Vacation Mavens

Kim Tate and Tamara Gruber
  • 4.7 (103)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY
Vacation Mavens Podcast

Vacation Mavens is a travel podcast offering destination inspiration and travel tips for traveling with kids. Co-hosted by travel bloggers, friends, and moms Kimberly Tate from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara Gruber from Your Time to Fly. Each week we chat about our recent travels and interview fellow parents and family travel experts about destinations or travel tips to provide the info you need to jumpstart family vacation planning and tips to get you out the door.

  1. SEP 9

    Explore Iceland on a Windstar Cruise

    Kim just came back from her third cruise of the year and her first small-ship cruise on Windstar Cruises. TL;DR, she loved Windstar and small ship cruising! In this week's episode Kim dishes on everything you need to know about small ship cruising on Windstar. Plus, hear about her pre-cruise excursions from Reykjavik including a small group Golden Circle tour with Hidden Iceland and hot springs experiences at the Sky Lagoon and Blue Lagoon. Note: Kim was hosted by Windstar Cruises for purposes of her review. All opinions are her own. Highlights of the Windstar Cruise experience: Small staff with personalized service Easier to make connections with fellow cruisers Very large cabins with a sitting area, walk in closet, and large bathroom Dining options Observatory lounge OTHER EPISODES YOU MAY ENJOY Princess Alaska Cruise Holland America Caribbean cruise Barge and river cruising through France Off-the-beaten path in West Iceland Iceland family travel tips

    33 min

  2. JUL 23

    New England Travel

    Are you ready to go leaf peeping in New England this fall? Tamara shares some great destinations and road trips on where to go to northern New England including Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. New England covers Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island If you are visiting in the fall, you will want to keep an eye on the fall foliage trackers and know that the further north you go, the earlier it will peak The prime time is late September through mid-October for fall travel How to plan a New England road trip: fly into Boston and then head north to Portland, Maine and then into the White Mountains of New Hampshire and then into Vermont You will need at least a week to do a road trip if you are flying in Otherwise you can easily plan a long weekend 7 Fall New England road trip options Best things to do in New England with kids The White Mountains in New Hampshire makes a great long weekend or even weeklong trip Where to go glamping in New England Where to stop on the Kancamaugus Highway in New Hampshire Vermont is great for couples with quintessential charming towns Burlington, Vermont is a fun getaway and Brattleboro is perfect for artists. One of Tamara's favorite towns is Manchester, Vermont. Tamara has done a wonderful romantic getaway at the Weston luxury inn in Vermont Plan a Vermont road trip Highwood Retreat in Vermont is an off-the-grid glamping spot great for couples Lumen Nature Retreat in Lincoln/N.Woodstock, New Hampshire Alpine Garden Glamping in the White Mountains has a great location with cabins, Hobbit Houses, and a treehouse and it is located on a winery Best lobster rolls in Maine Best vacation spots in Maine Boston to Bar Harbor Maine coast road trip Things to do in Portland, Maine in the winter Things to do in the Berkshires in the winter and summer Best family vacations in New England (for every season) Other Episodes You May Like Fall travel destinations Off-the-beaten path in Maine Tamara's New England travels Planning a girls' trip to Maine

