influencer who is passionate about inspiring and empowering black women to step out of their comfort zones for new experiences in travel and adventure and embracing nature as therapy.  Lauren is also an empty nest mom and a dedicated long time advocate for racial diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation and adventure travel and a founding member of the Black Travel Alliance.

Budget Travel Healthy Family Project Podcast

Listen to Budget Travel Hacks

What We Cover:

Want to skip straight to a hot topic? See timestamps below. But of course, we recommend listening all the way through to get all the great tips and tricks!

  • 2:14 Get to know Lauren
  • 4:22 Lauren’s favorite trip
  • 7:38 What are some of the most affordable vacations for families?
  • 10:32 Travel hacks most people overlook
  • 14:12 How to find a travel agent?
  • 19:04 What are some of the best ways to save on airfare?
  • 25:42 Lauren’s top travel tip
  • 32:24 What does a healthy family mean to you?

Other Podcast Episodes to Check Out:

Healthy Family Project Facebook Group

Join our Healthy Family Project Facebook group! This group will serve as a safe space for parents and caregivers to talk all about raising a healthy family – from dealing with a picky eater and tips to get more fruits and veggies onto plates to exercising as a family and mental health. We welcome all of you to join in!

Listener Survey!

Thank you so much for supporting the Healthy Family Project Podcast! We’d love it if you could take 5 minutes to let us know how we can bring you the best possible content for future episodes. Take the survey here.

Healthy Family Project Podcast

Conversations covering hot topics in the world of health, food and family with a dose of fun. Helping families ease their way into a new fresh and healthy world.

Be on the lookout for new bi-weekly episodes and don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcasting site. If you like an episode, make sure to leave a rating and comment.

If you are interested in being a guest on the Healthy Family Project podcast, contact amanda@healthyfamilyproject.com with your topic idea for consideration.

Transcript for Episode 80

This transcript was produced by Otter.Ai. Please forgive any misspellings and grammatical errors.

Episode 80: Top Budget Travel Hacks

1

00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:14,320

Welcome to the Healthy Family Project podcast covering the hot topics in the world of health,

2

00:00:14,320 –> 00:00:17,560

food, and family with a dose of fun.

3

00:00:17,560 –> 00:00:20,000

Welcome to the Healthy Family Project podcast.

4

00:00:20,000 –> 00:00:25,720

I’m your host Amanda and today we get to talk about one of my favorite topics, travel.

5

00:00:25,720 –> 00:00:30,240

Before we get started, don’t forget to join the Healthy Family Project Facebook group

6

00:00:30,240 –> 00:00:33,760

and follow us on your favorite social media channel.

7

00:00:33,760 –> 00:00:38,080

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok.

8

00:00:38,080 –> 00:00:42,560

I think a lot of times families feel like it’s overwhelming or expensive.

9

00:00:42,560 –> 00:00:47,440

I mean everything’s expensive right now, but in general expensive to make a travel plan.

10

00:00:47,440 –> 00:00:52,440

But today we have travel expert Lauren Gay, creator of Misadventures of an Outdoorsy Diva

11

00:00:52,440 –> 00:00:56,600

blog with us to share her top travel tips.

12

00:00:56,600 –> 00:00:59,600

We are all facing woes with inflation, believe me.

13

00:00:59,600 –> 00:01:03,080

But today’s episode really helps to find ways around those inflated costs.

14

00:01:03,080 –> 00:01:04,920

So a little about Lauren.

15

00:01:04,920 –> 00:01:09,840

In addition to her blog, Lauren is a host and producer of the award winning Adventure

16

00:01:09,840 –> 00:01:11,560

is a Lifestyle podcast.

17

00:01:11,560 –> 00:01:14,020

So head over there and subscribe.

18

00:01:14,020 –> 00:01:19,180

She is a published photographer, speaker, and consultant, on air TV travel expert and

19

00:01:19,180 –> 00:01:20,600

adventure coach.

20

00:01:20,600 –> 00:01:25,400

She is a travel writer and social media influencer who is passionate about inspiring and empowering

21

00:01:25,400 –> 00:01:30,380

black women to step out of their comfort zones for new experiences in travel and adventure

22

00:01:30,380 –> 00:01:33,000

and embracing nature as therapy.

23

00:01:33,000 –> 00:01:37,640

Lauren is an empty nest mom and a dedicated longtime advocate for racial diversity and

24

00:01:37,640 –> 00:01:42,400

inclusion in outdoor recreation and adventure travel and a founding member of the Black

25

00:01:42,400 –> 00:01:43,940

Travel Alliance.

26

00:01:43,940 –> 00:01:46,520

We have so much to cover off on today.

27

00:01:46,520 –> 00:01:49,760

I guarantee you’ll be ready to plan your next trip.

28

00:01:49,760 –> 00:01:51,400

Welcome to the show, Lauren.

29

00:01:51,400 –> 00:01:53,200

Travel is top of mind this summer.

30

00:01:53,200 –> 00:01:58,160

We’ve been, you know, shut in, let out, shut in, let out for a little while here.

31

00:01:58,160 –> 00:02:01,640

So I know you have tips to share.

32

00:02:01,640 –> 00:02:05,800

I know we’re heading into summer now, but I feel like, you know, what we’re going to

33

00:02:05,800 –> 00:02:09,560

talk about today can be applicable year round and at any time.

34

00:02:09,560 –> 00:02:16,080

So before we dive in, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself?

35

00:02:16,080 –> 00:02:17,920

I am so happy to be here, man.

36

00:02:17,920 –> 00:02:20,000

Thanks for having me.

37

00:02:20,000 –> 00:02:22,040

So yeah, I am Lauren Gay.

38

00:02:22,040 –> 00:02:27,320

I’m the creator of the Outdoorsy Diva blog and brand.

39

00:02:27,320 –> 00:02:35,720

And I talk about adventure travel in particular, and I’m big on encouraging women, particularly

40

00:02:35,720 –> 00:02:41,000

in the black community to get outside, to travel differently, get out of their comfort

41

00:02:41,000 –> 00:02:42,000

zones.

42

00:02:42,000 –> 00:02:45,440

But really just all women, especially moms.

43

00:02:45,440 –> 00:02:49,120

I think we tend to put ourselves second a lot of times.

44

00:02:49,120 –> 00:02:52,960

So I want to encourage us to get out there and travel.

45

00:02:52,960 –> 00:02:58,080

It’s okay to travel without your kids and with your kids and that kind of thing.

46

00:02:58,080 –> 00:03:06,320

So I’m big on incorporating nature and our national parks and state parks into our travels

47

00:03:06,320 –> 00:03:08,040

and things like that.

48

00:03:08,040 –> 00:03:09,040

So that’s my lane.

49

00:03:09,040 –> 00:03:12,320

I just love getting people to get out of their comfort zone.

50

00:03:12,320 –> 00:03:13,320

Yeah.

51

00:03:13,320 –> 00:03:19,120

I mean, I love travel.

52

00:03:19,120 –> 00:03:21,360

We talked a little bit before we jumped on.

53

00:03:21,360 –> 00:03:23,160

I’ve taken my kids places.

