Let's Just Go

Kayla Shawley
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Let’s Just Go podcast! I’m Kayla, a travel advisor, millennial, and professional suitcase-stuffer here to share stories, tips, and plenty of honest opinions from my adventures around the globe. Each episode, you’ll get destination breakdowns, planning advice, hilarious travel tales, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like working in the travel industry. Whether you’re planning your next big trip or just need a virtual escape, you’re in the right place. Fair warning: I swear sometimes and I’m not here to sugarcoat things. If you’re into real talk with a dash of chaos and a whole lot of travel love, hit play.

  1. 2d ago

    Let's Just Go to Croatia

    We docked in Dubrovnik and spent the day on the Pelješac Peninsula instead. It was the best tour of three weeks in Europe, and I started googling yacht charters on the drive back. In this episode I am covering: Why we skipped Dubrovnik Old Town entirely and why it was the right callDubrovnik Food Story — the husband-and-wife operation booked through Viator that ran our tour, and why I am recommending them to every client heading to CroatiaThe oyster farm: going out on a boat, watching oysters harvested from a sheltered inlet, eating them fresh from the water (Brian loved them, I had one and was done, the grappa-style liqueur was better)Ston: one of the oldest functioning saltworks in Europe, buying fresh sea salt straight from the flats, and the Walls of Ston — the second-largest fortification system in the world after the Great Wall of China (also a Game of Thrones filming location)Winery Milos: a beautiful hillside property, regional red wines from grapes that only grow in this specific microclimate on this specific peninsula, and a straight sip of olive oil that was a lotVinarija Križ: a family winery hundreds of years old, about the size of a bedroom, where the wife cooked a full meal from scratch while we drank wine and talked with the husband — lentil soup, fresh bread, charcuterie, wild boar ragù with homemade gnocchi from boar he hunted himself, local fruit cakeThe drive back along the Croatian coast, a stop at the guide's uncle's winery, and me googling yacht charters before we were back on the ship I need to go back to Croatia. This was my first time and it will not be my last. Next episode: the full Europe trip wrap-up — logistics, lessons, what I would do differently, and why you should not plan a trip like this alone. Find me at kaylareneetravel.com and across all socials at Kayla Renee Travel. Until next time — let's just go.

  2. Aug 24

    Let's Just Go to Valletta

    Malta was not a destination I had strong feelings about going in. By the time we left, I was already thinking about going back. In this episode I am covering: Getting from the Disney Dream into Valletta — the 15-minute walk, the one-euro glass lift, and why getting off the ship early mattersWhy English is more widely spoken in Malta than the native Maltese languageFilipino food in a Maltese food court — more logical than it sounds given how diverse the country isA women-owned co-op housing 15 to 20 small local businesses — clothing, skincare, accessories, and a woman who knew Philadelphia surprisingly wellHollywood: a two-story store where everything is made in Malta by local artisans, a former shop cat who has since been adopted (I was very sad), and the hot sauce worth buyingCafé Society: drinks on steps overlooking the harbor, two rounds, and a bird that deposited directly onto my leg and nearly into my drinkDinner at an authentic Maltese restaurant — pizza, pasta, a peach spritz, leftovers brought back to the shipGetting back to the cabin to find no shower curtain, waiting for one to be delivered, and finally showering Next episode: Dubrovnik, Croatia — an oyster farm on the water, the Walls of Ston (second largest fortification system in the world after the Great Wall of China), two wineries, and a home-cooked wild boar ragù with homemade gnocchi at a family winery on the Pelješac Peninsula. Find me at kaylareneetravel.com and across all socials at Kayla Renee Travel. Until next time — let's just go.