    26 min

  3. JUL 9

    225: Princess Alaska Cruise

    Kim is back from her 7th Alaska cruise! This one was on Princess Cruise visiting the Inside Passage that cruises from Seattle and visits Victoria, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagaway and sails through Glacier Bay.  Note: Kim was hosted by Princess Cruises for her trip. This cruise visits Victoria very briefly at night so not a good choice if you really want to visit Victoria When evaluating cruises, you need to look closely at the time and length in port very carefully If you do want to pick a cruise that flies out of Vancouver, it may be cheaper to fly into Seattle and take either a train or bus to Vancouver The Discovery Princess ship carries up to 4300 guests so it is a large ship about the same size as the Norwegian Bliss (which we have talked about previously) It leaves from Pier 91 in Seattle, which is a bit north of the main Seattle waterfront and port area If you sail with Princess, do the onboard check in on the app at least a month or a few weeks in advance so that you can receive your Medallions in the mail The 16th floor on the Discovery Princess is the pool deck so you may need to walk outside to get the buffet and mid-ship elevators depending on where your room is. Kim's room also had an overhang covering the balcony The cabins on the Discovery Princess are a little small, with no additional seating beyond the bed (except on the balcony) The cabin had a very generous closet space but the bathroom was quite tight (look at the cabin layout in advance) Kim went in mid-June and had amazing weather but there are no guarantees The Princess Theater was quite large  The premier package level is $80 per person, per day includes WiFi for 4 devices per person, 2 specialty dining meals, and the highest level of drink package The 360 dining experience is something you need to book when you arrive and it is a seven-course meal with courses from around the world and it includes videos from makers around the world The food on board was good but fairly standard cruise fare outside of specialty dining Princess has a lot of lounges with something going on somewhere at all time You can buy a day pass to the Sanctuary pool and area Princess has a kids club and activities but there weren't a lot of families on board but it is great for multi-generational family trips In Juneau, Kim went whale watching and it was spectacular wildlife sighting In Skagway, Kim did the White Pass Scenic Railway and "Sip to Summit" excursion In Ketchikan, Kim did a fishing excursion and after you catch fish they cook it for you on a private island Not all cruise ships in Alaska goes to Glacier Bay National Park so be sure to look for this! There seem to be better views from the left side of the ship Bigger ships have to dock further away and some need to tender to port so this is something else to consider when taking an Alaskan cruise Smaller ship (like Holland) are better for walking on and off the ship   OTHER EPISODES YOU MAY ENJOY Holland America Caribbean cruise Barge and river cruising through France NYC to Bahamas cruise on Norwegian Norwegian Bliss cruise to Alaska Disney Cruise for First-timers

    31 min

  4. JUN 18

    Best Travel Apps for Summer Travel

    Summer vacation is almost here and we are getting ready for the busiest summer travel season ever! Be sure to pack your patience, your travel insurance, and these travel apps. In this episode we talk about some of our favorite travel apps that we are using lately for road trips, plane travel, and international travel. Travel Apps to Download this Summer: Flight Aware - helps you track to see where planes are and their status Airline apps - send you alerts for delays, help you rebook easily, download mobile boarding passes, can sometimes track luggage, inbound flights, or provide information on airport lounge locations and status Mobile Passport Control - for international travelers that don't have Global Entry Apple Find My Device with Apple AirTags or alternatively use Tile or similar trackers for checked bags Roadtrippers - helps you plan road trips and find things to stop at along the way GasBuddy - helps you find gas stations and the most affordable gas Welcome Pickups - arrange airport transfers or other transportation in 256 locations worldwide Daytrip - sightseeing city to city transfers with stops along the way Hotel apps - allow you to chat with the hotel, digital check in and check out, and sometimes select room, get a digital key, manage entertainment, and other services Card Pointers - helps you manage all your various credit card offers and helps you decide which card to use where and when and maximize your special offers Global Blue - helps you manage your VAT refund forms Stasher and Bounce - helps you find places to store your luggage, which is great if you are staying at an Airbnb or stopping somewhere along your way but need luggage storage Going - great for finding flight deals Other Episodes You May Enjoy What to know about airline fees Best credit cards for travel Favorite places and travel products Best hotel loyalty programs for families Tips for finding hotel deals Follow Kim at @stuffedsuitcase on Instagram Follow Tamara at @yourtimetofly on Instagram

    38 min

  5. JUN 4

    223: Sonesta Maho Beach St Maarten All-inclusive Resort

    St. Maarten is a popular destination in the Caribbean, but many people only visit as a brief cruise port destination. However, getting there is pretty easy with direct flights from the USA and there is plenty to do and see on this Dutch and French Island. Tamara recently visited St. Maarten to stay at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort as part of a press trip. This is the largest all-inclusive resort on the island and it has plenty of offer for families. Read the full review of the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort on We3Travel. It is located in Maho Beach Village, very close to the airport and the famous Maho Beach. Sonesta Maho Beach Resort fast facts: 420 rooms and suites in one tower There is an adults-only sister resort next door at the Ocean Point Resort The rooms either have a water (pool or ocean) view or island view It isn't directly on Maho Beach Large pool with water slides and swim up bar Small pool with kiddie slides near the kid's club Teen Zone offers a variety of games and entertainment There are many food options including: Mexican, Asian, Italian, pizza, cafe, tavern, and buffet restaurants Tamara also did a johnnycake cooking class and the world's steepest zipline at Rainforest Adventures. Other Episodes You May Enjoy Caribbean Cruise on Holland America Where to go in the Caribbean Planning a Barbados vacation Everything you need to know about Beaches Turks & Caicos Planning a family vacation to Grand Cayman Follow Kim at @stuffedsuitcase on Instagram Follow Tamara at @yourtimetofly on Instagram