54

00:03:23,160 –> 00:03:26,280

It’s always just been something that has been part of my life.

55

00:03:26,280 –> 00:03:32,800

But I know for a lot of people, it can be very intimidating and even just the smallest

56

00:03:32,800 –> 00:03:39,000

things if you don’t fly often, going through security, just these little things that I

57

00:03:39,000 –> 00:03:43,400

don’t think so much about that can really pose a lot of stress for people.

58

00:03:43,400 –> 00:03:50,040

I love that you are encouraging people to step out of their comfort zone and showcasing

59

00:03:50,040 –> 00:03:52,720

to them, you could do this.

60

00:03:52,720 –> 00:03:57,960

Once you do, you’re going to feel like you conquered, exhilarated.

61

00:03:57,960 –> 00:03:58,960

Absolutely.

62

00:03:58,960 –> 00:03:59,960

Absolutely.

63

00:03:59,960 –> 00:04:05,320

It’s just with a little bit of planning, you can mitigate most of those risks.

64

00:04:05,320 –> 00:04:06,320

Yes.

65

00:04:06,320 –> 00:04:11,920

So, okay, so before we go any further getting into these tips, really to get us all just

66

00:04:11,920 –> 00:04:16,000

dreaming about some cool places, I guess, I just have to know what is your do you have

67

00:04:16,000 –> 00:04:20,160

a favorite trip that I know that must be like a really hard question, but do you have a

68

00:04:20,160 –> 00:04:21,160

favorite trip?

69

00:04:21,160 –> 00:04:23,720

What is an incredibly hard question?

70

00:04:23,720 –> 00:04:26,560

But yes, I do.

71

00:04:26,560 –> 00:04:29,640

I loved visiting the Azores Islands.

72

00:04:29,640 –> 00:04:33,480

That was my first international trip solo.

73

00:04:33,480 –> 00:04:36,600

I didn’t take my son and my stepson at the time.

74

00:04:36,600 –> 00:04:38,480

I didn’t go with my significant other.

75

00:04:38,480 –> 00:04:40,400

I went all by myself.

76

00:04:40,400 –> 00:04:44,520

And it was just an amazingly beautiful place.

77

00:04:44,520 –> 00:04:51,920

But my most favorite recent trip that I actually did take with my son, we went on a cruise

78

00:04:51,920 –> 00:04:56,520

in the Sea of Cortez and in Baja.

79

00:04:56,520 –> 00:05:03,000

So that little sliver of California, that that’s part of Mexico, Baja, California, and

80

00:05:03,000 –> 00:05:05,240

it was magnificent.

81

00:05:05,240 –> 00:05:08,920

We island hopped on a different island every day.

82

00:05:08,920 –> 00:05:09,920

And it’s gorgeous.

83

00:05:09,920 –> 00:05:13,000

It’s known as the world’s aquarium.

84

00:05:13,000 –> 00:05:19,320

And we saw why because you saw jumping manta rays, we saw tons of whales and we swam with

85

00:05:19,320 –> 00:05:21,600

whale sharks and sea lions.

86

00:05:21,600 –> 00:05:25,040

It was like beyond a dream.

87

00:05:25,040 –> 00:05:26,600

And so I love water.

88

00:05:26,600 –> 00:05:27,760

And my son loves water.

89

00:05:27,760 –> 00:05:29,880

He’s always loved aquatic life.

90

00:05:29,880 –> 00:05:37,000

So to be able to do that with him full circle, he’s been in all the aquariums, but to be

91

00:05:37,000 –> 00:05:42,200

in the actual sea and get to see these things up close was really, really special.

92

00:05:42,200 –> 00:05:46,400

So Baja definitely has a special place in my heart now.

93

00:05:46,400 –> 00:05:49,000

I would go back to Cabo in a minute.

94

00:05:49,000 –> 00:05:52,760

Yeah, I need to add that to my list.

95

00:05:52,760 –> 00:05:58,200

My oldest loves the water and loves aquariums and sea life.

96

00:05:58,200 –> 00:06:03,800

He’s actually interested in going into marine biology as a potential career path.

97

00:06:03,800 –> 00:06:08,800

So I definitely will need maybe that’ll be which I want to cry even saying this, like

98

00:06:08,800 –> 00:06:13,160

her graduation present in two years.

99

00:06:13,160 –> 00:06:15,800

That honestly would be an awesome present for her.

100

00:06:15,800 –> 00:06:18,320

Yeah, I’ll have to keep that in mind for sure.

101

00:06:18,320 –> 00:06:23,040

We did Baja right before it well right before the pandemic.

102

00:06:23,040 –> 00:06:29,480

For my 40th birthday, just my husband and I and we drove from San Diego, and we didn’t

103

00:06:29,480 –> 00:06:36,160

go you know, completely south, but we did do a good portion of it on the drive we drove

104

00:06:36,160 –> 00:06:37,160

down the coast.

105

00:06:37,160 –> 00:06:43,440

So I feel like that’s just an under I don’t say underrated but an area that people don’t

106

00:06:43,440 –> 00:06:48,440

think about it’s not on your like list of typical places to go.

107

00:06:48,440 –> 00:06:53,240

I agree totally with you and I was like, how have I not been here before?

108

00:06:53,240 –> 00:06:54,240

Right?

109

00:06:54,240 –> 00:06:55,240

I was beautiful.

110

00:06:55,240 –> 00:06:56,240

It is beautiful.

111

00:06:56,240 –> 00:07:01,240

Okay, so we’re all looking at our bank accounts.

112

00:07:01,240 –> 00:07:03,240

Everything’s expensive.

113

00:07:03,240 –> 00:07:09,480

I keep my kids keep saying like, well, you know, that’s that’s more expensive or this

114

00:07:09,480 –> 00:07:10,480

is more expensive.

115

00:07:10,480 –> 00:07:13,120

I’m like, guys, everything is more expensive right now.

116

00:07:13,120 –> 00:07:19,520

That’s just what it is and we got to be smart and plan like you said, even for you know,

117

00:07:19,520 –> 00:07:23,080

grocery shopping, travel, whatever it might be.

118

00:07:23,080 –> 00:07:28,520

So I guess first question for you, what are some of the most affordable places to visit

119

00:07:28,520 –> 00:07:34,160

or vacation, especially now that like I said, we’re all kind of going, can I should I do

120

00:07:34,160 –> 00:07:35,160

this?

121

00:07:35,160 –> 00:07:37,240

How it’s positions is going to put me in?

122

00:07:37,240 –> 00:07:39,840

Yeah, I mean, right now.

123

00:07:39,840 –> 00:07:46,240

Of course, I know the cost of gas is like everyone’s the base of everyone’s existence

124

00:07:46,240 –> 00:07:47,240

right now.

125

00:07:47,240 –> 00:07:53,520

But you can still, you know, make road trips work.

126

00:07:53,520 –> 00:07:58,520

You can, especially if you’re traveling with, you know, more than a couple of people in

127

00:07:58,520 –> 00:07:59,600

your family, right?

128

00:07:59,600 –> 00:08:05,040

It’s still going to come out cheaper than having to purchase four or five plane tickets.

