Fly with Chris and Di Chris and Dianne McKinley

What happens when you take the magic of Disney and the magic of Christmas and combine them? You get Disney for the holidays. Our friend and Disney travel expert Krystin Turner is here today to talk about some of the cool things that are available from Disney during the holiday and Christmas season. She has stayed at all of the resorts and has extensive knowledge about Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Cruises. We were lucky enough to have Krystin as our guest on season one of the podcast when we talked about creating a unique Disney experience.
Going to a Disney park or on a Disney cruise is something our family has talked about for years. Krystin is a Disney travel expert from Dreams Unlimited Travel and she shares the ins and outs of the different venues, special holiday features at the resorts, entertainment, decorations, costumes, and treats. She also talks about snowing on main street during the parade, The Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion, the best time to go, the best time to book, and more. 
Show Notes:
[01:48] Krystin Turner is a vacation planner from Dreams Unlimited Travel. She helps plan Disney vacations anywhere from cruise lines to Disney World and Disneyland. She can help with every aspect of the trip.
[03:31] Christmas time is the best time to go to any Disney destination. Disney starts decorating for the holidays on the 1st of November.
[03:57] The Christmas party at the Magic Kingdom is one of Krystin's favorite things to do. It's a limited ticket after hours event. There's a Christmas parade and treats are included. The characters are in costume and it even snows on Main Street.
[05:20] All of the resorts are decorated and every park has a giant Christmas tree. There's even a real gingerbread house with edible shingles.
[05:54] Krystin has stayed at all of the Walt Disney World Resorts. She stayed at Wilderness Lodge over the holidays, but most resorts have great holiday activities and themes. 
[07:31] The Christmas party has different treats including cookies, hot chocolate, and specialty offerings.
[09:26] At Disneyland the castle lights up and Disney California Adventures has decorations and the festival of holidays. They also have It's a Small World Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday. They change the lighting and decorations and even the scent. The mansion becomes The Nightmare Before Christmas themed mansion.
[11:46] The Christmas parade is twice a day, and you don't need special tickets.
[12:21] Special snacks change every year.
[13:26] Disney cruises have something for everyone. Even though the trips are more expensive, a lot of things are included and you end up spending less while on board.
[15:05] Disney cruises have high-level entertainment and first-run movies.
[15:36] During the holidays, all the characters are dressed in Christmas attire. There's a tree lighting ceremony. The whole ship is decorated beautifully. There's a Santa Claus meet and greet and story time with Mrs. Claus and of course the gingerbread house.
[17:55] A Disney cruise is definitely more expensive. A Disney cruise is a lot more relaxing than a Disneyland or Disney World experience. 
[19:54] The week of Christmas is the most crowded and expensive time to go. If you're planning a trip, go the first week of December.
[21:21] The earlier you book the better. Book the day the cruise is released. Book Disney World a 180 days in advance and Disneyland is a little more flexible.
[22:21] The further out you plan, the more relaxing it is and the easier it is to get those dinner reservations that you want.
[23:10] There are special things you can do like dessert parties or firework reservations.
[25:04] You can get a hold of Krystin at Krystin@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com. 
 
Links and Resources:
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Krystin@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com
Dreams Unlimited Travel

