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PODCAST

Unpacked by Afar

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.

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All Episodes

20:10

Unpacked Minis, Cruise Edition: The Culinary Trends...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/05/08

In 2025, wellness is the main ingredient at sea. From elaborate tea houses to shopping excursions with the chef—these are the fresh ways that cruise lines are shedding their overindulgent reputations. On this episode of Unpacked Minis, Cruise Edition, host Aislyn Greene sits down at F&B@Sea—the culinary showcase at Miami's Seatrade Cruise Global conference—with David Yeskel, a travel and food journalist who has covered cruising for 20 years. Together they uncover the most surprising—and

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23:41

Unpacked Minis, Cruise Edition: The Five Innovations...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/05/01

Peek into the colorful, immersive, and luxurious innovations shaping the future of cruising—straight from the floor of Seatrade Cruise Global, one of the cruise industry's most important events. From flying theaters to floating pickleball courts, this episode of Unpacked Minis, Cruise Edition takes you behind-the-scenes of the surprising sights (and smells) making waves in cruising. The luxury innovations taking cruises and yachts to the next level. How cruise ships utilize technology

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27:10

I Traveled Through 300 Years of Kyoto's HIstory—All...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/04/24

With just five years under it's belt, Hotel the Mitsui has already stood the test of time. Housed in the former estate of one of Japan's most influential families, this five-star hotel is full of details that help guests see the rich traditions of Kyoto with a fresh pair of eyes. In this “If These Walls Could Talk” episode of Unpacked, Aislyn Greene takes you on a tour of the stories—and secrets—that a hotel can reveal about the places we visit. On this episode you’ll learn: What it’s

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54:30

“Nobody Knows We’re Here.” Inside the Real D.C.

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/04/18

This isn’t Washington, it’s D.C.—and it belongs to the people. On this episode of Unpacked, join host Aislyn Greene as she meets the D.C. locals who are shaping the city. They share the diverse communities, places, and histories that make the district unique. From a blossoming food scene to thriving cultural legacies, discover the D.C. that most tourists miss. In this episode, you’ll learn Histories to explore beyond the National Mall. How locals experience the vibrancy of D.C.’s food, culture

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30:45

These Two Cruise Lines Are Charting a Surprising Path...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/04/10

When it comes to the future of cruising, sustainability is steering the ship. Wind-powered voyages, community-centered tourism, and off-the-beaten path destinations are a few of the inspiring ways that two of the industry’s greenest cruise lines—Hurtigruten and Sea Cloud Cruises—are creating a more sustainable future. On this episode of Unpacked, Afar cruise expert and deputy editor Michelle Baran unpacks the future of luxury cruising at Seatrade, one of the cruise industry's most important

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36:17

These are the Best New Hotels of 2025—and They Have...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/04/03

The best hotels offer so much more than a place to stay. In this episode of Unpacked, go behind the scenes of our Best New Hotels list to discover the hotels that are helping to redefine a destination, setting a new bar for sustainability and design, and bringing travelers into communities where their dollars can really count. Host Aislyn Greene and senior deputy editor Jennifer Flowers—Afar's resident hotel expert—share inspiration for your next great trip. In 2025, Hotels are Becoming Local

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43:56

Why Off-Season Travel is the Key to Unforgettable...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/03/27

Hut-to-hut skiing, frozen waterfalls and seaside foliage—there are surprising outdoor adventures to have in the off-season. Whether you're looking for "softer adventures" in the outdoors (think cycling and hiking) or routinely exercise your way through destinations, this episode will help you tap into the magic of the off-season and plan a travel year full of natural wonders. How the Best Outdoor Adventures Really Happen On this episode, you’ll learn: How to make the most of outdoor adventure,

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8:43

Unpacked Minis, Cruise Edition: Please Don’t Plan a...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/03/25

There's a surprising key to booking a successful cruise, whether it’s your first or 100th. In our second episode of Unpacked Minis, Cruise Edition, host Aislyn Greene and cruise journalist Nicole Edenedo share the secret tool in the savvy cruisers' tool box: a travel advisor. Why Should I Book With a Travel Advisor? In this episode you’ll learn: The difference between a travel agent and travel advisor—and how to choose one. How much it costs to work with a travel advisor—it’s less than you

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38:29

The State Where Blues Music Legends Are Born

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/03/20

These locals are blazing a trail back to the legends that made Mississippi, specifically the Delta, a region that was (and is) vital to the development of modern music. On this episode of Unpacked, British writer and fiddle player, Emma John, takes you on a musical odyssey through the Mississippi Blues Trail and its role in reviving a blues heartland and connecting travelers to the soul of the genre. A special thanks to the late Raymond Earl "Pat" Thomas, the legendary musician featured in this

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41:27

Hidden Islands and Local Favorites: How to Hack Your...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/03/13

Looking to avoid the crowds and make the most of summer travel in 2025? On this episode of Unpacked, Afar contributor Mark Ellwood—a seasoned traveler who has spent most of his life living out of a suitcase—shares the off-the-beaten path summer adventures you can enjoy, again and again. Looking for the Best Places to Travel in Summer? On this episode you’ll discover: How to find the best summer travel deals and get the most out of a summer trip. Hidden gems in the U.S., Europe and beyond,

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48:48

“She’s an Italian Mama.” Get to Know Rome Like a Local.

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/03/06

This year—2025—is a holy one in Rome. But you can still avoid the crowds. On this episode of Unpacked by Afar, Rome local and journalist Laura Itzkowitz, takes us off the tourist trail and into the lesser-visited places that make Rome worth visiting, all year round. How To Experience Rome Like A Local, Not a Tourist On this episode you’ll learn: How to beat the crowds in hot spots like the Vatican and the Colosseum. Where to stay in Rome to support the local economy and enjoy hidden

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17:58

Unpacked Minis, Cruise Edition: There's a Cruise for...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/03/05

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

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45:23

The Secret to Stress-Free Family Travel? These...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/02/27

“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

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33:22

Travel Tales Bonus: Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski Will...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/02/23

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

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44:20

I've Been Booking Trips With Points Since I Was...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/02/20

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

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27:15

I Always Visit a Cemetery When I Travel—Here's Why...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/02/13

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

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56:59

Your Next Tour Might Be a Silent One. AI Will Remake...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/02/06

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

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18:01

Afar, A Retrospective: The First Female Flamenco...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2024/12/23

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

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33:30

How to Plan Your Best Travel Year: An Astrologer...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2024/12/19

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

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27:18

9 Inspiring Companies Changing the Way We Travel

Unpacked by Afar ·

2024/12/16

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,

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125 results

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