Bolddepartures Podcast

Greg Davis-Kean of The Frequent Miler helps us break down earning and spending miles/points (without flying!) to maximize travel. TheFrequentMiler.com: Start Here | Laboratory Chase cards: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Cash, Freedom (with rotating 5% categories) Greg earned and used 1.2 million miles to go to Richard Branson's Necker Island! He tells us how and if it was worth it. Greg got up close and personal with Branson himself! Posts on Frequent Miler about the trip: Is Necker Island really worth 1.2 million miles? Here's what Richard Branson thinks of points hacking What are we reading? The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (again/still) Are you inspired to start earning and spending miles? Tell us about your biggest points win and any tips you've picked up along the way!

iFly - Indoor Sky Diving  Scott's Cheap Flights It Starts with Food by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig Whole30 Day by Day by Melissa Hartwig Italian Days Food Tour in Bologna Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Shrill by Lindy West Have you done a Whole30 (successfully or unsuccessfully)? Follow us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures

Whole30 Day by Day by Melissa Hartwig  Small Group Travel Collette Travel Company G Adventures Intrepid Flashpack - geared toward solo travelers WHOA Travel (Women High on Adventure) Road Scholar How to Choose the Perfect Tour Company from Nomadic Matt Groupon Getaways or Vacation Packages at Costco Our current fitness fixes: Orangetheory Fitness Class Pass What we're reading:   Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza January 2018 Book Club/January Whole30 Club: It Starts with Food by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig Join us! Read along and start off your new year by doing the whole 30!

BLACKOUT - Dining in the Dark in Vegas We're doing a year-end review of this highs (and some lows) from our travels in 2017. Listen to past episodes about our trips here: Banff, Canada Portland, Oregon Los Angeles Greece: Naxos (and Greek Ferries) | Paros (and Greek Food) | Mykonos Paris London New York New Zealand: Auckland and Raglan | Tongariro Alpine Crossing | Waitomo, Rotorua, and Wellington Favorite books of the year: Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid 4321 by Paul Auster January 2018 Book Club/Whole 30 Club: It Starts with Food by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig Join us! Read along and start off your new year by doing the whole 30!   We'd love to hear your travel adventures of 2017! What were your highs and lows? What bold departures did you make in 2017? Follow us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartu

We talk with author Taylor Jenkins Reid about her new book The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and how she balances writing and living boldly with new motherhood. --- Emily found cheap fares to Australia from Scott's Cheap Flights - we talk about it all the time, but just in case you missed it! December Book Club: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Check in with some of her past books: After I Do and One True Loves Books/authors Taylor recommends: She Regrets Nothing by Andrea Dunlop (comes out in 2018...while you wait, read past book club pick, Losing the Light, and listen to our interview with Andrea) The Life Lucy Knew by Karma Brown Amy Hatvany Amy Reichert Follow Taylor on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/tjenkinsreid/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/taylorjenkinsreidbooks Twitter: www.twitter.com/tjenkinsreid Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6572605.Taylor_Jenkins_Reid What we're reading: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry It Sta

Our New Zealand trip with G Adventures (the Best of the North Island tour) comes to an end with a caving adventure in Waitomo, learning about Maori culture in Rotorua, and spending some down time in Wellington. Listen to episode 29 to hear about the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and episode 30 about Auckland and Raglan.  TumuTumu Toobing through the glow worm caves in Waitomo with Waitomo Adventures Visited a Maori village. Stayed at Boulcott Suites in Wellington and rode the cable car. View our Facebook page to see more photos from our trip! Follow us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures

Auckland and Raglan...our continuing adventures with G Adventures and our Best of the North Island trip in New Zealand. Stayed at M Social in Auckland Auckland City Tours with Mike America's Cup Sailing Experience Waiheke Island, ferry and Hop-on, Hop-off bus with a lunch stop at Mudbrick Vineyard Nomads Hostel in Auckland Raglan Conservation/Rescue Farm Wahine Moe boat tour with lunch Raglan Kayak and Paddleboard Raglan Surfing School Raglan Surfing School Lava Lounge (the shared house we stayed in with these sunset views) The Shack in downtown Raglan for lunch Hobbiton Lord of the Rings movie set tour View our Facebook page to see photos from Auckland and Raglan and stay tuned for more of our trip! Have you traveled for a surf camp? Is this type of action-packed travel your style? Follow us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures  

New Zealand adventure included conquering the Tongariro Alpine Crossing! It is an active volcano and a beautiful 12-mile hike considered to be one of the best day hikes in the world. Mount Ngauruhoe aka Mount Doom (from Lord of the Rings) Traveled with: G Adventures, Best of the North Island Stayed at: Skotel Alpine Resort in Ruapehu, NZ View our Facebook photo album with more pictures from the day and stay tuned for more of our trip! Is hiking high on your list of travel activities?  Follow us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures

Christina Thompson joins us to talk about her book Come On Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All, which we selected for this month's book club because we're heading to New Zealand THIS WEEK! We talk about New Zealand history, Maori culture, and what she's working on now. Catch up with Christina and learn about her upcoming book on her website. Join us for our next book club! In December, we're reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Read along and send us your thoughts and questions! Do you like reading about the places you visit before you visit them? What travel/memoir/cultural history books do you recommend? Follow us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures

Megan and Emily talk money! We're sharing best practices for traveling abroad and dealing with different currencies. Get cash right away! Use ATMs rather than currency exchange and consider switching to a bank that doesn't charge withdrawal fees at foreign ATMs (or even reimburses you for them). From NerdWallet: Foreign ATM and Debit Card Transaction Fees by Bank Notify your bank and credit card companies that you are traveling to avoid triggering a fraud alert and having the card shut down. Often you can do this online or just give them a call. When you select which countries you'll be in remember to include any countries where you have a layover and may buy something in the airport. Use Splitwise to track and share bills when traveling with others and Venmo or PayPal to settle up. Make copies of your cards including the important phone numbers (usually on the back) in case the card gets stolen and you need to alert the company. Keep these - and a backup card - in a separate place, like your luggage or a m

Megan and Emily talk to Danielle Ser about her experiences studying abroad in Germany and following her family's Holocaust journey into Poland. Danielle enjoyed the German beer, bakeries, and streuselkuchen.  She offers tips about traveling and living boldly and we debate travel ideas for after she graduates from law school next year! Danielle booked her study abroad travel through STA Travel. She shared travel hack/cheap flight search engines CleverLayover.com and Skiplagged.com. We're still reading our November book club pick: Come On Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All by Christina Thompson, read along and send any questions you have to be featured on the show! Did you study abroad? What were your experiences? Where should Danielle travel to distract herself while she waits for her bar exam results? Follow us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures  

Emily and Megan discuss happiness! What makes us happy, what should make us a happy and how to be happier... maybe. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner We're going to New Zealand next month! We're getting excited about it with our November book club pick: Come On Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All by Christina Thompson Follow us on social media to see updates from our travels: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures

Life coaching is not just a hot new trend. It's actually been around since the 90s! What is it exactly and could you benefit from having a coach? We talked to Jere Friedman about his journey to becoming a coach and what kind of work he does with his clients, including Emily and Megan's sessions! The Benefits of Hiring a Life Coach by Jen Smith from Huffington Post The New York Times: 36 Hours USA and Canada Learn more and contact Jere: jere.friedman [at] gmail.com The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion by Elle Luna Follow us on social media to see updates from our travels: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures

Megan took her first solo international trip - a long weekend in Paris, France! Breaking Down Bullet Journals from Stuff Mom Never Told You Stayed at the Hotel Beaumarchais in the 11th arrondissement. Le Marais Walking Food Tour from Original Food Tours Jardin du Luxembourg & Catacombs Fat Tire Versailles Bike Tour Shakespeare and Company Opera House Sacre Coeur Basilica Books read: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell The Sister by Louise Jensen --- Email us at bolddepartures@gmail.com. Follow us on social media to see updates from our travels: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures  

And we're back!  Emily and Megan chat about Emily's girls trip to London, England. Where we stayed: CitizenM Tower of London The London Eye: Champagne Experience The Crown Jewels: Tower of London Walking Tours: Along the Thames Pub Walk Free London Landmarks Tour West Country-side Tour: Warwick Castle, Stratford, Oxford & the Cotswolds Tea:  Park Room Afternoon Tea

An unanticipated job loss presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to our guest, Julie Rose. She took her time off (and severance package!) and spent almost a month visiting Europe - and hit 10 countries! We talk solo travel, budget, food, hostels and couchsurfing and what's up next for her. Have you used a period of unemployment to travel? Do you have any crazy couchsurfing stories? Email us at bolddepartures@gmail.com. Follow us on social media to see updates from our travels: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures

Emily and Megan talk about living boldly and how that translates to travel, work, and relationships. Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers — What does living boldly mean to you? What is the last bold thing you've done in your life or what are you waiting to do? What bold challenges do you have for Emily and Megan?Email us at bolddepartures@gmail.com. Follow us on social media to see updates from our travels: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures

Emily and Megan talk to Andrea Dunlop, author of Losing the Light about the book, travel, writing, and reading! Andrea's novella, Broken Bay, is available as an ebook and her new novel, She Regrets Nothing, out in February 2018, is available for pre-order. Follow Andrea on social media: Twitter and Instagram Andrea offered a ton of book recommendations, check these out:   Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza How to Be Married: What I Learned from Real Women on Five Continents about Surviving My First (Really Hard) Year of Marriage by Jo Piazza The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Books we're reading: Next up for our book club, we're reading — Did you read Losing the Light? What do you think happened to Sophie?  Tell us what you thought and give us your recommendations for upcoming book club picks. Email us at bolddepartures@gmail.com. Follow us on social media to see updates from our travels: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: ww

Rolling? Folding? Carry-on? Back-pack? So many choices when it comes to packing for international travel.  Emily and Megan discuss the methods they have employed in the past, and things to consider when preparing for travel. Listen along as they fill up their bags and prepare for their next adventure!   — Do you have packing tips or tricks? Share it in the comments or email us at bolddepartures@gmail.com. Follow us on social media to see updates from our travels: Instagram: www.instagram.com/bolddepartures Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolddepartures Twitter: www.twitter.com/bolddepartures

Are bucket lists only for those facing an end-of-life diagnosis? We explore the concept of bucket - or life - lists with Bridget O'Brien Swartz and talk about some important items on her list, her dual citizenship, and of course, travel, food, and books! Are you wanting to write a book? Consider joining National Novel Writing Month in November!  Camino de Santiago Bucket list resources: Bucketlist.org Day Zero Project (101 things to do in 1,001 days and now other goals and challenges) Bucket list articles: Psychotherapist Calls Bucket Lists a 'Red Herring' from Business Insider Bucket Lists and Positive Psychology from Psychology Today 7 Reasons Not To Make a Bucket List from Huffington Post Are Bucket Lists Good For Your Health? from Newsweek Books we talked about: The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan Carry On, Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy, Beautiful Life and Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle — Do you have a bucket/life list? What's on yours and what have you already accomplished? Share i