The Vacation Nerd with Patrick Wiscombe

A single power failure can turn a smooth itinerary into a mess of cancellations, hotel nights you did not plan for, and bags that do not show up when you do. We dig into the London Heathrow fire disruption and use it as a real-world guide to what travel insurance can cover when the airline is not responsible, including extra lodging, food allowance, and essentials if your luggage gets delayed. Then we jump back to cruise news with a headline that feels almost unbelievable: the historic SS United States is being stripped and prepared to become an artificial reef off the Florida Panhandle, with local leaders offering millions to bring the site closer to their tourism hotspot. We also look north to Alaska, where Sitka residents are voting on a cruise passenger cap, and we talk through why the proposed daily and annual limits matter for crowding, shore excursions, and the long-term shape of Alaska cruising. On the practical planning side, we share cruise deals out of New Orleans, including a Carnival Valor sailing to Cozumel and Progreso and a Norwegian Escape Western Caribbean route with Harvest Caye, Roatan, and Costa Maya. Finally, we break down airport security options that can save real time: Clear Reserve time-slot bookings, TSA PreCheck for faster screening, Global Entry for easier US re-entry, and how Clear fits into the mix. If you want smarter travel with fewer surprises, subscribe, share this with a friend who is planning a trip, and leave a review with your go-to strategy for avoiding travel chaos. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

Four back-to-back cruises sounds like a brag until you realize it’s also a master class in trip planning, pacing, and knowing what you want out of travel. We’re checking in from two places at once: Patrick is in Fort Lauderdale gearing up for an epic cruise run, while Mark holds down the studio and helps keep the details straight, including a couple of inaugural sailings that cruise fans will be watching closely. From there, we jump into travel news you can actually use. Delta’s expanding Hawaii flights from Salt Lake City, adding a seasonal nonstop to Kona on the Big Island alongside existing Honolulu and seasonal Maui service. If you care about fewer connections, better schedules, and easier island vacations, this is the kind of update that changes what’s realistic for your next trip. We also talk about two trends that make planning more fun: scenic rail and set jetting. Rocky Mountaineer’s U.S. route is becoming Canyon Spirit, and the line is expanding to connect Denver, Moab, and Salt Lake City. Then we head to the UK for filming location travel, from Harry Potter highlights like the Jacobite steam train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct to Downton Abbey-style day trips, Oxford literary stops, and even a Paddington-themed tour. To bring it home, we answer a listener question about Puerto Vallarta in the fall and break down all-inclusive Mexico vacation packages designed for a family of five, with the right bedding so nobody ends up sleeping on the floor. If you like practical travel advice, real pricing context, and ideas you can act on fast, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review with the destination you want us to tackle next. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

Alaska cruises look simple on paper, but the trip you remember is built in the ports. We walk through shore excursions that actually deliver value in the big Alaska stops, with specific picks for Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka, and even that quick international call in Victoria, BC. If you’re trying to choose between whale watching and glaciers, train rides and town history, totem poles and floatplanes, we help you sort the “must-do” from the “nice if there’s time” so your days ashore don’t feel rushed or random. Then we get practical. We share Alaska cruise deals and pricing talk for both 2025 and 2026, including why late August can be a sweet spot and why next year’s new Alaska sailings can create surprising bargains if you book early. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start planning an Alaska cruise, the numbers and routes we discuss are a great place to start your comparison. Finally, we shift into travel documentation, because nothing ruins a vacation faster than an airport surprise. We answer a listener question about Real ID, what it is, how to tell if your driver’s license is compliant, and what changes on May 7, 2025. We also run through common passport mistakes like the six-month validity rule, current passport processing times, blank page requirements, and what a travel visa really means when a consulate needs your passport for weeks. Subscribe, share this with a friend planning a trip, and leave a review so more travelers can find the show. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