We are joined by Jamie and Skylar from Explorcation on this episode of the podcast.  They have a fantastic blog and vlog on YouTube.  They share a ton of advice for staying healthy and well when you are traveling.   
Jamie and Skylar are a couple who loves to travel, explore new places, and try new experiences. Many of their travels include adventures like hiking to secluded beaches, jumping off of waterfalls, paddling to beautiful destinations, and learning to rock climb.  
They also travel to relax and include videos from cruising and spending time on beaches. They live in Florida and travel as often as they can while still working full time. 
In this episode, Jamie and Skylar share their top tips for staying healthy and well while traveling and many planning and preparation tips and resources.  Make sure to stay tuned until the very end to hear their favorite three places they have visited.   
Show Notes:
[01:39] They both work full-time, but they love being active as much as possible.
[01:52] They both grew up in the midwest and had limited opportunities to travel. They moved to Florida to travel more often and live a more active lifestyle.  
[02:31] Explorcation started four years ago when they went on a cruise to the Virgin Islands.  They came back from that trip with so much video footage and decided to start the YouTube channel as a way to document their travels for themselves.  
[03:53] They hope to inspire other people to visit new places, try new things, and live a healthier and more adventurous lifestyle.    
[05:01] Some days it is a struggle to balance it all, but it really helps to have a second person to get input and help with the process.  
[05:57] Learning to set time boundaries and sticking to them have really been key to working full-time and growing Explorcation.  
[07:35] Their relationship has grown from working on the blog and vlog together.  
[10:08] They were fortunate to have a big trip right before COVID hit.  They still have footage they are sharing and working on from that trip.  
[11:11] They were also lucky not to have any trips interrupted by COVID because they didn’t have any additional trips planned for that time.  
[13:19] They encourage their viewers to find healthy activities they enjoy, make them feel good, and add joy to their lives.  
[13:31] First you have to make the decision to keep healthy habits while you are traveling.  That is the first challenge.  
[14:43]  They found themselves not feeling well for several days after returning from trips after enjoying too many drinks, food, and sun.  
[16:29] They still enjoy these amenities, but only in moderation. 
[17:15] They realized that the best stress reliever for them was just to get out and do what they loved in nature and be adventurous.  
[17:37] Returning with more energy and less stress was definitely a big motivator for them. Jamie had a second motivator and that was her health.   
[19:01] For Jamie adopting a healthier lifestyle and being more active is what she needed to take back her life.  She started by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and taking vitamins.  
[20:11] The one thing that has contributed to their health and happiness has been finding the activities that they both enjoy.  
[21:35] When they moved to Florida they started to find active hobbies that they both enjoyed doing together like paddleboarding.
[23:11] They both also enjoy rock climbing.  They got into rock climbing because they found a Groupon online.  
[25:15] They started rock climbing indoors and climbed for over a year before they thought about outdoor rock climbing.  Their first outdoor rock climbing trip was to Asheville, North Carolina. 
[27:09] Their rock climbing trips were only day trips.  Some destinations do offer multiple-day backpacking trips.  
[28:17] They have also developed a love for hiking.  They really appreciate the hills and mountains

It is finally time to get to know our other host better.  Today we are going to dig deeper and get to know more about Chris and his travel adventures. He waits until the very end of the episode to share his special story about his favorite childhood travel experience and adds some special guests in on the discussion. 
We also discuss Chris’s top 3 places to go, where he would like to go, and great family adventures. We talk about restaurants, excursions, and more. We hope you enjoy this little peek into Chris’s travel history and his most memorable traveling adventures. 
Show Notes:
[03:02] Chris has a special story about his favorite childhood travel experience that he is going to share at the end of the episode.
[04:23] Chris was first introduced to travel on road trips to Nashville.  He was typically the navigator.  
[05:09] Chris grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, which is 210 miles from Nashville. 
[06:18] Chris shares about being in a handbell choir at church as a child with his siblings and cousins.  
[08:45] New York City at that young age was very memorable. The handbell choir traveled to New York City to perform 
[10:08] Later in life Chris moved to New York and lived an hour and a half from New York City.  
[11:26] Chris shares his top three destinations that he has visited in his whole life.  
[12:19] He enjoyed learning about Roman history and Pompeii in Italy and visiting the colosseum.  
[14:55] Their advice is to not fill up on the first course because in Italy there are many courses.
[15:02] Chris shares about their experience in Scotland including St. Andrews and the countryside.  
[17:11] His number three destination is Las Vegas because there is so much to do.  
[19:15] Go cars are a great excursion.  They are little cars that provide GPS that talks to you about different historical sites and where to go.
[20:20] Chris’s favorite family trip is the RV trip, but the kids’ favorite trip is to Los Angeles.  
[20:59] His favorite destination with their extended family was the Dominican Republic.  They went with 20 people at two different times.  It was an all-inclusive resort and there was a lot to do.  
[23:26] The all-inclusive resorts are perfect with kids, especially older kids.  The kids were able to make their own choices and do fun things with safety.  
[25:01] Two places that Chris has not yet been to are Hawaii and Africa.  
[26:34] The third place that Chris still wants to go to is Dubai because it seems so luxurious.  
[28:49] Chris shares about their experience staying at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas.
[31:02] They were moved to a very luxurious room at the Cosmopolitan Hotel when the room they reserved wasn’t available. 
[33:14] They upgraded to first class on a trip and they brought them cocktails and warm nuts.   
[35:20] Chris’s favorite pancakes are Cracker Barrel's pancakes.  
[36:02] His favorite steak house is Ruth’s Chris.  They really enjoyed their visit to Ruth’s Chris in Keystone at the Crossing in Indianapolis. 
[37:03] If you ever fly through Minneapolis airport, in the main concourse check out pizza at Black Sheep.  
[38:29] Chris’s favorite excursion was their open-air helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.  He would love to do it again on a nice day. 
[40:15] Chris’s earliest childhood experience was their family trip to Orlando.  He calls his Aunt Deborah, and two cousins to share what they remember about their trip. 
[42:35] Chris’s Aunt Deborah shares the facts of this favorite childhood experience to Orlando.  
[44:16] They had their trip outlined with AAA and they stayed in Kissimmee.   
[47:15]  Brian remembers them packing up in their yellow Cadillac (“The Canary”) and driving all night.  
[48:15] Brandy remembers leaving at night time with 3 adults and five children packed in one Cadillac.  They all kept asking, “Are we there yet?”
[50:51] Everyone got

