This week's podcast episode comes a few weeks after I said that I would broadcast it.  I was going to let you know about places I visited in Chicago and Los Angeles in the last month. But I've had a lot of personal issues going on with my family, which has prevented me from recording and producing this episode, as well as others.

So, I've decided to focus on my visit to Chicago, which involved seeing a baseball game at Wrigley Field and eating some ballpark food.  I'll also let you know about Bar Sotano, which is one of several Mexican restaurants from Rick Bayless, all located within the same block.  I especially loved the food here, which was innovative and complex and delicious.  It was also a great alternative to my original plan of going to Frontera Grill, which I couldn't get a table at.

This is a short episode, which marks the next phase or season of my podcast.  You'll get shorter episodes about my upcoming travels.  For instance, the next two will be about the all-inclusive resorts that I recently stayed at and toured on the Riviera Maya in Mexico.

In this episode of the Sansei Traveler podcast, I have a conversation with Kathy Waldorf, travel advisor with Cruise Planners.  Kathy and I attended a training in Las Vegas, and while I went home afterwards, she and our fellow advisor and friend Carla stayed on at the Venetian Resort.  In addition, they toured the new Virgin Resort, went on the Secret Food Tour and spent time at the Mob Museum.

As many of you may know, I'm not the biggest Vegas fan because I'm not a gambler of party person.  But after talking with Kathy, I'm now convinced there's so much more to do there away from the usual activities found on the major Strip resorts.  If you love trying different foods and learning about the city's history,

Kathy also gave some great insight about the Venetian Resort, where she stayed for a few nights. She described the suites, atmosphere and entertainment of the Strip resort, as well as the Virgin Resort, formerly the Hard Rock Cafe Resort.

My next episode will be on my trips to Chicago and Los Angeles - just some quick insights on what to do and where to eat.

Find out more about my blog, The Sansei Traveler, here:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Need help with travel planning?  Please check out my Cruise Planners site:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

If you like this podcast, please give it a (great) review, subscribe and let your friends and family know about it!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sansei-traveler/id1521880256
https://kite.link/sansei-traveler

Thanks for your support! 

This week’s Sansei Traveler podcast episode is about the three things my kids and I did in Maui back in May of this year.  I didn’t discuss anything about COVID-19 protocols or restrictions, because what my family and I went through didn’t apply to travel to Hawaii until recently.  Instead, I mentioned the state’s Safe Travels site, which gives you the most updated information on the virus and how to travel to the islands. 

Rather, my focus was on two things we did and one place we ate dinner.  The first was driving on the West Maui North Shore road.  While it was a challenge for my kids, you might enjoy it if you’re on the adventurous side and don’t mind a few harrowing one-lane driving stretches to view some otherworldly scenery.  Here’s a good resource to check it out:
http://mauiguidebook.com/adventures/west-mauis-north-shore-kapalua-to-wailuku/

The second activity I’d recommend while you are in Maui is going to Haleakala National Park, which is known for its sunrise spectacle.  It provides incredible views of the island from its 10,000-foot summit and all along the way, as well as great hiking.  Hopefully, you won’t the small insects that bothered my kids:
https://www.nps.gov/hale/index.htm

 Finally, if you’re in the Lahaina area, don’t miss out on Star Noodle (which I called Star Noodle Café in the broadcast – it’s just Star Noodle). It’s probably one of the best noodle houses I’ve been to, with fantastic ramen and local saimin.
https://www.starnoodle.com

On the next episode of the Sansei Traveler, I'll attempt to do my first podcast broadcast on the road, from southern California and Arizona.  Maybe I'll get my husband and younger daughter involved :)

Find out more about my blog, The Sansei Traveler, here:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Need help with travel planning?  Please check out my Cruise Planners site:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

If you like this podcast, please give it a (great) review, subscribe and let your friends and family know about it!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sansei-traveler/id1521880256
https://kite.link/sansei-traveler

Thanks for your support! 

