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AFAR Media

Unpacked by AFAR tackles one tricky topic in travel each week. Whether you want to hack your points and miles, figure out where to travel next, or need advice on an ethical dilemma, we're your expert travel guides. Because the travel world is complicated. We're here to help you unpack it.

Unpacked by AFAR

Winter is the best time to visit the Yukon territory. Follow one writer as she travels by dog sled and snowmobile, dons snowshoes for a hike through Tombstone Territorial Park and witnesses the beauty of the northern lights and communal reclamation alongside locals. In this episode of Unpacked by Afar, we follow the infamous “call of the wild” into the Canadian Yukon. 

How To Plan a Winter Trip to the Yukon Territory
In this episode you’ll learn: 

How to travel in Yukon Territory during the winter, from snowmobiles to dogsleds. 

The tour groups that give you insider experiences of the Yukon’s winter wonders. 

Local landmarks that you have to visit in the winter. 

See the Northern Lights with Local Guides
Don’t miss these memorable moments: 
[04:35] Mushing: Crossing Tagish Lake on a dog sled. 
[09:46] Seeing the aurora borealis from a local’s backyard in West Dawson. 
[18:25] “I’m reclaiming my land because of the gold rush…” 

“Sourdoughs” and “Cheechakos”: Winter Life in the Yukon
Writer, Debbie Olson, is a Métis Canadian local who has explored and visited every Canadian province and territory, including the Yukon. But the Yukon in winter? That’s a legendary experience that deserves its own category. 

Follow along as she is guided into the wonders of the Yukon in the winter through the wonder of winter by locals who call the Yukon home, including a professional dog sled driver (musher) and a member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation who is reclaiming her land. 

Resources: 

Read Debbie’s print story that inspired this episode. 
Read the transcript of this episode. 
Explore the tour operators that Debbie traveled with: the Klondike Experience, Tagish Lake Kennel Tours and Entreé Destinations. 
Listen to this Travel Tales episode about polar bears in Canada and this episode about a tour guide’s efforts to preserve a part of the Canadian coastline. 
Check out Debbie’s other work at Wander Woman Travel Magazine. 

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

”Wonder Is Real and it Lives Here.” The Most Wintry Place in North America.

In our annual Travel Vanguard awards, Afar honors nine companies that are working to improve the world and how travelers experience it. We launched the Afar Travel Vanguard in 2016 to celebrate organizations that are making travel a force for good. This year, we received more than 100 nominations from travel professionals and organizations around the world. Narrowing down the list was no easy task since, fortunately, there are more organizations than ever pioneering efforts in sustainability, diversity, or accessibility.
Our nine honorees include a cruise line providing vital medical care to residents of remote islands, a destination focused on making vacations easier for neurodivergent people, and a resort company supporting and elevating its local communities. May their stories inspire you to travel more respectfully and consciously.
In this episode, we talk with Ellen Carpenter, a NYC-based writer and editor who interviewed all nine winners.
Meet the winners of the 2025 Afar Travel Vanguard
Visit Myrtle Beach: For making vacations smoother for autistic families
Tourism Cares: For connecting travelers with more meaningful experiences across the world
Visit Lauderdale: For being a committed ally to LGBTQ+ travelers
Quark Expeditions: For showcasing the culture and food traditions of Greenland and Canada
Sandals Foundation: For lifting up its Caribbean communities
Destination Canada: For developing and supporting under-visited regions across the country
Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy: For investing in the futures of people in the areas where its guests travel
Paul Gauguin Cruises: For providing much-needed medical assistance in French Polynesia
Switzerland Tourism: For uniting the Swiss tourism industry in a shared commitment to sustainability

Resources

Meet the previous members of the Afar Travel Vanguard.

Explore Ellen Carpenter's work.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

9 Inspiring Companies Changing the Way We Travel

Who needs a travel planner when you could consult the cosmos? According to astrologer Adama Sesay, your astrological chart can be the key to an ideal travel year. 

