Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

Hear about travel to Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe as the Amateur Traveler podcast talks to returning guest Rebecca Merrell about exploring two lesser-visited countries in Central Africa. From tracking hundreds of mandrills through the rainforest and searching for western lowland gorillas to snorkeling off volcanic islands and tasting locally produced chocolate, Rebecca shares an adventure that combines wildlife conservation, remote national parks, tropical beaches, and Portuguese colonial history. Rebecca spent approximately two and a half weeks exploring the region, including nine days in Gabon and seven nights in São Tomé and Príncipe. She recommends Gabon...

Hear about travel to coastal Peru as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jorge Salas of New Paths Expeditions about the archaeology, wildlife, food, and living cultures of Peru beyond Machu Picchu. Jorge argues that Peru’s Pacific coast deserves far more attention from travelers. This dry coastal desert preserves thousands of years of history, including adobe pyramids, elaborate tombs, ancient textiles, and the remains of civilizations that flourished long before the Incas. The trip begins in Lima, where Jorge recommends arriving, spending the night near the airport, and heading south the next morning. The drive follows the Pacific through a de...

Hear about a trip to Normandy and Nouvelle-Aquitaine in France as Chris Christensen from Amateur Traveler recounts his journey through two fascinating regions during the inaugural France-USA Media Forum in 2026, organized by Atout France. This bonus episode features two half-week itineraries rather than the usual one-week itinerary. Chris explored Normandy before traveling south to Bordeaux, the Dordogne, and Cognac. He recommends spending a full week in either region rather than trying to combine both into one trip. Along the way, he explores the legacy of William the Conqueror, the Allied invasion of Normandy, medieval castles, prehistoric cave paintings, Bordeaux's wine...

Andrew Brodsky of WanderWolf joins us to talk about traveling in southern Algeria, including Algiers, the Roman ruins at Tipasa, Djanet, and a multi-day trek through Tassili n’Ajjer National Park to the ancient rock art of Sifar. Southern Algeria offers a very different Sahara experience from the classic image of endless sand dunes. Tassili n’Ajjer has dramatic sandstone formations, narrow canyons, black lava fields, ancient cypress trees, and thousands of prehistoric paintings and carvings documenting thousands of years of human life in a landscape that was once much wetter. Andrew’s trip combined a few days in and around...

Hear about travel to Mongolia as the Amateur Traveler talks to returning guest Randy Rohrer about his trip to this vast, sparsely populated country for the Naadam Festival, the ancient Mongol capital of Karakorum, and the landscapes of the Gobi Desert. Randy says Mongolia appeals to travelers looking for somewhere exotic and still relatively off the beaten path. It combines the history of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire with a living nomadic herder culture and surprisingly varied landscapes, from mountains in the north and west to the Gobi Desert in the south. Randy traveled for a little under two...

Hear about travel to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Chris Barley about his home region and a week-long itinerary that combines Lancaster City, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, historic small towns, local food, outdoor recreation, and some surprisingly diverse dining. Chris grew up on a tobacco and dairy farm in western Lancaster County. Although he once wanted to leave the area and explore the world, he says returning as an adult has given him a new appreciation for just how much there is to experience there. Lancaster County may be best known for its Amish communities and outlet...

Hear about travel to El Salvador as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jayne Dear, author of Tales of a Traveller in Central America, about her journey through this small but surprisingly diverse Central American country. Jayne describes El Salvador as a “hidden gem,” with dramatic volcanic scenery, forested highlands, coffee plantations, colorful towns, inexpensive transportation, friendly people, and some of the best-value travel she encountered in Central America. The country has 23 volcanoes, and Jayne says it often seems as though every town has one looming over it. For travelers with one week in El Salvador, Jayne recommends concentrating primarily on the...

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, Chris talks with Nathan Brennan from brennanfitnessacademy.com about a week-long summer road trip through Salt Lake City and Northern Utah, combining Utah history, mountain scenery, Olympic venues, hiking, lakes, small towns, and some distinctly Utah food. Nathan lives between Salt Lake City and Provo and recommends a summer itinerary that begins and ends in Salt Lake City. The route travels north to the Great Salt Lake, east into the Wasatch Mountains and Park City, south through the Heber Valley and Provo Canyon, then loops back through Utah Valley and the Cottonwood Canyons. ... https...

Hear about travel to Detroit, Michigan, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Cassandra Sugarman about her adopted hometown and a week-long itinerary that explores the city’s comeback, automotive heritage, music history, neighborhoods, museums, food, and nearby communities. Cassandra describes Detroit as a city of revival. The rise of the automobile industry transformed Detroit into one of America’s great industrial cities, while later economic downturns and the city’s 2014 bankruptcy left visible scars. In the years since, new investment, restaurants, public spaces, art, and restored historic buildings have helped reshape the city. She recommends spending about a week in Detroi...

