Vacation Mavens is a travel podcast offering practical travel tips and destination inspiration from two moms who know how to plan the perfect trip. Hosted by Kim Tate, from StuffedSuitcase.com, and Tamara Gruber, from YourTimetoFly.com, we have over 40 years of combined travel expertise.
We share our favorite vacations from road trips to cruises, European adventures to theme parks. Whether you are planning a family vacation, romantic couples trip, or mom getaway we have the tips and tricks to make memories that will last a lifetime.
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We recently covered Tamara's Galapagos cruise and also some tips for visiting Ecuador, but this week we are digging into where to stay in Ecuador. Tamara gives a recap of her trip including some mini hotel reviews for Hacienda La Danesa, Mashpi Lodge, and Hacienda Zuleta.
Episode Highlights
Tamara spent 17 nights in Ecuador including 5 nights in the Galapagos, 1 night at Hacienda La Danesa, 2 nights in Cuenca, 1 night near Cotopaxi, 3 nights in Quito, 2 nights in the Mashpi Lodge, and 2 nights at Hacienda Zuleta
You wouldn't want to move around this much but Tamara wanted to see a lot of the country
Hacienda La Danesa is a good pairing with the Galapagos
It is 1.5 hours from Guayaquil
It is on a large property with a farm, cacoa plantation, and a teak plantation on site
It is an all-inclusive property. There are only seven accommodations and there is also the family home, as it is still family run
The lodge is very beautiful with a bar, restaurant, lounge area, and library
The design and style is very beautiful and perfect for those that really appreciate nice design
Included activities include milking the cows, biking with a local guide, river tubing, a visit to the cacao plantation, and a chocolate tasting and making workshop
Additional activities include horseback riding, cooking classes, and off-site excursions
For a Cloud Forest experience, especially if you don't want to go all the way out to the rainforest, Mashpi Lodge is a good option to pair with a visit to Quito or Cotopaxi
It takes about two hours to get to Mashpi Lodge and the last hour is on a very rough dirt road and not great if you have neck or back issues
Mashpi Lodge is really great for birdwatchers
Tamara wouldn't recommend it for families with very young kids as it is pretty active
2-3 nights is perfect for the Mashpi Lodge
There are morning and afternoon excursions and you can also opt into a night hike
Each evening there are presentations from naturalists or biologists
It is an all-inclusive experience with meals and activities (not alcohol or spa services)
The Sky Bike gives a "birds eye" view of the Cloud Forest but it is hard work to pedal across the cable
Hacienda Zuleta is located in the mountains about 1.5-2 hours from Quito
It is a historical, family-run, colonial-style hacienda that offers a very authentic feeling stay
This is also an inclusive stay with meals and activities
The town is known for embroidery and there is a handicraft market every Sunday
Some of the activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding (additional), visiting the Condor rehabilitation center, embroidery classes (additional), visits to the cheese making factory, tours of the kitchen garden and grounds, watching the sheep or cows be milked, and more
The food is fantastic at Hacienda Zuleta
Tamara also spent two nights at Casa Gangotena in central Quito, which is a fantastic luxury hotel which is well-located in the historic old town
For this episode, we are joined by Nicky Omohundro of Little Family Adventure and the Untethered and Wanderwise podcast to talk about some of our favorite fall getaways.
With over 15 years creating digital content and as a USA Today 10Best family travel expert, Nicky Omohundro operates a nationally syndicated travel website, Little Family Adventure, and award-winning podcast, Untethered & Wanderwise. As a licensed travel advisor and empty-nester with international trips planned, she inspires women over 45 to reclaim their wanderlust and travel independently.
Episode Highlights
Here are a mix of road trips, international getaways, and local staycation ideas for the fall.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas in the Ozark National Forest. Eureka Springs is a cute Victorian town in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. It is a pretty drive and peak fall color is late October. If you like haunted history, the Crescent Hotel is supposed to be one of the most haunted hotels in the country.
Vermont is quintessential New England charm and beautiful fall color. You have beautiful country inns and bed and breakfasts. Top towns include Stowe, Woodstock, and Manchester. Hotels book up very early for peak weekends and prime foliage is late September - early October.