Airplanes roaring a few feet overhead on Maho Beach is one kind of thrill, but we’re equally obsessed with a different kind of wow: watching the landscape unfold from a train window with nothing to do but relax. From the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, we jump from Caribbean travel stories straight into a rail-first game plan for travelers who want big scenery without the hassle of driving, parking, or navigating every detail on their own. First, we talk with Sam Langer from Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel about one of the most iconic ways to reach the South Rim. We cover what the day looks like from Williams, Arizona, how long the ride takes, what happens on board (music, snacks, higher service levels, and yes, the possibility of an old-time train robbery), plus why riding the train can help reduce traffic inside Grand Canyon National Park. We also dig into package options, class choices, and special Steam Saturday runs featuring a restored steam locomotive nicknamed the French Fry Express. Then we bring in August Bond from Rocky Mountaineer to break down luxury daylight-only rail journeys through the Canadian Rockies and the Rockies to Red Rocks route between Denver and Moab. We get specific about hotel nights off the train, glass-dome rail cars, meals and service, and how you can extend Moab with a Mighty Five national parks add-on that ends in Las Vegas. Mark also shares his personal experience on the Denver to Moab itinerary, and we highlight a listener deal for Utah residents. If you’re comparing Grand Canyon Railway vs Rocky Mountaineer, or simply looking for a smarter way to plan a train vacation, this one will help you decide. Subscribe, share the episode with a fellow train lover, and leave a review with the route you want to take first. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

Mark is getting off MSC World America just as Patrick is getting ready to board, which creates the perfect opportunity to answer a much more useful question than whether MSC’s brand-new ship is beautiful: What should you actually pay for when you book it? Mark shares his firsthand impressions after three days aboard, and we use that experience to break down where the real value is—because the cheapest cruise fare isn’t necessarily the best deal if it takes away the choices that matter to you. MSC makes that decision more interesting with four experience levels: Bella, Fantastica, Aurea and Yacht Club. We explain what a “guarantee cabin” really means, why paying a little more can give you control over where your stateroom is located, and which travelers might actually use perks such as thermal-suite access and more flexible dining. Then we move into MSC Yacht Club, the private “ship within a ship” experience that adds priority embarkation, its own lounge, restaurant, pool area and butler service, along with bundled drinks and Wi-Fi. The question isn’t simply which level costs less—it’s which one gives you the things you would have paid extra for anyway. Then we tackle one of those travel questions that can make you feel either very smart or very irritated: What happens when your airfare drops after you already bought the ticket? There are situations where you may be able to take advantage of the lower fare, but timing and the rules attached to your ticket matter. We explain what travelers should look for, why waiting too long can eliminate your options and why knowing the rules before you click “Purchase” can potentially save real money. Finally, Mark gives us the pre-cruise checklist that can make embarkation day dramatically easier: complete online check-in, have your documents ready, research your ports before you arrive and reserve shore excursions and popular onboard activities before the best options disappear. We also explain why travel insurance deserves attention when you’re protecting a vacation that may represent thousands of dollars. If you have an MSC cruise booked—or any cruise on the calendar—this is the episode to hear before you finish planning it. Subscribe, share the show with your favorite travel buddy and leave a review so more travelers can find us. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