129

00:08:05,040 –> 00:08:11,720

So our national parks are amazing and there’s so many of them to choose from.

130

00:08:11,720 –> 00:08:17,440

So looking at trips like that, where you can incorporate places that already have built

131

00:08:17,440 –> 00:08:21,600

in quote unquote entertainment, you know, it’s a park.

132

00:08:21,600 –> 00:08:27,320

So it’s that wildlife and you’ll have, you know, kayaks and boating and horseback riding

133

00:08:27,320 –> 00:08:29,200

all kinds of different things.

134

00:08:29,200 –> 00:08:34,840

So looking at our national parks and your regional parks and national forests and state

135

00:08:34,840 –> 00:08:41,360

parks that are in the same vicinity is a really good way to plan a vacation that’s going to

136

00:08:41,360 –> 00:08:49,040

be fun and memorable, but a little more cost effective just because you’re staying domestic.

137

00:08:49,040 –> 00:08:50,040

Cruises are coming back.

138

00:08:50,040 –> 00:08:52,760

They’re they’re they’re trying to recoup.

139

00:08:52,760 –> 00:08:54,560

You know, they had a tough couple of years.

140

00:08:54,560 –> 00:09:00,800

So right now there are deals on top of deals on top of deals for cruises to all sorts of

141

00:09:00,800 –> 00:09:05,240

destinations that are pretty doggone cheap.

142

00:09:05,240 –> 00:09:11,800

And a lot of them are offering specials for, you know, kids being able to travel if not

143

00:09:11,800 –> 00:09:14,720

free at a discounted rate.

144

00:09:14,720 –> 00:09:17,080

And then of course, you’ve got Mexico.

145

00:09:17,080 –> 00:09:24,040

Mexico has tons of different places that are really good deals for those all-inclusive.

146

00:09:24,040 –> 00:09:29,920

You know, you have of course, you’ve got the normal Cancun and Acapulco, but you can look

147

00:09:29,920 –> 00:09:37,840

at some of those other outskirt locations that are on the Riviera Maya, but maybe not

148

00:09:37,840 –> 00:09:40,640

right in the heart of things.

149

00:09:40,640 –> 00:09:43,800

You know, of course, you have to consider flights.

150

00:09:43,800 –> 00:09:48,800

But if you’re looking at the total package and the all-inclusive deal, especially the

151

00:09:48,800 –> 00:09:54,920

ones where, you know, the kids can go for free, then it might come out worth your while.

152

00:09:54,920 –> 00:09:55,920

Okay.

153

00:09:55,920 –> 00:10:01,320

Those are some good tips and I will link up in the show notes to Lauren’s website.

154

00:10:01,320 –> 00:10:06,280

So that way, you know, you can go direct and kind of cruise around and take a look at some

155

00:10:06,280 –> 00:10:08,760

of those things.

156

00:10:08,760 –> 00:10:14,540

So what do you think, what is the thing that most people overlook when seeking to reduce

157

00:10:14,540 –> 00:10:16,040

travel costs?

158

00:10:16,040 –> 00:10:21,680

Like what’s out there that you feel like the average, you know, travel consumer might not

159

00:10:21,680 –> 00:10:24,080

be aware of?

160

00:10:24,080 –> 00:10:28,120

You know what, a lot of people, and I have a few answers for that.

161

00:10:28,120 –> 00:10:36,080

A lot of people don’t, aren’t aware that most travel agents don’t charge you a fee.

162

00:10:36,080 –> 00:10:41,040

They do their job by having relationships with all of these different places, right?

163

00:10:41,040 –> 00:10:43,040

And so they get commissions off of that.

164

00:10:43,040 –> 00:10:44,920

They’re not charging you.

165

00:10:44,920 –> 00:10:51,600

And so they are very in the know and knowledgeable about what’s out there, what the deals are,

166

00:10:51,600 –> 00:10:55,120

the best time of year to go and to find the best deals.

167

00:10:55,120 –> 00:11:02,480

And people had not been utilizing true travel agents the way that we had seen in the past.

168

00:11:02,480 –> 00:11:04,880

So I would say don’t sleep on that.

169

00:11:04,880 –> 00:11:11,040

I mean, even me as an avid traveler, I have travel agent friends that there’s been a couple

170

00:11:11,040 –> 00:11:14,200

of trips that I had in mind, bigger trips for next year.

171

00:11:14,200 –> 00:11:17,620

And I’m like, hey, I’m looking, this is what I see.

172

00:11:17,620 –> 00:11:20,040

Can you look at this and price this for me?

173

00:11:20,040 –> 00:11:25,240

And they’ve actually come in way under what I had, even with all the resources, you know,

174

00:11:25,240 –> 00:11:26,880

that I know how to use.

175

00:11:26,880 –> 00:11:27,880

So that’s a big one.

176

00:11:27,880 –> 00:11:29,840

Like don’t sleep on travel agent help.

177

00:11:29,840 –> 00:11:35,560

And it’s not going to cost you anything other than your time to talk to them.

178

00:11:35,560 –> 00:11:40,280

Also sites like Groupon Getaways, I swear by Groupon Getaways.

179

00:11:40,280 –> 00:11:43,960

I was just going to, I have a story about that, but I’m going to let you finish.

180

00:11:43,960 –> 00:11:45,600

Tell me, tell everybody.

181

00:11:45,600 –> 00:11:50,280

But I also have some input on that because I agree with you.

182

00:11:50,280 –> 00:11:51,280

I do.

183

00:11:51,280 –> 00:11:53,000

I mean, don’t sleep on Groupon Getaways.

184

00:11:53,000 –> 00:11:55,840

I’m telling you now, do your due diligence.

185

00:11:55,840 –> 00:11:58,760

It’s always going to tell you where you’re going to stay.

186

00:11:58,760 –> 00:12:00,680

It’s going to tell you the hotels you’re going to use.

187

00:12:00,680 –> 00:12:03,000

It’s going to tell you the tour operators.

188

00:12:03,000 –> 00:12:04,000

Look those things up.

189

00:12:04,000 –> 00:12:05,000

Use TripAdvisor.

190

00:12:05,000 –> 00:12:10,680

Look at the ratings, read the reviews, make sure it’s going to be on the up and up.

191

00:12:10,680 –> 00:12:17,000

But you can get some really good deals using Groupon Getaways.

192

00:12:17,000 –> 00:12:20,720

And then the third thing I would say is people don’t care.

193

00:12:20,720 –> 00:12:25,480

You kind of might get fixated on, I want to go to this place at this time.

194

00:12:25,480 –> 00:12:31,360

But if you have some flexibility and you let the destination be your guide and you chase

195

00:12:31,360 –> 00:12:35,040

the deal, then you can do some really epic stuff.

196

00:12:35,040 –> 00:12:41,200

So if you’re looking at some of these sites, like Travel Pirates or Mimando or whatever

197

00:12:41,200 –> 00:12:46,760

it is, and you see some of these deals, it’s going to give you inspiration, ideas for places

198

00:12:46,760 –> 00:12:49,240

maybe you hadn’t thought about.

199

00:12:49,240 –> 00:12:55,120

And if the price is right, then you can go for it and put it in action and make it happen.