On this episode of Unpacked, she breaks down the astrological events to look out for in 2025, shares travel suggestions based on each sign and helps you navigate traveling during a dreaded Mercury retrograde.

Wait, When is Mercury in Retrograde in 2025?
In this episode you’ll learn: 

How astrology can help you plan your ideal year of travel. 

What astrologers mean by Mercury retrograde and how that relates to travel. 

When and what kind of travel each sign should pursue in 2025. 

How to Travel Based on Your Astrological Sign 
Don’t miss these memorable moments: 
[01:16] How an astrologer makes plans based on the cosmos. 
[04:48] Mercury retrograde and other astrology-based travel predictions for 2025. 
[11:40] Breaking down travel styles, sign-by-sign. 

Your 2025 Astrological Travel Forecast 
Adama Sesay shares how astrology can affect travel on an international level and a personal level. From an overview of when and how each sign can make the most of travel in 2025 to how charting a location and keeping in mind astrological events can affect everyone’s travel plans. 
Adama Sesay is the author Black Moon Lilith Rising: How to Unlock the Power of the Dark Divine Feminine Through Astrology and the card deck and guidebook Black Moon Lilith Cosmic Alchemy Oracle. 
Resources: 
Read the transcript of this episode.
Follow Adama Sesay on Instagram. 
Learn more about her work or book a reading on her website Lilith Astrology. 
Read, Where To Travel in 2025 According to Your Astrological Sign. 
Compare your travel experiences to her predictions from last year. 

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

How to Plan Your Best Travel Year: An Astrologer Shares Her 2025 Predictions

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

“If I travel to you, will you give me lessons?” When former child prodigy, Lavinia Spalding, emailed the biggest female flamenco guitarists in Spain, she was shocked when they all agreed to teach her.

In this episode, she follows an abandoned dream to Madrid, Granada, and Barcelona, Spain to immerse herself in the new world of female flamenco guitar. 

Follow Along with Revolutionary “Tacaoras”
In this episode, discover: 

What flamenco means to the women who are paving the way for female flamenco guitarists. 

The origins of flamenco and its important elements. 

Some of the biggest names in flamenco guitar from Paco de Lucía to Antonia Jiménez 

Breaking Into the Boy’s Club.
Don’t miss these transformative travel moments: 
[02:07] Following and foregoing my father’s flamenco dreams. 
[05:40] The mysterious origins of flamenco.
[06:36] A kindred spirit and a familiar melody with Antonia Jiménez.

Strumming in the Spirit of “Duende”
Lavinia Spalding is the editor of The Best Women’s Travel Writing and co-hosts the podcast There She Goes: travel stories told by the women who wrote them. But at one time, she believed she was destined to become a “tocaora,” a female flamenco guitarist. 

In this episode, she follows in her deceased father’s footsteps by traveling to Spain to learn flamenco guitar. Antonia Jiménez, Pilar Alons,o and Marta Robles, some of the most prominent female flamenco guitarists in Spain, are her guides into “duende,” the heartbeat of flamenco that transforms suffering into passion. 

Resources: 

Read Lavinia’s original story. 

Explore Lavinia’s work on her website. 

Listen to this playlist that features music by Marta Robles. 

Watch these performances by Pilar Alonso and Antonia Jiménez.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Afar, A Retrospective: The First Female Flamenco Guitarists, Turning Suffering into Passion

This year in luxury travel, customization is king. Afar’s resident hotel expert, Jennifer Flowers, and editor in chief, Julia Cosgrove, go behind the scenes of ILTM, the International Luxury Travel Market, in Cannes, France. They sat down with leaders from three of the world’s biggest hotel brands—Hilton, IHG, and Hyatt—to hear how trends, technology, and travelers' changing desires will shape luxury hotels in 2025. 
Featured Guests:

Crystal Vinisse Thomas, (Former) Vice President, Global Brand Leader, Lifestyle and Luxury Brands, Hyatt. (Crystal resigned after we recorded this episode.)