Most cruise-line CEOs join interviews from an office. Dan Blanchard joins this one while working aboard one of his own ships. The owner and CEO of UnCruise Adventures explains why running a small American-flagged fleet sometimes means trading the corner office for a shipyard—and why the company’s vessels aren’t designed to be floating cities. They’re floating wilderness lodges built to get travelers off the ship, into kayaks and skiffs, onto remote shorelines and closer to the Alaska most cruise passengers never see. Dan’s path to Alaska started unexpectedly in the sixth grade, when he read “Dove,” the story of a teenager who sailed around the world. That book helped launch a lifelong obsession with the ocean, years sailing the Pacific with his family and eventually a cruise company created around everything that happens away from the ports. He explains why UnCruise follows nature’s clock instead of a rigid schedule: If whales are feeding somewhere else, the ship can change direction. If wildlife creates a once-in-a-lifetime moment, nobody is checking the time and rushing toward the next cruise terminal. The conversation also reveals why comparing an UnCruise fare with a mega-ship price misses the bigger story. These are small American-built, American-crewed and American-flagged vessels operating with a high crew-to-guest ratio in remote environments. The result is a cruise where the wilderness provides the entertainment, Alaska can feel completely silent and a few dozen passengers may have an entire cove to themselves. Dan also shares how Glacier Bay changed his life, why the company survived an extraordinarily difficult shutdown and what he hopes travelers bring home besides photographs. Then the scale changes dramatically. Patrick and Mark move from fewer than 100 adventure travelers in the Alaskan wilderness to MSC Seascape’s seven-night Western Caribbean cruise from Galveston. They compare traditional cabins with MSC Yacht Club—the private ship-within-a-ship experience priced from approximately $2,889 per person on the featured sailing. It’s an episode about two completely different definitions of cruising: one follows whales into the wilderness, while the other gives you a private restaurant, lounge and luxury retreat inside a much larger ship. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

You can tell a lot about a trip by what you remember afterward, and “Day of the Dead” travel in Mexico tends to stick with people for life. We break down what the tradition is really about, why it’s not Mexico’s Halloween, and how to plan a trip that feels respectful, walkable, and genuinely fun. We also answer the practical question that matters most: where should you go to experience it, and how do you choose a hotel that puts you close to the festivities instead of stranded miles away? We share current Mexico travel deals and hotel promotions you can use to build a full vacation package, then talk through the best destinations for different travel styles. Want a beach trip that still delivers culture and nightlife? Puerto Vallarta shines, especially near the malecon. Want deeper cultural immersion with village celebrations and cemetery traditions? Oaxaca is hard to beat. Prefer big-city spectacle? Mexico City’s parade brings the theatrical side. We even call out seasonal food you should try while you’re there, quoting the show favorite, “Pan de Morto.” From there, we hit travel news you can use right now: United’s test that delivers food to your gate, TSA’s GateSide pilot that lets approved TSA PreCheck members enter security without a boarding pass at select airports, and Southwest’s plan to open airport lounges. Then we go full “Just Cruising” with Holland America’s Have It All Early Booking Bonus, plus newly opened 2028 Alaska cruises that stretch beyond the usual seven-day loop with longer 11, 14, 16, and 18-day options and more scenic cruising. We wrap with straight talk on travel insurance and why credit card coverage can leave gaps, especially for emergency medical and evacuation. If you like travel deals, cruise planning, Mexico vacation planning, and practical tips that save money and stress, subscribe, share this with a travel buddy, and leave a quick review so more travelers can find the show. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

A window seat without a window sounds like an airline punchline—until you pay to reserve one and spend the flight staring at a wall. We explain how different versions of the same airplane can have completely different seat layouts, how to identify missing or partially blocked windows before booking, and why the airline’s own seat map may not tell you everything. We also get into the increasingly common practice of bidding for a first-class upgrade and why checking the app again shortly before departure could uncover an offer that wasn’t available when you bought the ticket. From there, we compare two very different ways to experience Japan. An 11-day small-group Globus tour connects Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Okayama, Matsue and Hiroshima using a mix of bullet trains and motorcoaches, with an English-speaking guide helping travelers navigate the language and cultural differences. The featured departure starts at $5,449 per person after roughly $1,200 in savings. We also look at Norwegian Spirit as a cruise alternative for travelers who would rather visit multiple Japanese ports without changing hotels every few nights. If Australia and New Zealand have always felt too far away or too complicated to plan, two itineraries make the region surprisingly approachable. One sails from Sydney to Auckland with scenic cruising through Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound, starting at $1,895 per person. The more ambitious option spends 22 days aboard Oceania Riviera, traveling from Auckland through Australia and Indonesia before reaching Singapore. It comes with a higher price, but also what Mark describes as “country-club-casual luxury”—which Patrick quickly decides is apparently his personal travel style. Finally, broadcasting from a Miami hotel lobby between MSC World America and the brand-new Norwegian Aqua, Patrick and Mark tackle the unwritten rules that determine whether boarding a plane feels civilized or like competitive combat. Have your boarding pass ready, respect assigned seats, don’t fill the overhead bin with your entire household, and remove the backpack before it smacks every aisle passenger on the way to row 34. Add the airline app, a printed backup boarding pass and travel insurance, and you have a practical survival guide from someone who has traveled roughly four million miles and taken more than 150 cruises. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