  3. Aug 17

    Let's Just Go to Corfu

    Corfu was a new destination and I went in prepared — research done, hours double-checked, spots saved in my maps. Then it was Sunday and almost everything was closed. In this episode I am covering: The two-bus process getting from the DCL ship into Corfu Old Town and why it takes more time than you expectWhy Sunday closures in smaller European cities are real and not always accurately reflected in Google MapsThe bakery that saved the morning: feta and honey pastry in phyllo dough, koulouri, apple pastry for BrianWandering Old Town without a plan, getting mildly lost, and sitting down on a benchChin Chin: scrambled eggs with tomatoes, feta, and oil on toast, and the last Freddo Cappuccino of the entire tripThe Greek yogurt situation — high expectations from a previous Mykonos experience, extremely sour reality, very good custardA city-wide plumbing outage and how the cruise WhatsApp group solved it with a Starbucks bathroom door codeGetting back on the ship, the pool, and the rainforest room stone loungers and sauna — both with floor-to-ceiling windows — as the ship pulled out of CorfuAnt-Man I am going back to Corfu. Just not on a Sunday. Next episode: Valletta, Malta — a women-owned co-op, a store called Hollywood with locally made goods, Cafe Society drinks on the stairs with a water view, a bird that had terrible aim, and no shower curtain waiting back on the ship. Find me at kaylareneetravel.com and across all socials at Kayla Renee Travel. Until next time — let's just go.

  4. Aug 10

    Let's Just Go to Mykonos

    I have been to Mykonos multiple times. I thought I knew what a day there looked like. A private tour with a guide named Fotis showed me I was wrong — in the best possible way. In this episode I am covering: How tendering works in Mykonos and why it affects your port day timingGetting on an early tender and using the quiet morning before the crowds arriveBooking a private tour through Viator the day before after finding out it was going to be the busiest day of the month at the portOur guide Fotis — how he pivoted the entire day based on what we had already done, stopped mid-tour to get us more Freddo Cappuccinos, took us to his friend's bakery for spanakopita, and showed us local beaches and viewpoints tourists do not find on their ownThe hidden cat sanctuary that has been operating since the 1990s — we stopped at a grocery store for cat food and treats on the wayGetting my septum pierced — the piercing itself, five declined cards, and why the Apple Card worked when nothing else didDuck bar: the piercer's recommendation across the street, hours of beers and a ham and cheese toastie, and a server I exchanged Instagrams with and am still in contact withDinner at Palo back on the ship — the right way to end a busy port day If you are heading to Mykonos and want Fotis's contact information, reach out to me directly. I am already sending clients his way. Next episode: Corfu — a new destination for both of us, Sunday closures that affected our morning, scrambled eggs with feta and tomato on toast, and a stone lounger in the rainforest room on the way out of port. Find me at kaylareneetravel.com and across all socials at Kayla Renee Travel. Until next time — let's just go.

  5. Aug 3

    Let's Just Go to Chania, Greece

    Chania was our first port of call on the Disney Dream's Greek Isles itinerary, and I went in with a local advantage — an American TikToker who lives in Chania and gives restaurant and neighborhood recommendations. I followed her suggestions for the day and had one of the best port stops of the entire cruise. In this episode I am covering: How the DCL buses work getting from the ship into Chania and back — easy, no stressThe Jar: Freddo Cappuccinos, peanut butter banana toast, and a turtle pond I almost did not leaveWhat the old town of Chania actually looks like — Old World coastal, Venetian architecture, nothing like the Santorini and Mykonos photos in your headWhy Chania does not need a tour and rewards independent wanderingThe best port shopping of the entire cruise — clothes, souvenirs, a hat for 15 euros, and Brian's outfit that tore the first time he wore itLunch at Chrisostomos: a pork platter, Cretan bruschetta with mizithra cheese, a Cretan salad, local beers, and complimentary donut holesWhy Cretan food is a great option if you are not a seafood personThe street cats of Chania (an important topic)Finding out that the next day in Mykonos was going to be the busiest day of the month at that port — and booking a private tour immediately Next episode: Mykonos — a private tour with a guide named Fotis, a cat sanctuary with a grocery store stop for cat food, a septum piercing that finally happened, and a server at a bar called Duck who we are still following on Instagram. Find me at kaylareneetravel.com and across all socials at Kayla Renee Travel. Until next time — let's just go.

