Pack Your Bags, Not Your Baggage

Jennifer Neal
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Mental Health

Pack Your Bags, Not Your Baggage: A Travel Podcast for Women Who Deserve the Trip Travel isn't a reward you earn — it's part of your self-care routine. Join travel advisors Jennifer, Mallory, and Kim as they dig into everything from cruises and wellness retreats to Disney trips, girls' getaways, and multigenerational family vacations. Each week brings real talk, real bookings, and real advice from three women who live and breathe this industry — plus the occasional life update, a healthy debate, and always a "Boarding Call" with one actionable tip you can use to plan your next trip better. Whether you're dreaming up a romantic escape, a cruise with the whole family, or a girls' trip long overdue, this show is your permission slip to go. Go pack your bags, not your baggage.

  1. 2d ago

    8 River Cruise Myths, Busted by Travel Advisors

    Think river cruising is only for retirees, or that it’s boring, cramped, and too expensive? Mallory just took her first river cruise, and she reads off eight common river cruise myths while Jennifer and Kim bust them one by one. They share real examples from their own sailings and client trips. These include family-friendly lines with kids’ programs, smaller excursion groups, and ports that dock right in the city center. Then each host reveals which myth she believed before getting into the river cruise world. Perfect if you’ve been curious about river cruising but weren’t sure it was for you, or you’ve only ever heard about one river cruise line. In this episode: Cold open, welcome, and life updates (0:00)Myth 1: River cruising is just for retired people (4:00)Myth 2: River cruises are boring, with nothing to do (8:00)Myth 3: One river cruise line is the same as any other (10:55)Myth 4: River cruises cost way more than they’re worth (13:24)Myth 5: It’s rushed, and you barely get time in port (18:55)Myth 6: Seasickness is as big a risk as on an ocean cruise (24:10)Myth 7: River ships are tiny and cramped (25:20)Myth 8: You’re locked into the ship’s schedule (29:50)Which myth did we believe? Plus how payment timelines differ by cruise line (32:53)If any of what you pictured about river cruising just got rewritten, we can help you find the right line and itinerary. Reach out to Jennifer at jetsettingginny.com, Kim on Instagram @creatingmagicvacationswithkim, or Mallory on Instagram @mallorytravels_cmv. We’d love to help you book it. Enjoyed this episode? Like and follow the show so you never miss an episode! Join the conversation with us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594219913989, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packyourbags_pod/, and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PYBNYB

  2. Oct 13

    How Travel Agents Really Use AI to Plan Better Client Trips (and Where a Human Still Has to Step In)

    Ever wonder what your travel agent is doing with AI behind the scenes? Kim hosts this one and asks Jennifer and Mallory how they actually use AI in their travel businesses. They cover keeping proposals on track with weekly to-do lists, building custom destination guides for clients, and creating a week of social media posts in about 45 minutes. They also explain how their trip management software, Tern, audits itineraries for mistakes, why its secure payment process matters, and why AI complements their work instead of running it. Plus, one tip each for getting started with AI in your own work or life. Perfect if you’re curious how travel advisors use AI, or you’re just starting to use it yourself and want ideas to try. In this episode: Why AI complements our business instead of running it (0:00)How Tern keeps every trip organized, from itineraries to payment reminders (3:11)Tern’s built-in AI trip audit and secure payment handling (4:20)Keeping proposals on track with an AI-built weekly to-do list (7:55)Destination overviews, AI call notes, and task lists for human assistants (9:31)The trip enhancement playbook: Club Orange, pre-cruise hotels, and more (14:18)Custom destination and port guides for clients (16:47)Drafting and polishing client emails (19:32)Mallory’s Canva + Claude weekly social media workflow (21:20)Why a human always stays in the loop: inspect what you expect (24:08)Planning a Christmas markets trip with AI, verified by real experience (28:03)One tip each for getting started with AI (32:22)Want the other side of the story? Listen to our companion episode, “Can You Trust AI to Plan Your Trip?”, for the real-life cautionary tales. And think you know what a DMC is? Tell us in the comments! Ready to plan your own trip with people who know when to trust the tools and when not to? Reach out to Jennifer at jetsettingginny.com, Kim on Instagram @creatingmagicvacationswithkim, or Mallory on Instagram @mallorytravels_cmv. We’d love to help you book it. Enjoyed this episode? Like and follow the show so you never miss an episode! Join the conversation with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594219913989, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packyourbags_pod/, and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PYBNYB