Award-winning travel agent, Ashley Morris from Alpaca Your Bags, will be joining us to talk about AFRICA! Ashley joined us in Season 1 to tell us all the tips and tricks to planning an amazing destination wedding or vow renewal. Ashley is back and fresh off of a trip she recently took to East Africa. She is going to share all of the details of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. She shares how she was lucky enough to get to go on a safari and preparation including visas and vaccinations. 
We are going to hear every thrilling thing that happened on this amazing trip. You will learn how to prepare for the trip, the wide variety of lodging available, things you could never imagine, and the different experiences you could have in both Nairobi, Kenya, Zanzibar, and Tanzania. She also talks about weight limits for flights and packing light and taking exactly what you need. You are going to be ready to pack your bags before this interview even ends! So, let’s fly!
 
Show Notes:
[02:01] Ashley Morris is the owner of Alpaca Your Bags, a website all about travel.
[02:48] Ashley just got back from a trip to Africa. She normally specializes in destination weddings, but she knows that people are also very interested in adventure travel.
[03:53] She went on a 12-day safari. 
[04:36] Wild Voyager offered trips to travel advisors and contacted Ashley. 
[06:34] You need a visa as well as a passport to go to Kenya and Tanzania.
[07:20] You have to have your documents in order and get travel vaccinations.
[08:27] You do need a vaccination for yellow fever. 
[11:28] There are special clinics dedicated to travel and travel preparation such as Passport Health. 
[13:58] Ashley shares her preparation for the trip. Long sleeve shirts with built in SPF are very useful. Hats and fleece are great too. Get those pants that zip into shorts. You also want light colors that don't attract bugs. Go for greens, browns, and khakis. 
[17:14] Ashley went to Kenya for the safari and Tanzania for the recovery. Masai Mara is a huge game reserve in Kenya. You will have a more diverse experience here than you would in the Serengeti.
[19:29] Ashley saw the Big 5 which are cape buffalos, lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards. Plus all of the other animals you would expect like hippos and giraffes.
[21:32] It was overwhelming to be a nature among these beautiful animals.
[22:11] The big activity is called a game drive. This is where you drive around and see the animals. They are most active at sunrise and dusk.
[25:22] One of the most amazing parts of the day was sitting around the campfire talking about what they'd seen.
[26:03] Their camp was more rustic with tented rooms and bathrooms. They had a chef that made everything from scratch. She would also make one unique Kenyan item. 
[29:05] They also went to a Masai Village and learned about the warriors.
[31:19] Everything on a safari is driving. They drove probably three or four hours a day.
[31:37] Some lodges and resorts have other activities.
[32:11] Some lodges will specialize in things like photography. Your travel advisor can tailor your experience to what you want.
[33:42] Understand your budget and what you're comfortable with.
[35:02] You can actually go on a hot air balloon safari. After landing, they had a bush breakfast. It was extremely elegant with champagne. It's a lovely way to celebrate a morning.
[37:33] They flew to Tanzania in a small plane. First they flew to Zanzibar. You can also see Freddie Mercury's first home because he was born in Zanzibar. There are also beautiful beaches and a lot of history.
[40:13] This was a more luxurious experience. They also went to Prison Island and saw land tortoises.
[44:12] Go to the elephant sanctuary in Nairobi.
[46:19] Ashley loved Stone Town Zanzibar.
[48:18] The food in Zanzibar was much more refined. There was a lot of Middle Eastern and Indian food.
[49:33] Cost depends on factors but there is a range of $7,000 to

Hey, fly listeners, thanks for joining us for this quick tip Thursday. If you haven't checked out episode 41, be sure to do so. In that episode, Tanya Shelburne of the Traveling Tanya blog took us through all of the ins and outs of planning a trip to Italy. If you're thinking of taking a tip to this amazing company you will want all of that info. Today, Tanya gives us some top tips for how to make the most out of your Italian vacation. Some of the things we talk about include when to go to Italy. 
We also talk about food and drinks. Did you know that in Italy wine is cheaper than soda? We also talk about the best way to avoid the tourist crowds by exploring early in the morning or late in the evening. Tanya talks about the wonderful food like pizza and pasta and how you can find some really great grab-and-go food and eat surrounded by Italian ambiance. We also talk about spontaneity versus pre-booking and so many other ways to get the most out of your Italian vacation.
Show Notes:
[01:00] You need to think about when you want to go to Italy. 
[01:08] Summertime is Tanya's least favorite time to go. The preferred time is what they call shoulder season. This is springtime in April and May or fall in September or October.
[01:30] During these times you'll find lower prices and more temperate weather. The crowds are also lighter.
[02:41] The best times for exploring are early in the morning or late at night.
[03:06] Wine in Italy is cheaper than soda, so why not indulge? You'll also have to ask for water and ice isn't common. 
[04:42] Pizza and pasta are king and grab-and-go spots are plentiful.
[05:45] There are wonderful bread and pastries everywhere. The food also has less additives and preservatives, so it balances out the calories.
[06:36] Think about what cities you are visiting and your highest priority attractions. These are the ones that you will want to pre-book.
[07:29] Pre-booking can also save you money. It's also good they leave some free time for spontaneity and rest.
 