Victoria, British Columbia is easy to access from the Victoria Clipper from Seattle. The harbourfront is beautiful and Butchart Gardens. It is also a unique wine region. September is a great time to go.
Piemonte in Northern Italy. Fall is white truffle season and wine harvest season. You do need to book hotels in advance, especially near Alba because of the Alba White Truffle Market, but otherwise the towns aren't crowded.
Portugal is an amazing destination in October, including the Porto and Douro Valley wine region. For sunshine, head to Alentejo where it has started to cool off and you can enjoy wine tasting and relaxation.
Oklahoma City - right in the middle of the country but often overlooked, it makes a great weekend getaway. Pumpkinville is one of the best pumpkin patches in the country. You also have great food, art, and history including western and indigenous culture. Next year is the 100 year anniversary of Route 66 and Oklahoma City has the longest stretch of the highway. The old Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel is now set up in Wheeler Park in Oklahoma City.
Related Episodes
Business Class Flights: What to Know Before you Book
Episode 261
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 • Duration 44:37
Today we are talking about what happens when you turn left on the airplane and fly business class! Now that Kim and Tamara have flown business class on many airlines including Delta One, Aer Lingus, TAP Airlines, Emirates, Finnair, Condor, Avianca, and others. Whether you are booking on points or paying cash, there are some things that you need to know first.
Episodes Highlights
Research what aircraft is flying the route you are looking to buy because the business class can vary dramatically depending on the plane and the layout
Keep in mind that the airline can still change the aircraft after booking
The airline will provide you with the aircraft type and should list if it is a lay flat seat or a suite
You can also research how often the aircraft is switched out
Also look at YouTube plane reviews for the specific route that you are looking at booking
You may want to splurge on business class on longer flights, for example longer than eight or nine hours
Consider if you have an overnight flight, you may want to upgrade to business class
Keep in mind that if the flight is leaving in the early evening, it may still be hard to sleep
Also, dinner service can really cut into your potential sleep time so on a shorter flight (e.g. from the east coast to Europe), it may not be worth it
If you want to book with points, you can also use a paid service or use paid apps to try to find the best reward flights
If you are booking on points, keep in mind that you still need to pay taxes and fees on most flights and some airports (such as London Heathrow) are very expensive
If you have Avios points, you can move them to different programs but other partner programs you can combine
Business class is different than first class. Many airlines don't have first class, such as Qatar or Delta, but others have first class, business class, premium economy, and economy
When you are traveling business class, you have access to the priority lane for checking your bags
Some airports offer a priority security lane as well
When traveling business class, you have access to the airline lounge (if available in the airport)
You also get to board early and they will typically bring you a welcome drink
Ecuador Travel Tips & Itinerary
Episode 260
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 • Duration 23:11
We recently talked about Tamara's trip to the Galapagos but today we are talking more about the logistics about traveling to Ecuador and some travel tips. Tamara spent 17 nights in Ecuador, including 5 nights in the Galapagos and found it a warm and welcoming country with beautiful and diverse landscapes. Amazing Ecuador helped Tamara organize her trip.