200

00:12:55,120 –> 00:13:02,880

And maybe the place you had in mind in particular, maybe you put that off for another time or

201

00:13:02,880 –> 00:13:04,360

a different time of year.

202

00:13:04,360 –> 00:13:08,640

But let him a destination guide you can save you a lot of money.

203

00:13:08,640 –> 00:13:10,840

Yeah, those are really great tips.

204

00:13:10,840 –> 00:13:17,560

And I thank you for reminding me about the travel agent because several years ago, everything’s

205

00:13:17,560 –> 00:13:18,560

a blurb.

206

00:13:18,560 –> 00:13:19,560

I say several years for everything.

207

00:13:19,560 –> 00:13:22,000

It’s like 20 years ago.

208

00:13:22,000 –> 00:13:29,200

My daughter’s fifth birthday, we did a Disney cruise and we went with another family and

209

00:13:29,200 –> 00:13:32,120

they were like, oh, well, we’ll just use the travel agent.

210

00:13:32,120 –> 00:13:37,500

And I was thinking, oh, geez, like I didn’t factor this into the cost of like my budget.

211

00:13:37,500 –> 00:13:39,700

And they were like, no, this is how it works.

212

00:13:39,700 –> 00:13:45,160

And I was so amazed that I mean, she planned everything out for us.

213

00:13:45,160 –> 00:13:47,400

It was wonderful.

214

00:13:47,400 –> 00:13:52,200

And like you said, there’s no fee because they make the commission from the cruise line

215

00:13:52,200 –> 00:13:54,480

or wherever they’re whoever they’re working with.

216

00:13:54,480 –> 00:14:00,200

So how do you find so this is and I do want to say something about the group on getaways,

217

00:14:00,200 –> 00:14:02,200

but I’m still on the travel agents.

218

00:14:02,200 –> 00:14:07,800

How would someone like is there like a directory of travel agents or can you just Google it

219

00:14:07,800 –> 00:14:09,760

and you’re like travel agents near me?

220

00:14:09,760 –> 00:14:14,080

Like how would you recommend going about finding someone?

221

00:14:14,080 –> 00:14:15,080

That’s a good question.

222

00:14:15,080 –> 00:14:21,320

And I’m going to be honest, the best way is referral rise the old fashioned way.

223

00:14:21,320 –> 00:14:23,920

Go on your Facebook and add us recommendations.

224

00:14:23,920 –> 00:14:27,680

Hey, anybody have a travel agent that they love that they use?

225

00:14:27,680 –> 00:14:33,560

Now, of course, yes, you can Google the old fashioned way, but you know, you’re not really

226

00:14:33,560 –> 00:14:34,560

guaranteed.

227

00:14:34,560 –> 00:14:41,440

I don’t have a directory of travel agents in my repertoire, but that’s a good question.

228

00:14:41,440 –> 00:14:46,160

I mean, one of us you’re probably looking to I just happen to personally know quite

229

00:14:46,160 –> 00:14:50,000

a few because of the industry that I’m in.

230

00:14:50,000 –> 00:14:54,800

But I would always start first with that asking friends and family.

231

00:14:54,800 –> 00:15:01,000

Your doctor, your dentist, you know, the recommendations, those people take vacation all the time.

232

00:15:01,000 –> 00:15:05,560

You know, you try making an appointment and they’re like, we’re going to be out the office

233

00:15:05,560 –> 00:15:06,560

week for this week.

234

00:15:06,560 –> 00:15:07,560

And so I don’t know.

235

00:15:07,560 –> 00:15:08,560

And I’m like, where are you going?

236

00:15:08,560 –> 00:15:09,560

We’re going to Alaska.

237

00:15:09,560 –> 00:15:10,560

Well, who planned that for you?

238

00:15:10,560 –> 00:15:18,080

Yes, you know, in their business and they’re happy to share.

239

00:15:18,080 –> 00:15:22,680

Well, and that’s interesting that you say that because I am headed to a trip that was

240

00:15:22,680 –> 00:15:24,240

canceled in 2020.

241

00:15:24,240 –> 00:15:26,440

I’m headed to Ireland this month.

242

00:15:26,440 –> 00:15:29,800

It’s kind of like a pilgrimage.

243

00:15:29,800 –> 00:15:33,440

My grandmother has family.

244

00:15:33,440 –> 00:15:34,440

She has passed.

245

00:15:34,440 –> 00:15:39,140

She passed away, but she always wanted to go back and kind of see the town that her

246

00:15:39,140 –> 00:15:42,600

mom had grown up in and had talked a lot about it.

247

00:15:42,600 –> 00:15:49,840

So my mom, my sister and my cousin and I are going and this was supposed to happen in June

248

00:15:49,840 –> 00:15:50,840

of 2020.

249

00:15:50,840 –> 00:15:53,200

And it’s happening of June 2022.

250

00:15:53,200 –> 00:15:58,840

So it’s, I guess, I don’t want to say even more special, I guess, because it’s been postponed

251

00:15:58,840 –> 00:16:00,840

for so long.

252

00:16:00,840 –> 00:16:06,800

But I will say, because we’re renting a car and we’re going to be driving there and I

253

00:16:06,800 –> 00:16:08,400

am the driver.

254

00:16:08,400 –> 00:16:14,160

So I am asked on my Facebook page, like, what are your tips?

255

00:16:14,160 –> 00:16:16,000

Who has driven in Ireland?

256

00:16:16,000 –> 00:16:19,600

And share your links and any advice you have for me.

257

00:16:19,600 –> 00:16:28,120

And I was in shock at how much insight people gave to me and links to blog posts and people

258

00:16:28,120 –> 00:16:31,800

really were able to share their real live experiences.

259

00:16:31,800 –> 00:16:37,860

So that was really a great way for me to get some of that insight before my trip.

260

00:16:37,860 –> 00:16:41,820

So I would say, yes, ask people, do you have a travel agent you love?

261

00:16:41,820 –> 00:16:47,840

But also if there’s other elements of your trip, that’s really a great way to get…

262

00:16:47,840 –> 00:16:52,440

People love to share, people who travel and have had a great trip or a bad trip.

263

00:16:52,440 –> 00:16:55,080

Actually, people like to probably share more about that.

264

00:16:55,080 –> 00:17:00,940

But they really want to, you know, people were like, you know, don’t upgrade your car

265

00:17:00,940 –> 00:17:06,000

to the bigger size because the roads are narrow and the parking spots are small, you know,

266

00:17:06,000 –> 00:17:10,480

and I was like, oh my gosh, I was thinking we need to fit our luggage and I need to upgrade

267

00:17:10,480 –> 00:17:11,480

the car.

268

00:17:11,480 –> 00:17:16,280

So there were like even little things that I was really grateful from people.

269

00:17:16,280 –> 00:17:19,640

So yes, post your questions on your Facebook for sure.

270

00:17:19,640 –> 00:17:27,360

And then I was going to say on the Groupon getaways, I did for one of my daughter’s birthdays,

271

00:17:27,360 –> 00:17:34,600

my older daughter, just the two of us, we went to Paris and London on a Groupon getaway

272

00:17:34,600 –> 00:17:39,520

and people died like, oh my gosh, weren’t you afraid to book that through Groupon?