Driving a go-kart through Tokyo traffic sounds like something you would do in a video game—not on your actual vacation. We start with a listener planning his first trip to Japan and break down why spring and fall are the best times to visit, which three cities belong on a first-timer’s itinerary, and whether a tour or cruise provides the better experience. Along the way, we get into Tokyo street karting, sumo wrestling, bullet trains, Kyoto’s bamboo forest and the powerful World War II history waiting in Hiroshima. Then TJ McAvoy joins us to challenge the outdated idea that a guided vacation means spending your entire trip trapped on a motorcoach. Globus has been arranging tours for nearly a century, but its options now range from traditional escorted vacations to groups capped at roughly 18 travelers, locally hosted independent trips and completely private tours for families who want an entire motorcoach to themselves. Mark shares how that can work in real life, including a custom Scandinavian heritage trip built for approximately 30 members of the same family. The biggest benefit may be measured in hours rather than dollars. TJ explains how reserved access can move Globus guests through what he calls the “happy line,” while travelers in the three- or four-hour line outside the Colosseum slowly become unhappy with Rome—and possibly with each other. We also look at the experiences that turn an itinerary into something memorable, from flamenco in Spain and lobster bakes in Maine to sleeping inside national parks and Patrick discovering how quickly he could bicycle through Yellowstone when buffalo and bears were nearby. Finally, we explain who guided touring is actually best for, why local experts can show you more than a guidebook ever will, and how much freedom travelers still have to explore on their own. Select Globus vacations are also offering savings of up to $1,500, including trips through destinations many Americans rarely consider, such as Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. Come for the Tokyo go-karts and motivational buffalo; stay to find out how the right tour can give you more vacation by making the lines, logistics and guesswork disappear. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

A Jamaica vacation with airfare, five hotel nights and airport transfers starting at $1,299 is the kind of price that deserves a closer look—but choosing the right part of the island may matter just as much as finding the deal. We finish answering a listener’s questions about Jamaica, compare two highly rated resorts near Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, and explain why Mark came away unimpressed after visiting Jamaica on a cruise but loved it once he returned for a proper land vacation. There’s also good news for travelers who hate overnight flights: New schedules can now get you from Salt Lake City to Jamaica on the same day, although your alarm clock may object to the 5:30 a.m. departure. Then a listener challenges Mark to find the most unusual cruise itinerary he can—and the answer escalates quickly. We start with a 30-day sailing from Fort Lauderdale that ventures up the Amazon River to Manaus, move to a Sea of Cortez itinerary featuring a wonderfully named port called Topolobampo, and finish with a 130-day voyage that reaches Antarctica, Easter Island, Tahiti, Australia, Asia, Alaska, Mexico and the Panama Canal before returning to Florida. If you’ve ever wondered how much of the world can be packed into a single cruise, this section gets dangerously close to answering it. Patrick has just returned from 30 straight days on the road, which leads Mark to reveal the most memorable trip he has ever taken: a voyage through the Marquesas Islands aboard Aranui 5, a ship that is part cruise vessel and part working freighter. The journey already sounds unusual, but a canceled flight added two unexpected days in Tahiti—an inconvenience Mark somehow managed to survive without complaint. It’s a reminder that the trips we remember most aren’t always the most conventional ones. Finally, we answer the questions travelers often hesitate to ask about using a travel advisor. Does it cost more? How does the advisor get paid? Can an advisor really find prices or cabins that aren’t available online? Mark explains how group inventory works, why someone booking directly may still be paying a built-in commission, and how an experienced advisor can save hours of research and become your advocate when a flight, cruise or carefully planned itinerary starts falling apart. He also shares how he went from mowing the lawn at his grandparents’ travel agency and delivering paper airline tickets to helping clients navigate dozens of booking systems today. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