Hear about travel to Madrid, Spain, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Felicity Hughes of TheMakingOfMadrid.com about how to spend about a week exploring her adopted hometown. Felicity moved to Madrid in 2012, writes and podcasts about the city, and is currently the lead writer for Lonely Planet’s Madrid guides. She recommends giving Madrid more than the typical three-day visit. While you can see the headline sights quickly, a week gives you time to explore Madrid’s historic neighborhoods, museums, food culture, and parks, while also taking two important day trips to Toledo and El Escorial. Why should you go t...

Discover the lush landscapes, charming towns, Atlantic beaches, historic cities, vineyards, and national parks of Portugal's Minho region in this one-week itinerary with Sandra from Verdeful.  Why should you go to Minho? Sandra says, "The reason why I would like to tell people more about this part of the world is because it's such a beautiful place with a lot of greenery. It's what makes Minho special to me. If someone has a week in northern Portugal, I would suggest a route that mixes coast, countryside, and also a bit of city life... we can explore some coastal villages, beaches, s...

In this episode of the Amateur Traveler podcast, Chris talks with Virginia-based travel writer and television host Malorie Mackey about visiting Richmond and Virginia’s Historic Triangle. Malorie recommends combining Richmond with Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown rather than treating them as separate trips. Together, they offer a mix of colonial history, Revolutionary War sites, Civil War history, museums, gardens, outdoor recreation, restaurants, breweries, living-history experiences, and theme parks. A rushed version of the trip can be done in three days, but Malorie and Chris agree that five or six days would provide a much better experience.  ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-virginia-richmond-williamsburg/

Travel to Orléans, France, with Riana from Teaspoon of Adventure as she shares a seven-day itinerary featuring Joan of Arc history, Loire River scenery, medieval towns, museums, local food, and some of the most impressive châteaux in the Loire Valley.  Orléans is about 75 miles southwest of Paris and approximately 90 minutes away by train. Its compact historic center, good train connections, and access to the surrounding countryside make it a practical base for exploring both the city and the Loire Valley. Riana recommends spending the first three days in Orléans, taking train trips on days four and five...

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, I recount a six-night sailing voyage aboard the Schooner Heritage, one of the vessels in the Maine Windjammer Association fleet. The trip began and ended in Rockland, Maine, and covered roughly 116 miles through Penobscot Bay. Unlike a conventional cruise, there was no fixed daily itinerary. Each day’s route depended on the wind, tides, currents, weather forecast, and the availability of a safe anchorage. I was a guest of the Schooner Heritage. The cruise was hosted, while I paid for transportation to Rockland, expenses before boarding, and crew gratuities. ... https://amateurtraveler.com/sailing-maine-windjammer/

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, Sam Williams joins Chris to talk about the Caribbean island of Dominica, a destination he describes as “unspoiled Caribbean.” Unlike many Caribbean islands, where the main draw is the beach, Dominica is known for its rainforest, mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, snorkeling, whale watching, canyoning, and sea turtles. Sam recommends spending about a week on the island, renting a car, and using the Roseau area as a base for much of the trip before finishing on the wilder east coast near Rosalie Bay. Why Visit Dominica? Sam says Dominica is a good choice for travelers who...

In this episode of Amateur Traveler, host Chris Christensen talks about his press trip through Aragon, Spain, joined by fellow travelers Kevin Revolinski and Cathy Bennett Kopf. Aragon sits in northeastern Spain, west of Catalonia, and stretches from Zaragoza north to the Pyrenees and the French border. Why Visit Aragon? Aragon offers Roman ruins, Mudéjar architecture, cathedrals, castles, abbeys, Garnacha wine, medieval villages, mountain scenery, and outdoor adventure, without the crowds of Spain’s better-known cities.  ... https://amateurtraveler.com/zaragoza-and-aragon-spain/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about luxury barge cruising in France as Chris Christensen describes a week aboard the Renaissance, a European Waterways hotel barge traveling through Western Burgundy and the Upper Loire. Chris and his wife previously cruised with European Waterways on the Canal du Midi. For this journey, they returned to France to explore the Briare Canal, one of the country’s oldest canals, aboard a vessel carrying just eight passengers and five crew members. The result was an unusually intimate trip combining French cuisine, historic towns, private châteaux, Sancerre vineyards, canal locks, and long, leisurely afternoons on the water. ... https://ama...