Jane Mackie, SVP of Luxury, Lifestyle, and Premium Brands at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)

Dino Michael, SVP and Global Head, Hilton Luxury Brands

**New opportunity: Want to be featured in an episode of Unpacked or have an idea you want us to unpack next? Send us a voicemail here. **

What Travelers Want Most in 2025 
In this episode, you’ll learn: 

The path to becoming a luxury travel leader in hospitality. 

How hotels are helping travelers customize their experiences, loyalty perks and more. 

The trends that will help you plan your perfect year of travel—from AI to authentic experiences. 

Plan Better Travel With These Luxury Hotel Brands
Don’t miss these moments: 
[07:28] Sniffing out inauthenticity and how hotels become good neighbors. 
[25:26] AI, customization, and getting the most out of loyalty programs. 
[36:45] How all-inclusive resorts are gaining a new reputation. 

Resources
Read the article: 4 Hotel Travel Trends to Watch in 2025.
Explore the luxury travel brands at Hilton, Hyatt and InterContinental (IHG).
Check out our Hotels We Love series and Stay Here Next reviews.
Read the transcript of this episode.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Your Next Tour Might Be a Silent One. AI Will Remake Your Hotel Experience. These Are the Travel Trends to Watch in 2025

Step aside cheesy ghost tours, “tombstone tourism” is so much more than visiting cemeteries to hear about local legends. In this episode of Unpacked, a seasoned traveler shares why graveyards and tombstones are at the top of her “must-see” list—no matter the destination. 

** New Opportunity: What's one tricky travel topic you want us to unpack? Send us a voice message here, for a chance to weigh in and be featured in an upcoming episode. **

Tombstone Tourism: Travel’s Underrated Experience. 
In this episode you’ll learn: 

How visiting a cemetery can give you cultural insight into the places you visit. 

The social and health benefits of walking through a cemetery. 

Some of the cemeteries you should add to your list, and what makes them unique. 

 
Should I Travel To A Cemetery?
Don’t miss these moments: 
[13:34] Finding solace for a familiar grief in Berlin’s Star Children Gardens
[22:49] Becoming better people and other surprising benefits of tombstone tourism. 
[25:29] Burial changes and a disappearing gravesite in Amsterdam

The Difference Between Graveyards and Cemeteries
Travel journalist Blane Bachelor visits a cemetery every time she travels, not because she’s searching for haunted stories, but because it enriches her experience of a place and her human experience overall. 

She chats with host Aislyn Greene about the cemeteries and graveyards around the world that everyone should visit, the personal benefits of walking through gravesites and how these landmarks can help you travel deeper. 

Resources: 
Read Blane’s full story here.
Explore more of her work on Instagram or on her website. 
Listen to this episode about how tourism can help us grieve. 
Read the transcript of this episode. 

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

I Always Visit a Cemetery When I Travel—Here's Why You Should, Too

Stop making these common travel mistakes and start maximizing credit card points and airline miles with these tips from The Points Guy, Brian Kelly, author of the new book How to Win at Travel. In this episode, he chats with host Aislyn Greene about the mindsets, practices, and guidelines to help both beginners and seasoned fliers win at travel in today’s economy of points and miles. 
** New Opportunity: What's one tricky travel topic you want us to unpack? Send us a voice message here, for a chance to weigh in and be featured in an upcoming episode. **

Most Travelers Make These Mistakes When Booking with Points
In this episode you’ll learn: 

How to beat inflation with credit card perks and points. 

Why chasing elite status is no longer worth it and what to do instead.

The common mistakes you need to avoid to book the best travel deals. 

Travel Game Hacks: Sniffing Delays and Maximizing Miles
Don’t miss these moments: 
[00:00] A 12-year-old books a family trip to the Cayman Islands: The origin of The Points Guy. 
[12:25] Beginner tips for racking up travel points and miles. 
[15:13] Common misconceptions about booking travel.
[33:52] Flight delayed or cancelled? Save money and time by using points. 