273

00:17:39,520 –> 00:17:41,680

Like that seems so crazy.

274

00:17:41,680 –> 00:17:43,680

But I did exactly what you said.

275

00:17:43,680 –> 00:17:48,640

Before I booked it, I went and looked at, okay, who are the tour operators?

276

00:17:48,640 –> 00:17:49,640

What are the hotels?

277

00:17:49,640 –> 00:17:50,800

Like, what’s here?

278

00:17:50,800 –> 00:17:54,240

And I actually took it a step further and made phone calls.

279

00:17:54,240 –> 00:17:57,200

Yeah, some of those places.

280

00:17:57,200 –> 00:18:04,200

And they actually said, we can’t offer what like the package price that you’re receiving

281

00:18:04,200 –> 00:18:08,760

through Groupon because I would say like, you know, should I book direct through you?

282

00:18:08,760 –> 00:18:11,480

And they everybody said, no, you should do the package.

283

00:18:11,480 –> 00:18:16,360

So we ended up doing the package and I’m telling you, it was, we had no problems.

284

00:18:16,360 –> 00:18:19,240

I’m not to say that there might, you might run into problems.

285

00:18:19,240 –> 00:18:26,040

I feel like with travel, you know, that’s kind of a, yeah, it’s a, it’s bound to happen

286

00:18:26,040 –> 00:18:29,280

at some point, but no, I totally agree.

287

00:18:29,280 –> 00:18:32,440

And some of the trips have levels.

288

00:18:32,440 –> 00:18:37,480

And so you might have the cheapest level and then you might have one that’s like a step

289

00:18:37,480 –> 00:18:38,480

up.

290

00:18:38,480 –> 00:18:43,040

You’re in three star hotels, you’re in four star hotels and people don’t realize that,

291

00:18:43,040 –> 00:18:44,760

but it’s very down there.

292

00:18:44,760 –> 00:18:50,400

A lot of times you have to read the whole itinerary and all that fine print, but sometimes

293

00:18:50,400 –> 00:18:53,280

you do have an option to upgrade your trip.

294

00:18:53,280 –> 00:18:54,880

Yeah, very cool.

295

00:18:54,880 –> 00:18:55,880

Okay.

296

00:18:55,880 –> 00:18:59,800

So next question, what are some of the best ways that long distance travelers can save

297

00:18:59,800 –> 00:19:02,080

money on airfare right now?

298

00:19:02,080 –> 00:19:06,320

Because I’m telling you, I used to be able to travel to Pittsburgh to see my parents

299

00:19:06,320 –> 00:19:12,120

for like $150 around a trip and I just looked and they’re almost $400.

300

00:19:12,120 –> 00:19:15,440

So please tell me what to do.

301

00:19:15,440 –> 00:19:18,480

This airfare right now honestly is disrespectful.

302

00:19:18,480 –> 00:19:21,240

Yes, it is.

303

00:19:21,240 –> 00:19:27,160

I can’t even, and I mean, there’s not as many flight options either, which I know there’s,

304

00:19:27,160 –> 00:19:29,840

you know, whatever it might be labor issues and things like that.

305

00:19:29,840 –> 00:19:33,240

But I don’t, I feel like there’s not as many flights too, but all right.

306

00:19:33,240 –> 00:19:34,240

So back to the cost.

307

00:19:34,240 –> 00:19:35,240

How do we save?

308

00:19:35,240 –> 00:19:41,340

Well, I mean, so utilize things like Google flights.

309

00:19:41,340 –> 00:19:46,840

You can set flight alerts, Google flights for people that may have not used it before

310

00:19:46,840 –> 00:19:53,000

when you go on there and you can select your, where you’re traveling from and your destination

311

00:19:53,000 –> 00:19:58,880

and you can select an option that’ll show you a range on the calendar and you can see

312

00:19:58,880 –> 00:20:01,360

the fluctuation in prices.

313

00:20:01,360 –> 00:20:06,200

But if you have some flexibility, you could save a couple hundred dollars if it meant

314

00:20:06,200 –> 00:20:11,280

you flying out, you know, just a couple of days earlier or later and vice versa.

315

00:20:11,280 –> 00:20:15,320

So that will help you kind of see a map of what the prices are looking like.

316

00:20:15,320 –> 00:20:22,440

Now a caveat with Google flights, it won’t show you Southwest and I want to say is it

317

00:20:22,440 –> 00:20:24,580

jet blue.

318

00:20:24,580 –> 00:20:30,920

It won’t show you every single airline, but it shows you a good number of them and you

319

00:20:30,920 –> 00:20:34,240

can take that same information and then just go to those.

320

00:20:34,240 –> 00:20:39,440

If you like to fly Southwest, just go on Southwest website and plug it in and see the same thing.

321

00:20:39,440 –> 00:20:44,800

And Southwest actually does have a map feature, not quite that they’ll show you within a week

322

00:20:44,800 –> 00:20:46,080

on the calendar.

323

00:20:46,080 –> 00:20:52,120

It doesn’t show you as big of a range, but it will kind of show you some fluctuation

324

00:20:52,120 –> 00:20:53,680

with your days and the prices.

325

00:20:53,680 –> 00:21:00,040

So that’s one way to kind of see what’s being offered in the industry and if you can finagle

326

00:21:00,040 –> 00:21:06,760

it you can also do this on sites like Hopper, Momondo, and you can set flight alerts and

327

00:21:06,760 –> 00:21:12,600

if a flight fluctuates or drops, it’ll notify you and say like I had my eyes on a flight

328

00:21:12,600 –> 00:21:16,200

to Paris and I had a notification that that flight had gone to $400.

329

00:21:16,200 –> 00:21:21,360

And so I went to look and see like, did that, you know, fit with my dates.

330

00:21:21,360 –> 00:21:27,040

But honestly, the people who are winning right now with saving money on flights are people

331

00:21:27,040 –> 00:21:32,440

who take advantage of those credit card points and those loyalty programs.

332

00:21:32,440 –> 00:21:39,840

If you have airline loyalty and credit card points, that’s the best way.

333

00:21:39,840 –> 00:21:46,240

Like if you don’t have one of those credit cards that rack up those points for you, now

334

00:21:46,240 –> 00:21:49,240

is a really good time to do that.

335

00:21:49,240 –> 00:21:54,000

If you can, you got to buy gas anyway, so you might as well make it work for you and

336

00:21:54,000 –> 00:21:59,280

you know, use one of those cards for those type of everyday expenses, treat it like a

337

00:21:59,280 –> 00:22:01,680

bill, you know, pay it every month.

338

00:22:01,680 –> 00:22:02,680

Right.

339

00:22:02,680 –> 00:22:03,680

But you will make sure you pay.

340

00:22:03,680 –> 00:22:05,680

Make sure you pay it every month.

341

00:22:05,680 –> 00:22:10,360

You know, if you treat it like it’s a bill, it’s something you have to do anyway.

342

00:22:10,360 –> 00:22:15,640

But you will see those points start to really accumulate quite quickly.

343

00:22:15,640 –> 00:22:16,640

Awesome.