Hear about travel to Fiji as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from jontytravels.com about this island nation where he lived this year. Why should you visit Fiji? Jonty says, "Fiji offers the classic South Pacific island experience, with excellent snorkeling and diving, attractive beaches, and welcoming people. It also has a well-established tourism industry, which accounts for approximately 40% of the economy. Fiji attracts around one million visitors each year, representing about 60% of all tourism in the South Pacific." Jonty’s Experience in Fiji ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-fiji-3/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Paris as the Amateur Traveler talks to Angela J. Reed of Parisienne Farmgirl about museums, cafés, neighborhoods, markets, gardens, and viewpoints in the City of Light. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Paris? Angela says, “Paris is alive. It has a rhythm of its own, and I think when you visit Paris, you get to become part of that rhythm.” In this episode, she helps us plan a visit that includes the classic first-time Paris experiences, but also leaves room for th...

Hear about travel to Western Crete as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from jontytravels.com about his hiking adventure around the villages and in the mountains of the largest Greek island. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you visit Western Crete? Jonty says, "Crete is a diverse Greek island, home to excellent hiking, dramatic gorges, atmospheric villages, epic coastlines, and ancient history." Jonty spent around a week hiking in western Crete, village walks in the north, the White Mountains in the center, and along the south coast. He...

Hear about travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the annual Amateur Traveler trip as host Chris Christensen and guest Bill Abbott talk about a tour to 2 of the 5 'Stans in Central Asia. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan? Chris says, "In this area, you can stand in these beautiful cities that date back over two thousand years. This is a trip through some of the great crossroads of world history: Persian empires, Silk Road merchants, Turkic tribes, Mongol armies, Timurid ar...

Hear about travel to Umbria in Italy as the Amateur Traveler talks to Katerina Ferrara, the author of the Ultimate Festival & Travel Guide Umbria. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Umbria? Katerina says, "Travelers should include Umbria in their plans because the hill towns feel just completely suspended in time. These are beautifully preserved places that stay off the main tourist track because the region has no major airport, and the high-speed trains are limited. But if you get there, you can really enjoy some time in...

Hear about travel to Delaware as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dannelle Gay from the Traveling Cheesehead about her recent visit to The First State. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Delaware? Dannelle says, "If you are a foodie, if you're a history buff, if you're a beach person, there are so many different reasons. If you're into military history or you get into aircraft World War II history, any of that, it is such an amazing place to visit. Yes, it's the first stat...

Hear about travel to Jerez de la Frontera and the province of Cádiz in Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks about a recent press trip to the 2026 Culinary Capital of Spain. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This episode is based on a recent press trip to Cádiz and Jerez, with guest Kristen Henning from Travel Past 50 joining Chris to talk about why travelers should consider this corner of Andalusia. Why Visit Cádiz Province and Jerez? The focus of the trip was Jerez de la Frontera, recently...

Hear about travel to Santiago, Chile, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kristin Henning from TravelPast50.com about this city that she called home for a time. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to Santiago? Kristin says, "You can get to the mountains quickly. You can get to the valley for wine tasting quickly. You can get to the coast, Valparaíso, and beach towns quickly. But Santiago itself does hold a lot of interest in its museums, culture, and climate." Santiago...

Hear about travel to Saxony as the Amateur Traveler talks about a recent press trip to Leipzig, Dresden, Meissen, and more in this southeast corner of Germany. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Recommended Saxony Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Leipzig Start in Leipzig. Base yourself in the compact historic center, ideally near the Old Town Hall. Chris stayed at the Steigenberger Icon Grand Hotel, close to the market square and the old town. ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-saxony-germany/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho

Hear about travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Meryl Pearlstein about this glamorous city in the desert that keeps drawing her back. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why Go to Las Vegas if You Don’t Gamble? Meryl makes the case that Las Vegas is far more than casinos. She highlights the city as a place where you can combine top-tier dining, arts and culture, unusual museums, live entertainment, and desert outdoor adventures, all in one trip. She also points to adren...

Hear about travel to West Africa (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jenna Fletcher from LifeKineticTravel.com about her quest to see baby sea turtles in Guinea-Bissau. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to West Africa? Jenna says, "It is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful: green, flowers, animals. It is one of those spots that is definitely less explored by Western tourists. I think it gives you a different perspective on some of the history that you've learned about th...

Hear about travel to the Alentejo Region as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel blogger and adviser Julie Fox from JulieDawnFox.com about this overlooked but spectacular region of Portugal. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Why should you go to the Alentejo? Julie says, "There's plenty to see and do in the Alentejo. So yeah, it's a great place if you're into slow travel, small towns, and the countryside. It is quite varied, and you've got natural parks with mountain ranges. You've got turqu...

Hear about travel to East Java in Indonesia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kiara Kolaczyk from Kultura Travel about this less-traveled region where she once lived. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. Kiara’s recommended East Java itinerary starts with the better-known sights, then shifts into a more Malang-centered, off-the-beaten-path route. She opens with Mount Bromo as the big classic excursion, especially as a sunrise trip, then mentions Borobudur and Prambanan as the other major temple stops, though she notes those are more of a Ce...