Episode Highlights
Most flights from the U.S. come into Quito or Guayaquil
It is only 3.5 hours from Miami
There are many regions including the Cloud Forest, Rainforest, volcanoes and mountains, National Parks, Galapagos, and more
Tamara spent: 5 nights in the Galapagos, 1 night at Hacienda La Danesa, 2 nights in Cuenca, 1 night in Cotopaxi National Park, 3 nights in Quito, 2 nights in the Cloud Forest at the Mashpi Lodge, 2 nights at Hacienda Zuleta
It helps to work with someone to figure out your priorities and build an itinerary around your interests
Generally you want to spend at least two to three nights in each place
Cuenca is a UNESCO heritage city with plenty of outdoor adventure nearby too
Cotopaxi is at a higher elevation, making hikes challenging
If you just have a week, fly in and out of Guayaquil and do the Galapagos and Hacienda La Danesa
Safety - you need to be very careful after dark in Quito and other cities and beware of pickpockets. Don't walk around after dark, especially alone
Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar as their official currency but most places also take credit cards but you will want small bills for tipping and the handicraft markets
Many of the hotels are all-inclusive with meals and some activities
Ecuador is a huge exporter of roses and through some regions you will see many roadside stands of 25-50 roses for less than $5
Tamara recommends getting a driver because the roads are not very well marked, some aren't in the best condition, Google Maps isn't reliable, and drivers are very aggressive
There are a range of four star boutique hotels and luxury hotels
Ecuadorian food is very fresh and utilizes year-round produce of veggies and fruit
Most meals start with a soup and then have a salad or vegetables. Fish and ceviche is quite popular. Quinoa is a popular grain
You shouldn't drink the tap water in Ecuador but the produce at good restaurants and hotels are washed in filtered water
Related Episodes:
Mother-Daughter Trip to Switzerland (Plus Swiss Travel Tips!)
Season 259
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 • Duration 34:50
Kim and her daughter Mia just got back from a mother-daughter trip to Switzerland. They celebrated her high school graduation with a grad trip and since Mia loves mountains and she was already going to be in France with a school trip, Switzerland was her top choice!
They visited Geneva, Zermatt and the Jungfrau Region because they really wanted to focus on the mountains. Altogether they spent eight nights in Switzerland and they moved around a lot. The itinerary included:
1 night in Geneva
2 nights in Zermatt to see the Matterhorn
2 nights in Grindelwald
2 nights in Wengen
2 nights in Lucerne
If you are going to Switzerland and you really want to spend time in the mountains, skip Geneva and Lucerne and focus more on the smaller towns, not the cities. Their favorite town was Zermatt for hiking and also wine tasting.
Grindelwald was the other favorite because of the hotel and the view of Eiger.
Some of the activities included:
Visit the old town in the cities (e.g. Geneva)
Hiking (which are harder than you might expect even on trails described as easy, use Google Maps to see elevation, buy or bring hiking poles if you can and are checking a bag)
Cable cars (which are pricey)
Matterhorn Glacier (you can also ski even in the summer)
Alpine slides / mountain coaster / ziplines
The train is a great way to get around the country and if you use a Swiss Rail Pass you also get transportation on some of the cable cars (but not all). It makes it very easy because you don’t need to worry about buying tickets. First class will give you more seating options and it is less crowded so it is quieter. It is hard to use the trains if you have large luggage as some of the trains are more for locals/commuters. Try to pack light if you can or use a luggage forwarding service.
It is better to stay longer in each destination as you spend a lot of time transiting up and down the mountains via train/cable car. Basing yourself in Murren or other smaller towns ends up with a lot of time waiting for transportation. It makes more sense to stay in Grindelwald, Interlaken, or Lauterbrunnen.
Galapagos Cruise Aboard the Galaxy Yacht
Episode 258
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 • Duration 33:13
Tamara is just back from a 5-night Galapagos Islands cruise on board the Galaxy Yacht. She was hosted on this trip by Galaxy Expeditions but all opinions are her own.
Galaxy Expeditions operates a number of yachts in the Galapagos and also can arrange for land travel in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. The Galaxy Yacht has eight cabins for a maximum of 16 passengers.