This week's episode of The Sansei Traveler Podcast details culinary travel, with my conversation with travel advisor Rhonda Macier Lathen of Culinary Latitudes Travel.  Rhonda is an expert in this travel niche, where you can discover a destination's culture through food discovery.

What does that mean? While people people thing that culinary travel just involves going to local markets or restaurants  (and not American fast food chains),  it's evolved beyond that initial concept.  You can now visit people's homes or estates, where they will prepare and serve you a meal that's representative of the area or region.  You might even get to learn from them through a cooking lesson, preparing your own meal and enjoying it as a reward.

Rhonda and I talk about the following topics:

• What interested her about culinary travel, and how she defines it
• What are the current trends
• Who’s the “typical” culinary traveler
• How culinary travel can be for everyone
• What travel companies provide the best culinary travel experiences, both cruises and land
• How they accommodate special dietary needs and requirements

Find out more about my blog, The Sansei Traveler, here:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Need help with travel planning?  Please check out my Cruise Planners site:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

If you like this podcast, please give it a (great) review, subscribe and let your friends and family know about it!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sansei-traveler/id1521880256
https://kite.link/sansei-traveler

Thanks for your support! 

Episode 22 of The Sansei Traveler Podcast focuses on beer and the best ways to appreciate it.  I spoke with Natalie Jones, the owner and founder of two businesses, Rocky Mountain Brew Runs and Beer Feelings.  Natalie is based in the Denver area and has owned Rocky Mountain Brew Runs since 2020.  She also started beer Beer Feelings shortly afterward.  Both focus on   enjoying beer, especially for those who feel somewhere intimidated by trying it.

Rocky Mountain Beer Runs combines fitness through 5K running events.  Afterwards, participants enjoy beer and even some drinking games.  Beer Feelings is an informational site that helps people learn more about different craft brews.  Natalie also organizes events for her followers.

We talked about the following topics:

• How did you start Beer Feelings and Rocky Mountain Brew Runs?
• How do you see craft brews becoming part of the culinary travel trend?
• What are some places around Colorado that would be great for travel and beer tasting?
• What are some other areas around the country known for their craft brews?
• If you can describe it, who’s the typical “beer traveler?”
• How does someone who enjoys beer find ways to pair it with the right food?
• How does a beer connoisseur compare to a wine connoisseur?  How is it less intimidating?
• Where do you like to travel for great brews?

Find out more about my blog, The Sansei Traveler, here:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Need help with travel planning?  Please check out my Cruise Planners site:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

If you like this podcast, please give it a (great) review, subscribe and let your friends and family know about it!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sansei-traveler/id1521880256
https://kite.link/sansei-traveler

Thanks for your support! 

I'm back with a new season of The Sansei Traveler podcast!  In this episode I talk with fellow Cruise Planners travel advisor Carla Woolstrum, who owns All Who Wander Travel (https://www.allwhowander.biz) in Dunwoody, Georgia.  It's the first episode in a series of conversations with fellow travel advisors, friends and acquaintances who specialize or have exclusive knowledge in a certain aspect of travel.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Carla has been to the Cancun/Riviera Maya area twice in the past year.  She visited various all-inclusive resorts, which are becoming an increasingly popular option for travelers.  In particular, Mexico has been right at the top of destinations outside the US.  We talked about how she started out as a travel advisor, what are her travel specialties and the following topics:

• How she visited these all-inclusive resorts
• What was the best one for families. romance and other groups.
• How the resorts implemented COVID safety protocols
• What’s the appeal of going to an all-inclusive over a cruise
• What would she tell someone who has never been to an AI what they could expect.

Find out more about my blog, The Sansei Traveler, here:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Need help with travel planning?  Please check out my Cruise Planners site:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

If you like this podcast, please give it a (great) review, subscribe and let your friends and family know about it!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sansei-traveler/id1521880256
https://kite.link/sansei-traveler

Thanks for your support! 