344

00:22:16,640 –> 00:22:20,160

Yeah, I have the Southwest card.

345

00:22:20,160 –> 00:22:26,920

So I wanted to look because I keep seeing, you know, the different cards everywhere,

346

00:22:26,920 –> 00:22:27,920

the travel rewards.

347

00:22:27,920 –> 00:22:33,620

And I’ve enjoyed Southwest in the past, but now with flights, I’m thinking, am I pigeonholing

348

00:22:33,620 –> 00:22:35,560

myself to just one airline?

349

00:22:35,560 –> 00:22:41,680

So it’s on my to do list to kind of look at some of the cards that allow you to have a

350

00:22:41,680 –> 00:22:44,320

little more flexibility.

351

00:22:44,320 –> 00:22:46,760

So yeah, I totally agree.

352

00:22:46,760 –> 00:22:52,800

And I’ve been able to, we just got back from Palm Desert, California.

353

00:22:52,800 –> 00:22:57,320

I needed to be there for a healthy family project event.

354

00:22:57,320 –> 00:23:03,520

And my girls were able to come and we were able to use points for their flight.

355

00:23:03,520 –> 00:23:09,000

So you know, I feel like that’s a small airport and could have been a really pricey flight.

356

00:23:09,000 –> 00:23:13,360

But we were able to use the points that I actually we depleted all my points.

357

00:23:13,360 –> 00:23:14,720

Let’s just put that out there.

358

00:23:14,720 –> 00:23:17,480

But anyway, it was a great time.

359

00:23:17,480 –> 00:23:25,400

That’s going to happen to you can also have more than if you can swing it responsibly.

360

00:23:25,400 –> 00:23:30,360

You know, having loyalty with one airline, you can definitely look at one of the other

361

00:23:30,360 –> 00:23:36,480

types of card, you know, like Chase has a good variety of really good travel cards.

362

00:23:36,480 –> 00:23:37,480

So does Amex.

363

00:23:37,480 –> 00:23:40,760

I don’t have the Amex, but I know a lot of people swear by that one.

364

00:23:40,760 –> 00:23:46,400

And another good thing about those other cards alive and we’ll get you into a lot of these

365

00:23:46,400 –> 00:23:51,840

airport lounges and just with the state of travel right now, it is so chaotic.

366

00:23:51,840 –> 00:23:57,840

I’ve never experienced this many canceled and delayed flights like ever.

367

00:23:57,840 –> 00:24:00,680

Like this year has just been one for the books.

368

00:24:00,680 –> 00:24:06,200

So having little perks like that through your credit card really comes in handy if you end

369

00:24:06,200 –> 00:24:09,920

up, you know, stuck somewhere and needing somewhere to spend some time.

370

00:24:09,920 –> 00:24:11,520

So it’s something else to consider.

371

00:24:11,520 –> 00:24:18,360

Yeah, I actually was looking into one of the cards that allows you to go into those clubs,

372

00:24:18,360 –> 00:24:22,640

which, you know, really aren’t that I think sometimes people look at that like, oh my

373

00:24:22,640 –> 00:24:26,680

gosh, like that’s the annual fee is tends to be higher.

374

00:24:26,680 –> 00:24:32,120

But I’m telling you, when you look at how much you end up spending on food at the airport,

375

00:24:32,120 –> 00:24:36,880

if you’re like you said, if you’re delayed, your food, your drinks, if you have your family

376

00:24:36,880 –> 00:24:44,720

with you and you’re buying multi your coffee, everything it adds up if you keep track of

377

00:24:44,720 –> 00:24:50,720

it and then you look at that and when you go into the clubs, everything is there for

378

00:24:50,720 –> 00:24:51,720

you.

379

00:24:51,720 –> 00:24:55,700

I mean, it’s free food and I’m not saying just snacks either.

380

00:24:55,700 –> 00:25:04,400

It’s like a buffet of really hummus and, you know, big ziti and like you can eat, you know,

381

00:25:04,400 –> 00:25:08,200

and get to the airport early like, hey, I’m going to go have my lunch before I get on

382

00:25:08,200 –> 00:25:09,200

this flight.

383

00:25:09,200 –> 00:25:13,880

But in your drinks and you can even grab they usually have like coolers or whatever and

384

00:25:13,880 –> 00:25:19,720

you can grab your snacks or a water, you know, something to go to take on the plane with

385

00:25:19,720 –> 00:25:20,720

you.

386

00:25:20,720 –> 00:25:25,280

So yeah, that’s definitely on my list to look at because I feel like we do spend a lot of

387

00:25:25,280 –> 00:25:27,080

money in the airport.

388

00:25:27,080 –> 00:25:29,040

So yeah.

389

00:25:29,040 –> 00:25:30,040

Anyway.

390

00:25:30,040 –> 00:25:31,600

All right.

391

00:25:31,600 –> 00:25:34,960

So what is your top here’s another question.

392

00:25:34,960 –> 00:25:35,960

Make it hard for you.

393

00:25:35,960 –> 00:25:38,140

What is your top travel tip or tips?

394

00:25:38,140 –> 00:25:43,800

So there could be multiple when you are sharing travel insight with people.

395

00:25:43,800 –> 00:25:49,720

So right now I will beat this horse forever.

396

00:25:49,720 –> 00:25:56,720

Travel insurance, travel insurance, travel insurance and not just for international travel

397

00:25:56,720 –> 00:26:04,400

anymore because of the state they were in, you know, with all the different COVID protocols,

398

00:26:04,400 –> 00:26:06,520

things are still in flux.

399

00:26:06,520 –> 00:26:08,400

Things are still changing.

400

00:26:08,400 –> 00:26:14,960

And so you want to have that peace of mind that you have travel insurance, that you have,

401

00:26:14,960 –> 00:26:18,640

you know, something that’s going to give you what you need in the event.

402

00:26:18,640 –> 00:26:21,440

Something should happen and you need to stay somewhere longer.

403

00:26:21,440 –> 00:26:27,280

Or if you or your family get ill and you can get, you know, there are travel insurance

404

00:26:27,280 –> 00:26:30,040

programs that have kind of an annual thing.

405

00:26:30,040 –> 00:26:33,040

We can use it for all of your travel throughout the year.

406

00:26:33,040 –> 00:26:36,440

You can buy it on an ad hoc basis per trip.

407

00:26:36,440 –> 00:26:38,520

You can get it directly through the agency.

408

00:26:38,520 –> 00:26:42,800

You do get some travel insurance benefits through some of your credit cards.

409

00:26:42,800 –> 00:26:44,520

You have to read that fine print.

410

00:26:44,520 –> 00:26:50,840

But with, you know, flights being canceled and delayed and the companies are not comping

411

00:26:50,840 –> 00:26:52,120

like they used to.

412

00:26:52,120 –> 00:26:55,880

They’re not compensating you like they used to.

413

00:26:55,880 –> 00:27:01,200

So there are, you know, travel insurance programs even worth it domestically where you will

414

00:27:01,200 –> 00:27:03,600

be compensated if your flight is delayed.

415

00:27:03,600 –> 00:27:09,200

You will be compensated if your bags are leaked or worse lost, things like that.

