Speaking Of Travel ®

Diana is kicking off an overnight trip to Orlando for a holiday party, and Asheville’s nonstop flights help her travel with ease. As a flight attendant, Diana is a pro when it comes to making her way through an airport. “I think passengers don’t realize that they can bring an empty bottle through security and, on the other side of security, fill that bottle up with water,” Diana said. “That way, they can stay hydrated on the plane. That’s super important when traveling.”Diana loves the convenience and easy connections at AVL. “I live five minutes from the Asheville Airport,” she said. “I’m able to park my car, hop right through security and hit a nonstop flight. The different destinations out of Asheville are very convenient for me.”Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Lance is on his way to Orlando to visit family and friends back home. He currently lives in Waynesville, and he’s no stranger to flying in and out of AVL. He says preparation is the key to stress-free travel.“Pack as soon as you can,” Lance said. “Don’t do it last minute. Just try to relax. Grab a coffee, and just chill.”Lance enjoys the simplicity and efficiency of traveling through the Asheville Regional Airport. “It’s a smaller airport, so you can just walk right in and get through security fast,” he said.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Jen Stevens is the author of the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program and Executive Editor of International Living. Over the years, Jen has taught hundreds of folks with no prior travel writing experience to get paid to travel. Discover how to travel the world and get paid for your stories and even travel for free. Jen explains how you can get paid to travel and why now is the best time to get into travel writing. And you don't need an English degree! Find out how you can combine your interests and expertise with travel writing, whether it's knitting, skydiving, eating or hiking. And, if you take photos, learn why it's a great way to make even more income. Find out more at www.greatescapepublishing.com Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Nicole Will and Sue Ann Fisher, owners of Asheville Wellness Tours, have created a network of local health and wellness practitioners and craft experiences to encourage connection with ourselves, others and nature. Discover what led them to Asheville and the creation of Asheville Wellness Tours and why they've chosen this niche market of wellness tourism. Nicole and Sue Ann share some great wellness travel tips and explore Asheville's wellness history from the past to the present. Find out how their network of health and wellness experts are carefully curated to include the best of the best so you are guaranteed the most memorable experience. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Timmy and Susana have a passion for performing, teaching and entertaining with family concerts and educational school programs. But life as a touring artist sometimes includes the good, the bad and the strange. Traveling for them is a way of life and brings smiles to so many, but some odd things do happen on the road! Timmy and Susana delight us with stories and songs guaranteed to bring a smile to your face! Ever heard the one about Fellini the Flea and his circus antics? Tune in for an enchanting show! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Mark Gordon Smith, founder of Private Italy Tours, shares why falling in love with Italy is easy. Italy is more than pasta and wine. With historic cities, beautiful coastlines, endless history and the nicest people, one visit is just not enough. Mark has traveled across Italy for over 35 years and presents small group tours of Italy through its most beautiful and inspiring regions. Find out how to discover the art, the history, the food, and the people that are Italy. It you’ve ever thought of traveling to Italy, learn from an expert all there is to see and do and make your dream trip come true. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Kelly Hayes-Raitt is a full-time traveler and house sitter, journalist and inspiring public speaker. Kelly shares her travel stories and how she discovered house sitting as a flexible way to live and write. For the past decade, Kelly has cared for other people’s homes and pets in far-flung places like Maputo, Mozambique and Ya’an, China, as well as fabulous cities like Hanoi, Paris, Singapore, Berlin and even London during the Olympics. In 2003, she reported live from Baghdad just weeks after the U.S-led invasion. In an effort to put a human face on U.S. foreign policies, she’s written about her experiences in refugee camps in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Kelly’s work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and several local newspapers, as well as in several anthologies and literary journals. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Robert and Scott are The Cerny Brothers, an Americana duo based in Nashville. Their inspiring music is born from traveling and meeting fans on the road in diverse cities and rural areas all over the US. The brothers grew up in the heartland of Illinois, but after college we went to L.A. and had a completely different experience. For Robert and Scott, touring allows them the opportunity to meet all sorts of people. Their new album, Looking For The Good Land, was recorded in Nashville and is a collection of powerful working-class rock that moves with the spirit of John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty. Rolling Stone named the band a “New Americana Artist You Need to Know” in 2019.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The Speaking of Travel + Climate Listening Project Series with Dayna Reggero recaps conversations with experts from around the world on how to find common ground and connect climate change stories with discovery. We understand climate and weather are important factors in our decision-making around travel. And this year we shared new and challenging opportunities for those involved in climate change and how it relates to travel. Our goal is always to focus on hope and to help you be more prepared as you make your travel plans.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Chris Webber, Development Manager of Make-A-Wish® in Central & Western NC, explains how the gift of a wish helps transform the lives of children with critical illnesses and ways we can help make dreams come true. Find out the Make-A-Wish®  history, hear some inspiring travel wishes and ways you can get involved. The Make-A-Wish® Foundation has tens of thousands of volunteers, donors and supporters helping grant wishes of children diagnosed with a critical illness. You can be one of them!   Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Madeleine Besson is a French singer, songwriter and artist. Her new EP, “In The River,” showcases her soulful and blues-flavored style and is creatively immersed with original songwriting and vocalizing. After developing her musical talents as a multi-instrumentalist while just a young child, Madeleine spent her early years touring the world on movie sets and theaters with her artistic parents. This all led up to her beautiful 2014 debut record, “Blossom” that she recorded in Europe after having developed her skills as a live performer. She shows the full range of her musical abilities with songs about departures, destinations and the lessons learned along the way. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Yolanda Robertson is the owner of Savored Moments Travel and is a travel-planning expert who helps family, friends and groups deepen their connections through well-planned, savory travel experiences. For most of her adult life, she was a single mom who struggled to find time for herself, and it was often difficult to find the quality time to connect with her children. Now that her children are grown, she has found the best way to connect with them and others is through her passion for travel, wine, and food. She started Savored Moments Travel as a way to share her love of travel planning and to orchestrate culinary experiences with not only her friends and family but yours too.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The Speaking of Travel + Climate Listening Project Series with Dayna Reggero continues with special guest, Veronica Butcher, joining us from Mothers and Others for Clean Air (M&O). M&O is a unique partnership of leading public health and child advocacy organizations working to advance public policy to improve air quality and fight climate change in order to reduce the effects of air pollution on public health, especially children’s health. M&O works to reduce pollution from transportation and other sources and promote clean renewable energy sources, energy-efficiency and conservation.To unite new partners and to have more of an impact, M&O is expanding throughout the Southeast and now has staff in both Georgia and North Carolina.M&O and its partners are working to reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants, cars, trucks, building and industrial energy use, and promote clean renewable energy sources, energy-efficiency and conservation.Veronica Butcher has over 19 years of advocacy and po

What if there was a way to really discover more about your destination, tailored just for you, from locals like you? Where you can find out what to do, what to know and where to go. Well, good news! Patrick Gallagher is Founder & CEO of the LGND (Legend) Travel App, an easy-to-use app where you can get great recommendations on all there is to see and do by local people who live in that city. And you can access it anytime, anywhere. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Deb is on her way to home to Charlottesville, Virginia. She was in Asheville for business but got to mix in some much-needed family time during her visit. As a regular traveler, Deb has learned a thing or two about being prepared.“Never check your bag when you’re flying to [a destination], because you may not have it when you get there,” Deb said. “I haven’t faced that very often; but there was one time when my flight was delayed because of a storm, so I had to spend the night somewhere that I didn’t expect.”“I think it’s great,” Deb said. “It’s a small airport, really friendly. Love these rocking chairs. Easy to get in and out!”Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Maria and Ron are headed home to Miami. The couple was visiting Asheville for a convention, but they made sure to hit the highlights during their stay. Ron is no stranger to travel, and he has few tricks up his sleeve.“I like… TSA pre-check. It saves time,” Ron said. “It was pretty easy. You just sign up online, get your appointment and… do it within a half hour. It gets you in and out pretty quickly.”Maria loved her time at AVL. “It’s not too crowded and people are friendly,” Maria said. “We’re not rushing in any way.” Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Chelsea is Ohio-bound after spending some time in Asheville for business. She travels on a weekly basis for work, so she is a practiced hand with several helpful travel tips.“Have everything ready,” Chelsea said. “If you have TSA pre-check, that’s very convenient. If you don’t, make sure you have your liquids ready and have easy shoes [to remove]. Pack as light as you can, that way you don’t have to worry about a checked bag.”“It’s very convenient,” she said. “It’s not like some of the bigger airports where you have to take two hours to get through security. It just takes a couple minutes, and then you’re at your gate.”Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Josh and Rachel travel a lot for work, but this time they are headed to see family in Mississippi. Being frequent flyers, Josh and Rachel are pros when it comes to maximizing flexibility and convenience on the go.“Always pack a carry-on bag, never check a bag,” Josh said. “You don’t have to wait for your bags at the end of a trip.” “It’s a lot easier if you’re boarding in a later zone or if you’re in a rush, it’s easy just to shove under your seat,” Rachel said. “Then you can get up and go.”Josh and Rachel love the convenience of their hometown airport. “It’s like a second home to me,” Rachel said. “It’s really easy to navigate and super easy to get in and out of. It’s helpful that whenever you are here, you’re home. You can go straight home and not have to worry about traveling a couple extra hours.”Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Yolanda is on her way back home to St. Louis. She’s been working in the Asheville area for several months now, but she always makes a weekly trip home to connect with friends and family. As someone who travels often, Yolanda knows the importance of traveling light.“Travel lightly, carry only the necessities,” Yolanda said. “Always check your bag. It’s too much… especially when you have connecting flights.”Yolanda loves the experience she has at AVL. “It’s small, very personable,” she said. “The employees have always been a pleasure.”Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Remi Oguntoye, co-founder of ExplorEquity, explains how approaching an overriding theme of equity with travel makes the experience meaningful and provides tips to travel mindfully and sustainably. ExplorEquity is educating and growing awareness of global equity issues by developing immersive experiences in areas hardest hit by circumstances beyond their control, including Puerto Rico. Discover what ExplorEquity is currently working on and lessons learned along their brief entrepreneurial journey.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.