If you’ve ever wondered whether Vienna is a good family spot, this episode is for you.  We have two young children and love this city.  It is very manageable and peaceful (likely due to the classical music and art scene that envelopes the atmosphere). In today’s episode, we discuss our museum stops:  Schonbrunn Palace, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Museum of Natural History, and Haus der Musik.    WTD starts off the show with a recap of where we are in the Ukraine war, and why Westerners need...

This week’s show is about a city that needs no introduction; Venice, Italy.  This is a city that’s great for couples because of how romantic it is, but what if you have the gremlins in tow?  Relax, you can still have a memorable time! There are countless museums, restaurants, and historical sites to please the family.  We spent a morning at the Leonardo da Vinci museum.  The kids were entertained by an interactive invention exhibit, white the parents learned more about the Codices that held...

The family spends a week in Cinque Terre.  This region is great for the outdoorsy types, with plenty of long hikes to fill up the days, and good snacks and food for when everyone gets hungry. Don’t forget to try the pesto and the other local snack that WTD raves about. This week’s headlines include the slide of the US Dollar continuing while WTD weeps.  The banking news seems to have simmered down for the time being, but is it the tip of the iceberg? Finally, WTD learns a tough lesson...

I just spent five days in Rome with my family.  This city just never gets old.  Everywhere you turn there is some building, or Roman ruin, or cool restaurant worth checking out.  If you are thinking of traveling to Rome with your kids, check out this episode where I dive into how to make the site-seeing fun for the whole family. In the bloopers section, find out how we almost missed our train to Cinque Terre.  Hint:  an important event closed down all public transport in the city on our...

This week I’ll give you a report on our daytrips to Pompeii and the Island of Capri.  Both of these destinations come highly recommended.  We narrowly avoided being ripped off initially at the Pompeii gates. The trip to Capri was a budget buster, but sometimes that’s what bucket list travel is all about. Plus, headlines include the Silicon Valley bank meltdown and whether WTD thinks this is the tip of the iceberg for the US economy. And WTD’s daughter gives a report on what kids actually...

This week I went to Naples, Italy with the family.  This city has always been fascinating to me because people rarely go there if they also have Rome on the docket.  Furthermore, if they do go, it’s only for a night before going to the Amalfi Coast.  Well we had four nights here, and I was surprised at how much we enjoyed it. Then, we went to our homebase in Sorrento, which is not as ritzy as some nearby Amalfi Coast towns.  Sorrento is livable, with nice people and decent restaurants.  It’s...

This week, World Travel Dad reports on Dubai.  Activities covered in the trip report are Legoland, Kidzania, Dubai Mall, La Mer Beach, and the Burj Khalifa. First he will delve into recent political news regarding the train derailment in Ohio, and the announcement of another Republican challenge for president to Donald Trump. Finally, in our first bloopers segment, WTD talks about two ways he’s been ripped off recently and how you can avoid this fate! If you want to play the currency...

Today’s headline rundown includes shooting down balloons with missiles, Super Bowl and the Grammys, and a comment on the Phillips curve yet again. World Travel Dad is galled that Jerome Powell is trying to put people out of work.  How would you feel if he was trying to eliminate your job? WTD doesn’t like Trevor Noah’s comedic delivery, but gives the joke writers props. In the second part of the show, he will discuss the myth versus reality of the city of Hanoi.  Are the people really...

At the top of the show, WTD wades into cultural and political deep waters while discussing the Super Bowl.  He doesn’t understand why the New York Times turns everything into a racial topic.  Are there really two black QBs squaring off in this year’s big game, and should we care? Also, the global economy may be nearing a recession, and the US fourth quarter GDP print is not all it’s cracked up to be when you look at the final month of December. Finally, the do’s and don’ts of Hoi An,...

This week, World Travel Dad addresses the recent blow to Sweden’s ascension to NATO.  He devolves into a discussion on world religion and why Westerners are afraid of Islam. After a few days in Vietnam, WTD gives his cost rankings for the popular destinations of Bali, Thailand, and Vietnam. He discusses why he is concerned about how much he pays for a beer, and how eating out for every meal can be a death by a thousand cuts to your budget. If you are thinking of World Schooling, he has some...

In what is likely to be the final Thailand Episode, World Travel Dad does the “do’s and don’ts” of Chiang Mai. With global inflation still a topic, WTD goes through some of the market scenarios coming into 2023 based on the people he listens to and follows.  He only trusts Peter Boockvar because he sounds like his friend from Arizona, John. China is reopening, and he has a take on how we should feel.  Also, he and his son have been reviewing world safety rankings, and Thailand a bit low. If...

At the top of the show, WTD discusses the recent collapse in the US dollar and how sad he is.  Plus, can we predict where the USD will be by next Fall when people in the US might be going to Europe? He has a take on the new Harry memoir.  And finally, he’ll weigh in on recent Chinese travel restrictions and why these appear not to be based in the science. Then, the family takes an two day trip to the Elephant Nature Park.  He’ll discuss the food, accommodations, daily activities, and the...

This week, World Travel Dad recalls the great New Year’s weekend they celebrated in Phuket.  The family has moved onto Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.  He’ll share some initial thoughts about how this is a family destination. Starting off with headlines, he discusses the NFL violence issue, the S & P has rated Southeast Asia as the only macroeconomic hotspot for 2023. Thanks for joining us for our first Chiang Mai episode, and first of the New Year! If you want to play the currency...