416

00:27:09,200 –> 00:27:13,000

So travel insurance is worth every penny of it.

417

00:27:13,000 –> 00:27:17,400

It is really not that expensive in the grand scheme of things.

418

00:27:17,400 –> 00:27:25,560

I mean, as somebody who has had their luggage significantly delayed, I was so glad to have

419

00:27:25,560 –> 00:27:32,000

a policy with that benefit where all I had to do was use my app, put in the claim, and

420

00:27:32,000 –> 00:27:39,040

immediately I had money, you know, available to me so I could go buy stuff that I needed

421

00:27:39,040 –> 00:27:41,400

and until I could get to my luggage.

422

00:27:41,400 –> 00:27:43,000

So that’s a nice thing.

423

00:27:43,000 –> 00:27:45,120

I’ve had, you know, flights delayed.

424

00:27:45,120 –> 00:27:52,840

And before I was even on my next flight, I had money already deposited to my account

425

00:27:52,840 –> 00:27:54,800

because my flight had been delayed.

426

00:27:54,800 –> 00:27:57,920

So it’s definitely worth the money.

427

00:27:57,920 –> 00:28:02,120

But more importantly for your health, you know, right now with the way things are, there’s

428

00:28:02,120 –> 00:28:09,960

still, if you go out of the country and you get ill and you catch COVID, you can’t come

429

00:28:09,960 –> 00:28:10,960

back home immediately.

430

00:28:10,960 –> 00:28:15,680

At least right now, that’s what our laws are for now.

431

00:28:15,680 –> 00:28:21,200

So you want a policy that’s going to cover you to extend your stay where you’ll have

432

00:28:21,200 –> 00:28:26,120

some more to stay, you know, and be safe and, you know, know what that looks like.

433

00:28:26,120 –> 00:28:30,440

Know if you’ll be reimbursed or if they’re going to pay upfront.

434

00:28:30,440 –> 00:28:35,640

But travel insurance, don’t sleep on it is one I think that people used to really take

435

00:28:35,640 –> 00:28:36,640

for granted.

436

00:28:36,640 –> 00:28:42,860

I mean, now it’s worth it because as we’ve learned, things can change so quickly.

437

00:28:42,860 –> 00:28:46,000

You don’t want to be in a position where you lose your money.

438

00:28:46,000 –> 00:28:50,600

You know, people are planning trips for 2023 and 2024.

439

00:28:50,600 –> 00:28:53,760

We honestly don’t know what’s around the corner.

440

00:28:53,760 –> 00:28:57,600

It’s just the reality that we’ve learned over the last couple of years.

441

00:28:57,600 –> 00:29:02,280

So and thankfully, like I had a lot of travel planned in 2020.

442

00:29:02,280 –> 00:29:03,280

Okay.

443

00:29:03,280 –> 00:29:09,760

And I was fortunate that most for all of my trips that got canceled, my travel insurance

444

00:29:09,760 –> 00:29:12,320

covered that when the airlines did not.

445

00:29:12,320 –> 00:29:17,760

I had a couple where the airlines were like, sorry.

446

00:29:17,760 –> 00:29:22,260

But my travel insurance reimbursed me and I didn’t lose out money.

447

00:29:22,260 –> 00:29:24,720

So that’s a big one.

448

00:29:24,720 –> 00:29:30,160

And then when we were just talking about the loyalty programs, when it comes to your travel

449

00:29:30,160 –> 00:29:32,840

tips, don’t sleep on those.

450

00:29:32,840 –> 00:29:35,080

One one that people laugh at me all the time.

451

00:29:35,080 –> 00:29:37,360

I swear by the hotels.com.

452

00:29:37,360 –> 00:29:39,040

You know why?

453

00:29:39,040 –> 00:29:45,280

Because those little onesie twosie staycations here and there go to Orlando real quick to

454

00:29:45,280 –> 00:29:48,960

go to theme park or the bigger trips.

455

00:29:48,960 –> 00:29:52,360

Once you do 10 nights, you get a free night.

456

00:29:52,360 –> 00:29:56,960

Oh, and it’s an average of the cost of your rooms.

457

00:29:56,960 –> 00:30:05,840

So right now I’ve got a credit of up to like $376 worth of hotel stay that I can use.

458

00:30:05,840 –> 00:30:07,280

That’s awesome.

459

00:30:07,280 –> 00:30:12,720

So you do 10 nights and then you get your next night for free.

460

00:30:12,720 –> 00:30:17,060

And so yes, sometimes there’s a benefit to booking directly through a hotel.

461

00:30:17,060 –> 00:30:22,480

But when I’m trying to wreck up those rooms, it usually isn’t enough to make me not use

462

00:30:22,480 –> 00:30:24,160

my hotels.com.

463

00:30:24,160 –> 00:30:31,640

And I can still use my loyalty number for like, you know, Marriott Bombay or whatever

464

00:30:31,640 –> 00:30:32,920

it is that you have.

465

00:30:32,920 –> 00:30:35,280

You can still use that once you check in.

466

00:30:35,280 –> 00:30:36,960

You can give them that information.

467

00:30:36,960 –> 00:30:41,680

You might not get all the perks, but you’ll still get credit for the stay.

468

00:30:41,680 –> 00:30:48,680

I mean, you usually do get whatever the perks are that comes with your that loyalty hotel

469

00:30:48,680 –> 00:30:49,680

loyalty program.

470

00:30:49,680 –> 00:30:54,960

So yeah, hotels.com that’s bae for me because I wreck up those two nights.

471

00:30:54,960 –> 00:30:58,160

It comes faster than you think, especially if you travel a lot.

472

00:30:58,160 –> 00:31:04,760

Yeah, I’m going to take that tip for sure, because I didn’t realize that you could still

473

00:31:04,760 –> 00:31:11,000

use your loyalty points at the hotel because I’m a Marriott person.

474

00:31:11,000 –> 00:31:13,280

If I give it’s in the area.

475

00:31:13,280 –> 00:31:18,760

And so because I like to be loyal so that I can rack up those Bonvoy points and, you

476

00:31:18,760 –> 00:31:22,120

know, be able to do something at the end of the day.

477

00:31:22,120 –> 00:31:25,980

But it’s interesting to know that you can book direct through the hotels.com and still

478

00:31:25,980 –> 00:31:26,980

use your points.

479

00:31:26,980 –> 00:31:29,000

I’m going to do it.

480

00:31:29,000 –> 00:31:30,880

Good stuff.

481

00:31:30,880 –> 00:31:31,880

All right.

482

00:31:31,880 –> 00:31:35,840

Well, I think we have a lot of things to link up to in our show notes.

483

00:31:35,840 –> 00:31:37,440

This has been wonderful.

484

00:31:37,440 –> 00:31:42,000

I’m like, I’m, you know, was feeling like my allergies were bothering me today.

485

00:31:42,000 –> 00:31:47,680

And now after this conversation, I’m like, all right, I got to get my travel organization

486

00:31:47,680 –> 00:31:52,760

and game back on because these are good money saving tips.

487

00:31:52,760 –> 00:31:57,200

I think I’ve just been in the doldrums looking at flight costs and things like that.