Travel Deals are Easier to Find with The Points Guy

Brian Kelly, aka the Points Guy, is the go-to-person source for points, miles and travel deals for a global audience. In his new book, How To Win At Travel, he breaks down his most tried-and-true strategies to help every traveler– whether you are aspiring or a seasoned flier– make every dollar count toward better travel experiences. 

In this episode he shares the most important tips for booking flights, the apps that help him travel smarter and the hacks he uses to save money and time when things go wrong. 

Resources:
Want more tips? Read this companion story on afar.com.
Check out The Points Guy website or follow The Points Guy on Instagram. 
Buy Brian’s new book, How to Win at Travel. 
Want more tips? Read this companion story on afar.com.
Read the transcript of this episode.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

I've Been Booking Trips With Points Since I Was 12—Here's How To Win at Travel

Welcome to a special bonus from our sister podcast, Travel Tales. In it, Antoni Porowski, our favorite culinary expert from Queer Eye, takes you behind-the-scenes of his new National Geographic show, No Taste Like Home (premiering February 23, 2025). In this episode, he shares the connection that sent him crying off camera with Awkwafina, the dish that defeated his adventurous palate with Henry Golding, and how his Polish roots served him well while helping celebrities explore the foods that taste like home in six different countries.
What Do Kimbap, Ndambe and Chicken Fried Steak Have in Common? 
On this episode you’ll learn: 

How National Geographic’s team created epic, transformative travel experiences for celebrities. 

The tastes and origin stories that transformed Antoni Porowski, from kelp soup in Korea to ndambe in Senegal. 

The ways that food and travel can connect people to their deepest roots. 

Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski Will Eat Anything—Except This 
Don’t miss these transformative, travel moments: 
[03:06] “I was the pickiest eater ever growing up!”
[10:01] Kelp, crying, and Korean connections with Awkwafina.
[17:18] James Marsden sheds a light on chicken fried steak.
[19:21] Antoni Porowski tests his foodie limits with Henry Golding.
[20:04] The surprising connections that changed the way Antoni Porowski approaches food.

Why The Perfect Meal Should Remind You of Your Childhood
Every episode of Antoni Porowski’s new show, No Taste Like Home, took three to six months of research: from tracing family trees to exploring the origins of traditional foods.

In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, discover what Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski learned about the universality of place, comfort and connection by taking celebrities on epic journeys to explore their culinary and familial roots. 

Resources: 
Follow Antoni Porowski on Instagram 
Stream the show, No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski. 
Watch this episode on Youtube. 
Read the episode transcript.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.

Travel Tales Bonus: Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski Will Eat Anything—Except This

“How soon can you put this baby on a plane?” When No Reception Club founders Gemma and Daniel Ng became parents, they vowed not only to keep traveling, but to create solutions for others braving travel with kids. 
And so they went on to create “The Getaway Bag,” which went on to become a cult favorite.
On this episode of Unpacked, they share the terrible flight that inspired their first bag, hard won advice for traveling parents, and what No Reception Club really means to them. 

Can Travel Be Even More Important With Kids?
On this episode you’ll learn: 

How to maximize No Reception Club’s viral travel diaper bag for your family. 

Pro packing tips to be prepared when traveling with kids (without overpacking). 

How to protect your child’s sleep and conquer jet lag when traveling as a family. 

Maximize Snacks. Minimize Gear. Packing Tips For Parents. 
Don’t miss these moments: 
[01:21] How a nightmare flight led to helping parents travel easier. 
[14:40] Why traveling with kids has a lasting impact—even if they don’t remember the trip. 
[22:24] After five years of traveling with kids, here’s what we wish we knew from the start. 

Empowering Families to Travel, One Bag at a Time. 
As first-time parents, Gemma and Daniel had their fair share of travel mishaps, from overpacking on a road trip with their 3-month-old to wanting to pull their hair out on a flight to Hawaii. 
They chat with host, Aislyn Greene about the advice they would give their younger selves, how their travel philosophy and bags make for more meaningful family trips, and ways that parents can travel more, not less, with their kids.