Hear about travel to Southeastern China as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from JontyTravels.com about his first trip to China, to a less-visited region. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Why should you visit Southeastern China? Jonty says, "China is a unique country, with a fascinating history, and interesting sights, and these three areas discussed have seemingly almost no Western visitors despite only being half a day's travel from Hong Kong." Jonty visited over the New Year 2025 from Hong Kong. Visit...

Hear about a road trip through Central America as the Amateur Traveler talks about traveling overland through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala in search of volcanoes, tropical birds, colonial cities, crater lakes, Mayan ruins, and a few new countries added to his map. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Why should you visit Central America? This multi-country journey combines some of the region’s best experiences into one trip: cloud forests in Costa Rica, volcanic landscapes in Nicaragua, changing fortu...

Hear about visiting the hidden gems of London, England, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about this city he once called home. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel ⁠here⁠. Why visit London? London is one of the world's great cities, and it can easily fill a week, if not two, exploring the city. Everyone has heard of Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower of London, Tate Modern, Changing of the Guard, British Museum, and the London Eye, but there ar...

Hear about travel to Slovenia as Chris talks with travel writer Sam Baldwin about an active, slightly off-the-beaten-path itinerary through one of Europe’s most underrated countries. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here. Sam has been visiting Slovenia since 2007, lived there for five years, and recommends a road trip that combines Ljubljana, alpine lakes, mountain scenery, rivers, wine country, and a few unusual cultural experiences. His experiences of living, working, and exploring the wildlife and wild places of this stunning country are to...

Hear about travel to Dublin, Ireland, as the Amateur Traveler talks to tour guide Garvan Rushe from DublinTourGuide.ie about the capital and largest city of Ireland. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here. Why should you go to Dublin? Garvan describes Dublin as approachable and human in scale, a capital that feels more like a town than a sprawling metropolis. Visitors often find a sense of connection here, whether or not they have Irish ancestry. The city’s story reflects its comple...

Hear about travel to Northern France (and a day in Flanders) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Craig Anderson about his trip into the historic towns and sites of the Pas-de-Calais region. Why should you go to Northern France? Craig describes an itinerary that includes the Hundred Years' War, the Napoleonic Wars, WWI, and WWII history, historic monasteries, gothic cathedrals, chalk cliffs, and wonderful old walled towns. Craig’s Recommended Northern France / Flanders Itinerary Overview: Base yourself in northern France (Craig used Boulogne-sur-Mer) with a rental car, explore outward in loops, and start by pairing the trip with nearby Belgian WW...

Hear about travel to Puebla, Mexico as the Amateur Traveler talks to Scott Thompson from Livit Immersion Center about his adopted home in this historic colonial city in central Mexico. Why should you go to Puebla? Scott says, "Puebla's kind of an outlier. It's the one big city that nobody's ever heard of. So there's not a lot of tourist industry. The international tourist industry, especially. The city is a world heritage city, and it's recognized by UNESCO since 1987. So it's full of history and architecture and culture and food. There's 2,600 historic buildings and monuments in the city center." Scott...

Hear about travel to Bern, Switzerland, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jack Baumann from Guidester and the Europe Travel 101 Podcast about a city he fell in love with early in his travels. Why should you visit Bern? Jack says, "I would say Bern epitomizes the blend mixture of natural beauty, culture, and history that Switzerland is known for. It's on the river Aare, it's surrounded by the Bern oberland, so you can get from the city center to a mountain in about 15 minutes. On a clear day, you can see the Alps." Jack’s Recommended 7-Day Itinerary for Bern, Sw...

Hear about travel to Sardinia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Shannon O'Brien from shannon-obrien.com about her visit to this island corner of Italy. Why should you go to Sardinia? Shannon says, "It's Italian, but it's a very different vibe as well from mainland Italy. There's insanely beautiful beaches. Some argue some of the most beautiful beaches of the world. The water is crystal blue; it looks like Windex. The white sand beaches. The interior of the island has these huge mountains that kind of bleed into the ocean. Winding coastal roads up and down both sides of the...

Hear about travel to Christmas Markets in Europe as the Amateur Traveler talks to Justin Barnes of JustinAndCrystal.com about his visit to markets in 32 different cities across 12 countries. Justin's Core Itinerary Philosophy Visit 3–5 destinations total, ideally within 4 hours of each other by train. Base yourself in larger cities and use day trips to nearby towns when possible. Travel by train with light luggage (backpack style) and stay near train stations or old towns. Aim for early–mid December, before the final pre-Christmas weekend crowds and before many markets close around Dec 23–24  ... https://amateurtraveler.com/christmas-markets-in-europe/ Learn more about your ad choi...