Episode 45: How to Cut Cost After Booking a Vacation

Episode 45: How to Cut Cost After Booking a Vacation

Podcast
  Have you ever put together the last of your coins just to go on your vacation, and hoped that you don’t get any surprise out-of-pocket expenses? I’m willing to bet you’ve been there or you know someone who’s been there. Today, I’m going to be giving you the tips and tricks for when you need that vacation, but you can’t afford any of the extras. Let’s get into these tips on how to cut cost after booking a vacation: [02:13] Check luggage. If you want to avoid paying for your baggage to fly with you, you need to get into packing light. Some airlines allow up to two carry-on bags, and that’s more than enough to fit all your essentials. By simply taking some detergent, you can pack extra…
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My Stay:  Reflect Krystal Grand Los Cabos Review

My Stay: Reflect Krystal Grand Los Cabos Review

EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Resort Reviews
I was on a business trip in Cabo San Lucas and Reflect Krystal Grand Los Cabos was the host hotel for my 3 days of stay.  Located about 20 minutes from the Los Cabos International Airport, the resort sits directly on the beach with stunning views of the ocean. Reflect Krystal Grand is not an adult-only resort and open to all travelers and includes a kids club for the little ones, as well as it is all-inclusive. I stayed 3 days at this resort, and it was an interesting stay.  Here is my review on my stay and the resort. Hotel Check-in As soon as my transportation pulled into the entry way of the resort, I was already feeling some type of way about the resort. The first impression was not favorable.…
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Episode 44: Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas

Episode 44: Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas

Podcast
  Today, I’m going to tell you a bit about my three week vacation at Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas. That’s right. I spent three weeks working remotely from an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. You can find it in Los Cabos, Mexico. There, you have a great chance of bumping into a few celebrities, because everyone owns a place there. Cabo is also where you can see the famous “El Arco”. Let’s get into it: [02:18] Riu resorts. The Riu brand is family-owned, and specialises in vacation resorts. They’re based in Mexico, but they’ve made their way to 20 countries around the world. I learned this fact at trivia night during my stay. You’re welcome. [03:07] The Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas Resort. From the airport, you can get there within 30…
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Episode 43: Travel Talk with Rachel V. Hill

Episode 43: Travel Talk with Rachel V. Hill

Podcast
  Today, I sit down and talk to Rachel V. Hill. She was named one of 11 Influencial black women in travel that you should know. Having her on this show is a dream come true. She’s going to share her story from retiring from her 6-figure job at the age of 27, to traveling the world for 6 years, to retiring as a travel influencer, to running a marketing agency. Let’s jump into it: [02:37] Rachel’s travel journey. Rachel started travelling when she was younger, going on frequent family trips to explore the US - people always assume travelling means taking trips abroad. Her love for travel came from reading books about fascinating destinations all across the world. Through her high school international studies program, she was able to take her…
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Episode 42: Cruise vs All-Inclusive Resort

Episode 42: Cruise vs All-Inclusive Resort

Podcast
  In this episode, I’ll be giving you the similarities and differences between all-inclusive resorts and cruises. These are two very different types of vacation, and choosing which is best will be different for everybody. In the end, your choice of vacation depends on what you want to experience, and sometimes that means there are extra costs - if you can afford it, don’t let those extra costs get in the way of you living the best life on your vacation. Here are some similarities and differences: [02:29] Food and Drinks.Food is included for both all-inclusive resorts and cruises.The difference is the kinds of restaurants that are included - for most cruises, the specialty restaurants would be a minimal additional cost. At all-inclusive resorts, all the specialty restaurants are included…
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Episode 41: Tips to Keep Your Vehicle Running Smoothly While Traveling

Episode 41: Tips to Keep Your Vehicle Running Smoothly While Traveling

Podcast
  Today’s episode is a bit different. Usually, when I talk about taking a trip, I talk air travel. But, sometimes you just want to get into your car and take a long drive somewhere and have a good time with family or friends. Especially during the pandemic, where people are either uncomfortable with flying or there are some restrictions on flights, taking a road trip is a great way to still go out and experience different places. Joining me today, is Tripp Peek. He is the Director of Retail Operations at Tire Discounters, the largest 100% family-owned and operated independent tire provider in the US. We’re going to be talking about how to ensure your vehicle is good to go for a long-distance trip. Here are some tips to…
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Episode 40: Work and Wanderlust

Episode 40: Work and Wanderlust

Podcast
  There are so many people telling you to quit your job, sell your belongings, and travel the world on $50 a day. That’s one way of doing it, but it’s not for everyone. If you have a 9-to-5 job, you can travel the world and still collect your salary! Don’t believe me? I’ve been working a full-time job in corporate America for 22 years, and I’ve been travelling to all sorts of places. Since the pandemic started, and my company has allowed us to work remotely, I have been able to work from several vacation destinations. Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the most out of your work and travel: [05:42] Plan your work and travel. If you’re travelling for work, consider adding a few days…
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Episode 39: How to Plan a Perfect Vacation with your Friends

Episode 39: How to Plan a Perfect Vacation with your Friends

Podcast
  Are you planning to book a vacation with a friend? I love travelling with friends as much as the next person! It’s guaranteed fun, laughter, and great memories. However, before you can get to having all that fun, you could find yourself going down a difficult and stressful road. In the words of George Costanza from Seinfeld: some trips are relationship killers. If you’re not properly prepared, or you don’t see the red flags, your trip could go very wrong. So, I came up with a list of tips to help you get to that fun trip with the right friends. Let’s get to it: [02:04] Purchase travel insurance. If you’re travelling with another person, always purchase travel insurance. What if something happens and they cancel? You’re going to want…
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How to Take Good Photos While Traveling Alone

How to Take Good Photos While Traveling Alone

Blog, EJtheTravelDiva Blog, Product
If you travel alone like me, then you know how hard it is to take good photos.  Besides enjoying your vacation by immersing yourself in the destination and being in the moment, capturing good photos is the next best thing.  After all, we live in a society that is all about posting good pictures while traveling.  And just because you are a solo traveler does not mean you can’t capture those quality moments you’ll want to remember. After traveling alone several times and returning from my trips without those moments captured, I thought to myself, “This is not fair!  I wish I would not have been so scared to ask someone to take my picture!”  Returning home with feelings of regret was getting old, so I knew I had to make a change. And the…
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Episode 38:  Planet Hollywood Cancun Review – My Experience

Episode 38: Planet Hollywood Cancun Review – My Experience

Podcast
  In February of 2021, I went to Planet Hollywood in Cancun. I was supposed to go in May 2020, but Covid-19 put that plan on hold until finally giving me a chance to go in February 2021 for some Valentine’s self-love. Even after such a long delay, my stay there was absolutely worth the wait, and I will suggest it to anyone looking for an incredible experience in Cancun. Highlights from this episode: [02:16] Two sides of the resort. There’s a family side with 566 suites, and an adult-only side with 332 suites.  I usually stay on the adult-only side of resorts if they have one - I don’t have kids, and I’m not about to go to a party and turn up around kids all the time. The family…
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