Resources: 
** Use the code AFAR25, to get $25 off any purchase at No Reception Club.**
Read the transcript of the episode.
Buy The Getaway Bag. 
Check out this in-depth review of No Reception Club’s Hideaway Carry-On Duffel. 
Discover the best travel gear for parents, tested by Afar parents (and their kids). 
Follow No Reception Club on Youtube or Instagram
Join the No Reception Clubhouse on Facebook for community and perks. 

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

** New Opportunity: What's one tricky travel topic you want us to unpack? Send us a voice message here, for a chance to weigh in and be featured in an upcoming episode. **

The Secret to Stress-Free Family Travel? These Parents (And Travel Pros) Say It’s All in the Bag.

Welcome to Unpacked Minis, our new Unpacked series. Throughout the year, over the course of four bite-size episodes, we'll dig into the biggest themes in travel. This month, we're tackling cruising, specifically those who are new to cruising—or think it's not for them.
In our inaugural episode, Michelle Baran—Afar’s deputy news editor and resident cruise expert—sits down with host Aislyn Greene, a former cruise skeptic, to unpack the surprising world of modern cruising. Whether you're new to the world or you’re cruise-averse for environmental, cultural, or other reasons, you’ll discover unique cruise experiences that will help you rethink this growing travel industry. 
From cruise recommendations for adventurous travelers to the ways that cruising is adjusting to concerns about sustainability and travel limitations, here's how to dive in.

Should I Go on a Cruise?
In this episode you’ll learn: 

Why river cruising could be the ideal cruise type for novices and skeptics. 

The advantages and disadvantages of cruising. 

How cruise lines are adjusting to concerns about sustainability and limited options. 

Busting Cruise Stereotypes One-By-One
Don’t miss these memorable moments: 
[01:52] The experience that changed my mind about cruising.
[05:49] What about wind? Sustainability and sailing ships. 
[ 00:00] Destinations you can only reach by water. 

Resources: 

Explore our recs for river cruises, how to pick the best polar cruise for you, and more Afar cruise content. 

Read other work by Michelle Baran.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

** What's one tricky travel topic you want us to unpack? Send us a voice message here, for a chance to weigh in and be featured in an upcoming episode. **

Unpacked Minis, Cruise Edition: There's a Cruise for You (Really!)

In the world of travel legends, Rick Steves is right up there at the top. Since he launched his company in 1976, he has sent millions of Americans abroad, either through his guided tours or via his many, many guidebooks. But his mission—to “curate culture shock”—comes with a cost. 
Rick has long been aware of the environmental impact of encouraging so many people to travel, but he found that carbon offset programs didn’t do enough to alleviate his concerns. So Rick and his team created the Rick Steves’ Europe Climate Smart Commitment, which donates $30 for every traveler on their tours to a carefully selected set of nonprofits. 
Rick came on the podcast to chat about the program, as well as his views on ethical travel. But the conversation was so wide-ranging and rich—touching on everything from dual-narrative travel to his belief in the power of crossing borders—that we decided to split it into two episodes. 
This week’s episode focuses on Rick’s constantly evolving views on travel, his mission, and his belief in self-imposed carbon taxes. And next week, we’ll drill down into his Climate Smart Commitment with his chief operating officer, Craig Davidson. 
Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.

Listen to Rick’s podcast, Travel With Rick Steves.

Learn more about the Rick Steves’ Europe Climate Smart Commitment. 

Read our story about a climate change reporter who wanted to fly less.

Check out our primer on carbon offsets and the programs that can make a difference. 

Catch up on Unpacked, season two:

How to Make Hard Travel Funny, According to a Comedian

The Making of a Patagonian National Park

Are You Ready to Hand Over Travel Planning to the ChatGPT and AI Bots?

It’s Not Too Late to Plan Your Summer Travels—Here’s How

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Rick Steves Wants to Save the World, One Trip at a Time

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