Starts off with headlines, though nothing is usually going on this time of year.  The Fed interest rates is still a good cocktail party discussion topic. This week, World Travel Dad is working while most podcasts take the week off!  He’ll give a run down of the cooking class we did two days before Christmas.  The family cooked various curries, pad thai and dessert dishes. Then we’ll run down how Christmas went, how meeting friends has gone so far, and what the plan is for New Year’s in Kata...

It’s Christmas week on the World Travel Dad show.  At the top of the show, he goes over the SBF story a bit more, but frankly is sick of it and wants to see more juicy details before commenting too much. Then, he gives a hard-hitting soccer take on the World Cup Final.  His French team lost and it’s a tough one to stomach.  He thinks Mbappe’s second goal is getting overlooked, and he criticizes Soccer’s penalty rule. Finally, a short do’s and don’ts for Phuket, followed by a report on Kata...

This week’s headlines:  SBF still in the news, this time indicted in the Bahamas.  WTD feels like that would be a tough way to end a trip to the Bahamas! Brittney Griner is released, and WTD knows why.  Also, he takes a shot at school teachers.  Now he’s really getting unpopular! The Family goes to Koh Phi Phi Le for a great snorkeling trip.  WTD and his son see a small black tip reef shark, and WTD reminisces about the awful movie, The Beach, which was filmed on Phi Phi. If you want to play...

Starting off the week is the SBF story which keeps on giving.  WTD still thinks no fraud was committed, but is starting to back off of his predictions like a true sandbagger. Plus, way-too-long world soccer take.  And if you are a US Soccer dork, you ain’t gonna like this. This week, the family is in Koh Lanta, Thailand.  So far they have really settled in, finding out what produce to buy, what to wear, and what to eat. WTD goes through some Dos and Dont’s as usual, plus corrections from last...

This week, World Travel Dad talks about losing his father within the past few days.  There are some stories that many listeners haven’t heard fully, thanks for listening during this tough time! If you want to play the currency markets, but don’t want to open a foreign bank account, WTD highly recommends Wise service.  He has been using it in the global arbitrage game to great success.  You can use this service even if you just stay in the US.  When you need the Euros for that next trip,...

WTD goes patriotic when he talks about Thanksgiving.  But is quick to acknowledge the low rank of US on corruption indexes. https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2021. The headline segment returns to the show, as WTD sounds off on Crypto and FTX.  He’s just grumpy that he missed the boat on BTC, but is laudatory on blockchain technology and oracle networks, whatever the heck those are. Movie review of Top Gun.  WTD watches the movie on a plane with aviators on.  Plus, Singapore airline first...

This week, World Travel Dad does the “do’s and don’ts” for Sanur, Bali.  Highlights include a jogging binge, Mexican food, and shorts that would make Magnum P.I. blush. Plus, a bonus daytrip review to Nusa Penida and a tour company recommendation. If you want to play the currency markets, but don’t want to open a foreign bank account, WTD highly recommends Wise service.  He has been using it in the global arbitrage game to great success.  You can use this service even if you just stay in...

Find out how the World Travel Dad family was able to (sort of) pay for their big trip. The biggest roadblock may be renting out your house to strangers.  Yikes!! If you want to play the currency markets, but don’t want to open a foreign bank account, WTD highly recommends Wise service.  He has been using it in the global arbitrage game to great success.  You can use this service even if you just stay in the US.  When you need the Euros for that next trip, they’ll be there, and you’ve bought...

After giving up the cubicle life, WTD is worried he’ll be TOO relaxed at the Balinese masseuse.  He is, however, harboring stress in a strange body part. The family extends their visas at the immigration office.  Then they need a break and a three-night pamper sesh at the Marriott, Nusa Dua (on points yo). WTD tries surfing a reef break and embarrasses himself.  He’s far enough away from shore that no one witnesses.  The family enjoys a dip in the warm Indian Ocean. If you want to play the...

This week’s episode is all about what to do with the kids while you are in Ubud, Bali.  Whether you are a digital nomad with your family in tow, or just want to take the family for a few weeks in the Southern Hemisphere, we have a comprehensive rundown. Take a dip at the pool and grab lunch at Good Day Ubud. Weather you enter the Sacred Monkey Forest, or just walk by, it will be a hit with the kids, and you WILL see macaques. WTD recommends visiting the Sacred Water Temple, Tirta Empul....

This week learn what World Travel Dad found out in the first four months of his trip with his family.  The good, the bad, the ugly of how the trip is going.  It isn’t such a simple answer. WTD recommends taking a long trip somewhere first before you commit.  Also, you have to be pretty creative these days to find the “deals.”  But WTD is concerned his quest for cheaper deals may lead to stepping on a crocodile some night. Learn about Global Arbitrage, and who blinks first on the...

This week World Travel Dad sounds off on restaurant rip offs, of which he has become an expert through experience.  Learn how to spot the overdone, gimmicky, waste of time restaurants before they spot you. Sexual inuendo drinks, and the dreaded charcuterie board. Coming up next week we're back to regular trip episodes, still from Bali.  This time we'll have a full rundown of kid-friendly Ubud, Bali.   This is the perfect place to bring your kids on a long holiday, so tune in.   Thanks for...