What if the best place to experience Europe isn’t on the ship’s top deck, but in bed? Avalon Waterways’ TJ McAvoy joins us to explain why the company points its beds toward a seven-foot wall of glass, turning the entire cabin into a balcony while castles, vineyards and medieval villages drift past outside. We also get into the other details that separate Avalon from a typical cruise—including fewer passengers, larger bathrooms, included excursion choices and panoramic views designed so you don’t miss the scenery simply because you sat on the wrong side of the ship. If you’ve been curious about river cruising but don’t know where to begin, TJ makes the choice much easier. We compare the Rhine and Danube for first-time cruisers, explain how Avalon combines multiple rivers into seamless 14- and 21-night journeys, and look at its more active options featuring biking, hiking, canoeing, cooking classes and visits with local farmers. We also explain why Christmas-market cruises are selling so quickly that Avalon plans to move additional ships into Europe for the holiday season. Then there’s the offer that may finally get you onto the river: Select longer Avalon sailings come with savings of up to $6,000 per cabin. We explain which cruises qualify, why the deal has a short booking window and what makes seeing Europe from a small river ship so different from racing between the same destinations by airplane, train or tour bus. Fair warning from TJ: Once you take your first river cruise, there may be four or five more in your future. From there, we trade European castles for Jamaican waterfalls. A listener asks what she should actually do beyond sitting at the resort, leading us to Dunn’s River Falls, the cliff divers at Rick’s Café, Bob Marley’s hometown, a supposedly haunted great house, peaceful bamboo rafting and Jamaica’s wonderfully improbable bobsled ride. Add James Bond history, jerk chicken from Scotchies and a bottle of Ting, and suddenly Jamaica starts looking like much more than another beach vacation. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

Disney is doubling down on Alaska, and MSC is trying to completely change the way Americans think about cruising. We start with Disney Cruise Line adding a second ship to Alaska, then bring in MSC Cruises’ Laura Okonowski to talk about the launch of MSC World America—a brand-new ship built specifically for the U.S. market with 19 restaurants, 18 bars and lounges, family entertainment, and a 250-foot slide dropping from Deck 11 toward the promenade. Yes, apparently taking the stairs is now optional. Laura also explains the thinking behind MSC’s “Let’s Holiday” campaign and why the cruise line is blending European style with the comforts American travelers expect. We get into MSC World America’s upcoming entertainment—including Dirty Dancing Live and a Queen tribute—plus MSC Seascape’s move to Galveston and the aggressive pricing MSC is using to get attention in Texas. Laura even says some of their Galveston cruise fares are roughly 30% below a major competitor, which leads to one of those conversations you probably won’t hear in a standard cruise-line brochure. Then we revisit Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, which is heading in for a much-needed refurbishment. Patrick and Mark talk about what worked, what definitely needs help, and somehow end up debating how many Burger in Paradise burgers Patrick managed to eat during a two-night cruise. We also look at Italy’s proposed crackdown on fake hotel and restaurant reviews, including a plan that could require travelers to prove they actually stayed or ate somewhere before posting a review. And if Southeast Asia has been sitting on your travel wish list, the cruise deal of the week may get your attention. We break down an AmaWaterways Mekong River cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia aboard the 128-guest AmaDara, with access to Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. Select dates start at $2,089 per person, with the option to save up to $1,500 or choose a two-for-one land package—making this one of the most interesting ways we’ve seen to experience that part of the world without giving up the comfort of a river cruise. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