Links and Resources:
Fly with Chris and Di on Facebook
Fly with Chris and Di on Twitter
Fly with Chris and Di on Instagram
Fly with Chris and Di on Pinterest
Traveling Tanya
Traveling Tanya on Pinterest
Traveling Tanya on Twitter
Traveling Tanya on Instagram
Traveling Tanya on Facebook
 
For pictures, tips and more, be sure to check out our Fly with Chris and Di Facebook page and signup to download a copy of The Best City for You. Please take a moment and subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Become a Fly Insider and get the inside scoop, behind the scenes photos, and exclusive travel deals.

Tanya Shelburne, author of the Traveling Tanya blog is here with us. Tanya is on a mission to inspire busy people like you to make travel a priority by sharing her vacation adventures and travel tips. Like us, she has two teenagers and loves to travel the world. Today, Tanya is going to take us to Italy. Tanya shares all kinds of insights about going to Italy. She even shares a great tool for trip planning and creating your own itinerary. This episode will have you dreaming about visiting Italy and will give you tools to begin planning now. 
She also shares tips for packing and why it pays to pack light. We also discuss transportation and why it’s important to plan in advance. We discuss trains, planning airport to hotel transportation, and traveling through Venice in vaporettos. Talking to Tanya feels like taking a trip to Italy as she shares her favorite hotspots, tours, food, classes, and amazing places to visit. She talks about historic landmarks and where to find the best view in Florence. We discuss Venice, centrally located Florence, and Rome along with how to get the most out of your trip. 
We are recording this in mid-march of 2020 and Italy is under a full lockdown. Everyone is on quarantine due to the impact of the coronavirus. This doesn't mean we can't plan for future travel and have something to look forward to in order to keep our spirits up. 
Show Notes:
[01:33] Tanya is a mom and wife who lives in the Midwest. She has a husband, a full-time job, and two teenage daughters. She also does a lot of volunteer work.
[01:56] She loves to travel and that's why she started a travel blog. She makes time to travel whenever she can.
[02:23] Tanya would like for people to make traveling a priority and not put those trips off.
[03:31] We are recording this in mid-march of 2020 and Italy is under a full lockdown. Everyone is on quarantine due to the impact of the coronavirus. This doesn't mean we can't plan for future travel and have something to look forward to when our spirits are down.
[04:33] Italy is Tanya's favorite place in the entire world. Tanya is passionate about traveling to Italy.
[05:49] She loves travel planning almost as much as she loves the actual travel.
[06:22] Tanya uses Tripmasters for all of her planning.
[06:48] She loves creating her own itineraries. Tripmasters will combine everything and your per person cost. It's not as expensive as you think.
[09:12] You could also get an organized tour, but Tanya likes to plan her own trip with some help from Tripmasters. 
[10:04] Rome2rio can help you plan your transportation ahead of time.
[13:37] Tanya is also a Rick Steves fan. He has a great app with walking tours that are fabulous. 
[15:57] YouTube is also a great travel and Italy travel resource. There are also great travel blogs like Traveling Tanya. 
[18:30] Pack what you know you will need. You can always buy stuff there. 
[20:06] Check with your airline about baggage fees before packing. Decide if you want to check your bags or not. 
[21:39] Tanya says it's possible to do a week in Italy with just a carry on and a backpack. The largest bag you can fit in the bin.
[22:36] It's also possible to do laundry in Italy. Learning to pack light will make your experience better.
[24:42] In Venice, you will travel by boat. Often in a ferry. 
[28:32] Without vehicles, you can enjoy the beauty of Venice. 
[29:40] Great things to see our Saint Mark's Square, the Basilica, Doge's Palace, and the old prison. There is also a wonderful old bookstore. There are also neighboring islands and amazing food and wine. 
[35:23] When you visit Europe, you will definitely get your steps in. Pack comfortable shoes.
[36:51] You can also go through guided tours with locals.
[38:50] Florence is south of Venice. It's centrally located and a great home base for exploring many of the different cities in Italy.
[40:40] Tanya's favorite spot in Florence is the Piazzale Michelangelo. The view is