Episode Highlights
You need to fly to the Galapagos from either Quito or Guayaquil in Ecuador (1.5 - 2 hours)
At the airport before leaving the mainland, you need to purchase your tourist card and have your luggage inspected and zip tied to protect the islands from bringing in invasive species
A delegate from Galaxy Expeditions met her at the airport to walk her through the process
Once you arrive in the Galapagos, you need to pay an entrance fee to support the National Park ($200 per person) and they reinspect luggage, which takes about an hour on arrival
You then meet your group and take a bus to the port where you load onto zodiac boats to get to the yacht
A 5-night cruise was a nice amount of time to reach many of the islands and see a ton of wildlife but longer would be more tiring and could get a little repetitive
Most of the cruises in the Galapagos are 16-32 or maybe 50 passengers
If you are prone to motion sickness, you will feel it, especially at night as they moved from place to place
The engines are also loud so bring ear plugs or a sound machine to help drown it out
I'd recommend bringing Dramamine or seasickness meds as well as sleep aids
On board, there were two solo travelers, a few couples and a mother-daughter duo from Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and the USA
The food was really good and breakfast was usually a buffet and lunch was a buffet or served and there were usually two options for a dinner entree
They also served light snacks and fresh juice or tea after excursions
Excursions and meals are included (alcohol is not)
Excursions start early and stay busy all day. The first excursion of the day is usually at 6 - 7 am
There are typically two hikes per day and one to two snorkeling excursions per day
Related Episodes
Tips for Finding and Booking Day Tours and Travel Experiences
Episode 258
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 • Duration 29:38
On this episode we are sharing some of our top tips for finding good guided day tours or special experiences when you are traveling. We will walk through how to find them, how to book, and tips for taking city tours.
Episode Highlights
On your arrival day, don't schedule a guided tour since your plane may not be on time and you may be tired from traveling. If anything, look at doing something impromptu like a hop on hop off bus or just walking around on your own.
On your first full day in a city, it is helpful to take a guided tour to get the lay of the land and get recommendations from a local
Some common tour booking platforms are Viator and Get Your Guide. Just understand that these are platforms advertising different tour companies or operators, the tours aren't actually run by Viator or Get Your Guide
Often you can find the tour operator name on the listing and if you want, you can look up that company and book direct to support small businesses
Be sure to read the details of what is included on the tour and whether or not you are going inside points of interest or just seeing it from the outside
Pay attention to the meeting points and end point to choose ones that are fairly convenient for you based on where you are staying
Make sure you look at the reviews and ratings before booking a tour
Look at the number of people that are on the tour. It will often list the maximum number of passengers on a tour.
Some tour companies, like Shore Excursions, offers a back-to-ship guarantee, which is great if you are booking cruise excursions
Look at what tickets are included
Put in the date when you are looking at pricing as it can vary depending on the season, day of the week, etc. Also, go through the full checkout screen to see what additional fees or taxes are added when building your budget
Some other tour companies that we like are: Walks (or Take Walks), Livtours (small groups), Devour Tours (food tours), Eating Europe (food tours), Tours by Locals, The Tour Guy, and City Experiences
You can also Google "free walking tours" to find pay as you go or tip-based walking tours by locals
Always plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before the tour starts to check in
Map out the meeting place before you go and know how you will get there
Hotel Pitfalls: What to Look Out for When Choosing Where to Stay
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 • Duration 34:59
What should you look for when choosing a hotel, and what are some pitfalls you can try to avoid? Get ready for summer travel with this week's episode full of tips and laughs.
Episode Highlights
Pay attention to the bathroom layouts when viewing photos and reviews as a new hotel trend has been for more open bathroom layouts or glass doors/walls which may not be great for families or friend groups
Hotels are getting better at sustainability initiatives but many are just paying lip service so if this is important to you, look for companies truly dedicated to environmental issues and offer things like bottle refill stations
If you want to check out the location of the hotel, look at the Google Street view to see more what the area is like
Keep in mind that suburban hotels off the highway are more likely to offer free parking, laundry facilities, and free breakfast
When booking city hotels, make sure that it is located near public transportation but avoid hotels near train stations or bus stations
When selecting a room, look at the square footage to compare the various room categories
Keep in mind that when you are traveling internationally, it is hard to find rooms with two queens or doubles. It is even harder to find rooms that sleep five. Typically the rooms will have a double/king or two twins
Sofa beds are not always clean so always ask for clean linens, just keep in mind that you will need to make them up yourself
Accessible rooms sometimes have lower closets, which might not be great for longer dresses, and the showers might have roll in showers and the floor of the bathroom can get really wet
Request a room location away from the elevator / ice machine and a higher floor if near a loud highway
Connecting rooms have thin doors and there is a lot of noise that comes through so put in your special request "no connecting room door"
Be sure to read reviews and look out for red flags about noise, cleanliness, location, and service
Bring a sleep mask or something to cover the glowing appliances and lights in the room
Travel with a white noise machine
Look out for daily resort fees and high city taxes
Some brands or boutique hotels offer happy hours or cookies throughout the day
Don't expect upgrades - book the category that you want
Breaking Down the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
Episode 257
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 • Duration 25:07
Tamara is just back from a multi-generational trip to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. If you have ever wondered what it is like to stay at one of the popular Baha Mar Resorts, now is your chance to get the scoop and see if it is really the vacation of your dreams or not.
