Our guest is lawyer turned travel blogger Jen Ruiz. She challenged herself to do 12 trips in a 12 month time span and actually wound up doing 20 trips, all while employed full time. Her journeys took her to Greece, Argentina, Thailand and Iceland to name a few, and did it all before she turned 30. She has been featured in the Washington Post, ABC News and The Huffington Post as a budget and solo travel expert. She's also a best selling author for her debut book back in 2018, The Affordable...

Most of us would love to own a tropical island. Our pocketbook dictates that's not in the cards for most of us. Well today's guest is Marshall Mayer from Let's Buy An Island. He and his business partner Gareth Johnson recently completed the purchase of Coffee Island in Belize. The amazing part of their journey is how they raised the capital for the purchase---crowding funding, or as Marshall likes to call it "Community Funding." They are the first to ever accomplish this feat. Learn how they...

Our guest is award winning journalist Ruksana Hussain. Originally from India but raised in Oman, Ruksana shares her perspective on travel in America and what she's learned along the way. She previously lived in Atlanta and now resides in Los Angeles. She is the founder of the online magazine Traveler and Tourist where she pens wonderful stories on her travels and cultural experiences. We discuss everything from road trips and small southern towns to Alaska snowmobiling and viewing the...

Our guest is travel agent extraordinaire Geisha Cumberbatch of La Rosa Negra Travel in Manassas, Virginia. We discuss the value of travel agents and why booking can not only improve the overall experience, but actually might save you both money and hassle. Geisha is taking reservations for three outstanding tours in 2023. South Africa - May 2023Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle (Riverboat Cruises) - Sept 26 - Oct 3Taste of Bourdeaux (Riverboat Cruise) Oct 19 - 26Contact Geisha at...

Our guest is The Traveling Island Girl Riselle Celestina. Listen as we discuss solo travel in the Caribbean. Solo travel is not just for women as she defines it, nor is it only for single people. We discuss everything from cuisine and culture to islands that cater to peace and tranquility or feed the adventurous spirit. Riselle is not a fan of big resorts. She prefers boutique hotels or home rentals. This enable Riselle to immerse herself in local culture like no other. Riselle is a native...

What should you do if you only have a week to explore Hawaii? TripCast360 co-host Michael Gordon Bennett recently did just that.  Listen as he tells you about his wonderful journey to America's 50th and most unique state. You might be surprised how much he accomplished in such a short period of time. We discuss the people, culture and beauty of this magnificent destination. From Oahu to the Big Island this trip has a little something for everyone.  Check out gohawaii.com for more...

Our guest is noted travel journalist Merissa Principe. She joins us to discuss her self-guided journey through South Africa's majestic Kruger National Park. Yes, you read that correctly. There is a way to journey through the three levels of the park on your own.  Merissa was on a quest to see Africa's big five --- Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Leopards, and Buffaloes.  Hear about the different lodging opportunities and her night safari experience.  Merissa is a staunch advocate  for Eco-Tourism...

The vastness of the Amazon Rainforest --- an awe inspiring journey. Our guest is none other than adventure travel guru Katherine Parker Magyar. Listen as she shares her exploration through the Amazon Rainforest along the largest tributary to the mighty Amazon and the largest blackwater river in the world---the Rio Negro River. Starting in Manaus, Brazil and heading north for days on end, listen as Katherine discusses her encounters with indigenous peoples who live in a world devoid of life's...

What a way to welcome in 2022 with our first podcast, a trip to the South Pacific paradise of Fiji. Our guest, travel writer Katherine Parker Magyar, was on the first flight to Fiji since the pandemic began. From Nadi to Kokomo Island and everything in between, Katherine had a wonderful culture experience as only she can. From Nadi to Kokomo to breakfast on an uninhabited island, from scuba diving to world class resorts, Katherine's adventure was a totally immersive experience. Listen to...

It might be one of the most iconic landmarks in all of Mexico, if not the world...the Arches of Cabo San Lucas, known to many as Lands End. It's the place where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean at the southern tip of Baja Mexico. From Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo and Todos Los Santos, this quick two to three hour flight from most west coast cities features beautiful beaches, wonderful cuisine, culture, robust nightlife and nearby sea life that's some of the best in the...

South Africa might be one of the most complete travel destinations in the world. What do we mean by that? South Africa has a total package of locales within it borders that few countries can offer. From spectacular beaches to the excitement of a safari, from bustling big city life to some of the best cuisine on the planet, it's no wonder this country is one of the most sought after tourist destinations of the 21st century. To help us explore South Africa we invited our guest Dana Givens to...

Listen to this wide ranging discussion on eco-tourism and sustainable travel. We discuss its value to the local communities and the greater role that plays to healing our planet.  This podcast reveals some of the world's best practitioners of eco travel and how their efforts make it better for all of us. Our guest is Merissa Principe.  She's a New York-based travel writer who says she  got the itch for travel at birth. After living in Germany for three years teaching pre-school on an Army...

Sint Eustatius, or Statia as it is known by locals and travelers in the know is a Dutch Caribbean paradise of unspoiled natural beauty, culture and diversity. Our guest is Charles Lindo, Director of Tourism at Sint Eustatius. Diving, nature, beaches and history, it's all here for the taking. Oh, and the best part, the population of the entire island is just over 3,000 people making it the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of busy city life. Listen as we discuss everything from...