  3. Oct 6

    Can You Trust AI to Plan Your Trip? Real Stories From Real Travelers

    AI travel planning sounds convenient — until it sends you to a canyon that doesn't exist. Mallory, Jennifer, and Kim dig into real stories of travelers who leaned on AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to plan their trips, with results ranging from embarrassing to genuinely dangerous — including a rural Peru hiking mishap, an AI-hallucinated cable car in Malaysia, and a Mount Shasta climb that ended in an overnight rescue. They break down why these tools sound so confident even when they're wrong, and share the one rule they're each committing to the next time AI touches any part of their own trip planning. Perfect if you've ever typed a travel question into ChatGPT and wondered whether you should actually trust the answer. In this episode: How widespread AI trip planning has become (0:03)The hiking trail that doesn't exist — a cautionary tale from Peru (0:07)More AI hallucinations — a fake Eiffel Tower in Beijing and an AI-generated cable car (0:13)Why AI sounds so confident even when it's wrong (0:17)The Mount Shasta rescue — when AI trip logistics went seriously wrong (0:20)Our honest, balanced takeaway on using AI for travel planning (0:28)Curious how we actually use AI in our own business? Check out the companion episode where we get into exactly that. Ready to plan your own trip with people who know the difference between a real hiking trail and a hallucinated one? Reach out to Jennifer at jetsettingginny.com, Kim on Instagram @creatingmagicvacationswithkim, or Mallory on Instagram @mallorytravels_cmv — we'd love to help you book it. Enjoyed this episode? Like and follow the show so you never miss an episode! Join the conversation with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2429254477826320, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packyourbags_pod/, and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PYBNYB

  4. Sep 29

    Disneyland vs. Disney World, Part 2: Which One Is Right for You?

    Part 2 of our Disneyland versus Disney World showdown is here! This week Jennifer, Mallory, and Kim answer the question clients ask most — which park is actually right for you? — then go head-to-head ride by ride (with a special guest judge) before wrapping up with their favorite tips and tricks for both destinations. Perfect if you're a first-time Disney planner trying to choose a coast, or a Disney superfan who just wants to settle the debate once and for all. In this episode: Which park fits your trip — first-timers vs. repeat visitors (0:07)Trip length & pairing Disneyland with a Southern California getaway (3:02)Final Boarding Call: ride-by-ride showdown — Space Mountain, Tiana's Bayou, Tower of Terror vs. Guardians, Haunted Mansion, Pirates (5:02)Character dining: Disney World vs. Disneyland (13:04)Snack showdown (15:24)Our best tips & tricks for both parks (25:00) Haven't listened to Part 1 yet? Go back and catch it first — then come find out which coast is calling your name. Ready to plan your own trip? Reach out to Jennifer at jetsettingginny.com, Kim on Instagram @creatingmagicvacationswithkim, or Mallory on Instagram @mallorytravels_cmv — we'd love to help you book it. Enjoyed this episode? Like and follow the show so you never miss an episode! Join the conversation with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2429254477826320, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packyourbags_pod/, and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PYBNYB

  5. Sep 22

    Disneyland vs. Disney World, Part 1: Parks, Resorts & Cost Breakdown

    We tried to fit Disneyland versus Disney World into one episode... and failed. There was just too much good info, so we split it into two parts — and this is round one. Jennifer, Mallory, and Kim break down the real differences between the two coasts, from park layouts and ride exclusives to resort perks and an actual head-to-head cost comparison. Perfect if you're trying to decide which coast is the better value for your family — or just want the inside scoop before you book. In this episode: Disney World vs. Disneyland: the basics (2:58)Weather & climate considerations (7:20)Park-exclusive attractions — Cars Land, Avengers Campus, Halloween events (10:18)Resorts: 32 options vs. 3 (13:58)Perks of staying on property — early entry, Lightning Lane, dining windows (18:56)Cost comparison: Disney World vs. Disneyland (25:47)Ready to plan your own trip? Reach out to Jennifer at jetsettingginny.com, Kim on Instagram @creatingmagicvacationswithkim, or Mallory on Instagram @mallorytravels_cmv — we'd love to help you book it. Enjoyed this episode? Like and follow the show so you never miss an episode! Join the conversation with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2429254477826320, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packyourbags_pod/, and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PYBNYB