Episode Highlights:
This was a multi-generational trip with 14 people ages 17-83. There were a lot of considerations when choosing a destination including budget, activities, direct flights, and mobility issues.
Tamara also considered the Hyatt in Aruba, the Hilton Zemi Beach House in Anguilla, and the Westin or Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman.
There are three hotels within one resort at the Baha Mar and it has multiple restaurants, making it possible to stay for a week and eat somewhere different every night without taking cabs into town.
The food is really expensive at the Baha Mar so you need to build that into the budget as it is inline with going out for a nice dinner in a big city, which is similar to many other island resorts.
The three hotels are:
Rosewood Baha Mar - luxury property
SLS Baha Mar - good for couples, friends, and more of a party scene
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar - good for families and more affordable
There is also a "Reserve" section of the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar with suites and lounge access that is a hotel within a hotel
You fly into Nassau and you fill out a form on arrival and then the immigration line was quite short. They pre-arranged hotel transfers through the concierge.
There are many pools within the Grand Hyatt but if you don't reserve a cabana, sunbed or premium lounge chair it could be hard to find chairs, especially if you want a larger group to be together.
They rented a cabana at the Nexus Club, which has an indoor section with a couch, television, fridge, and a full bathroom. It also had a sun bed, a table and chairs with an umbrella, and use of two in-pool loungers. It was a private pool just for those renting cabanas or staying at a certain room category that included a hot tub. It also had its own bar and food service.
The beach isn't deep but it is longed and it is lined with 4-6 rows of lounge chairs packed in together and the beach was quite busy even in June.
There is also a waterpark that is included for guests with some big slides and a lazy river, as well as a good restaurant.
Related Episodes:
Packing 101: Tips for Summer Travel
Episode 255
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 • Duration 30:43
Get ready for your summer vacation and future travel with these expert packing tips! From carry-on to checked bags, here are some things to keep in mind when packing for your next trip.
Episode Highlights:
Use a packing list! It helps you not forget critical items. Start creating your packing list early in your Notes app
Kim has an outfit planner that you can sign up for on Stuffed Suitcase
Pay attention to your itinerary to figure out what you need to bring for each activity
Also pay attention to the weather forecast for your destination
Try to minimize the number of shoes that you bring on a trip
Try on your outfits while packing and take a picture of yourself so that you remember what you put together (with shoes, accessories, etc.)
You can also put the picture into your notes app with notes about what day you were going to wear it to remember
Packing cubes with compression can be great for saving space
You can pack the cubes by destination/stop on the trip or daily outfits or just pack all your pants together, all your shirts together, etc.
If you are flying on an international carrier, make sure to look up their baggage rules to understand the size and weight of carry on and personal items
Even domestic carriers have different weight limits
If you are buying new luggage, buy the matching packing cubes that fit perfectly
Look for packing cubes that zip to a rectangle and not lumpy
Gonex and Eagle Creek can be great brands to try
Lay flat bags are great for toiletry bags
Travelon makes a good organizer for your electronics
Finger Lakes, New York - it is beautiful in the fall with cute small towns, wine trails, and special events. The area also has a lot of agritourism including apple farms, pumpkin patches, cheese makers, dairies, and even alpaca farms.
Boone, North Carolina on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Great scenic drives or hiking on Grandfather Mountain and a mile-high swinging bridge. You can fly into Asheville and drive to Boone. It is also a fun college town.
West Coast road trip along Highway 1 from the Washington / Oregon coast, through the sand dunes and into the Redwoods. Some of the small shops in the tourist towns may close during the week as it gets later into the fall.
