Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story – Details, episodes & analysis

Prepaying for travel extras feels like smart planning. Until you lose money because your plans change and there are no refunds.

Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond trade travel updates and money lessons, starting with Crystal's quick February return to Barbados. She chose an Airbnb near the beach with a pool over an all-inclusive resort, made grocery runs to cook her own meals and avoid overindulgence, and learned a hard lesson about dangerous winter waves and riptides. Going out before lifeguards post red flags? Bad idea.

They compare Airbnb costs to all-inclusives and note that Airbnb quality can be a gamble without solid reviews. You might save money or you might end up somewhere disappointing with no recourse.

Then Crystal recounts her return flight nightmare. Major delays, buying a last-minute Frontier ticket to get home, and losing money after prepaying for a checked bag she couldn't use due to customs and liquids logistics. That sparks a broader debate: when does prepaying for travel extras save you money, and when does it backfire?

Joe shares his Disney World trip centered on standout resort restaurants and explains the 60 day reservation advantage (but only if you're staying on property). He also notes that Hyatt rewards earn more free nights than other programs but elite status resets yearly, which changes the calculation.

They preview upcoming travel including Salt Lake City, possible Morocco, Santa Fe, a Beirut/Istanbul contingency plan, and Alaska, plus touch on weather-disrupted trips and resorts reopening in Jamaica.

What You'll Discover:

• When prepaying for travel extras saves money and when it costs you

• The real costs of Airbnb versus all-inclusive resorts in Barbados

• Why Airbnb quality is a gamble without solid reviews

• Beach safety lessons about riptides and winter waves

• How Crystal lost money on a prepaid checked bag due to last-minute flight changes

• Disney dining hacks including the 60 day reservation advantage for on-property guests

• Why Hyatt rewards earn more free nights but status resets create trade-offs

• How to handle major flight delays and last-minute rebooking

• Upcoming travel destinations and contingency planning

• Weather disruption strategies and resort reopening updates

This Episode Is For You If:

• You've lost money on prepaid travel extras when plans changed

• You're debating between Airbnb and all-inclusive resorts

• You want Disney dining tips that actually help you get reservations

• You're planning beach trips and want to stay safe in the water

• You're curious about hotel loyalty programs and whether status is worth it

• You believe learning from others' travel mistakes beats making your own

Question for You:

What's the biggest travel prepayment mistake you've made? Lost money on a checked bag? Prepaid a hotel you had to cancel? Drop your story in the comments because Crystal's Frontier experience might save another traveler from the same fate.

What happens when you stop treating retirement like an ending… and start treating it like an expedition?

On this episode of Stacking Adventures, Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond connect with retirement mindset mentor George Jerjian (creator of the DARE Method) from London to unpack the 80-day, around-the-world journey that reshaped how he thinks about identity, courage, and life after 55.

George didn't just plan a bucket-list sprint. He worked with a travel agent, chose mostly countries new to him, and intentionally left space for serendipity. Along the way, he learned to stop "ticking boxes," listen to his body, skip prepaid tours when needed, and even find peace wedged into a middle airplane seat. Because sometimes the biggest shift isn't geography—it's mindset.

This isn't just a travel story. It's a retirement reset.

• Why George chose unfamiliar destinations to stretch himself

• How leaving room for spontaneity created the most meaningful moments

• Why slowing down and listening to your body matters more than "getting your money's worth"

• Reflecting on Nelson Mandela's legacy at Robben Island

• Five days on safari in Timbavati near Kruger—witnessing both the beauty and brutality of nature

• What wild places teach us about humility and resilience

• The Great Barrier Reef near Hamilton Island (yes, wetsuits required—sharks and jellyfish are real)

• Melbourne's Immigration Museum and Australia's "populate or perish" story

• Driving the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles

• Why exploring national identity helped George reflect on his own

• Digging hot-water pools on Coromandel beaches

• The train ride from Christchurch to Greymouth

• Milford Sound, the Southern Alps, and swimming with dolphins in Kaikōura

• A Māori dance lesson that challenged the need for approval (hint: wrist-shaking beats applause)

• Learning from a samurai historian in Kanazawa about service in Japanese culture

• Visiting Hiroshima after reading John Hersey's Hiroshima

• What rebuilding after devastation teaches about forgiveness and human strength

• Vancouver's rain-soaked greenery

• The sleeper train to Jasper

• Banff, Lake Louise, and the Icefields Parkway

• Quebec City's French character and layered history

George closes with a simple but powerful idea: travel restores awe—and awe restores perspective.