488

00:31:57,200 –> 00:31:59,680

And just like, when is this going to end?

489

00:31:59,680 –> 00:32:02,160

And so, but I think we can get around it.

490

00:32:02,160 –> 00:32:06,080

I think you gave us some good stuff here.

491

00:32:06,080 –> 00:32:12,520

So I’ve been asking all of our guests on the podcast, our new guests that join us, and

492

00:32:12,520 –> 00:32:16,360

there’s really no right or wrong answer, you know, that you’re like, geez, lady, you listen,

493

00:32:16,360 –> 00:32:21,520

you ask all the most loaded questions, but it’s just fun to hear what everyone thinks.

494

00:32:21,520 –> 00:32:26,040

What do you think being a healthy family means?

495

00:32:26,040 –> 00:32:32,680

I think honestly, what I’ve learned in these last couple of years, especially a healthy

496

00:32:32,680 –> 00:32:34,480

family is balanced.

497

00:32:34,480 –> 00:32:45,200

It is one where, you know, we play hard and we have fun, like intentional planned fun.

498

00:32:45,200 –> 00:32:53,360

Those game nights and movie nights are so important for us to have with our family and

499

00:32:53,360 –> 00:32:58,720

our kids, even extended family, you know, including grandparents and grandparents, because

500

00:32:58,720 –> 00:33:02,440

it just gives you that time to connect.

501

00:33:02,440 –> 00:33:04,760

It kind of gets our kids to relax.

502

00:33:04,760 –> 00:33:09,740

They don’t have to think, you know, let their guard down and really just have fun.

503

00:33:09,740 –> 00:33:13,880

So that balance, they need that mentally.

504

00:33:13,880 –> 00:33:19,080

We need the mental and the spiritual balance with everything that is just happening in

505

00:33:19,080 –> 00:33:21,440

our world right now.

506

00:33:21,440 –> 00:33:26,280

And honestly, we just, we don’t know how much time we have.

507

00:33:26,280 –> 00:33:33,760

And so it has made me take those little small moments just as serious as I take playing

508

00:33:33,760 –> 00:33:38,520

the big extravagant trip where I want it to be super memorable.

509

00:33:38,520 –> 00:33:42,920

I’m the same way about us having our family game night.

510

00:33:42,920 –> 00:33:48,960

You know, my son and I, even though he’s a big kid now, I say kid, he’s 22, he’s a college

511

00:33:48,960 –> 00:33:52,920

student and my mom is local in the area.

512

00:33:52,920 –> 00:33:59,720

So we make it a point to have those moments together just as a family and have that balance.

513

00:33:59,720 –> 00:34:06,040

It shouldn’t always be, you know, just the schoolwork and the chores and us cleaning

514

00:34:06,040 –> 00:34:09,740

their rooms and, you know, all those kinds of things.

515

00:34:09,740 –> 00:34:17,480

We kind of have to remember to intentionally plug in the fun, like, you know, make intentional

516

00:34:17,480 –> 00:34:23,280

time for everybody to just kind of decompress and just have fun and enjoy each other.

517

00:34:23,280 –> 00:34:28,640

I think we get away from that because of life and we have to remember to have some balance.

518

00:34:28,640 –> 00:34:29,640

I agree.

519

00:34:29,640 –> 00:34:31,400

I love all of that.

520

00:34:31,400 –> 00:34:34,800

Another good reminder, I just need to talk to you once a week.

521

00:34:34,800 –> 00:34:42,300

We have to plan a call and we’ll definitely have you back on the podcast for sure if you

522

00:34:42,300 –> 00:34:50,240

like because I think that, you know, everybody needs to travel a little bit and see things

523

00:34:50,240 –> 00:34:55,320

and understand different, you know, like you said, get out of your comfort zone, see things

524

00:34:55,320 –> 00:35:02,000

that inspire you, meet people that are different from you or, you know, cultures or go out

525

00:35:02,000 –> 00:35:08,240

and to the see those that sea life in the ocean, actual ocean, do all the things.

526

00:35:08,240 –> 00:35:10,880

So definitely would love to have you again.

527

00:35:10,880 –> 00:35:13,000

Thanks so much for joining us.

528

00:35:13,000 –> 00:35:15,960

We’ll add all of the links to the show notes.

529

00:35:15,960 –> 00:35:19,240

And then before we close out, because this is important, can you tell listeners where

530

00:35:19,240 –> 00:35:22,040

they can find and connect with you?

531

00:35:22,040 –> 00:35:23,040

Sure.

532

00:35:23,040 –> 00:35:35,000

Outdoorsydiva.com is the website and then I’m heavy on Instagram and TikTok at Outdoorsydiva.

533

00:35:35,000 –> 00:35:37,160

You can see me there.

534

00:35:37,160 –> 00:35:43,740

I give tips on travel and getting outside and adventure and all that fun stuff.

535

00:35:43,740 –> 00:35:45,880

Thank you so much for having me.

536

00:35:45,880 –> 00:35:46,880

It’s been a pleasure.

537

00:35:46,880 –> 00:35:50,800

I love getting to talk and share what I know.

538

00:35:50,800 –> 00:35:52,760

I don’t want to keep it to myself.

539

00:35:52,760 –> 00:35:55,960

I feel like it’s really an obligation.

540

00:35:55,960 –> 00:35:57,600

Like it’s my purpose.

541

00:35:57,600 –> 00:36:01,840

I want to inspire people to really just move.

542

00:36:01,840 –> 00:36:05,000

Like it’s an action word and that’s what I want all of us to do.

543

00:36:05,000 –> 00:36:06,600

So I’m happy to help.

544

00:36:06,600 –> 00:36:07,600

Awesome.

545

00:36:07,600 –> 00:36:10,280

Well, thank you so much for joining us today.

546

00:36:10,280 –> 00:36:12,000

Thank you.

547

00:36:12,000 –> 00:36:16,120

If you like the Healthy Family Project podcast, which I hope you do, please tell a friend

548

00:36:16,120 –> 00:36:17,120

and leave us a rating.

549

00:36:17,120 –> 00:36:22,080

It will only help our visibility so we can continue to create a healthier generation.

550

00:36:22,080 –> 00:36:27,000

If you want to connect with me direct, please join the Healthy Family Project Facebook group.

551

00:36:27,000 –> 00:36:30,560

I am in that group and it’s a wonderful group to be a part of.

552

00:36:30,560 –> 00:36:36,640

So many active family, parents, everyone in there sharing all kinds of goodness.

553

00:36:36,640 –> 00:36:38,540

So please join that Facebook group.

554

00:36:38,540 –> 00:36:42,000

You can connect with me there and you can also connect with me on Instagram.

555

00:36:42,000 –> 00:36:47,360

I’m Amanda M. Kiefer and you can find Healthy Family Project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,

556

00:36:47,360 –> 00:36:49,400

Pinterest, TikTok and YouTube.

557

00:36:49,400 –> 00:36:50,400

Be sure to subscribe.

558

00:36:50,400 –> 00:36:51,400

Talk soon.

559

00:36:51,400 –> 00:36:52,400

Bye.

560

00:36:52,400 –> 00:37:21,400

Bye.