Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story

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.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
🌍 Travel With Intention (Not Just an Itinerary)
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"

🦁 South Africa: Awe, History, and Perspective
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

🇦🇺 Australia & Identity
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

🇳🇿 New Zealand: Nature as Teacher
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)

🇯🇵 Japan: Service and Resilience
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

🇨🇦 Canada: Awe as the Final Lesson
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.
The Retirement Mindset Shift
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.
Basement Fun Along the Way
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

Adventurer Question 🌎
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.

Want to travel more without overspending or falling for tourist traps? In this episode of Stacking Adventures, Crystal reports back from the Travel & Adventure Show in Washington, DC, breaking down what the experience is really like, whether the upgraded ticket was worth it, and what she'd absolutely do differently next time (hint: show up early and never skip the insider perks).
Crystal and Joe swap travel confessions, talk about navigating crowds and convention chaos, and share how small detours can transform an ordinary trip into a memorable adventure. Along the way, the conversation turns practical, focusing on smarter ways to plan trips, stretch travel dollars, and discover destinations you might never have considered.
What the Stacking Adventures traveler will take away from this episode:
What a major travel show is actually like and how to decide if attending one is worth your time and money

Why arriving early can completely change your experience, from smaller crowds to better vendor conversations and bonus perks

How upgraded passes can pay off when they include seminars, early access, and food that offsets the ticket cost

The value of talking directly with destination experts instead of relying only on online research

How adding small, unexpected detours can dramatically improve road trips and create memorable experiences

New destinations and ideas added to Crystal's travel list:
Alaska trips focused on viewing the Northern Lights

Tuscany cycling vacations through Pedal & Sea Adventures

European Christmas market itineraries explored by train through Rail Escape

Jamaica experiences beyond resorts, including private Blue Hole excursions

Hidden-gem domestic travel, including Moundsville, West Virginia's mix of history, quirky attractions, and outdoor stays

Scenic driving routes like Oklahoma's Talimena Drive as a stress-free alternative to major highway routes

Smart travel planning tips you can use immediately:
Setting Google Flights price alerts to track airfare without constant searching

Enrolling in the free government Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for travel alerts, safety updates, and easier passport assistance abroad

Evaluating travel swag, deals, and promotions without getting distracted by flashy booths

Using train travel and regional transportation to simplify European itineraries

Thinking beyond headline destinations to find better value and fewer crowds

Meaningful travel conversations from the show floor:
How tourism initiatives in places like Zanzibar and Tanzania support local youth and communities

Opportunities through AFS Intercultural Programs for study abroad, hosting exchange students, and scholarship-supported cultural exchange

How travel perceptions often lag behind reality, especially after major weather events or news cycles

Because every adventure needs a little fun:
The ongoing "Where in the World Is Crystal Trying to Travel?" guessing game

Funny moments from the convention floor, including murals, test drives, and unexpected wins

Travel stories that prove the best memories often come from places you never planned to stop

Your next adventure starts here:
Share your own travel stories and submit destination guesses for a chance at Stacking Adventures swag! Here's the URL for either: StackingAdventures.com/MyStory.
Because the goal isn't just to travel more, it's to travel smarter, connect more deeply, and come home with stories worth telling.

What starts as a European trip in 1987 turns into a quirky quest across England after a chance bookstore discovery, and eventually becomes something far more meaningful than anyone expected.
Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy are joined by award winning mystery writer Michael Balter, who shares how stumbling upon a coffee table book listing historic pubs across England accidentally launched him on an unforgettable pub crawl adventure. What began as "let's see if we can find these places" became a journey crisscrossing the English countryside, visiting tiny villages, atmospheric taverns, and discovering stories in every corner.
But Michael's 1987 trip wasn't just about pubs. Along the way, he experienced a life-changing reunion with his long-lost biological father in Berlin, proving once again that travel has a funny way of revealing what you're really searching for, whether that's a perfect pint in a centuries-old pub or missing pieces of your own story.
The conversation weaves between colorful English pub tales, practical travel lessons learned the hard way in an era before Google Maps and smartphones, and the deeply human side of international travel. How being far from home can bring you closer to who you are. There's also a peek at Michael's upcoming novel Dead Exit, plus a brand new, slightly chaotic game where listeners try to guess where in the world Crystal is this time (no passports required).
This episode is part travel memoir, part accidental quest story, and part reminder that the best trips don't always go according to plan, and that's exactly why we remember them.
What You'll Discover:
How a bookstore find turned into an accidental pub crawl across England
Why traveling without modern tech made every pub hunt feel like a real adventure
What it's like to track down historic taverns in tiny English villages
How Michael's European journey led to reconnecting with lost family in Berlin
Why pubs and local hangouts tell you more about a place than guidebooks alone
How travel stories turn into novels and sometimes into healing
A new interactive game that might just become a Stacking Adventures staple
This Episode Is For You If:
You love the idea of travel with an accidental quest built in
You're drawn to stories where serendipity leads to the best adventures
You've ever wondered what travel was like before smartphones solved everything
You believe the best discoveries happen when you follow unexpected leads
You're looking for your next unique travel challenge or inspiration
Question for You:
Have you ever taken a trip where a random discovery (a book, a recommendation, a wrong turn) completely changed your plans for the better? Share your story in the comments or the Stacking Adventures community. Bonus points if it involved tracking something down without Google's help.

What would happen if you said yes to the adventure that's been quietly tugging at you for years?
Joe Saul-Sehy talks with author and long distance cyclist Cory Mortensen, who decided to stop dreaming about a big ride and actually pedal one. He biked from Canada to Mexico along Highway One.
This isn't just about cycling. It's about committing to something that feels bigger than you, preparing without overthinking, and discovering what you're capable of when the road stretches out in front of you. Cory shares how solitude, unexpected kindness, and a willingness to stay curious shaped his journey just as much as the miles did.
Whether your epic adventure is a bike trip, a hiking trail, or something completely different, this episode is a reminder that the best stories start when you stop waiting for perfect conditions.
What You'll Discover:
How to prepare for a long distance adventure without getting stuck in planning paralysis
What Cory learned about resilience by riding day after day with no shortcuts
Why solitude can be one of the most powerful and underrated parts of any journey
How to stay safe and confident while navigating busy cities and remote roads
The kind of gear that matters when you're living on the road
Why naming your bike is not as ridiculous as it sounds once you've spent enough miles together
How books and stories can fuel your sense of adventure
What it feels like to reach the finish line and why it's never really the end
How to stay mentally young by saying yes to new experiences
Why serendipitous encounters often become the most memorable part of any trip
This Episode Is For You If:
You've been saying "one day I'll do that" for years
You want permission to commit to something that scares you a little
You're curious what happens when you finally stop planning and start doing
You need inspiration to turn your own adventure from dream to reality
You believe life is meant to be lived, not just planned
Cory's story might be the nudge that turns one day into now.
Our show notes are at StackingAdventures.com
You'll find Cory's book in our Gear Of The Day picks
Share YOUR cycling (or other) adventure: StackingAdventures.com/MyStory