Spirit Airlines is back in Chapter 11 bankruptcy less than a year after its last restructuring, so what does that actually mean if you already have a ticket? We explain why Spirit says flights will continue operating normally, what has gone wrong for the ultra-low-cost carrier, and why budget airlines are having such a difficult time competing right now. Southwest is making a very different kind of move, partnering with EVA Air to create new connections into Asia through cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. Then we tackle a listener question from someone who wants to escape winter without defaulting to Hawaii or Mexico. Greece in the off-season starts at just $1,049 per person on a seven-day Globus Escape tour, with the option to add Santorini or a Greek Isles cruise. Even more surprising is Egypt: a six-day trip starting at $849 that includes Cairo, Alexandria, the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx, with the option to tack on a Nile River cruise through places like Luxor, Karnak and Aswan. Of course, Hawaii and Mexico still have some ridiculous prices of their own. We found airfare plus five nights on Maui starting at $919 per person, while an all-inclusive Puerto Vallarta package with flights, hotel, transfers, meals and drinks starts at $959. From there, we head out to sea for Holland America’s 2026 solar-eclipse cruises, where astronomy experts will actually be onboard to explain what you’re seeing while the eclipse unfolds overhead. We wrap up with a very different way to see Mexico aboard a 66-passenger UnCruise expedition ship in the Sea of Cortez, where whales, remote Baja communities and an itinerary inspired by John Steinbeck replace the traditional resort experience. And if you simply want a screaming cruise deal, MSC is offering 40% off plus kids sail free, with MSC Seascape balconies from Galveston starting at $669 per person—and the possibility of getting a family of four into a balcony cabin for less than $1,500 before airfare and other expenses. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

A $771 round-trip fare to Peru sounds like a typo until you see the details, and that’s where we start. Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo break down Delta’s seasonal nonstop flight to Lima and why a direct route is more than a convenience. It can completely reshape your Peru vacation planning, especially if you want more than a quick Machu Picchu photo and a rushed flight home. We map out a Peru itinerary that actually fits how people travel: Amazon rainforest lodges near Puerto Maldonado, wildlife and canoe outings, then up into the Andes for Cusco and the Sacred Valley before giving Machu Picchu the time it deserves. Along the way, we talk timing, altitude-friendly pacing, and why adding Lima at the end can round out the trip with food, coastal neighborhoods, and history. Then we move into the week’s most practical travel news and deals: Delta adding live sports streaming on international flights, the big airline push into secondary European cities, and a Fiji Airways anniversary sale that can make Fiji flights and even Sydney airfare shockingly affordable on select dates. We also hit Disney holiday travel planning with resort discounts for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, plus what changes in the parks during the holiday season. Finally, the “Just Cruising” segment spotlights a standout cruise deal: a seven-night Barcelona-to-Lisbon sailing with stops that include Gibraltar and Casablanca, built for travelers who care more about destinations than slide decks. We wrap with a crucial Europe carry-on tip that can prevent surprise fees. Subscribe, share the show with a travel friend, and leave a review, then tell us what trip you’re booking next. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

That ship horn story at the top is funny now, but it sets the tone for what we love about travel: the moments you can’t plan, and the lessons you can. We kick off with cruise news that can genuinely change how you book, including Holland America extending its Europe season into late fall 2026 with new Northern Lights cruises designed to maximize your chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis. If catching the northern lights is on your bucket list, we talk about why a ship can be a surprisingly good way to hunt for darker skies. Next, we break down what it means when Norwegian Cruise Line cancels sailings because ships are leaving the fleet, plus the growing trend of ships being reimagined as residential “condo at sea” concepts. Then we head to the Caribbean, because Princess is returning to San Juan, Puerto Rico as a homeport. We share why Old San Juan is walkable, historic, and “sneaky good,” and why Southern Caribbean itineraries from San Juan often deliver more port days and more interesting islands on a seven-day cruise. We also get specific on current Princess Cruises promotions, including up to $400 instant savings, percent-off pricing, upgrades, and $99 deposits. We close with travel tips you can use immediately: why cruising with a passport is still the safest choice even when it’s not required, how facial ID can speed up debarkation, how to avoid hotel booking scams and Airbnb payment traps, what Southwest’s new fare bundles mean for seats and bags, and which cruise lines offer family cabins that sleep five. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a travel buddy, and leave a quick review so more travelers can find us. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