In this week’s Sansei Traveler Podcast, I chat with Julie Quarry, business development manager with UnCruise.  Since I’ve started working as a travel advisor, UnCruise has always been on my radar as a good example of the kind of travel I’d like to recommend to clients.   They provide a memorable active adventure travel experience, sail to destinations that I’d like to see, have unparalleled enrichment opportunities and have great cuisine.

Since 1996, they’ve been pioneers in small-ship cruising.  Starting with one boat and sailing the small harbors and fjords in Alaska, they’ve now grown to nine ships that carry 22 to 86 guests.  Their itineraries now include Hawaii, Baja California, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, the Galapagos Islands, the Pacific Northwest and Columbia and Snake Rivers.  Truly, UnCruise lives up to its name and provides a great alternative to anyone who believes traditional cruises on large ships aren’t for them.  They are increasingly becoming popular with younger travelers and multi-generational family groups.

Julie and I talked about how UnCruise is able to avoid the current cruise ship ban imposed by the Canadian government, which has hampered sailings to Alaska this summer.  Since the company’s ships are registered in the US, they do not have to follow the regulations that the major cruise must do and make a port stop in Canada.  As you’ll find out from the conversation, Julie revealed that UnCruise will start their sailings this May.  We also talked about the following: 

• What’s UnCruise’s background or history?
• What makes a vacation with UnCruise unique?
• Will there be any new destinations in the future?
• Who is the typical UnCruise guest?
• Expedition cruising seems to be gaining in popularity, and other lines are starting to offer those itineraries.  How does UnCruise set itself apart from its competition?
• How does UnCruise appeal to the luxury adventure traveler?
• What is UnCruise doing to ensure guests’ health and safety protocols for COVID-19?

This will the last episode for the second season.  I'll be taking a month-long break and planning the next part of this podcast.  

Find out more about my blog, The Sansei Traveler, here:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Need help with travel planning?  Please check out my Cruise Planners site:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

If you like this podcast, please give it a (great) review, subscribe and let your friends and family know about it!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sansei-traveler/id1521880256
https://kite.link/sansei-traveler

Thanks for your support! 

In this week’s Sansei Traveler podcast episode, I had a conversation with Mary Grimes, business development manager with  American Cruise Lines.  This New England- based company started in 1991, and has grown its business since then.  Their primary destinations are the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake Rivers, the southeastern United States coast, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and New England. Their 13 ships fall into five different classes, either as coastal ships or riverboats, and some are classic paddlewheel ships that look like they’re from the 19th century (with modern touches, of course).

What makes American Cruise Lines appealing is that they will be start sailing this month (March 2021), well before many of the larger, more well-known cruise lines have even given their start dates.  They can do this because their ships are registered in the United States, whereas all other cruise lines have foreign-registered ships that must port in a foreign country.  Cruisers are taking notice and many of their sailings are booking up.

Like many river cruises, American Cruise Lines provides a significantly more intimate cruising experience.  Its largest ships holds 190 passenger maximum.  They’re well known for their spacious staterooms, even the entry-level category, and each has a private balcony.  

Mary and I talked about all of these topics, plus the following:

• Who is the typical American Cruise Line passenge
• What is included on a typical cruise itinerary?
• Do many people who have done ocean cruises consider going with American Cruise Lines?
• What kind of health and safety protocols are in place for a cruise?
• What are some of the newest additions to ACL fleet? 

On March 27th, I'll be talking with Julie Quarry, business development manager with UnCruise - another domestic based cruise line that'll be sailing here within the next few months. 

Find out more about my blog, The Sansei Traveler, here:
https://www.sanseitraveler.com

Need help with travel planning?  Please check out my Cruise Planners site:
https://www.redrockstravelcompany.com

If you like this podcast, please give it a (great) review, subscribe and let your friends and family know about it!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sansei-traveler/id1521880256
https://kite.link/sansei-traveler

Thanks for your support!