    30 min

  6. MAY 14

    Caribbean Cruise on the Holland America Nieuw Statendam

    Kim took her oldest daughter on a Caribbean Cruise for her college spring break this past March. After sailing Holland America in Alaska in the past, she was excited to try the Holland America Caribbean cruise on the Nieuw Statendam. This was a unique itinerary that left from Fort Lauderdale and visited Nassau, Bahamas, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, and Grand Turk in Turks & Caicos, along with Half Moon Bay, which is Holland's private island in the Bahamas. This itinerary included two days at sea. Kim has cruised Norwegian, Disney, and Celebrity in the Caribbean in the past, so in this episode, she points out the differences between the different cruise lines and the highs and lows of the Holland Nieuw Statendam. Learn more at: Review: Caribbean Cruise on the Holland Nieuw Statendam Printable cruise packing list Review: Our Alaska Cruise on Holland America Follow Kim at @stuffedsuitcase on Instagram Follow Tamara at @yourtimetofly on Instagram Other Episodes You May Enjoy Barge and river cruising through France NYC to Bahamas cruise on Norwegian Norwegian Bliss cruise to Alaska Disney Cruise for First-timers

    30 min

  7. MAY 7

    Chickasaw Country and Oklahoma City Road Trip Travel

    Tamara has finally made it to her 50th state...Oklahoma!! She took an Oklahoma road trip to visit both Oklahoma City and Chickasaw Country in south-central Oklahoma, in partnership with Chickasaw Country and the Chickasaw Nation. Oklahoma City has a lot to offer as a stand-alone destination including the First Americans Museum and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Tamara stayed at the aLoft hotel in Bricktown, which is the entertainment district with plenty of restaurants, bars, shops, and the minor league baseball stadium and water taxis. If you are interested in learning more about First American culture and love visiting small towns, tune in to learn more about Chickasaw Country. Some highlights include: Chickasaw Cultural Center Chickasaw National Recreation Area (see bison!) Chisholm Trail Heritage Center (learn about life as a cowboy) "Leg Lamp" sculpture in Chickasha for those that love roadside attractions Small town shopping in Sulphur Art Walk in Pauls Valley You can also read more about Tamara's Oklahoma road trip itinerary on We3Travel. Follow Kim @stuffedsuitcase Follow Tamara @yourtimetofly Other Episodes You Will Enjoy: Glacier Country, Montana Off the beaten Path in Maine West coast road trip Southwest road trip Family road trip tips

    23 min

  8. APR 2

    African Safaris

    Tamara is hosting an all-women small group trip to Portugal this fall and she would love for you to join her! Find out all the details and sign up here. Did you know that Kim has been on safaris in four African countries? Today she shares some great tips that will help you decide where you might want to go, understand the differences between various safari experiences, and provide some advice for planning an African safari trip. You can read more about a few of Kim's safari experiences here: Garden Lodge, Chobe River, Botswana Chobe National Park, Botswana South Africa

    32 min
See All (228)

4.7
out of 5
103 Ratings

About

Vacation Mavens is a travel podcast offering destination inspiration and travel tips for traveling with kids. Co-hosted by travel bloggers, friends, and moms Kimberly Tate from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara Gruber from Your Time to Fly. Each week we chat about our recent travels and interview fellow parents and family travel experts about destinations or travel tips to provide the info you need to jumpstart family vacation planning and tips to get you out the door.

Information

  • Creator
    Kim Tate and Tamara Gruber
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2024
  • Episodes
    228
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2016-2020 Vacation Mavens, all rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Vacation Mavens

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