Back in the day, the Romans conquered Scottish territory only to decide it was too cold and too barbaric to govern. Their loss. Today, Scotland is renowned for its rugged beauty, dark medieval history and rebellious nature, luring millions of visitors each year. We're exploring the capital city of Edinburgh: a striking cityscape with both architectural elegance and dramatic, rolling hills. This time we're joined by two local guides, Colin Mairs (Excursion Scotland) and Sabela (Weekend...

"Night seeing is just as important as sightseeing." Today, we get an inside look at Budapest's thriving hostel scene from Smike Letwinsky, a Pennsylvania native and manager of the notorious Budapest Party Hostels chain. 

To mark our 20th episode, we're meeting up with GoAbroad.com founder & CEO Troy Peden, also celebrating 20 years of his massive travel website. Thanks to GoAbroad, millions of Americans with a craving for travel have been connected to study, volunteer, intern and work opportunities around the world.

It’s Greek week on the podcast! Greece is full of gems to explore, from iconic Athens, to the monasteries of Metéora, to its 6,000 islands scattering the sea. Local guide Angelos Kokkaliaris shares with us the sumptuous eats, social culture and stunning retreats (Santorini and Mykonos, sure- but have you heard of Amorgos?) that make up an authentic Greek experience.

John E. DiScala, or Johnny Jet, flies about 150,000 miles and 20 countries per YEAR. He is one of the world’s most established experts on budget and point-based travel. Johnnyjet.com has an impressive collection of flight tips, hacks and last-minute specials he stumbles across. 

I’ve been in touch with Johnny since I was still in high school with my very first travel blog. Today, we cover his best budget tips, discuss the recent United Airlines controversy, and hash out our theories on...

A few years back, Allison Fleece & Danielle Thornton met through a mutual interest in climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. This bonding experience led to them starting their own company: WHOA (Women High on Adventure) travel.  From the peaks of Machu Picchu to the urban jungles of India, these women empower communities around the world with a new style of adventure.

We dive into Europe's most eclectic city, joined by my longtime guide and local Dutchie, Arthur Bijlholt. As a professional tour guide by day and comedy club owner by night, Arthur shares with us the deeper side of Amsterdam, beyond its many vices (although we cover those, too). This episode tackles Dutch politics, culinary highlights (vending machine fast food, anyone?) and the culture behind that unique, urban vibe you can only find in Amsterdam.

Brooke Roberts, founder of Inside Study Abroad and certified study abroad guru, is an international education professional, turned entrepreneur (she runs three of her own companies!) Brooke helps people skip to the front of the line and transform their approach to launching and growing an international education (or any) career. 

Let's be honest... staying fit while traveling is tough. With the swap of atmosphere and routine, plus the temptation of ALL that delicious food... it's easy to let yourself go overseas. Today, we learn from the pro's how to enjoy travel without throwing away our physical and mental health. Ryan O’Donnell, a CrossFit instructor who has taken up the expat life in Prague, shares his essential tips for fellow travelers. We also cover some of the finer points of Prague: favorite restaurants,...

If you’ve had the incredible opportunity to study abroad, you may relate to that feeling of fulfillment that comes with it; a sense that you’ve found a new place to call “home". For Dr. Maggie Parke, abroad ‘home' was the small city of Bangor, in Wales, UK. Her overseas experience was so powerful that she made sure return right after grad school- this time for good.  Now an International Education Officer at Bangor University, Maggie shares what to expect when you take on the expat life, how...

The story is something of a fairy tale: Typical American family, happily settled in Boston, gets called upon to collect their ancestors’ royal fortune in Europe. For the Lobkowicz clan, this is was indeed real life. Today, William Lobkowicz Jr. shares what it’s like to call a 40,000 square-foot castle home. His family has been a part of Czech nobility for 1000 years. All of their possessions were lost to the Nazi’s- and then again to communists. In Prague, the beautiful Lobkowicz Palace...

Rome is among the world’s most iconic capitals. Learn the secrets to maximizing your visit with insider tips from Sean Finelli, co-founder of The Roman Guy. We cover the top restaurants to taste, sights to explore, and perks of embracing the Italian way of life.

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, today we're getting the full Irish experience with special guest Stephen McPhilemy, a tour guide of almost 20 years.

We discuss Irelands deep culture & traditions, including the country’s struggle to keep Irish Gaelic alive, and share fun stories such as past hostel experiences (bed bugs, anyone?) and St. Paddy's Day shenanigans in Dublin.  
 
Hope you enjoy the 10th episode! Let us know what you think about the AST Podcast by leaving a review,...