It's a small country that packs a powerful punch. The Netherlands is known for its canals, bike trails, architectural beauty, windmills, art, museums, cheese and tulips, but if you stop there, you've missed a country of culture and a people whose welcoming spirit is so infectious you'll find yourself with a bunch of new lifelong friends. Our guest is travel writer extraordinaire Katherine Parker Magyar. She recently returned from The Netherlands (September 2021), or Holland as its known to...

America has over 12,000 miles of coastal shoreline (Atlantic, Pacific, & Arctic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico). These shorelines encompass  some of the world's most beautiful drives. From Maine's rugged coast to the soft sugary beaches of Florida's Gulf Coast, to Pacific Coast Highway, arguably the most iconic drive of them all, these vista offer a glimpse of planet earth at its finest. Our guest is Charles McCool of McCool Travel, a platform that shows travelers how to increase happiness and...

Our guest is Elizabeth Kelsey.  Elizabeth has written on topics ranging from travel, wellness, culture, and food, to luxury lifestyle. She joins us for a wide-ranging discussion on Thailand and trends in the luxury travel markets worldwide. Kelsey is uniquely positioned to discuss everything Thailand. She lived in this amazing country for a decade. From Chiang Mai to Bangkok to Phuket, Kelsey shares the charms of each region and why it's such a wonderful tourist destination. Several reports...

Have you ever thought about relocating to Costa Rica? Our guest is International Living Magazine writer Kathleen Evans. Kathleen is a permanent resident of Costa Rica. She works and lives part time in the Tamarindo region located on the country's northwest coast. Listen as Kathleen gives us a half-dozen reasons why she and her family chose Costa Rica in the first place---among them property ownership for expats and an above average healthcare system. Oh by the way, the cost of living isn't...

Bonaire is the often overlooked island of the ABC chain (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) in the Caribbean. Our adventure travel specialist Katherine Parker Magyar just returned from Bonaire and paints a wonderful picture of one of planet earth's best sustainable and eco-friendly tourist destinations. It's an island surrounded by largely protected waters which makes scuba diving and snorkeling (including night snorkeling) among the best in the world. In fact, Bonaire charges a small fee for certain...

Jamie Edwards and her family, 13 in all,  spent two weeks in Croatia (August 2021). It's her third trip to what's quickly turned into a vacation hotspot, especially for A-listers such as Beyonce and Jay Z, Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie, Bono, Neil Patrick Harris, Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart to name a few. So what make's Croatia so special? We're going to answer that in this podcast. Jamie and her family planned a rather unique trip that included both land and sea. They spent the...

Our guest is award-winning journalist, television host and media entrepreneur Melissa Noel. She's an internationally recognized Caribbean diaspora leader with proven impact at the intersections of media, sustainable travel and social advocacy. She is known for her dynamic content that consistently highlights underreported stories for outlets including Huffpost.com, Essence.com, One Caribbean TV, NBC News, Caribbean Beat Magazine, LonelyPlanet.com and ABC News. You can learn more about Melissa...

Will private air travel put a hole in your wallet? It's more economical than you might think with a little planning.  And oh, the convenience of it all. No standing in long TSA lines, from car to plane in five minutes, WiFi on most aircraft, comfortable seats and so much more. Our guest today is Vince Mickens, founder of Private Air Media Group. His company is a multi-media digital content firm that creates, develops, produces and distributes aviation, aerospace and other digital content...

"Kenya exceeded my wildest dreams. And I knew it would from the moment I landed in Nairobi and the Deputy President shook my hand. “Welcome home,” he said. Our adventure travel guru Katherine Parker Magyar joins us to describe her journey to Kenya. From Nairobi to the Maasa Mari, Mount Kenya to Ol Pejeta we discuss it all. While a safari might be what gets you to Kenya, but the country is more than its majestic wildlife. Katherine had equal reverence for the culture and the people of Kenya. ...

David Moody, owner of David's Cruise Vacations just returned (July 2021) from Greece, and oh what a spectacular trip. He spent several days in Athens, visited Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and everything in between. We talk about the wonderful foods, fantastic beaches, the beautiful whitewashed structures and other architecture Greece is famous for, and the welcoming spirit of the Greek people. David talks about the his visit to Jackie O's on Mykonos, a bar made famous by Jackie Onassis. David...

Our guest is Renee Cherez. She's a former New York City school teacher who left it all behind to scratch her travel itch and love of other cultures. She first came to our attention for an article she wrote for Lonely Planet---Why Jamaica is the Perfect Kid Friendly Destination. After our initial discussion we discovered a fascinating tale of global travel adventure that left us speechless. She set out on her first solo trip in 2017 to Southeast Asia---Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal and...

Our guest today is Norman L. Lawrence, founder & CEO of Ganja Vacations. Yes, you read that correctly. Thanks to Jamaica's relaxation of it's marijuana laws, Ganja Vacations --- resorts where you are free to smoke without fear of reprisal are springing up all over this vacation hotspot. Listen to this podcast to learn the ins and outs. Be forewarned, you can  NOT bring marijuana into the country or leave with purchased weed, but you are free to purchase once you arrive for consumption on...