One travel document mistake can derail a whole vacation, even when you swear you “did everything right.” We dig into the real-world travel details that catch people off guard, starting with Europe planning for 2025: the new UK electronic travel authorization (ETA), the passport expiration rules that can block your trip, and why those 3 to 6 extra months of validity actually matter when emergencies and delays hit. From there, we get practical about peak-season Europe travel. Crowds are back, and crowded places are where pickpockets thrive, so we share simple habits for protecting your money, cards, and passport without overcomplicating your day. We also talk about the underrated skill that makes trips feel calmer: having a plan B. Flights change, trains run late, weather shifts, and flexibility keeps the fun intact. A listener question about a first-ever trip to Europe leads us to easy, confidence-building routes like London with Edinburgh, plus London paired with Paris or Amsterdam. We also look at what’s happening with airfare demand and why it can translate into better flight deals for travelers who are ready to book smart. And if you’re headed to Mexico, we cover Cancun beach safety and what the warning flags mean, including the double red flag that can close the water entirely. Finally, we break down Globus and Cosmos guided travel, including hub and spoke tours and current savings on select London and Italy itineraries. If this helped, subscribe, share the show with a friend planning a trip, and leave a quick review so more travelers can find us. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

A cruise stop can feel effortless or chaotic depending on one detail most people ignore: how you get from ship to shore. From Fiji, Mark joins Patrick to talk through Norwegian Cruise Line’s big plans for Great Stirrup Key and why the new pier is more than a convenience. If you’ve ever been on a rocking tender ride or watched a ship skip a private island because seas were too rough, you’ll understand why this upgrade changes the whole day. We also dig into what else is coming, including a huge new pool, swim-up bars, cabanas, a family splash pad, and a stronger adults-only beach club experience. Then we pivot to smart cruise money moves, including what a future cruise credit actually is and why it can be one of the easiest ways to get onboard credit now while setting yourself up for your next sailing. If you’ve wondered whether those onboard offers are “real savings” or just marketing, we break down how they work and how we help travelers manage them. Finally, we shift into traveler defense mode with a practical guide to common and expensive travel scams: fake TSA PreCheck websites, fake airline customer service numbers that show up in search results, rental home scams that push you to pay offline, and cruise port hustles built around pressure tactics and distractions. Subscribe for more cruise deals and travel tips, share this with a friend who’s planning a trip, and leave a review with the scam trick you want us to cover next. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

Mark’s calling in from Fiji, and that changes the whole conversation because we’re not talking theory, we’re talking what he’s seeing, booking, and learning in real time. After meeting with dozens of Fiji resorts, tour operators, and suppliers at the Fiji Tourism Exchange, he shares why Fiji deserves a serious look as a family vacation destination. We get specific about family-friendly resorts that actually support parents, including kids programs and nanny service, plus the kind of easy wins that make a trip smoother when you’re traveling with children. We also dig into the experiences that make Fiji feel unforgettable beyond the beach: visiting a Fijian village, joining a kava ceremony, snorkeling, island hopping, and even stopping at Cloud Nine, a floating bar in the ocean that serves pizza and sandwiches. Then we run the numbers on Fiji travel deals, from Fiji Airways airfare to bundled Fiji vacation packages, and we talk about upgrades like overwater bures at the Fiji Marriott Momi Bay so you can decide what’s worth it for your style and budget. Travel news matters too, so we cover Real ID confusion and what “secondary screening” may look like, plus a headline on camel rides near Giza and why some operators are moving away from them. To round it out, we share inspiration for travelers who want Europe without the crowds, with four strong picks: Ticino in Switzerland, Transylvania in Romania, Puglia in Italy, and Portugal, along with a Globus tours promotion that can help you save. If you like practical trip planning with real prices and real options, subscribe, share this with a travel buddy, and leave a review so more people can find the show. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