  6. Jul 27

    Let's Just Go to the Greek Isles with DCL

    I have been on multiple Disney cruises. I have also cruised Greece multiple times. This was my first time combining the two — nine nights on the Disney Dream through the Greek Isles and Malta. I am a Disney adult and a travel advisor who sells DCL, and I want to give you my honest take on what this experience was actually like. In this episode I am covering: Getting to the port from Rome and what the check-in situation was actually likeWhy you should join the WhatsApp group and Facebook group for your specific DCL sailing before you goThe Disney Dream — what it does well and where it feels dated compared to newer DCL shipsThe honest food take: rotational dining, why Palo is always the right call, and why the main dining room quality has declinedThe rainforest room add-on — approximately $200 per person for nine nights and worth every dollarThe teenager situation: real, documented in the WhatsApp group, and something to know going inTwo active volcanoes — Stromboli and Mount Etna — on the same morning before breakfastChurro Mickey waffle day and why guests plan their mornings around itThe VAT refund process on DCL European sailings — do this the same day you make your purchases or you will regret itThe honest verdict: who DCL in Europe is right for and who might want to look at alternatives The ports — Chania, Mykonos, Corfu, and Valletta — are each getting their own episodes. This one is all about the ship. If you are trying to figure out whether a European cruise is right for you, or which cruise line fits how you travel, reach out. This is exactly the kind of thing I love helping people think through. Find me at kaylareneetravel.com and across all socials at Kayla Renee Travel. Until next time — let's just go.

  7. Jul 20

    Let's Just Go to Malcesine

    This entire trip to Europe started with one reason: my friend Hannah, who I met on the Disney College Program back in 2010, was getting married. In a castle. On Lake Garda. In Italy. She said she was only inviting people she knew would show up. I showed up. In this episode I am talking about: Getting from Verona to Malcesine by private transfer — the beautiful drive, the narrow roads, and why you want someone else behind the wheelLast-minute shopping in Verona: Scout, OVS, and a pair of Birkenstocks I am pretty sure do not exist in the USArriving in Malcesine and why it immediately felt like a fairy taleThe Hugo spritz — what it is, why it is better than Aperol, and why I now have a bottle of St-Germain at homeThe castle wedding: a bilingual ceremony on a cliff above the lake, a 30-minute walk along the water to the reception, and a bride and groom who arrived by boatThe best lasagna I ate in three weeks in ItalyBeing the only Americans at a very international weddingGetting up early and finding a grapevine terrace before the tour groups arrived — the quiet morning version of Malcesine is a completely different place Next episode: the Disney Cruise Line Greek Isles itinerary — Mykonos, Corfu, Valletta, a sea day with an active volcano, and a septum piercing somewhere in the Aegean. Find me across all socials and at kaylareneetravel.com — travel planning, blog posts on every destination from this trip, and TikTok videos of that harbor view that people genuinely cannot stop watching. Until next time — let's just go.

  8. Jul 13

    Let's Just Go to Verona

    Verona was never supposed to be a highlight. It was a logistical stop — the closest train connection to Lake Garda, where we were headed for a wedding. It turned into one of the best destinations of the entire three-week trip. In this episode I am talking about: Getting from Venice to Verona by train (and why the 110-euro private water taxi to the station was worth it)Staying at the Moxy Verona — what the brand is actually like and who it is right forTerrazza Bar al Ponte: a river bar with a castle view, house wine, charcuterie, and a 35-euro billTaking the funicular up to Castel San Pietro at sunsetAsking our hotel bartender where to order delivery from — and why asking what they actually order is the question that mattersA wine tour in the Valpolicella region: two wineries, Amarone, a great group of strangers, and drinks in a piazza afterDinner at Caffè Monte Baldo: Amarone risotto that I could have licked off the plate If you have been on the fence about adding Verona to an Italy itinerary, this episode will make the decision for you. Next episode: Lake Garda — a wedding in a castle, Hugo spritzes, and the discovery that completely changed what I order at bars. Find me and all things Kayla Renee Travel at kaylareneetravel.com — travel planning, podcast episodes, and blogs going deeper on every destination from this trip. Until next time — let's just go.

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About

Welcome to the Let’s Just Go podcast! I’m Kayla, a travel advisor, millennial, and professional suitcase-stuffer here to share stories, tips, and plenty of honest opinions from my adventures around the globe. Each episode, you’ll get destination breakdowns, planning advice, hilarious travel tales, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like working in the travel industry. Whether you’re planning your next big trip or just need a virtual escape, you’re in the right place. Fair warning: I swear sometimes and I’m not here to sugarcoat things. If you’re into real talk with a dash of chaos and a whole lot of travel love, hit play.

Information

  • Creator
    Kayla Shawley
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    122
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Kayla Shawley
  • Show Website
    Let's Just Go