Keep in mind that your under-the-seat space is limited in business class and some airlines or aircraft set ups have better storage than others
The airline will also provide you with a small amenity kit with a sleep mask, moisturizer, lip balm, and other items
They will also provide you with a comfy blanket and pillow and some will make up your bed for you
Our favorite business class experiences include Qatar, Turkish Airlines, and JetBlue Mint
Our favorite lounge experiences have been the Virgin lounge in Heathrow, the Business Class lounge for Turkish Airlines in Istanbul, and the Garden in Doha, and the British Airways lounge
When planning a trip, be sure to plan at least six to nine months in advance if you want to stay in town and at the better hotels. Also, when considering different hotels, the hospitality is wonderful but look closely at the amenities that are offered. Most don’t have air conditioning but it wasn’t needed in the mountains. Some hotels have screens on the windows but not all and there are a lot of flies and some mosquitoes.
Keep in mind that shops close early (6-7 pm) and that busses also stop running by 7:00 pm in small towns. Hotels and meals are very expensive in Switzerland, especially now that the dollar is weak against the CHF and Euro. Main entrees are 30-50 CHF per person, salads 12-19 CHF, and beer was cheap but wine was expensive. To save money, you can buy wine or beer at the grocery store to enjoy before you go out. Drink sizes are also very small.
The food is a lot of fondue, cheese, pasta, raclette, and chocolate. Other regions might have more regional specialties. Otherwise there are a lot of burgers and international cuisine. If you do have allergies, there are a lot of peanuts and other nuts being served as a snack or included in dishes.
Credit cards can be used almost everywhere. In all the tourist areas, everyone spoke English. They were less accommodating in the city or non-tourist establishment.
Be sure to pack and wear sunscreen. It is hard to find places to refill a water bottle so you may want to carry your own snacks and drinks.
They provide wet suits and snorkel gear on board
The week started busy and got a little less so towards the end, which was appreciated
Tamara saw sea turtles, fish, penguins, frigate birds, blue, red, and brown-footed boobies, sea lions, iguanas, and Galapagos tortoises
There is a naturalist guide on board that leads every excursion and provides so much information about the wildlife and ecosystem
The islands Tamara visited on Galaxy Yacht itinerary C are: Santa Cruz, North Seymour, Bartolome, Santiago, Genovesa, South Plazas, and San Cristobal
Know if you need to be dressed a certain way (headscarf, covered shoulders, etc) or if you can't bring bags/backpacks, etc.
Private tours are great for families or if you have mobility issues because it is easier to customize them
Don't forget to tip a good tour guide. Group tour tip is typically $5 per person and a private tour is $10-20 per person if it is a half day or full day
Have small bills handy for tipping
Rick Steves has great audio tours for Europe, GPS My City has self-guided tours, and VoiceMap is another app for self-guided audio tours that are more cost-effective than a guided tour.
Check out what the parking situation is and whether or not it is indoors or outdoors. Parking garages will sometimes list the clearance height
Tipping housekeeping for good service is appreciated so it helps to carry some smaller bills
You can do paddle boarding and snorkeling and there are also paid motorized water sports and there is an activities desk that arranges excursions and day trips.
The Baha Mar also has a kids club with daily activities and there are flamingos that do a "parade" every morning.
The food at Baha Mar was very good and even Tamara was impressed.
Regatta is where they serve a huge breakfast buffet but it costs about $44 per person.
Because Tamara is a preferred partner with Hyatt Prive, she was able to get the following perks and amenities:
Free breakfast for 2 people per day per room
$100 per room resort credit
$50 per room beverage credit
automatic upgrade within 24 hours of booking
There are many pool bars serving food for lunch and there are also food trucks by the beach.
You need to pre-book dinner reservations and they cover the gamut from Italian, Asian, Chinese, Steak, Mediterranean, and some celebrity chef restaurants like Cafe Boulud and Marcus Fish and Chop House (from Marcus Samuelson)
In Tamara's opinion, the Baha Mar is better suited for families with teens or adults versus with younger kids as the casino is really the center point of the resort.
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