A ship can be “old” on paper and still feel fresh if the right spaces get rebuilt and we’re seeing that trend accelerate. We dig into Norwegian Cruise Line’s planned upgrades to Norwegian Epic and Pride of America, including what’s changing onboard and why those updates matter for real travelers deciding between a shiny new build and a well-renovated favorite. From adults-only deck space to family areas and added staterooms, we talk about how renovations can reshape the entire cruise experience, not just the décor. Then we go full bucket list: Princess Cruises reveals a 2027 world cruise that runs 129 days, visits 61 ports, and loops from Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific, into Asia, and back through Alaska to Los Angeles. We walk through the route highlights and the practical appeal of shorter segments for anyone who wants the “world cruise” feeling without taking four months off. We also cover a major river cruise headline with National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions entering the European river cruise market, plus our featured deal: Avalon Waterways offering free airfare to Europe (or savings) on select 2025 European river cruises, including popular Rhine and Danube routes. To wrap up, we share actionable travel tips for sleeping better on a plane to reduce jet lag, and we answer a listener question about what to do in Miami after a cruise when your flight home isn’t until evening or the next day, including Everglades options. If this helped you plan your next trip, subscribe, share the episode with a travel-loving friend, and leave a review so more travelers can find the show. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...

You know that moment when travel stops being a checklist and turns into a story you can’t wait to tell? That’s what happens when you cross the International Date Line to Fiji and suddenly Saturday vanishes. We break down exactly how Mark’s flights created the “case of the missing Saturday,” why he felt almost no jet lag, and how you can plan your own Fiji arrival so day one feels like vacation instead of recovery. From there, we get practical about Fiji vacation planning for families. We talk through the two main island chains travelers ask about most, the Mamanuca Islands versus the Yasawa Islands, and what the ferry and boat transfers are really like once you land. If you’ve ever wondered whether a smaller island resort can work with kids, we share a standout option: Likuri Island Resort. The details are what make it special, including a kids club built around Fijian culture and outdoor activities like hermit crab races and coral and mangrove planting rather than screens. We also hit the week’s travel headlines and deals: American Airlines testing automated holds for tight connections, the renewed push to modernize US air traffic control, Southwest making moves that could expand international flying, and a Universal Epic Universe package perk. Finally, we lay out a Cancun deal roundup with five-star and all-inclusive resort pricing that makes a fall escape feel doable again. If you like smart travel tips, real pricing, and honest advice you can use right away, subscribe, share the show with a travel buddy, and leave us a review so more listeners can find us. This episode of The Vacation Nerd Podcast and Radio Show is presented by Rampage Rental & Repair! Headed to St. George, Utah? Get out and RIDE! Rent or buy your Ebike at Rampage Rental & Repair—or get your own bike tuned up and trail-ready. Cruise Snow Canyon, ride the Virgin River Trail, or explore Kayenta. Reserve your ebike ride today! Call 435-767-2003 or book at RampageRentalRepair.com. Rampage Rental & Repair—gear up, get out, and RIDE! Support the show Thank you for taking the time to listen to the show. There are literally thousands of podcasts from which you can choose, yet you listened to this show. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help people plan and book their next vacation or give listeners ideas of where they might consider going on vacation next. Our goal is to help our listeners live their lives deliberately and intentionally. You only get one shot at life so you might as well make it count. Make memories with those that matter most to you. TAKE ACTION: Quit talking about going on vacation, just do it. If you want more information about any of the destinations we discussed during the show, or have your own custom vacation in mind, I can help you. Please call, text, or email me. Here's my contact information: Patrick Wiscombe Cell/Text: (801) 874-7717 Email: patrick.wiscombe@gmail.com The Vacation Nerd (Audio Podcast): https://www.thevacationnerd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVacationNerd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.wiscombe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick.wiscombe Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pa...