For listeners in that 55–75 sweet spot (and honestly, anyone thinking about what's next), George shares how extended travel can:

• Help you shed old identities tied to work

• Build courage in small, repeatable ways

• Reframe uncertainty as adventure

• Replace "What am I without my job?" with "Who do I want to become?"

Retirement isn't a withdrawal from life. It's a redeployment.

• The ongoing "Where in the World Is Crystal?" listener game (she's not in the continental U.S. or Aruba…)

• A nod to the show's Gear of the Day archive at stackingadventures.com/gtd

• George's memoir recommendation—his own book, Odyssey of an Elder: Around the World in 80 Days, written so you feel like you're traveling beside him

If you had 80 days and the courage to go somewhere unfamiliar, where would you go—and what part of your identity might you leave behind?

Share your answer in the comments or in the Stacking Adventures community. Because sometimes the biggest journey isn't around the world.

It's into the next version of yourself.

River cruises look amazing in the brochures, but are they actually worth the money? Or do you end up trapped on a floating hotel with mediocre food and tours you could've Googled yourself?

Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy sit down with Nathan and Kathrin, two experienced travelers who just finished a Viking River Cruise through France's Rhône Valley. They're here to give you the real story about what worked, what surprised them, and whether this style of travel lives up to the hype (spoiler alert: mostly yes, with some important caveats).

From the towering Papal Palace in Avignon to the Roman ruins of Arles and the quiet charm of Viviers at night, Nathan and Catherine walk you through the moments that made their journey unforgettable. You'll hear about the quality of local guides, the tiny towns with massive personalities, and a remarkable side trip through Lyon's hidden traboules (because France hides its secrets well). They also get honest about the cabin size (shoebox would be generous), the onboard experience versus their expectations, and how river cruising compares to ocean sailing.

Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn when they share their medical emergency story. When Nathan's mom needed urgent care in Lyon, they got a crash course in navigating foreign healthcare systems. The experience became less about panic and more about learning how systems work differently abroad, and why preparation matters more than perfection.

Whether you're considering your first river cruise, wondering if Viking lives up to its reputation, or just looking for inspiration for your next European adventure, this episode delivers honest insights you can actually use.

What You'll Take With You:

• The honest truth about river cruising and whether it's worth the premium price

• How Viking's excursions, guides, and onboard experience stack up against the marketing

• Insider tips for exploring Avignon, Arles, Viviers, and Lyon beyond the standard tour

• What to know about handling medical emergencies abroad before you need to know it

• The best food, wine, and cultural highlights along the Rhône that you shouldn't miss

• How to make a tiny cruise cabin actually work for you (gear hacks included)

• Why souvenirs matter more than you think when chosen thoughtfully

• How to blend adventure, history, wine, and wellness into one trip without it feeling rushed

This Episode Is For You If:

• You've been curious about river cruises but worried they're overhyped tourist traps

• You want honest feedback from real travelers, not just glossy travel blog content

• You're planning a European trip and wondering if this style of travel fits your personality

• You want to know what can go wrong abroad and how to handle it without losing your mind

• You believe the best travel stories come from the unexpected moments, not just the planned ones

Before You Hit Play, Think About This:

What's the most unexpected thing that's ever happened to you while traveling, and how did it change the trip for better or worse? Drop your story in the comments because Nathan and Catherine's Rhône medical emergency reminded us how common (and character building) those twists can be.

