It's time for another “Save the Marriage Trip!”
And this time, we're heading to EUROPE! OG Trip Tales guest Ryan is back! Ryan lives outside Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife, Heather, and their four kids. Every year, Ryan and Heather prioritize a kid-free getaway they affectionately call their “Save the Marriage Trip,” and in July 2026, they went BIG to celebrate 20 years of marriage with their very first trip to Europe!
Over eight nights, they explored Frankfurt and Munich in Germany, Salzburg, Austria, and Barcelona, Spain.
We're talking luxury hotels, lie-flat business class seats, European train travel, stunning castles, massive beer gardens, traditional German food, and one of the oldest restaurants in Europe! Plus, Ryan shares why Salzburg was the unexpected highlight of their trip, what they loved about Barcelona, and how they made some beautiful hotels more affordable using points.
This episode is available to watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@kelseygravesIf you’d like to share about your trip on the podcast, email me at: kelsey@triptalespodcast.com
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323687329158879Mentioned in This Episode:
Frankfurt, Germany
- Hotel: Sofitel Frankfurt Opera
- Frankfurt Old Town, Iron Bridge (Eiserner Steg)
Munich, Germany
- Hotel: Andaz Munich
- Nymphenburg Palace – Castle, gardens and historic carriages
- Marienplatz – Historic square and Glockenspiel
- Augustiner-Keller – Traditional Bavarian beer garden
- Traditional German pork knuckle
- Fruit-shaped pastries and desserts
Salzburg, Austria
- Hotel: Hotel Goldener Hirsch
- St. Peter's Restaurant – Historic restaurant dating back to 803 AD
- Mozart's Birthplace
- Mirabell Gardens
- Hohensalzburg Fortress – Funicular ride and panoramic views
- Augustiner Bräu Mülln – Traditional beer garden
- Salzburg Card – Admission to popular attractions
Barcelona, Spain
- Hotel: El Palace Barcelona
- El Palace rooftop restaurant
- Sagrada Família – Guided cathedral tour
- Wine & Tapas Walking Tour – Booked through Viator
- Barcelona beaches
- Mediterranean sunset sailing cruise
- Spanish tapas, wine and sangria
Flights, Trains & Travel
- United Polaris Business Class – Newark to Frankfurt
- United Polaris Lounge – Newark Airport
- High-speed train – Frankfurt to Munich
- Eurowings flight – Salzburg to Barcelona
Trip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal’s Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and National Parks like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Yosemite. Listeners get real travel tips, itinerary recommendations, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation, especially when traveling with kids.
