The guys bring on co-worker and extra special guest Kasey DellaPenna – aka @kaseymeetsworld – to share her story of becoming a backpacking digital nomad and travel influencer … who splits her time between living in Guatemala, the U.S., and traveling the world.
After a whirlwind trip, she recaps a visit to Hong Kong and Shanghai to cap off her official worldwide ranking of all the Disney parks. Plus, our most beautiful places on earth – and why Kasey is proudly a Disney adult.
Tune in now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! And be sure to subscribe now to get each new episode every Thursday morning.
Thanks to HotelSlash for sponsoring this episode of the show! Try it out today: Use promo code THRIFTYTRAVELER for a free 90-day trial – plus, get $20 off your first prepaid booking!
Have a question you want answered on-air or an idea for the show? Let us know at [email protected].
Please consider supporting the show by spreading the word and leaving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts! That helps other travel lovers, like yourself, find our podcast.
Show Notes
- 00:00 – Explaining our time travel-y episode
- 00:40 – Introducing our friend and colleague Kasey, a self proclaimed Disney adult
- 02:42 – Kasey’s best travel deals including a Hawaii stopover & her expert tip for finding the cheapest flights abroad
- 07:50 – Kasey’s biggest travel mistake: An embarrassing missed flight in Orlando
- 11:45 – A word from our sponsor: HotelSlash, the easiest way to book a cheaper hotel stay – & rebook when prices drop
- 12:35 – Kasey’s travel origin story – and becoming a backpacker and digital nomad
- 24:20 – How she wound up living in Guatemala half the year and her pitch for the perfect Guatemala vacation
- 32:00 – A Disney expert’s tips on how to travel to the parks on a budget
- 36:18 – Walking us through her epic trip through China and Hong Kong – including flying Delta Premium Select
- 42:00 – The Disney parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong & how they compare
- 44:00 – The official ranking of Disney Parks worldwide
- 49:30 – Listener Question: Our most jaw-dropping “wow” destinations
- 53:00 – On the Spot, Haters Edition: Places we don’t need to go back to…
Produced by Gunnar Olson and Sylvia Thomas
Audio editing by Sylvia Thomas
Video editing by Kyle Thomas
Show music: “All That” by Benjamin Tissot
Great episode! I wish I would have known all these tips 2 years ago before I started the points and miles game. We had a cancelled flight from Newark to Krakow after multiple delays. I wasted precious hours doing NOTHING! Just waiting through delay after delay. Then at midnight, another 6 hrs of waiting in a line, trying to get the airline on the phone, etc. It was a nightmare. I have learned so much since then and this episode was very helpful! I have a few flights coming up in the next 2-3 weeks and I am much more prepared. Thank you!!!
Cruise ships park in Sydney Harbour in front of the Opera House, almost everyday. Just so you know! If staying at Park Hyatt, the only way to see the harbour is from the rooftop pool. Even then, a cruise ship could block a majority of the harbour view.
Hi guys! Very interesting discussion on the new Amex Platinum Card and the fact that you have a really cool spreadsheet to track all the benefits. My wife and have been doing some personal calculus on if that card is right for us, and it actually makes more sense to potentially get the Amex Gold Card. Do you guys have a tracking spreadsheet like this that’s specific to the Amex Gold Card?
We appreciate everything your team does and we love the podcast!
Thanks for the kind words, Marcus! Stay tuned for something for the Gold Card.
Great episode! Thanks!
My husband and I have 15-20 credit cards each and are entering retirement (i.e., much lower spending). We’d both like to get down to about 4 cards each. How do we do this without cancelling most of them and totally taking a hit to our (stellar) credit ratings?
Episode #19 – Kyle, I feel ya big time RE: standing in line for security and people are not prepared or act surprised that they need to remove metal, liquids, etc. Hello… what have you been looking at for the last 20 minutes while waiting? Paying attention to your surroundings and taking social cues helps everyone. Phew, exits soapbox! (I think this can apply to the check-out line in the grocery store too! :-))
We loved Oban. We went to Oban by train from Glasgow. We took a boat tour to Mull, Iona, Staffa, and Lunga. We went during puffin nesting season and saw so many puffins. I highly recommend this tour company.
https://westcoasttours.co.uk/tours/tour-mull-iona-and-staffa/
Fellow travel enthusiast from the Midwest here!
Just wanted to share my travel social media username/handle – @TravelSizeBudget on Facebook and Instagram. I attended Thrifty Traveler University a few years ago regularly follow TT’s amazing content. I started @TravelSizeBudget last year to offer my own unique spin on travel – from the usual (points and miles, affordable fares) to the less common (savings and convenience on food, souvenirs and more). Thanks for continuing to inspire me, Thrifty Traveler!
Great podcast! Thanks for all the great information.
Hello Gunnar,
I am enjoying and appreciating all you travel savings information. Would you please help us finding an appropriate venue to get results form lost bag by United? In June last yWe re senior citizens 1K United. Last year in June we checked 6 bags from LAX to HNL. One of the bags never arrived and we filled a claim at HNL. There was lack or no communication from United including corporate. We provided photos and invoices for 4 pro racing high end OZONE kites $12,500.00. The bag never made it “downstairs” after being check at 1K counter at LAX. I wrote countless letters , got a lots of lying and contradicting run around or no responses. Now we found out someone is selling our stolen kites on E-Bay because they all have serial numbers and person who bought one of the kites very ‘cheap” called Ozone co. to ask why is someone selling a $4,000.OO kite for $1,500.00 and the company contacted us since they have record of us paying a full price. E-Bay is not taking any responsibility. Now United finally e-mailed us claiming they do not cover “sports equipment”. Our bags were handed to United employees and they should be responsible. Would you have any suggestions how can we recover our losses? I would appreciate any suggestion you could provide. I know its not what you are about but since you have lots of travel experience maybe you know something that can help us. Keep up the good work.