Nathan and Kathrin's awesome cookware company (Joe can verify!): DaTerraCucina.com

Their travel blog: TakingTheBigBreak.com

Share YOUR Story! StackingAdventures.com/MyStory

Check out our Gear of the Day: StackingAdventures.com/GOTD

Ever wondered how to use depreciation to your benefit in real estate investing? In today's episode, we bring you an engaging discussion on how tax planning can effectively boost your investment returns. Our guest, Joe Viery, shares his expertise on the importance of assembling a proficient tax team and explains how to use depreciation in real estate as a tax-saving tool. We further explore the strategy of cost segregation, a powerful tax planning tool.

In our headline segment, the Apple Vision Pro enters the world of real estate.  We'll share how this can help and hurt the industry.  We wrap up the episode with a question on Ring Ruth's Rotary about how your life insurance policy could potentially be leveraged for real estate purchases.

What if there were a way to invest in real estate…without investing in real estate? Scott Carson joins us to share how he buys mortgages. Banks struggle to evaluate loans because of their macro engines, and Scott sneaks into the crevasses to find opportunities to buy the loan from the bank and successfully turn a non-performing loan into a successful investment. He helps people stay in their home while also making money. How does it work? He'll explain how he identifies the loans that banks struggle with, buys the loans, and then works with the homeowner to get them back on their feet. He also covers what he does if he CAN'T help the homeowner (and sometimes still makes money). We talk about the risks, upside, and mechanics of buying loans on today's show. Plus, in our headline segment, we dive into a Reddit thread focused on one big name's child…who says that making money in real estate is super easy. We'll take a look and share some thoughts on taking advice from influencers on the internet. Plus, we'll take a question about HELOCs to Ruth's Rotary Phone AND we'll also share Doug's fascinating trivia (which doubles as a pop quiz!). All that and more on today's show!

Today we throw away all of the talk and get our hands dirty. What does a "great deal" really look like? You've heard all the talk. You've listened to podcasts. We dump all of the theory on the floor and instead evaluate a real deal from one of our Deeders! We'll apply all the math, show you websites, dive into clues from the listing, and ultimately make a decision about whether Denise's deal is ultimately one she should pursue or if she should keep looking.

In our headline segment Rich Dad, Poor Dad guru Robert Kyosaki is in the news, sharing that he's over a BILLION dollars in debt? While we can't confirm that number, we can confirm that we talk about leverage on the show and how to use it wisely without being wiped out. We also answer a call to Ruth's Rotary phone from Pam-a-lama-ding-dong (not her real name) AND we also, like a cherry on top, share Doug's entirely fun and not-for-credit pop quiz. We're sure you'll pass the quiz AND won't want to pass on all this knowledge and fun.

Are you ready to kickstart your journey towards owning your first investment property? In this episode of Stacking Deeds, we've got our top 5 exciting and creative ways for you to build up your down payment. Join us as we dive deep into these top five strategies and inspire you to take your first step toward financial freedom through real estate investment. Finally, do you think you can correctly answer Doug's Property Pop Quiz?

Get the show notes delivered to your inbox at https://www.stackingdeeds.net/p/shownotes/

How do you know that you're scoring a great deal? While most "get rich quick" investors look for a way to maximize income, our Deeders know that you first ensure that you aren't stepping into a nightmare purchase. Suni Rao has evaluated HUNDREDS of deals, and today joins us to kick off 2023 by showing us the filters she uses to determine whether a deal actually makes sense. By beginning with Suni's approach, you'll be able to tweak her steps and create your own template to quickly determine whether a listing is a waste of time.

But that's not all. In our headline segment, Crystal and Joe dive into a headline on climbing interest rates. It seems fewer people are chasing the dream of purchasing a home, which is good news for US! As more people search for rental units, how do you stick out? We'll share our thoughts and strategies. Plus, Doug will share his infamous property pop quiz AND we'll answer a call from Deeder Lindsay, who shares a TikTok video that just might confirm some of the key real estate purchasing elements we were focusing on last year, like creativity and understanding zoning rules.

All of that and more on today's Stacking Deeds episode! Want the recap in your email box? Subscribe for the show notes at https://www.stackingdeeds.net/p/shownotes/