  6. Sep 16

    Have You Been Scammed? Here's What to Do Next

    If a deal feels too good to be true, it probably is — but that doesn't mean you're the problem. Travel scams are getting more sophisticated — fake booking sites, phishing texts posing as your airline, phony "too good to be true" vacation rental listings, and scammers who now use AI to clone voices and mimic real travel agencies. In this episode, Jennifer, Mallory, and Kim break down the most common travel scams they're seeing right now, the red flags to watch for before you book, and — most importantly — exactly what to do if you think you've already been scammed: who to contact first, how to try to recover your money, and how to protect yourself going forward. Plus, why booking through a real travel advisor is one of the best safeguards you have. It's a practical, no-judgment conversation for anyone who's ever second-guessed a "deal" online — because it can happen to the savviest traveler, too. Ready to plan your own trip? Reach out to Jennifer at jetsettingginny.com, Kim on Instagram @creatingmagicvacationswithkim, or Mallory on Instagram @mallorytravels_cmv — we'd love to help you book it. Enjoyed this episode? Like and follow the show so you never miss an episode! Join the conversation with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2429254477826320, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packyourbags_pod/, and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PYBNYB

  7. Sep 8

    We Almost Got Scammed Too

    All three of us have almost gotten scammed. Today we're telling those stories — including one that was unfolding as we recorded this episode All three of us have almost gotten scammed — and honestly, none of us are careless people. This week, we're getting real about it: our own near-misses, a hiking destination in Peru that ChatGPT completely made up (two tourists paid $160 to be dropped at a random rural road chasing it), and a phone "ransom" scam happening in Paris that came to us fresh, mid-recording, from someone in our own network. We also break down just how big this problem has actually gotten — travel fraud losses hit a record $16 billion in 2025 — and why AI is quietly making fake sites and scam messages harder to catch than ever. This isn't a lecture. It's the stuff nobody tells you until it almost happens to you. Part 2 next week: what to actually do about all of it, including exactly what to do if you've already been scammed. 🧳 New episodes every week — subscribe so you don't miss Part 2. ✈️ Want a trip planned by people who already know what to watch for? Links to book with each of us are in the description. Ready to plan your own trip? Reach out to Jennifer at jetsettingginny.com, Kim on Instagram @creatingmagicvacationswithkim, or Mallory on Instagram @mallorytravels_cmv — we'd love to help you book it. Enjoyed this episode? Like and follow the show so you never miss an episode! Join the conversation with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2429254477826320, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packyourbags_pod/, and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PYBNYB #TravelPodcast #TravelScams #TravelSafety #TravelTips #TravelAgent

  8. Sep 1

    The Complete EPCOT Deep Dive (with Special Guest Ryan Joy)

    EPCOT is basically two parks in one, so we split the conversation the same way the park splits itself — the longest lines, whether they're actually worth the wait, and how to beat them, plus every free air-conditioned hideout in the park (yes, even the one most people don't know about). Then we cross into World Showcase for Kidcot and the passport program, before special guest Ryan Joy joins us for a rapid-fire "best of" round: best restaurant, best drink, best snack, best festival, best show. If you've ever left EPCOT overwhelmed, this is the episode that fixes that. Ready to plan your own trip? Reach out to Jennifer at jetsettingginny.com, Kim on Instagram @creatingmagicvacationswithkim, or Mallory on Instagram @mallorytravels_cmv — we'd love to help you book it. Enjoyed this episode? Like and follow the show so you never miss an episode! Join the conversation with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2429254477826320, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packyourbags_pod/, and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PYBNYB

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Pack Your Bags, Not Your Baggage: A Travel Podcast for Women Who Deserve the Trip Travel isn't a reward you earn — it's part of your self-care routine. Join travel advisors Jennifer, Mallory, and Kim as they dig into everything from cruises and wellness retreats to Disney trips, girls' getaways, and multigenerational family vacations. Each week brings real talk, real bookings, and real advice from three women who live and breathe this industry — plus the occasional life update, a healthy debate, and always a "Boarding Call" with one actionable tip you can use to plan your next trip better. Whether you're dreaming up a romantic escape, a cruise with the whole family, or a girls' trip long overdue, this show is your permission slip to go. Go pack your bags, not your baggage.

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer Neal
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jennifer Neal